The three women couldn’t understand why Franz suddenly brought up the story of the Emperor.

“Is there something wrong with His Majesty’s health?”

Everyone in the Empire knew that the Emperor, regardless of who he was, was a single man with no interest in women and heirs. The reaction of the three women was somewhat natural.

Balter, his face filled with question marks, briefly summarized the situation for the three ladies.

“My mother, Lady Leah Lexicon, spent the night with a man who turned out to be His Majesty, Agnus XIV. My capable wife over there has already completed a kinship test using blood.”

“……!”

For a moment, the three people couldn’t help but doubt their ears. This wasn’t just about finding Balter’s father, and it wasn’t a simple story like finding a solution to calm a magic explosion.

“So you’re…”

“Imperial blood. Whether His Majesty recognizes it as a successor is uncertain.”
Since Lexion first entered and said that if he wanted to impress me, he should start by meeting my demands, I knew that Balter’s confidence was unmatched. Even knowing that he is the son of the emperor, he remained calm, gently comforting the excited child in his arms without getting caught up in the excitement.

Ironically, it was Franz who felt a mix of tension and thrill.

“Balter’s existence has completely changed the game. The power Patricia wielded so far came from the fact that her son was the only bloodline of the imperial family.”

“Being the successor between the imperial family and Lexion… By the way, how did you conduct the paternity test? Does His Majesty know about this?”

Instead of answering, Franz looked at Edith, who was sitting quietly next to Balter.

“While working at my clinic, I had the opportunity to steal… No, borrow a bit of His Majesty’s blood.”

The bold answer, contrasting with her gentle appearance, left the three ladies astonished.

‘Could it be that Edith accepted the position of Patricia’s maid from the beginning for this purpose?’

‘Having spent a long time with Princess Leah, maybe she caught on to something.’

‘Quietly observing, Edith seems to be the boldest. Now I understand why Balter can’t make a move.’

The three ladies looked at Edith with admiring eyes.

For a moment, goosebumps ran down Edith’s arm. As she looked at the faces of the ladies resembling Leah, an unexpected thought crossed her mind.

“Perhaps Lady Leah left the capital with the Emperor’s child in order to protect something.”

“Why, my lady?”

“Well, sometimes to protect what you love, you have to take a long detour. Whether to become stronger or to achieve your desires.”

At that meaningful moment of conversation, Edith finally seemed to understand the meaning.

‘She loved them both but didn’t have the strength yet. She wanted to protect both the 4th Prince and Balter.’

When Leah’s name came out of Edith’s mouth, everyone in Lexion paid attention.

“It’s time for the lady to return to the capital. She left Lowell Mansion when Balter was sixteen. That time…”

“When the 4th Prince, who couldn’t solidify his position among the successors, ascended to the throne by force, becoming Agnus XIV.”

Franz spoke with a trembling voice, and Edith looked at Balter beside her.

“That’s right. If Lady Leah had sent Balter to the imperial family when he was a baby, it would have undoubtedly been a weakness for His Majesty.”

“If there had been a child to take care of, she wouldn’t have solidified her power as quickly as she did. The situation would have been quite different between the imperial family and Lexion.”

“…”

In that case, there would be a blood relation between the imperial family and Lexion.
Naturally, the Emperor would have allied with the aristocracy, gained absolute power, and ruled the empire in peace based on it. Behind him, there would be successors inheriting both the nobility of the imperial family and the magic of Lexion, so there would be no reason for the imperial family to be uneasy as it is now.

Franz, hearing the words suggesting that everything might have been the daughter’s strategy to place Lexion in a position comparable to the Agnus imperial family, shook his head. When he looked at Leah’s deplorable appearance, who took potent potions every day to delay her death, Franz remembered what Leah used to say.

“Father, don’t look at me like that. Even if it’s a deadline, I will place Lexion in the highest position. I am your daughter, after all.”

Was her confident voice conveying such a meaning? When Franz thought about completing the puzzle left by his daughter, it felt like his chest was tightening, as if being moved by sorrow and joy.

‘If someone else became Lexion’s successor, they would have almost missed Leah’s intention.’

Franz was silent for a while, feeling an overwhelming gratitude that he couldn’t even comprehend. His three daughters also looked at Edith with affectionate eyes.

“Edith, thanks to you, I was happy every time I heard news about my sister, but now… What can I say, it seems inadequate to express my gratitude.”

“Compared to what Lady Leah has done for me, it’s nothing. And, what really matters is how His Majesty will take this.”

However, there was a warmth in the Emperor’s voice as he reminisced about Leah, unlike his usual tone. Edith decided to believe in that aspect.

Liriet wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, finally smiling.

“Yes. There will soon be an appropriate occasion to reveal this truth.”