The sickly Emperor’s life was hanging by a thread, and the person who should succeed him should be Grand Duke Rekton, who clearly had imperial blood.

Not only did he have the red hair and green eyes that were symbols of the imperial family, but he was also the only person with the legitimacy to be the next Emperor.

Miss Cynthia had been Marquis Mallon’s mistress, then Sir Den’s woman, then Count Zillen’s affair partner—she had changed her romantic partners countless times. How could her child become the Emperor’s son from a one-night relationship?

‘If his hair color hadn’t been red, things would have been different.’

The Duke could not add anything more.

The Grand Duke’s neck was strained with anger, and his expression suggested he might throw him out at any moment.

The Duke rose from his seat and bowed his head to the Grand Duke in apology.

“I spoke out of turn. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

At the Duke’s attitude, the Grand Duke softened his emotions and spoke.

“Ross. Take your seat.”

The Grand Duke accepted his apology, and the Duke stepped back.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

He cleared his throat and expressed his gratitude once more.

His firm belief was that even if Leytan became Emperor without backing, he wouldn’t last long, and it was Hesion, the Grand Duke’s son, who would ultimately claim the imperial throne.

‘There’s nothing to gain by falling out of favor.’

He had his daughter Amy in mind as a match for Hesion.

If his daughter were to become Empress in the future, the Lukbiche family would grasp far greater power than they currently held.

The Grand Duke pulled Ross, who kept bowing his head, back to his seat and wore an expression of resigned tolerance.

“I understand why you brought up such a topic.”

After finishing his words, the Grand Duke picked up his teacup and stared at the tea leaf residue that had settled.

“You’re concerned that if Leytan becomes Emperor, I would be the first enemy he’d need to eliminate.”

“Your Highness.”

“From Leytan’s perspective, my family and I would be burdensome existences.”

At the Grand Duke’s words, Ross groaned and sighed.

“But if I were to become Emperor, conversely, Leytan’s life would be in danger.”

Following his statement, a brief silence settled in the room.

The Grand Duke drank his tea to the last drop, and no residue remained in the cup he set down.

“I don’t want to claim the imperial throne at the cost of killing my nephew.”

He calmly revealed his true feelings.

“Instead, I’m thinking of befriending Leytan. If I become a reliable family member, he won’t be wary of me and the Rekton family.”

“So that’s Your Highness’s thinking.”

“About this upcoming banquet. What do you think about sending an invitation to Leytan as well?”

“Pardon?”

“I’d like you to arrange it, Duke.”

The Duke concealed his disgruntlement and displayed a hearty laugh.

“Of course. If that is Your Highness’s wish, I will send one to His Highness Imperial Prince Leytan as well.”

At his words, the Grand Duke smiled and lightly patted the Duke’s shoulder.

The Duke, who had been swallowing his frustration, looked at the seemingly unburdened Grand Duke and spoke.

“……Then shall I also send an invitation to Baron Ariogen?”

“Do as you please.”

“I’ve heard that Hesion thinks particularly highly of Miss Esta.”

The Grand Duke’s response to the Duke’s bold question was unexpectedly modest.

“Well. He seems to have lost interest lately. You know how it is at that age. Friends change frequently.”

At this unexpected news, the Duke inwardly rejoiced.

The young lady from a humble family who was always by Hesion’s side had been irritating him.

Hearing that Hesion’s interest had cooled, he sought to firmly grasp the opportunity.

“Then do you perhaps have a young lady in mind as Hesion’s match?”

“Haha. Duke. He’s only thirteen years old. I plan to leave marriage matters to his own choice rather than the family’s decision. Keep your interest to yourself.”

At the mention of personal choice, the Duke barely managed to keep his hand, which nearly went to his forehead, on his knee.

To think of marriage, such a crucial family matter, so lightly.

He couldn’t understand Emil, the Grand Duke.

“Well, you have three children, so you must have many considerations. I overlooked that, Ross.”

“Ah, not at all, Your Highness.”

“Your son’s name is Vilter. And your daughter’s name is Amy? The other one’s name is……”

“Vi-Vieta, Your Highness.”

“Now that I think about it. I seem to have seen Vilter and Amy a few times. But I’ve never once seen Vieta.”

“As Your Highness well knows, she’s a child we cannot present in society.”

The Duke indirectly answered that Vieta was a shameful existence born from his misconduct.

Seeing the Duke’s attitude, the Grand Duke quietly sighed and spoke.

“I’ve heard the rumors. That the child’s mother had an affair with a knight and left the ducal family.”

“It’s all my fault for being incompetent.”

The Duke painfully uttered words he didn’t mean.

“But your wife is raising her with love, isn’t she?”

“Pardon?”

“Honestly, other nobles would immediately expel a maid who became pregnant, or do even worse things.”

At the Grand Duke’s words, the Duke could only lower his gaze.

The reason he hadn’t known about Susan’s pregnancy was because Susan had hidden the child’s existence by wrapping her belly with bandages.

Vieta was the one who had stubbornly survived in Susan’s womb while she performed her arduous maid duties.

The child was born, and the Duke tried to shirk his responsibility, but because Susan’s child was the only one who took after him exactly, he was somehow bewitched and couldn’t drive her away.

He briefly thought about the past he had forgotten, then met the Grand Duke’s eyes again.

“It was my fault. Naturally, I should have taken responsibility.”

“Don’t make such an expression. You’re doing well enough.”

The Duke gained a small hint from the Grand Duke’s words.

That other nobles might try to confirm the relationship between Vieta and the Lukbiche family.

He recalled the Vieta he had seen.

Always tangled hair, a damp thin nightgown. And a skinny, unsightly body.

If nobles were to see her appearance, it would naturally lead to gossip.

He had intended to confine Vieta in the attic with Susan, but the Grand Duke’s interest forced him to change his mind.

‘Still, she looked somewhat presentable when dressed in a gown.’

The Duke stroked his chin lightly, recalling Vieta wearing Amy’s dress.

“Then would it be alright to introduce my children to the young duke?”

“Of course, man. I’d be fortunate. The stuffy gathering of old adults would be quite boring for Hesion too. The more friends, the better, wouldn’t you say?”

At the Grand Duke’s additional comment, the Duke smiled with genuine sincerity.

‘If Amy can just capture Hesion’s heart, she could claim the place beside him.’

※※※

‘How can it be this quiet.’

Vieta lay in bed, staring at the faded ceiling.

The attic, which Winter didn’t climb up to, truly fulfilled its role as a peaceful sanctuary.

Still, her predictions hadn’t missed the mark at all.

The truth about the love letter found in the greenhouse remained a secret known only to the Duke and his family, and to avoid the shame of his wife’s infidelity, he showed no particular reaction even in front of the servants.

The Duke worried about scandals attaching to the Lukbiche family.

The rumor that both husband and wife had affairs would certainly make excellent gossip fodder for the nobles.

Winter was the same. She anxiously watched the Duke’s mood, fearing that her misconduct might bring dirty rumors to her natal Peckdor family.

In this precarious coexistence, Vieta also had to find another way to survive.

Vieta quietly rose after checking the empty water bottle with her eyes.

She kissed the forehead of the soundly sleeping Susan and left the room.

‘To live alone with Mother, I’ll need money. But with this weak body, I can’t even do hard labor.’

She was young, had not a single valuable item in her possession, and had a sick mother.

Leaving the ducal residence with nothing meant possibly starving to death on the streets.

‘Ten more years until my coming-of-age ceremony. I need to find a way to leave this place before then.’

Vieta exhaled as she gazed down the long corridor, and the small sigh spread through the quiet hallway.

She moved toward the stairs. Faintly, youthful laughter drifted up from below.

As she descended, the murmuring voices became clearer, accompanied by the fragrance of nameless flowers.

Unlike the bare branches flaunting themselves outside the window, an early spring had arrived in the corridor.

Elaborate flowers filled the vases, and servants were cleaning the dust that had accumulated on the windowsills throughout winter.

“About the banquet. What kind of nobles will come? Will we see handsome gentlemen famous in high society?”

“If you’re hoping to catch a noble’s eye, wake up. They won’t even glance at maids like us.”

“You never know. They might fall for my beauty.”

“Even then, you’d end up like Susan.”