Even when he didn’t know who his biological father was, there was an astonishing amount of Leia’s trace engraved on that face because she had gifted him the sword.

But now that he knew his father was himself, just thinking about Balter brought a satisfied feeling.

“I’m glad you woke up without any problems.”

“It was confusing for a few days. Fortunately, while recovering, I was able to recall even the memories that hadn’t returned thanks to Your Majesty’s blood.”

Balter casually redirected the conversation. Duke Lexion, too, concentrated as if he had been waiting for the story.

“What about Leia’s matter?”

“I think I need to tell both of you about my mother’s death.”

Balter spoke calmly. The story of Leia, who gave birth to him and wandered the villages, growing up. The words she said to him while staying at the Lowell Mansion. And her death and Nicholas Portrion.
When the passage revealing that he concealed Leia’s death for selfish reasons and imprisoned Balter came up, both the Duke and even the Emperor trembled.

“I should immediately return and sentence Portrion to extinction.”

“Now Helen, who is currently at the Portrion Mansion, is also a benefactor to my wife and me. I hope you can bear with it, Your Majesty.”

“……. ”

“Instead, for Patricia, who killed Nicholas, wouldn’t be beheading better than hanging. My wife doesn’t like cruelty much.”

“She also committed a crime of attempting to seduce the Imperial Family, so let’s go with the execution method.”

The Emperor’s voice and expression remained unwavering. The cruel Emperor with cold blood seemed quite credible, so Balter hesitated for a while.

‘Just imagining love in a place where Edit isn’t present gives me goosebumps.’

But if he left this part out of the story, Edit might start lecturing, so he reluctantly opened his mouth.

“And… My mother truly loved Your Majesty.”

“……. ”

For a moment, a huge disturbance appeared on the Emperor’s face. It was to the extent that the previously seen calm demeanor didn’t come across well.

That gap was evidence that the Emperor had never forgotten Leia until now.

“…Did Leia say such a thing?”

“She only loved Your Majesty. She said that if there was something to protect, leaving was necessary and would interfere with solidifying power.”

“……. ”

“She wanted to ask Your Majesty someday if you could introduce me and allow the Agnas Castle. It didn’t work out that way because things went awry.”

“……. ”

The Emperor remained silent for a while, seemingly recalling Leia.

After she left. With a mindset that there was now really nothing to lose, I absorbed power as if devouring it, so I couldn’t blame Leia.

Her judgment that I, the Fourth Prince, would firmly establish my position only when she was not around was correct.

Why did she, who was so wise, try to see through my heart and throw unnecessary questions?

“If you had brought the young Duke in front of me, I would have allowed Agnas Castle without even asking.”

“……. ”

“It seems like I should hurry with the investiture ceremony to call Lexion Duke not as Duke but as Crown Prince. According to what I think, the end of next month seems appropriate.”

“If it’s the end of next month…”

Duke Lexion’s words became vague. It was surprising and regrettable that the Emperor remembered Leia’s birthday, but it was also unfortunate that his daughter did not know this fact.

The fact that on the dead Leia Lexion’s birthday, the investiture of the Crown Prince would take place was adorned on the front page of the newspaper the next day.

“The crime of attempting to execute the nobility won’t be light just because the young Duke who was attacked has awakened.”

The imperial knights spoke in a firm voice and then stepped back from their positions.

The complexion of Count Gatorque and his wife, Patricia, and Gilbert, who were each confined in the underground prison, became even darker.

“Ugh, ugh!”
When Patricia, bitten by the bit, flew into a rage, Gilbert, without asking, seemed to know why she was so angry.

‘Even after hearing those words, is my sister unable to admit that the young Duke has the imperial bloodline?’

Count Gatorque and Gilbert glared at the infuriated Patricia. Among them, Gilbert, who didn’t use a bit, retorted.

“You don’t have the qualifications to rampage like that, my lady.”

“Ugh!”

“Even a maid like Rosaline knew that Claude didn’t have imperial blood, but you hid that important fact from us.”

“……. ”

“You thought we couldn’t believe those stupid guys, but that’s the punishment you’re receiving.”

Patricia stared at Gilbert with a terrifying look, but he wasn’t intimidated.

“Having deceived even family, is there anyone left who would risk their life to help you?”

Gilbert looked disdainfully at Patricia and Count Gatorque. He constantly felt that their status was different.

‘Elizabeth hasn’t been captured. The imperial knights must have judged that Elizabeth wasn’t involved in this.’

Among the four people in Gatorque’s confinement, he was the only one without a bit.

Moreover, now he was temporarily absent from his seat for questioning, but his daughter Elise was also in confinement as a member of Gatorque.

‘As long as Elise is here, Elizabeth won’t abandon me.’

In a desperate situation, Gilbert’s tangled brain began to entertain the hope that he might escape the death penalty and leave this place.

“Gilbert…”

And as if to prove his hope, Elizabeth appeared.

“Elly!”

Gilbert greeted her with a bright face, as if deeply in love. Elizabeth, being clever, could somehow find a way to end the death penalty through exile, right?

“Elizabeth… It seems God didn’t put a bit on me just to say a last goodbye to you.”

“Ugh.”

Patricia pretended to vomit, but Gilbert paid no attention and looked at her with a wet-eyed gaze.

Elizabeth, as if savoring his sweet words, smiled with a polite expression. For the dim-witted him, a kind explanation seemed necessary.

“That’s not it, Gilbert. I suggested it to Lexion’s little Duchess. It seems that if the dumbest guy keeps making noise, the blood pressure of the rest of those Gatorque guys will rise.”