Chapter 30: Marry Prince Michael
‘It wasn’t long after Leonov left that she called for me, so I had expected this to some degree, but… I didn’t think she would bring it up so quickly.’
It seemed like it was urgent. After all, if the engagement had proceeded as planned, it would have been around the time to exchange gifts.
‘My coming-of-age ceremony is approaching in two months, too.’
The moment when the other party’s desires were clearly visible was the perfect opportunity to take control.
‘Aside from the difficulty of dealing with her, I don’t have any particular ill feelings toward the Empress. But when I see those eyes that resemble Leonov’s, it makes me uneasy.’
Estelle waited for the Empress to finish speaking.
“I heard Leonov was late and upset about the promise. I told him to be more careful, so it won’t happen again. I hope you stop pushing this issue now.”
“…Your Majesty.”
The Empress was implicitly warning Estelle to back off and act accordingly.
“I wasn’t upset because His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was late. How could I be upset? He’s such a busy person.”
“Hm, then?”
The Empress furrowed her brows, clearly unsure of what Estelle meant.
‘If I’m going to say that it’s hard to get engaged because I’m infertile, I need to pretend to love Leonov dearly.’
Though it was nauseating, Estelle made her eyes filled with sorrow and shed a few tears to look pitiful.
“Lady?”
Taking advantage of the Empress’s confusion, Estelle handed over the envelope with the medical certificate inside.
“My actions until now were simply to force myself to cut off my feelings for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Forcing yourself? What do you mean by that?”
The Empress still looked confused as she took the envelope and opened the certificate to read.
“…Infertility?”
As her gaze lowered, the Empress’s face grew cold and tense.
“I couldn’t tell His Royal Highness about this because I was too embarrassed. But I thought I should tell you, Your Majesty.”
“Is this true?”
“I was diagnosed with infertility due to prolonged exposure to sleep-inducing scents from insomnia. I should have paid more attention to the irregularity of my menstruation since I was young…”
The lie flowed smoothly as though it were the truth.
“As you know, Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince must inherit the throne.”
“…That’s true.”
“I realized that, in a royal family that needs an heir, I cannot walk alongside His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. I don’t want to be a burden to him. I love him, but it’s so hard to bring him my weakness…”
The Empress set the certificate down and took Estelle’s hand.
“Lady, I had a feeling something was off. I know you followed the Crown Prince, but it didn’t make sense for you to make such a decision.”
Startled by the sudden contact, Estelle lowered her head to suppress her nervousness.
“I understand that you don’t want to be a weakness. I was the same once.”
“Your Majesty, I beg you to keep my infertility a secret. Please, even from His Royal Highness…”
Estelle sobbed in a pitiful voice, as if she couldn’t bear to let the person she loved see her flaws.
“Don’t worry. No one will know. Especially if it’s Leonov.”
The Empress held the certificate over the candle flame. The certificate, engulfed in fire, quickly turned to ash and vanished.
‘I didn’t expect her to burn the certificate. Well, actually, this is better.’
There was no way that certificate would end up somewhere else now.
“Thank you for thinking of His Royal Highness. Now, I would like to make a suggestion to you.”
“A suggestion…?”
It seemed like she had abandoned the idea of pushing forward with the engagement to Leonov, but what kind of suggestion could she have?
“With your infertility, it would be difficult to find a suitable match for someone of the Winchester family’s stature.”
The Empress dropped a sugar cube into her tea and stirred it elegantly with a teaspoon.
“Marry Prince Michael.”
“Y-Your Majesty!”
“I know you don’t want to. Even though he’s been acknowledged as a prince, he’s still a lowly illegitimate child. He’s an unsuitable match for someone of the Winchester family’s eldest daughter.”
Estelle had thought the Empress might suggest a more appropriate match, but to marry Michael?
Moreover, she wasn’t talking about an engagement but directly proposing marriage. Estelle now understood why.
‘She wants to marry me off to Michael, so I won’t have children with him because of my infertility.’
Even if Michael were to have an illegitimate child with another woman, it would be hard to recognize them as his heir.
‘It was the Emperor’s will, and even though he became a prince due to his golden eyes…’
Michael was still an illegitimate child. In a society that values bloodlines, the child of an illegitimate child was destined to be discarded.
“But he’s still a threat to Leonov, so I need to know his movements. Through you, Lady Estelle.”
“…”
“On the surface, you will be considered royalty. If you help, it will be of great assistance to Leonov.”
Not only that, but she also wanted Estelle to act as a spy. She had only intended to convey that the engagement with Leonov was difficult, but if she had known it would lead to this, she would have thought of another way.
‘I don’t want to harm Michael. Marrying someone who doesn’t want to have any connection with me…’
But at this point, it was hard to undo what had already been done.
‘I need to refuse in a way the Empress can accept.’
Estelle bit her lip, unsure of what to say.
In the meantime, the Empress shook her bell to call a maid.
“Go, and bring Prince Michael. I have something urgent to discuss with him, so make sure he comes.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“It’s better to become acquainted with the Prince beforehand, Lady. Keep this in mind: Everything is for the Crown Prince’s future.”
Although the Empress wrapped it in a polite request, she acted as if Estelle’s opinion didn’t matter at all.
‘Even if I say I don’t want to, I don’t think she’ll listen.’
Estelle sighed inwardly. At this point, she could only hope Michael would refuse.
Some time passed, and Estelle heard slow footsteps approaching, followed by the opening of the door.
“I heard you called for me, Your Majesty.”
Michael, exuding an air of annoyance, furrowed his brows as soon as he made eye contact with Estelle.
“Hoh, it seems the Prince needs to relearn etiquette. There’s something you should do when you see your mother, you know?”
“Oh. Since you didn’t accept my previous gesture, it seemed like you didn’t want to, so I skipped it… I guess that wasn’t the case.”
Michael lazily nodded toward the Empress.
“When did I say that? The Prince must have misunderstood.”
The Empress covered her mouth with a fan. Meanwhile, Estelle felt suffocated and wanted to leave the room.
“You said you had something urgent to discuss, so I’ll come back after the guests leave.”
“No need for that. Sit next to the Lady for now. She’s involved in this too.”
Michael took a deep breath and sat beside Estelle. Although he maintained some distance, the refreshing scent emanating from him easily reached Estelle’s nose.
It was a comforting fragrance, calming the uncomfortable feelings she had.
“Looking at you both now, you make such a perfect pair. I’ve been too negligent of my son because I’ve been busy. Now, I want to pay more attention to you.”
“What do you mean by paying attention?”
“I’ll make sure the Prince marries the Lady at the right time. It’s time for you to start a family.”
Michael didn’t respond at all.
Estelle felt uneasy.
‘How will he react?’
Her mouth went dry, and she felt thirsty.
“…The Crown Prince hasn’t started a family yet, so why would the younger brother do so?”
“The Crown Prince is too busy with state affairs. Now is not the right time. But the Prince should do it first, so that I can rest easy. Besides, the Crown Prince isn’t really your brother, is he?”
The Empress retorted sarcastically, mocking Michael’s situation as the second prince, who, due to being an illegitimate child, was born earlier.
“Don’t dare refuse my command.”
At that moment, the Empress’s expression suddenly changed.
“I’m tired. Go now. Soon, I’ll send a marriage proposal to the Duke of Winchester, so keep that in mind.”
The Empress smiled sweetly again and waved her hand.
Michael stood up and left the room.
Estelle, receiving the Empress’s silent gesture to leave, followed him.
After walking in silence for a while, Michael turned toward Estelle in a corridor where no one else was around.
“…This has never happened before.”
Michael muttered quietly, and Estelle saw the look on his face.
“Why are you marrying me again?”
He wore a horrific expression on his face.
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