Chapter 10 – Part 5

“Kyle, Mother, what if it’s too late? What if it becomes irreversible? I must confess…”

Evelyn nodded at Suen, who quickly embraced Anne’s shoulders.

“Lady Anne, I’ll continue to bring you news from outside. Surely, we’ll hear something good soon.”

Despite her fear that Evan might face the same fate as before, Carly couldn’t ignore the love these people had for Anne.

“I will always support you, Anne. If you need help, just tell me.”

“Lady Dehart, don’t encourage her.”

Evelyn blocked Anne’s path, placing a hand on Carly’s shoulder.

Evan Davis had entrusted Anne to the Barons with one repeated request: protect Anne no matter what dangers arose.

To honor that promise, Evelyn was prepared to disregard Anne’s wishes.

“Anne, I’m sorry, but you can’t do anything reckless. Suen, make sure Anne doesn’t leave this mansion.”

“Mother!”

“I’m sorry. I can’t watch you go and confess.”

***

“Kyuh. Kyuh. Kyak!”

Mary, the Empress’s maid, watched expressionlessly as the Empress laughed maniacally.

After laughing for a while, Laviela grabbed Mary’s arms and drew her face close, her eyes glinting with madness, causing Mary to feel slightly frightened.

“Mary! Look at this. It’s my masterpiece. After all this time, it’s finally blooming! Now all that’s left is for it to bear fruit.”

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

“Congratulations? It’s all thanks to you. Who knew that such a demure face could devise such a clever plan.”

The Empress’s wide, eerie smile was disturbing.

Mary forced herself to suppress her fear and speak.

“There’s still more to be done, isn’t there?”

“What? Even with what Conner Johannes dealt with, you didn’t expect Ailon to strangle the priest, did you?”

“…Wasn’t that part of the plan?”

Laviela snorted and shook her head.

“No, even though we gave the priest Mecarte to make him cough up blood, I didn’t foresee Ailon strangling him. Though he would have died anyway, Mary.”

Mary pretended to be happy, covering her mouth with her hands and mimicking a smile. In reality, she was finding it hard to breathe due to Laviela’s strong floral perfume.

In that moment, a worry arose in Mary’s mind.

Would the Empress spare her after all this was over?

Trying to shake off that concern, Mary forced a bright smile and asked,

“Have you received any news about the pregnancy?”

“No matter how hard I try to bear the Emperor’s child, it’s not happening. But I am pregnant. The timing is just about a week off.”

Mary couldn’t hide her shock.

“That’s… incredibly dangerous, Your Majesty.”

“If I carry it for a long time, I can just say it’s special because it’s the Emperor’s child, right? He might seem smart, but he can be quite foolish at times.”

“You should have discussed such matters with me.”

“You’re the one who told me about this! You mentioned a young, beautiful youth. He looks just like the Emperor, but his body is on another level. I’ve arranged to meet him again.”

“Meet him again?”

“He’s useful in bed, you know? It’s hard to focus otherwise.”

Mary couldn’t say anything more. The Emperor tolerated the Empress’s behavior because she was beautiful and charming, sometimes turning a blind eye to her indiscretions.

Mary sighed.

She had never wanted to carry out this plan that would tarnish the dignity of the royal family. She had repeatedly asked to reconsider, deeming it too risky.

But the Empress hadn’t listened, and now Mary felt a deep-seated resentment.

Resolving herself, Mary glanced around to ensure they were alone before leaning in close to whisper to the Empress.

“Please, don’t meet him again. I beg you.”

“Oh, so now you’re ordering me around? You introduced him to me! How can you expect me to see him only once when he’s so good in bed? Ah! I guess that’s why I got pregnant so quickly.”

“That’s just a coincidence….”

Hearing this, Laviela raised her eyebrows.

“Oh? Coincidence? You can see it too, can’t you? The Emperor’s seed no longer takes!”

Mary bit her lip, about to offer her advice again.

“Wait!”

Laviela placed a finger on her lips and looked toward the still door.

Mary, puzzled by the silence, soon heard approaching footsteps and was startled by how well the Empress recognized the Emperor’s tread.

“It seems His Majesty is coming.”

Click.

The door opened, and Laviela, clutching her elaborate dress, ran to the Emperor.

Hugging him, she smiled as if nothing could make her happier.

“I don’t know how to express this joy.”

“The child that was meant to be has been conceived.”

In high spirits, the Emperor ordered a maid,

“Bring wine. We must drink on this happy day!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Mary retrieved the wine from the cabinet and poured it into a glass. The Emperor immediately raised it and drained it to the last drop.

As the liquid dripped from his lips, it almost looked like he was bleeding.

Laviela found it amusing, but she kept her composure and spoke.

“What would you have done if I hadn’t agreed that night?”

“Then it would have happened next time, wouldn’t it?”

“Of course. But… where will Ailon be from now on?”

At Laviela’s question, Javier frowned and replied,

“That child is undoubtedly my son. The determination to kill and the way he used his men to conduct Mecarte deals prove it.”

For a moment, Laviela’s expression hardened.

She knew that Conner Johannes was dealing Mecarte from enemy lands. But it made her uncomfortable that this information had reached the Emperor’s ears.

“Mecarte deals?”

Javier didn’t answer her question but laughed, caught up in his own joy.

“I should have seen it myself. The way his eyes turned when he was angry enough to kill a priest!”

“What?”

“A year ago, the boy used as bait was still alive, and now Ailon knows it too. Isn’t it maddening? I ordered them to cover the servant’s face to prevent any attachment, but it seems he was captivated by that low-born girl. My son, but what a disappointment.”

Despite his words, the Emperor’s eyes gleamed with interest.

“So, Your Majesty, do you regret it?”

“Regret? Did I say regret?”

The Emperor’s brows knitted for a moment before he burst into a mad laugh, shaking his head.

“Of course not! I had some amusing entertainment thanks to it. Watching him fail to recognize the woman he loved right in front of him was quite a spectacle.”

Javier recalled the words from Ailon’s maid, a memory that still entertained him.

‘His Highness can’t forget the child who sacrificed herself for him. He held Aaron close to his heart, and that child lingered around His Highness.’

Reflecting on the events of a year ago, Javier drank straight from the wine bottle. Today, he wanted to revel in this intoxication. It had been an exceptionally entertaining day.

“Your Majesty, what do you mean…?”

“Empress, even if Ailon isn’t fit to be Emperor, do you know how hard I tried?”

Javier believed he genuinely tried to groom his son for the throne.

After noticing Ailon’s relationship, he branded the low-born girl in front of the Crown Prince as part of his efforts.

His weak son seemed about to faint at the sight and smell of burning flesh and the girl’s screams.

Javier despised his son’s frailty.

Grabbing Ailon’s chin to keep him from looking away, Javier finally felt satisfied.

‘Do you see that chrysanthemum brand? That child will serve you for life. Now, if you wish, taking her won’t tarnish your reputation.’

‘…….’

What had Ailon’s expression been then? The terror, as if he’d seen a ghost, was the most entertaining spectacle at the time.

Revisiting those memories, Javier spoke with a smile in his voice.

“Even I, who didn’t believe in gods, thought they might be playing tricks.”

The Emperor’s laughter echoed in the room. But it seemed insufficient, so he caressed Laviela’s cheek and said,

“Laugh.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

Laviela awkwardly smiled, placing her hand on the Emperor’s chest. He was satisfied and continued,

“When that low-born survived to serve as an officer, I had no plans to intervene further. I even encouraged her to live her life with my broad generosity.”

“Your Majesty’s generosity is…”

Sensing the change in atmosphere, Laviela flattered him nervously. The Emperor fondled her behind as he replied,

“But then she got involved with Duke Davis and took the Vanessa family name?”

“Your Majesty, does that mean she isn’t the lost child of the Vanessa family?”

“Indeed. Moreover, those two children, who grew up as siblings, fell in love with the same person. Isn’t that fascinating?”

Laviela gasped, struggling to breathe and coughing in disbelief. Ignoring her, the Emperor continued,

“But this ends today. I must focus on my duties as a wise ruler.”

The Emperor laughed madly, pouring red wine over cheese brought by a servant. He soaked the cheese and shoved it into Laviela’s mouth.

“Eat.”

Still coughing, Laviela looked distressed. The cheese and the sharp taste of wine made her throat burn.

Believing she carried his child, why…?

“Your Majesty, the child…”

The Emperor picked up more cheese and grinned.

“If it’s my child, a bit of wine won’t harm it. If the child can’t withstand even this, then perhaps Ailon is more suited to be the next Emperor.”

Laviela bit her lip, anxiety rising.

She knew he was mad, but forcing wine-soaked cheese on her was sheer insanity.

As Laviela stepped back, Javier approached with a bright smile, caressing her golden hair.

“Having the child resemble you is fine, but to be an emperor, they must take after me, don’t you think?”

“Of course, the child will take after Your Majesty…”

“If not, I will have no choice.”

Laviela couldn’t hide her momentarily frozen expression.

Even if she bore the child, the Emperor made it clear that if the child didn’t display the Emperor’s hair color, eye color, and other traits, he would discard the child immediately.

He was truly a cruel man.

Laviela lowered her head, her bloodshot eyes meeting Mary’s, who watched the entire scene unfold.

There had to be a way to cleanse herself of this humiliation. Among the plans Mary had, there must be something that could overthrow this.

With that thought, she clenched her fists and endured. Then, with an angelic smile, Laviela spoke.

“Of course, our child will resemble you, Your Majesty.”

“Yes. Naturally, they should.”

“Your Majesty, trust me and deal with Ailon soon…”

“That won’t happen right away. I need to be sure the child in your womb is indeed strong before I can be at ease.”

“……”

“Today is a day full of joy. Let’s celebrate, you too.”

The Emperor, in his madness, placed the mouth of the wine bottle directly on Laviela’s lips.

Though pregnant, Laviela feared his madness and forced herself to drink all the wine he poured into her mouth.

As Laviela began to feel dizzy, she looked at the Emperor sprawled on one side of the bed and laughed maniacally, whispering to Mary.

“Find out where Ailon is right now.”

“…Yes.”

A profound silence ensued.

The wine bottle rolled around, and the carpet was stained with red wine.

For a moment, the state of the expensive furniture bothered her, but then news arrived.

“…Both of them are under house arrest.”

The Empress, whose goal was the execution of the two, swore loudly.

“D*mn it!”

Despite her cries, the Emperor remained sound asleep.