People were extremely surprised by Sinclair’s sudden remark.

From their perspective, it was only natural. At a time when he should be explaining the current scandal, he was expressing his affection for the prince consort?

“But there is a bit of an unfair aspect to it. It’s true that I’m crazy about the prince consort, but I was the one who made the first move.”

However, Sinclair continued to speak as if he didn’t care about people’s reactions at all.

“And it was the same with the rumor that the prince consort was using me to embezzle the Aswald family’s assets.”

Eventually, Sinclair’s gaze slowly turned to Elaina.

“My prince consort is not someone with such small ambitions. If she were a woman of no consequence who would use me for such a thing, I wouldn’t have been so captivated by her.”

“……”

“If it’s something the prince consort wants, I’m willing to do anything for her, no matter what it is.”

Sinclair’s hand completely overlapped Elaina’s hand, which was resting on the armrest of the soft chair.

As she looked at Sinclair, who was holding her hand as if embracing it, Elaina blushed a little, unlike before.

She was so used to standing in front of people who insulted her. So it wasn’t difficult to act shamelessly as if she hadn’t been hurt at all.

Of course, Sinclair’s words weren’t sincere either. Just as Elaina was used to being insulted, Sinclair was probably used to showing this kind of showmanship in front of people.

Despite knowing that, her heart kept pounding. Insensitively. Even though she knew his words were fake……

“I apologize, but what do you think about the rumors regarding the prince consort’s mother?”

The one who broke the uncomfortable silence was one of the five families representing Edenbell.

It was the voice of Count Walter.

“Since this is an important occasion, we want a clear explanation. If that scandal is true, regardless of the process, many nobles will turn their backs on the prince. But if even that was a lie, we can assume that the rest of the scandal was also fabricated.”

[Elaina is actually the daughter of a vulgar prostitute…… Melvin, completely unaware of that fact, was deceived by Elaina’s mother’s claim that the child was his, and accepted them, and even after learning the truth, he condoned it?] [Such a…… vulgar woman not only sits in the position of the crown princess but also disposed of the Aswald family…… and now she is using Lord Sinclair to aim for the position of empress.]

That was exactly what Count Walter was asking about.

Elaina’s bloodline.

“Before that, there’s something I want to point out first, Walter.”

Sinclair spoke again in an arrogant voice.

“Bringing a new person into the royal family is certainly an important matter, but it seems that Edenbell hasn’t cared much about it until now. Isn’t that right?”

“…… What do you mean by that?”

“No one is unaware of the fact that Yuria, the biological mother of Crown Prince Hister, was of common birth.”

“……”

“Moreover, she was a dancer, one of the races you despise the most. It’s natural for someone with that bloodline to become the crown prince, but bringing in Elaina Aswald as my prince consort is something to be enraged about?”

“That’s……”

“My mother was just an ordinary commoner. An ordinary commoner who ran an old bookstore and barely made ends meet day by day.”

Elaina added.

“I don’t know where this rumor came from, but my mother never did such a thing. The same goes for me. You all know what kind of person the former Count Melvin was, right?”

People murmured. As Elaina said, they knew very well what kind of person Melvin was.

For example…… if a woman who sold her body like that lied and said the child was his, giving birth to someone else’s bloodline, Melvin was not the kind of person who would just sit back and watch.

He also wasn’t the kind of person who would kindly condone and take care of a mother and daughter who had nothing to do with him.

“And it’s also false that I coveted the Aswald family’s assets. Melvin was punished through proper legal procedures. It’s true that the assets he possessed were inherited by me, but I intend to return all of it to the royal palace.”

She didn’t really need such dirty money. Especially if it was wealth that Melvin had accumulated through all sorts of vile deeds.

Besides, with Sinclair’s help, even without Melvin’s assets, there would be no problem leaving Edenbell in a year. That’s what Elaina thought.

“In addition, I must also clarify the presumptuous statement that I am aiming for the position of empress.”

Elaina continued.

“If I really wanted to grasp such power, I’m sorry to say, but I would have approached the crown prince, not the prince. There is no easier path than that.”

“…… Then, is the prince consort saying that your marriage to the prince is purely based on affection?”

At that moment, she felt Sinclair’s hand, which was holding hers, flinch.

“Yes. That’s all there is to it.”

Elaina slowly swallowed her dry saliva and answered in a resolute voice as she faced Sinclair, who was looking at her.

“If you want to hear more, I’ll say it as many times as you want.”

“……”

“I cherish the prince very much, and I had no intention of gaining any benefit from this marriage.”

Elaina’s golden eyes, filled with her essence, swayed.

…… If your words are truly sincere.

If it’s a story without a shred of falsehood, I can do anything.

Even if it causes me pain.

Sinclair bit his lip for a moment, then looked down at the people and continued.

“Besides, if you think about it, isn’t the scandal about the prince consort more absurd?”

“……”

“If the prince consort had engaged in the things mentioned in the scandal, there would be an overflow of witnesses. And they would be clamoring to add their words. The bigger the rumor grows, the more advantageous it would be for my younger brother.”

“The prince is right.”

At the sudden voice coming from behind, everyone’s gaze turned to one place. The same went for Elaina and Sinclair.

“Ry, Ryan……”

Voltaire, who was shocked by his unexpected action, tugged at his clothes slightly, but Ryan didn’t stop talking.

“Isn’t the crown prince already in a difficult situation? For those who want to take his side, there couldn’t be a better opportunity than this. Yet the fact that not a single witness has appeared is proof that this scandal was fabricated.”

[There were also a few young ladies who attended the gathering, and they all couldn’t take their eyes off that young lord.]

At that moment, Sinclair’s golden eyes, which were looking at Ryan, were filled with displeasure. Completely different from when he looked at Elaina.

[But it wasn’t incomprehensible. He even came and talked to me, and he was very kind……]

Why was the Henard family, who had never been involved in political strife until now, doing this? Moreover, speaking out in defense of Elaina.

For what reason?

“Without clear evidence or a single witness, someone else’s scheme must have caused this frivolous scandal to swell, right? For example, the person who would benefit the most from this scandal.”

“Ryan Henard, do you realize what you’re saying right now!”

Hister, whose anger finally erupted, shouted loudly and stood up from his seat.

“The same goes for you, elder brother. Given the current situation, I had no intention of causing trouble, but if the result is an insult and false accusation against me and my mother, I cannot just stand by and watch!”

However, Sinclair showed no particular reaction. He wasn’t surprised or startled. He just kept looking at Hister as if telling him to keep babbling.

“This is a clear insult to the royal family. As soon as I return to the palace, I will hold you accountable for what happened today!”

Hister said, almost spitting out his words.

“It will also be revealed in detail who attacked His Majesty and whether the scandal about Prince Consort Elaina Butler is true!”

Even if he were to face death due to the side effects of the medicine, he had to bring back the emperor’s consciousness somehow. Moreover, the physician said earlier. Very fortunately, the emperor’s condition was gradually improving.

And if new witnesses and evidence for Elaina’s scandal were fabricated, and the testimony of the Melvin family was added, this matter could be resolved more easily than expected.

That’s what Hister thought.

“I will punish all those who dared to insult the royal family and degrade the honor of the imperial family with frivolous and vulgar words. Without a single exception!”

He made the wrong move.

With such thoughts, Voltaire and Viscount Dwain hardened their faces in concern for Ryan, and Perin, who stood next to them, still glared at Hister with a furious expression.

Duke Heswin also made a face as if he had a headache, and the nobles of the remaining four families exchanged glances with each other.

Elaina quietly looked at Sinclair, and Sinclair, who was sitting in his seat……

“There’s no need to drag it out that long, Hister.”

He opened his mouth with a smile on his face.

“We can resolve it right now, can’t we?”

“What are you……!”

“Besides, if it’s in front of everyone like this, there won’t be any further rumors. I think it’s a very wise choice.”

“You’d better not try to blur the focus with ambiguous words. Until now, I’ve condoned whatever you’ve been up to, thinking of the brotherly bond, but now, with the authority of the crown prince……!”

“…… No, the prince is right, Hister.”

It was at that very moment.

Someone who should never be here.

And couldn’t be here appeared.

“It’s right to reveal everything here. There’s no reason to drag it out.”

And so, everyone gathered in the hall looked at the emperor, who appeared supported by a knight, with a shocked face.

…… Except for just one person.

Only Sinclair.