The carriage, leaving the train station, passed through Kelleber Square, the busiest area of the capital, and headed eastward along the Manus River. On a prominent hill, entirely owned by the Luise family, stood an imposing mansion overlooking the river, rivaling even the palace in size.

Karl, having only seen the Luise mansion from a distance during a royal event on the Manus River, was entering it for the first time. Following Celeste into the mansion, Karl immediately requested a private audience with her.

He was a man who needed to solve his curiosities and investigate his suspicions. This trait greatly aided him as the head of the royal investigation team.

The mansion’s butler led them to a cozy library, ideal for confidential conversations.

Yet, as Celeste entered her own house, she looked around awkwardly as if it was her first visit. Could she really have lost all her memories? Karl remained skeptical about her claim of total amnesia.

“I’ll ask you directly, as I’m not good at beating around the bush.”

Startled, Celeste began coughing. While wondering about the reason for her discomfort, Karl finally voiced the question he had been holding back since he heard Clovis say that Valery looked exactly like him.

“Is Valery, my child?”

He hadn’t expected an easy answer. If her claims were true, Celeste wouldn’t actually know who Valery’s father was.

Yet, the question of Valery’s paternity was something that could have been asked privately after the summoning inquiry related to the Duke of Schwaben’s poisoning case.

Still, he pursued the question at her residence, which was somewhat uncharacteristic of him. Although he hid it well behind his expression, Karl was in a hurry to get to the Countess’s mansion.

“I asked if Valery is my child.”
The rumors about a romantic relationship between Grand Duke Toscour and Countess Luise Aisha have been circulating for years. Karl, who considered Franz a disgrace to the royal family due to his promiscuous lifestyle, had no interest in whom Franz was seeing or what he was doing.

Moreover, the number of women associated with Franz was too many to count on one hand. It was uncertain how many of these women were actually in a real relationship with him.

Celeste Aisha Luise, the only daughter of the Luise family, one of the wealthiest in the empire, was one of the most envied and admired women in the capital. With her striking beauty and robust family background, she lacked nothing.

Therefore, it seemed almost natural for scandalous rumors to circulate between her and Franz, notorious for his good looks that could even make roadside flowers blush in shame.

However, for Karl, who had dedicated his life to maintaining the dignity of royalty and self-discipline, these rumors were nothing more than idle gossip, until two years ago when Celeste suddenly came to him…

“Are you trying to dismiss this with your claim of having no memory again?”

Initially, Karl thought that the child’s blue eyes were a clear sign of Franz’s paternity, especially considering the child’s distinct features at just over a year old. He reluctantly suspected a family connection, given their known relationship.

“I really don’t remember anything. I’m not lying.”

Celeste’s repeated claims of amnesia seemed sincere, with her brows furrowed and lips downturned in frustration. It was a familiar expression to Karl.

When was it, that night two years ago?

“That night.”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about that night too, Celeste.”

But Karl also had reasons to doubt the backstory of Valery’s birth. The timeline seemed fitting. If Clovis’s observation was correct, and Valery’s blue eyes resembled his rather than Franz’s, it made sense.

“I haven’t forgotten that night for a moment.”