“Honorable Empress, that woman isn’t visible today.”

Count de Toulouse inquired as soon as they finished breakfast. In their conversation, there was only one person who could be referred to as ‘that woman.’

“Madam, the young lady of Duke Lexington, mentioned that she wants to take a break due to health issues. What can I do about it, Count?”

Usually, just a sarcastic remark would have improved Patricia’s mood a bit. However, for some reason, Patricia couldn’t shake off an uneasy feeling.

It had been just a matter of adapting well enough to the infirmary until she felt at ease enough. However, when the Emperor called her out and spent private time with her, an inexplicable restlessness came over her.

It was her unique intuition that had been useful in bringing Count de Toulouse to his current position.

‘She was undoubtedly the one I held hostage.’

Still, Patricia strangely felt that Edith was taking advantage of the current situation. While holding my wife hostage, it didn’t seem ordinary for Lexicon’s subduke to file a lawsuit against the imperial family.

The time Elizabeth spent considering whether it was a good thing to have Edith stay by her side and take a vacation herself felt like a good development.

“That aside, Count. Have you found Rosaline?”

Unlike just a moment ago, Patricia’s voice was firm. Even though her mouth didn’t move as if it were glued shut, her lips didn’t part easily. However, Count de Toulouse eventually answered.

“Not yet. But recently, I caught traces of Rosaline heading towards the capital. We should be able to catch her soon.”

“She seems to have decided to hide among people. Rosaline is quite clever.”

Patricia’s jaws were already firmly set. It meant that she found this situation quite embarrassing.

After discovering that Rosaline, who had promised to return to her job after giving birth, was trying to hide. The Empress had been on pins and needles, paying full attention whenever the maid’s story came up.

Since she had always found that odd, Count de Toulouse had no choice but to ask.

“By the way, is there a reason why you keep looking for that maid?”

“……..”

For a moment, the Empress’s pupils shook slightly. It was because the moment she heard the question, memories of a long time ago came flooding back.

“I’ve prepared the bath, Miss Patricia. And… what should we do about that man?”

“Keep him confined for a few months. When clear signs of pregnancy appear, kill him and throw him into the sea. A man who resembles the young Emperor’s youth so closely would be hard to come by.”

The affair at that time was unknown to both my parents and Count de Toulouse. The old Emperor, who tossed me aside, naturally wouldn’t have known.

Calling it an affair also felt awkward. It was solely for the sake of having a child resembling the Emperor, as long as the child was infertile.

Soon after Claude entered the picture, and the man died. So, in this world, only Rosaline and herself knew who Claude’s father was.

‘But Rosaline… what are you thinking?’
Patricia tightened her fist as if to hold it tightly, but soon let it go. Instead, she replied as if it were natural.

“It’s because it’s a child I’ve had for a long time. I want to see if the beautiful baby has grown well.”

“By the way, Rosaline has been a maid with Honorable Empress since before she turned ten, right?”

“Yes.”

So she knows everything about me.

Patricia gently raised the corners of her mouth. For some reason, a natural smile didn’t come out, and the feeling was not entirely reassuring, but she could calm her mind.

Since Rosaline, the source of anxiety, had disappeared, Patricia couldn’t just sit quietly.

“Count, how much magical bomb made with stolen magic stones have you stored?”

Patricia experientially knew that one had to toughen up to prevent a knife from sticking into one’s back.

That evening, three luxurious carriages arrived at Lexicon’s mansion.

“What’s going on, Vane? You said it’s urgent.”

“Is there something wrong with Father’s health?”

“You’ve never called me like this. Is everyone okay?”

Melissa, Hestia, and Liliet, who hurried to the mansion after receiving their father’s message, were full of worry on their faces.

As soon as Vane entered the outer room, where he went from being a lofty noblewoman to a young lady in an instant, he spoke to the three perplexed women.

“It’s… quite a big problem.”

Even Vane, who usually had a calm personality, couldn’t help but be dumbfounded this time. If this wasn’t a big deal, what exactly was considered a big deal?

“Everyone, Lady Leah is gathering in the room she used.”

“Why in that room… Okay, we’ll go there first.”

The three women hastened their steps. Then, Franz showed an indescribable expression.

“You’ve come. Please sit.”

“What’s going on, Father?”

Franz took a deep breath before answering.

“We found out who Balthazar’s father is.”

“Then, isn’t it unnecessary to make such a big deal out of it? It’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

“Agnus XIV.”

“……?”