A court maid placed teacups and snack plates on the tea table. The reception room was quickly filled with a sweet fragrance.

“Let’s have some tea first.”

Helena gestured to dismiss the courtier and picked up a teacup. Though not particularly interested in the taste of the tea, Jane followed Helena’s lead and drank as well.

“The aroma is nice, isn’t it? Lady Scarlet personally selected and brought it, Duchess.”

Jane smiled bitterly and lied.

“You have quite an eye for selecting tea, Lady Scarlet.”

These days, everything Jane ate felt like chewing sand. Even sweet fragrances seemed like foul odors to her.

But Jane was not someone who could openly display such emotions.

At Somnium House because she was a superior, and at the palace because the two people sitting before her could tear her apart at any moment.

“Duchess, I’m sorry about what happened to the Duke. I hear you’ve been working very hard to handle the situation.”

“I’m simply doing what needs to be done.”

“As you should. The Duke was injured because of you, after all. Even beasts would feel gratitude and show devotion.”

Helena pulled up one corner of her mouth in a smirk.

“Do the Hastings people know? That you were recklessly wandering around the printing district, got kidnapped, and that’s why the Duke was injured?”

Jane was startled. Helena knew far more details about this incident than Jane had expected.

“With my husband going through such a difficult time, I was quite flustered. Above all, I had to prioritize his treatment. I plan to gradually inform people of the situation and seek cooperation where necessary. Thank you for your concern about our family’s affairs in the midst of your busy schedule.”

Jane drew a line. Even for a queen, it was impolite to freely comment on Hastings family matters.

Above all, there was no justification for it.

Helena, who hadn’t expected Jane to respond so sharply, stretched her lips into a long smile. Then she leaned towards Scarlet and whispered.

Jane, ignoring the blatant disrespect, lowered her gaze to the snacks she had no interest in.

“Duchess, I called you here in the midst of your busy schedule because I heard an interesting piece of news.”

“What kind of rumor is circulating? Rumors about the Duke and me have always been abundant. Though none of them were ever true, Your Majesty.”

Jane said that whatever rumor it was, it would be false this time as well.

“Is that so? Then I can ask comfortably. There’s talk that the young Hastings is not the Duke’s son.”

Jane was glad she was holding a teacup.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, pretending to savor the tea. It appeared as if she was enjoying the tea’s aroma, but it was an improvisation to hide her startled expression.

Jane felt as if her face would be pierced by the intense gazes of Scarlet and Helena. Both were expecting something.

For example, Jane’s exaggerated surprise, or a hidden secret of birth.

But Jane had no intention of dancing to Helena and Scarlet’s tune.

“It’s written in the sacred law books.”

Scarlet tilted her head. Jane smiled slightly.

“One must not carelessly doubt the status of a noble. If one slanders without proper grounds, appropriate consequences will follow.”

“Are you trying to teach me?”

Helena’s brows furrowed.

“Of course not, Your Majesty. You simply trusted the words of a subordinate who relayed a rumor.”

It was Helena’s fault for doubting someone without proper investigation, and it was also Helena’s fault for having incompetent subordinates.

“Duchess, your words…”

“Am I going too far, Lady Scarlet? My son and husband are being doubted. Your Majesty, I’d like to ask. What is the source of this rumor? I want to catch those who spread false rumors and make an example of what happens to those who wag their tongues carelessly.”

Jane finished speaking and glared at Scarlet. Scarlet’s cheeks trembled slightly.

“Are you saying it’s not true?”

“Yes. It’s not true, Your Majesty.”

Even if it were true, she had to make it untrue. That was the only way for Joseph to live, for Cain to live.

Jane’s heart was pounding as she lied, but there was not a hint of wavering in her eyes.

“How curious, a fire starting without even putting firewood in the fireplace.”

“Your Majesty, please tell me. Who is spreading these wicked words that cloud your wisdom and intelligence?”

Helena glanced at Scarlet. Scarlet gulped.

Scarlet had only intended to raise suspicions about the young Hastings, then pressure Jane.

She had no intention of revealing that Joseph wasn’t the real son as fact.

After all, what she wanted was the whole Cain Hastings.

‘If it becomes known that Joseph is the son of a Rose Faction member, it would tarnish the Hastings as well.’

But if she were to say here that she was mistaken, the trust she had built with Helena would crumble, and she might be humiliated by Jane.

Scarlet rubbed her thumb and index finger together.

“Is it Lady Scarlet? The source of the rumor?”

Helena closed her mouth. Mud-slinging fights were for subordinates. Helena turned her body away completely, sipping tea and admiring the fresh roses she had arranged in a vase this morning.

Scarlet, who had been gnawing on the inside of her mouth, smiled brightly.

“The content of the rumor seemed more serious than expected, so I reported it to Your Majesty. I was worried it might cause great harm to the Duke’s family.”

“Why didn’t you tell me first, Scarlet?”

“Of course. I wanted to speak to the Duchess. But I thought it would be rude to visit when you were in a state of confusion with the Duke having collapsed.”

Scarlet clasped her hands in front of her chest, making a plea with her eyes to recognize her consideration.

Jane turned her head to the left and let out a chuckle.

“Scarlet, it’s a greater discourtesy to relay false rumors to Her Majesty and make me come to the palace.”

“But…”

“Is your concern for the Hastings family sincere?”

“Of course it is.”

“Alright, Scarlet. Then I have a favor to ask.”

“A, a favor?”

“Could you find the person who first spread this rumor? I know the Carelina family’s intelligence network is impressive. You should be able to do it, right?”

Scarlet couldn’t do it. Not because she lacked the intelligence network, but because she was the one who first spread it.

“That’s…”

As Scarlet was at a loss, picking at the hangnails on her fingers, Helena interjected into the conversation.

“Let’s do as the Duchess suggests. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the Carelina and Hastings families helping each other.”

It was a message for Scarlet to go along with Jane’s wishes.

Helena was also curious about the truth deep down.

From her perspective, both Jane and Scarlet seemed to be hiding something.

Since both were determined to keep it hidden, Helena wanted to uncover it properly.

But it was a mud-slinging fight. It didn’t match her level.

“Let’s stop here. I have an afternoon schedule, you see. Ah, I’ve prepared some medicinal herbs for Duke Hastings. Take them with you when you leave, Duchess.”

Helena rose from her seat. Jane and Scarlet hurriedly stood up and bowed deeply.

After the sound of the door opening and closing, the two straightened their backs simultaneously. Their gazes met in mid-air.

Neither turned away first. The intense staring contest ended when Scarlet opened her mouth.

“Duchess, about the rumor…”

“It would be best to find out properly. If you can’t find the original speaker, you’ll be the one punished for wagging your tongue carelessly.”

The area under Scarlet’s eyes trembled slightly.

‘Are you challenging me now? Without even knowing what I know?’

“You’ll regret this.”

Scarlet followed Jane as she headed towards the door. She blocked Jane’s path.

“Regret?”

“Do you think I don’t know anything about Joseph?”

“No. I think you know everything.”

“…Then why?”

Jane stood straight. She slowly looked Scarlet up and down.

That gaze, resembling Cain’s, made Scarlet feel as if Jane was looking down on her from high above, despite their similar eye levels.

“Do you have evidence?”

There was a witness.

But Scarlet didn’t lay all her cards on the table.

“What if I do?”

“Then bring it. Things might get very interesting.”

“Look here, Duchess. You’re fearless. If I reveal what I know, it’s the end for the Hastings family.”

“That’s why I’m telling you to try. If the Hastings family could be ruined by someone like you, then it deserves to end now.”

Jane patted Scarlet’s shoulder as if encouraging her and disappeared.

Watching Jane’s confident back, Scarlet tried to convince herself that she was just putting on a brave front.

Or that she knew nothing about Joseph at all.

Either way, Scarlet gritted her teeth, determined that this time she wouldn’t let Jane off easy.

* * *

Jane returned to Somnium House after facing considerable pressure from the two women. She was extremely tired. But she was not given a moment to rest.

“Mr. Phil has arrived.”

Jane’s eyes narrowed at Norbert’s words.

“Phil? Who is… Ah.”

Jane’s mouth opened slightly.

The former Duke Hastings’ aide and closest confidant, and the person who had made Jane acutely aware of her status as a criminal seven years ago.

He was not at all a welcome person.

“Why has he suddenly come? I heard he was living abroad after the former Duke passed away.”

“He said the Duke had called him. They were supposed to meet today. But when he didn’t show up at the meeting place, he came to the house.”

Jane asked as she climbed the stairs.

“Did you tell him about Cain’s condition?”

“I did not.”

Jane let out a sigh of relief. Whether due to personal feelings or not, she didn’t want to divulge every detail of the Hastings family’s affairs to him.

“Well done. I’ll meet with him, Norbert.”

Jane only removed her hat and headed to the third-floor reception room where Phil was waiting.