Until the grand duchy established its foundation, they had avoided conflict with the emperor as much as possible. They always sent treatment for Ludger’s disease on time and lavishly presented gifts on the emperor’s birthday.

It would be a lie to say his pride wasn’t hurt by taking such a subservient position, but Arsen endured it. For Ian and Idis, he could endure anything.

They needed to build internal strength. So that even if the emperor unexpectedly turned his blade on them, they would never fall.

“A crown prince competition. I’m surprised Giselle allowed this.”

“The imperial palace must have been in turmoil for a while.”

“It will be tumultuous until the crown prince is selected.”

It seemed likely to remain tumultuous even after the crown prince was selected.

Just because they didn’t cast their eyes toward the capital didn’t mean they were ignorant of information. They had over twenty informants planted in the capital. According to the information flowing in from them, the capital was currently on the verge of fragmentation.

“The prophecy is being talked about again. Those claiming the prophecy’s subject should become emperor have also increased.”

“I said a child who would open a new era would be born, not a child who would inherit the throne.”

“Someone must be deliberately distorting and spreading it.”

Needless to say, it was probably Rozena and the temple. Though he had urged Pope Manus not to get too deeply involved in politics, he had broken that request and participated in the crown prince selection.

“We should leave the children behind.”

“That would be best, wife. It might be dangerous.”

* * *

When he ascended to the throne, Richard had vowed not to repeat his father’s mistakes. He would not have children with women other than his legal wife, and he would love all his children equally, regardless of how many there were. Thus, his siblings would not be at odds with each other, but would support and help one another, forming a harmonious family.

However, as time passed, his resolve crumbled, and his aspirations twisted strangely.

Richard had three more children besides Michael and Raphael—one son with Baroness Luena, another with a maid of common birth, and a few years ago, a youngest daughter with Rozena.

Although he favored Rozena the most and took her everywhere, Richard still loved his five children fairly equally. Opportunities were distributed equally.

As if avenging his past, when he couldn’t grasp any opportunities despite his abilities because he was a concubine’s child, Richard publicly declared he would pass the throne to his most outstanding child.

“Empress?”

Rozena, who had been playing at tea parties with her five-year-old daughter, rose from her seat at the unexpected visitor.

“Princess, what are you doing? Not greeting the Empress?”

She looked surprised, widening her eyes and urging her young daughter, appearing to be extremely intimidated by the empress. How could she remain so consistently detestable for fifteen years?

“Do I look like I’m in any state to receive greetings?”

Giselle didn’t hide her discomfort.

“Where has His Majesty gone?”

“He went out briefly to teach Raphael horseback riding.”

At the news that the emperor had gone out alone with Raphael, Giselle looked like she might explode.

“Mother, please calm down.”

“Do I look like I can calm down, Prince?”

If there was the biggest obstacle to Michael inheriting the throne, it was Raphael. The undisputed child of the prophecy and the son of the woman the emperor favored most. If only there was a significant age difference, but he was born in the year after Michael.

The crown prince position was essentially a battle between Michael and Raphael. The Fourth Prince also had blonde hair and golden eyes, but due to his mother’s status as a laundry maid and his young age, he was pushed far back in the succession order.

“He said he would return soon. Please sit, Empress.”

“Anyone watching would think you’re the mistress of the emperor’s palace, imperial consort.”

“Don’t say that. How could I dare act like the mistress of the emperor’s palace?”

Rozena waved her hands in denial, but Michael had rarely spent time alone with Richard. Whenever Michael visited the emperor’s palace, Rozena was always there.

Sometimes she was alone, and sometimes she was with Raphael or Princess Gabriel. Richard never bothered to send them away.

Rozena always took better care of Michael than Raphael, but Michael always felt like an intruder.

“His Majesty the Emperor is coming.”

They didn’t have to wait long before Richard and Raphael entered side by side. Raphael, who looked exactly like the emperor, grinned when his eyes met Michael’s. It looked like a smirk of victory, which was annoying.

Rozena puts Gabriel in front and flies into the emperor’s arms. The emperor lifts Gabriel up, kisses her cheek, and only then looks at Giselle. His gaze turns cold in an instant.

“What’s the matter, Empress?”

“What’s the matter? Are you really asking that? A crown prince competition!”

But Giselle had no time to care about the emperor’s cold gaze. He had announced the crown prince competition with just one imperial decree, and now he was asking what’s the matter? It was absolutely infuriating.

The crown prince position should naturally go to her son. Yet he had decided to hold a competition without any discussion, and then merely informed her?

“Are you defying my decision, Empress?”

“Yes, and what will you do about it? Will you cut off my head too?”

Their voices grew louder. Emotions intensified, and eventually the emperor threw a teacup. The cup shattered into pieces, and the startled princess began to wail.

The emperor held the princess and comforted her, Rozena soothed the emperor, Giselle glared at Raphael, unable to contain her anger, while Raphael pretended not to notice.

Ah, it was all so tiresome. A storm brewed in Michael’s eyes as he silently observed the scene that was so sickening he felt he might go mad.

Irritation. Resentment. Anger. Various emotions piled up and eventually twisted.

‘……Should I just k*ll them all.’

* * *

The Bayern ducal family had not established a separate townhouse in the capital, so they decided to use an empty townhouse owned by Marquis Evansi instead. Although it didn’t befit the dignity of a ducal family, it was due to Arsen’s strong determination to avoid creating any connections with the capital.

The spacious mansion became crowded with the arrival of John and his wife, who came in place of Marquis Evansi who found long travel difficult, and the Brastelma family whom Lydia had invited.

“It’s a shame I can’t see Ian and Idis. Have they grown a lot?”

“Would they be as tall as Violet? My goodness. She’s become an adult while I wasn’t looking.”

“She’s almost seventeen, so of course.”

“Soon you’ll be saying she’s getting married.”

Lydia felt nostalgic seeing Violet, who had still seemed like a baby when they met three years ago, now appearing so mature. Could she ever have imagined she would see Violet grow into an adult?

Three years ago, she had just felt pleased, but today she felt like crying. She worried she might wail uncontrollably when Violet eventually got married.

“By the way, a crown prince competition. Who do you think will become crown prince? I heard Prince Michael is the most likely.”

“That seems most probable. He’s the empress’s son and the firstborn.”

“Are you alright, Your Highness?”

Maria asked with concern. Michael was innocent, but human emotions aren’t always perfectly rational. After all, Michael was the result of Giselle and Richard’s affair.

From Lydia’s perspective, it would be the perfectly understandable if she hated the idea of Michael becoming crown prince.

“I truly don’t mind at all.”

She had worried that coming to the capital might reawaken old emotions. Resentment, hatred—feelings she had forgotten for a while. But surprisingly, her feelings toward Giselle and Richard had genuinely faded.

Honestly, whenever the competition was mentioned, she even thought it was fortunate that Giselle and Richard had fallen for each other. Otherwise, who would be suffering beside Richard now, witnessing all sorts of unpleasant things?

Ugh. Just imagining it made her shudder. Lydia was now happier than she could ever have imagined. When she thought about how she had gone through all those hardships and adversities to meet Arsen, her past suffering even felt worthwhile.

“No matter who becomes crown prince, I just hope we can return safely to the grand duchy.”

Their comfortable and peaceful home. Lydia already missed the grand duchy.

* * *

“It’s been a long time, Lydia.”

“I’ve been well, Your Majesty.”

“You’re being excessively formal between us.”

What kind of relationship is ‘between us’? Arsen struggled to smooth out his naturally stiffening forehead.

Before coming to see the emperor ahead of the banquet, Kedrick had nagged Arsen to control his expressions.

Even in the grand duchy, Arsen would frown whenever the emperor and Rozena were mentioned. This was because Rozena resembled Lydia, and the fact that the emperor favored such a Rozena was interpreted as him still having lingering feelings for Lydia.

‘It’s jealousy, jealousy!’ Kedrick’s voice shouted in his head. Being known as henpecked in the grand duchy was fine, but doing the same in the capital would damage the grand duke’s dignity.

He knew his tendency to be on edge about any man who might still be interested in Lydia even after having two children with her was severe.

But this was Lydia’s fault. Why did she remain so beautiful even after having two children, making him constantly vigilant?

“Let’s save the long conversations for later, Grand Duke.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Richard appropriately ended the conversation for the sake of the nobles waiting in line behind the Grand Duke of Bayern.

“I’ll invite you to the palace soon, so don’t refuse, Grand Duchess.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As she raised her head after slightly bowing, Lydia’s eyes met Giselle’s.

Lydia felt a bitter taste in her mouth at the fleeting hostility. She had thought time would have erased all feelings, but apparently not.