“The Empress’s health is simply not good. It is unacceptable to accuse her without solid evidence.”
The Emperor’s stern voice creates uncomfortable tension among the officials attending the political meeting.
Ian thought of Lethenia, who had been glaring at him with a strange face not long ago. Her eyes were so eerie that one could hardly believe they belonged to a human. Though unsettling, after the intervention of Theo, Lethenia’s symptoms had somewhat improved, which was a relief.
Now, she was in a state where she couldn’t even breathe properly if she faced him directly.
Ian felt a heavy sense of guilt, wondering if the wounds he inflicted on her were the cause of her current mental issues.
‘Is this the repercussion of the harm I caused Lethenia?’
Attacks against the Empress were escalating among the courtiers, who were questioning Lethenia’s actions thus far.
Despite Ian’s careful efforts to prevent the unbelievable events in the Empress’s palace from leaking, it was impossible to completely block everyone’s eyes and ears.
Count Bedos, in particular, was determined to find decisive evidence to question the Empress’s suitability and, if possible, push for her abdication, even going as far as to kill her.
The ridiculous rumor that the Empress was possessed by a demon was known to be the Count’s doing.
He aimed to create public opinion that the Empress, rather than being just unwell, was under the influence of some sinister force.
If Lethenia were to cause any trouble again, it would indeed be a significant problem.
Therefore, after much consideration, Ian gave permission for Lethenia to go to the Riven Palace for recuperation. If Lethenia temporarily left, the dangerous rumors might calm down a bit.
Ian’s sharp gaze was directed at Duke Bledel, who maintained a silent posture throughout.
Even as the Empress faced public criticism, her own father showed no reaction. After the Audience Day incident, he slipped away like a fox. What kind of scheme was he brewing this time?
Breaking the short yet prolonged silence in the political meeting, Count Bedos spoke.
“I wonder how Duke Bledel views this issue.”
The Count’s aggressive voice made the air around them even colder.
The Duke’s piercing gaze was directed at the Count. Then, he lifted the corner of his mouth slightly, forming a faint smile as he responded.
“If the Empress has tarnished the dignity of the imperial family and committed unforgivable crimes, she should certainly pay the price.”
The unbelievable response from Duke Bledel caused the eyes of the attendants to shake in disbelief. Ian, too, furrowed his brow, turning his head away from the Duke.
“Do you truly think so, even though she is your daughter?”
“I am prepared to abide by whatever your Majesty decides.”
The Duke’s dignified attitude left both the Duke’s faction and even the Count with a sense of confusion. However, the Count soon sharpened his gaze and opened his mouth.
“Duke, you are truly an upright individual. Naturally, when it comes to matters concerning the imperial family, you should discard any personal emotions. Your Majesty, this matter cannot be ignored; please make a decision.”
Ian’s anger started to build against the Duke’s questionable attitude.
How could a father be so heartless? Due to Duke Bledel withdrawing from Lethenia’s issues, the Emperor had become the one protecting the Empress against the opposition of the officials.
Ian remained silent for a moment, not offering any response. The suspicious gazes of the nobles gathered on Ian.
As Ian’s anger slowly intensified, he finally spoke, staring coldly at the Duke.
“Do not mention the Empress any further.”
Ian rose from his seat. He saw Count Bedos’s face flush red, but he strode past him and out of the room.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Ian walked through the garden, lost in thought. For a while, he was unable to escape the abysmal depths of his anguish.
His head was spinning with the complexity of the events that had occurred. The place where he unconsciously stopped was the Kaelin Palace.
<Kaire.>
The name spoken by Rosetin haunted his thoughts. Since that day, Rosetin has been staying in the Kaelin Palace without going out.
He wanted to ask her directly, but even after thinking about it dozens of times, it was truly an absurd question. Rosetin, who was walking in the distant gardens of Kaelin Palace, came into view.
It seemed as if she hadn’t noticed that Ian had entered the palace. The Kaelin Palace was adorned with the splendid flowers planted by the former empress.
She stood in front of a white flower and gently tapped its petals with her finger.
She then leaned forward, closed her eyes, and breathed in its fragrance. Ian’s heart was once again filled with unease as he watched her.
‘Lethenia.’
It was the same habit Lethenia had when she saw her favorite flowers. Even when alone without any maids, Rosetin behaved like Lethenia.
Right now, she didn’t even realize he was in Kaelin Palace.
It was a moment when he began to doubt whether all her actions, which he assumed were deliberately imitating Lethenia to provoke him, had in fact been misunderstood on his own. His heart began to beat unevenly.
Ian unconsciously clenched his fist. He began to doubt whether all of her actions were just to provoke him or if he had misunderstood her intentions.
The memory of Rosetin’s last words flooded Ian’s mind, and he couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the pain and confusion he felt whenever he saw her.
He wondered what had happened to his head. Now Rosetin looked just like the real Lethenia.
With that thought, he succumbed to uncontrollable emotions, and without realizing it, he opened his mouth to speak to her.
“Siana.”
The name Ian had vowed never to utter again, the one he wanted to erase forever, flowed from his lips.
At that moment, Rosetin’s eyes, moistened with bewilderment, rapidly turned red. Shocked, Ian let out a short sob.
The pent-up turmoil in his chest felt like it could explode at any moment. He struggled to hold on to his last shreds of sanity.
‘No. It can’t be.’
Rosetin couldn’t be Lethenia. It couldn’t be. If she was, then he had killed her twice.
Ian cleared his disheveled expression and turned away from Rosetin.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
“Miss Bianca of the Baron of Lukovov has arrived.”
An attendant from the Imperial Palace entered the office, announcing Bianca’s arrival. Her unique cobalt blue hair flowed like waves every time she took a step.
Bianca’s silver-gray eyes were full of anxiety. She used to be one of Lethenia’s maids.
Ian watched her warily. Perhaps something had happened to Lethenia.
“I am Bianca Lukovov; I greet the Emperor.”
Bianca was so nervous to see the Emperor that she stuttered.
She handed something to Ian. He looked at it coldly and asked in a chilly voice,
“What is this?”
“It’s a… a magic notebook used by Her Majesty the Empress.”
What she handed him was an old notebook with ancient magical markings.
He had a vague idea of what a magic notebook was, but he wondered how Lethenia had gotten hold of it, and more than that, he wondered what the maid’s motives were for bringing it to him.
Having a forbidden magical tool in Asha was a grave sin. Ian looked at Bianca again, demanding an explanation.
Under Ian’s cold gaze, Bianca lowered her head slightly, avoiding eye contact. However, as if determined, she spoke unexpectedly with a somewhat resolute tone.
“Our Lukovov family will, um, always remain loyal to His Majesty the Emperor.”
Only then did Ian realize why Bianca had come to the Imperial Palace with this.
Baron Lukovov was a man who walked a tightrope between the Emperor’s and Duke’s factions, moving around like a bat.
Although he always seemed to step back from sensitive political issues, he was delicately maintaining his position.
Recently, with the Empress falling seriously ill and exhibiting strange behavior, Duke Bledel was not taking any specific actions and seemed to be watching from the sidelines.
Bianca was a maid in the Empress’s palace, so she must have witnessed the horrific events caused by Lethenia up close.
Now that the Bledel family is out of options, she has decided to side with the Emperor once and for all.
However, it didn’t seem likely that Baron Lukovov, a cautious man who always cared for his family, would order such a thing to his daughter.
Ian still closely observed Bianca, who was trembling slightly.
Nevertheless, seeing her take action for her family after reading the situation, she seemed more daring than her father.
Ian unfolded the magic notebook. As he knows, the notebook comes in pairs that have to be shared with the person she wants to talk to.
As expected, the notebook showed traces of Lethenia having a prolonged written exchange with someone. And every time he turned a page, his facial muscles stiffened with discomfort.
[I came from another world. Somehow, I was dragged into Lethenia’s body.]
[Then where did the real Lethenia go?]
[I don’t know for sure. It’s just my guess, but on that day, Lethenia might have left this world forever.]
Even after Bianca took the notebook and left the room, Ian remained frozen, unable to move his finger as if he had turned into a cursed statue.
