“Did it appear before or after I drank the obedience potion?...”
Hetor whispered.
“...What?!”
Roxana was shocked and couldn’t continue.
“The baby.”
Roxana’s face turned pale at Hetor’s indifferent voice.
She looked up at him in disbelief.
The impossible had happened.
‘You... know that I fed you the obedience potion?’
In an instant, Roxana’s mind went so white that she forgot why she had come here.
‘How did you know? When did you know? And why did you hold it in until now?’
She wanted to pour out all her curiosity.
But she couldn’t dare open her mouth.
Seeing Hetor’s contemptuous gaze, she knew it wasn’t a joke.
‘Are you just testing me?’
Perhaps he had lost his potion due to bad luck, or perhaps he was suddenly doubting his loyalty to her.
If that was the case, she shouldn't have gotten involved.
There was no evidence, anyway.
"What are you talking about?"
Roxana tried to keep her voice steady.
Hetor only briefly raised one corner of his mouth, as if he found her ridiculous, and said nothing.
Silence fell.
Roxana's heart was growing impatient. Hetor simply stood there, gazing down at her, but she felt as if he was driving her further and further toward a cliff.
If this continued, she felt like she would plummet somewhere, suffocating.
She had to say something.
Roxana was the first to speak.
"An obedience potion? That kind of joke isn't funny."
"Really? Your serious story is just as boring."
Hetor lowered his gaze to Roxana's belly.
Roxana, taken aback by his cold reaction, raised her voice.
"What do you mean? Your baby is growing inside me!"
"I know."
"...What?"
“I just heard you. I know.”
“!”
She wanted to shout, “Why is your reaction like that?”
But Roxana simply opened her lips at Hetor’s unreadable expression.
“And I asked you, too.”
“W-what?”
“Was the baby conceived before or after I drank the obedience potion?”
Anger lurked beneath his calm tone.
Her sullen expression was colder than Emperor Linel’s, cursed with hypothermia.
If she didn’t answer right now, she felt like that large hand would grab her throat.
“It’ll be when you come to the Lapion Palace...”
Roxana, feeling fearful, deliberately avoided saying the word “obedience potion” and spoke indirectly.
Hetor closed his eyes and narrowed his brows.
She couldn’t tell if he was finally accepting the situation or just swallowing his anger.
Back in the Duchy of Aklatto, she had visited a witch and taken the morning-after potion.
That was after her first relationship with Hetor.
She had only found out she was pregnant a few days ago.
She was feeling a bit unwell, and upon reflection, her condition hadn't been good lately. So she summoned a court doctor hired by the Empress's palace to examine her condition. The doctor said she was in the early stages of pregnancy. So, given the timing, it was clear the baby had been conceived in the Lapion Empire.
"Anyway, only those close to her would know that Emperor Linel couldn't function as a man."
"So?"
"With those close to him gone, there would be no one to prove this wasn't the Emperor's!"
In stark contrast to Roxana's flushed face, Hetor stared at her as if he hadn't heard a word.
Anxiety gripped her, and she narrowed her eyes, adding force to her voice.
"If there were a minister who harbored doubts and attempted rebellion, you could stop him, wouldn't you?"
"I see... That's why you changed your mind about killing Emperor Linel..."
Hetor muttered, looking down at the floor.
Roxana's plan sounded plausible.
It was a plan that would have been possible if he were still under the influence of the obedience potion.
"That's not my baby,"
Hetor said flatly.
"W-what are you talking about? How can you say something like that?!"
It was a shocking statement.
"It's a baby born when I wasn't in my right mind. It inherited only the blood of my eternal shell..."
“What do you mean?”
When Roxana flared up, Hetor muttered through clenched teeth.
“I’m saying I can’t accept you as my child. Do you understand?”
“!”
“Yes, that’s your true form. A savage without blood, tears, or mercy!”
Roxana felt like she had returned to the day she had first met him in the Duchy of Aklatto.
“Your child, our baby... can become the Emperor of the Lapion Empire! Don’t you know what I mean?”
Roxana tried to calmly persuade him again.
But it was no use.
“I don’t care what you do with it.”
“Are you going to betray me now? I’ll tell Emperor Adrian.”
Hetor looked at her in frustration with pity and opened his mouth.
“It wasn’t my intention to help you in the first place, so what kind of betrayal is that?”
“Hetor!”
“And Emperor Adrian doesn’t care about your ambitions. This is your problem, mine, not his.”
So, he could openly ask about the obedience potion.
It would be problematic if this derailed Emperor Adrian's plans, but Galaco would let it go as promised.
Emperor Adrian had no business interfering with Roxana's relationship.
And tonight, after Galaco showed up, everything would be sorted out.
"You liked me even before you drank the obedience potion! What's the problem? I'm telling you, there's our baby growing inside me?"
"Roxana, it's a baby you created. If you want to make him the Emperor of the Lapion Empire, then so be it."
Ultimately, it would fail.
Hetor swallowed his words and opened the guest room door, saying to Roxana,
"Go."
"...You'll regret it. Catch me now."
Roxana glared and then asked again, as if it were his last chance, but Hetor's decision remained unchanged.
"Get out quickly."
Catherine and Count Ethan were the only witnesses to last night's events.
The two had arrived from the lounge after being summoned by Linel to give their statements.
In the lounge, Chief Chamberlain Stiane was waiting.
“His Majesty went to Yulina’s quarters a little while ago. He said he’d be back within 30 minutes, so it won’t take long. You can just wait here for a moment.”
“Understood,”
Catherine said, sitting down.
“It’s bothersome. I stepped in for no reason... I’m crazy.”
As Stiane left, Catherine sighed, berating herself.
“That was only natural, Catherine,”
Count Ethan consoled her with a warm voice.
Last night, Ethan had been checking the stock of spare weapons in the deck storage shed.
If it were the palace forge, he would have had his servants do the job, but since the celebratory delegation was small, he had been personally responsible for inspecting and assessing the condition of the knights’ weapons. As he was leaving the storage room after finishing his work, Catherine came inside.
“I left because I was frustrated, but I think you're here...”
Catherine's sullen voice softened Count Ethan's heart.
"Then sit down for a moment."
He usually kept his distance and treated her coldly, but last night he couldn't.
Count Ethan sat with Catherine on the warehouse floor, gazing up at the stars in the night sky through the window.
At that moment, there was no one on deck.
Only the gentle sound of the waves could be heard.
Only the occasional sailor passed by, but Count Ethan turned off the light he had brought inside the warehouse just in case.
Catherine, encouraged by the darkness, was about to rest her head on Count Ethan's shoulder when a familiar voice came from somewhere.
The two of them simultaneously pulled their heads out the window.
It was Pecilini and Yulina.
They had become close friends since their visit to the spa in the cypress forest of the palace, and they seemed to be hanging out together.
However, Catherine was irritated by the two concubines disrupting the peaceful atmosphere.
A moment later, Yulina climbed onto the platform at the bow and forcibly grabbed Pecilini's hand.
"What are you doing, so dangerous?"
Count Ethan, feeling something strange, approached the window.
Catherine followed suit, rising from the floor. Pecilini climbed onto the platform, faced straight ahead, and seemed to follow Yulina's lead, stretching out her arms. Yulina seemed to reach out and say something to Pecilini, but then suddenly shoved her shoulder.
It all happened in an instant. Before she knew it, Catherine was out of the warehouse, shouting,
"If we hadn't intervened, Her Highness Pecilini would've died. Catherine, you saved her."
"What? You were the one who called for rescue."
"You were the one who ran out of the warehouse and called Her Highness Pecilini."
"It was an unintentional act. If I could go back in time, I would never intervene again."
Catherine said firmly.
But Count Ethan shook his head.
"No. You would've done the same thing."
“How did you know? It’s me, Catherine. Have you forgotten?”
Catherine snorted self-deprecatingly.
“Yes. You may be greedy and sometimes reckless, but I know you’re not the type to hurt anyone. That’s for sure.”
Count Ethan grabbed Catherine’s hand.
Her eyes widened.
“Let’s tell His Majesty the truth. Maybe he’ll understand.”
Catherine’s eyes widened even more at Count Ethan’s words.
“...Are you crazy? Who would believe me if I told them I just sat in the warehouse and stared at the stars? Would I ever get kicked out?”
Catherine jumped.
“I’ll just get kicked out.”
“You’re telling me that now? I’m the First Concubine! If I just give birth to a Prince...!”
“Catherine, that won’t happen. Don’t you know His Majesty?”
Hetor whispered.
“...What?!”
Roxana was shocked and couldn’t continue.
“The baby.”
Roxana’s face turned pale at Hetor’s indifferent voice.
She looked up at him in disbelief.
The impossible had happened.
‘You... know that I fed you the obedience potion?’
In an instant, Roxana’s mind went so white that she forgot why she had come here.
‘How did you know? When did you know? And why did you hold it in until now?’
She wanted to pour out all her curiosity.
But she couldn’t dare open her mouth.
Seeing Hetor’s contemptuous gaze, she knew it wasn’t a joke.
‘Are you just testing me?’
Perhaps he had lost his potion due to bad luck, or perhaps he was suddenly doubting his loyalty to her.
If that was the case, she shouldn't have gotten involved.
There was no evidence, anyway.
"What are you talking about?"
Roxana tried to keep her voice steady.
Hetor only briefly raised one corner of his mouth, as if he found her ridiculous, and said nothing.
Silence fell.
Roxana's heart was growing impatient. Hetor simply stood there, gazing down at her, but she felt as if he was driving her further and further toward a cliff.
If this continued, she felt like she would plummet somewhere, suffocating.
She had to say something.
Roxana was the first to speak.
"An obedience potion? That kind of joke isn't funny."
"Really? Your serious story is just as boring."
Hetor lowered his gaze to Roxana's belly.
Roxana, taken aback by his cold reaction, raised her voice.
"What do you mean? Your baby is growing inside me!"
"I know."
"...What?"
“I just heard you. I know.”
“!”
She wanted to shout, “Why is your reaction like that?”
But Roxana simply opened her lips at Hetor’s unreadable expression.
“And I asked you, too.”
“W-what?”
“Was the baby conceived before or after I drank the obedience potion?”
Anger lurked beneath his calm tone.
Her sullen expression was colder than Emperor Linel’s, cursed with hypothermia.
If she didn’t answer right now, she felt like that large hand would grab her throat.
“It’ll be when you come to the Lapion Palace...”
Roxana, feeling fearful, deliberately avoided saying the word “obedience potion” and spoke indirectly.
Hetor closed his eyes and narrowed his brows.
She couldn’t tell if he was finally accepting the situation or just swallowing his anger.
Back in the Duchy of Aklatto, she had visited a witch and taken the morning-after potion.
That was after her first relationship with Hetor.
She had only found out she was pregnant a few days ago.
She was feeling a bit unwell, and upon reflection, her condition hadn't been good lately. So she summoned a court doctor hired by the Empress's palace to examine her condition. The doctor said she was in the early stages of pregnancy. So, given the timing, it was clear the baby had been conceived in the Lapion Empire.
"Anyway, only those close to her would know that Emperor Linel couldn't function as a man."
"So?"
"With those close to him gone, there would be no one to prove this wasn't the Emperor's!"
In stark contrast to Roxana's flushed face, Hetor stared at her as if he hadn't heard a word.
Anxiety gripped her, and she narrowed her eyes, adding force to her voice.
"If there were a minister who harbored doubts and attempted rebellion, you could stop him, wouldn't you?"
"I see... That's why you changed your mind about killing Emperor Linel..."
Hetor muttered, looking down at the floor.
Roxana's plan sounded plausible.
It was a plan that would have been possible if he were still under the influence of the obedience potion.
"That's not my baby,"
Hetor said flatly.
"W-what are you talking about? How can you say something like that?!"
It was a shocking statement.
"It's a baby born when I wasn't in my right mind. It inherited only the blood of my eternal shell..."
“What do you mean?”
When Roxana flared up, Hetor muttered through clenched teeth.
“I’m saying I can’t accept you as my child. Do you understand?”
“!”
“Yes, that’s your true form. A savage without blood, tears, or mercy!”
Roxana felt like she had returned to the day she had first met him in the Duchy of Aklatto.
“Your child, our baby... can become the Emperor of the Lapion Empire! Don’t you know what I mean?”
Roxana tried to calmly persuade him again.
But it was no use.
“I don’t care what you do with it.”
“Are you going to betray me now? I’ll tell Emperor Adrian.”
Hetor looked at her in frustration with pity and opened his mouth.
“It wasn’t my intention to help you in the first place, so what kind of betrayal is that?”
“Hetor!”
“And Emperor Adrian doesn’t care about your ambitions. This is your problem, mine, not his.”
So, he could openly ask about the obedience potion.
It would be problematic if this derailed Emperor Adrian's plans, but Galaco would let it go as promised.
Emperor Adrian had no business interfering with Roxana's relationship.
And tonight, after Galaco showed up, everything would be sorted out.
"You liked me even before you drank the obedience potion! What's the problem? I'm telling you, there's our baby growing inside me?"
"Roxana, it's a baby you created. If you want to make him the Emperor of the Lapion Empire, then so be it."
Ultimately, it would fail.
Hetor swallowed his words and opened the guest room door, saying to Roxana,
"Go."
"...You'll regret it. Catch me now."
Roxana glared and then asked again, as if it were his last chance, but Hetor's decision remained unchanged.
"Get out quickly."
***
Catherine and Count Ethan were the only witnesses to last night's events.
The two had arrived from the lounge after being summoned by Linel to give their statements.
In the lounge, Chief Chamberlain Stiane was waiting.
“His Majesty went to Yulina’s quarters a little while ago. He said he’d be back within 30 minutes, so it won’t take long. You can just wait here for a moment.”
“Understood,”
Catherine said, sitting down.
“It’s bothersome. I stepped in for no reason... I’m crazy.”
As Stiane left, Catherine sighed, berating herself.
“That was only natural, Catherine,”
Count Ethan consoled her with a warm voice.
Last night, Ethan had been checking the stock of spare weapons in the deck storage shed.
If it were the palace forge, he would have had his servants do the job, but since the celebratory delegation was small, he had been personally responsible for inspecting and assessing the condition of the knights’ weapons. As he was leaving the storage room after finishing his work, Catherine came inside.
“I left because I was frustrated, but I think you're here...”
Catherine's sullen voice softened Count Ethan's heart.
"Then sit down for a moment."
He usually kept his distance and treated her coldly, but last night he couldn't.
Count Ethan sat with Catherine on the warehouse floor, gazing up at the stars in the night sky through the window.
At that moment, there was no one on deck.
Only the gentle sound of the waves could be heard.
Only the occasional sailor passed by, but Count Ethan turned off the light he had brought inside the warehouse just in case.
Catherine, encouraged by the darkness, was about to rest her head on Count Ethan's shoulder when a familiar voice came from somewhere.
The two of them simultaneously pulled their heads out the window.
It was Pecilini and Yulina.
They had become close friends since their visit to the spa in the cypress forest of the palace, and they seemed to be hanging out together.
However, Catherine was irritated by the two concubines disrupting the peaceful atmosphere.
A moment later, Yulina climbed onto the platform at the bow and forcibly grabbed Pecilini's hand.
"What are you doing, so dangerous?"
Count Ethan, feeling something strange, approached the window.
Catherine followed suit, rising from the floor. Pecilini climbed onto the platform, faced straight ahead, and seemed to follow Yulina's lead, stretching out her arms. Yulina seemed to reach out and say something to Pecilini, but then suddenly shoved her shoulder.
It all happened in an instant. Before she knew it, Catherine was out of the warehouse, shouting,
"Pecilini!"
Pecilini fell overboard, but luckily managed to grab the railing with one hand.
Yuliana quickly leaned in front of her, and soon, Pecilini's screams echoed across the vast ocean.
It was dark and hard to see, but it seemed Yuliana had forcibly removed Pecilini's hand from the railing.
Count Ethan quickly summoned the crew and knights, calling for help.
The crew, who happened to be in the captain's cabin, immediately stopped the ship and quickly threw a rescue tube and rope to Pecilini.
Just as Count Ethan was calling for help, Catherine spotted Roxana among the dignitaries gathering on deck.
She told the Empress what had just happened.
When Roxana had her knights escort Yulina into the cabin, Catherine hadn't given it much thought.
However, after telling Emperor Linel what she had witnessed, regret washed over her.
Clearly, she needed to give a more detailed account of the incident.
If that were the case, she'd have to explain why she was on deck at that time, which was a headache in many ways.
She'd told Linel she was out for some fresh air, but it turned out that Count Ethan had made the direct request for rescue.
She was at a loss as to how to reconcile.
If she and Count Ethan were just acquaintances, it wouldn't have aroused any strange suspicions, but since she'd already deceived Linel and cheated on him in the past, it was understandable.
"I should've just stayed in the warehouse,"
Catherine said regretfully, placing her hand on her forehead.
Pecilini fell overboard, but luckily managed to grab the railing with one hand.
Yuliana quickly leaned in front of her, and soon, Pecilini's screams echoed across the vast ocean.
It was dark and hard to see, but it seemed Yuliana had forcibly removed Pecilini's hand from the railing.
Count Ethan quickly summoned the crew and knights, calling for help.
The crew, who happened to be in the captain's cabin, immediately stopped the ship and quickly threw a rescue tube and rope to Pecilini.
Just as Count Ethan was calling for help, Catherine spotted Roxana among the dignitaries gathering on deck.
She told the Empress what had just happened.
When Roxana had her knights escort Yulina into the cabin, Catherine hadn't given it much thought.
However, after telling Emperor Linel what she had witnessed, regret washed over her.
Clearly, she needed to give a more detailed account of the incident.
If that were the case, she'd have to explain why she was on deck at that time, which was a headache in many ways.
She'd told Linel she was out for some fresh air, but it turned out that Count Ethan had made the direct request for rescue.
She was at a loss as to how to reconcile.
If she and Count Ethan were just acquaintances, it wouldn't have aroused any strange suspicions, but since she'd already deceived Linel and cheated on him in the past, it was understandable.
"I should've just stayed in the warehouse,"
Catherine said regretfully, placing her hand on her forehead.
"If we hadn't intervened, Her Highness Pecilini would've died. Catherine, you saved her."
"What? You were the one who called for rescue."
"You were the one who ran out of the warehouse and called Her Highness Pecilini."
"It was an unintentional act. If I could go back in time, I would never intervene again."
Catherine said firmly.
But Count Ethan shook his head.
"No. You would've done the same thing."
“How did you know? It’s me, Catherine. Have you forgotten?”
Catherine snorted self-deprecatingly.
“Yes. You may be greedy and sometimes reckless, but I know you’re not the type to hurt anyone. That’s for sure.”
Count Ethan grabbed Catherine’s hand.
Her eyes widened.
“Let’s tell His Majesty the truth. Maybe he’ll understand.”
Catherine’s eyes widened even more at Count Ethan’s words.
“...Are you crazy? Who would believe me if I told them I just sat in the warehouse and stared at the stars? Would I ever get kicked out?”
Catherine jumped.
“I’ll just get kicked out.”
“You’re telling me that now? I’m the First Concubine! If I just give birth to a Prince...!”
“Catherine, that won’t happen. Don’t you know His Majesty?”
“Ethan, just cooperate. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Although she had said that, Catherine already knew it was impossible.
“You don’t even know me yet.”
Count Ethan, after washing his face dry, knelt before Catherine with a determined expression.
“Give up your position as a concubine and come to me.”
“W-what are you doing?!”
“I can’t make you Empress, but I’ll treat you like one.”
Catherine was dumbfounded by Count Ethan’s words.
“...What if I don’t want to?”
“Then you’ll live your life as a sham first concubine. I’ll marry someone else.”
Catherine briefly pictured Count Ethan marrying someone else.
It was horrifying.
“Are you telling me to become a blacksmith’s wife?!”
That was equally horrifying.
“If you don’t want to, refuse. I won’t hold you back.”
When he makes sweet offers, he won’t hold her back?
Catherine was somewhat confused.
“Give me time to think.”
“Decide before His Majesty arrives.”
“...What’s the rush?”
“I feel responsible for yesterday’s events. That’s why I decided to take responsibility for you. But I never know when I might change my mind, Catherine.”
“Huh? There are many ways to threaten, really.”
Catherine squirmed, pulling her hand away from Count Ethan’s grasp, but she had already made up her mind.
Late in the afternoon, I went to find Yulina with Linel.
As soon as I entered the guest room with a heavy heart, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Yulina looked very stylish. She didn’t look like someone who had committed a crime and was being interrogated.
He glanced at me with a bewildered expression.
His eyes seemed to ask what I had said to Yulina last night that a criminal was coming to greet him so adorably.
Do I know?
I looked at Yulina again, my expression bewildered.
A dumbfounded laugh escaped me.
“Welcome, Your Majesty,”
Yulina greeted shyly. I was about to advise her to assess the situation when Linel scolded Raphael.
“Raphael, didn’t you tell her in advance that I was coming to interrogate her?”
“I told her, Your Majesty.”
Raphael looked quite flustered as well.
“Yulina.”
When he called Yulina’s name, her face lit up.
“Yes, Your Majesty... It’s Yulina!”
Yulina, who hadn’t even properly completed the concubine ceremony, seemed to be unable to control her emotions when he called her name for the first time.
“I didn’t come to spend your first night with you.”
He frowned and spoke soothingly.
Even though his voice was emotionless, his low tone made my heart pound for no reason.
“Ah, the first night... Th, of course. I know...”
Yulina’s breathing quickened.
Had she heard him correctly?
It seemed only the words “first night” were ringing in her ears.
“So, put on a good face,”
He commanded, extending his index finger and looking at Yulina’s plum-red face.
How could that possibly be possible?
I glanced at his beautiful blue eyes, somewhat understanding Yulina’s feelings.
“I’ll try.”
Yulina smiled, fanning my face with her hand.
“Don’t show more than six teeth.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t smile.”
Linel’s stern warning continued.
Only then did Yulina’s high cheekbones drop.
Although she had said that, Catherine already knew it was impossible.
“You don’t even know me yet.”
Count Ethan, after washing his face dry, knelt before Catherine with a determined expression.
“Give up your position as a concubine and come to me.”
“W-what are you doing?!”
“I can’t make you Empress, but I’ll treat you like one.”
Catherine was dumbfounded by Count Ethan’s words.
“...What if I don’t want to?”
“Then you’ll live your life as a sham first concubine. I’ll marry someone else.”
Catherine briefly pictured Count Ethan marrying someone else.
It was horrifying.
“Are you telling me to become a blacksmith’s wife?!”
That was equally horrifying.
“If you don’t want to, refuse. I won’t hold you back.”
When he makes sweet offers, he won’t hold her back?
Catherine was somewhat confused.
“Give me time to think.”
“Decide before His Majesty arrives.”
“...What’s the rush?”
“I feel responsible for yesterday’s events. That’s why I decided to take responsibility for you. But I never know when I might change my mind, Catherine.”
“Huh? There are many ways to threaten, really.”
Catherine squirmed, pulling her hand away from Count Ethan’s grasp, but she had already made up her mind.
***
Late in the afternoon, I went to find Yulina with Linel.
As soon as I entered the guest room with a heavy heart, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Yulina looked very stylish. She didn’t look like someone who had committed a crime and was being interrogated.
He glanced at me with a bewildered expression.
His eyes seemed to ask what I had said to Yulina last night that a criminal was coming to greet him so adorably.
Do I know?
I looked at Yulina again, my expression bewildered.
A dumbfounded laugh escaped me.
“Welcome, Your Majesty,”
Yulina greeted shyly. I was about to advise her to assess the situation when Linel scolded Raphael.
“Raphael, didn’t you tell her in advance that I was coming to interrogate her?”
“I told her, Your Majesty.”
Raphael looked quite flustered as well.
“Yulina.”
When he called Yulina’s name, her face lit up.
“Yes, Your Majesty... It’s Yulina!”
Yulina, who hadn’t even properly completed the concubine ceremony, seemed to be unable to control her emotions when he called her name for the first time.
“I didn’t come to spend your first night with you.”
He frowned and spoke soothingly.
Even though his voice was emotionless, his low tone made my heart pound for no reason.
“Ah, the first night... Th, of course. I know...”
Yulina’s breathing quickened.
Had she heard him correctly?
It seemed only the words “first night” were ringing in her ears.
“So, put on a good face,”
He commanded, extending his index finger and looking at Yulina’s plum-red face.
How could that possibly be possible?
I glanced at his beautiful blue eyes, somewhat understanding Yulina’s feelings.
“I’ll try.”
Yulina smiled, fanning my face with her hand.
“Don’t show more than six teeth.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t smile.”
Linel’s stern warning continued.
Only then did Yulina’s high cheekbones drop.
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