Lucas silently glared at Joseph V, who was shouting with a red face. Joseph V was dumbfounded by the rebellious look in his son’s eyes, who in the past would have apologized after just one slap.

While still unable to resolve the Franche royal family incident, Engis Braisa, who was to become the Crown Princess, went missing while out for a walk with her maids. In the midst of investigators and people privately hired by Marquis Braisa searching for Engis’s whereabouts, Lucas came to announce.

That Elise Hailis was pregnant with his child, so she should be placed in the position of Crown Princess.

Lucas, who now had his own child, abandoned his previous timid attitude, but that was more of a problem. Why was he being so stubborn for such an absurd reason?

Christine, holding Joseph V’s arm, calmly said to Lucas.

“That woman won’t do, Crown Prince. Don’t you know that we must soon revoke her noble status and send her to the Borheka region?”

“The situation has changed now. Elise is pregnant with my child, and I want to bring that child here to the Lobua Royal Palace.”

“I don’t mean to drive away the Crown Prince’s child too. When Elise gives birth, can’t we just bring the child here to raise?”

“But that child won’t be able to become the king of this country.”

Joseph V shook off Christine’s hand and rushed at Lucas, grabbing his collar.

“King? She’s from Kanta and her father committed a crime. A crime worthy of death for the entire family, but that fool Victian softened and let that daughter live. And she, ungrateful, stabbed Victian’s family in the back. Do you really want the bloodline of such a woman to become king of this country? Really?”

“Elise is not the wicked woman Father thinks she is. There were various circumstances. And that child has inherited not only Elise’s blood but mine as well. It’s your grandchild, Father.”

“You fool!”

Joseph V let go of Lucas’s collar as if throwing him and went to the desk to pick up a paperweight. Christine screamed and clung to Joseph V.

“Your Majesty! Please, please stop. If you hit him with that, he’ll really die.”

“Better dead. It’s better if such a fool dies! He’ll bring ruin to Gania, so it’s better if he dies here!”

“How would I bring ruin to Gania? Elise is a clever woman. Father, you’ve seen what she accomplished in Kingteren, haven’t you? She’s also cultured. Except for being from Kanta, she lacks nothing to become Crown Princess.”

Joseph V silently glared at Lucas, who wouldn’t listen to reason, then collapsed into a chair. His head throbbed.

It was a mistake to designate the Crown Prince too early. He had done so simply because it was natural to crown the eldest son as Crown Prince, but he didn’t expect it would lead to this result.

It was too late now to change the Crown Prince. Joseph V knew that Lucas was secretly raising troops. At a time when views towards the Pelur royal family were already unfavorable, if internal problems arose, the royal authority would be in danger.

“It hasn’t been long since Engis Braisa went missing. Have you thought about what people will say if you suddenly put Elise Hailis in the position of Crown Princess?”

“She was just a candidate for Crown Princess, not the actual Crown Princess, wasn’t she? She disappeared while rushing wedding preparations, so if anything, it’s their fault. We can spread rumors that Engis Braisa ran away with a man.”

Such rumors might prevent Marquis Braisa from openly criticizing the royal family, but his anger wouldn’t easily subside.

Now that the royal foundation was shaking due to the Franche royal family incident, Marquis Braisa’s power and wealth were desperately needed, but they were about to lose it.

“Did Elise Hailis tell you to spread such rumors?”

“No, Father. Elise is only thinking about protecting my son now. She was originally planning to leave quietly without even telling me. Even when I found out by chance, she was only worried about the Pelur royal family. Asking how the honor of the Pelur royal family would fare if she didn’t take the blame and leave.”

Joseph V couldn’t believe Lucas’s words.

“Father, Elise is a woman with a kind heart and strong will. What she did to the Franche family was just revenge that Elise, who lost her family, had no choice but to choose. She cried so much while killing the Franche family.”

He couldn’t believe those words either.

Sure, she must have cried. Anyone can shed fake tears.

“Get out.”

“Father, Elise is…”

“I don’t want to hear it, so get out! Don’t think about leaving the palace. If I hear that you’ve met that woman, I’ll kill both you and her!”

After Lucas left, glaring at Joseph V with dissatisfied eyes, Christine gently placed her hand on Joseph V’s arm. She carefully spoke after observing her husband’s mood.

“Your Majesty, let’s bring Elise Hailis into the palace for now.”

“Even the Queen says such things?”

“That child seemed clever. She knows how to use what needs to be used and can be bold when needed.”

“So you’re saying that woman is perfect for the position of Crown Princess?”

“Of course not. I’m saying that if we pretend not to know and drive her away, that child won’t stay quiet. Even Lucas has fallen head over heels for her, so she won’t just sit back and take it.”

“If she doesn’t stay quiet, what can she do?”

“Your Majesty, a woman may be weak, but a mother is strong. Now that she’s pregnant, she’ll do anything to protect that child.”

Christine thought of Elliensa, Floyd’s mother.

“She’s probably already spread the news that she’s pregnant with the Crown Prince’s child. She might have added various other things too. In this situation, pinning all the blame on Elise and driving her away doesn’t seem like a good method.”

Joseph V thought the same.

“For now, bring her into the palace. For now?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s easier to observe and take action when she’s close. With all the commotion, tell them to postpone the wedding a bit, and it would be good to watch and then take action. Many things happen within the palace, so would there be a big commotion if she dies from poison? She could also die while giving birth.”

If she dies inside the palace, that fact can be controlled to leak at an appropriate time. No, they could even hide her death until the very existence of Elise is forgotten.

Joseph V’s mind finally cleared.

“Yes, that sounds good. Let’s summon Elise Hailis right away.”

+++

“Elise is pregnant…”

“Yes, Master. Elise Hailis’s side is subtly spreading rumors. That she’s pregnant with the Crown Prince’s child. There’s no one close to Elise who doesn’t know this fact. The nobles of Kingteren probably all know. They’re just keeping quiet because there’s no word from the royal family.”

Nelly picked up her teacup and observed Roxiana’s expression.

Now Nelly also knew what Lucas and Elise had done to Roxiana. She learned what Roxiana was trying to do by creating a guild and maintaining close exchanges with informants.

The day the bodies of the Franche royal family members were pulled from the well. The people who were there didn’t keep their mouths shut.

Lucas and Elise’s atrocities spread rapidly. Even Camadro Hopela, the Grand Priest who rarely shows his face, officially expressed regret for their barbaric acts.

Nobles from each country gossipped about it whenever they gathered, and newspapers still ran articles denouncing Lucas and Elise.

Journalists in Gania, under Joseph V’s influence, wrote articles criticizing Elise while omitting Lucas’s name. At this rate, it was clear that Elise would be abandoned by Gania, but Elise became pregnant with the Crown Prince’s child.

“Whether Lucas Pelur unexpectedly has paternal love or not, I hear he’s been frequently visiting the Kingteren Lord’s mansion after learning of Elise Hailis’s pregnancy. Sending lots of gifts too.”

Roxiana remained calm even as she heard the news that Lucas and Elise’s relationship had been restored. She tilted her head to the side, lost in thought for a moment, then asked.

“Is that child really Lucas’s?”

Nelly twisted up the corners of her mouth.

“Only God knows that. But whoever’s child it is in that belly, the truth won’t reach Lucas Pelur’s ears. Which man who had relations with Elise Hailis would open his mouth?”

“That’s true. But rumors don’t necessarily spread only when they open their mouths, right?”

Nelly and Roxiana exchanged secretive glances.

“Shall we spread it right away?”

“A little later.”

“If we delay too long, Elise Hailis might really become the Crown Princess. With Engis Braisa, who was a strong candidate for Crown Princess, missing, there’s no one to hinder Elise Hailis.”

“You don’t know what happened to Engis Braisa?”

“No, we hadn’t been checking that side closely… We’re looking into it, but if Marquis Braisa doesn’t know, our side doesn’t either. Marquis Braisa invested enormous funds in finding his daughter. We received requests too.”

“And still couldn’t find her…”

“No traces, no witnesses. The maid who was with her disappeared too.”

Roxiana stared at the red tea in her cup, recalling Elise’s auburn hair.

‘What have you done, Elise?’

She didn’t think Engis Braisa’s disappearance was a coincidence. If she intentionally removed the Crown Princess candidate, Elise would certainly take that position.

She would face strong opposition from Joseph V, but she would find a way.