Chapter 16

The Empress Myah's belly grew day by day, and with it, a tense atmosphere spread throughout the palace.

The Emperor's interest had already shifted away from Empress Myah, but as he found the Empress irksome, he occasionally dined with Empress Myah to maintain the dignity of Sezon within the court.

In the end, the fourteenth lady-in-waiting who had caught the Emperor's attention miscarried shortly after becoming pregnant.

There were rumors that she had been poisoned by Lord Sezon, but the truth was unknown.

Aleks himself suspected that the Empress was probably behind the rumors.

Via's body gradually recovered, and she was able to resume her normal life.

She began to appear in official settings again, showing the public her harmonious relationship with the Prince, but it was a well-known fact in the Crystal Palace that Aleks never called Via to his bed.

On this day, as Via attended an intimate dinner with Aleks, she saw Lord Rofman, who commanded one of the three great knight orders, for the first time among the people introduced to her.

The engagement of Lord Rofman's niece to the head of the Dilenmer family, Rizok, was already the talk of the court, and Via deduced that he had come for this reason.

Via knew only the rumors about the incident twenty-two years ago, but the first time she saw Lord Rofman, a man in his mid-forties who seemed to have a bit of a quirky personality, she immediately felt a good impression.

Via, who had once considered placing Celdtis in the Rofman Order, faced Lord Rofman with a special sentiment.

"I have heard much about your character. I am delighted to meet you."

Upon hearing the affectionate tone in her voice, Lord Rofman widened his eyes in surprise and took her hand, kissing it politely.

"It is an unexpected pleasure to meet you as well."

Then, raising an eyebrow, he added in a tone that seemed to express disappointment.

"It is truly regrettable that Prince Celdtis did not join my order."

Via couldn't help but laugh.

Somehow, people who share a wavelength can sense it, and in this short greeting, Via had already taken a liking to the middle-aged knight commander.

"I wanted to join, but I couldn't."

Via replied, her eyes following Aleks, who was talking to another noblewoman.

"If not for the connection with the Prince, I think Celdtis would have remained unaffiliated with any knight order and spent his days in the Purple Jade Palace."

Upon hearing her frank response, Lord Rofman looked genuinely surprised.

"Unaffiliated with any order?

Without receiving the knighthood, he wouldn't be recognized as a full-fledged royal, let alone have a future as a noble of Ancheze."

"Yes, but don't you think that would be better?

He wouldn't attract unnecessary trouble."

Lowering her voice slightly, Via said, and Lord Rofman responded with a wry smile, nodding in agreement.

There were no nobles crazy enough to propose Celdtis, who had not received the knighthood, as the next emperor.

Recalling this, Lord Rofman remembered that Prince Celdtis, known for his frail health, rarely appeared in public, and the nobles who had tried to promote him were at a loss.

That was why Prince Celdtis had been forgotten for so long.

Reflecting on it now, he had probably done so intentionally to withdraw from the imperial succession struggle.

This was evident from the rumors that Prince Celdtis, who had joined the Antore Order, was now healthy and keeping up with the training.

Under the absolute protection and surveillance of his half-brother, Prince Aleks, Celdtis no longer needed to live in hiding and had been seen walking through the corridors with a carefree smile just the other day.

Aleks' affection for Via, his secondary consort, was the greatest fortune for Prince Celdtis, thought Lord Rofman.

If Princess Via had not become Aleks' secondary consort and had instead placed her brother in the Rofman or Leiat Order, Prince Celdtis would have been right in the middle of the imperial succession struggle.

"Perhaps you are right, Your Highness."

Nodding, Lord Rofman received Via's renewed words of congratulations.

"I heard that the engagement between Lady Sisia and Lord Dilenmer has been finalized.

I offer my heartfelt congratulations."

While Via could only guess at the frustration of the previous Lord Rofman, she suspected that this engagement was a difficult decision for the current head of the family.

"We are not allowed to intermarry with the royal bloodline.

However, through this engagement, Rofman will now be officially related to the Prince.

I hope for your continued guidance."

"The Prince was very pleased with this engagement.

I also feel truly reassured and happy that Lord Rofman will be related to the Prince."

Her gentle words resonated deeply.

While Lord Rofman could be difficult to please, he believed Via's words sincerely and expressed his gratitude.

"By the way, you mentioned that you had heard about my character."

Lord Rofman's brown eyes twinkled mischievously.

"Could you tell me what kind of rumors you heard, if it's not too much trouble?"

"To be honest, since I came to the Crystal Palace, I haven't heard many rumors."

Via smiled, enjoying the conversation.

"However, when I lived in the Purple Jade Palace, the maids often brought back stories about Midas."

In reality, Via herself had gone incognito, but she couldn't say that here.

"Midas stories?"

"I heard that a traveling troupe, which was about to be attacked by bandits, was saved by Lord Rofman, who happened to pass by."

The troupe was from Thelma. Despite being outnumbered, Lord Rofman, who happened to be passing by with a few knights, did not abandon the weak travelers.

While most nobles would have turned a blind eye, he had drawn his sword to protect a mere traveling troupe.

"That was quite a while ago. I had almost forgotten about it."

Lord Rofman, who hadn't expected anyone in the palace to know this story, chuckled and then asked Via, as if suddenly realizing something.

"Still, it surprises me that a princess who lived in the palace knew about the Midas road."

"I was born to a commoner mother.

I can't help but be concerned about the lives of the people in the city."

Via was not ashamed of her humble origins.

She didn't need to tell those who didn't need to know, but she thought Lord Rofman wouldn't mind.

"The people closely observe their rulers.

When the first hospital was built in Midas five years ago, the people were truly delighted.

The road used to be narrow and dark, and travelers would travel in fear. After four years of work, it was transformed into a wide and safe road, and many people were relieved."

"Do you know who implemented these policies?"

"Do you think the people who benefited from them wouldn't know?"

Responding with a playful tone, Lord Rofman laughed.

"If you gathered information from the people, you wouldn't be unaware."

The one who implemented these policies was Prince Aleks.

While it was rarely discussed in the court, Via knew that he had steadily governed for the people.

"A consort who, like a noblewoman, pays attention to the lives of the common people is very rare."

Via laughed at Lord Rofman's words.

"I have never met anyone outside the Prince's close circle who showed interest in the lives of the common people."

Then, she looked at Lord Rofman seriously.

"Actually, the traveling troupe you saved was connected to Empress Titti."

Her mother knew about this and had been grateful to Lord Rofman. Since he rarely appeared in social settings, she had never had the chance to thank him.

"That's why I am truly grateful to you.

I offer my deepest thanks."

"You seem to have become quite close to Lord Rofman."

Holding Via in his arms as if cherishing the time, Aleks suddenly asked her.

"What topic did you discuss that made you so engrossed?"

"I didn't know you were unaware of our conversation."

"Your connection to Lord Rofman is not obvious."

Burying his face in Via's hair, Aleks answered in a slightly muffled voice.

"We were talking about the Prince.

I thought Lord Rofman was distant from the Prince, but it turns out he has an unexpected admirer."

"Admirer...?

You mean Midas?"

"Yes."

Surrounded by Aleks' scent, Via sighed happily, feeling the time slipping away.

Aleks visited Via's room once or twice a month, usually during a brief break from his official duties.

During this time, he would keep the guards and maids away, and they would spend the time alone.

As soon as the maids left and the door closed, Aleks would embrace Via, and he would passionately kiss her, holding her tightly.

"I missed you."

Aleks held Via as if trying to satisfy a hunger that had lasted for days.

Changing angles, he kissed her repeatedly, and Via could only lean back, overwhelmed by his intensity.

Even after the kiss ended, Aleks kept his arms around her waist, not letting go.

The time they had was limited.

Despite the rumors in the Crystal Palace, Via knew that the Prince's heart was with her.

Now that they no longer shared a bed as often as before, she felt a deeper hunger and a more intense attachment to Aleks.

Or would the Prince, like the Emperor who was obsessed with his mother Titti, continue to show unwavering affection and attachment to her even if she served him every night?

Thinking about this, Via wanted to laugh.

It was foolish to think about such things when she knew she couldn't stay by his side forever.

She had decided from the beginning to wait until Celdtis' position was secure.

Eventually, she would leave the palace, as her mother had wished.

Gently pushing Aleks' chest, Via saw him look down at her with a discontented expression.

She reached out to unbutton his collar.

When Aleks called her name in surprise, Via stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his throat.

"…!"

Aleks' body tensed involuntarily.

As Via pressed herself against him, Aleks growled.

"Do you provoke me knowing I can't touch you?"

The pained tone sent a shiver down her spine.

Via wanted to intoxicate him further, to bewitch him.

"You told me to act like a courtesan at night.

The Prince taught me everything."

"Is it all my fault?"

"Yes."

Via smiled.

"The sun is setting. Can't we say it's night already?"

Aleks laughed lowly.

As he hugged her tightly again, Via closed her eyes in bliss.

A soft knock on the door interrupted them.

Aleks clicked his tongue in frustration and reluctantly released Via.

Via straightened his collar.

"Come in."

Aleks answered, still looking at Via.

The maid who entered looked awkwardly at the two of them, averting her eyes.

"I'll come again."

Aleks nodded at Via, who looked up at him.

Unconsciously, Aleks touched the spot where Via had kissed him, and she watched him leave quietly.

Every night, when she rested in her chambers, Via wished he would think of her.

"I'll be waiting."

Via whispered to Aleks' back as he turned to leave.