Margaret took a deep breath quickly and immediately spoke.

“Tell Bake. I gained the emperor’s trust through this incident.”

And no matter what anyone said, she was still his person.

Margaret smiled with both hands on her chest. Despite the tension, she hoped it wouldn’t show. She had no intention of helping Bake, but the information she obtained from him could be useful.
Finally, she could be of help.

And someday, when her worth is acknowledged…

Margaret gathered her hands as if praying. A deep smile adorned her lips.

Unbeknownst to her, there were several eyes silently observing the secret rendezvous.

“Viscount Craiton moved?”

“Yes, he definitely said so.”

“Was he hurt?”

Margaret’s pupils shook noticeably. It was an unexpected answer.

Blushing, Margaret clasped her hands together.

Being worried felt unfamiliar, but it didn’t feel too bad. To be more precise, it didn’t feel bad to be protected; it felt like she had become someone precious.

“…I’m fine.”

“Thank goodness. Nothing serious happened.”

“It wasn’t to cause harm but to persuade him. As you know, I’ve been with him for a long time.”

“Is it still the same now?”

“Oh, no! It’s not like that anymore, unlike before!”

Ruzen already knows about Margaret and Bake’s relationship. Even if she tried to hide it now, it would be pointless.

But even though he knew, Ruzen didn’t want to mention that relationship. After briefly gauging Margaret’s reaction, she spoke again.

“If he comes back, everything will return to the way it was before. I know that much.”

If Bake returns, the trial over Craiton’s inheritance will be null and void. Her child will become the successor, not the owner of Craiton, and depending on how things unfold, the child might not even become the successor.

Bake has never shown deep affection for the child.

Margaret closed her eyes tightly.

It was all because of Merial.

Ever since the child was born as a result of a scandal, Bake lost interest in the child. If he were to look at the child with affection, things might change a bit, but it’s too much to believe in such an uncertain possibility.

The child, who would be sleeping soundly in the arms of the nurse by now, hadn’t inherited a single drop of Bake’s blood.

If Bake were to find out about that fact?

Margaret raised her head forcefully. She didn’t want to think about it anymore.

Margaret took a deep breath and stared at Ruzen.

“I can finally be of help to His Majesty.”

“Help?”

“He asked me to do something.”

To be precise, it wasn’t a request but an order.

Margaret pursed her lips, contemplating that fact.

If she had asked for information or something, it might have been better.

“What did he ask? Did he ask me to gather information for him?”

“I wish it were that.
A loving husband and an adorable child. Looking at Rivianna, who made up a perfect family, always left a bitter taste in Margaret’s mouth.

It wasn’t happiness that she should be enjoying; it should have been hers.

Constantly thinking, and at times acting on that thought, Margaret projected herself onto the image of Rivianna.

Later, after marrying Bake and having a child with him, she had vowed to smile like Rivianna with such warmth.

However, she found herself unable to do so.

Not only did she lack the capacity to hold a child who didn’t inherit Bake’s blood, especially when she saw the same silver hair, the child who had been left behind came to her mind.

Even her decision to entrust childcare to a nurse and avert her gaze elsewhere was for that reason.

But now she felt it might have turned out better that way.

Although unintended, with the change in the child, her real child became safely distant from the power struggles.

“He wants to use my child as bait.”

“Bait? Whose?”

“Felt von Beiden. It’s about the brother of His Majesty, who was declared dead a long time ago.”

“……. ”

“Are you very surprised?”

Margaret rolled her large eyes while scrutinizing Ruzen’s reaction.

Although she had heard something about Felt from Bake, it was only a small part. What Margaret knew was a bit more than the rumors circulating among the people.

But it would be different for Ruzen.

Before the young emperor inherited the throne, he had conflicts with his stepbrothers.

“He couldn’t reveal himself and disguised his death because of him,” Margaret said.

“Is their relationship strained?”

“I don’t know the details because he didn’t tell me, but it’s as certain as he is aiming for Craiton. But if that happens…”

“Both you and the child will be targets. If he can get his hands on the child, he can easily get Craiton without shedding a drop of blood.”

“……. ”

Shouldn’t they stop the trial even now?

Margaret’s face turned pale at the ominous thought.

“Still, the fortunate thing is that I know my brother well. We’ve been fighting for quite a long time.”

“…A long time?”

“Just because we share the same blood doesn’t mean we get along.”

“……. ”

“But that’s also over now. I can’t just stand by and watch anymore.”

As long as your safety is at stake, even more so.

With an unwavering gaze, Margaret’s ears turned red in her perfectly straight posture.