The next day, Wilhelm made his stance clear at a political meeting.
“The adoption of Prince Louis will be postponed until the prince fully consents, and the proposal to make Lady Fontaine a concubine will be dismissed.”
“Your Majesty, the matter was only raised yesterday,” protested Marquis Fontaine, visibly flustered. “Perhaps you should give it more thought…”
“My decision is final.”
“Is this also Her Majesty’s will?”
“She agrees with me.”
“But if you don’t proceed, how will you address the rumors disturbing the Empire…”
“Didn’t you say those were just rumors, Marquis?” Wilhelm’s voice turned cold. “They’re baseless. I have nothing to prove.”
“Of course, but rumors…”
“We faced similar issues at the beginning of my reign, and they too were eventually resolved.” Wilhelm pressed on, allowing no room for argument. “Responding to those seeking to undermine me only breeds further misunderstandings.”
“This isn’t about being overly sensitive, Your Majesty; it’s about preventing potential misunderstandings.”
“Addressing every rumor is not a wise approach,” Wilhelm replied firmly. “Or do you wish me to appear as a weak ruler, easily swayed by baseless gossip?”
“Your Majesty! That’s not what I meant at all…”
“Then don’t bring this up again.” Wilhelm’s tone was icy. “Furthermore, as soon as the one responsible for the poster incident is uncovered, they will face severe punishment.”
His final words implied that the culprit might be present in the room.
Marquis Fontaine clenched his fist within his sleeve but couldn’t evade Wilhelm’s gaze. Wilhelm cast a cold look his way, then turned his attention to Duke Barantes, who appeared somewhat perplexed.
~~~~
A few days later, the person responsible for the poster incident was apprehended. The capture happened thanks to the testimony of someone who saw a man putting up posters on the outskirts of the capital.
“…But he bit his tongue and died on the spot,” Colton reported to Wilhelm, disappointment evident in his expression.
“I apologize, Your Majesty. With more time, we could have…”
“That’s enough. Probing further won’t help us now,” Wilhelm replied, his tone suggesting he’d anticipated this outcome. “Just close this matter. I have a feeling…Marquis Fontaine wouldn’t have handled it so sloppily.”
“So there’s nothing conclusive.”
“Not exactly.” Wilhelm’s response made Colton’s eyes widen with surprise, prompting him to explain further. “Marquis Fontaine is unlikely to raise this subject again after my refusal.”
“Ah, so you hadn’t dismissed his proposal outright?”
“Correct. I expected it to come up, but now I’ve made it clear they’re not to bring it up again—unless they’re willing to risk everything.”
“But I don’t understand,” Colton, still puzzled, voiced his thoughts. “Isn’t his proposal ultimately to Your Majesty’s advantage? It could have been a way to control the Fontaine fully.”
“…”
“To be honest, this isn’t quite like you.”
It wasn’t the first time Wilhelm seemed unlike himself lately. ‘The recent paramour case might not have been entirely bad, considering a few individuals were involved.’
Regardless of his preferences for women, there were numerous instances where mistresses were used as tools to keep Empresses in check.
Even though Anastasia wasn’t interested in Wilhelm, she’d surely be anxious if he took on a mistress and showed any intent to have children with her. She’d likely encountered a few fathers of mistresses competing for Wilhelm’s favor, and Wilhelm himself could have benefited unexpectedly from their support.
She had said, “Even the goddess Rosenia never forbade Your Majesty from taking a paramour.”
When he considered it, there was nothing excessive about her spending habits.
If he had been his usual self, he likely would have accepted them. But he hadn’t.
At the time, he brushed it off, but as similar situations kept occurring, he couldn’t help but question it.
‘Could it be…?’
It seemed far-fetched, yet it was the only explanation that fit. Otherwise, there was nothing that could account for his behavior.
Colton cautiously addressed him. “Your Majesty.”
“What?”
“Are you…in love with Her Majesty—?”
“What are you talking about, Lord Colton?” Before he could finish, Wilhelm’s expression darkened with displeasure, and Colton quickly shut his mouth.
“I haven’t fully thought this through. Do you really believe this benefits me?”
“Well, a connection through marriage is powerful…”
“Louis is caught in the middle. Who knows what complications that could create.” Wilhelm’s tone was firm. “There’s no need to worry… and that’s final.”
Yet his words sounded like an oddly logical defense—was he mistaken? Colton squinted, watching Wilhelm, who seemed not only embarrassed but also genuinely displeased, almost to the point of disbelief.
“The cleanest solution is to bring the Fontaine family’s influence fully to Louis through future adoption. What nonsense…!” Wilhelm’s irritation was evident, and Colton was taken aback.
“I’ve been with you for well over ten years since our academy days… I can’t believe I didn’t understand your intentions at all!”
Suddenly, he felt like a complete fool.
“I was so blind that I couldn’t grasp Your Majesty’s true intentions. My apologies, Your Majesty.”
Colton, visibly chastened, bowed his head with embarrassment and hurriedly retreated. Left alone, Wilhelm was left fuming, his face flushed with what could have been anger or something else entirely.
“What the hell was he talking about?…”
“In love with Her Majesty…”
“That’s impossible.”
He quickly dismissed the remnants of Colton’s words echoing in his mind. “Absolutely not.” He repeated it over and over as if to convince himself.
‘Of course.’
His face still red, he thought to himself, ‘I admit, I don’t hate her as much as I used to.’ Anastasia had shown remarkable change, performed her duties as Empress flawlessly, and even supported him through his nightmares. Above all, she had cared for his only nephew, Louis, with the love of a real mother.
But that was all it was. Simple respect, maybe some gratitude. No deeper feelings than that.
The only reason he had suggested acting as a united couple was for appearances. ‘Colton must have misread my gesture for reconciliation.’ And she had even rejected it! Rather abruptly, too.
‘I wasn’t losing my mind. She’s nothing like her old self now.’
The woman who snapped at him when he forgot to mention his hatred for her? The same woman who told him yesterday that she didn’t mind if he had another woman?
“Ridiculous.”
Colton’s suggestion was clearly nonsense. Wilhelm even let out a dismissive laugh, shaking off the remnants of Colton’s absurd words.
~~~~
Soon after, a regular ball was scheduled at the Imperial Palace. However…
“I won’t be attending.”
Anastasia’s announcement surprised the court ladies.
“Why not? Why won’t you go?”
“Don’t you want to show off that beauty?”
“If you don’t go, there’ll be many men crying over it!”
Seeing their collective disappointment, Anastasia merely shrugged. “I’d rather spend time with Louis.”
The ladies let out a collective, “Ah……” Their shoulders drooped, looking like dejected rabbits, which made Anastasia laugh.
“You’re all so disappointed!”
“Well, it’s a chance to showcase the beauty of our Empress to everyone.”
“Right—you’re far too pretty to be hidden away!”
“Besides, you could see the Emperor—it’s been a while.”
“You could even dance together…”
“Or have a drink…”
As they listed off possibilities, Anastasia chuckled in amazement. “Still holding out hope, I see?”
“Well, how could we not? Not long ago, they were even discussing making Lady Fontaine a concubine!”
“But Your Majesty is so carefree! What if Fontaine tries to charm the Emperor at the ball?”
“Imagine another fiasco like the love potion incident!”
“That was a one-time thing; no need to worry.”
“Still…”
“Maybe His Majesty is waiting for you!”
At that comment, Anastasia laughed as if it were a funny notion. “Impossible.”
He rarely attended parties, preferring to avoid crowded and noisy settings. It wasn’t an important event, and there was no chance he’d attend an ordinary ball.
“He won’t be there. There’s no reason for him to wait for me,” Anastasia concluded.
