🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 27
If her lover had been a respectable noble whose family honored her, she could have defied the emperor’s disapproval and fled with him to safety. Even eloping would’ve been possible.
But her lover—a mere commoner and a knight—was no such man.
Had she been naive enough to run off with him under the stars, hand in hand—
Queen Elaine’s beauty was unmatched across the empire. Not a single soul could ignore it.
Her family, too, stood ready to sell her off to the highest bidder.
To fall in blind youthful love and expect your lover to save you—that was foolish.
In the palace, naiveté equates to death.
“If she’s dared to bear the emperor’s child and stand by his side, she should’ve known damn well my lover would be destroyed!”
Had Titania been a son, Queen Cleo would have had him quietly killed.
But she was a daughter.
As a result, the royal house refused to back down. Though rightly scandalized by the ducal family’s handling of her origins, the emperor forced the betrothal.
The late duke’s former wife—the woman’s biological mother—had never once appeared in the capital or met the emperor. Nobles whispered it off as inventing a lineage.
Once the widow passed and left no heirs, nobles pressured the ducal family to remarry and produce a proper heir.
The royal court had no choice but to exploit this weakness: in exchange for ignoring rumors about the former duchess’s lineage, the Cassline family would take the princess as future duchess.
It mattered little then if she were tainted—she’d bring noble blood into the house.
The Casslines, gritting their teeth, accepted—but on one condition: the official marriage would be delayed until all children came of age.
Ironically, that meant no flaw could be found in Titania’s birth.
Of course, Queen Elaine was silently faithful inside the palace. She didn’t pursue a lover or fantasize about reuniting. Regardless of gossip, Titania was—must be—the emperor’s daughter.
But Titania was born prematurely—before a full nine months passed.
Casslines could use this to claim she wasn’t the emperor’s daughter but the product of infidelity.
Whether true or not, that suspicion would be catastrophic.
So Queen Elaine’s lover was doomed.
Had she refused the court and ended her life instead…
Then again, the emperor might have sent men to bring her back—and ordered her killed.
No wonder Queen Elaine resented her daughter. She was weak, foolish—and unfit to survive—but kept alive nonetheless.
“Have there been any new developments in the Empress’s quarters?”
“My apologies. None of the staff have reported any news.”
If Queen Elaine didn’t orchestrate this herself, the only other suspect was the Empress.
But the Casslines were openly caring for Titania within the Empress’s suite—suspicious.
The Empress was cunning and careful; she left no trace.
Besides, if something happened to Titania in her quarters, the Empress would have to answer for it.
Would she risk that for any gain?
Queen Cleo’s eyes caught fire.
“Titania has awakened?”
“No, Your Majesty. No noticeable changes in the Empress’s quarters.”
“Summon all the Rose Palace staff. Teach them severely—whether by scourging or dunking in well—but bring them before me.”
“I will, Your Majesty.”
“If the frog won’t come out of the well, churn the well until it does.”
Queen Cleo smiled in satisfaction.
“Are you feeling better?”
I responded casually, “Wouldn’t the Grand Priest be more concerning?”
Adrian smiled warmly.
“I’m glad you’re truly okay.”
“I heard you came to see me.”
“That’s not much of a reason…” He seemed awkward.
He’s the prince—calling the Cassline minor duke for aid wasn’t trivial.
Had I been lost in hiding or absent, that would’ve been deeply embarrassing.
Still, from his perspective… the thought must have crossed his mind.
“Anyway, thank you. Which is why I’m in Lilac Palace.”
“Oh?” Adrian said.
I shrugged. “You know how decisive the Casslines are—oust the staff, bring me home, or claim they had no choice but to.”
Any option was unsettling. Yet this is better.
He wouldn’t expect much from me, and I wouldn’t from him. Just mutual courtesy—fine by me.
“…I thought you had issues with the Casslines.”
“Their family’s always been self-sufficient. They rarely accepted help from others.”
My even tone made Adrian blink.
“A ruthless family—surrounded, untrusting. To survive alone in a sea of opportunists, anything pure would be overwhelming…”
How fragile…
I suppressed a sigh.
Still—the fact that Titania saved Bibi was impossible to fault. I would have done the same.
A past cannot be changed; regret is pointless.
“You seem to know a lot about the Casslines.”
I sighed awkwardly.
After enduring nonstop concern—whether I was hurt, whether other doctors would help, endless advice about food, clothing, love fabrics…
At last, I was alone with someone unafraid to just be quiet. A rare breath of peace.
And all this while, Bibi had to return to the Palais, and Raymon to take her back. It was perfect timing.
Though my body felt light, my mind was not.
Trying to piece things together: I nearly died; the Casslines brought me to Lilac Palace, forcibly.
This was a week ago.
My body healed in less than a day. The priests confirmed I was “perfectly healthy.”
Yet everyone panicked when I didn’t wake—and someone watched by my bedside day and night.
No one knew when I’d open my eyes.
The emperor couldn’t punish the Cassline staff who sheltered me in the Empress’s suite.
Yes, everyone knew it was political, but who could argue with “a fiancé caring for his betrothed”? Especially inside the Empress’s quarters.
Effectively, it had become a protective sanctuary.
No information leaked.
I managed a wry laugh.
“So that’s why she ended up there…”
Adrian laughed.
But now’s hardly the time to laugh with him.
