When Heathcliff urgently rushed into the Imperial Palace, Greta was washing her hands with clean water. Despite having hands that seemed free of any stains, the water used to wash them turned murky, resembling blood.

“Leave.”

The maid, who heard Greta’s command, silently moved aside. Simultaneously, the door creaked open.

“Mother!”

It was Heathcliff. Knowing that he had experienced a shameful incident at Windsor’s townhouse and hurriedly come here, Greta welcomed Heathcliff without surprise or reproach.

“Mother, it’s so shameful and embarrassing that I can’t live with it!”

Heathcliff sobbed. His face, already dirtied with a beard, was now soaked with tears. Greta wiped her wet hands with a handkerchief brought by another maid and opened her arms.

“Oh, Mother!”

Heathcliff jumped into Greta’s embrace.

“The prince is a mischievous one. He only seeks his mother in difficult times.”

In Greta’s tender comfort, Heathcliff sniffled. Although there was a faint scent of blood on Greta’s chest, Heathcliff pretended not to notice.

‘Mother must have done something terrible again.’

Shivering at the thought of how Hopeland Changbaek died, an immense fear that he had felt before overwhelmed him once again. However, Heathcliff no longer feared Greta as he did before.

‘As long as I don’t turn her into an enemy.’

If he listened well to Greta’s words and followed them, he would remain a good son. Greta, as she had always been, would be his most reliable ally. The most certain and strong shield and spear at the end of which Yurisien would be brought to him.

Heathcliff, betrayed by Yurisien, had grown into a ruthless man, even willing to use his mother for his goals.

‘So, he became the heir to the emperor, the prince.’

Greta found such a change in Heathcliff very welcome. Heathcliff had started thinking and moving on his own. As a mother, there was nothing happier than this. No matter how frightened she had been, he had ultimately returned to Greta.

‘Unlike the foolish Lafine, who really tried to betray me.’

In the end, a girl’s heart is like that. Foolishness that goes crazy over a man. Knowing that Lafine would fall head over heels for Benjamin, Greta had sent her to Kendall’s side a while ago.

‘They should have reunited by now.’

Whether that place would be heaven or hell, Greta didn’t know.

Hehe, Greta smiled beautifully, as if it were impossible to think that she had just committed murder. Then, she tenderly caressed Heathcliff’s head, who was crying in her arms.

‘My admirable and naive son.’

Greta embraced him as if he had collapsed into her arms, kissed his forehead, wet from kneeling down, and held him tenderly.

“Prince, do you still want the lady?”

Greta asked affectionately.

“To be honest, Mother… I think a more foolish woman suits the prince. A more obedient and cute woman.”

However, Heathcliff shook his head. After burying his face in Greta’s wide skirt for a while, sniffling, Heathcliff, with eyes filled with madness, looked up at Greta.

“It has to be Yurisien.”

“Oh, Prince…”

“Yurisien. I want her.”

What could be seen in Heathcliff’s eyes, similar to Greta’s, was certainly not love. It was a deep, intense affection filled with hatred.

Eyes full of ambition and desire for conquest gleamed with madness. Now, it was getting close to arrogance. It seemed that if he could make Yurisien kneel and lie down under him, begging for love, his conscience would be relieved. And he wanted to love her, praising her for fitting that position.

‘That’s the right position.’
Heathcliff clenched his teeth and looked up at Greta.

“Please let me have Yurisien. That’s all I ask.”

You can do it, Mother.

Heathcliff tightened his grip on Greta’s skirt and exerted force in his hand. Then, as if coaxing for an answer, he pulled downward slightly.

‘Ah, it’s just like when I took my first steps as a child.’

It was adorable. So why would Greta refuse? Greta laughed while brushing the hair of her son, who was fixated on another woman with his head bowed in front of her.

“Of course, Prince. I will help you have the lady.”

Heathcliff did not hesitate, as if it were entirely natural.

Greta admired Heathcliff’s dignity and growth. Although fixated on a woman, the clear purpose that had emerged was a remarkable development. Watching her son grow day by day brought great joy.

“So, this time…”

Greta said, gently patting her son’s cheek.

“Do not interfere with this mother. Understand?”

“Haven’t you found it?”

“No. It’s not visible.”

“That’s strange. Wasn’t there any contact from the guild member who infiltrated the Imperial Palace?”

“No, I’m sorry.”

Benjamin, who had been pacing in the bedroom, threw himself onto the sofa and sat down with a cynical tongue-click.

For nearly two hours, they had mobilized more than fifty members of the Copelador guild for a search, but there were no substantial clues.