“Everyone’s whispering how wicked that child must be. They wonder if Empress Liana introduced a bad child to the Grand Duke,” said Duchess Chase. She had failed to make her daughter the crown princess and bore ill feelings towards Empress Liana.

“I see,” responded Empress Dowager Lachia von Pendleton.

The Empress Dowager didn’t harbor ill feelings towards Liana. However, the relationship between the most revered woman in the empire and its current most revered woman was naturally strained.

Moreover, two additional factors complicated Lachia and Liana’s relationship: the premature death of the previous emperor and Berken’s excessive love for Liana.

Ideally, Lachia should have remained active for another 20 years, wielding power before retiring when it became tiresome.

But with the early demise of the previous emperor, Lachia became an elderly figure in the backroom at a young age, unable to fully enjoy the sweetness of power.

Amidst the regret of losing her position too early, another problem persisted.

Berken loved Liana too much.

Under normal circumstances, this wouldn’t be an issue. Why would the emperor’s affection for his wife be problematic?

The issue stemmed from Liana’s condition.

Liana Enzen Pendleton was infertile. She couldn’t bear children or produce an heir. Ordinarily, no matter how noble or talented, this condition would preclude her from becoming an empress.
Even this fact was revealed when Liana was only 15 years old, while she was still the Crown Princess. The Kaivurhan family, as loyal as the emperor’s first sword, disclosed their daughter’s condition and voluntarily expressed their willingness to step down from the position of Crown Princess.

Liana was still a talented scion of a prestigious family, so her life would have been secure even if she had stepped down from being the Crown Princess.

By addressing the issue early and proposing a solution, there was no risk of offending the emperor, and with her swordsmanship skills, Liana could have served as the head of the royal knights, even if not as Crown Princess.

The problem began when Berken refused the Kaivurhan family’s proposal.

“I will not marry any woman other than Liana.”

It was a stubbornness that no one, not even Liana herself, desired. Yet, Berken overcame all opposition with his affection for Liana.

Liana remained the Crown Princess and, six years later, became the Empress. Fortunately, while Berken was persuading Liana, the Empress Dowager Melchisedek became pregnant, resolving the issue of an heir.

It seemed all problems were resolved. The Kaivurhan family pledged their undying loyalty to the emperor, who showed unwavering affection and trust for Liana despite her infertility.

The Lertail Empire gained the greatest knight as its empress. The imperial couple, having weathered hardships together, fortified their trust in each other. With a healthy and intelligent crown prince, succession worries were also settled.

However, for Empress Dowager Lachia, the tumultuous events of that time were unforgettable. Even when Liana herself was willing to step down, Berken fiercely opposed it, ready to relinquish his position as the Crown Prince.

Lachia bore no personal grudge against Berken or Liana.

But separately, she could never forget her son’s most significant act of defiance. Even when Liana herself suggested breaking the engagement, the heir to the empire, the future emperor, was prepared to give up his position in a heated protest.

Having such an emotional Achilles’ heel in the emperor is not a good sign. Even worse, all the nobles of the empire were aware that the emperor’s emotional weakness was the empress.