News of Merche showcasing the royal authority at the gathering of the five families had already spread widely. Elizabeth also obtained that information.

More detailed information from that occasion stated that Merche’s authority dominated all sacred beasts.

However… is that child really of royal blood?

−The eldest daughter of the Ashtad family, that exceptionally pretty child with blonde hair? ……Hmm. I’m not certain, but I once heard from the youngest child of that household. That her elder sister is not her true sister. Saying she’s a monster who doesn’t grow taller.

After learning that Merche was Rude’s companion, Elizabeth sought out an aristocrat who associated with the Ashtad family and heard a shocking story.

The claim that Merche is not the biological child of the Ashtad couple. That meant Merche did not have a single drop of Lupinus blood.

“No, my Lupinus…… I can’t let a parasitic flaw consume it…, even if I have to kill it! I must… stop it…!”

Elizabeth looked down pitifully at Genovefa thrashing like an insect inside the prison cell.

Foolish person.

To begin with, she wasted such a long time trying to educate a child who wasn’t even of Lupinus lineage as the Lupinus successor.

She even tried to sever the Lupinus line with her own hands, only knowing that Rude and Merche were in an incestuous relationship.

Truly, the one who tried to bring about the downfall of Lupinus in ignorance was none other than Genovefa herself.

“…It would be fortunate if that child is royalty….”

First and foremost, Elizabeth was deeply relieved that Merche was not related to Lupinus in any way.

Genovefa’s obsessive aversion to incest reached an ugly end, but in any case, an incestuous relationship was not very pleasant for her either.

If Merche is not related to Rude by blood, that certainly eases her worries.

However, there was still one thing. A lingering concern that persistently weighed on her mind.

Is Merche really royalty?

Is it realistically possible for a direct royal descendant to be lost without anyone knowing, and what are the chances of that unlikely person being Merche?

“…….”

Elizabeth closed her eyes and recalled Merche in her memory.

For some unknown reason, she had a vague conviction that Merche was not royalty.

She couldn’t provide a plausible basis or verifiable facts, but her intuition simply told her so. Merche is not royalty.

……A child who doesn’t grow taller. A child whose roots cannot be traced. And the final prophecy of Widentia.

If Merche, not Prince Magnus who tries to arbitrarily grasp and wield the kingdom, is the true protagonist of the prophecy.

Oh. Perhaps this is the case. Elizabeth smiled brightly and elegantly lowered herself in front of the prison cell.

“Genovefa. You are quite a lucky person.”

“Elizabeth……, Eliz……. Get me out of here! Right now!”

“If my son has truly recognized the great protagonist of the prophecy, that child will bring the glory of Lupinus you so desperately proclaimed.”

Of course, you will die without witnessing it.

Turning her back on Genovefa, who was shaking the prison bars in a frenzy, she leisurely left the underground without a moment’s hesitation.

The butler who cautiously followed her whispered in a low voice.

“Lady Elizabeth. I was informed that the family head is currently on his way to the castle. But that is, apparently….”

It was a report that Rude was finally coming here with Merche, defying both the wanted order and summons issued by the prince.

The butler, sweating nervously, looked up at her with desperate eyes.

It was an order from the prince who might become the king in the near future, no, it was almost certain.

Yet, the head of a family disregards it and endangers everyone in the castle just to hide his lover?

The butler clasped his hands together and trembled.

Please, may the wise Lady Comeeau intervene and stop this matter.

The wrath of the prince must not be allowed to sweep through Lupinus Castle and bring about a bloody storm.

However, instead of granting the butler’s wish, Elizabeth nodded her head lightly as if accepting the obvious fact.

“That’s how it should be. If it were my son, that would be the right choice.”

What? Unintentionally blurting out in disbelief, Elizabeth did not even glance back at him once.

Elizabeth continued walking without stopping and issued an order.

“Instruct the castle servants to keep their mouths shut and lock the doors so that not a single one of them can leave the castle. No one should disclose the fact that my son and Merche are in this castle.”

One day out of the ten days given by Iller Widentia. They spent all that time traveling to Lupinus Castle.

When Merche and Rude reached the castle gate after staying up all night, Elizabeth’s lady-in-waiting was there to greet them as if she had been waiting.

The lady-in-waiting silently guided them to the back door without asking any questions or offering any welcoming words.

“Welcome, my son.”

The castle interior was tranquil.

Behind Elizabeth, who approached Rude and held his hand, was a single lady-in-waiting accompanying her, the entire entourage, and no other servants were seen.

“……And Merche. I thought I wouldn’t see you again, yet here we are.”

“Lady Elizabeth. I hope you have been well.”

“Yes. I am ashamed to answer you as I have committed many sins against you, but I have been fine.”

Even after a brief exchange of greetings, the two silently gazed at each other.

Their reunion today was something they had never imagined even in their dreams, so their exchanged glances were complex and heavy.

“You look very tired.”

Elizabeth said softly.

In all the years she had seen Merche, she had never seen her like this before.

Even amidst Genovefa’s education that was no different from abuse, Merche was always unwavering, flawlessly perfect, and aristocratic.

But today, Merche’s exhaustion was evident at a glance.

The vitality that always sparkled like stars in the night sky had dimmed in her eyes, and her complexion was as pale as that of a sick person.

Although winter had passed, her body was slightly shivering and stiff, as if she was sensitive to the cold.

“If you know, then move aside. It’s obvious she’s tired just by looking, so why are you wasting time saying she looks tired or whatnot.”

As if even his mother’s gaze towards Merche was annoying, Rude blatantly hid Merche behind him.

“Butler! Where is that damn guy hiding and not coming out?”

As he shouted irritably, the butler hurriedly ran out from the side in a fluster.

“Yes, yes. I’m here, my lord.”

“What about the others? Why is it so quiet as if there’s not a single rat in the castle?”

“Ah. That is…….”

The butler looked around nervously, not knowing what to do.

The lack of people and servants in the castle was due to Elizabeth’s orders.

Fearing that even a single person might leave the castle and leak information about Rude and Merche, Elizabeth had all the servants confined to their quarters and placed them under surveillance.

“I have locked up all the subordinates.”

Rude, who was about to grab the butler’s collar, turned around abruptly.

He tilted his head slightly and frowned as if twisting his eyebrows.

“Locked them up? Why would you do such a thing?”

Did they collectively go on strike, refusing to work?

While he muttered his own seemingly plausible hypothesis, which was actually absurd to others, Elizabeth ignored him as if she hadn’t heard.

“It’s only natural. If any of them were to gossip about you two, a certain prince from the royal palace would immediately turn this castle upside down. I merely did what you should have done as the family head.”

In fact, if they followed her method, she would have made all the servants mute.

Elizabeth swallowed those words without uttering them.

While Rude might not have a strong aversion to such methods, Merche was not a child who would tremble at that cruelty.

There was no need to incur Merche’s hatred with unnecessary words.

“Even if you use such shallow tricks, it’s only a matter of time before the prince targets this castle…. But you two must have a proper countermeasure. I believe you already know that without me having to say it.”

As she said those words, Elizabeth gave Merche a fleeting glance.

It was a brief look, but Elizabeth meticulously observed that Merche’s body stiffened for a moment.

However, Rude was just as sensitive to Merche’s changes as Elizabeth.

“What countermeasure? If it doesn’t work, we’ll just get our heads cut off and die.”

Elizabeth’s words might not have been as sharp as a blade, but they were enough to prick Merche’s skin like small thorns.

Rude intuited that subtle fact through his instincts alone.

He completely shielded Merche with his unruly physique so that not a single hair of hers was exposed, and instructed the butler to prepare a room for rest and attending servants.

He even went as far as personally carrying Merche into the room.

“Rude. You don’t have to go this far….”

“Enough, do you even realize that we flew all day and night? You’ll stubbornly deny it, but your physical condition is a wreck. You’re a complete mess.”

“I’m fine. I have enough strength to walk on my own.”

“See. You’re being stubborn and insisting again. I knew you would.”

Having resolutely carried Merche to the bedroom, he gently laid her on the bed with carefully controlled strength.

Merche tried to sit up, but Rude’s hand was faster in pulling up the blanket.

“Please rest for once. You need to sleep.”

“Now is not the time to sleep. You know we don’t have much time left, Rude.”

“If you don’t sleep, I won’t either. Let’s see you try to fight it out?”