“I told my parents the day before they left.”

As two women who had lived similar fates, no more words were needed. Leticia nodded several times while maintaining her smile.

“Both the blessing that Your Majesty carries and being able to convey it first…… are all joyful matters deserving congratulations.”

Elia had said that House Theon would disappear, but at the same time, she had been able to tell her parents about the future possibility she carried.

Though the name might change, she had clearly conveyed that their descendants would continue. The fact that their daughter who remained in the imperial palace had a happy future ahead was a great comfort to the former Duke and Duchess Theon.

“His Majesty……”

Before Leticia could finish speaking, Elia shook her head.

“It’s still so early that I’m cautious.”

“Indeed, if His Majesty knew, there would already be an uproar.”

“But……”

Elia gently touched her lower abdomen as if she still couldn’t quite believe it, making sure no one noticed.

“I think it’s time to tell him now.”

Though she couldn’t properly feel the baby’s movements or presence yet, based on the records from the empress’s quarters and the imperial physician’s opinion, it had been about two months since her monthly visitor had stopped coming.

“Whenever there’s something I can help with, I’ll be there. If nothing else…… I’ve already given birth to and raised a child this much.”

Leticia smiled, looking at Kaya.

Kaya, who was focused on eating her portion of food diligently, would know what a cousin was by the time the baby was born.

“Don’t worry.”

Leticia spoke kindly, as if reading Elia’s mind.

“A child is much stronger than its mother thinks.”

Perhaps because of her harsh and sorrowful past.

Despite the blessing that had come, Elia was hesitating to find an opportunity to tell Rockfort.

“If it’s the child of His Majesty and Your Majesty…… it will certainly be so.”

Looking at Leticia’s purple eyes that resembled Rockfort’s, Elia slowly nodded.

“Yes.”

As proof, the mother and daughter who had endured harsh and severe times were right before her eyes.

“I hope…… so. No, I firmly believe it will be so.”

Elia was Rockfort’s second empress.

Externally, it meant she came after Cecilia, but for Elia herself, it had a slightly different meaning.

It was because she had experienced death in her past life and, after turning back time, became Rockfort’s empress for the second time. And all those trials and difficult days had made Elia even stronger.

“I too…… for this child, feel I can become stronger.”

“That’s the same for our entire family.”

The two were already beyond members of the imperial family—they were family and deep friends.

Rockfort too had long since become more than just a man in Elia’s life—he was her companion and only existence.

That must be the true meaning of the word family.

Right now, everyone, including the life Elia carried in her womb, was already family.

* * *

The next day, the Grand Duke of Amid paid his respects to the emperor early in the morning and then returned to his grand duchy with his entourage.

At the same time, one nameless lady disappeared from the imperial palace.

“Louisa Belest is a dead person as of today. I requested this of His Majesty the Emperor.”

Rils went personally to greet Louisa and spoke while meeting her eyes.

“Then…… what will happen to me?”

Louisa remained calm throughout, either because she had prepared for the worst disposition or because of her naturally composed personality.

“If the lady doesn’t mind, let’s go to the Grand Duchy of Amid. With me.”

At Rils’s unexpected words, Louisa’s pupils trembled slightly.

“If you leave with me, Lady Louisa Belest will die, but the lady I’m looking at now will live a new life with a new name and position in the Grand Duchy of Amid.”

Louisa’s deliberation wasn’t long.

“You have no obligations.”

Rather, she felt refreshed, as if a heavy stone that had been weighing on her heart her entire life had suddenly disappeared, and unconsciously let out a long breath.

“Yes.”

If she could only be freed from the ‘Belest’ chain that had bound her before death, she could do anything.

Moreover, Rils’s words about living a new life in a new land were only more welcome.

“Even if I become someone of humble status…… I’ll go.”

At just seventeen, she was still too young to die.

Perhaps Louisa’s life began when she first made a choice upon entering the imperial palace.

“That won’t happen.”

From now on, Louisa Belest would no longer exist in the world. It wasn’t clear what kind of life Rils and she would lead from now on, but it was certain that the shackles that had tormented Louisa her entire life had been removed.

“However, we’ll need to consider a new name for the lady.”

Looking at Rils’s kind smile, Louisa decided to let go of all the ghosts of her past.

Whatever the future held, she was grateful for being given a new life where she could live by making her own choices.

* * *

Rockfort ordered the complete erasure of all traces left by the former emperor and empress dowager. Only parts of former Emperor Reyan’s reign would remain in history, and he was determined to eliminate any trace that the two had lived in the imperial palace.

“Demolish the palace where my father stayed and build a new one, but the palace where the princess stayed……”

The emperor’s orders were swiftly carried out, and soon, the demolition of the palace where the former emperor had stayed and where the last banquet had taken place began, with new construction starting.

“Since there was originally a pond there, how about preserving it and creating a garden?”

“Do so.”

The place where that tragedy occurred needed to disappear.

Not so much for those who had departed, but for those who remained.

“Just in case, I asked the princess in advance, and she said she would stay in the empress’s quarters for the time being.”

The grand chamberlain, who had served the imperial family for many years, spoke cautiously.

The empress’s quarters, built just before Elia’s royal wedding, were extremely spacious with three buildings, making it a good alternative.

“Her Majesty the Empress also said she wanted to stay with the princess, so it’s a good arrangement.”

Above all, since the two got along so well, staying together like before was a small joy. Of course, the empress’s bedchamber was strictly separate, so there was no concern about invading the couple’s privacy.

“Leticia probably doesn’t feel completely at ease either. Nevertheless, since the empress is kind and gentle, if those two are together, we needn’t worry.”

“That is so.”

Watching the grand chamberlain bow his head, Rockfort rose and walked to the window.

“It’s raining.”

“Yes, it seems it will continue until evening.”

As if waiting for those words, Rockfort spoke again.

“Since the weather is bad, I’ll visit the empress’s quarters this evening.”

“Yes.”

On sunny days because he was in a good mood, on rainy days because he worried about Elia’s leg that had been severely injured, and on ordinary days simply because they were husband and wife…… Rockfort always tried to find excuses, even if he had to make them up, to visit the empress’s quarters.

“I humbly report that the prime minister’s audience will be delayed, so the evening banquet will be difficult.”

“That’s fine. If I’m too late, tell the empress not to wait and to go to bed first.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After the grand chamberlain bowed and left, Rockfort, left alone, stared blankly out the rain-streaked window.

Though so much had happened, looking back, it all seemed like a dream and still didn’t feel quite real.

“Your Majesty, it’s Jayden.”

Before Rockfort’s contemplation could lengthen, there was a knock and Jayden entered and bowed. It seemed he had hurried back immediately after his mother’s funeral ended.

“I see.”

Sitting back on the throne, Rockfort silently met Jayden’s eyes for a moment. Since they had both lost their parents for the same reason, they understood each other’s feelings without needing to speak.

“I’m…… sorry about what happened to you.”

For the first time, Rockfort apologized to Jayden.

Jayden blinked as if he couldn’t believe it, then quickly bowed his head.

“It’s not Your Majesty’s fault.”

“It’s not your fault either. We simply ended the wrongs our parents committed in our generation.”

Those words sounded as if Rockfort was speaking to himself.

“Yes. From the moment I swore loyalty to Your Majesty…… I knew such a day would come.”

Cassandra’s existence was threatening to the imperial family’s continuation in many ways. This purge was absolutely necessary for Rockfort to establish his own reign and ensure his descendants would continue without issues.

“Yes, that’s right. I will not commemorate my mother. That is the minimum atonement I can offer to those who were pitifully sacrificed.”

“I will do the same.”

The conversation between the two men wasn’t long.

From the beginning, they understood each other’s positions better than anyone else, so there was no need for lengthy words.

“What has passed becomes the past. That is the principle of this world.”

Someday when this rain stopped, everyone, including Rockfort and Jayden, would need to forget the past pain. It was a natural principle since it was a choice made to gain a new future.

“Your Majesty’s words are correct. And personally…… I feel liberated at last.”

Rockfort silently nodded at Jayden’s sincere words. Both men had lived their lives chained by their mothers’ ambitions, so they could fully understand each other.

“This rain will stop soon.”

The current dark atmosphere and feelings would be the same.

“Then the bright sun will rise again.”

Rockfort murmured softly, still unaware of the great blessing that had already arrived for him.

“You should think about starting a family soon too.”

“……What?”

Jayden frowned at the unexpected words. Finding his expression somewhat amusing, Rockfort erased his dark expression and laughed.

“No matter how heavy the downpour, when I think of the family I will build in the future, I feel neither fear nor pain.”

The previous Rockfort would never have said such words.

“Jayden, you should find such a person too.”

Rockfort rose from the throne, approached Jayden, and patted his shoulder.

His sincere consolation and advice toward his old friend lingered more warmly than usual.

* * *