A servant handed Jeremy a small piece of bark. The name ‘Leah Pailin’ was carved into it.

“Is it like a long-standing identification?”

Judging by the carved name, that was the only guess. And it was a pretty old certificate, if not ancient.

Long ago, magic tools were invented, and the bark was even more obsolete.

This happened about two hundred years ago.

“And how is this to be understood?”

“I don’t know, sir. I don’t think this is one of the things of the deceased.”

Leah Pailin. Leah Pailin…

“Looks like a woman’s name.”

Jeremy continued:

“Who was cleaning the bedroom?”

“There was only me.”

“And you have not seen such a thing until now?”

“Yes.”

If it’s a strange thing that hasn’t happened before… Maybe the assassin dropped it?

Intuition told me that this was the case.

“You are forbidden to tell anyone about it. If you flutter your tongue, you will suddenly become one head shorter.”

“I will keep it in mind.”

The servant flinched at Jeremy’s cold voice and shook his head.

Jeremy slipped the ancient identification into his pocket and walked stubbornly away.

* * *

The next day.

Morning newspapers trumpeted the news of the bygone day.

The daughter of Duke Croft returns to the place of the Empress and brings a new prince with her.

And the death of Duke Drua, who attempted their lives.

Newspapers were thrilled by the grandiose events that took place in one single day.

The servants of Marquis Sios were now carrying a pile of newspapers to him.

One of them fell to the floor.

“Oh.”

The servant reached out to pick up the newspaper, but someone else was quicker.

Lily, a nondescript maid with gray hair and gray eyes.

Lady Sios’ personal thug.

Lily’s usually stiff eyebrows frowned when she caught a glimpse of the front page of the newspaper.

“I’ll take it to the lady.”

Lily hurried to the dining room, where breakfast was in full swing, without listening to the servant’s reply.

A moment later, the anger of Marquis Sios echoed.

“Empress! Eventually it happened! You so zealously demanded that I put everything on you. So what is the outcome?”

Ever since yesterday, Marquis Sios has been repeating the same words.

“Where the hell did this second prince come from? The Empress’s son?! You knew about it! You should have told me too!”

“If you kill, kill carefully! As a result, Drua is ​​dead, and a new prince has appeared, whose birth I didn’t even suspect! So what are you going to do about it?”

First, he reminded her of the Empress, and then led the story in the direction of the new prince.

The face of Marquis Sios flushed, as if he was about to burst, but Lisa maintained a stoic expression.

Marquis Sios fiercely hit the table to let off some steam.

Lisa’s soup plate shook.

“If your mouth isn’t dry yet, I’m waiting for an apology!”

Marquis Sios burst into anger throughout the dining room.

Lisa closed her eyes for a moment behind her greasy hair. The last couple of days she could think of only one thing.

Empress Ellie and the Second Prince.

There is no one in the Empire who now freaks out more than Lisa Sios.

It had already been reported to her that Raymond had rescued these two and sent them straight to the Imperial Palace. Lisa, of course, expected the story to continue. But what came true was the worst scenario that could ever fall to her lot.

‘I was hoping it wasn’t Raymond’s child.’

‘I prayed day and night. It’s not such a big request, is it? But God remained in his repertoire.’

‘It turns out he’s a prince.’

‘I will never forget the feeling of despair and defeat at the moment when new news touched my ears.’

‘In the end, Ellie saved her son.’

‘Oh, how I want to kill you.’

‘I have never felt such a strong urge to finish someone off.’

“I told you to get into the heart of the Emperor, but look what happened to us!”

The voice of Marquis Sios continued the same song.

Harsh screams made it difficult to gather thoughts together. Lisa turned to Marquis Sios and said:

“I’m sorry. I have blundered.”

And then Lisa bowed to the Marquis.

The Marquis was already preparing to get angry more than ever, but what he said seemed to bewitch.

He froze and shut his mouth.

And this happened because the eternally obstinate Lisa suddenly became embarrassed and bowed her head apologetically.

“I know my father’s anger overtook me because of my misdeeds. I admit my guilt.”

Lisa got up from her chair and knelt in front of the Marquis.

“I beg your forgiveness again.”

The Marquis didn’t expect Lisa to act so timidly.

In recent years, Lisa ignored him, her father, and with incomparable arrogance.

He clearly remembered the tone of Lisa, who even gave him orders, as if he was her subordinate.

But what if she knelt down like that? The anger that had overshadowed his reason suddenly cooled down.

What are you doing now? Are you on your knees?

It was a card that she would never have thrown away.

After all, Lisa is primarily the mother of the first prince.

And now the Marquis, who was looking down at Lisa, stroked his beard and spoke:

“Great, you know your guilt. Then there is no need for unnecessary chatter. Better deal with Edmund now. And behave yourself so that there are no dirty rumors in the world.”

The Marquis’s voice was arrogant, as if he liked her apology.

“Yes.”

At this stage, she still wouldn’t have had a chance to make a splash.

The dining room door swung open.

Lisa was surprised by Lily’s unusually persistent gaze.

“What is there?”

Lily handed Lisa the newspaper.

[Marquis Sios regularly sent money to Freud Drua. What is their real connection?]

Lisa tightly squeezed the crumpled newspaper and spit in a cold voice:

“Lily, bring all the newspapers, all of them.”

* * *

After yesterday’s full of anxiety and change, the morning sun shone as usual, unaware of the people’s dramasf.

However, this morning I woke up as Ellie Agrita, the Empress of this country, not the young lady, Duke Croft’s daughter. As did Carlisle, who is now named the second prince of Agrita.

The wedding has not yet taken place, but my status has already been raised to Empress.

The morning passed and my father went for a little walk with Carlisle while the doctor visited me.

“I think I’m much better… What do you say?” I asked Harpen after examination.

“Anything better than yesterday. However, don’t overwork. Better to stay aloof for now, even if the Empress’ robes are shining. And don’t forget about the child.”

“This… it will be very difficult soon.”

I know what Harpen was talking about. But now I won’t be able to pull Carlisle out of the dark abyss.

The newfound father and the fact that he will live at the Imperial Palace in the future brought the child a lot of anxiety. Carlisle continued to plunge into darkness.

“Are you still wrong with the Emperor?” Harpen asked carefully.

“Hm. I think it will get better soon.”

Even though I said it, I hardly believed in it.

After all, I perfectly remembered Carlisle’s reaction yesterday:

“How are you feeling?”

“Much better.”

“Carlisle has been with you for a long time?”

He looked at me and turned his gaze to Carlisle.

“Carlisle, say hello to your father.”

But he pretended not to hear.

“Carlisle.”

Raymond smiled softly and called the boy’s name, but then Carlisle turned away altogether.

Raymond reached out to pat the child on the head, but he couldn’t hide his embarrassment and took his hand away.

“It looks like you still haven’t gotten used to His Majesty.”

Carlisle didn’t even look up until Raymond left us.

How can I move him…

While I was absorbed in my worries, the servant announced a visit to me.

“Your Majesty the Empress, the butler has come.”

“Let him in.”

“Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress, the moon of the Empire.”

The butler entered the room and bowed deeply.

Although I haven’t yet entered the palace formally, the status of the Empress has been assigned to me since the last day.

“What brings you to me?”

“All preparations have been made.”

“It’s earlier than expected.”

“I received the order yesterday. All servants are carefully selected. When you feel better, we will immediately arrange a move.”

“No, I want to finish everything right now.”

The butler stared at me in surprise.

“The words of His Majesty: the date to appoint a day of complete recovery.”

“You said that everything is ready? I never ceased to occupy the Emperor’s bedchamber.”

It was still Raymond’s bedroom.

The longer I was here, the further Raymond had to sleep in unusual places. We can’t lie in the same bed.

And besides my personal feelings, I can’t spoil the life of the Emperor of our country.

Besides, there is nothing good about rumors that the Emperor used the guest room at the whim of the Empress.

“I will bring your will to His Majesty.”

“Oh yeah, have you chosen the head maid yet?”

“That would be contrary to His Majesty’s order. It says: leave the last word for the Empress.”

I thought I’d bring Helen here.

“Oh, has His Majesty decided on the Carlisle Palace?”

“It was ordered to prepare the Regulus Palace, not far from the Empress’s palace.”

After several days of torment, perhaps something has become with my hearing. I blinked slowly and asked for confirmation:

“The Regulus Palace?”