Edith pondered Walter’s words until the carriage left the Imperial Palace.
“Are you sure that Claude is not related to the previous Emperor? There’s no way to check.”
Walter sat cross-legged and recalled his conversation with Rosaline.
“The previous Emperor was said to be infertile at that time, due to age or some other reason, so Patricia found a man who looked like him in a brothel and used him.”
“If that’s true, it could really help us, but how can we confirm…?”
There’s no way to measure a dead emperor’s fertility.
Edith smoothly redirected the conversation.
“To believe Rosaline, we need evidence.”
Moreover, even after Patricia became the Imperial Consort, she repeatedly aroused the suspicions of the nobles.
A quick check of the records showed that Claude had been tested for blood paternity three or four times since he was born.
“If he really is another man’s child, how did they get away with it all these years?”
“Even Rosaline also seemed uncertain about exactly how Patricia manipulated the paternity test results.”
The way Rosaline continued to reveal each word, even though her body was trembling, certainly seemed sincere, but as Edith said, she could not be completely trusted.
“Until we get clear evidence, we can only keep it to ourselves. If we probe Patricia, we might discover something.”
Walter said so as if he felt a little disappointed. But Edith couldn’t shake her academic curiosity.
『 There’s no way a blood paternity test for the Imperial Family would be lax.』
In any case, if Rosaline’s revelations were true, Walter, House Lexion, and the Imperial Family had a secret weapon.
As long as it was revealed that Claude was not of Imperial Blood, it was only a matter of time before Patricia and her cronies’ power crumbled.
『 I need to talk to Rosaline directly.』
It wasn’t just Claude’s lineage that was at stake.
“But Walter, what does it mean that Patricia had something to do with Mrs. Lea’s death?”
In response to Edith’s question, Walter relayed Rosaline’s words to her.
⋙“Lady Patricia would sometimes wake up from nightmares and mumble that Leah Lexion might be alive, even after it was officially announced that she had died in a carriage accident.”⋘
⋙“I never thought Patricia would be so interested in my mother.”⋘
⋙“It wasn’t just interest… it was more like an obsession. Lady Leah was the embodiment of the life Lady Patricia dreamed of.”⋘
As soon as Edith heard Rosaline’s words, she understood right away.
“Because people can aspire to something and hate it at the same time.”
Patricia was a person full of ambition, to the point of becoming obsessed enough to try to get the attention of an old emperor to overcome the fact that she came from a powerless family.
Born with all the wealth, honor, and power that Patricia desired, Mrs. Leah must have been the object of envy and jealousy.
Moreover, Leah received a lot of attention from the men of the Imperial Family. And if she wanted to, she could completely ruin Patricia’s plans to bear a son for the old emperor and place him on the throne for her to act as regent.
Even after it was announced that Mrs. Leah had died suddenly in a carriage accident, the enormity of her emotions and wariness must have lingered like mold in Patricia’s mind.
Walter continued speaking with an indifferent expression.
“Whenever she hears news of someone escaping the capital, she gets caught up in the paranoia that my mother might return alive and interfere with her plans.”
“Finding the missing Mrs. Leah was something that even Lord Franz failed to do.”
According to Rosaline, after hiring mages with money, Patricia meticulously observed the magic used by Lexion’s mages.
There was nothing that bothered Patricia as much as House Lexion, so there was nothing special about putting surveillance on her.
But the following words were clearly significant.
⋙“Shortly after the mages under the command of Franz Lexion were searching for something, she sent assassins to several territories.”⋘
⋙“Several territories?”⋘
⋙“Yes. I’m not sure if she just wanted to inspect the places touched by Lexion’s tracking magic or if she had another intention. She kept silent about it unexpectedly even with me.”⋘
⋙“So, was there any result?”⋘
⋙“I’m not sure. But I guess she might have found something because a few years later she ordered Elizabeth to go to Fortrion.”⋘
⋙“Wait. One of the territories Patricia sent people to was Fortrion, when was that?”⋘
Something about the fact that it was Fortrion and not another territory made him wonder, especially after hearing Rosaline’s answer.
“By the time my mother and I left Lowell Manor, she said Patricia had sent people to Fortrion.”
“…”
Edith frowned slightly. The timing was perfect for it not to be a coincidence.
『 If the reason Mrs. Leah suddenly decided to leave the manor was because of the people sent by Patricia…』
It was a given that Leah, who was diagnosed as terminally ill at birth, would one day lose her life due to her magic powers.
However, the Mrs. Leah that Edith remembered was a responsible person.
It seemed unlikely that she would embark on a reckless journey with her son, knowing that her magic might go awry in the near future.
『 She said she would send me a letter as soon as she arrived, so I guess she left knowing where she was going. She must have considered her remaining strength and physical condition.』
However, if the events took a turn where Mrs. Leah lost her life due to an attack by assassins and Walter was taken prisoner by Nicholas Fortrion, Patricia would be the true culprit behind the long chain of misfortunes.
“I plan to meet Elizabeth soon, so I’ll ask if she knows anything. She traveled to Fortrion on the Imperial Consort’s orders, so she must know something.”
Edith spoke in a calm voice. She couldn’t ignore it if it was because of Patricia that she had to wait for years for Isaac to answer her letters.
──────────✿◦•
“M’lady. Your father has sent flowers. He is extremely proud of your successful performance at the Opera House.”
“Father is really… Thank you. Can you arrange the flowers? What about the newspapers?”
“Here it is, M’lady.”
The maid politely held out the newspaper and arranged the flowers in a vase by the window.
Recently, Isabelle had become one of the most popular singers in the capital, thanks to her naturally beautiful voice and skills refined through lessons.
Of course, several nobles rushed to invite her to grand parties also because they judged that she was in the same boat as House Lexion.
『 If it were in the past, I would have been jumping up and down with joy.』
However, since moving to the capital, Isabelle has become noticeably calmer. She was no longer the tomboyish young lady she used to be.
⋙“There’s nothing more important than quickly and calmly assessing what cards one can play. It seems Isabelle has learned a thing or two from looking over her ladyship’s shoulder.”⋘
The head of the Karkus Merchant Company used to say that with a happy expression on his face. The maid had no idea who Isabelle had learned to look over her shoulder from.
“Oh, and like I said yesterday, two guests will be arriving soon. Please escort them quietly to my room.”
“Yes, M’lady.”
Isabelle dismissed the bowing maid and carefully read the newspaper on the table.
There was an article that caught her eye more than the advertisement promoting her performance on the front page.
[What will be the outcome of the lawsuit against the Imperial Consort Patricia?]
『 The trial is already tomorrow.』
Tomorrow, Claude’s lineage will be confirmed at the trial, and the tension between Patricia and House Lexion will reach its peak.
Soon, one of the guests Isabelle had been waiting for arrived.
“Long time no see, Isabelle. I guess I should thank you for inviting me.”
It was none other than Elizabeth who carefully took off her robe.
She looked up and down at Isabelle, whom she had not seen in a long time.
『 She looks the same, but there’s something… seems like she’s grown up.』
Isabelle had seemed like a younger sister to her when they were at Fortrion, but now she seemed stronger than before.
Elizabeth compared Isabelle’s image of coming to the capital and becoming a successful singer, as she always dreamt of, with her own image of playing the role of Patricia’s dog without realizing that she was being deceived by Gilbert. But for some reason, she did not feel miserable.
“You know, Elizabeth, it’s not that I invited you; rather, it was Edith who prepared a place for you.”
Isabelle couldn’t decide how to look at Elizabeth. However, she reflected on what Edith had said before.
⋙“Isabelle, sue Elizabeth and drag it out as long as possible. Make sure it’s never strange for you to meet Elizabeth anytime.”⋘
When Edith added that she should sue Elizabeth in her capacity as Viscountess Fortrion, Isabelle could not understand her intention.
But now that some time had passed, she understood why Edith had put her through all this trouble.
The lawsuit was both a punishment for Elizabeth and a device to use her as a spy.
『 Even if Elizabeth was not offered the position of the Imperial Consort’s lady-in-waiting, it would be easy to summon her and make a secret offer if there was a lawsuit pending.』
Just like now.
Creak—
“You got here first, Elizabeth.”
As Edith entered, removing her robe, Elizabeth and Isabelle stood up from their seats.
“Welcome, Edith. Elizabeth just arrived a moment ago.”
“…”
Elizabeth was more nervous than when she was alone with Isabelle.
When Isabelle saw Edith’s gaze going straight to Elizabeth, she headed towards the door.
“I’ll prepare some refreshments. You two can talk comfortably.”
“Thank you, Isabelle.”
Edith, who happened to have a lot to ask Elizabeth, didn’t miss the opportunity.
“From now on, answer my questions with what you know. If things go well, I might be able to go to the Gerturks’ manor and take your daughter as soon as the trial ends tomorrow.”
In her eyes, there was a firm belief that tomorrow she could deal a fatal blow to Patricia.
❀.°• ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ •°.❀
