***
As soon as the two arrived at the mansion, an emergency closed room meeting took place.
“I heard that Her Majesty the Empress finally conceived…someone with such a weak body.”
Ivan murmured, lamenting.
Matteo’s face was definitely like this.
He had no expression, but he looked very tired.
“…I can’t say it’s very unlikely. Because we were counting on the number of cases.”
“Indeed, but…”
Ivan, who had been watching, changed his words.
“By the way, Madam Rachel’s words are shocking as well. She said she wasn’t on Claude’s side…”
“Who was Madam Rachel’s ex-husband?”
When Lilian asked, Ivan shook his head and answered.
“He doesn’t matter at all. Because he’s an insignificant scoundrel who has been accused of violence even by his wife and remarried. He ruined his fortune by gambling and now nobody knows his whereabouts.”
“There’s no background and the motive is unknown.”
Damian muttered. There was silence for a moment.
“If Madam Rachel’s words are true, a countermeasure is needed.”
The most effective way to end Claude’s reign once and for all was a unanimous vote of the seven electors.
If the news that Empress Aratine is pregnant was known, not only would her political situation be confused…
“His Highness’ maternal grandfather, Elector Castana, might be inclined towards that.”
It was the elector of Castana who had been playing tug of war for a long time.
A unanimous vote was needed to bring down the emperor. If even one person out of the seven was left out, there was a great chance that the fragile coalition itself, which was just being built, would be shaken.
“It’s fortunate that we found out in advance and were able to devise at least some countermeasures.”
However, it’s also true that there’s no special countermeasure.
“First of all, I will meet my maternal grandfather separately. If we can think of any other good measures, we will discuss it then.”
“That would be best. It’s too late today.”
The emergency meeting late at night ended like that.
And the next morning. An unexpected guest came to the Grand Duke’s residence.
“Countess Seomina.”
“It’s been a while, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
To be precise, it wasn’t the Grand Duke’s residence, but a guest who came for Matteo.
“Her Majesty the Empress asked me to convey her feelings of longing for not being able to see her son, His Highness. She hopes to see Your Highness soon.”
“…how long has it been?”
A mischievous smile escaped Matteo’s lips. Anger slowly began to rise in the boy’s heart.
“She had a longing heart but couldn’t muster up the courage…”
“Stop. Whatever you say are things I can’t hear.”
After the head lady in waiting at the Empress Palace calmly cut him off, Matteo began to rub his face.
Want to see? At this point?
Matteo learned that when he’s too angry, he laughs.
If he hadn’t heard of Empress Aratine’s pregnancy, he might have accepted the invitation with a pure heart.
Because his mother is a weak-hearted person.
It’s just that she didn’t dare see her son because of her sins, but she still wanted to see him. He might have thought so.
Nausea came out.
“Yeah, that’s good. Okay, fine.”
“…”
“My mother wants me, so I have to go and become a son.”
He couldn’t stand it. He’d have to meet her in person to see if this unbelievable thing was true.
“Let’s go right now.”
***
“Matteo!”
Aratine, whose face has recently blossomed like a peach flower, was happy to see her son.
But even though she was happy, there’s a strange tiredness on her face.
It also seemed a bit hazy.
Matteo looked at his mother’s armchair and the thick blanket over her lap with stern eyes.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen your face. Can you come closer?”
The boy approached his mother without a word. But he didn’t want to come close enough to be touched and just took a seat across from her.
Aratine put on a sad expression, but she seemed to have no intention of getting up from her seat and approaching her son.
Aratine, slightly intimidated by the chill she felt from his son, could barely say.
“You look healthy.”
“That’s right.”
“Is everyone doing well?”
“It’s pretty much like that.”
At the blunt reply, Aratine couldn’t hide her sad expression. But she didn’t dare point it out.
It seemed that at least the shame remained. Matteo thought sarcastically.
“Yes, you came as my guest. Because you’ve grown up… Countess, treat the prince to a glass of my drink.”
“Pardon?”
Countess Seomina was a little taken aback. But Aratine wanted to give her son a taste of her favorite drink.
Eventually, the Countess brought the bottle and placed the glass in front of Matteo, carefully pouring it out. She didn’t give it to Aratine.
Aratine said regretfully.
“It’s a drink that your maternal grandfather sent specially for me. He sent it to calm my mind and body…I can’t drink right now, so you drink instead.”
“Why?”
Matteo was sharply sarcastic, not even paying attention to the alcohol.
“Are you with child?”
“Matteo!”
Aratine was shocked. Matteo laughed.
“My God, it’s true.”
“T-Teo. It’s not like that. I won’t tell you it’s true, but… I wouldn’t say that…”
“You can’t?”
He’s full of anger.
“My mother betrayed my father and fell in love with his younger brother, so she became the Empress, and now she even gave birth to an unfaithful child. How should I answer here? Should I give a round of applause with a smile saying you did a good job?”
“Matteo…!”
“Did you want to say that it’s my younger sibling, so please take good care of it?”
Aratine hesitated and could not answer. Looking at those clouded eyes, Matteo shook his head.
“I knew you’re crazy, but I didn’t expect you to be this crazy. I’m ashamed that my mother doesn’t know.”
It was a sharp remark of her selling herself. It was also a direct statement that Aratine had never heard directly before.
The pale Aratine gasped and grabbed her chest.
The astonished ladies in waiting shouted, “Your Majesty!” and supported the Empress.
However, they couldn’t bear to criticize “You’re too much” to the prince, who was raging with anger.
Even the Empress’ ladies in waiting knew. Empress Aratine was the one that’s too much.
“Teo…!”
Only Aratine still tried to make excuses.
“This isn’t what you think. I…”
“If you’re thinking of saying it’s for my sake, I advise you to stop.”
At the low warning, Aratine paused and kept her mouth shut.
“Don’t my mother and I know each other too well?”
“B-but I didn’t love your father. Neither does your father! But Claude really loves me…”
“Love?”
A sharp sneer crept across Matteo’s face.
“What is love? Is it more important than the cause? Is it more important than morality, fidelity, and trust? What is worth destroying is that proud love you have. Is matching with your husband’s brother the proud love game you’re talking about? Yes?”
The more he spoke, the more red blood stood on the prince’s neck. Aratine looked blank as if she hadn’t expected such abusive remarks.
Matteo knew. Love was not like a drug. It’s not an irresistible psychotropic drug or hypnosis. The prince knew from his experience of being shaken by Lily.
It could shake your heart. It might be force majeure up to that point.
However, instead of being swept away by emotions, Matteo chose the cause, morality, fidelity and faithfulness.
To sin was your own choice.
There’s no such thing as an accidental accident that was inevitable because of uncontrollable love. No one was killed by a carelessly thrown stone.
In all the process of choosing a stone with intention, holding it in your hand, measuring the distance, and throwing it with force, you could choose not to do so.
He was able to choose the right path.
He was able to turn it around.
‘If it’s irreversible, I’ll regret it.’
But he didn’t.
“I’d rather you open the lid of my father’s coffin and stab the corpse’s chest with a knife. Yes, I’d rather you did that.”
Aratine gasped and collapsed, almost terrified.
“I, I, I…”
“Your Majesty the Empress!”
“Call the doctor! Your Majesty, wake up!”
The ladies in waiting shouted, but Matteo just stood up after clearing the spilled glass on his clothes as the Empress fell.
“Let me be clear. Mother, the sins you committed will not go away if I acknowledge that child.”
“…”
“I have no intention of participating in any petty ploy to shake off guilt. So don’t call me again.”
He’s glad he didn’t end up like her.
“I don’t know if the child in your belly is my cousin or brother, and I don’t know if you’re my mother or my aunt.”
As if shaking off dirt, the prince calmly turned around. In the end, the Empress fainted with a squeak.
***
The prince returned in an unexpected way. The servants bowed their heads.
“Let’s go.”
That was the only thing the prince commanded as he got into the carriage.
The prince crossed his arms and closed his eyes. It wasn’t to organize his thoughts. Right now, it was overwhelming just to control the emotions that arose like fire.
Mother, no matter how you are.
“As long as you didn’t go crazy…”
Crazy. She must be insane.
She had to be. He didn’t want to believe that she had done something like that with him in mind.
A long time ago, when his father was alive and his mother didn’t commit infidelity. He didn’t want to lose his mother from those days.
Even at this point.
Matteo gritted his teeth.
At that moment, he became aware of the smell that was disturbing the tip of his nose.
‘…huh?’ As he sniffed it, a sweet scent wafted from his wet clothes that made his head dizzy.
‘The smell is a bit odd for alcohol…’
One by one, fragments of memories appeared in Matteo’s mind.
A drink specially sent for her mother by his maternal grandfather, Elector Castana.
The mother he knew was not a drinker. She was the kind of person who often forgot to serve drinks to guests.
…in the dizzy scent, Matteo recalled his mother’s dreamy eyes.
‘Come to think of it, I think she was speaking less clearly than I remembered…’
…was the elector of Castana a kind man who sent a drink specially prepared for his weak-willed daughter?
At some possibility that flashed by like lightning, Matteo took off his drenched coat.
And as soon as he arrived at the Grand Duke’s residence, he gave instructions by entrusting his clothes to Head Butler Aaron.
“The alcohol soaking these clothes is unusual. Go and check it out.”
After hearing the circumstances, the loyal vassal bowed his head in silence.
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