“Why should you be afraid of the Grand Duke of Torkan who came just because he’s the king’s son? Everyone was excited because the Grand Duke’s entourage was spending an enormous amount of money.”

“Hey, did you not hear about that rumor?”

The man who was speaking bent down and whispered, so I couldn’t hear ‘that rumor’. Floyd also leaned over the table and whispered to Roxiana.

“They’re talking about how the queen killed my mother.”

“Do people all know?”

“No. But those who are perceptive and quick with rumors know.”

The people who heard ‘that rumor’ gasped, “Hik.”

“Don’t say such nonsense. If you say such things elsewhere and it reaches the queen’s ears, you’re a dead man.”

“I’m only telling you guys, where else would I say it? Anyway, if this is true, the Grand Duke of Torkan didn’t come here with good intentions.”

“But what can the Grand Duke of Torkan do? He didn’t bring many knights, so it’s not like he’s going to wage war.”

“I heard the Grand Duke of Torkan is incredibly strong. They say he can face dozens of magical beasts alone, so killing royalty by barging into the palace would be nothing for him.”

“Even if the queen is his enemy, the king is his own father, surely he wouldn’t…”

“Ah, I should go now. My wife will be angry.”

“You’re really under her thumb, aren’t you? You used to stay the latest before getting married.”

“I’m leaving too. I have to open the shop early tomorrow.”

A group of people stood up and left the tavern. Roxiana, noticing the bottle was already empty, called a waiter and ordered another bottle of alcohol.

“There are commoners who are well-informed about the situation.”

“Yes. That’s why I often go to taverns to eavesdrop. And…”

Floyd narrowed his brow.

“We have an uninvited guest.”

Wondering what he meant, Roxiana tilted her head and then sensed a presence right next to her and turned her head. Someone had sat down in the seat next to Roxiana. That person slightly lifted their deeply pulled-down beret with their index finger and smiled at Roxiana.

“It’s been a while, lady. Ah, I should call you Grand Duchess now.”

It was Aiwis Brede, the captain of the Catus Knight Order.

She was wearing black pants, a white loose-fitting shirt, and a vest over it, looking completely like a man. Roxiana blinked at the unexpected appearance of this figure.

“I’m sorry for interrupting your good time. I couldn’t resist the urge to greet you when I saw a familiar face in the tavern I just entered.”

“Ah… Lord Brede. It’s nice to see you.”

Realizing belatedly that she hadn’t greeted him, Roxiana hurriedly greeted him, and Aiwis took Roxiana’s hand and lightly kissed the back of it.

“You’re beautiful today as well. You were incredibly beautiful at the engagement ceremony, weren’t you? It would have been nice if I could have seen you in person, but someone didn’t invite me.”

Saying that, Aiwis glanced at Floyd.

“I’ll send an appropriate engagement gift later.”

“It’s okay. Just your congratulations is enough, Lord Brede.”

“Please, call me Ath.”

Come to think of it, Aiwis had asked to be called by his nickname last time too. Roxiana hesitated for a moment, not sure if she should call Aiwis, whom she had only met a few times, like that, and then said.

“Alright, Ath. Then call me by my name too.”

She compromised with using his name since he didn’t ask to be called by a nickname, but Aiwis smiled broadly without any sign of being offended.

“Yes, Roxiana. It feels like we’ve become much closer.”

“That’s enough.”

Floyd, who had been watching Aiwis with his arms crossed and a displeased expression the whole time, interrupted.

“Ah, I should greet the Grand Duke as well.”

“Skip that too. What business do you have in Gania?”

“It’s a bit difficult to say here, so I’ll visit the mansion tomorrow.”

After Aiwis left, Floyd and Roxiana also left the tavern. In the carriage heading to the mansion, Roxiana asked worriedly.

“Will our situation change now that Lord Brede has come to Gania?”

“No. I won’t let that happen.”

“I hope he didn’t come because of us…”

+++

Elise paced anxiously around the bedroom, biting her thumb.

Lucas had not reversed his decision. A room for Elise was prepared in the Crown Prince’s palace, and it was more splendid than the Crown Princess’s palace where everything had been sold off, but such things didn’t even register in her eyes.

‘What should I do? What should I do?’

Already, the royal doctors who would be in charge of Elise had visited once to examine her and left.

If there was only one royal doctor, she could have figured out their personality, found their weakness, and pondered ways to make them her ally. But as if anticipating such thoughts, ten royal doctors had come.

It was probably Christine’s order.

‘It’s okay, this child will be Lucas’s.’

Until just recently, she could believe that, but now that things had gone wrong, her anxiety grew.

‘If it’s not Lucas’s child, what will happen to me?’

She would be beheaded for the crime of insulting royalty. Lucas, who had only accepted Elise because of his child, would not show mercy.

‘He would kill me and this child too.’

When the thought reached the point that even the child’s life was in danger, her heart tightened. Elise placed her hand on her belly.

‘No, this child must live. But how? How can I smuggle this child out while the royal doctors are watching? How can I deceive the eyes of the royal doctors?’

The best scenario would be if the born child is Lucas’s. At least if it had blue eyes resembling Lucas and herself, she could somehow insist on it.

Even if the child grows up without any resemblance to Lucas, by then the king and queen would already be dead and gone. Because she would make it so.

“Master.”

Just then, a welcome voice was heard. Elise brightened up and ran to hang on Ranian’s neck. Only after smelling the scent of blood from Ranian did Elise recall the order she had given him.

“How did it go? Did you kill them all?”

Ranian grinned.

“Yes, master. I do anything you command.”

“R-right? You’ll do anything I order? Then you could kill all the royal doctors too, right?”

“Of course. Shall I take care of it now?”

“No, wait.”

If all the royal doctors died at this point, Elise would be suspected. Even without evidence, Christine would not hesitate to corner Elise. She would probably even fabricate non-existent evidence.

‘And Lucas won’t take my side anymore either. He’s already full of doubt. Killing the doctors won’t help. They’ll just bring in new doctors anyway…’

She felt suffocated. Elise covered her face with both hands, then removed them and asked.

“Bucks, we’re in big trouble. Everyone suspects that my child isn’t the Crown Prince’s. Royal doctors will come in when I give birth. What on earth should I do about this? Huh? Do you have any good ideas?”

“I’ll do anything you want, master. I’ll be by your side.”

“You being by my side is no use at all! Tell me another way. I said give me a good idea!”

Ranian just blinked while smiling. That sight made her furious.

Come to think of it, Ranian had never offered an opinion first. He only carried out what Elise ordered, never taking initiative to do anything.

Anger welled up and she slapped Ranian’s cheek.

“You idiot! You don’t know anything and you’re useless!”

Ranian’s face, which had turned sideways, returned to its original position. Ranian was still smiling. As if he hadn’t been hit, as if he still revered Elise.

The submissive face that had only been pleasing until now gave her goosebumps.

Ranian wasn’t human. She finally realized that he was like a doll that couldn’t even think for himself.

Elise slapped Ranian’s cheek again. She struck his cheeks until the fair skin swelled up red. Still, the smile didn’t disappear from Ranian’s face.

Elise, who had been unable to think of anything else due to worry about the child, suddenly thought of Roxiana.

A cruel thought occurred to her. It seemed like a very good idea. At least it seemed like it could relieve this feeling of struggling alone.

“Bucks. Roxiana Franche is in this city.”

Even hearing his sister’s name, Ranian’s eyes didn’t change at all.

“I heard Roxiana Franche got engaged to the Grand Duke Ratean of Torkan. She’s risen in status thanks to the Grand Duke Ratean.”

A smile spread across Elise’s lips.

“Will you kill her for me, Bucks?”

“Both of them?”

“No, just Grand Duke Ratean. Cut off Grand Duke Ratean’s head and bring it to me.”

She had no intention of killing Roxiana.

She wanted Roxiana to experience the feeling of losing everything while still alive.

“Can you bring it to me?”

“I’m not sure.”

“What did you say?”

“I will go to kill Grand Duke Ratean for you, master. But I’ve heard that Grand Duke Ratean has the strength to kill magical beasts in an instant. The black magic I use is similar to magical beasts, so it might not work properly on Grand Duke Ratean. I might be killed by Grand Duke Ratean. But I’ll try my best to bring you his head for you, master.”

This child might die?

Elise stared blankly at Ranian, who was now her only ally.

If Ranian dies, Elise would truly be tied hand and foot. Now that she was under surveillance in the Crown Prince’s palace, she couldn’t afford to lose Ranian too.

“Ah, no. Don’t do that. Forget about Grand Duke Ratean… Just… Right, call Retrochica for me. Tell him to come meet me quietly. How long will it take?”

“Retrochica is already in the royal palace. He’s meeting with the Crown Prince, so I’ll quietly relay the message as soon as the meeting is over.”