How much time had passed?

Carlos, sitting in his office, tapped his fingers on the desk. Ines’s voice echoed in his mind as he was lost in deep thought.

‘Let’s get divorced.’

His brows furrowed as the emotions from that day resurfaced.

“Divorce?”

He let out a bitter laugh as if the thought was still ridiculous.

“Who does she think she is to decide on divorce?”

It was nonsense. If he had been willing to grant a divorce so easily, he wouldn’t have made Ines queen in the first place. And to say such things when there was a child about to be born. Carlos was still shocked by the word ‘divorce’ that Ines had uttered that day. Moreover…

‘Even if it’s not your child? Would you still feel the same if, as the rumors say, this child belongs to Joseph or the Marquis?’

“How could she say such things?”

After denying it so strongly. After insisting that it was his child and begging him to believe her. How could she now want a divorce and say such things? Even if those words were true, she should have desperately hidden it for the sake of the child, for her own sake.

“If she had done that, at least I…”

I wouldn’t have done such cruel things.

Carlos gritted his teeth as he recalled what he had done to Ines.

What he had done to Ines that day left only regret, guilt, and pain. The pleasure was momentary. That day’s events left Carlos with an indelible sense of guilt. Something that, if he could turn back time…

But suddenly he wondered if he truly wouldn’t have done the same thing even if he could go back and hear those words again.

He couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t be hurt by Ines saying that being with him was horrible. He couldn’t have simply ignored Ines’s request for divorce in the same situation.

“Haa…”

Carlos let out a heavy sigh and clutched his head. Where had it all gone wrong?

Should he have apologized to Ines when he found out she was actually the Duke’s illegitimate child, when he realized she had been abused by the Duke?

After pondering for a moment, Carlos shook his head.

“No, it’s better to leave the past in the past.”

From the moment he decided to hide the fact that he was the one who spread the rumors, he had resolved not to dig up the past.

He decided that from now on, he would make Ines happy. He resolved to show her his changed self and slowly make amends.

Feeling terribly sorry for not knowing she had been abused by the Duke and thinking she was just a beloved noble lady, he tried to approach Ines first, talk to her, and take care of things he had neglected.

‘I never thought things would get this complicated…’

A bitter smile crossed his lips.

He knew Ines wouldn’t welcome him, but he thought she could at least open her heart a little in response to his efforts, and his words unintentionally became sharp. But he never imagined divorce would be her response.

How did it come to talk of divorce? As he retraced their conversation, a scene flashed through his mind.

‘You know too. The rumors about me before I became queen. Do you also think I injured my leg while having an affair with another man? Do you… do you really think I orchestrated the necklace scam?’

‘…At that time, I probably did believe it. After all, rumors don’t just appear out of nowhere.’

Was it after that answer? When Ines’s attitude changed in an instant.

Perhaps she had been hurt by his thoughtlessly uttered words. Carlos clenched his fist as he recalled Ines’s face, which had somehow looked devastated.

He couldn’t understand what he had been thinking to give such an answer. He had just been caught off guard by such a pointed question, and words he never meant to say had spilled out. It was too late to take them back.

As Carlos was regretting his mistake…

Herman entered the office and approached him.

His voice lowered, as if about to share important information.

“Your Majesty. There’s a strange rumor circulating among the people.”

There were always rumors, big and small. Carlos asked without much concern.

“What kind of rumor?”

“Well, that…”

Herman hesitated for a moment before answering.

“There’s a rumor that the late Duke Claudia had a mistress.”

“What?”

Carlos’s brows furrowed at the unexpected news.

“What?”

“Moreover, the description of the mistress is quite detailed. From her red hair to her age and height, even the fact that she stutters. Everything points to the maid named Llewellyn.”

It was practically the same as if Llewellyn’s portrait had been distributed throughout the city, just without her name. Carlos asked with a serious expression.

“Where did this leak from?”

“We haven’t figured that out yet. Could it be the Marquis’s doing? Though we’ve restrained him, we haven’t captured all of his subordinates.”

Tsk.

Carlos clicked his tongue in irritation. He had an ominous feeling that things were about to get troublesome. After a brief consideration, he ordered.

“We should move the safe house. Tell the knights to leave as soon as they’re ready. Look for a rural village this time, with few people and no young folks.”

“Yes, understood.”

“And who’s on guard duty now? Was it Jeremy?”

“Yes. Jeremy and Clarkson are there.”

“Clarkson…”

Jeremy was a subordinate Carlos had trusted for a long time. That’s why he had sent him to guard Llewellyn. But Clarkson hadn’t been a knight for very long.

Judging that given the circumstances, they needed someone more trustworthy, Carlos continued.

“Before moving the safe house, send Harrison instead of Clarkson. We should send someone more reliable since this will take longer.”

“Yes, understood.”

After Herman left with proper courtesy, Carlos leaned on his desk with his fingers interlocked.

“I hope nothing goes wrong.”

He couldn’t understand why he had such an ominous feeling.

* * *

Wellis was a small city not far from the capital.

Though smaller than the capital, this vibrant place was where Llewellyn was currently hiding. It had been chosen as a safe house, thinking it better to stay in a moderately bustling town rather than an empty countryside.

In a small two-story house away from the city center, Llewellyn had been fidgeting in her chair for a while.

“I-it’s done.”

She lifted her head with a joyful exclamation. In her hands was a white baby bonnet. It was a small gift for Ines’s soon-to-be-born baby. Llewellyn fondly handled the white bonnet, proud that it had turned out quite well for her first attempt.

‘It would be nice to embroider initials, but the baby isn’t born yet.’

Though regrettable, she’d have to send it as is.

Eventually, Llewellyn stood up, wanting to send the bonnet to Ines as soon as possible. Going to the post office was her only outing.

Just as Llewellyn was starting to prepare to go out, Jeremy approached.

“Where are you going?”

“T-to the post office.”

But upon hearing Llewellyn’s intention to go out, Jeremy glanced at his watch and replied with apparent difficulty.

“I’m afraid going to the post office now would be difficult. A new guard sent by His Majesty will arrive soon. We need to leave this place as soon as he arrives.”

“I-I see…”

Llewellyn’s expression noticeably darkened. Though she didn’t know the details of recent events, she could sense that Carlos had discovered that Ines was an illegitimate child. And that someone was threatening her.

She had been so surprised when they first came for her. If she hadn’t received the letter in Ines’s handwriting, she wouldn’t have gone with them.

Suddenly, Llewellyn recalled when Ines had suddenly visited the farm in the past.

She should have noticed something was wrong with Ines that day. She felt sorry for failing to understand her daughter’s feelings despite being her mother.

‘But seeing how His Majesty has provided guards, Ines must be doing well.’

The occasional letters she received also suggested she was doing well. With that thought, Llewellyn’s expression became a bit more relaxed.

Though she didn’t know exactly what was happening, they were going to such lengths to protect her with guards. Though disappointing, it was right to follow their instructions.

‘Then I won’t be able to send this for quite a while.’

Llewellyn stroked the bonnet with regretful fingers.

She had heard they would be staying in a remote rural area far from the city. Quite far from the capital, they had said.

The journey time wouldn’t be short, and even if she sent mail from there, it would take quite a while to reach the capital.

Though she understood it couldn’t be helped, she felt somewhat disappointed. Just then…

“How about we do this?”

Jeremy, who had been thinking for a moment, made a suggestion.