Chapter 51

At that moment, Lady Gigs, who had gone out to investigate the matter, returned.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report."

She appeared unusually agitated, taking deep breaths, which even hinted at a sense of solemnity. Adel, looking at Lady Gigs, was certain that her intuition and Lionel's were correct.

"Did you say Diane Poitiers is pregnant?"

At this, the lady's eyes widened in surprise.

"How did you...?"

The empress leaned back in her chair and shrugged.

＊ ＊ ＊

The rumor spread by Duke Despoina quickly swept through the social circles. Everyone, even those who usually paid no attention to such gossip, could not help but talk about Diane's pregnancy. Along with this, the news that Diane Poitiers had leased the entire Ivory Palace also spread.

"Leased the entire Ivory Palace?"

Karl stopped what he was doing and rubbed his forehead.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After a moment of silence, he narrowed his eyes and looked at the attendant.

"Has the news of Diane's pregnancy reached the Empress's Palace?"

"Surely it has."

Karl tilted his head, lost in thought for a moment, then suddenly stood up.

"Bring me something to wear. I'm going to the Empress's Palace."

Karl's steps toward the Empress's Palace grew faster. The empress would undoubtedly greet him with a face as cold as ice. She must be angry, naturally upset, and frustrated at being cornered. But who could help her in this situation? Lionel Valdor? It was said that he had led the empress to a dirty slum. Surely she didn't want to go there herself? She probably just wanted to see the lives of ordinary citizens. Adelaide would have realized by now that Lionel Valdor was not much help to her. Moreover, what could a mere advisor do for an empress whose position was precarious due to the succession issue? Karl's lips curled upward. The only person who could help her now was the emperor. Adelaide was smart; she wouldn't fail to realize this. He needed to extend his hand with a smile, promising to guide her to a garden of flowers, not a dirty slum. Then she would have no choice but to take his hand, pretending to give in. Karl thoroughly ignored the fact that he was pushing Adelaide into a pit himself. He was solely focused on placing Adelaide under his control.

＊ ＊ ＊

After sending Lionel away, Adel slowly ate her meal. After finishing a bowl of soup, she asked for some meat to chew on and cleared her plate. Lady Gigs, who had been worried that the empress might fall ill, was greatly relieved to see this. Lady Gigs had a vague idea of why the empress had collapsed. During her unconscious state, the empress had occasionally mumbled something. Though she couldn't understand the Gothic language, the tone was so heart-wrenchingly sorrowful that it made her heart ache. Despite having served the empress for only a short time, Lady Gigs knew that the empress, though cold on the outside, was warm inside and had strong convictions. Lady Gigs sincerely hoped that the empress would fare well in this place.

'The problem is that she seems unable to accept the emperor in her heart...'

Lady Gigs' face darkened. At that moment, the empress gently grabbed her hand as she was clearing the dishes.

"!"

Startled, Lady Gigs looked at her with wide eyes. The empress smiled and asked,

"Goodness, what's happened?"

"Your Majesty."

"Come now, Lady Gigs. What's so serious that you look so gloomy? That's not like you."

Lady Gigs realized how her expression had fallen and quickly straightened up.

"I apologize."

"I didn't ask for an apology. I just don't want you to worry."

"..."

Adel wiped her mouth with a napkin and stood up. If she didn't feel a sense of crisis, it would be a lie, but with Diane Poitiers by the emperor's side, it was only a matter of time before something happened.

"I am the empress of Echmont. I am not just the current emperor's wife or the next emperor's mother. Therefore, there's no reason for me to be shaken just because a concubine is pregnant."

Impressed by Adel's resolute words, Lady Gigs respectfully clasped her hands and bowed.

"Your Majesty is right."

"So don't worry, Lady Gigs."

The empress personally helped the old lady to her feet. When Lady Gigs looked up, Adel met her gaze with a light smile. The empress's calm smile calmed Lady Gigs' heart. While Lady Gigs finished clearing the dishes, Adel stood by the window, lost in thought. As she had told Lady Gigs, the news of Diane's pregnancy was something she had already anticipated, so it wasn't particularly shocking. However, this incident forced her to think about the issues she had been putting off. Adel had not yet spent a night with the emperor. As the empress, she could not indefinitely avoid the duty of producing an heir. Her golden eyes grew dark. If only they had properly consummated their marriage on the wedding night, without any emotional entanglements, fulfilling her duty as empress. Unable to bear the suffocating feeling, Adel opened the window. The clear air filled her lungs, and the cloudless sky stretched before her. It was as clear as the sky, showing her what she needed to do.

"It's so clear, it's driving me mad..."

Just as her voice of resignation dispersed in the cool autumn air,

"Empress!"

Adel turned her gaze to the sudden voice. The emperor, standing in the garden of the Empress's Palace, looked up at her and smiled when their eyes met.

＊ ＊ ＊

Karl, who had come to the Empress's Palace, stopped and stared at the empress by the window, lost in thought. The empress's face, gazing at the distant sky, was clear and serene, delicate yet strong. Despite hearing the news of Diane's pregnancy, she remained as dignified as ever. Truly, she was a fitting empress. Yes, the true image of an empress. As Diane had guessed, Karl harbored a deep sense of frustration and anger towards the concept of an empress. However, Diane didn't know the extent to which Karl had followed the late empress, yearning for her love in his childhood. To Karl, the empress was both a figure of hatred and one of admiration and longing. It was an emotion deeply ingrained in his subconscious, even unknown to the emperor himself. This emotion had gradually risen to the surface and now fully emerged.

"Empress!"

Unable to hold back, Karl called out to Adel. She slowly lowered her head and looked at him. When her noble golden eyes met his, the emperor couldn't help but smile brightly.

＊ ＊ ＊

'Why is he like that?'

In the reception room of the Empress's Palace, Adel was inwardly flustered as she sat across from the emperor. Despite focusing on her teacup and sipping tea, the emperor's persistent gaze wouldn't leave her. Finally, with a small sigh, Adel met his purple eyes, and the emperor, looking into her eyes, slowly smiled. It was a mesmerizing smile, but Adel instinctively leaned back. She couldn't fathom his sudden appearance and silent, playful demeanor after the news of Diane's pregnancy spread. As she put down her teacup and turned her gaze away, the emperor spoke.

"Look at me."

Adel doubted her ears. When she didn't look, Karl called her again.

"Look at me."

His tone was very affectionate and sweet. Her gaze, which had been wandering, reluctantly met his, and Karl tilted his head to meet her eyes. His empress looked perfect, even with her slightly furrowed brows.

"Empress."

"Speak."

"You must have heard the rumors."

"..."

"Don't worry about it."

Adel couldn't grasp what to say. She wanted to see inside the emperor's mind. As she remained silent with a stiff face, Karl wiped the smile from his face and added,

"It's a rumor you don't need to worry about."

To Adel, it was an absurd statement.

'My lover, don't pay attention to him.'

The emperor had said this to Adel less than two months ago. What had happened in between? All she could think of was their fight.

"What do you mean?"

Karl sensitively picked up on the confusion in Adel's tone. Yes, that's right. The emperor, with a clear and bright expression like the autumn sky, whispered as if confessing.

"My heir will be your child."

Adel was even more taken aback. Had he had a big fight with Diane Poitiers? She felt more suspicion than emotion at his sudden change in attitude. Karl, ignoring her subtle expression, continued.

"So, Empress, let's try to get along well."

He examined Adel's beautiful face again. The sunlight poured through the arched terrace window, and the empress, sitting against this backdrop, shone more elegantly and beautifully than any jewel. Her impeccable posture, learned through years of etiquette, and her marble-like skin, pampered by servants, were a stark contrast to the slum Lionel Valdor had taken her to. Karl, suppressing a laugh, covered his mouth and chin.

"Dismiss the advisor and don't go to places like the slum."

"Did you know I went to the slum?"

"You just wanted to see the lives of the people, but Lionel Valdor took you to the slum. It's not where ordinary Echmont citizens live. Don't be too disappointed."

"Have you been to the slum?"

At Adel's question, Karl instinctively frowned, remembering the dirty scenes and foul smells. Facing the emperor's face full of disgust, Adel swallowed and said firmly.

"You can't leave it like this."

He nodded, still frowning.

"I will eliminate the slums from the capital someday."

This meant not helping the miserable people in the slums but removing the unsightly filth that marred the capital's beauty.

"Your Majesty, what needs to be eliminated is not the slums but the tower."

At this, Karl's eyes widened as he looked at Adel. Adel took a deep breath and continued calmly.

"The slums are where people who lost their homes due to the tower have settled. If you remove the tower and return their homes, no one will stay in such a poor place, Your Majesty."

At that moment, the emperor's soft eyes turned fierce, and his purple eyes grew cold.