I could only use magic, the only thing I knew, to create a barrier between the children and us. It wasn’t visible, but it was a wall that blocked sound, ensuring that what was happening here wouldn’t be heard by the children.

Fortunately, whether the magic worked well or not, the children soon lost interest in this place.

“Ha… Wh-what are you doing now!”

“I told you. Please… please… stop it, Abamamama. I… I will protect my wife. Even if I have to sacrifice Abamamama next.”

“What nonsense! Ha… Felicia, are you okay? Are you!?”

For the first time, I heard the woman’s name. She had never introduced herself. She lived in such a way that she didn’t even know common courtesy.

And at this moment, she just stared at my hand as if her senses hadn’t returned. When a person experiences extreme pain, they don’t feel any pain, and she seemed to be busy looking at my arm.

“Your Majesty… I… I…”

“Until now… I let it go because Abamamama was pleased, but as the Empress said, from now on, I will reveal everything. From the men who visit that woman’s house to the fact that the child she cares so much about is not a noble. Everything.”

“No, that child is my child!”

“I clearly told you last time. That child is not a noble. Haven’t we finished the examination? After seeing that, after hearing that… you still act like this?”

Lian seemed exhausted for some reason.

“No, it can’t be like that.”

Still, the Emperor just shook his head, trembling.

“Why do you hold that child so dearly, Your Majesty?”

“What?”

“Why do you cherish that child so much? I asked.”

“Of course, because he’s my child…!”

“Why do you give so much affection to Azeltrina Princess, who has been made a non-existent existence, and then make that child not a noble?
The conversation changed in an instant. The Emperor, who had just been angrily expressing himself, stiffened his expression.

“If it’s not because of senility causing mental instability, you should remember.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Princess, huh? Ah, that missing princess.”

“There was a princess who tried to kill and then forged her status. A princess who made you lose your mind. Are you going to deny that, Your Majesty?”

“…”

“Why? Do you regret not properly killing the daycare manager? The magician who cast a spell on Princess and the one who became the Emperor’s puppet at the same time all confessed. Are you going to deny it now?”

With every word I spoke, the Emperor’s face hardened.

“What does that mean, Isabella?”

“Exactly as it sounds. Your Majesty, you drove my child to death.”

“That child… Do you really mean that, Abamama! Really… do you?”

“I don’t know. Even if I say I don’t know, you keep making a fuss! Oh, I’ll leave now… um… well.”

Whether he was trying to secure his own escape route, the Emperor turned his body, staggered, and walked away.

“Yo-Your Majesty! W-What about me! Are you leaving me here like this?”

But the Emperor, whether trying to secure his own escape route or not, left Felicia without hesitation, abandoning her.

“Oh, ah… W-Wait, Your Majesty. Your Majesty! How can you leave me if you don’t have me…”

It was then.

Lian, who had been looking at them with a helpless expression, looked at the Emperor emotionlessly.

“I resent myself. Now that I can’t do anything. I would like to ask Abamama for forgiveness, but… I can’t even ask. But there’s something I can do now. I will cut off all support. I will let you live. Even if I hear slander, I will endure it. That’s the best I can do.”

“…”

But Emperor Rahel didn’t say anything. His silence became a self-confession of his own sins.

“And you.”

Lian, sitting down, looked at Felicia, who was holding onto his arm.

“I will take action later against you, who dared to bear a false child of the nobility. I will make sure to punish you for the lie.”

“I-I… so… it’s not a lie…”

“Nonsense. I’m holding back the desire to cut off that arrogant tongue right now, so keep your mouth shut.”

Only then did Felicia pout with an unjust expression.

But now that Emperor Rahel had left, there was no one on her side.

“Take that bug with you.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”