“The Princes are very young, so it seems natural that the responsibility lies heavily on the one who takes care of them the closest.”
The Countess said with a regretful face.
The Empress seemed to agree with her words as she gently fluttered her fan.
‘It’s the Empress’s doing.’
The Countess proclaimed herself the Empress’s spokesperson.
It was clear who had instigated Count Epilton to create this disturbance.
“What a tragic incident.”
“It’s a catastrophe!”
As the Countess spoke in a sad voice, Count Epilton fervently nodded his head.
‘It’s like a rigged card game!’
Was it because he was angry or because he was afraid?
His heart was beating wildly,
A look of pleasure appeared in the Empress’s eyes as my face hardened.
The one who could determine the current situation was none other than Empress Wayeno.
I calmed myself down and pleaded with the Empress.
“Your Majesty, Empress Mama, Prince Louis and Prince Evan are the sons of His Majesty, the Emperor. Young Lord Giovanni has denied it.”
My words sent a chill through the room.
The fact that a lowly person had spoken seemed to irritate the Empress, her brow furrowing. Annoyed as she might have been, she could not fault my words, as they were not wrong.
I decided to continue speaking.
“This matter corresponds to the crime of insulting the royal family.”
“What, it’s just a squabble between young children!”
Count Epilton immediately stood up.
As the Count prepared to rush forward, the Empress slowly intervened.
“It’s natural for children to have trouble discerning right from wrong.”
“You are right!”
“Besides, Prince Louis did throw a punch at the Count’s child. Shouldn’t we view a slip of the tongue and failing to hold back one’s anger differently?”
“Indeed, please look at our Giovanni’s face! It’s already turning all bruised!”
The Count and his wife together supported the Empress’s words.
Taking it one step further, Giovanni, who was nestled in his mother’s bosom, burst into tears.
“Waaah, mommy”
“Oh, my baby. My chest hurts even more!”
The Countess consoled Giovanni.
The Empress was moved by the contrived farce.
“This must be my responsibility as well. As the mother of the royal family, I should have taken care of the young princes instead of leaving them in the mere care of a nanny, and this disturbance arose.”
A sharp thorn was hidden within her elegant speech.
Wayeno’s gaze turned towards the children.
‘They are orphans, without mother or father.’
Children not recognized by the Emperor.
Her eyes were saying as much.
“Though it is late, I will take a closer look. Duke Vladis has been appointed as the princes’ guardian, but he is not a man of delicate temperament, so he will need assistance.”
“Indeed, you are merciful!”
Count Epilton bowed his head, as if impressed.
But his wife pointed at me, showing no intention of backing down.
“The princes are innocent, but please punish that nanny!”
“Please listen to my wife’s request!”
Their target was not the princes, but me.
‘Kashar was just waiting for a chance to leave.’
If they directly targeted the children, they could not avoid a conflict with Kashar, their guardian.
But I was only his lover, not his wife, so Kashar could not hold them legally accountable if I were punished.
“It would be best to leave such matters to the hostess of the party.”
The Empress asked, seeming amused.
“Countess Tuve Rasha Le Mon, what do you think?”
“I believe it would be good to administer thirty lashes to the nanny who has improperly educated the princes.”
It was a horrific punishment that would leave scars all over the body.
A knight wielding a whip approached me, seemingly ready to carry out the punishment on the spot.
As I stood there, stiff, a voice calling me came from below.
“A, Aileen.”
It was the twins.
Louis’s eyes quivered with anxiety. Giovanni’s beating by Evan was even more intense.
“Easy. I’m fine.”
The knight was still approaching me.
I had to quickly push the children away, but their small bodies desperately clung to me.
“No!”
“Emma, take them away quickly.”
“But, but.”
“Hurry!”
Startled by the shouting, Emma’s eyes tightly shut.
Taking deep breaths, she grabbed Louis and Evan and retreated.
“Aileen!”
“As the Duke’s lover, make sure you don’t undress.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The Empress, who had been watching the children cry, generously commanded.
The moment the knight stopped behind me, I squeezed my eyes shut.
‘It’s going to be incredibly painful, isn’t it?’
From the description, just one blow would tear my skin.
I wanted to run away right away.
But if I left my position, the children might bear my punishment.
Everything had become a mess due to the unexpected events.
Kashar’s face appeared in my darkened vision.
‘There was no part of the agreement about you protecting me, right?’
Can I survive even after receiving thirty lashes with a whip?
I’m not a blackhearted dreamer, dying on the Empress’s command was horrifying.
Thump, thump. My whole body trembled at the sound of the whip striking the floor.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
