The most credible rumor regarding Emperor Idoel, Claude and Empress Aratine was the theory that Aratine and Claude had an affair before Ideol died. Since there were quite a few witnessess for it to be a vague rumor, it was accepted as almost orthodox in the current social world.
The uncle who killed the father, and the mother who betrayed the father and committed adultery with the uncle.
For Matteo, it was a story like a deep wound that had not healed for 7 years and was still bleeding. However, the boy’s tone was calm, as if suppressing his emotions.
She could fully understand the feeling of him not wanting to be emotional, so Lily refrained from overreacting, just nodding with a calm expression.
“The order was reversed because Mrs. Rachel is more shameless.”
No matter how free the Empire is.
Even so, it was not to the extent that they could tolerate the act of marrying her brother-in-law, who had killed her ex-husband.
The Empress chose a quiet retreat to avoid opposition.
Mrs. Rachel was not so shameless as to quietly leave the position of an Imperial lady vacant.
Madam Rachel was the Emperor’s Mistress and at the same time a strategist. She was gifted with outstanding beauty and eloquence, and her pedigree was impeccable. As soon as she was recognized as the official mistress, she began to captivate the social circle without hesitation.
Politics and war were the domain of men. The person who knew men best was their respective wives. Madam Rachel ruled the ladies like a queen bee and contributed greatly to stabilizing Claude’s reign.
Matteo, who had met the Madam in person, knew. Rachel was a woman like the core of a storm. Behind her, everyone cursed her, but few could calmly say a word in front of her.
“You must be prepared. Otherwise, you will be trampled on.”
Lilian, who looked a little surprised, said, “I see.” and nodded her head.
“Your Highness seems to consider me as family.”
He choked.
“That’s…”
“Are you worried about me?”
He couldn’t bear to say no.
The Prince was devaststed and realized. He wasn’t even in a position to be suspected.
It wasn’t unusual for a nephew to worry about his aunt.
Mrs. Maureen was also relieved that he would hand over the invitation to Lily himself and figure out the situation.
Fortunately, his vain and evil mind that had settled in his heart was not discovered, but he was not happy.
The prince was depressed.
It’s true that he would rather die than have his feelings found out. But on the other hand, the fact that she didn’t even suspect…
‘It hurts.’
He’d be really crazy if he said it hurts.
The prince lightly bit his lips. Lilian didn’t notice.
She was thinking. Fearing everything behind her and avoiding her responsibilities, the courteous and mature prince had already accepted her as family.
In fact, Lilian also had a lot of feelings for Matteo from the beginning. That would be…
‘I mean he looks like brother Cedric.’
Of course, that didn’t mean they look alike. Cedric, with his dark blue hair and glacial blue eyes, was very sharp for a warrior.
On the other hand, Prince Matteo had dark blonde hair like the essence of the sun and blue eyes like the sea, and his shoulders and bones had already matured.
If he grew up like this, he might be able to catch up to his uncle’s physique.
‘But he’s a perfectionist so it’s an afterthought.
Their warm-hearted personalities are very similar.’
A small smile crept across Lilian’s lips.
Right, looking back, things have already been done. She couldn’t avoid it because she was afraid forever.
Mrs. Rachel moved even while she was in isolation.
She’s still afraid, but she’s the one who chose her marriage to Damian.
She had to take responsibility. Her dereliction of duty was already enough.
“All right. Since you’re so worried, I need to shake it off and get up.”
“Are you going to reply to the letter?”
“Shouldn’t I?”
“You’d better not take it lightly.”
The capital’s society was in the hands of Mrs. Rachel.
“The same treatment as at the wedding will not work.”
If she sees a gap, she’ll bite right away.
Lilian, who wasn’t offended by his blunt words, smiled.
“I know. I never even dreamed of winning over Mrs. Rachel’s influence with a gift or two.”
The capital is the domain of the Emperor and Mrs. Rachel. Besides, Madam Rachel was the master of the women’s world.
In such a place, there’d be more people who wouldn’t accept if Lilian offered a gift or showed favor.
“That’s why I overreacted at the wedding.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s my wedding venue. It was my territory.”
The point is to erase the very small debts of the heart. Now that they’ve received the gift, it’s okay if they have good feelings for Lilian and spare her a word, and it’s also okay if they feel bad about receiving the gift and won’t actively criticize her.
It’s enough to let them know that none of them are frighteningly wealthy.
Lily’s cunning thoughts were released cleanly and calmy.
“Ah…so it’s like that.”
Matteo looked a little surprised.
‘Did I tell him too much about my cunning ulterior motive?’
Lilian made an excuse with a slightly bitter smile.
“Of course, that’s not necessarily the case.
There’s also the fact that I didn’t want to be arrogant about calling people who would be busy according to my circumstances, saying, ‘I’m Lilian of Turin and my husband is the Grand Duke, so it’s only natural that you came to our wedding.’”
“I see…”
Matteo suddenly wanted to cry. He didn’t really want to but his eyes were burning.
‘There was a time when His Majesty the Emperor was always meticulous like that…’
Brothers do not quarrel with each other. Idoel kept his convictions like his life.
Still, he was prepared. He gave the trusty Damian the strength to protect Matteo in case he was assassinated.
He was kind but not without calculation.
Father, Lily, love, longing, guilt.
It felt like everything was mixing in an unknown color. It was like an elaborate tapestry from which not a single weft could be separated.
“All right. If you say so, I’ll be less worried.”
His first love was destroyed as soon as he realized it. And because of this, his mind became uncontrollably deep.
“Then I will stop disturbing your rest, so please excuse me for today.”
All Matteo could do was run away.
Left alone, Lily muttered.
“Um…did I pretend to be friendly too suddenly?”
Those words would strike the heart of a boy who was suffering from the fever of his loss and would became seriously ill in an instant if he heard it.
***
After Matteo went away, Rita came in right away as if there’s a shift.
“Your Highness, hah.”
“What happened?”
“Mr. Winston is here.”
“What?”
Lilian was a little surprised to hear that the person who went down to Turin a few days ago had returned.
“Bring him to me.”
“Yes.”
Then in came Shaw.
“I greet Your Highness.”
“You said we’d see each other soon, and we really did meet very soon.”
“I have something to tell you.”
Lilian tilted her head. It seems that the purpose of today’s visit was not a formal medical examination.
Come to think of it, the doctor’s behavior was a bit absurd.
‘Did he not sleep?’
His eyes were hollow and his face was pale. Even his posture seemed unstable.
“Sit down for now. Would you like some tea?”
“I’m sorry, but I’d rather have a drink.”
Lily shared a look with Rita and Rita quickly nodded and brought in perfectly boiled water, tea utensils, tea leaves, and even a small snack. She knew the matter would be serious and retreated out of the room.
Lilian lowered the items from the cart herself. She only poured water on what she had prepared, but Shaw thanked her anyway and began to empty his cup.
“What is it?”
“Actually, the patriarch gave me the right to enter Isharel.”
“Isharel?”
Isharel.
It was the treasure house of Islar with the famous triple gate.
Islar was concerned about the risk of theft, so they didn’t even make a list of the things inside, and the qualifications to enter and exit were limited only to the Patriarch.
“As you know, lady, there are more than just shiny stones in Isharel. Although not known, there are actually many books in it. Most of them are very old and valuable.”
Shaw said that some of the records were written in cuneiform on clay tablets.
“As soon as I returned, I asked the Patriarch for permission to enter.”
“Pardon?”
It’s not something that would be granted just because a vassal requested it.
“Did he allow it?”
“I said it’s absolutely necessary for treatment, so he allowed it right away.”
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