How the Abandoned Queen Made That Man Kneel - Chapter 60

Duchess Elizabeth Roberfon had been bedridden and unconscious for the past few days.

She had collapsed in shock upon hearing the news that Rose had nearly died at the hands of Katharine, and had been unable to move since.

The Duchess Roberfon could confidently say that while she may not have particularly loved Katharine, she had not mistreated her like other stepmothers.

Though not her biological daughter, Katharine had been pretty and clever since childhood, so she had high hopes for her in many ways.

She had paid expensive tuition to send her to the Royal School, and spared no effort in supporting her to secure a place in high society.

She thought that even if she couldn’t give love to a child without a drop of her blood, she had done enough as a parent to that extent.

“To think that insolent child would repay the kindness of raising her with enmity…”

My poor daughter Rose, how much she must be suffering now.

Duchess Roberfon sobbed, pressing her throbbing forehead.

“Sophie, what time did you say the execution was?”

Duchess Roberfon asked weakly as she turned over.

The maid Sophie poured some warm water and replied with a troubled expression.

“It would have started quite a while ago, my lady. Please try not to think about it anymore and get some rest for now.”

“How could I possibly sleep with peace of mind? Part of me wants to rush to the square right now to watch Katharine die. But I also pity her. No, come to think of it, the truly pitiful one is my daughter Rose! She should be punished after all. There’s no need for sympathy.”

Duchess Roberfon rambled on half-deliriously before burying her face in the pillow again.

While this incident would greatly damage the family’s honor, one fortunate point was that Rose was carrying the king’s child.

For now, that was the only hope she could take comfort in.

‘That’s right. Katharine was never my daughter to begin with.’

Meanwhile, Rose would continue to enjoy the honor of being the Queen of Kan, and the child in her womb would soon be invested as the Crown Prince.

Time heals all wounds, so there shouldn’t be any problems, she thought, trying to reassure herself. It was then that…

“My lady! My lady!”

Sophie, who had gone downstairs to get medicine, came running up shouting as if she had seen something unbelievable.

Duchess Roberfon let out an irritated sigh, covering her face with both hands.

“Child, don’t you know my head is pounding? Please, be quiet…”

“My, you don’t look well, Mother.”

Duchess Roberfon’s breath stopped.

If she hadn’t misheard, this was clearly Katharine’s voice.

Duchess Roberfon slowly lowered her hands covering her face, and as she turned her gaze to the side, she couldn’t help but scream in shock.

“Please calm down, Mother.”

Katharine was standing there, with a very calm expression, when her body should have been reduced to black ashes blown away by the wind and her soul fallen into hell by now.

“You, how…”

“I wanted to leave right away if possible, but I guess I can’t. I want to take a shower and pack up a few things I left at home. My room is still as it was, right?”

“What I mean is… Katharine, how are you here?”

“Ah, you still don’t know. Oh dear. I’m not sure you’ll believe me if I tell you so suddenly.”

Katharine gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear with a slightly troubled expression.

“Fortunately, my innocence has been proven.”

“Innocence? Child, please explain so I can understand…”

“Before that, we have a very important guest at our house. Please come downstairs.”

Katharine led Duchess Roberfon to the first floor reception room with leisurely steps.

Confused and unable to grasp how things were unfolding, the Duchess’s eyes fell upon an unfamiliar man.

That wasn’t all.

A luxurious carriage with a large double-headed lion crest, which she had seen somewhere before, was parked in the front garden of the mansion.

Sturdy knights in shining plate armor surrounded the house as if guarding it.

The unidentified man standing obliquely by the window slowly approached as Duchess Roberfon entered the reception room.

Katharine said, spreading her hands as if to introduce him:

“Mother. Please greet His Majesty Emperor Farnese Escalo of the Renel Empire.”

“What?”

She could do nothing but repeat that question.

Before she could even wonder why the Emperor of the Renel Empire was here, Duchess Roberfon found herself already bending her knee in respect without realizing it.

The man who had ascended to the imperial throne before coming of age and elevated the Renel Empire to the greatest hegemony in the Western Continent.

She had heard a few chilling rumors that he was a cold-blooded man without blood or tears, that he had ousted his father to seize the throne.

And now, Duchess Roberfon thought that perhaps those rumors might be true.

Up close, Emperor Farnese was even more massive than she had imagined, his eyes were more beast-like than human, and he was wrapped in an overwhelming aura that dominated his surroundings.

She didn’t know why, but she could tell just by instinct.

“I-I am honored to meet Your Majesty, Emperor of the Renel Empire.”

But the truly surprising thing was yet to come.

The Emperor, who had been looking down at Duchess Roberfon with eyes like a predator wondering how to kill its trapped prey, suddenly softened his expression and offered a handshake.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Duchess Roberfon. Please forgive my sudden visit.”

His voice was not merely sociable and kind, but even polite.

Why? What on earth does he want?

Duchess Roberfon was so taken aback and frightened that she forgot to respond to the handshake and didn’t know what to do.

Farnese gave a slight smile and then pointedly took Katharine’s hand.

Then, with an impeccably courteous and gentlemanly manner, he said:

“I have promised to marry Miss Katharine Roberfon, the precious daughter of the Roberfon ducal family. I thought this would be my only chance, so I came to formally greet you.”

Marriage?

Did he just say marriage?

Marriage to the Emperor means becoming the Empress, doesn’t it?

“It can’t be. You’re joking, right? There must be some misunderstanding.”

“I have no intention of joking, and there is no misunderstanding.”

“My goodness. You, you… it’s so sudden I don’t know how to respond… P-please, have a seat over here. I’ll have some simple tea and refreshments brought out.”

Sophie, who had been peeking from behind the wall with her mouth covered, hurried off to the kitchen to prepare tea.

Farnese and Duchess Roberfon sat down on the sofa in turn.

Katharine approached Farnese and said:

“Your Majesty. I should take a shower first. As you can see, I’m in quite a state.”

“It’s alright. Take your time.”

“Thank you. Please chat with each other. I’ll be back soon.”

The Duchess couldn’t help but be surprised by Katharine’s attitude, which showed no tension before the Emperor, casually patting his shoulder and whispering in his ear.

Moreover, the Emperor was giving her a consistently affectionate smile.

After Katharine went upstairs, the frightened Sophie set down the teacups, rattling the tray severely.

An awkward silence descended upon the reception room, with only the crackling sound of burning logs in the fireplace.

Desperately hoping for Katharine’s quick return, Duchess Roberfon gathered her courage and spoke.

“Um, is the black tea to your liking…”

“Let me tell you just one thing, no more, no less.”

Duchess Roberfon’s eyes widened.

Farnese spoke in a warning tone, with a completely different attitude from when Katharine was beside him earlier.

“If you’re thinking of playing the role of a mother now, you’d better give it up. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Why are you saying such things?”

Duchess Roberfon placed her hand on her chest and spoke pleadingly.

“Of course, I’m not Katharine’s birth mother. But I truly considered Katharine as my own daughter and raised her with care. So why are you saying such cruel things?”

“Yes, I know. I know that you raised that child with quite some care. Seeing how well-mannered and clever she has grown, I can’t say your efforts were entirely in vain.”

A faint light finally appeared in Duchess Roberfon’s complexion.

But that flush of color was soon mercilessly extinguished by Farnese’s next words.

“However, that’s because Katharine made the effort, not because of you. You must have planned to raise her as a flawless, perfect girl and marry her off to the royal family, then live in luxury as the mother of the queen.”

“Is, is that wrong? Isn’t it natural for children to succeed and repay their parents for raising them?”

“You’re wrong. Children fulfill their duty simply by being born healthy and growing up healthy.”

Farnese lightly swirled the steaming black tea in his hand and sneered with narrowed eyes.

“Well, I suppose you’ve achieved your dream in a way. You finally put your biological daughter on the throne as queen instead of Katharine…”

Farnese looked around the lavish reception room, which had been painstakingly decorated to intimidate visitors, and continued:

“For someone who was lucky enough to become the mistress of a ducal family after associating with a lowly ex-convict and laundering your status, you’ve achieved quite a feat.”

Duchess Roberfon’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.

Her hands, resting on her knees, trembled slightly, creating wrinkles in her skirt.

She managed to force out words in a rough, choked voice:

“I… don’t quite understand what you’re saying…”

“What don’t you understand? That your biological daughter inherited the blood of a commoner ruffian and concealed that fact from King Charlen when she became pregnant?”

Duchess Roberfon could no longer make any response.

To her, who could only move her lips with a desperate expression as if everything was now over, Farnese spoke in a seemingly kind voice:

“Come now. It’s troublesome if you’re already so shocked. You haven’t even heard what your biological daughter has done yet.”