chapter 22

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The emperor was also having a similar conversation with the Duke of Elysium.

“I want to raise Elizabeth in the imperial palace.”

“What? Your Majesty the Emperor!”

“Wouldn’t she someday become a crown princess and come to the imperial family sooner or later?” I just want to speed up the process a bit. Is there any problem?

‘Any problem he asked?!’

Right at that moment, flashing before the duke’s eyes were the scars and wounds left on the child’s body by a rod under his wife’s ‘education’.

Just a few days ago, he locked himself up in the deepest part of his study rooms, frustrated by the headache caused by the cries of my daughter who was in pain after being beaten.

No matter how quickly a young child’s skin can heal, and how good the medicine is used, such wound marks could not disappear completely that quickly!

“Your Majesty, you cannot act however you pleased!”

“Of course. That’s why I’m asking for your consent.”

How could he call that asking for his consent?! However, instead of confronting the emperor in protest, the duke contemplated quietly.

‘ No, let’s stay calm and think it through. If the child enters the imperial family early, we will be able to visit the imperial palace a little more often under the pretext of seeing the child. Then, we will be able to build stronger relationships with many people. This is an opportunity! ’

The Emperor kicked his tongue inwardly at the Duke of Elysium, who could be read like an open book.

That was the descendant of an angel? He looked like a devil in form of a human, who was inwardly chuckling while plotting some sinister scheme.

Suddenly, the emperor’s body hardened, he felt as if he was having a cramp. For some reason, he felt disgusted even at the blood of the first empress, which was flowing somewhere in his body.

“Hmm,…I understand that Your Majesty means well. However, since she is our only daughter, the mother’s opinion is also important, right? After consulting with my wife….”

Knock, knock, knock. “Are you done talking?”

“Your Majesty the Empress!”

The knocking sound along with the empress’ voice interrupted the duke’s words. As she pushed the door open and made her way in, the duke bent reflexively toward the empress entering.

Following her was his wife. She was not in her right frame of mind, she looked completely dazed. What on earth had happened?

“W-wife…Don’t tell me that the Empress…?”

“They are going to raise Elizabeth in the palace…”

The duke felt his mind go blank at his wife’s whisper. No matter how much he thought about it, there was no reason for these two high-ranking nobles to do so.

‘Could it happen that His Highness the Crown Prince has…?!’

The face of the duke, who had never shown interest in his daughter since her engagement was confirmed — ever since she was born, turned pale as he recalled the day when the Prince first visited the mansion and met his daughter.

“From what I heard from Leonhardt, Elizabeth is quite eager in taking classes for future Empress, but wouldn’t it be better to learn royal etiquette directly in the imperial palace? What do you think, madame?”

“But Your Majesty the Empress…!”

“Not only that, but I am also thinking of bringing in children from noble families who are of Leonhardt’s age to be friends, so maybe we might as well bring some aristocratic girls of Elizabeth’s age. What do you say, my empress?”

“Oh my! That is a good idea. The imperial palace will be filled with laughter for the first time after a long period.”

“Right?”

The emperor tilted his head toward the empress with a light smile like a large hound that wanted praise.

The empress smiled gently and held the emperor’s hands tightly and spoke again to further shook the ducal couple who were already pretty much restless and agitated.

“There is no better place for education than the Imperial Palace for a child who is to become the Empress.”

“About that…Isolde’s body is still weak, so at least after spring… .”

“Is it severe? Does not matter. The imperial palace is full of doctors who can cure even serious diseases.”

“It is not like that… .”

The Duke of Elysium and his wife were worried about how to hide their daughter’s whipped marks.

“It is natural to guarantee an empress’ class and early social debut, which is only possible in the royal family. And besides studying she also gets the chance to be close to her future husband. So what are you still hesitant about?”

“Are you trying to separate a child who is only eight years old now from her parents’ arms?!”

Stunned, the imperial couple turned their gazes back to the duchess at her high-pitch piercing scream. It was was truly shameless of her when she could still manage to spew that nonsense without reflecting on her past hideous actions.

The Duchess’ feet hurt so much that she could not walk, she crawled on her knees and grabbed the hem of the Empress’s dress, and began to weep.

She was wearing a corset and every time she shouted she felt like she was about to run out of breath at any moment soon.

“Just barely… haa, eight years old! Such a child… Is the Empress trying to separate our own flesh and blood while the child herself still needs her parents’ warmth? How can you be so cold-hearted!”

If Leonhard had seen it, he would immediately hit his forehead on the table and said, ‘I had no idea the empress was brought up by those immodest things…’ It would be a scene where he would regret it even more!

“Duchess Elysium! Calm down, calm down!”

The duchess’ grips were too tenacious. She felt like her dress was about to be ripped off!

The empress was left momentarily speechless, she looked up at the emperor with her bewildered expression as if to ask him how to rectify the suddenly reversed situation.

Even the emperor had not expected such an absurdity, his violet eyes were slightly wavering.

The Duke of Elysium was a man who knew the right timing and to hit the right spot. And that moment was the perfect chance for him to strike.

The duke also clasped his hand in front of his chest and cried with tears.

There was a cracking sound from the duchess’ waist, but now it was more important to escape from this without being detected that the future Empress’ body was full of wounds.

“Your Majesty! Please consider this matter! She is our only daughter. If you think that the young child could live in an imperial palace without a mother or father…The heart of this old soul is torn apart!”

“Your Majesty the Empress, please… Please reconsider your decision. I cannot live without Elizabeth, she is… Urgh…my body. Anyway, Elizabeth also said goodbye to me every night… Haa, without it, I cannot sleep, how could you take that child with you?!”

The emperor and the empress looked at each other with puzzled expressions.

Knock knock knock.

In the midst of the exaggerated and ridiculous pleads of the Duke and Duchess with their crocodile tears, a polite and constant knock was heard. The four people turned to the door at once.

“Come in.”

For a moment, the emperor forgot who the owner of the house was and allowed a stranger to visit.

Duke Elysium looked at the emperor and the door alternately with an absurd look whilst raising his wife, who could not stand up properly because of the corset and almost tear the empress’ dress.

The door opened…

“Isolde!”

“Leonhardt!”

Behind the door stood a butler with an awkward expression and a little boy with a somewhat stubborn face. Behind the boy’s back, fine silver hair was revealed.

“Then why don’t you ask Lizzy directly? Why do adults not know such a simple thing?”

“Your Highness! You are in front of His Majesty right now. Please mind your words and actions.”

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The Empress warned Leonhardt with a stern look.

Leonhard pouted her lips as something like that was not so much to his liking. Holding Elizabeth’s hand behind him, he led her in.

Subsequently, he knelt down on one knee in front of Elizabeth, who was in her nightgown with a shawl over it. The poor little girl was freaking out and seemed to be short of breath. She looked like she was about to faint again at any moment. Leonhardt said with the utmost seriousness.

“Lizzy, would you live with me?”