IBYSRHML | Chapter 39

Episode 39

Alice had to learn more than dozens of imperial court etiquettes within a month, study the history and culture of the empire, and prepare for the wedding whenever she found the time.

Because of her research, Emilia could only manage to see Alice for brief moments every few days.

So, it was only natural that Regina, who was relatively free, ended up taking care of Liliana.

That was also why the maids reported the children’s quarrels to Regina instead of Alice.

“Little one!”

“B-big sister!”

Liliana flinched upon recognizing Regina.

Swoosh.

Liliana, hiding behind Edgar, blatantly avoided Regina’s gaze as she tried to check on her.

“Are you okay? You didn’t get hit, did you?”

“N-no. I wasn’t hit… I’m fine.”

Regina quickly examined the two children.

Liliana’s hair was messy, but she didn’t appear to be injured.

On the other hand, Edgar’s cheeks were covered in scratch marks.

Pouting in dissatisfaction, Edgar grumbled.

“What’s the point if only you’re fine? My face stings.”

“Then why did you interfere? I finally got a chance to play with Oliver.”

“Oh, please. You can’t even fight properly. If it weren’t for me, you’d be knocked down again by now.”

“No way! Have you ever seen me fight? I’m good at it!”

“Liar. What kind of fight is it when you hit like a water punch?”

Just as the two children were about to start bickering again, a noblewoman with elegantly tied red hair approached Regina.

“Miss Berchio?”

“Who are you?”

“I am Marchioness Sophia Aldridge, the mother of Helen, who fought with your younger sister. May I have a moment?”

“Ah, yes. Liliana, stay here. And don’t fight, you two. Understood?”

“O-okay…”

Feeling subdued, Liliana nodded obediently.

Regina followed Marchioness Aldridge to another location, where Leopold, who had also just arrived after hearing the news, was waiting.

“Ah…”

Both of them let out a sigh at the same time.

However, they couldn’t afford to lose themselves in the moment.

Marchioness Aldridge, with a grave expression, began explaining the situation.

“I happened to witness the quarrel while coming to pick up my daughter and separated them. I scolded not only Helen but also the young duke and Miss Berchio. I hope you don’t find that too offensive.”

“Not at all. Is your daughter okay? I hope she wasn’t too hurt.”

“Helen is fine. However, I am concerned about whether the young duke’s face will be scarred.”

Before Marchioness Aldridge could apologize to Leopold, he drew a clear line.

“They are children. Children grow up through quarrels, so please don’t worry.”

“And Miss Berchio, I should have paid more attention to my child, but due to my busy schedule, I left Helen with her grandparents. Because of that, she ended up hearing strange rumors and hurt Miss Berchio’s feelings. I will make sure Helen apologizes later.”

“Yes. Please do so.”

“Alright. Then, I’ll be taking my leave.”

After a polite bow, Marchioness Aldridge departed with her daughter.

Now, only Regina and Leopold remained.

It was clear that pretending to greet each other naturally would seem like an act.

However, openly revealing their awkwardness and running away wasn’t an option either, as they would have to see each other many times in the future.

Surprisingly, Leopold was the one who spoke first.

He forced himself to come up with a conversation topic, worried that Regina might feel uncomfortable.

“I feel sorry that Liliana is suffering emotional distress because the adults are lacking.”

“No, it’s not your fault, Mr. Leopold… I just happened to notice earlier that Edgar’s face was full of scratches, and I’m worried.”

“Please don’t worry. Edgar is a tough child.”

He looks a little thinner. And he seems a bit down.

Leopold quietly observed Regina.

He wished for her to always be happy, yet at the same time, he wanted her to struggle because of him.

Seeing her face eased his longing.

And it made him strongly want to cling to her.

‘If I act recklessly, it will only trouble her.’

So, he held back.

Love is merely a fleeting emotion, so he just had to endure until it faded.

“Then, I’ll take Edgar and leave first.”

Clenching his teeth, Leopold gave a respectful bow and passed by Regina.

Those few steps were so difficult that he just wanted to cry.

***

Alice had to face a hearing—though not officially called one—due to a summons from the council.

“It is unthinkable for the empress of the empire to not follow the state religion. You should either convert or return to Trovancha!”

Dealing with pirates or invaders was simple.

If they refused to surrender, she could just subdue them by force.

But the nobles before her were different.

If she threw a punch at them, it would easily escalate into a national issue.

These were the foxes in the garden that she would have to tame for the next ten years.

Thus, it was better to avoid unnecessary conflict.

“I will convert.”

Although Trovancha worshipped the same deity under a different name, she chose to comply to prevent them from nitpicking at her for the next decade.

The nobles in attendance had not expected Alice to accept so easily, exchanging surprised glances.

Then, Count Ruman cleared his throat and changed the subject.

“The heir born between His Majesty and Lady Alice must be kept away from Trovancha’s culture. Can you also promise this?”

“Yes, I promise.”

Marius and she had no intention of having children.

The two were merely to live as an external couple for ten years. In other words, the probability of a child being born between them was approaching zero.

Count Ruman’s face hardened as if he were irritated by Alice’s unwavering stance. Finally, Duke Berg stepped forward.

“Can you prove that statement?”

Unlike Count Ruman, Duke Berg, whose beard had turned completely white, exuded the air of a seasoned politician.

Alice instinctively realized that he was not an easy opponent.

“How do you expect me to prove it?”

“Swear on your soul.”

“Swear on my soul?”

“Yes. Through that, you will limit your abilities. You will only use them for the Empire.”

For the first time, the expression on Alice’s previously composed face twisted.

Max, the executive secretary and chief aide, relayed the latest hearing news to Marius.

“The demand to seal her abilities is growing stronger.”

“This is getting interesting.”

Marius merely smiled as if finding the situation amusing, but François furrowed his brows slightly.

As soon as Max left, François cast a security spell over the entire office and asked,

“Are you just going to leave it like that? Even if it’s a contract marriage, she’s still going to be your wife.”

“Sealing her abilities is the right thing to do. Having someone with such immense power stay in the imperial palace requires some restrictions.”

“Wow. So, being emperor really does require someone ruthless. Well, you’ve always been that way. You never hesitated to start wars for what you wanted—why would a contract wife be any different?”

“You’re one to talk. You locked up Rebecca Marchione in the tower and took young Liliana as a hostage.”

At Marius’ cold retort, François merely shrugged.

The two had been bound by a twisted fate since their previous lives.

They only cooperated out of necessity, but if given the choice, they would avoid each other entirely.

“Are you still mad about that? You went to the underground prison to take revenge on Edgar, but you didn’t kill him, did you?”

“Do you even hear yourself? And what about you? The fifteen-year-old who risked everything to rescue Liliana! I heard you even poisoned her.”

“That was just to keep Liliana from escaping. It wasn’t real poison—Edgar knew that and stole the antidote.”

Marius did not bother to hide his contempt at François’ response.

He understood that François needed Liliana, but even then, and still now, she was just a small child.

A man who would use a child like that disgusted him.

“You’re no different. Just how desperate must a fifteen-year-old have been to try and stop his own brother?”

“Yeah. I must have looked like a fool back then, completely blinded by the love potion.”

“Ha! It’s been over four months since you turned back time, and you still believe Edgar betrayed you?”

François smirked as he caught the brief flicker of confusion on Marius’ face.

How many times could one witness the Blood Sovereign making such a foolish expression? Life truly was full of surprises.

‘Did you really think Edgar stood in your way without reason?’

At fifteen, Edgar had been a naïve boy suffering from his first love, but he had also been a noble who grew up keenly aware of imperial politics.

There was no way he would have risked his life purely for love.

‘He wanted to stop you.’

After meeting Regina Berchio, Leopold realized his love for Rebecca had been a lie.

The moment he felt true love, the effect of the love potion broke.

But Regina was a citizen of the nation he had destroyed.

Overcome with guilt and despair at a love that could never be, Leopold chose to take his own life.

Edgar, who had witnessed it all, must have desperately wanted to stop his last remaining brother from following the same path.

— let it end with me.

His plea had been so desperate, yet the emperor still failed to understand.

A childhood filled with betrayal had blinded him to sincerity.

But François had no intention of revealing the truth, so he simply smirked.