“I didn’t simply keep you by my side as a weapon to keep Artenbach in check.”

The crown prince slowly opened his eyes, and his words were filled with emotion.

“I sincerely cared for you. Even though I knew you were coveting desires and power that were beyond your reach, I still did.”

Hegelia rose from her seat and grasped the crown prince’s legs.

“Your Highness, I absolutely cannot leave the palace. If we just consummate our marriage, I will give you an heir to the imperial family.”

“Hegelia, do you really think I know nothing?”

The crown prince’s eyes were filled with a terrible loneliness.

“I know about the conversation you had with Aron. And that you desire the child you said you would forget about.”

“I…, Your Highness!”

“You were not Artenbach’s weakness, but my own.”

Hegelia’s body, grasping the crown prince’s legs, trembled. It felt like a final ultimatum.

“I cannot accept this. Divorce is absolutely out of the question, Your Highness.”

“If you do not accept the divorce, I will send you to the imperial villa on Roded Island.”

“Roded, you can’t mean…”

The crown prince bit his lip tightly. He had to cut things off before they escalated further. It was heartbreaking, but his position required him to give up even more.

“Your Highness, if you send me to that island, you will surely be criticized by the imperial citizens. Everyone knows what kind of place that is!”

“Then choose. Will you go to Roded under the pretext of recuperation, or will you get divorced and at least receive a pension?”

Hegelia trembled.

“…You’ve changed, pushing me to the edge of a cliff with nowhere to go and telling me to choose the worst path.”

“Hegelia, I haven’t changed.”

He sat upright, crossing one leg. Then, resting his interlocked fingers on his knee, he spoke.

“I told you the truth about my purpose for marrying you from the beginning. You knew that and joined hands with me, and our relationship was formed to use each other.”

“Still… how could you!”

Apart from their relationship of mutual benefit, the crown prince had felt some compassion and affection for Hegelia. He even had lingering feelings, enough to give her one chance.

But after hearing the news that Hegelia had left the palace to meet Aron, those wavering feelings completely vanished.

“Hegelia.”

His voice as he called her name was different from usual.

“I’m trying to end this before my feelings turn to hatred.”

Hegelia could say nothing. There was nothing more frightening than his hatred, shared with a dangerous secret.

“You were the one who betrayed my trust first.”

With those words, the crown prince rose from his seat. Of course, there were no parting words.

Surprising news was reported in the Tide, the newspaper that had exclusive coverage of the imperial family’s affairs. It was decided that the crown princess would be sent to Roded Island.

The article also stated that the reason for the long period without conceiving a child was due to the deteriorating health of the crown princess, and that she would undergo long-term recuperation on the island, which took two full days to reach by sea.

“In the end, the crown prince cast aside the crown princess?”

I asked, folding the newspaper. Askal offered me beautifully cut fruit and answered.

“The Commoners’ Association is demanding the abolition of the class system. They say the blood flowing in the bodies of nobles and commoners is the same human blood.”

This was discussed when I had an audience with the emperor after sending the children out.

The world was changing, and while efforts were being made to keep up with the flow, the Commoners’ Association took a somewhat forceful attitude.

Askal subtly implied that the commoner-born crown princess was the reason behind this, and even the emperor, who had little interest in power struggles, felt the need to suppress the momentum of the Commoners’ Association.

While I couldn’t know all the details of the imperial family’s circumstances, I speculated that the emperor’s influence likely led to sending Hegelia, a major pillar of the Commoners’ Association, to Roded Island.

After all, there were so many entangled interests between the crown prince and princess that there was no clear right answer.

“Askal, someday the day will come when the imperial bloodline and noble privileges that the Commoners’ Association desires will completely disappear.”

I cautiously opened my mouth based on knowledge only I knew from living in the 21st century.

“On the basis of everyone being equal, people will create power with money instead of titles or bloodlines. Similar phenomena are already occurring, aren’t they?”

Askal spoke with an understanding expression.

“Madam, you have both money and titles, so the day when your power disappears will never come.”

“That’s true. Thanks to you, I’ll live in luxury for the rest of my life.”

He laughed and jokingly said that since I had tasted power, I would never be able to leave him.

That made me suddenly curious about something.

“Askal, about the title you hold. You have the title of Baron Modesto in addition to Artenbach, right?”

Askal Modesto Artenbach.

That was his full name. It was a surname that Rublion did not have.

“Yes, I inherited my father’s title.”

“Hmm, I know there’s also the Barony of Modesto, is that correct?”

“Yes. If you pass the northernmost part of Artenbach, you reach the territory of Modesto. It’s quite a barren place where even in summer, the temperature barely reaches 5 degrees Celsius, making it difficult for people to live there. So, I’m planning to incorporate the barony into Artenbach’s jurisdiction.”

Incorporating Modesto into Artenbach would make managing the territory a bit easier. If developed well, it could even become a better tourist destination than the Artenbach hot springs.

‘I hope everything turns out well.’

There had been many hardships so far, so it’s okay to be happy now, right? Rublion, myself, and Askal too.

After hearing the news that the crown princess had been exiled to the island, peaceful days continued at the ducal house. The series of paintings drawn by Leodniro became so famous that people lined up to purchase them from abroad.

After finishing the Rumps story I had commissioned, he started his own independent story. As if repaying me, he beautifully adapted my story and presented it.

To exaggerate a bit, if a stranger saw it, they might think the me in the paintings was the goddess of art.

And I even found that series in the master bedroom and Rublion’s room. It was embarrassingly cringeworthy.

“It remains peaceful, Madam. If things continue like this, I will have no regrets.”

I was having tea in Askal’s office after stopping by the government office to adjust the funding for the art gallery.

“Yes, I hope it stays quiet just like this.”

I desperately hoped that the days would continue where my beloved Rublion diligently studied as the heir, and Askal and I did our best in our respective positions.

‘But… it’s suspicious how quiet it is.’

It felt like the calm before the storm. Along with that feeling, the moment Askal mentioned peace, my heart started pounding. I was gripped by an uneasiness that something might happen at any moment.

And that intuition was uncannily accurate.

“Your Grace, it’s Rimon. I’ll come in for a moment.”

Even though he knew I was inside, Baron Tirel hurriedly entered the office. He had a pale expression and was holding a summons.

“What’s the matter?”

The usual Askal would have grumbled about our time being interrupted. However, after confirming Baron Tirel’s poor condition and his unusual reaction, he asked seriously.

“A summons has arrived. Addressed to Askal Modesto Artenbach.”

There were often lawsuits filed by those who claimed to have been treated unfairly by him. So it wasn’t the first time receiving a summons.

“Who is the plaintiff?”

Ominous premonitions always hit the mark.

“…It’s Aron.”

“Damn it.”

No wonder it had been quiet. Askal quickly read through the complaint he received from the baron.

“On what grounds did he file the lawsuit?”

While he read the complaint, I asked Baron Tirel about the general contents.

“Aron… is demanding that the title of Baron Modesto be handed over.”

“What?”

I wondered what this meant. Askal, who had finished reading the complaint, handed it to me and muttered.

“I can’t kill this bastard…”

The complaint stated that although the Artenbach surname had been taken away, he was the eldest son of the former duke, Horte Modesto Artenbach, and therefore had a duty to inherit the title of Baron Modesto left by him.

Furthermore, it also stated that Askal Modesto Artenbach, the current head of Artenbach and the second son, had taken the title of Baron Modesto on the grounds that the heir was a minor, and that he should be held accountable along with the return of the title.

The lawsuit was so absurd that Askal and I could do nothing but let out empty laughs.

Aron had already become a commoner, and his reputation itself was at a level that lowered the dignity of the nobility, so the probability of winning the lawsuit was low.

However, Baron Tirel began to pour out his opinion as if he were anxious.

“Your Grace, Aron is demanding a noble trial with the imperial family as a witness, claiming legitimacy. Of course, the possibility of him winning is almost nonexistent, but I have a separate concern.”

The baron pointed his finger at a sentence in the complaint. It was the part about having a duty to inherit the title of baron as the eldest son and the heir being a minor.

“I hope the debate doesn’t flow that far, but in the late duke’s will, there is a clause stating that the title of Baron Modesto should be inherited by the eldest son unless unavoidable circumstances arise.”

This was the storm. I immediately realized what Baron Tirel was worried about.

“According to the will, it would be correct for either Rublion or Aron to inherit the title of Baron Modesto.”

Baron Tirel nodded at my words.

“Yes. However, when he was wandering outside, Your Grace said you would succeed the title to save the starving people of the barren Modesto territory. It was also arbitrarily permitted by the imperial family.”

“That’s the problem. Arbitrarily permitted.”

“Yes.”

I let out a deep sigh. This was an issue that could potentially affect Rublion as well.

“Above all, we must keep in mind the possibility of him babbling about the young master in the courtroom.”

Baron Tirel uttered a terrifying situation.

My mind froze coldly.