CH 6

According to the original story, the recent decline in the power of the Bledel family was largely due to the Duke’s unusually poor health.

The Duke has tried to hide it under tight security, but there are no secrets that last forever.

His increasing absence from important political meetings fueled people’s suspicions. This suspicion led to cracks in the once solid power structure.

The Duke’s impending death meant the collapse of his family’s power.

The fact that he had no son to succeed him was a fatal weakness. There was even an interesting rumor about it.

That Ian’s mother, Empress Ramelia, who had been deprived of power, had cursed him using the most powerful taboo magic of the ancient times before she died. It took dozens of human sacrifices.

As a result, the Bledel family line is said to have been cut off. To put it directly… he became impotent.

This was not true, however, as Duke Bledel had a daughter with his second wife.

Thus, the rumor changed in a different direction as the duke of Bledel’s impotence calmed down.

It was actually a taboo spell that prevented him from having a son. In ancient times, when there were concubines, it was a common tactic used by concubines to win the emperor’s affections.

Anyway, it was said that Queen Ramelia eliminated everyone who knew the magic formula before she died. Therefore, it was impossible to lift the curse.

Duke Bledel’s plans to place his grandson on the throne were not going well either. This is because her daughter, the Empress, was not favored by the Emperor, and was unable to even conceive a child, let alone perform the proper duties of an Empress.

In the meantime, there were many opinions that the era of Bledel might end soon because he had a mysterious disease.

However, since no one knew exactly what the illness was, many nobles were unable to decide on a course of action.

There was even speculation that the cunning Duke Bledel was faking illness on purpose to pick out those who were only superficially loyal and would move around like bats.

Even I didn’t know what the truth was. The original story didn’t say much about what caused his condition or if it could be cured.

What is certain is that the Bledel family’s political influence has plummeted over time. At this point, Asha’s political situation was like the calm before the storm.

Theo nodded slightly, as if he already knew.

“Thanks to that, the position of the Duke faction is shaking like a candle in the wind.”

“I think it’s only a matter of time before the Bledel family falls, and so do I. I’ll have to step down as Empress whenever that day comes, but the problem is that he, the Emperor, associates everything I do with the Bledel family.”

“So you’re saying that unless you sever your connection with your family, you won’t be safe.”

“That’s right.”

There was a hint of tension again in the subtle look he sent me, but I spoke steadfastly.

“Everything I will do in the future will embarrass the Bledel family. I don’t want to challenge the emperor. I need your help to get out of the palace.”

“…….”

“But… he wouldn’t readily believe that I have no lingering feelings to the empress position.”

“That’s a hard thing to believe, even for me.”

He chuckled lightly, but there was still an unresolved question in his green pupils.

“That’s why I thought it wouldn’t hurt to have you around.”

After clinging to Ian for so long, it was highly suspicious that Lethenia would suddenly abandon her position as Empress. Unless, perhaps, she had fallen in love with another man.

Theo looked me straight in the eye as if he had found something interesting.

“Looks like you already have things planned. If so, I don’t think you’re simply asking me to do that as a friend.”

“Isn’t the Claflin a long-established family that has pledged eternal loyalty to the imperial family for generations?”

The Marquis Claflin becoming the Empress’s mistress would not paint a pretty picture in the eyes of others. If the heir of a prestigious noble family did something that would tarnish his reputation, it would not look good for the emperor, either.

However, the Emperor’s faction, the Claflin, was in an important position to support Ian’s power. Moreover, Marquis Claflin was close to the former Emperor, making him no different from an uncle to Ian.

I calculated that Theo, the Marquis of Claflin’s sole heir, would be more or less overlooked by Ian and the Imperialist aristocracy if he acted in an unsavory manner for a while. The same was true for the Marquis of Claflin.

Although he was still a somewhat embarrassing son, there’s nothing he can do about it. To continue the family’s legacy, even if the child was known as the empire’s biggest scoundrel, he would still be welcomed.

Of course, the Theo I know wouldn’t care what anyone thought. To be honest, I had the complacent notion that he would be willing to go that far for Lethenia.

My conscience pricked at the thought of using him for my plans, but the most important thing right now was Lethenia, or rather, myself.

“Even if you are close to me, the Emperor himself will not be able to do anything about you.”

“Are you sure?”

Theo asked, raising an eyebrow.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that, politically speaking, the Emperor might turn a blind eye to me.”

One corner of his mouth quirked upward. I didn’t quite grasp the implications of the question.

“But…… no man is generous with his wife’s lover.”

Does he mean Ian is going to be jealous? Theo has nothing to worry about if that’s the case. Jealousy requires affection.

“I don’t think it’s a matter of concern.”

“Hmm, we’ll see.”

Theo raised an eyebrow. There was an inexplicable certainty in his voice, as if he had it all figured out.

“Anyway……can you do me a favor?”

Theo didn’t answer for a while. There was an unnecessary silence for a few moments, and I could feel the impatience creeping in.

There was no change in Theo’s features, but his piercing green eyes seemed sharper. As if he was looking right through me.

I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, and he suddenly stood up and moved closer to me.

Theo’s gaze fell on my hand. He leaned forward and reached out for my hand. What is…… he trying to do?

I was taken aback and looked away at his behavior. He held my hand up.

The sudden contact left me feeling strange. He carefully unfolded my rolled fingers.

Then he looked at my fingertips with searching eyes. I felt my face heat up at the feel of our skin against each other.

Very perplexed by his unexpected behavior, I momentarily pulled my hand, but Theo refused to let go.

“Why…”

“Now your nails have found their shape.”

The remark glanced at my fingertips. Are you talking about the trivial habits of Lethenia that I don’t know?

He was observing the shape of my nails. I couldn’t think of anything to say.

He knew Lethenia so well that I didn’t feel comfortable saying anything. Soon enough, he gently put my hand down and said with a gentle smile.

“I’m relieved to see that you seem more relaxed.”

“I’m glad it seems that way.”

I tried to hide my bewilderment and responded as naturally as possible. He spoke again.

“Could you give me some time to think about it, if that’s really a favor and not an order?”

Theo’s reaction was dubious, but I had no choice but to nod. He left his seat, saying he would look for some islands that would catch my eyes.

After he left the office, an unexplained tension lingered for a while. I knew he was the perfect ally for Lethenia, but somehow I felt impatient.

*

“Why don’t we take a stroll in the rose garden today? His Majesty the Emperor should be there by now…….”

“Forget it.”

Stella pouted in disappointment at my clear refusal. She hadn’t been able to connect me with the Emperor lately.

It seemed like she wanted to take me to the rose garden, which was a place the Emperor passed by frequently. Perhaps she was worried because the emperor and I hadn’t spent our first night together, and he hadn’t even set foot in the Empress’ Palace.

There seemed to be rumors circulating within the palace that were mixed with pitying and mocking glances toward the Empress. She sighed and complained as if she was letting off steam.

“Of course, I know that her highness and the Emperor have been special to each other since childhood. But for the honor of the royal family, you need to pay attention to small things.”

Stella probably didn’t know that if Lethenia tried to do something in this world, she would be misunderstood and criticized, even for no reason. She only visited the Imperial Palace because she missed her so much, but she had to hear that the Empress had become arrogant after being supported by her family was reducing the Emperor’s authority.

People’s gazes toward her were not kind, to the point that anyone would have gone crazy in such a situation.

“Stella, I have a general idea of what is being said about me in the Empire, but right now I don’t care about the honor of the Empire or the reputation of the Empress. I’m fine the way I am.”

“But since your highness collapsed, all sorts of rumors are circulating. To the outside world, the imperial family should seem stable. And for the successors…….”

“Successor?”

“You’re a married couple. It’s only natural to think of children.”

I suddenly came to my senses.

“Don’t say such terrible things.”

The male protagonist and my child……?

It would never happen. The word “child” that Stella had so casually uttered sent a chill down my spine.