The government was having a child with Ermedillin’s husband, yet it was everyone else who seemed to be at a loss, while Ermedillin herself appeared quite untroubled.

To be honest, Ermedillin felt indifferent upon hearing the news.

After all, she was free to leave the palace whenever she wanted, and if Valier decided to be more responsible because of the child, she thought it would be a good thing.

To put it more bluntly, what emotions could possibly arise when a child was born between two people she wasn’t particularly interested in?

However, as soon as the news spread, Loony burst into tears, and even Mago, who normally didn’t express his feelings, looked pitiful. Ermedillin was growing tired of everyone’s reactions.

‘I should clarify my stance at this point.’

“Isn’t it a good thing that the royal family is growing? I really don’t mind. I just feel like it’s something that happened. Of course, I hope the baby will be born healthy.”

There was no need to act; she was simply speaking her mind.

So nonchalant and natural was Ermedillin’s demeanor that Belelest and Liena couldn’t decide what reaction to show and said nothing, exchanging glances instead.

Loony and Mago seemed to have already given up, showing no interest and just ignoring the conversation.

‘Really indifferent?’

Pellio found it extremely hard to remain calm at Ermedillin’s reaction.

Everyone in the empire knew that Ermedillin was obsessed with Anrie, but she had not shown any sign of it lately.

But they were still married, after all.

Though Pellio knew it was a futile emotion, he felt jealous and anxious every time he saw the couple together.

Especially when he saw Ermedillin and Anrie riding side by side in a carriage during the National Foundation Day parade, he couldn’t count how many times he wanted to jump in and separate them.

‘Is she really indifferent?’

He blinked a couple of times, finding it hard to believe. Ermedillin’s face still looked utterly serene.

Unable to hold back a smile at her calm demeanor, Pellio turned his head away to regain his composure.

‘I have no feelings! Really, no feelings!’

If this had been at Roberto’s house, he would have burst out in joy, but this was outdoors. Pellio struggled desperately to regain his composure.

“Empress Ermedillin, you’re truly extraordinary. Quite generous.”

Belelest finally broke the silence after some time.

“Generous? Is that what this is?”

“Yes. If it were me and I learned my husband had another woman who was even carrying his child, I would have gone insane with jealousy. Seriously.”

Belelest nodded with a severe expression, as if the mere thought was horrifying.

“Well, I no longer have to worry about that now.”

While talking about her late husband and trying to force a smile, Belelest looked so pitiful that Ermedillin instinctively reached out and tucked a stray strand of brown hair behind her ear.

“I’m not generous. I’m just indifferent, so I don’t worry about it. I think you’re much more extraordinary.”

At Ermedillin’s praise, Belelest smiled and bowed her head slightly.

The smile looked sad but not bitter.

“Your opinion seems utterly foolish.”

“That’s the first time I’ve heard that I’m foolish.”

“What are you talking about? My brother and I have always teased you about being foolish.”

As they reviewed the resumes of orphanage teachers, Pellio, Belelest, and Liena had been arguing for a couple of hours.

Apparently familiar with each other since childhood, they had no hesitation in criticizing each other.
Even Riena had gone so far as to call Pellio, her brother’s friend, by his first name.

Ermendillin, who was slightly older than the three, looked on with inner satisfaction.

Hyeyoung was quite good at studying, but she had no choice but to go to a vocational school.

Ordinary children could choose between college and employment for their dreams, but at that time, she had no such options.

For her, attending college was a luxury she couldn’t even dare to dream of.

She had once worked parttime at a café in front of a university.

How envious she had been of the students who gathered and chatted, laughing after class ended.

Her early twenties were intense.

More so because she wanted to survive the right way in a world she felt cast into alone.

Thus, Hyeyoung’s early twenties were merely the backdrop to other youths who gathered in cafes in the late afternoon to chat with friends.

To think that she could now provide educational opportunities for children in similar situations filled Ermendillin with pride, as much as she wanted to escape her awful past.

She would have liked to join the conversation, but Ermendillin chose to quietly listen, as her educational background and family name were unremarkable.

Just being there made her feel giddy with excitement.

‘But I’m still envious. I want to join in the conversation…’

Suddenly, Velest threw a difficult question at Ermendillin, who was trying to keep up with the conversation.

“Right? The Empress would agree, too, right? This guy really lacks empathy!”