“What if they are deeper in relationship than I thought? No, what if the Earl refuses to marry me?”

Watching the sobbing April, Seira barely managed to suppress a smirk.

The relationship between Adel and Christine was merely a guess.

But that icy man had called Adel’s name while kissing.

This meant their relationship was quite deep.

At this rate, it was only a matter of time before Adel would take him away.

‘Never, I can’t allow that!’

The humiliation she had suffered from Adel not long ago was disgraceful even to think about. She could have trampled her if only Vice Earl had not been behind her.

She never wanted to experience such disgrace again.

Luckily, the empress in front of her seemed like a great chess piece. Using this naive empress, separating Adel and Christine might be easier than she thought.

“Do you really want to marry the Earl? Then listen to me from now on.”

Seira whispered secretly in April’s ear. April’s face suddenly reddened as she listened with wide eyes.

“Heavens! You want me to do such a shameful thing?”

Seira looked coldly at the flustered April.

“Then be prepared to be taken by that immoral woman.”

“I can’t allow that!”

“Then do as I say.”

“But… what if Her Majesty finds out?”

“This is also helping Her Majesty. You know Her Majesty needs Vice Earl now.”

April bit her nails nervously.

“Is it really okay?”

“Of course. You can’t be blamed for a rumor.”

Seira nodded and smiled reassuringly.

‘Adel, you are destined to live as a wicked woman forever. I have decided so.’

She really believed that once she gave her heart to someone, they were her person. The problem was that she considered her person her possession.

Visiting Adel’s house early in the morning, Mia was surprised.

Various shaped cookies were baked all over the kitchen counter. Since the sun had just risen, baking so many cookies meant…

“Did you stay up all night?”

After Christine had left a few days ago, Adel kept baking bread and desserts without rest. She then distributed them to the nearby villagers.

Even those who disliked her welcomed her gifts. Especially among the foodneedy children, Adel was popular. Seeing the happy children, Adel returned with a satisfied face.

But Mia and Tanya watching from the side were only anxious. They knew her habit of working nonstop when her mind was confused or depressed.

It was clear that Adel was now straining to clear her complicated mind, and the cause was Christine.

“I couldn’t sleep, and there was an order.”

“Still, that’s too much. What if you collapse? If Tanya were here, she would have stopped you.”

Tanya had gone home yesterday after receiving a message that her sister was in critical condition. She had pleaded with Mia to take good care of Adel.

“Tanya couldn’t have stopped me. I got an order from the palace yesterday.”

“The delivery date is still far away, isn’t it?”

“The princess specifically sent someone because she wanted to eat the cookies I baked.”

“Does the palace not have a pastry chef to make cookies? Why do they keep ordering out of the blue?”

“That’s something to be thankful for.”

Adel carefully took out another oven pan. On the square pan were neatly arranged colorful meringue cookies.

“It’s really high quality. The princess will love it.”

“Want to try?”

“Shall we?”

Saliva pooled in her mouth, and Mia unknowingly took a bite, quickly regaining her composure.

“Ah, this isn’t right. You seem like the type who would skip meals while working, so I brought a special soup I made. Let’s eat it right away.”

Forced to eat the soup at Mia’s insistence, Adel prepared to enter the palace.

However, she wore her old wornout clothes instead of the dress bought by Christine. All the dresses he bought were returned to Chanel’s house.

She wanted to send back the servants he brought, but the authority to fire them was with Christine. So, she let them stay in the mansion used as lodgings, but not in Adel’s house.

Adel’s mansion was as desolate as before, and a slightly gloomier atmosphere loomed.

“I don’t know what you fought about, but try to work things out with the Earl. You were starting to act like a decent person.”

Adel’s expression turned unusually cold at Mia’s words.

“There’s nothing to work out with the Earl. It’s all settled.

“Her Highness is here.”

Everyone was a little surprised as Adel entered the reception room. She looked very different from when she last visited the palace.

In her old ashcolored coat, she looked noticeably pale and extremely worn out, as if she had been up all night.

“It must have been Lady Chanel’s dress that made her look so great.”

“You’re right. I should go get another one tailored for myself.”

Everyone snickered, suggesting that Adel’s beauty at that time was solely due to the dress.

Adel, fully understanding their meaning, ignored it. She was accustomed to ignoring such nonsense.

“I tried making cookies with meringue, I hope it’s all right.”

“Oh, they’re beautiful. How can we eat all of these without feeling guilty?”

April’s face brightened at the sight of the cookies in the box. Adel quietly smiled, seeing the innocent Princess’s face light up.

“Next time, I’ll bake even tastier cookies.”

“Really? I haven’t been able to eat anything lately because I’ve lost my appetite. But I keep thinking about your cookies.”

April picked up a cookie and put it in her mouth with a lovely face. At that moment…

“Ugh! Ugh!”

She immediately retched and covered her mouth.

“Are you okay, Your Highness?”

Seira, who was by her side, approached in surprise.

April nodded, her face red and her eyes swollen. She then apologized deeply to Adel.

“I’m sorry, Lady Countess. I wanted to eat, but I suddenly retched.”

Seira gently helped April to her feet.

“That’s understandable. Would you like to step out for some fresh air?”

“I think I should.”

Seira supported the Princess and left the reception room.

Those remaining began to exchange glances and whisper among themselves.

“It seems the rumor is true. The Viscount goes to Her Highness’s room every night.”

“How was it on the rainy day? They were very passionate on the balcony.”

“Could it be pregnancy… isn’t it?”

“My goodness, morning sickness?”

“Shh! If His Majesty finds out, it will be a big problem!”

“They’re going to get married anyway. But it’s surprising for someone as naive as Her Highness.”

“It’s the Viscount, after all. I would have done the same.”

Adel’s head was throbbing, and she couldn’t clear her mind.

What on earth were these people talking about?

The Princess had morning sickness?

Was she possibly carrying Christine’s child?