The Emperor slowly raised his eyelids as he elegantly lowered his teacup.

The maid’s hair stood on end at his piercing gaze.

Though countless servants and maids who had dared to glance at the Emperor had lost their heads, she couldn’t overcome her curiosity and invited his wrath!

Chills ran down the maid’s spine.

“What makes you so curious? Your gaze makes me uncomfortable.”

“Your Majesty! I have committed a mortal sin!”

The third young lady of the Bathsbarrow family fell to her knees and bowed her head. Her small shoulders trembled pitifully.

But neither the head lady-in-waiting nor the Princess dared ask the Emperor to be lenient.

He looked down at the maid leisurely while raising his sharp lips.

“I’m spending time with my only daughter. I won’t see blood today.”

“Th-thank you for Your Majesty’s mercy!”

The young lady’s forehead hit the floor.

The Emperor lifted his chin as he watched the life worth less than an insect.

“However, you must not appear before my eyes again.”

The head lady-in-waiting stood up and supported the pale young lady out of the pergola.

The Princess turned her gaze to the garden as if she hadn’t seen anything.

“Elizabeth.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Choose your close associates carefully. The one you trust and find most comfort in will be the one to stab you in the back — such is the nature of those who surround the imperial family. Who knows? Among those sitting in this pergola today, there might be someone who will determine your fate.”

“I will deeply engrave Your Majesty’s words in my heart.”

The Emperor gazed at Elizabeth, his lovely only blood relative.

He had lost five sons before her.

By enemy swords, by terrible plague, by congenital illness, by sudden death.

The most painful was the death of the son who was beheaded for daring to try poisoning his father to grasp the royal scepter.

It was a blood-stained crown won by practically exterminating brothers, sisters, and even cousins.

The Empress’s position had been empty for decades.

It couldn’t be helped. He had eradicated the families who had challenged imperial authority in the name of being in-laws.

Two of the four Empresses were executed, while the others took poison or hanged themselves.

What could he do? The sun shines alone. There’s no room for hypocrisy in worrying about common people who burn to death unable to withstand its radiance.

Even if it was an untrustworthy love, even if it was his only blood.

The Emperor smiled as he faced Elizabeth.

“Your Majesty, I have a request.”

“Speak.”

“May I ask when the engagement announcement with Lord Bernac will be?”

Elizabeth’s cheeks reddened.

When the Emperor didn’t respond, Count Godwin, who had been standing behind, carefully stepped forward.

“May I speak, Your Majesty?”

Elizabeth’s expectant gaze turned to the Count.

“I heard Count Godwin has been working hard for this.”

“Thank you. I merely fulfilled my duty. The engagement announcement with Lord Bernac is planned for this autumn, at Your Majesty’s birthday celebration. It seems appropriate as it’s the event where most nobles gather.”

A crease appeared on Elizabeth’s pouting forehead.

“But it’s still summer.”

“Time passes as swiftly as an arrow.”

The Count added while soothing the Princess who played with his son’s affections.

“I’m not sure if I should mention this here, but there are rumors circulating about the Duke. Have You heard them, Your Highness?”

“I haven’t.”

The Count glanced sideways at the Emperor and squeezed his voice pitifully.

“Well…… I was surprised myself, as he’s never had such rumors before.”

“Please tell me.”

Elizabeth straightened her back and urgently requested.

Count Godwin ground his molars.

Insolent wench, thoroughly sucking out my son’s soul, yet daring to act like this before me!

“I heard he took in a bella.”

“Ah!”

The Princess who let out a short gasp composed her shaken expression.

“I see.”

“I fear I may have disturbed Your Highness’s peace of mind with unnecessary words.”

“I appreciate your concern, but that’s not the case.”

“He’s a man in his prime. He must have needed a woman to comfort his loneliness. Please be understanding.”

The Emperor advised his daughter who was holding back her anger.

“If you hate his bella, sort out your own first. A man’s jealousy becomes uglier than a woman’s.”

“Your Majesty! You speak as if I have a bella. I don’t have such a person. In my heart, there is only Duke Nigel Bernac.”

Count Godwin furrowed his brows and nodded.

“Such unwavering pure love. Duke Bernac has truly won a precious heart. My heart aches at Your Highness’s purity and nobility.”

The Princess’s lips twisted slightly at the exaggerated praise.

But she responded with her thoroughly trained smile.

“I’m overwhelmed by the Count’s kindness.”

The Emperor, who had been listening to their conversation, suddenly burst into laughter.

The Count and Princess, who had coldly erased their smiles, ground their teeth with their own schemes.

Shortly after, the Emperor and Count Godwin left the separate palace after finishing their time with the Princess.

On the way to the imperial palace, the Emperor turned toward the temple, taking his imperial guards with him.

Count Godwin, who had sent him off with a respectful bow, straightened his bent back.

What was the Emperor plotting, gathering over a hundred priests for such a long time?

The Count looked down at his wrinkled hands.

The Emperor he had met at twenty-four still maintained a clean young man’s appearance even as he approached fifty.

Godwin glared at the source of those nonsensical claims — Son of the Sun God, immortal body — the majestic temple tower.

* * *

“Rahta, are you alright?”

“I’m managing. I may be imprisoned, but at least I’m alive.”

After several days of repairs, a birdcage hung from the restored ceiling of the Duke’s bedroom. Inside it, Rahta lay sprawled.

I had expected to be discovered someday. I almost died, but thanks to you, Marienne, I survived — a blessing in disguise, you could say.

Rahta was still bewildered thinking about that night.

Who knew Marienne the healer had such powerful magic hidden within her.

Thanks to that, Lady Ariel could see her son’s face for the first time.

“Don’t worry, Marienne. It’s better being closer to Nigel. No need to hide anymore.”

“Rahta, I have a question.”

Marienne looked around and lowered her voice.

“Miss Rahta, are you perhaps the Duke’s hidden mother?”

Rahta, who had been lying sprawled wiggling her toes, only lifted her head.

Marienne whispered quietly again.

“You met me that night, didn’t you? I heard you call him your son.”

“Pft! Hahaha!”

Rahta rolled around holding their belly and stamping their feet.

“You really think Nigel was in my belly?”

Marienne frowned.

“There could be something I don’t know about. Like using magic somehow.”

“How? What?”

Rahta pressed spitefully.

The only joy for the caged creature was teasing Marienne when she stopped by for dinner with the Duke.

“If not, then fine, what’s with that expression!”

“Fool.”

“Look at you!”

When Marienne raised her voice, Luna also growled at Rahta in the cage.

“Luna, they’re really mean. Right? Let’s teach them a lesson.”

Marienne opened the cage door and tickled Rahta’s belly and armpits mercilessly.

As Rahta flailed about laughing breathlessly, the door opened.

Marienne quickly withdrew her hands and closed the cage door, while Rahta lay face down playing dead.

Only the oblivious Luna, still caught up in the lingering laughter, bounced around barking excitedly.

“Luna, quiet.”

Nigel, who had entered the room, gave Luna a stern look as he handed his riding gloves to the butler.

Rahta sneered at the deflated Luna, calling her an idiot.

When Nigel approached, Rahta lay motionless with their tongue hanging out.

Passing by Marienne who stood nearby, Nigel took a quick bath in the tub prepared in the room next to the bedroom.

She had received permission to come a bit early during dinner time to meet with Rahta.

Marienne took flowers that Rahta liked from her pocket and put them in the cage. They happily buried themselves in the flowers, wiggling about.

Meanwhile, the butler and servants came in and set up the dinner table in Nigel’s bedroom.

Shortly after, Nigel and Marienne sat in their respective seats.

An awkward silence hung between them since their verbal battle.

He drank while eating silently.

Marienne put down her knife that had been cutting meat and opened her mouth.

She had learned that a lady should ease an awkward atmosphere with words of praise for her companion.

“Duke, you look dazzlingly handsome today as well.”

Nigel barely managed to swallow the wine he almost spat out and pressed his lips with a linen cloth.

Marienne waited with eyes twinkling like the morning star.

For the kind praise a gentleman should naturally offer to a lady.

“You……”

Nigel, who had been staring at Marienne, picked up his wine glass again. Then he spoke indifferently to the lady with perked ears.

“Look reasonably presentable.”