Unlike the Imperial Family of the Eastern Empire, which was as calm as if it was on the eve of a storm, the Zemensia Family, of the Western Empire, was right in the midst of one.
It all started with the argument between Duke Zemensia and the Old Duke.
âFather, Emperor Heinley immediately avenged Middelen. For your grandson, Emperor Heinley locked up Grand Duke Lilteang in a tower, willing to go face to face with the Emperor of the Eastern Empire.â
âWhat do you mean by that?â
âChrista is already dead. She died of her own fault. If Christa had gone quietly to Compshire from the start, you, my wife, my children and I would be as well as ever.â
A fire appeared in the Old Dukeâs eyes when his son spoke ill of his dead sister.
Duke Zemensia said what he felt even though he knew his father would not like it.
âIt is a pity that she died, but what matters most are those who are alive. We need to put aside the grudges over Christaâs death and board the new ship, father.â
ââŠâ
âEmpress Navier is already pregnant. Finally the Imperial Family has a direct successor. Even the nobles who did not look favorably on Empress Navier now bow to her.â
The Duchess, who had remained seated quietly at his side, also added,
âThatâs true. Everyone who approaches Empress Navier praises her. She even treats with kindness those who were not polite to her before. We too have to forget our grudges and think about the childrenâs future.â
The Old Duke listened in silence to his son and daughter-in-law, but after a while he exclaimed because he couldnât stand it any longer,
âIdiots! Youâre a couple of idiots!â
âFather!â
âYou want to side with the Imperial Family because Heinley supposedly avenged my grandson? I donât know what Iâve done to deserve such a naive son like you!â
âFather, itâs true! Grand Duke Lilteang has been taken to a tower. I saw it with my own eyes.â
âIdiot! Idiot!â
The Old Duke clenched his teeth to suppress the desire to insult him worse.
âAlthough Grand Duke Lilteang is famous for his loss of self-control, he is not crazy enough to cause serious trouble in such a place.â
âGrand Duke Lilteang has caused several serious incidents. He also holds a grudge against you. Besides, he didnât do it openly, there was hardly anyone around the pond where Middelen was.â
If other nobles had been the witnesses, an investigation would probably have been conducted in a formal manner. But since it was the Emperor together with Duke Zemensia, the sentence in this case was immediate.
Of course, imprisoning Grand Duke Lilteang directly in a tower was a measure that could anger the Emperor of the Eastern Empire. Even if Emperor Heinley had been a witness.
Duke Zemensia believed that Emperor Heinley was willing to take such a risk to protect his people.
However, the Old Duke considered that point suspicious.
âFather, you always think he has an ulterior motive. Do you hate Emperor Heinley that much?â
âYou are an idiot, an idiot. Emperor Heinley has marked us as his next target, but you want to support the person who ended your sisterâs life.â
Unable to understand each other, father and son kept silent and turned their heads in different directions.
No matter what his son said, Old Duke Zemensia would not believe Emperor Heinley.
He was convinced that Emperor Heinley had deliberately put his grandson in danger to deal with Grand Duke Lilteang.
He didnât know how exactly Emperor Heinley had done it, but it wasnât normal for so many coincidences to happen at once.
The Old Duke clenched his fist, unable to bear his anger.
An idiot son, an idiot daughter-in-law, and selfish grandchildren. This was the family he had.
He was really angry that Emperor Heinley was playing with his mind and that of his family.
***
Sovieshu believed that everything was settled, and that it only remained to wait for the paternity test. The temple set the date for the test, so the nobles in the Eastern Empire looked forward to the arrival of that day.
Regardless of the test result, calm would not return to the Eastern Empire in the near future.
The test result will only determine the future of the princess, it will not erase Empress Rashtaâs past.
A commoner who claimed to be the Empressâs real father disappeared after he boasted on several occasions about how much money he had obtained, but the nobles didnât think much of it.
After all, this was a man who appeared one day out of nowhere to take money from his supposed daughter. It was not unusual for him to disappear again in search of more money, so it was easy to determine that the Viscount and Viscountess Isqua who stayed behind while that man disappeared were the Empressâs real parents.
However, two other unexpected scandals occurred amidst the silence. One in the Eastern Palace and one in the Western Palace.
It was Alan who caused the scandal at the Western Palace.
Alan sent letters to Rashta that Ahn had disappeared, but Rashta ignored him all the time, so he went to see her personally and made a fuss.
âHow dare you make a fuss in the Imperial Palace? Take him to prison this instant!â
Rashta was so angry that she ordered the guards sent by Sovieshu to imprison Alan.
Later, Rashta wanted to take Alan out because it was not convenient for her that he was here, but the guards did not allow it because Sovieshu ordered to hold Alan in preparation for the paternity test.
âI was going to capture it anyway. Fortunately he came on his own.â
Sovieshu spoke coldly and forbade any visits to Alan. However, soon there was also a scandal in the Eastern Palace. It was quiet on the outside, but it shook Sovieshuâs heart.
Count Pirnu, who had attended Heinleyâs birthday party, returned before the rest of the delegation to report.
âYour Majesty. Emperor Heinley wore your precious âFairy Tearâ as a necklace at his birthday party.â
âWhat the hell are you saying? Are you sure about what you saw?â
âYes, I checked it several times. It was definitely the âfairy tearâ.â
âThat bloodyâŠâ
âNavier must have given it to him. Otherwise, it wouldnât make sense.â
Sovieshu really wanted to smash him. He didnât like Heinley in the least.
He thought that Navier might return the gift, but never that she would give her current husband the gift sent by her ex-husband.
âNavierâŠâ
Sovieshu was so surprised that he whispered his ex-wifeâs name in vain. He couldnât believe this from the honorable Navier.
However, the unpleasant news didnât end there.
âUmm⊠Your MajestyâŠâ
Count Pirnu reported in a careful voice as he watched Sovieshuâs somber expression.
âGrand Duke Lilteang caused another problem.â
âAnother problem? What nonsense has he said this time?â
âNo. This time itâs more serious.â
Count Pirnuâs face darkened,
âHe pushed Old Duke Zemensiaâs grandson into a pond.â
Sovieshu frowned.
âWhat?!â
Count Pirnu recounted the details of the incident as objectively as possible. He tried not to mix his personal opinion.
Sovieshuâs expression became rigid as he listened to the account. He rested his elbows on the armrests and rubbed his chin.
Count Pirnuâs account seemed a little strange to him. He knew that Grand Duke Lilteang resented Old Duke Zemensia and that he used to lose his temper easily. Even in the Western Kingdom he had been shamed several times for his impulsive behavior.
Although he had deliberately tripped people he didnât like to make them fall to the floor, he never pushed a child into a pond in the middle of a partyâŠ
âHow is the child?â
âHe was rescued right away without a scratch. From what I could find out before I went back, he didnât even catch a cold.â
Sovieshuâs suspicions grew.
Grand Duke Lilteangâs folly was worse than usual. The child against whom he vented his grudge was not injured. Besides, was it Emperor Heinley who witnessed the sceneâŠ?
âEmperor Heinley locked up Grand Duke Lilteang in a tower. He said he will keep the Grand Duke locked up in his country for five years. The delegation will bring the respective letter from Emperor Heinley.â
If the situation were normal, Sovieshu would have brought back Grand Duke Lilteang for the pride of the Eastern Empire, no matter what he had done.
But after much thought, Sovieshu this time decided to accept Emperor Heinleyâs sentence.
He had many doubts, but it suited him to do it.
In case the princess was not his daughter, it would be much better if Grand Duke Lilteang was not in the Eastern Empire.
âWhat do you intend to do, Your Majesty?â
âIt is a shame for the Eastern Empire that he has committed such a crime in another country. It is not a bad idea to take this opportunity to put an end to his explosive personality. So we will not intervene.â
âYes.â
Count Pirnu also agreed because he did not like Grand Duke Lilteang.
Sovieshu pondered over something with a serious expression after he made that decision. He then wrote a letter and handed it to Count Pirnu.