“Cecilia.”
At that moment, there was a knock on the door and Eden's voice was heard. When Cecilia winked at Abby, Abby noticed and opened the door.
“Please leave for a moment.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I will return with some medicine later.”
Madam Monte and Abby hurried out of the room, of course not forgetting to close the door before leaving completely to allow their hosts a comfortable conversation.
“You said you were going to be away for a while on bank business. What brought you here?”
“As a token of my appreciation for the gift, I would like to visit the palace with you. I stopped by before I left to ask if your schedule would be okay for a week or so.”
Somehow, he looked like he had neatly finished preparing to go out. Cecilia nodded obediently.
“It is certainly possible. It has been a long time since I have seen His Majesty the Emperor.”
“I guess he will miss you very much.”
The engagement period with Eden alone was ten years. While living as Eden's fiancée, Cecilia attended many palace events. She was already treated as much by the Emperor as the Crown Princess Isabella.
“I must prepare a gift for His Majesty the Emperor and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and his wife.”
“Rather than that... Somehow you don’t look happy, Cecilia.”
Eden asked softly. It seemed that he had managed to figure out Cecilia's mood in the brief moment they spent looking at each other.
“There’s talk again of bringing a Duchess into the Lane household.”
When Cecilia answered without hiding anything, Eden let out a small groan. It was news he had probably heard before.
A meaningful light passed across Cecilia's face as she watched the scene.
“Are you hurt because you feel like your mother’s place has been taken away from you?”
Cecilia shook her head at Eden's question. She didn't miss her mother, who died shortly after giving birth to her, that much. In fact, she was the only person who left behind a portrait, leaving no trace of her.
“No. Rather than that... Count Nova is a vassal trusted by my father, so there must be a reason, but the fact that he said such things as soon as I got married...”
Cecilia trailed off. Eden nodded as if he had expected what Cecilia was going to say just by hearing that.
The Duke of Lane never declared that he would give the title to Cecilia, but he had no intention of remarrying or leaving an heir. His intention was clear. As a vassal who trusted him, Count Nova would naturally know this.
However, it was difficult to guess a good reason for insisting on remarriage and a new successor at this point.
“If someone from a family with close ties to you is recommended for a remarriage, it would be understandable to be suspicious of his intentions.”
The tip of a black shadow looming near his innocent wife, seemingly harmless to Eden. And a sliver of suspicion that he needed to be on guard.
“...The tie is a little off.”
Cecilia, who was standing close to Eden's chest to adjust the slightly misaligned tie, smiled quietly out of his sight.
Yes. Just like my past self, everything starts with a single doubt.
“I’ll be back soon. Let’s have dinner together.”
Having accomplished his purpose of visit, Eden went out clutching a shred of doubt.
And Cecilia, who had been watching him through the window, turned her attention away from him as soon as Eden completely disappeared.
***
“Your Majesty the Emperor, the Third Prince has arrived.”
“What happened all of a sudden?”
On the contrary, the Emperor's interest was not limited to the Third Prince. He frowned whenever he saw his youngest son.
He asked the chamberlain with a slight frown, as was his habit. It was an unexpected visit, without any prior notice.
“They say there is a blue one.”
“Tell him to come and ask for an audience next time. I'm with the Crown Prince now.”
The Emperor firmly refused the Third Prince’s request for an audience. In fact, being with the Crown Prince was not a reason to refuse a meeting, but he was strangely displeased with his youngest son. He would shy away whenever he saw his mother’s face.
“I have to step down anyway, so please meet Damon.”
Aster spoke in a low voice. He thinks the Emperor was particularly cold to his half-brother, Damon. He could understand why Damon would always get angry and say that he was being discriminated against.
“Aster.”
“Isn’t Damon the son of the Emperor?”
Even if he was wary that the current Empress, who had given birth to the Prince, might become greedy, there was no need to discriminate excessively and upset his feelings.
“I’ll bring Damon in as I go out.”
“I guess so.”
The Emperor turned his gaze with an indifferent expression as if telling him to do as he pleased. However, his expression clearly showed that he was not pleased with it.
“Damon. The Emperor has told you to come in, so go in.”
As the chamberlain opened the door, Aster, who was going out, saw the third Prince, Damon, who had been waiting from afar, come in. Damon greeted him with a stern face at his kind words.
“However, from now on, please come see His Majesty only after you have formally requested an audience.”
Damon's face hardened even more at Aster's advice. It seemed like he didn't like it at all, even though he had advised him not to get angry.
“I will keep that advice in mind.”
Damon passed Aster, creating a cold wind. Aster let out a small sigh. His attitude of not being able to hide his bad mood or good mood was frighteningly similar to the Emperor.
“Do you hate him because it’s too similar...”
Aster muttered. Of course, it was only his guess, but it was not impossible. The Emperor hated his easily irritable personality the most, and he cherished Aster and Eden’s calm and indifferent attitude.
However, Damon had a side that particularly picked out the flaws of his biological mother, the current Empress and Emperor. It wasn't Damon's fault, but it seemed he couldn't help but feel dissatisfied.
“Crown Prince.”
As Aster was looking around the Emperor's reception room, he turned around and was about to walk away. The hallway seemed to become noisy, and then the Empress appeared.
Underneath her splendidly shining blond hair, she wore a smooth red dress and looked very young for an Empress. Her skin was as smooth as that of a young Crown Princess, and she had a luster. She was like a flower in full bloom, so much so that it was surprising that the Emperor did not pay attention to her.
“Hello, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Yes. Is everything okay at the Crown Prince’s Palace?”
The voice asking about his well-being was very kind. However, judging from the somewhat ragged breathing, he could tell that she was running in a hurry after Damon.
“Yes, there isn’t.”
“That’s good. By the way, have you seen Damon?”
As expected, the Empress asked about Damon's whereabouts in a slightly anxious voice.
"He entered the audience room to see the Emperor.”
“Yes, already...”
The Empress's eyebrows twitched slightly. She had been controlling her expression to that extent, so it seemed that she was not very pleased with the sudden private meeting between the Emperor and Damon. Damon was often scolded for his careless words and actions even when she was present, so it was understandable for her to be worried.
“By the way, why did you meet His Majesty?”
“Eden said he would stop by the palace with the Grand Duchess. I came to see His Majesty briefly to tell him about it.”
At Aster's explanation, the Empress let out an "Ah" sound, indicating that she understood what was going on.
“Yes. Now that he's married, he should come and greet his parents.”
"Yes."
“When did you say he would visit?”
Aster mentioned a week later. The Empress, who briefly asked Aster for understanding, ordered the maid who followed her late to make sure that there was no disruption in welcoming the guests.
“Are the relationship between the Grand Duke and his wife good?”
A question that seemed to be a provocation flew in. Aster stared at the Empress with a strange face. Originally, she was a person who had no interest in Aster and Eden. So it was only natural that the Empress's interest felt strange.
“I guess it’s been a long time since I’ve heard the sound of a child crying in the palace, so as a member of the royal family, I’m worried.”
But the added remark was quite persuasive. The fact that the imperial family was not producing a smooth successor was something that the Empress had to worry about.
The Emperor had three grown Princes, two of whom were married. However, there was no heir until now. In particular, Crown Prince Aster had not had a child even after four years of marriage.
“That’s why I think the Crown Princess feels even more burdened because she couldn’t take care of it.”
“I apologize for any inconvenience.”
The Empress shook her head. As a lady of the royal family, she was fully sympathetic. Of course, all the while, her gaze remained fixed on the closed door. Although she reluctantly fulfilled her duty, the only thing that was precious to her in the palace was Damon.
“The Crown Prince must take great care of her. You are the only person she can rely on in the palace.”
“...I will do so.”
Suddenly, the fixed gaze turned to Aster. A refreshingly refreshing smile followed.
“I’ll send you some herbs that are good for relieving tension and having children. They’ll help.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.”
Aster answered calmly, bowed, and turned around. It was clearly a word of concern and care for the Crown Princess, but strangely, he felt uncomfortable.
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