“What on earth is going on?”

Those were Ivan’s first words when he visited the Empress Dowager’s palace after hearing the rumors in question.

Katrina’s hand paused as she lifted her teacup.

“If you had stayed quiet, I would have become Emperor anyway, and you would have become the most noble lady in the Empire. Why did you do it?”

“Your Majesty.”

“Were you that desperate for the position of Empress?”

His attitude suggested he had already decided Katrina was responsible for the incident, without even needing to hear her side.

If it had been anyone else, she might have thrown the tea in their face. She might have become angry, demanding how they dared to insult her based on mere rumors.

But this was Ivan. No one else but Ivan.

The son she loved most in the world. Her proud Emperor.

The child she should support and believe in even if the whole world pointed fingers at him.

And now, the only being she could rely on and who should protect her.

Yet this son immediately suspected her.

Katrina bit her trembling lip before asking:

“…Do you believe those rumors?”

The mother I know is more than capable of such things. Ivan barely swallowed the words that rose to the tip of his tongue.

For him, it had long been not a rumor, but an established fact. Ever since that incident ten years ago.

He had no doubt that his greedy mother had finally killed Esmeralda.

His mother was someone who had to get her hands on anything she desired, and she had always coveted the position of Empress.

But he had never mentioned this in front of anyone. Keeping quiet was far more beneficial to him.

Who would have thought that this matter would now come back to haunt him?

“I didn’t kill that woman. Really.”

Katrina pleaded with her son as if truly wronged, but Ivan ignored her words and moved on to the next question.

“Why did you try to kill Blair?”

“Ivan! What kind of person do you take me for? That child is my daughter and your sister. I never tried to kill her.”

“So you admit to kidnapping her?”

“That’s…!”

“Because of that damned rumor! The royal family’s prestige, and my reputation, are about to hit rock bottom. Mother.”

“…”

“I thought things had quieted down after that, but… hah…”

Katrina stared blankly at Ivan, unable to say anything more.

It seemed her son cared more about the royal family’s reputation and his own face than his mother’s well-being.

Ivan looked at the seemingly hurt Katrina and spoke in a somewhat softer voice.

“Tell me everything truthfully, without hiding anything. Only then can I help you.”

Though it sounded like he was trying to comfort her, it was closer to an order.

Katrina scoffed at her situation.

Since facing Ivan until now, she had been telling the truth he demanded.

That she didn’t kill that woman.

That she didn’t try to kill Blair either.

But no matter how much she said, you won’t listen or believe. Does the truth even matter?

“…If I tell you, will you believe me?”

Katrina’s expression twisted sadly as she said this.

Ivan swallowed the irritation rising at the sight of Katrina like this.

His mother, who was always proud in front of others, acted pitiful and miserable in front of him. She knew this would weaken her son’s heart.

Facing her like this made him feel like an unfilial son, leaving a bad taste in his mouth.

Ivan sighed and rose from his seat.

“Don’t do anything more. I’ll take care of this matter myself.”

He left the reception room as if fleeing from her.

Whether Katrina’s words were true or false didn’t matter. To preserve the authority of the royal family and his own reputation, this rumor had to remain just that – a rumor.

But the Delmark family, who had insisted on Esmeralda’s innocence all their lives, would surely see this as an opportunity.

‘How can I make them keep their mouths shut?’

Ivan’s steps, as quick as his anxious mind, suddenly halted in the corridor. The memory of Herdin he had seen once came to mind.

‘Before being the mistress of Delmark, Your Ladyship is His Majesty’s only sister and a member of the royal family with noble bloodline.’

The image of Herdin urging severe punishment for Wesley and Rachel.

Ivan’s eyes turned strange as he recalled that memory.

‘I’m not sure if Blair is worth that much to him, but.’

Still, it was a possibility worth trying.

Ivan ordered the chamberlain waiting beside him.

“Go to the Duke of Delmark and tell him I want to see him tomorrow afternoon.”

* * *

The rumors spread throughout the Empire stirred up even the vassals of Delmark.

Shortly after the rumors spread, several elders from the most powerful vassal families of Delmark suddenly visited the Delmark mansion without notice.

Unable to turn away loyal servants he had known since his grandfather’s time, Herdin received them in the reception room. Their first words were…

“You should divorce the princess now.”

It was exactly what Herdin had expected.

“She was never a suitable match for Your Excellency from the start. To bring in the daughter of the enemy who killed the late Empress as the mistress of Delmark…”

“That’s right. It was nonsense from the beginning. How resentful must the late Empress be in her grave?”

They spoke with the premise that Esmeralda’s death was Katrina’s doing. It had been like this even before this incident, but the rumors had added fuel to the fire.

As their voices gradually rose, Luth, who had been quietly listening beside them, carefully interjected.

“Um, excuse me for interrupting, but there’s something I think everyone should know.”

The elders, thinking that the loyal Luth would become their ally, welcomed him into the conversation.

“That’s right, you should say something too.”

“Yes, as an aide, you have the right to speak.”

Luth hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“I agree with what you four have said, but Madam has different intentions from Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. She’s trying to recover her memories of the fire at the Empress’s Palace ten years ago. This is not a rumor, but a fact.”

While he intellectually agreed with their words, he felt uncomfortable as they seemed to express hostility towards Blair.

However, when Luth, whom they had assumed would be on their side, expressed a different opinion, the elders clicked their tongues in displeasure.

“Well, of course she should, if she’s a person who knows gratitude! She was someone who even cared for her political enemy’s daughter. If that’s all you have to say, you’d better stay out of it.”

“Anyway, it’s fortunate it’s not too late. What would have happened if she had already conceived a child of Delmark blood?”

Herdin smirked as he listened to their words.

Fortunate…

Is it really fortunate?

He asked himself this as he cut and lit a cigar. He heard one of the elders with weak lungs coughing from the smoke, but he paid no mind.

Luth quietly observed Herdin’s expression.

Herdin was listening to the elders ramble on without stopping them, but Luth knew from years of experience.

When Herdin kept his mouth shut like this, he was usually preparing to deliver a killing blow.

“Your Excellency, use this incident as an excuse to demand a divorce from His Majesty. Then, bring in a virtuous and modest woman as the new mistress to uphold Delmark’s dignity.”

As Herdin half-listened to the elders’ words, he realized anew.

There was no one on Blair’s side anywhere.

The royal inner circle was in an uproar, claiming she was blinded by men and slandering her mother and brother, while Delmark’s vassals were desperate to get rid of the enemy’s daughter.

Whoever spread the rumors had accurately and cleverly targeted Blair.

Whether one sided with the royal family or Delmark, she was bound to be the scapegoat.

Only then did he realize.

I expected this, from a mere eleven-year-old child. I expected her to fight against everyone turned enemy.

You’re still so small and weak even now at twenty-one.

I now realize that my hatred towards you in your childhood was just my own stubbornness.

That hatred was actually directed at my powerless self who could do nothing.

“Your Excellency! Are you listening?”

His reverie was broken by the elders’ voices piercing through his thoughts.

Herdin extinguished his cigar and spoke in a voice dripping with boredom.

“So what you’re saying is, I should use my wife until we resolve the late Empress’s grievance, then send her back to the royal family?”

“We can’t have the enemy’s daughter as our mistress, can we?”

“And you don’t care what treatment she’ll receive from her family afterwards, as long as your granddaughters become the mistress of Delmark?”

Though Herdin’s voice was extremely dry, his words hit the nail on the head sharply.

“Ahem, if you disparage our loyalty like this…”

“Loyalty, well, I’m not sure about that. But I can certainly see your love for your granddaughters.”

Herdin stood up with a face clearly showing his boredom.

“You may leave now. If you come unannounced like this again, I’ll have you wait outside, so keep that in mind.”

While the elders were left speechless, Herdin turned and left the reception room. At the same time, he encountered Blair passing through the corridor.