In her past life, Baller, or Je Yerim, the third-generation chaebol, lived without any shortcomings. Due to this, she didn’t obsess over the material itself, which could be easily obtained again, despite having a large basic allowance.

However, at this very moment, an unnecessary arrogance was triggered.

She ended up being pregnant with the Emperor’s child.

Naturally, the march should have been a slope, but due to the unfamiliar woman who didn’t even know her place, the march ended in chaos, and thanks to that, the atmosphere in Alhyun Sik became awkward.

Even though the Emperor, the father of the child, received congratulations from all the empire’s citizens, he couldn’t even board the same carriage, all thanks to this unexpected situation.

Then, towards the end of the day, she finally felt the joy of receiving congratulations, thanks to the splendid gifts. However, Henri, even that joy, was trying to take away.

In the end, the accumulated sorrow of Baller, which had been piling up since morning, exploded.

“I clearly said that these were gifts dedicated to Her Majesty’s child! Since I’m carrying the child, I’ll dispose of the gifts as I please!”

‘Is she crazy?’

The moment Henri heard Baller’s confident response, she doubted whether she had completely lost her mind.

Henri is also human.

Just an ordinary human whose red blood flows the same as anyone else when pricked with a needle. Even if she recalls the terrible childhood years when she was ignored by her biological parents and the desperate adolescence to survive, it won’t be a complete justification for the crime of killing her stepbrothers.

That’s why, as she eliminated powerful rivals one by one, the ordinary human Henri’s insides rotted, and the rotten flesh fell off, creating a black scar of heinous deeds emitting a foul odor.

Truly a demonic elevation gained by sacrificing the soul to the devil.

Baller didn’t necessarily agree with Henri’s methods, but whenever Henri was in distress, she would silently embrace and comfort her without any reproach.

Leopold had no interest in the throne, and although the influence of the Trevian domestic power was weak, there was a powerful background as a noble of the Valius Empire.

For the sake of possible future generosity, Henri had ordered the Duke de Fransuar to kill Leopold, who was staying at the duke’s residence at the time.

He was definitely dead for seven years.

However, the dead specter had now become a living person and appeared in reality.

After finishing the Alhyun ceremony and dealing with the delayed work, Henri, who had been exhausted, sought Baller’s residence, which she usually didn’t visit, simply because she needed her warm comfort today.

However, from Baller’s perspective, she could easily misunderstand that Henri, who might become static, was blinded by the suspicious treasures and was talking back to her.

“Are you in your right mind now? Are you really not going to give back the gifts you received from Leopold?”

“Whether I give them back or not, I’ll decide.”

Due to sporadic readings of the original work to fit into group conversations, Baller didn’t precisely know Henri’s situation.

However, at least she could understand that Henri wouldn’t be pleased to see the sudden appearance of her stepbrother. But now, from the moment she became pregnant with a child, the moment her long-suppressed sorrow and resentment exploded, there was no room to think that far for the woman who had just turned twenty.

“Huh.”

Upon Baller’s firm response, Henri gave a hollow laugh.

Baller, who knew the significance of her stepbrother, who had walked out of death, perfectly well, showing such a reaction, made one of the patches that had been barely holding together her wounds fall off, revealing a red and black sore underneath.

A chilly wind blew into the wound, and a dreadful pain was felt.

“The woman you killed, her body was purified and cremated.”

Henri, completely ignoring herself to the end, spoke with a heavy voice towards Baller, who was looking down at the jewel in her hand.
“So what? Are you here to reprimand me for my mistakes? I was just trying to protect the child of Her Majesty that I am carrying, that’s all.”

Henri realized it in an instant.

The woman in front of her was now nothing more than an empty shell, completely devoid of a heart.

There was no energy in Henri to engage in further conversation with Baller.

In the end, Henri left Baller’s bedroom without taking Leopold’s gift.

After the grand event, Ermeldine sought out Henri to submit a report before starting the sewage construction.

Even though it was a construction done by the Sabi, the sewage was a facility managed by the state, hence Henri’s final approval was necessary.

Ermeldine worried that it might be too early to come, but Henri had already begun her duties.

She promptly accepted the documents Ermeldine offered and seriously examined their validity.

“How does it look to you?”

Count Halstein, who was by Henri’s side, casually shrugged his shoulders as if there was nothing to criticize.