Richard’s illegitimate child?

I knew he was a frivolous man. But did he not even take contraceptives? The King’s head spun because of this stupid child tormenting him even after death.

As if forgetting the existence of the young duke, his own illegitimate child, the King cursed Richard like a madman. Only in his mind.

Then he quickly regained his composure. He was preparing to put the young duke on the throne… If Richard’s illegitimate child appeared on top of that, it was obvious that the country would be in shambles.

A country full of only illegitimate children, they would face great shame from all nations. Moreover, it was clear that the order of succession would change and it would become a mess due to power struggles.

Richard’s illegitimate child had to be hidden at all costs.

‘What on earth is happening?’

Count Cromwell, who was under house arrest, Count Cromwell who was on the verge of ruin! Why did he suddenly have so much?

Even with just the illegitimate child, his head hurt, but on top of that, the protection of the Emperor of Rome…

That daughter was no different from an enemy of the Count’s family. Is this what it means to not abandon blood ties? In the end, is she seeking forgiveness from her father who has gained the Emperor’s favor? After being raised so preciously.

‘I should have just gotten rid of her.’

He only kept her alive because she had enough private soldiers to be useful in the territory war, because he could extort a large amount of reparations, and because she had a sin, so she would unconditionally obey him.

Everything had gotten worse.

The King’s mind became insanely dizzy.

Now Count Cromwell would not obey him. Because he had gained a much stronger string than the King of this small country, the Emperor of Rome!

‘…No. Even without that string, just the existence of the illegitimate child was enough to threaten me. But he’s been hiding it all this time?’

The King, who was trying his best to remain calm, felt the urge to beat his chest.

‘That… that impudent bastard!’

Anger pulled at the back of his neck.

“I am glad that the Count found my grandchild. But why did you not bring the child right away?”

When asked why he waited until now, the Count replied with a painted smile.

“It is a child I found around the time Prince Richard passed away. As the Prince had passed, the atmosphere was not good… so I hesitated to bring the child.”

“Is there proof?”

“Hm. Doesn’t the child resemble him greatly? I brought the child thinking that Your Majesty would naturally recognize the bloodline upon seeing.”

It wasn’t wrong. Even the King was reminded of Richard as soon as he saw the child.

But this wasn’t the end. Appearances could be roughly argued for.

The Count could prove that this was Richard’s illegitimate child, and that’s why he brought the child. He would have already prepared all the evidence and methods.

“You brought the child just because of the resemblance?”

“Haha. Please do not say that. The Prince left something to this child. It is a precious item, so I am currently keeping it.”

“Then bring that evidence.”

“Your Majesty. If that evidence also crosses the threshold of the palace, wouldn’t there be bad rumors? As a loyal subject, I want to protect you.”

Damn him! The King took a deep breath and sank into his chair. If he got more agitated, he felt like he would collapse.

Then he thought for a long time. The protection of the Roman Empire, Richard’s illegitimate child.

“It seems the Count has something to ask of me. What do you want?”

The King asked in the kindest tone possible, suppressing his emotions as much as he could. He couldn’t be hostile, swayed by emotions. The Count held too many cards.

“I implore you to lift my house arrest. And after I paid the reparations, it has become quite difficult to maintain the number of private soldiers. I am Your Majesty’s loyal subject, so shouldn’t I have to fight the territorial war as you command? Can’t you provide support?”

Count Cromwell asked arrogantly.

“…Count. Are you mocking the Sun of Sheim?”

That tone was so grating and annoying. In the end, the King sternly questioned him.

“How could that be. I just, Your Majesty. I want to be Your Majesty’s loyal subject and hands and feet… But I am too restrained. That is all I lament.”

The Count answered brightly as if the King’s words did not hurt at all. The King gritted his teeth and glared at him.

“…Fine. I will… lift the house arrest.”

Observing how things flowed, if he found the right timing, he would definitely. The King resolved after witnessing the Count’s arrogance.

Though he wasn’t sure if it was possible.

“And hand that baby over to me. It’s my grandchild after all.”

“Unfortunately, the child is very fussy. Being in a state without parents, the child seems to have trouble adjusting to the environment, so I think it would be better for me to keep the child.”

“What?”

“Ah! Do not misunderstand. Of course, I must place the grandchild in Your Majesty’s arms. But the child seems to have grown attached to the wet nurse. If you take the child… Oops. I told my servant to send a letter to the newspaper company, but I forgot to tell them not to send it.”

“Count!”

“I think I can tell them not to send it if I hurry back with the child.”

This was a clear threat.

A threat that if the King took the child, the story of Richard’s illegitimate child would be plastered all over the newspapers. The King counted to ten and then answered, holding his forehead.

“I understand… Withdraw.”

For now, it was better to let the Count have his way.

The Count politely bid farewell and left the palace with the child.

‘He’s willingly putting the noose around his own neck.’

Bruno thought that he could write good news for the young lady in the letter, and followed behind the Count.

That day, the King had to ruminate on his anger all day long.

* * *

For a week after the first night, Carlos and Mercedes spent their days as usual.

No, actually they grew a bit more distant than usual. It was because Carlos became too busy. The two could only see each other in the evenings, unlike before.

Even those evening meals were skipped twice due to him being busy.

Perhaps because of that, Mercedes’ mood sank quite a bit.

No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like Carlos was avoiding her after the first night.

But whenever they ran into each other, he was nonchalant. Maybe he wasn’t avoiding her? But whenever she thought that and saw his relaxed face, her mood became strange again.

Mercedes would stutter and blush unknowingly just thinking about that night.

Did he really fall for her? Could it be that he was sick of her after the first night? Like Richard said… did she really have no charm? But Carlos that night seemed sincere…

Complex emotions, frustration, and even self-loathing welled up.

Amidst that, seeing the relaxed Carlos made her feel like these were just her own feelings, and Mercedes only thought that something was wrong with her.

It was probably wrong to have cared and given her heart in the first place.

So Mercedes deliberately focused on revenge.

Writing secret letters, writing letters to appease Count Cromwell, diligently taking lessons from Mrs. Fisher, participating in very small tea parties that didn’t require a partner, and continuing her dealings with Nadia.

However, she couldn’t help but keep spacing out and feeling a tingling in her heart.

“Hm. Your Majesty the Empress, is something wrong?”

No matter how much she tried to forcibly get a grip, she was quickly caught by the perceptive Mrs. Fisher.

“Ah. I’m sorry. Mrs. Fisher. I was just thinking about something else for a moment.”

She tried to act nonchalant, but Mercedes’ eyes were not shining as usual and were instead sunken in darkness. Mrs. Fisher considered the reason why Mercedes had become like this.

‘Aha…’

Then she quickly realized.

It had been a week since her clever student began to get lost in other thoughts. And the difference from usual was the ‘night’ event.

“The mood of the night is different for everyone. I don’t know how it was for Your Majesty, but if you had a new experience unlike your previous marriage, it is something to celebrate. It is not something to darken your mood over.”

“What?”

Mercedes looked at Mrs. Fisher in surprise. How on earth did she know! Her mentor seemed to be beyond a genius, perhaps even a god.

Seeing the surprised Mercedes, Mrs. Fisher smiled with satisfaction. Certainly, her emotional expression had increased.

At first, she was desperately immersed in studying and didn’t even know what her own emotions were, her eyes that looked like they were embracing only anger as if exhausted from old age, were uncomfortable to see.

But now, doesn’t she have quite the face of a maiden her age?

“Even if it’s not about the night, if it’s about love, spill it out. I’ll be better than the unmarried maids.”

It had been about three months since she met Mrs. Fisher.

The two had never talked about personal matters while having lessons. But Mrs. Fisher was the first to ask this time.

“I… suppose so.”

For a moment, she wanted to confide in her.

But did Mrs. Fisher really know well about this kind of thing?

It was common for aristocrats to have political marriages.

Wouldn’t this be a bit different from… that field? As Mercedes hesitated, Mrs. Fisher slowly opened her mouth.

“You know what? I was actually a precious daughter of a ducal family, a marriage item. But, I fell in love with a viscount. My father locked me up in the ducal residence.”

“What? You, Mrs. Fisher?”

“Yes. I, who was trapped, gathered cloth and tied it to escape through the window, and ran away from home wearing a maid’s clothes turned inside out through the dog hole of the residence.”

“Oh my.”

Wasn’t that tremendous courage! Mercedes exclaimed.

“And in a shabby inn, I spent the night with the viscount. Then I thought my father would give up since my value as a marriage item would decrease.”

Mercedes was momentarily flustered. She ran away from home and spent the night with her lover! It sounded like a story from a romance novel.

“Actually, at that time, I didn’t act calculatingly, I just felt my heart surging after struggling to run away and meet him. But that night led me to become the Viscountess, a free person, and even take up a professorship at the Academy. It was a night I am grateful for.”

“I feel like I’ve heard an incredible adventure story…”

“Now then. Now, would you like to confide in me who has extensive experience in love? Your Majesty the Empress?”

After hearing Mrs. Fisher’s story, it seemed okay to consult with her. Mercedes agonized for a long time and chose her words.

“His Majesty seems to be… a little, very busy since the first night.”

That was all she could say, but Mrs. Fisher instantly understood everything.

“Aha. Oh my. His Majesty is being too much.”

“Is… that so?”

When Mrs. Fisher took her side, Mercedes was a bit surprised as she had thought it was her fault for not being able to contain her own emotions.

“There is an easy solution.”

Then she even answered lightly.

Mercedes looked at her mentor, who seemed to be a master of love, with surprised eyes.

“What… kind of solution?”

“Push and pull. It’s the basics of love.”

Thinking that she had more things to teach her student, Mrs. Fisher chuckled.