CH 108

I clenched my trembling fingers into a fist.

“Our enemy?”

Sios was the first to come to mind.

Not that it came as a surprise to me.

I just didn’t know how soon they would find out my past and Carlisle’s existence.

I may have slipped misinformation on Raymond, but not the Marquis Sios.

I was ashamed of my omission, but now all that was left was to take action.

If they wonder if Carlisle is of royal bloodline, things will go awry for us.

Lisa didn’t become Empress, and Edmund’s position was precarious. If right now the light falls on the true prince, Edmund will lose all legitimacy.

“And this someone thought the same thing as I did,” he said with a kind of impatient air.

“If they want to sniff out something, I won’t stand still.”

“I will help.”

“Yes? What does it mean?”

He took a step towards me.

Raymond took a deep breath and looked down at me.

Will you tell me something funny or will we just stand there? When I was about to throw such a question at him, his lips moved.

“Go back to the palace.”

What?

I came to my senses and asked, as if struck by lightning.

“What did you just say?”

“I said to return to the Empress’s residence and sit on the throne again.”

I thought I misheard.

Return to the palace. Become an Empress.

It was more shocking than saying that he would drag Carlisle to the temple.

Until now, I couldn’t imagine that in my life I would still hear something like that.

If it weren’t for his determined face, I would have thought I was dreaming this.

But why? Words fell out of my mouth before I could even think about them:

“Have you lost your mind?”

It was a rude remark that no one would have dared to give to the Emperor, but now I didn’t care.

I couldn’t think of any other words besides this.

“My mind is stronger than ever. Bring back to life as the Empress. We need each other.”

Raymond responded to me without a trace of embarrassment, as if my previous reaction had been as expected.

His calm voice created the illusion that everything that was happening was unreal.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.”

How could he tell me that if he wasn’t out of his mind?

We’re already divorced.

No, first of all, I had Carlisle, and now I have other things to do.

He even thought that my son wasn’t his child, but he planned my return anyway? If he’s not crazy, what’s wrong with him?

I spoke, once again drawing a line:

“Your Majesty, I have a child. Even if I return, I’m not going to abandon the child and become an Empress again.”

As soon as I finished speaking, he answered as if he expected that too.

“Did I tell you to leave the child? Your son will be registered as my adopted child.”

You’re going to add Carlisle to the lineage as a foster child.

Overworked these days, or has he gone mad from insomnia?

Raymond had such a confident face and he said more and more strange things.

“What the hell… Do you want to accept someone else’s son as a prince?”

“We’ll have to come up with something, but this is not excluded.”

It was like I was butting with the wall. And I already had a headache from this action.

“Sire…”

“Ellie, think about it. What will happen when they find out about the child?”

“And Your Majesty will serve me as a human shield?”

“Right. Even if this is not my child, our enemies will soon give you two a pass. The safest place to protect… this is the Emperor’s palace.”

It seems that in his mind all the plans were already perfectly laid out.

Of course, leaving out our personal feelings, it’s not that he was wrong.

But this simply can’t happen.

I ran away so as not to raise him as a heir, but now let’s make Carlisle a prince?

“Thanks for the offer, but no.”

“Ellie, think about the child. Even if he doesn’t have the right to the crown, you two will be safer with me than anywhere else.”

Raymond’s dark eyes didn’t flinch.

He believes in what he says.

As I scanned him, I noticed many unkempt features that I had not seen before.

A rumpled robe, disheveled hair, and dirt on his boots.

It looks like he rushed like a fanatic straight from the palace to tell me his thoughts.

I looked into those deep eyes and finally answered:

“What the hell are you doing?”

I couldn’t see through his obsession.

What is so interesting about trying to lure someone else’s child?

“I can’t just watch as you and your son are overwhelmed by danger.”

Sadness settled in his eyes.

By the emotions that hesitated in his gaze, it was difficult to judge whether he fell victim to an obsession or simply regretted the past.

“Ellie.”

He reached out to me. I saw his hand and stepped back.

“No. I don’t need Your Majesty’s help.”

“Ellie!”

He called out my name as if in a panic.

“I’m the one who can protect Carlisle. I, not this Jeremy.”

“What does Drua have to do with it? But no, it seems he will be better than this.”

“What?”

“For me, the life of an Empress is nothing but pain and regret. Or did you think I filed for divorce because of Edmund?”

“I know I hurt you. But…”

“If you know, how dare you even say that I should return to the throne?”

First of all, Carlisle and I got bogged down in such a quagmire precisely because of your indifference.

Having a child born from the outside, he appointed him heir to the crown and never gave me confidence that he would protect our child.

But now he came and made me such an offer…

“I will take care of my child’s problems. Please stop coming to me.”

“Ellie, I…”

“You’ve crossed the line.”

My harsh voice sounded.

There was no desire or opportunity to know why he was doing this and what was hidden in his heart.

He walked away, not hiding his tortured face.

He simply turned and walked out of the waiting room without another word.

“Ellie. Is it okay?”

Jed stepped into the living room.

“The Emperor brought the problems? I heard you were raising your voice.”

Jed had a look of worry on his face.

“There’s no problems with him.”

“Then what’s the matter?”

“Someone found out about Carlisle’s existence.”

Jed’s expression was seriously tense.

“Is this Marquis Sios?”

“It’s very likely, but I’m not sure. I need to know exactly who is behind this. And I will have to postpone sending my son to the academy.”

I couldn’t guess how far the information had leaked.

There are no longer any guarantees that the academy will be a safe place for him.

“I’ll find out through Phoenix.”

* * *

On the third day after Raymond’s visit.

A letter has arrived at the Carlisle residence from the house of Sios.

[Lady Croft, if time permits, I would like to speak with you.

—Lisa Sios]

“Oh, this Lisa.”

After checking the contents of the letter, I spat out her name.

Helen asked me:

“Are you going to go?”

“I must. She personally sent a letter here.”

SHe sent a letter here, so she knows who is hiding in this mansion. The letter is written in my name.

Well, let’s talk…

Are you afraid that Carlisle is a prince, is that why you are trying to challenge me?

“How shameless of them to send us such an invitation.”

“We’re at a disadvantage. That bitch must be trying to crush us.”

Carlisle was my weakness, and Lisa grabbed onto it.

This meeting still can’t be avoided.

But that doesn’t mean that I was going to bow my head to her. Let it be so, let me have weaknesses. I will show her that she also has weaknesses.

I slapped Helen on the shoulder, who couldn’t hide her outrage.

“I’m going to the Sios house. Take a good look after Carlisle.”

After Raymond’s visit, the mansion was heavily guarded.

The attack could have been sudden.

“Don’t worry.”

Instead of answering Lisa with a letter, perhaps I will visit her lair personally.