Chapter 58

Thank you for the favorites, ratings, and more!

"Einoch, now is not the time for such talk."

"That's not true. I can't stand it anymore. Edward and Elizabette should finally realize how much they have been protected. If they had been more resilient, they wouldn't have caused trouble for Lady Olivia and the others. Now that Elizabette is pregnant, you should also think it's time, right?"

"That... is true."

Eugenia's gaze wavered, as if she were confused. However, Edward and Elizabette looked even more bewildered. They had no idea what was going on, and as Olivia compared their expressions with those of Eugenia and Einoch, she suddenly felt that the discomfort she had been feeling all along had found its answer.

(I see... The reason Eugenia was hostile to Prince Edward and Lady Elizabette... was an act.)

Edward had said that Eugenia was cold to Elizabette. However, Eugenia sometimes showed concern for Elizabette, which had puzzled Olivia. She didn't think Eugenia was as cold to Elizabette as Edward claimed. Now, with Einoch's words, everything made sense.

For some reason, Eugenia had to act coldly towards Elizabette. Einoch seemed to have no intention of letting Moana hear any further, so he called for soldiers to move Moana to another room. Once Moana was taken away, Einoch spoke with a slightly irritated tone.

"Both Eugenia and I knew that Moana was saying bad things about Elizabette behind her back. She tried to ruin Elizabette countless times, pretending to be a friend. Moana isn't the only one. You have many so-called friends like that around you. They are so full of malice that even women who openly show jealousy and hostility seem more likable. I think your honest and trusting nature is a virtue, but you lack caution. I want you to understand that first."

Elizabette gasped. Edward's eyes widened, and he froze. Einoch turned to Edward with a look of exasperation and continued.

"Elizabette, you should be the one to recognize such malice and choose who to associate with. But you unconditionally trust people, which is why Eugenia had to play a difficult role. Neither Edward nor Elizabette realize this, but Elizabette, you have been protected by Eugenia all along. Ever since you became engaged to Edward, she has been protecting you."

"Wait. I don't understand..."

"Edward, the world of women is more complex than you think. When Elizabette and you got engaged, you must have understood how much malice was directed at her. That's why you became overly protective of her. I understand your feelings. But do you think that just by being overprotective, the malice will disappear? It only makes it worse."

Olivia, though not particularly sensitive to women's jealousy and malice, could somewhat understand what Einoch was saying.

Elizabette comes from a baron's family. If she had been from a higher noble family, the envy would have outweighed the jealousy. But as a baron's daughter, the situation is different. How many women must have felt, "Why should someone of the same status as me, or even lower, be in such a position?" Moreover, if Elizabette had been able to handle the jealousy and criticism herself, things might have been different. But because Edward was overly protective, the image of a "princess who does nothing and is just protected" was formed.

Olivia understood how this image of a low-status, incapable princess affected the people around her. People tend to be more aggressive towards those they consider inferior. Even when Olivia was pretending to be ignorant on Alan's orders, she was mocked by the castle servants. As a duchess's daughter, she was less likely to be attacked directly.

"That's why Eugenia took the opposite approach and attacked Elizabette. This way, Edward, the overprotection you provided was somewhat offset. Furthermore, by having a princess like Eugenia attack Elizabette, the image of a pitiful Elizabette being bullied by her in-laws after marriage was created. Eugenia's attacks on Elizabette gathered sympathy in a surprisingly effective way. If Eugenia hadn't acted, Elizabette wouldn't even be able to walk outside by now. And because you, Edward, were so relaxed, you didn't have any children yet. If the perception that Elizabette, who is already a target of attacks, couldn't fulfill her duties as a princess, had been added, do you understand what would have happened? Elizabette couldn't have children, and Eugenia was very worried about it."

"Einoch, that's enough."

Eugenia tapped her husband's shoulder to stop him and smiled softly.

"Now that you and Elizabette have a child, the situation might change once the child is born."

"…So, it's time, is it?"

Edward asked in a dazed voice. Eugenia nodded with a soft expression that Olivia had never seen before, as if the tension had been released.

"You know that people are already saying that our child should be the next king because you and Elizabette haven't had any children, right? If that really happens, Elizabette will be seen as just a decorative princess, even more so than now. But if Elizabette can be seen as a strong mother guiding the future king, the perception of her will change as the child grows. If I gradually soften my attitude towards Elizabette, it will be recognized that she has been accepted. But now, it's all out in the open. What a dilemma."

"I was against this plan from the beginning. I don't understand why you had to take the blame."

"Didn't I explain it enough?"

"But I still don't agree."

Einoch's displeased face made Eugenia smile wryly.

"You're smart, but you're a bit insensitive to people's feelings. And you tend to hide your treasures so that no one can see them. If I had said something, you would have tried to hide Elizabette even more. That would have made things worse..."

Eugenia lightly glared at Edward, wishing he would understand more about the world of women. Edward looked guilty, and Elizabette was still in shock, her eyes wide open.

(Lady Elizabette probably never thought that Lady Eugenia was protecting her.)

The impressive thing about Eugenia was that she kept this a secret from everyone except Einoch. Even her real parents were deceived. She was thorough. And the resolve to become the one who was disliked was not ordinary.

(King Wilson was so worried... Hmm?)

In Olivia's mind, something that had been nagging at her suddenly connected like a tangled thread being untangled.

(Ah, I see. That's it. ...Hiding one's true feelings is a family trait, isn't it? They are so alike.)

Olivia looked at Edward, who was staring at his sister with a confused expression, and Eugenia, who smiled back at him, and a slight smile appeared on her face.

Thank you for reading!

It will be released on August 1st!

Thank you very much!