Chapter 15 – Part 5

The peace negotiations were not grandiose.

Both sides had realized that the war was no longer beneficial and needed a forum to maximize their mutual interests.

There were rumors that Terossa had captured some rebels, while others had escaped.

But it was clear that they would not escape Javier Terossa’s grasp.

He never forgave those who fell out of his favor.

In the solemn atmosphere, no one spoke easily.

It was then that Javier, who had been observing quietly, spoke.

“Let’s get straight to the point. What are the conditions that Vails wants?”

Howard, seated opposite Javier, leisurely sipped his tea before speaking.

“Since we both have nothing to gain from this war, we should each get what we need. However… I wonder if I should be compensated for assisting in quelling the rebels within the Terossa Empire.”

Howard pretended to ponder deeply, rubbing his thumb over his lips. He then added.

“Oh, how is the Empress? I haven’t heard any news since that day…”

Javier’s brow furrowed.

On the surface, it was a polite inquiry, but to Javier, it was infuriating.

‘To dare mention that incident with those lips.’

In truth, Javier had planned to accuse Howard of orchestrating the poisoning.

Howard must have anticipated this; otherwise, he wouldn’t have insisted on Anne Vanessa’s presence as a condition for attending.

Javier gripped the armrest of his chair tightly and spoke.

“She is fine. However, I have much to say about that incident. Normally, Anne Vanessa would be imprisoned on charges of poisoning, yet she is here. It is regrettable that I cannot properly punish her for what happened to my wife. Moreover, bringing an unauthorized guest here, what am I to do with you, Prince of Vails?”

The Emperor stared directly at Howard.

Howard, understanding the intent, tilted his head slightly.

“Hmm, do you have any evidence that Lady Anne Vanessa poisoned the Empress?”

“……”

“Or at least, do you have any witnesses? Think about it. Even if Lady Anne Vanessa harbored ill feelings toward the Empress, would she have the ability and connections to carry it out?

It’s common knowledge in the social circles, even I, a prince from another country, know that Lady Anne Vanessa is considered an unknown nobody.

Do you think the servants here don’t know that associating with her is like grabbing a rotten rope?”

‘That’s true, but it somehow feels offensive. I could do it if I wanted to, you know?’

Anne grumbled inwardly.

The emperor rubbed his temples as if he had a headache. There was nothing wrong with Howard’s words.

Under normal circumstances, the emperor would have found any pretext to punish Anne.

The problem was the presence of this foreign prince, which made it impossible to do so.

Javier spoke to his aide, who was waiting nearby.

“I said if this becomes an issue, I won’t hesitate to cast her out, even if she’s the empress, didn’t I?”

“Yes.”

“Bring her in.”

The aide quickly exited the conference room. All eyes followed him as he left.

Howard showed no signs of concern. He even smiled leisurely at the emperor.

Anne clenched her hands as she watched the confident Howard.

The awaited moment finally arrived.

A sobbing sound was heard from outside. Soon, the door opened, and the empress entered in a wheelchair.

Everyone stood up and paid their respects.

Only Javier remained arrogantly seated, his gaze fixed not on the empress but on the maid carrying a tray.

“Speak.”

“T-that… she ordered it all.”

The maid’s trembling finger pointed at Anne. Anne shouted in response.

“That’s a lie.”

“Lies? I confirmed everything myself! For our lost baby… Your Majesty, please arrest that woman immediately!”

Tears flowed incessantly from Laviela’s eyes, and her pitiful sobbing, like that of a tragic heroine, continued without end.

Mary supported the empress as she nearly collapsed from exhaustion.

Everything was perfect.

Unless Anne Vanessa had irrefutable evidence proving her innocence, she was bound to take the fall for this crime.

And the empress would spend days crying, only to seduce the emperor again under the guise of seeking comfort.

The empress had worried about losing the emperor’s favor after the miscarriage, but Mary had reassured her with speculative comments that it wouldn’t happen.

Moreover, properly resolving this poisoning incident was necessary to avoid the emperor’s suspicion, and the empress quickly agreed to Mary’s plan.

Mary held the empress with a look of concern.

“Your Majesty, breathe. Remember to stay calm, you were advised to do so.”

Despite her anger, Laviela took deep breaths repeatedly.

The room was abuzz with murmurs.

Miscarriages among the emperor’s women were not uncommon, but this time, it was a child who had been considered the future crown prince.

Nobles who had severed ties with Ailon Terossa, thinking he no longer held power, let out involuntary sighs.

Anne turned to the emperor with a look of confusion.

“Your Majesty, I have no means to obtain the Seipa herb.”

The emperor, deep in thought, spoke.

“Couldn’t obtain the Seipa? I also know that the Seipa herb originates from the Kingdom of Vails. Who knows what two people with such close ties to the Vails prince might have done?”

The nobles were again stirred.

The insinuation that Anne Vanessa and the prince of Vails were deeply involved, along with the subtle hint that she was a poisoner, caused the nobles to raise their voices even more.

“Quite the talent. Balancing between the top duke of Terossa and the third prince of Vails.”

“…Does she look that attractive? I don’t see any grace in her.”

“Hey, some are charmed by such things. It’s novel.”

“Isn’t she the one who led the poisoning?”

At that moment, Yvonne, unable to tolerate the vile comments any longer, stood up abruptly. Although her brother hadn’t arrived yet, she couldn’t let this moment slip by.

“Your Majesty, we must also hear why the empress lied.”

“What?”

The emperor’s incredulous response was met with Yvonne stepping forward confidently.

She couldn’t stand by while Anne Vanessa was framed as a poisoner.

Yvonne pulled out a document from her pocket and held it up high.

“Here is the imperial physician’s opinion stating that the empress experienced a phantom pregnancy.”

“What?”

As the empress’s sharp question echoed, some nobles stood up abruptly, their chairs scraping the floor.

The room was in complete chaos. The claim was so outrageous that it caused an uproar.

“What do you mean, Yvonne Davis?”

The emperor looked at Yvonne with a displeased expression.

“Your Majesty! It’s a lie. They bribed the imperial physician, knowing I would miscarry!”

The empress was genuinely aggrieved. It seemed the other side had also prepared, but the idea of a phantom pregnancy was too much.

Her resentment towards Yvonne Davis, who was trying to erase the very existence of her child, peaked.

The empress’s eyes turned red as she shouted.

“How dare you! How dare you insult my dead child!”

Yvonne merely smiled as Laviela screamed, raising the medical report signed by the imperial physician even higher.

Herren quickly distributed copies of the report to everyone present.

Even the emperor received a copy, though he was too stunned to read it, glaring at the empress with reddened eyes.

“Your Majesty, the idea that I had a phantom pregnancy is utterly preposterous. You know how I struggled, unable to eat properly… you know this!”

“……”

The emperor said nothing. He was merely annoyed that the empress appeared weak in this situation.

If it wasn’t a phantom pregnancy, she should have denied it outright.

Her unnecessary embellishments only made him more suspicious.

The empress, fearing her infidelity might be revealed, raised her voice even more.

But Yvonne’s firm voice silenced her.

“According to the imperial physician, he was threatened by the empress and couldn’t report her exact condition of phantom pregnancy. So, Your Majesty, would you care to explain?”

“Insolent.”

Javier was visibly displeased.

Unlike the duke, who tried to please him, Yvonne Davis was defiant, which he didn’t like.

However, he couldn’t act rashly without verifying the authenticity of the medical report in Yvonne’s hand.

Supporting the empress blindly, only to find out she had never been pregnant, would bring national disgrace.

Thus, the emperor watched Yvonne, signaling her to proceed.

“Well then, Your Majesty, please explain yourself.”

“What! This is utter nonsense! Where is the imperial physician?”

Yvonne raised an eyebrow, thinking of Caden, who was with Carly. He had refused to accompany her, fearing the empress but had said he would come if absolutely necessary.

“Scared of something like this?”

“I’m curious what action Your Majesty will take against the empress’s lie about never being pregnant. Everyone here is watching, Your Majesty.”

Yvonne’s face was full of derision.

Javier’s lips twitched. He found it hard to believe, but the possibility that there was no second prince made him glare at the empress.

The empress, feeling more wronged than ever, clutched her chest and shouted.

“Why do you insult the emperor and my child!”

“Hmm, for a peace agreement to be so disgraceful… Though this isn’t the place to discuss it….”

Howard chuckled while resting his chin on his hand.

“Oh, don’t mind me.”

He waved his other hand dismissively.

“Isn’t it interesting how disgraceful events keep happening? It would be good to clearly identify those who harm the empire. No one should dare lie in front of the emperor.”

Howard’s words seemed to encourage the emperor.

“…Hmm.”

Javier let out a low grunt.

He had never doubted the empress’s pregnancy news. He hadn’t thought it was something that could be faked.

But with Yvonne Davis and Howard Vails both so confident, a seed of doubt began to sprout in his mind.

What if the empress really did lie?

The emperor’s face hardened. This would be a royal scandal, a permanent stain on their history.

Meanwhile, Mary couldn’t hide her shock at the unexpected turn of events.

“A phantom pregnancy,” she muttered.