Chapter 75

A short while later, when Theseus and Elisabeth arrived, Adel led the three of them to the secret reception room. As they headed to the reception room, Elisabeth observed the Empress's expression. It was because she had heard the rumors spread by Duke Despoina. Fortunately, the Empress seemed unperturbed. When the four of them finally sat on the sofa in the reception room, Adel, as always, spoke straight to the point.

"The current empire must be reformed."

"Of course."

When Elisabeth agreed, Adel looked at her and asked,

"What do you think is the first thing we should do for reform?"

Elisabeth replied firmly, as if there was no need to think about it.

"Duke Despoina must step down from politics."

While the Emperor also bore responsibility for this situation, directly confronting the Emperor would be treason, so they had to remove Duke Despoina first. Adel nodded at Elisabeth's words and unfolded the map of Echmont that Brunhild had prepared. The three pairs of eyes fell on the map. As Adel pointed to each tower and explained Duke Despoina's goals, the three people's expressions grew sterner, and eventually, Elisabeth clenched her fists tightly, her face turning red.

"This... insane madman..."

When Adel finished explaining that Duke Despoina's ultimate goal was to bring the entire empire under the influence of the towers, Elisabeth calmed down. Her cold, purple eyes scanned the map. Theseus, who had been close to Elisabeth, noticed that her anger had reached its peak.

"...Does the Emperor know about this?"

When Elisabeth asked in a tight voice, Adel fell silent for a moment before speaking.

"The Emperor once told me that the towers are a means to maintain his power."

Lionel turned his gaze and sighed deeply, and Theseus felt the same. Elisabeth pressed her boiling chest and took a deep breath. Meanwhile, Lionel, who had organized his thoughts, spoke to Adel.

"Do you have any evidence to support this?"

"Baron Alexa has agreed to prepare it. He will bring it to me soon."

Theseus, who had been silent, nodded and said,

"After the Border Day banquet, should we publicize this and take action against Duke Despoina?"

Elisabeth agreed.

"Yes, we must. We need to hold the Duke, as the head of the Mage Corps, and Count Poitiers responsible. Once they lose their power, the Empress should take over the Mage Corps."

"If that happens, I will immediately start the work to destroy the towers."

At that moment, Lionel, who had been listening, spoke cautiously.

"Just in case, I will investigate Baron Alexa's surroundings."

Theseus, who seemed to have the same thought, immediately responded.

"Right. Just in case. Please leave it to us two."

Adel looked at the two of them in turn.

"Very well. You two investigate his surroundings without her knowing, and I will call you again as soon as she provides the evidence."

The four of them continued to discuss in serious expressions how to revitalize the decaying Echmont. ＊ ＊ ＊ Meanwhile, Dian, dressed in the same attire as the Emperor, finally sat at the table and cooled her head. It seemed that Duke Despoina had finally decided to completely suppress the Empress's power. After all, it was he who had made the Gotrop princess Empress, and he was the only one who could depose her. The Duke had come to Dian and given her the position of the Emperor's partner. He was a shallow person who would use her and discard her when she no longer suited his taste, but since their interests aligned, it would be fine for now. Dian's eyes sparkled. The woman who had once gazed at the Emperor with innocent, longing eyes was no longer. Her goal was now only one. Just then, a doctor came for her regular check-up. Dian lay down on the bed with a calm mind, and the doctor began the examination.

"How is your morning sickness?"

"It's gone. I don't have any particular cravings either."

The doctor carefully examined Dian, but her abdomen was still flat, perhaps due to her thin build and early pregnancy.

"When will your belly start to show?"

"It varies from person to person, but it usually starts to show around this time as the amniotic fluid increases. However, you are so thin that there's no change yet."

"I can feel the baby moving."

"..."

The doctor tilted his head, unsure how to respond. Amenorrhea, abdominal distension, and even fetal movement—Dian's symptoms were very similar to pregnancy.

'Once the belly definitely shows, I'll make a diagnosis!'

But why did the senior doctor insist on delaying a definitive answer?

"When will a proper diagnosis be possible?"

"Please wait another month to be sure."

"But you said the same thing last month!"

"I apologize."

Dian glared at the doctor with a displeased expression but nodded. After all, what diagnosis was needed? She, the mother, could feel the baby. After the doctor left, Dian stroked her belly for a long time before getting up. To attend the banquet as the Emperor's partner, she needed a seat, didn't she? There would be many chairs in the banquet hall, but she, carrying the Emperor's child, couldn't just sit anywhere.

"They must be preparing, so I should go and tell them now."

Dian headed to the Empress's palace to demand her rightful place. ＊ ＊ ＊ Adel, who was back to her work, narrowed her eyes at the news of Dian's sudden visit. Giggs, who could see through her intentions, stiffened and said,

"There's no need to meet her. I'll send her away."

But Adel, fiddling with her pen, clicked her tongue and shook her head.

"Fine. She's pregnant. We don't want any unnecessary talk, so bring her in."

"Your Majesty..."

Giggs, who had been about to protest, fell silent at the Empress's firm expression and left the room. Adel continued her work, her gaze lowered. Soon, the door opened, and footsteps were heard. Adel put down her pen and looked up, but she instinctively tilted her head at the sight of Dian, who had entered. Dian was so thin that her eyes seemed to be the only part of her that was alive. She had looked thin the first time they met, but this was different. Meanwhile, Dian interpreted Adel's expression differently.

'You must be envious of what I have that you don't.'

Dian held her head high and wrapped her hands around her belly. Adel glanced at her belly and pointed to the chair in front of the desk.

"Sit down."

Dian bowed slightly and carefully sat in the chair the Empress indicated.

"Since I am carrying the child, I couldn't help the Empress with the preparations for the Border Day, even though it was her first time. Please forgive me."

Though her words were subtly mocking, Adel didn't flinch. With more pressing and important matters on her mind, it was better that Dian was invisible.

"It's fine. What brings you here, a pregnant woman? Just state your business briefly."

Dian felt a strange sense of defiance at the Empress's clean expression.

'She wants to ignore my existence until the end, doesn't she?!'

Dian, stroking her belly out of habit, boldly demanded,

"His Majesty the Emperor will enter the banquet with me, but since I am not alone, I can't stand throughout the event. So, please prepare a seat for me."

After finishing her request, Dian opened her eyes and looked at the Empress. She expected the Empress to be furious, but her expression remained unchanged. Dian finally realized something was off. The Empress, who had been staring at Dian, pulled out a piece of paper from a stack of documents and handed it to her. Dian was momentarily speechless upon seeing it. Adel, with a cold expression, took a sip of water.

"I was already planning to prepare a seat for you."

"..."

Dian bit her lip tightly. She felt strange. Despite getting what she wanted, she felt as if she had lost something significant. Adel, with a calm expression, collected the paper from Dian and placed it back in the documents, dismissing her.

"If your business is done, you may leave."

Unlike her confident arrival, Dian stood up involuntarily at the Empress's authoritative command. The midday autumn sun shone behind the Empress, who was working. Dazzled, Dian closed her eyes and then opened them. For some reason, the Empress, who had been staring at her, said something unexpected.

"You've lost a lot of weight. Is your morning sickness severe?"

"..."

Dian stared blankly at Adel. The Empress, turning her gaze back to the documents, said coldly,

"If there are any food smells you can't tolerate, let Mrs. Giggs know before you leave."

"..."

"Why are you still standing there? Leave."

"..."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Dian hurriedly turned and fled the Empress's palace. She walked aimlessly after leaving the palace, stopping to catch her breath.

"Is something wrong, Lady of the Palace?"

Dian had no time to answer Lorraine's question. She slowly stroked her cheek, her bony fingers touching her neck and shoulders, and then turned to look at the Empress's palace.

"...She must be crazy."

"Excuse me?"

"That Empress... is not normal."

"Lady of the Palace!!"

Lorraine, alarmed, looked around, but Dian, with a bewildered expression, kept muttering, "That woman is not normal." Tears streamed down her sunken cheeks. ＊ ＊ ＊ At that moment, Elisabeth, after much deliberation, went to see the Emperor. She silently watched the imposing entrance of the Imperial Palace. Memories from a long time ago, as if they were from yesterday, flooded her mind.

'...Mother.'

The small, fragile voice made young Elisabeth's brow furrow. Just as she thought, 'I'll be scolded,' her mother, the former Empress, dropped a sharp voice over her head. It was a voice so cold it made her shiver.

'You were told to call me Empress!'

'...Yes.'

The little boy, Karl, slumped his shoulders in defeat.

'...Where does the blood go? Can a person like this become Emperor? ...'

Mother brushed off the fabric Karl had clung to and gently wrapped her arms around Elisabeth's shoulders.

'Come, Liz.'

For some reason, Elisabeth's nose tingled as she took a step, then another, and turned her head. The small boy was looking at her with a hateful gaze.

'How clingy this child is, it's creepy. If he knew who his real mother was, he would go to her, not still call me mother.'

'...'

Elisabeth didn't respond to her mother's words. Even when she saw Karl being scolded by her mother, she remained silent. On days when she felt an inexplicable sense of guilt, she would leave toys or items he liked in front of Karl's room to ease her emotions. Each time Elisabeth visited, Karl's room was occupied by his uncle. The cunning face of the uncle, who would hold the heartbroken boy and speak sweetly, was still vivid in her mind. It wasn't until she became an adult that Elisabeth realized she had been a bystander back then. Perhaps the reason she had never confronted the Emperor directly was due to the guilt from those days. Elisabeth squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep, long breath. Finally, she stepped into the entrance of the Imperial Palace, as if making a decision.