Chapter 37

A few months later. Queen Aura was holding a meeting with an envoy from the Shalowa Gilbert Dual Kingdom in one of the palace rooms. It was the coolest time of the year, and the gentle sunlight, which did not exceed twenty-five degrees even at midday, streamed in through the open window, pleasantly illuminating the room.

Aura, whose morning sickness had subsided and whose belly had begun to show, was wearing a loose red dress, which she rarely wore, and leaned back on the sofa, addressing the envoy from the Dual Kingdom, who sat opposite her, with a composed voice.

"As you can see, I am with child. I apologize for my casual attire."

"No, not at all. I am deeply honored to be in the presence of Your Majesty."

In response to the queen's words, the envoy from the Dual Kingdom replied with the customary formalities and bowed his head in respect. He was a middle-aged man dressed in the official attire of the Dual Kingdom, which was predominantly purple and white. Though he held no title or land, he had been entrusted with this important mission, indicating that he was a person of considerable trust and ability. Indeed, he managed to maintain a composed demeanor even when facing Aura, the queen of a great nation.

This was the fifth time Aura had held a meeting with this man. Considering that he had entered the Kaerpa Palace two months ago, five meetings seemed rather leisurely given the gravity of the issues at hand. However, this was unavoidable due to the need for strict confidentiality.

As the queen of a nation, Aura could not frequently meet one-on-one with a mere knight, even if he was an envoy from the great Shalowa Gilbert Dual Kingdom, without causing speculation among her staff that "something serious must have happened." Both nations' leaders, though at odds with each other, shared the common goal of keeping the matter secret.

"Do you understand? I cannot afford to spend too much time on our meetings. Let's get straight to the point. The Dual Kingdom sent words of blessing on the occasion of my marriage to Lord Zenjiro. You have no intention of retracting those words, do you?"

As she had stated at the outset, Aura began with a direct and intimidating tone.

"Of course, our country sincerely congratulates Your Majesty on your marriage. There is no falsehood in our words."

The envoy bowed his head respectfully but answered without flinching.

The envoy's response indicated that the Dual Kingdom had no intention of interfering with the child of Aura and Zenjiro. By eliciting this statement, Aura had achieved her minimum objective. At the very least, this ensured that the legitimate bloodline of the Kaerpa Kingdom would not be interfered with. While this was a matter of course, Aura let out a sigh of relief internally.

However, before she could relax, the envoy pressed on with a polite but firm tone.

"Lord Zenjiro is recognized as a member of the Kaerpa royal family. It is not for outsiders to dictate his personal affairs. I understand that. However, I hope you can also understand our position."

"Indeed, I can see your point."

Aura nodded, her expression now serious. Given that Zenjiro was already recognized as the royal consort of the Kaerpa Kingdom and acknowledged by all the nations on the continent, the Dual Kingdom had no legitimate reason to interfere with his lineage.

However, the gravity of the issue of the bloodline magic leaking out could potentially override any surface-level legitimacy. Moreover, the Shalowa Gilbert Dual Kingdom was a prominent great nation in the central part of the southern continent. Considering the possibility of an unexpected outbreak, Aura could not afford to be overly aggressive.

Though she was frustrated, she knew she would have to make some concessions.

Aura placed her clasped hands on her belly and lowered her tone, making a proposal.

"Lord Zenjiro has stated that he understands your position and will not have children with any other woman besides me. If you do not interfere with my children, would that be sufficient?"

For the Kaerpa Kingdom, which currently had only two bloodline magic inheritors, this was a significant concession. Aura had no intention of making any further compromises.

However, the envoy had a different perspective.

"That is a very generous offer. However, royal marriages are not always straightforward. If unforeseen circumstances arise and Lord Zenjiro takes a concubine, and if that concubine's child awakens to the 'Bestowal Magic,' what would you do then?"

Aura, who had not expected such a direct challenge, inwardly gritted her teeth but maintained her composed smile.

Indeed, the envoy was right. There was no guarantee that a royal would never take a concubine, and a secret agreement without any penalties for breaking it was essentially meaningless. Aura had no intention of adhering to such an agreement indefinitely. While she did not plan to provoke the Dual Kingdom unnecessarily, she was prepared to break the promise with a simple apology if the need arose.

This man, however, seemed to have the necessary courage and resolve.

Still, Aura was not the type to easily accept the envoy's arguments.

"That is a hypothetical scenario built upon another hypothetical scenario. I see no reason to address it now."

Aura dismissed the envoy's concerns, but he persisted in a calm voice.

"However, it is not an unrealistic scenario. It would be better to address potential issues in advance to avoid conflicts later."

"I see your point. Then, let me ask you this: If the Shalowa royal family were to break the agreement and interfere with my children, what would you do? For example, if information about Lord Zenjiro's lineage leaked to a branch of the royal family, and they took preemptive action, what then? This is also a hypothetical scenario, but it is not impossible, is it?"

The envoy, taken aback by Aura's counterargument, hesitated for the first time that day. While Aura, as the queen, could make decisions on her own, the envoy, as a representative of his country, had limited leeway for