Chapter 102
“Knowing her origin doesn’t prove that the child in her isn’t mine. Just as it doesn’t prove it is mine. We’ll only know once the child is born.”
Whoever orchestrated this, it’s filthy. Igmeyer was furious from head to toe.
“Do you think the Prince could have orchestrated this?”
Listening quietly, Gallard asked with a booming voice.
Everyone pondered for a moment and then simultaneously shook their heads.
Prince Loki is a fool, a child who knows nothing.
It’s unlikely that he orchestrated this. He must have been manipulated.
“Then, what remains is…”
Raphael started to speak, and Jean quickly interjected.
“Only the priests.”
“But why?”
Raphael sounded confused.
Igmeyer answered.
“It’s obvious. They saw that Amber and I were getting along too well.”
“Does that matter? It was the temple that said you two should have a child.”
“Just like fitting two horses together, they wanted just that much.”
Igmeyer’s expression twisted fiercely with displeasure. He was too disgusted to explain further.
Jean took over to clarify for everyone.
“Alright, look. The Emperor and the temple are worried about the military strength of the North. We may be preoccupied with Nidhogg now, but once the dragon is gone, they think we could threaten them anytime.”
Raphael and Gallard nodded in understanding.
In fact, the knights didn’t care for the imperial family. If Igmeyer just gave the word, they’d be ready to fight a war enthusiastically. So, the imperial family’s concerns were not just hypothetical.
But how this related to the Madam, they still didn’t understand.
The knights looked at Jean, expecting further explanation.
“Oh, so here’s the thing… They’re worried that Niflheim and Shadroch might join forces. Shadroch is a small country, easily crushed with a slight push, like what’s happening now. But what if the Northern knights no longer needed to defend the North? What if we all went to Shadroch?”
“Ah.”
“Consider this, both of you. We’ve defended our lands in this harsh climate. Imagine how easily we could overthrow the imperial family if we were fighting on that soft, fertile land….”
Jean’s voice gradually lowered to a whisper.
The knights fell into a deep contemplation, no one dared to say it was impossible.
It’s a feasible scenario, perhaps even a good one.
“Close enough to have a child, but not so close or in love that it ruins their plans. Such nonsense reasoning.”
Anger heated his temples. Igmeyer desperately wanted to throw these insane priests out immediately.
“They must be thinking that if a woman claiming to be carrying my child appears, Amber will suspect me, and it will drive an emotional wedge between us.”
But that wouldn’t happen.
After calming himself, Igmeyer then issued an order.
“Raphael, go to the address I gave you and bring back Madame Etoile. Bring anyone else who knows about this woman, too.”
“Understood.”
“Use whatever means necessary to get her to confess. We already know she’s from that place, so let’s not complicate things.”
Yes, what’s there to wait for until the child is born? A little blood might resolve it.
Igmeyer’s sole concern at the moment was only one thing: Amber’s feelings.
* * *
That night, Igmeyer and Amber held each other for a long time in silence.
Although their views on the baby had diverged, the silence between them was not uncomfortable.
Igmeyer promised a thorough investigation and resolution, and Amber trusted him. That alone was enough.
As the night passed and morning arrived again.
Amber, having told everyone she wanted to rest and would not meet anyone, finally left the bedroom in the late afternoon.
The warm orange hues of the sunset sprinkled over the garden made her want to stroll beneath them.
But certainly, Amber had never imagined she would encounter Iona there.
“Ah, Madam!”
Iona, who had been crouching in front of a withered flowerbed, immediately stood up with a bright smile upon seeing her.
Then, clutching her swollen belly, she waddled towards her.
It looked somewhat like a duck waddling, which might have been cute under different circumstances. But Amber was not in a position to smile. It was not the time or situation for that.
‘A woman sent to drive a wedge between Igmeyer and me.’
It was strange to look at her with kind eyes.
‘But why is she looking at me with such a cheerful face?’
Feeling extremely uncomfortable, Amber decided to ignore the woman. She did not want to engage in conversation or hear whatever story the woman might have. She was not that naively kind.
“Ah, Madam! Just a moment, please…!”
But just then.
As she brushed past her, Iona grabbed her wrist.
Her grip was as frail as her appearance, not painful but the unexpected contact was extremely unpleasant.
“How dare you! Can’t you keep your distance?”
Betty, who had been following behind her, cried out like thunder, startling Iona, who flinched and rolled her large eyes in surprise.
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