Chapter 85: Is That Really My Child?

The morning sunlight poured gently through the window. The newly hung blue curtains for the summer resembled the clear sky.

Damian had yet to return after heading to Roel Central Station upon hearing the news that Rosemary had been captured there.

Edelweiss, who had spent the night in worry, felt as if a heavy stone had been placed on her chest.

‘Surely nothing bad has happened…?’

Standing by the window waiting for him, Edelweiss read the morning newspaper.

It featured a special article detailing how Rosemary had attempted to escape under the alias “Lenia Ruwes.”

“Your Highness, the Imperial Knight Commander has arrived in the drawing room,” came Anna’s voice from outside.

Edelweiss set the newspaper down on the table and made her way to the drawing room.

“Odin Febe, paying respects to Her Highness the Grand Duchess of Lorendel,” the knight commander said, kneeling on one knee in formality.

“Please rise, Sir Febe. I just wanted to hear what happened yesterday at Roel Central Station.”

Seeing his hesitation, Edelweiss nodded encouragingly and continued.

“I’ve read that Rosemary tried to flee by purchasing a ticket under the name Lenia Ruwes.”

“…After that, Rosemary Widen was detained in the basement of the station. His Highness Damian arrived. And then…”

“Speak freely. It’s all right.”

What could have possibly happened for him to find it so difficult to speak?

The knight commander hesitated, then finally opened his mouth with effort.

“His Highness Damian… personally killed Rosemary Widen.”

“…He did?”

Rosemary was dead. There hadn’t been a single mention of her death in the newspaper, so Edelweiss hadn’t seen it coming at all.

Startled, Edelweiss nearly collapsed, catching herself against the table.

“Your Highness…!”

Anna hurried over in worry and checked on her.

Why would Damian…?

He was a rational man. If he had captured Rosemary, she thought he would bring her back and interrogate her face-to-face with Count Sandor.

But to think he killed her on the spot…

If she hadn’t tried to flee under a false identity, perhaps she could’ve had at least a peaceful end.

And yet, to die by the hand of the very man she so deeply loved—

In some ways, it was the most brutal death Rosemary could have received.

“Did something happen?”

“…It appears Rosemary Widen made slanderous remarks about Your Highness. However, I was outside at the time and couldn’t hear exactly what was said. I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

Edelweiss shook her head at the kneeling knight commander.

“No, Sir Febe, there’s no need for you to apologize. So, where is Rosemary now?”

If she was killed, her body should remain. Being a criminal sentenced to life imprisonment, later changed to execution by the Senate, the Imperial family likely took responsibility for handling her remains.

“…Your Highness, I understand you’re carrying a royal child. What I’m about to say may be too dreadful to hear.”

“It’s better to hear it plainly. So I can truly accept it. Is it really true Rosemary is dead?”

If she weren’t with child, she would have wanted to confirm with her own eyes that Rosemary was truly dead.

Still, something unsettled her. As if Rosemary would somehow return from the grave to harm the child.

She pressed the commander.

“I personally witnessed her breathing stop, Your Highness. And… the body was thrown to the crows and burned.”

“To the crows? Was that… Damian’s order?”

The knight commander didn’t answer but gave a look that confirmed it.

So this is why he hesitated to tell me…

Edelweiss clutched her chest and took a deep breath.

Damian might appear cold, but he wasn’t cruel or merciless.

And if Rosemary was already dead, there shouldn’t have been any need to go that far.

When Damian returns, I’ll ask him myself. Why he had to go that far.’

The knight commander spoke again, his expression filled with concern.

“Are you all right, Your Highness?”

“…Yes, I’m fine. Then, what will happen to Count Sandor?”

“We are currently interrogating him for conspiring to help Rosemary Widen escape. But he keeps insisting he had no knowledge of what the Countess was doing. Also, it appears the Countess was secretly pursuing a divorce settlement and they are close to finalizing it, so in that case, he will likely be cleared of suspicion.”

“……”

“They’ve been living separately for some time, and the Countess continues to insist she only helped Rosemary—her husband’s beloved niece—in hopes of changing his heart.”

Edelweiss felt a sharp pain in her head. Count Sandor had clearly prepared an escape route in advance, anticipating this possibility.

“In the end, only the Countess will likely face house arrest.”

But there were still cards she could play against Count Sandor.

Like the letter from Serena Widen proving that Rosemary was his biological daughter, and the double ledger listing slush funds flowing into the Sandor estate.

‘If I can find proof that Count Sandor killed Isabella, I can press charges. Maybe… the Countess knows something.’

“I understand. Do you know where His Highness Damian went after leaving the Central Station yesterday?”

The knight commander looked confused.

“I haven’t seen him at the palace.”

“All right. You may go now. Anna, please see him out. I’m sorry I couldn’t walk you to the door myself.”

“Not at all, Your Highness.”

After Anna and the knight commander left, Edelweiss returned to her bedroom.

…The letter.

Suddenly, she remembered the letter Rosemary had forged in her handwriting. She recalled putting it in the bedside drawer and pulled it out.

“I should destroy it.”

With Rosemary dead, it no longer held any meaning. Edelweiss brought the letter to the candle flame, ready to burn it.

Just as the heat reached her fingers and the fire was about to catch the paper—

She suddenly felt a small, subtle movement beneath her belly.

“…No way.”

The baby was kicking.

It was the first time she had ever felt fetal movement. The baby kept moving, as if trying to say, “I’m here.”

And yet, it was as if the little one was careful not to hurt her—each kick gentle, subtle. Edelweiss couldn’t help but smile at the tiny motion.

She placed her hand over her belly.

“Did you sleep well, baby? Good morning.”

Knowing the child was growing healthily brought her immense relief.

“Will you be born in the winter? What kind of name should I give you? If you’re born bearing the symbol of Blossomweaver, I guess it should be a flower name.”

She knew the baby couldn’t hear her yet, but the joy bubbling inside wouldn’t let her stop talking.

“My little one… Even if you don’t have any exceptional talents, no matter how you turn out, I’ll love you just the same. I’ll never let you grow up the way I did.”

So, let’s meet soon.

As she whispered softly to her belly, she suddenly heard a presence.

The door opened—and Damian walked in.

“…Your Highness?”

Edelweiss smiled even brighter.

“Your Highness, the baby just kicked me. Would you like to feel it?”

“…The knight commander came by. Did you summon him?” Damian asked flatly, like someone who held no interest in the child.

I thought he had accepted the child… Was I wrong?

Caught off guard, Edelweiss blinked in confusion.

“Ah… yes. I wanted to know what happened to Rosemary.”

She wanted to ask him where he had been all night, and what exactly had occurred with Rosemary.

But seeing the weariness on Damian’s face, she instinctively held back.

He stepped closer. His gaze landed on the letter in her hand.

Smack—

Before she could stop him, Damian snatched the letter from her grasp.

“Your Highness!”

Edelweiss looked at him in shock, unable to understand what had prompted him to react like this.

His eyes glimmered with anger. He read through the letter silently from beginning to end—and then crumpled it in his hand.

“…What is this?”

“Rosemary forged it. She was planning to send it to the Boniel Newspaper. I got it through Anna and kept it.”

Damian scoffed, curling his lips into a bitter sneer.

Edelweiss immediately understood what that laughter meant.

“You… don’t trust me, do you?”

He was doubting her.

Doubting that the child was really his.

“…Is that even my child?”