Chapter 08
“Isn’t it quite contradictory?”
“What do you mean?”
“Sending Milliam to the most dangerous person in order to protect His Highness.”
“Isn’t the Duke the only young, unmarried royal left?”
Despite the heavy atmosphere, Rene gave the Crown Prince a deep smile in response to his light joke.
Divorce wasn’t easy, but if royalty demanded it, it could be done. While a divorced woman still couldn’t become a lawful wife—just like any noblewoman—that was the only way Adel could ever be freed from her marriage.
Powerful noble families shifted with the times, and some royal family members exploited this to remarry into influential houses and maintain their authority. Still, they couldn’t simply steal away women from noble families. Consent from both the woman and her family was required.
And any royal who acquired Milliam would inevitably dream of seizing the throne.
In fact, her father began expanding his influence at an alarming rate the moment he became a royal in-law. It was a plan he had prepared for a long time, and it progressed without a hitch.
The imperial family tried to restrain him, but they had no choice but to tolerate him for the sake of Milliam’s supernatural power and the blessing of the full moon.
“You think the Duke won’t aim for the throne even if he gains your sister?”
“I can’t be sure… but for now, he’s the best option.”
“But isn’t your sister doing well in her territory?”
Rene gave a faint, unfitting smile. The Crown Prince knew that when she smiled like that, he would get no further answer.
“The people Father is approaching are all consumed by greed.”
“And most of them are old,” she added with a faint smile.
The Crown Prince gently placed his hand over hers.
“Don’t worry too much. The Debrian family won’t let go of their mistress so easily.”
“My father will use any means necessary. He’s the type to lay traps. So it’s not bad to be prepared in advance.”
But the Crown Prince didn’t believe that was the only reason his wife was acting so urgently.
Rene’s sister had written frequently to the imperial palace. The maids said Rene never once replied. But recently, after receiving a letter, she had finally sent a reply.
“How are you feeling?”
On the morning of her 24th birthday, Rene didn’t wake up. Unlike the Milliam records that described dreaming of the empire’s future for three to seven days, she wandered in her dreams for over two weeks. Her dream was long and brutal, hot enough to burn her entire body, and just as cold.
Some moments were so terrifying she couldn’t cry, while others were so moving she cried with joy. It was all far too much for one person to endure.
“These days, I’m feeling much better.”
Rene looked at her husband, who always worried about her health.
She had long realized that the warmth in his eyes, filled with concern, held no love. As with most political marriages, there was no love between them. But he always respected her and fulfilled his duties as a husband.
She didn’t want his hands to be stained with the blood of a traitor after she died. Nor did she want her sister to be swept into political turmoil. But the Crown Prince had ultimately rejected the idea of marrying her sister, leaving Rene with no choice but to consider other options.
“Your health always comes first.”
“Everyone else worries about the empire’s future on my shoulders, but you always prioritize my health?”
“Just because you were born with supernatural powers due to the empire’s legend doesn’t mean you don’t get sick.”
Swallowing the tears that threatened to rise, Rene closed her eyes.
Meanwhile, after paying respects to the Crown Prince and Princess, Jacques went to visit his younger brother, who lived in a secluded part of the palace.
“Why would Her Highness give such an order?”
“She said it wouldn’t look good if I went.”
“You believe that at face value? And why does she keep bringing up the Countess of Debrian?”
“Debrian?”
“Yes, the lord of Herbon. Have you heard of them?”
Of course Jacques had. Before he entered society, the man everyone was obsessed with was Ethan Debrian.
“I’ve heard of him. But understanding a woman from the Milliam family is no easy task.”
Devine was playing in the garden with his dog. The residence was rather humble for the palace, but unlike overly ornate artificial gardens, it looked somehow warm. The child with jet-black hair and bright red eyes looked just like a miniature version of Jacques.
He looked different even from the last time Jacques had seen him.
“Aren’t you going to approach?”
“He’s playing so intently. What would I do?”
Enoch studied Jacques, who stared at his brother but didn’t move.
“You’ve been settled in the capital for quite some time. Why don’t you bring him with you?”
“…Not yet…”
Jacques whispered something so softly that even Enoch standing right beside him couldn’t hear.
“What?”
“Come on, Enoch. I’ve only just started enjoying social life. Wouldn’t bringing that kid around be too much of a hassle?”
Enoch rolled his eyes as if to say “I figured” and looked back at Devine.
“Huh? Isn’t that the Empress Dowager?”
“Countess Grace.”
“Pardon?”
“She prefers to be called that.”
The Empress Dowager was the current Emperor’s mother and Jacques Sonnier’s grandmother. After Jacques’ father died suddenly, she gave up her rightful position as Empress Dowager.
She returned to her father’s name and became the head of the Grace family, which had nearly vanished. It was unheard of for a woman to be the head of a noble family in the empire, but because the family was nearly extinct, she revived it and was granted the title.
Despite refusing the position of Empress Dowager, she remained in the palace.
Some speculated that the Emperor had forbidden her departure or that she stayed of her own will.
But the truth behind imperial affairs couldn’t be known through speculation alone. The history of the imperial family was always written in blood, tears, hatred, and darkness.
“Aren’t you going to greet her?”
“It’s not the right time.”
“I didn’t know there was a specific time for a grandson to greet his grandmother.”
Jacques chuckled, patted Enoch’s shoulder a couple of times like he did with his brother, and left.
Meanwhile, in the Crown Prince’s chambers, Rene reread the letter from her sister.
The first time Rene saw Adelaide was when she was four years old.
After Adel’s mother died of illness, their father brought her home from somewhere.
Rene would never forget that day. The child clutched a battered rabbit doll with one ear torn, wearing ragged clothes, yet she shone brilliantly.
Even at that young age, Rene knew the light radiated from within the girl herself.
Of course, Rene hadn’t been kind to her. She was too busy bearing the burdens placed on her to show warmth. But she hadn’t been cruel, either. Still, the child never came to her in times of trouble. So now, Rene had to go to her.
Since Adel’s debut at sixteen, she sent letters to the palace every month—or at least every other month.
Rene hadn’t initially refused to reply. But that year, her powers had once again manifested, and since then, writing to Adel became more difficult.
Lately, Adel’s letters always mentioned the waterways in her territory.
Even just reading the letters made Rene feel how passionate Adel was about the project.
So she subtly brought it up to the Crown Prince.
He was delighted and soon declared he would award a national service medal.
Not long after, a reply came from the Lord of Herbon.
Rene was stunned—not because a lowly count dared deceive the imperial family, but because of who claimed credit for the project.
Anaston Lowell.
A long-serving maid in the count’s household, Anaston was said to be the lead designer and head of the project. Rene immediately sent someone to investigate.
‘The head of House Debrian has done something quite entertaining.’
That the count had fathered a child with a maid wasn’t really the issue. Judging by the child’s age, it was clear Anaston became pregnant before Adel even arrived at Herbon.
Rene finally understood the reactions of the current and former count during her visit to Herbon years ago. Ethan Debrian already had someone in his heart.
And she couldn’t blame him for falling in love during the two years before Adel arrived.
But trying to steal the honor of the national medal just to elevate his lover to nobility?
That foolish Adelaide Milliam still wouldn’t leave the man she worshipped like a god.
Now Rene was determined—she would bring Adel back, even by force if necessary.
She recalled Duke Sonnier’s face today.
She couldn’t say for certain if he was the man she saw in her vision. But one thing was certain: it wasn’t Ethan Debrian.
