Ch#78
2023.11.17.
"What on earth have you done?"
Those were the first words Ivan uttered upon visiting the Retired Empress Palace after hearing the troubling rumor.
Katrina's hand, holding her teacup, paused momentarily.
"If you'd stayed quiet, you would have become Emperor and the most noble woman in the Empire anyway, so why?"
"Your Majesty."
"Did you crave the Empress's throne that badly?"
His attitude assumed Katrina was behind the incident, as if there was no need to even hear her side.
Anyone else would have had tea splashed in their face, berated for daring to insult her based on mere rumors.
But the other party was none other than Ivan.
Her most beloved son in the world. Her proud Emperor.
The child she must believe in and support, no matter what the world pointed fingers at.
And now, the only one she could rely on, the one who must protect her.
Yet such a son was confronting her with suspicion right from the start.
Katrina bit her trembling lips and asked back.
"...Do you believe that rumor?"
Because the mother I know is more than capable of it. Ivan barely swallowed the words rising to his chin.
To him, it had long ceased being a mere rumor and become established fact. Ever since that incident ten years ago.
He firmly believed his greedy mother had ultimately killed Esmeralda.
His mother was the type who had to possess anything she desired to feel satisfied, and she had always coveted the Empress's position.
Yet he had never voiced it before anyone. Keeping silent was far more beneficial to him.
But who would have thought that matter would now come back to bite him.
"I didn't kill that woman. I swear."
Katrina appealed to her son as if truly wronged, but Ivan didn't even pretend to listen, moving straight to the next question.
"Then why did you try to kill Blair?"
"Ivan! What do you take me for? That child is my daughter and your sister. I've never tried to kill her."
"So you admit to the kidnapping?"
"That was...!"
"Because of that damned rumor! The Imperial family's prestige and my dignity are about to hit rock bottom. Mother."
"......"
"I thought it had quieted down after that, but ha..."
Katrina stared at Ivan wordlessly, unable to say more.
To her son, it seemed the Imperial family's and his own face mattered more than his mother's well-being.
Ivan looked at the wounded Katrina and spoke in a softened tone.
"Tell me everything honestly, without hiding. Then I can help you, Mother."
It sounded like consolation at first glance, but was essentially a command.
Katrina felt self-mocking pity for her situation.
From the moment she faced Ivan until now, she had kept telling the truth he demanded.
I didn't kill that woman.
I didn't try to kill Blair either.
But no matter how much I say it, you neither listen nor believe. Does the truth even matter?
"...If I tell you, will you believe me?"
Katrina's expression twisted sadly as she spoke.
Ivan swallowed his rising irritation at her sight.
His mother, always dignified before others, acted utterly pitiful and wretched before him. She knew it weakened a son's heart, and that's why she did it.
Facing such a her made him feel like an unfilial son, souring his mood.
Ivan sighed and rose from his seat.
"Don't do anything more. I'll handle this matter myself."
He fled the drawing room as if escaping her.
Whether Katrina's words were truth or lies didn't matter. To protect the Imperial family's authority and his dignity, the rumor had to remain just that—a rumor.
But Delmark, which had claimed Esmeralda's injustice for a lifetime, would surely see this as an opportunity.
How can I shut their mouths?
Ivan's steps, walking the corridor with anxiety matching his haste, suddenly halted. He recalled Herdin's demeanor from sometime ago.
The Duchess is first and foremost Your Majesty's only sister and a noble Imperial bloodline.
Herdin's figure urging severe punishment on Wesley and Rachel.
Ivan's eyes took on a strange glint as he recalled that memory.
I don't know if Blair holds that much value to him.
Still, it was worth attempting once.
Ivan commanded the chief chamberlain standing by his side.
"Tell Duke Delmark to come see me tomorrow afternoon."
* * *
The rumor spreading across the entire Capital Isle had even stirred up Delmark's vassals.
Not long after it spread, several elders from the more influential vassal families under Delmark arrived unannounced at the ducal residence.
Unable to turn away loyal retainers from his grandfather's generation, Herdin received them in the drawing room. Their first words were...
"Divorce the Imperial Princess while you can."
It was exactly as Herdin had anticipated.
"She was never a fitting match for Your Grace to begin with. To bring the daughter of the enemy who killed the late Empress into Delmark as its lady..."
"Indeed. It was absurd from the start. How aggrieved would Her late Majesty be, buried underground?"
They spoke premised on Esmeralda's death being Katrina's doing. They had believed that even before this incident. The rumor had merely poured oil on the fire.
As their voices grew louder, Russ, who had been listening silently beside them, cautiously interjected.
"Pardon the interruption during your discussion, but there's something I'd like you all to know."
The elders, thinking loyal Russ would side with them, welcomed him into the conversation.
"Indeed, speak your mind."
"Yes, as an aide, you have the right to a say."
Russ hesitated briefly before continuing.
"I agree with what you gentlemen say, but the Duchess differs from the Retired Empress. She is working to recover her memories of the Empress Palace fire ten years ago. This isn't a rumor—it's fact."
Though he agreed with their words in his head, his heart wasn't at ease, as they seemed to reveal malice toward Blair.
But when Russ, whom they assumed would naturally side with them, voiced a differing opinion, the elders clicked their tongues in displeasure.
"Of course she'd do that if she knows grace! She was the type to pity even the daughter of an enemy. If you have nothing to say but that, step aside."
"Anyway, it's fortunate it didn't go further. What if she'd conceived Delmark blood?"
Herdin chuckled as he listened.
Fortunate...
Was it truly fortunate?
As he pondered, he cut his cigar and lit it. He heard one elder with weak lungs coughing from the smoke but ignored it.
Russ subtly gauged Herdin's mood.
Herdin listened without stopping the rambling elders, but Russ knew from years of experience.
When Herdin stayed silent like that, he was usually preparing a cutting retort.
"Your Grace, use this incident to demand divorce from His Majesty. Then take a chaste, virtuous woman as Delmark's lady to restore its prestige."
Herdin let their words flow in one ear and out the other, newly realizing.
Blair had no allies anywhere.
The Imperial faction cried she was swayed by a man to slander her mother and brother; Delmark's vassals itched to drag out the enemy's daughter.
Whoever spread the rumor had targeted Blair precisely and cunningly.
Whether siding with the Imperial family or Delmark, she inevitably became the scapegoat.
Only then did he realize.
I expected an eleven-year-old child to endure this. To turn everyone into enemies and fight.
Even now at twenty-one, you're so small and fragile.
I now see the hatred I directed at child you was mere projection on my part.
And that hatred was truly aimed at my own powerless self, unable to do anything.
"Your Grace! Are you listening?"
His thoughts ended with the elders' voices piercing through.
Herdin extinguished his cigar and spoke in a voice laced with boredom.
"So, you're saying use my wife until the late Empress's injustice is cleared, then return her to the Imperial family?"
"We can't have the enemy's daughter as our lady."
"And what treatment she'll receive from her family afterward is none of your concern, since your granddaughters could become Delmark's lady?"
Herdin's voice was utterly dry, but his words stabbed sharply at the core.
"Ahem, to slander our loyalty like that..."
"Loyalty, I'm not sure. But your love for your granddaughters is clear."
Herdin rose, his face openly weary.
"You should leave now. If you come unannounced again like this, you'll be left standing outside."
As the elders gaped speechlessly, Herdin turned and left the drawing room. He then ran into Blair passing through the corridor.
