Carlos, who had been quietly listening to Herman’s words, let out a disbelieving laugh.

“What an absurd rumor.”

It was such an out-of-nowhere statement. The rumor about her having an affair with the deceased Joseph would have been more convincing.

As far as he knew, there was no connection between Ines and the Marquis Descartes’ son. The cause of such an absurd rumor spreading during the month or two he was away was probably due to the Marchioness.

“I heard Ines has gotten quite close to the Marchioness Descartes. She probably exchanged a few words while visiting their house, which led to people’s misunderstandings.”

The social circle was more than capable of such things. It was probably just gossip spread by some noblewoman who happened to see the two talking. Ines was very good prey for them after all.

Moreover, when he saw Ines’s physical condition earlier, she wasn’t in any state to be having affairs with other men. How could she have secret meetings when she could barely take care of herself? It was a laughably false rumor.

Having sorted out his thoughts this way, Carlos ordered again.

“Instead of such useless rumors, find out about Ines’s whereabouts.”

At Carlos’s firm response, Herman’s lips quivered. Watching his subordinate’s hesitant reaction, Carlos narrowed his brows.

“Surely you don’t believe that rumor?”

“Well, that… there are too many convincing circumstances.”

“Circumstances?”

Carlos’s eyebrow twitched at Herman’s answer.

“Yes. Today too, Her Majesty the Queen was said to have visited the mansion to meet the Marchioness. However, the Marchioness was actually shopping at a salon with Countess Canola.”

“What?”

“That’s not all. Despite how close she’s gotten with Marchioness Descartes, Her Majesty has visited the mansion more than three times a week. She wouldn’t visit this frequently even to her own family’s house. Surely there must be…”

Herman took a breath before continuing.

“A special purpose.”

“……”

Carlos’s face darkened as he listened to Herman’s report. There were more than a few strange points in his explanation. However.

‘An affair while pregnant.’

He had only been away for a month or two. How could they have met and developed into having secret meetings in that time?

Moreover, even if it were true, the Marquis and Marchioness Descartes wouldn’t have just stood by.

After contemplating with a serious expression, Carlos seemed to organize his thoughts and lifted his head.

“While the circumstances are suspicious, I won’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes.”

“Then you mean to ignore these rumors?”

“If as you say, Ines visited the mansion that frequently, there must be a reason.”

“Should we send people to investigate the Descartes mansion?”

“No.”

Carlos firmly shook his head.

“I’ll go and confirm it with my own eyes.”

* * *

How many days had it been since Carlos’s return?

In the early dawn while everyone was asleep, Ines swayed aimlessly in the rattling carriage.

Her eyes were dry as she stared at the brightly shining moon through the window.

The hope that she wouldn’t have to go to the mansion for a while now that Carlos was back had disappeared.

‘Your Majesty. Now that you’re feeling better, I think it would be good to visit the Descartes mansion.’

‘At this hour? But with His Majesty at the palace, how could I… I thought we would refrain from visiting the mansion for a while.’

‘It seems Young Master Alfredo’s body has reached its limit while you were resting. The palace guard rotations haven’t changed either. The fact that you’ve been frequently visiting the mansion must have been reported to His Majesty, but since he hasn’t said anything, he clearly isn’t too suspicious.’

When Carlos first arrived at the palace, he seemed to interrogate Margaret. Because of that, Margaret had avoided visiting the Descartes mansion and laid low for a while. Ridiculously, it had only been just over a week.

Since it was something she couldn’t refuse, Ines eventually got into the carriage. She felt like livestock being led to slaughter.

The thought of going to the mansion again and writhing in pain made her dizzy. She wanted nothing more than to run to the Sun Palace right now and tell Carlos everything.

‘There’s no one else in this room but me. So tell me. What’s the reason you’re injured like this?’

Carlos’s previous question flashed through Ines’s mind. It was a moment when she had almost told the truth without realizing it.

But Margaret’s warning voice as she left the room made her keep her mouth shut.

‘I just ended up getting angry at Carlos for nothing.’

Even though it was this side that foolishly couldn’t say anything, she stupidly resented Carlos for not taking her with him.

‘If I had confessed everything right then…’

Then she wouldn’t be in this carriage right now. The situation where she had thrown away her last chance herself was just miserable.

As Ines was deeply ruminating on that day’s events for a while.

The carriage’s rattling stopped.

“Your Majesty. We’ve arrived.”

They had arrived at the Descartes mansion. Ines’s body trembled as she faced the reality after breaking from her thoughts.

Ines got out of the carriage and walked into the mansion. The darkness-filled mansion was quiet.

Ines’s steps were heavy as she headed to the second floor. As she got closer to Alfredo’s room, a familiar scent stung her nose.

Ines frowned and blocked her nose with her fingers. It was a smell she could never get used to no matter how many times she smelled it.

‘They said it had pain-relieving effects.’

The stronger than usual scent was proof that Alfredo’s pain was worse than usual.

When that thought reached her, Ines unconsciously gripped her skirt. After all, Alfredo’s pain was practically her pain too.

Ines opened the door with slightly shakier hands than usual. Then she saw the figure of a man exhaling groans along with white smoke.

When she carefully approached the bedroom, her eyes met with Alfredo who had turned his head.

“Y-Your Majesty…”

The man who finally realized Ines had come painfully raised himself from the bed. Then he staggered over to Ines on trembling legs and clung to her.

“Qu-quickly… please. It, it hurts so much. Your Majesty… So please hurry…”

“……”

This was also the only moment when Alfredo treated Ines respectfully.

Ines, who had been staring at the man begging her, let out a short sigh. Then, as if she had finished preparing herself mentally, she placed her hand on his shoulder.

A golden light enveloped Alfredo. When the light that was amazingly bright no matter how many times one saw it diminished, Ines let out a painful groan.

“Ugh!”

Around the time Ines collapsed to the floor as if crumbling and was taking shallow breaths.

In contrast to her state, Alfredo’s previously dead expression brightened. He raised both hands high with a refreshed face as if he had just woken up from a good sleep.

“Now I feel alive again.”

Alfredo, who had been moving his body this way and that as if trying to loosen up his stiffened body, picked up the collapsed Ines in front of him. Then he threw her onto the bed.

“You shouldn’t get so lax just because His Majesty has returned, Your Majesty. Do you know how much pain I was in because of you?”

Alfredo’s voice was tinged with resentment towards Ines.

He looked down at Ines while running his fingers through his hair. Drops of water fell from his hair that was soaked with cold sweat.

“Do you know? There are strange rumors going around about us two right now.”

Alfredo continued speaking as he met eyes with the dazed Ines.

“Would you believe it, they’re saying I’m having an affair with Her Majesty the Queen in bed. Well, it’s hard for rumors not to spread. After all, you’re always moaning in the bed where I lie under the excuse of meeting my mother.”

As if proving those words, Ines was only taking shallow breaths with half-lidded eyes. The corners of the man’s mouth stretched long as if finding this situation amusing. He smoothly pulled at the ribbon fastened at the front of her dress.

Due to the limp ribbon, the front of Ines’s dress came loose.

“It wouldn’t be bad to make the rumors true but…”

His green eyes that resembled the Marquis’s swept over her chest.

“While I enjoy women in pain, I don’t have a taste for rolling around with women carrying another man’s child.”

Letting out a snicker, he got up.

“You must be very hot. The medicine was a bit strong since Your Majesty came late. Well, I’ll tell them not to let anyone in. If you’re hot, you can take off your clothes or whatever.”

With those final words, Alfredo left the room. His steps were light as he went outside for the first time in a while.

When Alfredo went out, a servant greeted him as if they had been waiting. Finding his half-unbuttoned shirt cumbersome, Alfredo took it off and handed it to the servant.

“Draw me a bath, I want to wash quickly after sweating for the first time in a while.”

“Yes, understood Young Master.”

“Ah, and don’t let anyone into my room for now. Her Majesty isn’t in her right mind yet. How could we let anyone see the Queen in such a disheveled state?”

He left the place giggling, finding this whole situation amusing.

He failed to notice that someone was watching him.

—

T/N: Everyone in this novel is a piece of sh*t.