Until The Real One Shows Up​

Beside Anastasia, Wilhelm drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep—a rarity for him. Usually, after a nightmare, he’d struggle to sleep well again.

‘I’m fortunate today,’ he thought, smiling as he awoke, feeling truly rested. ‘Somehow, I have a feeling that only good things will happen today…’

But just as he sat up, Colton burst into his room in a panic.

“Your Majesty, something has happened!” Colton exclaimed, breathless.

Wilhelm frowned, casting a displeased look at Colton for disturbing him so early.

“I… across the entire island…!” Colton continued.

As Wilhelm listened to the report, his expression grew serious. It seemed his good fortune ended with last night’s sleep.

~~~~

Throughout the island, posters appeared overnight. Countless citizens, stepping outside to start their day, gathered around to read them.

“What’s this about?”

“They say the Emperor killed his half-brother, the previous Emperor and the Empress, to take the throne!”

“My God, didn’t that rumor spread when he first ascended?”

“Clear the way!”

Soldiers soon arrived, tearing down all the posters, while onlookers whispered in shock.

By midday, every poster across the island was removed. Yet, the scandalous rumors of the Emperor’s ascent, boldly declared by the posters, had already spread from person to person. 

All of this unfolded within a single day.

“What happened?”

“We’ve collected all the posters…” Colton reported cautiously, glancing at Wilhelm, who was staring at the inciting words on the wall.

“The content is so provocative that I doubt the repercussions will fade anytime soon.”

“…”

“Sire, you have a government meeting to attend…”

—Crush

Wilhelm crushed the poster he held with such force that Colton fell silent, instinctively clamping his mouth shut.

‘He doesn’t look pleased,’ Colton thought, the tension evident.

After a prolonged silence, he ventured, “Shall we cancel the government meeting?”

“No, I can’t.”

Wilhelm tossed the crumpled paper aside and rose from his seat. Colton hurriedly gathered the discarded paper and took it to the lamp, watching it burn to ashes.

Unfazed, Wilhelm left the office and made his way to the conference hall, passing groups of people along the way.

“Look, His Majesty is coming by.”

“Oh, the one who ascended the throne by killing his half-brother and sister-in-law?”

“A murderer without shame! Who would’ve thought he was hiding a knife behind his hand that held the brush?”

As Wilhelm walked, he felt as though whispers and accusations followed him, hallucinations suggesting every finger pointed in his direction. He knew it was in his head—no one would dare speak such things openly.

But behind his back? Could everyone be thinking the same? Were they quietly accusing him of usurping the throne through his half-brother’s death?

Cold sweat broke out as his stomach knotted, his expression hardening.

“…Your Majesty?” 

Colton, noticing Wilhelm’s unease, called out to him softly, but Wilhelm didn’t respond.

Colton, worried, asked, “Are you okay?”

“…I’m fine,” Wilhelm replied.

It was a lie.

“I’m fine.”

But he wasn’t. The pain of the situation made him want to escape right then.

“I’m fine.”

Yet he couldn’t run. Repeating it like a mantra, Wilhelm finally arrived at the conference hall.

“Rosenberg’s one and only Sun, His Majesty the Emperor, enters!”

He’d heard that title countless times over the past three years, but today, it felt like a dagger piercing his chest.

The doors opened, and everyone rose, bowing to him. Most were his loyal supporters. After his accession, the former emperor’s loyalists had been replaced; with Louis’s departure to Schweig for recovery and Duke Barantes as his father-in-law, the council had naturally shifted to its current makeup.

Yet today, even these allies seemed to judge him in silence, as if arrows of criticism were aimed at his back.

Wilhelm hid his emotions and ascended to the throne. The seat felt especially heavy, the crown pressing down on him more than ever.

“Let’s start the meeting.”

Acting as if nothing was amiss, he began the session. The atmosphere, however, was different—tenser than usual.

Focusing on the matters at hand, Wilhelm could momentarily forget the disturbing rumors that had haunted him since dawn.

“Then we’ll proceed with this decision, and next…”

“Your Majesty the Emperor,” interrupted Marquis Fontaine cautiously. “I heard there was an unfortunate incident today.”

That single comment shattered his brief reprieve, dragging him back to his grim reality.

Wilhelm paused, then responded with calm indifference, “Yes. We’re gathering all the posters and searching for the culprit. When we identify those responsible, they’ll be punished accordingly.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t believe we can resolve this issue that easily.”

“What do you mean?” Wilhelm asked.

“As long as a deeper problem remains unaddressed, this situation could happen again at any time.”

“And what is this deeper problem?”

“Your Majesty…” Marquis Fontaine spoke carefully. “I’m deeply grateful to you, but many people suspect you were involved in the former Emperor’s death.”

“Watch your words, Marquis!” someone interrupted, raising their voice. It was Duke Barantes.

“Why are you spouting such nonsense?”

“You misunderstand, Your Majesty, Duke Barantes. This is not my own view—it’s simply the public eye,” Marquis Fontaine replied coolly.

“As evidence, many people in the Empire are discussing these unfortunate incidents. Since the beginning of your reign…”

“…”

“There was, indeed, a rumor like that.”

“So what?” Wilhelm, who had been listening quietly, finally asked.

“What exactly are you suggesting?”

“As I said, we need to address the root cause of these suspicions.”

“The root cause, you say.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. The public can be easily influenced by baseless rumors. To prevent further doubt, we must establish your innocence beyond question.”

“You sound like you have an idea,” Wilhelm replied, a slight smirk forming.

“Let’s hear it.”

“Your Majesty, you still have no heir.”

It seemed like an abrupt suggestion, but Wilhelm understood where he was going with it. His smirk grew a little wider.

“There have even been rumors that the Empress is unable to conceive.”

“Marquis Fontaine, how dare you…!” Duke Barantes began, outraged.

“Of course, Her Majesty is still young, and I believe there’s a strong possibility she could bear children,” Marquis Fontaine continued, unfazed.

“So, you would take Prince Louis’s aunt, Olivia Fontaine, as your concubine and adopt Prince Louis through her.”

It’s him—the mastermind behind this scheme.

When Marquis Fontaine revealed his intentions, Wilhelm, realizing the truth, smirked and asked, “Why did you come to that conclusion?”

“If you adopt Prince Louis as your son, no one would dare spread rumors about your legitimacy. Who would believe a man would adopt the son of someone he supposedly killed?”

“…”

“And by seeing Prince Louis, they would stop questioning the rumors. Right now, this seems to be the best solution.”

“It’s logical, regardless of whether I’m innocent or not,” Wilhelm acknowledged. In a way, it was the smartest option. With rumors lingering around Rosenberg like ghosts, this would surely silence them.

However…

“I don’t quite understand the suggestion of making Fontaine a concubine.”

“As I mentioned, she’s Prince Louis’s aunt, and as his nanny, she’s cared for him for a long time on Schweig Island.”

“That’s too much involvement from Fontaine alone,” Wilhelm replied skeptically. “Besides, wasn’t she already unfit as a nanny due to her harsh treatment of the prince?”

“Your Majesty, that was a misunderstanding…”

“Furthermore, the Empress herself now cares for Prince Louis, and he hasn’t shown any desire to see Lady Fontaine.”

“That’s only natural. How could Prince Louis say he wants to see my daughter in front of the Empress?”

“So, you’re suggesting he’s mindful of the Empress’s feelings?”

“Not at all. But this is also for Her Majesty’s sake. It’s a better option than letting Prince Louis grow closer to her.”

“And why do you think that?”

“Obviously. Do you think she could see him as her own child rather than a nephew?”

“Do not insult the Empress’s affection for the prince in such a way,” Wilhelm replied, visibly displeased.

“This is an affront to the Empress. Marquis Fontaine, are you questioning her sincerity?”

“Your Majesty, I only meant…”

“Enough. I fully understand your point, Marquis,” Wilhelm interrupted, putting an end to the discussion.

“I’ll decide after discussing this with the Empress herself.”

“Your Majesty, there’s no need to—”

“That’s enough. The Empress is also a servant of this kingdom; we can’t proceed without her agreement.”

At Wilhelm’s words, Marquis Fontaine fell silent. Wilhelm rose, fixing him with a firm gaze.

“We’re done for today.”

He intended to go see her—right away.