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Iana watched Riel's expression from behind the Empress.
'Riel, you didn't expect this, did you? That Her Majesty the Empress would directly intervene in this matter.'
The Empress had never directly intervened in the issue of a mistress's pregnancy until now.
Until the Emperor extended his hand first.
This was because if she became embroiled in controversy during the process of verifying the pregnancy, the Empress's prestige could be damaged.
But if the Empress had stepped forward, it was an offer the Emperor couldn't ignore.
The Emperor, who had been lost in thought, spoke as if he had made up his mind.
"Let us do as the Empress says."
"......!"
Riel and Duke Havel's eyes flickered slightly.
"Have the healer re-examine her."
At the Emperor's permission, the Empress ordered the healer who had come with her.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The healer answered politely and moved towards Riel.
Riel's eyes darted around as if she was looking for a way to escape this situation.
As the Empress's personal healer stood before Riel, Riel pointed to the ministers at the door.
"Your Majesty, I would like the others to leave."
"The ministers?"
The Emperor asked.
"It would be uncomfortable to be here for several hours like this again."
At Riel's words, Iana turned her gaze towards Duke Havel and thought.
'She's trying to get Duke Havel out so he can find a way.'
At that moment, Iana and Charles made eye contact.
Charles, who seemed to have had the same thought, watched Duke Havel and opened his mouth.
"Your Majesty, it is getting late, so shouldn't the ministers be dismissed? As Lady Riel said."
According to Imperial law, the Emperor's mistress was not officially recognized.
The same was true for the Emperor's illegitimate children born to a mistress.
However, there was a reason why the Imperial Family and the ministers were paying attention to the mistress's pregnancy.
There had been only one Emperor in Rubena's history who was born out of wedlock.
He died of illness without an heir, but he left the justification that someone born out of wedlock could become Emperor.
Because of that small possibility, the ministers could not easily dismiss the mistress's pregnancy.
"This is an important matter to confirm Your Majesty's bloodline. Of course, the ministers should be present."
Duke Havel seemed to distrust Riel, so he refuted her opinion.
Riel sent him a fierce look, but Duke Havel did not budge.
It was then.
The Empress asked in a cold voice that she had never shown before.
"Then why has Duke Havel been indifferent to the pregnancies of other mistresses until now?"
"That is..."
Duke Havel could not continue speaking as the Empress pressed him harshly.
As the argument escalated, the Emperor ordered with a frustrated expression.
"Everyone, return now."
The ministers who had been standing at the door had no choice but to bow.
✦ ✦ ✦
Iana and Charles left the Emperor's bedroom with the ministers and walked down the hallway.
She watched Duke Havel walking ahead.
Sure enough, as soon as Duke Havel came out, a Havel Family Senior Knight approached him and told him something.
Charles leaned slightly towards Iana and whispered.
"Let's watch them leave and go straight to the underground prison. We don't know what they might do to the shadow merchant."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Iana replied quietly.
As they came out to the entrance of the Imperial Palace, a deep darkness had fallen over the palace.
Duke Havel and the ministers waited in front for the carriages to take them.
Charles greeted them first.
"Everyone has worked hard today. Return safely."
Duke Havel approached Charles and Iana and asked with a smile.
"By the way, when will Your Highness be getting married?"
"Pardon?"
Iana was at a loss for words at the sudden question.
Duke Havel glanced at Iana once and continued.
"I was just wondering if it was time for Your Highness to welcome a Grand Duchess befitting your position and have an heir."
It was not a question about the two of them getting married.
It was a disregard, as if Iana was obviously not a match for Charles.
Since he could not directly attack Charles, he seemed to be subtly attacking him by ignoring her.
A Grand Duchess befitting Your Highness's position.
Iana realized Duke Havel's intention and her heart ached.
Charles said casually without showing any agitation.
"It will be around the end of next month."
"What is?"
Duke Havel looked at Charles, not knowing what he meant.
Charles smiled and put his arm lightly around Iana's shoulder and continued.
"Our wedding that Duke Havel is curious about."
"......!"
Iana was surprised by the talk of marriage that she didn't even know about.
When she was flustered, Charles gave her a look as if asking why she was pretending not to know.
At that, Iana tilted her head and thought.
'Is he talking about when the coup will happen like that?'
The nobles behind Duke Havel approached and asked.
"Are you two getting married?"
"Yes. His Majesty the Emperor said that Iana Archmage would be a good Grand Duchess."
After speaking, Charles looked at Duke Havel, as if urging him to say something.
Duke Havel only cleared his throat with an embarrassed face.
Clatter-.
Just then, the ministers' carriages came rushing towards the entrance in a row.
A moment later, as the carriages stopped in front of the Imperial Palace entrance, Charles greeted them.
"Then everyone, return safely."
The ministers finished their greetings and boarded the carriages one by one.
Finally, Duke Havel looked at the Imperial Palace once before getting into the carriage.
"Let's depart."
The procession of carriages carrying the ministers slowly moved towards the castle gate.
Charles asked the knight of The First Order of Knights behind him in a low voice.
"You conveyed my instructions well to the castle gate, right?"
"Yes, I told them to check until the end to see if the ministers were properly leaving the castle gate."
The knight replied quietly.
Iana followed Charles and looked back for a moment.
The procession of carriages carrying the ministers disappeared into the darkness as they drove away.
✦ ✦ ✦
Iana and Charles headed straight to the underground prison.
She did not ask Charles about the marriage story the entire way.
Charles also did not say anything.
The underground prison was heavily guarded under the Empress's orders.
Iana and Charles stopped in front of the iron bars where the shadow merchant was imprisoned.
The shadow merchant, visible through the bars, had a pained expression.
"Her Majesty the Empress ordered the royal guard to increase security in the treatment room and the underground prison."
At Iana's words, Charles looked inside the bars and replied.
"I see."
Iana and Charles examined the underground prison for a long time.
They also checked all the food and clothing that would be given to the shadow merchant.
How much time had passed? The two entered the investigation room and sat facing each other at the table.
Charles stretched and asked calmly.
"By the way, I said I was getting married next month, but why aren't you asking anything?"
Iana looked at Charles for a moment and called him heavily.
"Your Highness."
"Why are you calling me so resolutely? It's as if you're going to reject my proposal."
Iana sighed softly and said calmly.
"It's a bit awkward to be talking about this here, but."
"It's okay, go ahead."
"I won't be able to have an heir. My body has been sealed with black magic for a long time."
"......"
Charles said nothing.
There was no change in his expression, but his eyes shook greatly.
"So, I don't think I can get married..."
Iana trailed off.
Charles pondered for a moment and said with a smile.
"Even if there are no children, don't I have you, who is like a child? A grown-up child who can't even comb her hair properly."
"......"
"The reason I haven't brought up the topic of marriage until now is because of me. Because my life was so uncertain, not knowing if I would be dragged to the battlefield tomorrow or framed and dragged to prison."
Iana looked at Charles silently with tears welling up in her eyes.
Looking back, it was true.
From her past life until she met Charles, she had never been fully understood by her parents, siblings, husband, or friends.
Her weaknesses were always the reason for attacks and the means of exploitation.
For the Imperial Family, having an heir was an important duty. It was something that might be okay, or might not be a big deal.
Even so, she was so grateful that he said it so lightly.
It was then.
Knock knock.
There was a hurried knock on the investigation room door.
"Your Highness, the Empress has sent me."
At those words, Iana and Charles looked at each other at the same time.
"Come in."
At Charles's words, the knight rushed inside.
"What's going on?"
"The results of Lady Riel's examination just came out..."
"......?"
"She wasn't pregnant."
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