Chapter 292. Falling Into A Trap Set By Oneself (1)
Translator: Aura / Editor: SaWarren
In the Western Empire, there was no rumor of Navier’s infertility. But from now on, everyone would start talking about it.
Marquis Ketron chuckled with satisfaction. The seeds had been well sown.
It was not possible to know in a day or two if the Empress was infertile or not, so as time went on the doubt would grow, strengthening the rumor to the point where it would get out of control and take care of the rest on its own.
Until then, he just had to be patient.
A few days later, Marquis Ketron began to investigate the reason for Koshar’s exile from the Eastern Empire.
Currently, it was difficult to attack Koshar because of his enormous popularity, but once the rumor of Navier’s infertility spread, a very interesting scenario could be seen.
But in the midst of the investigation.
“Marquis, I heard an incredible rumor.”
His subordinate, sent to investigate Koshar, returned with an unexpected rumor.
It was a rumor of a hidden mistress of Emperor Heinley.
“Hidden mistress?”
“Yes. It is said that a Knight of the Imperial Guard often goes to her house to bring her whatever she needs. Also, there is always a plain-clothed guard in front of the door.”
“Are you sure?”
It was a believable rumor.
Prince Heinley was the most famous playboy in high society next to Duke Elgy.
He went about the world leading a life of debauchery, but apparently he had only one hidden mistress. In fact, it was more incredible that he only had one hidden mistress.
“She recently moved to a nearby town, and when she found out that His Majesty Heinley had married, she acted strangely and burst into tears.”
Marquis Ketron frowned.
“It is equally curious. His Majesty is the kind of person who doesn’t care about rumors that circulate about him. What need does he have to keep her hidden?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps she is not a mistress of the past but of the present. There’s also the fact that the Emperor went to the trouble of sending a Knight of the Imperial Guard to take care of her and…”
“You’re right. It’s quite likely.”
After careful thought, Marquis Ketron personally went with his subordinate to the town where that woman lived.
After waiting for nine hours hiding near her house, a knight in a cloak actually appeared and extended to the woman a basket covered with a white cloth.
“Thank you as always.”
The woman was grateful, but accepted the basket as if it were something natural.
Marquis Ketron held his breath.
The knight who brought her the basket was a Knight of the Heinley Imperial Guard, and the man in front of the door dressed in plain clothes… was definitely also a Knight of the Heinley Imperial Guard.
The Marquis clearly remembered his face because he was nearly struck by the spear he ‘accidentally’ threw at the last meeting.
‘A woman who lives in hiding and two Knights of the Imperial Guard!’
A dark smile spread across Marquis Ketron’s face. His smile darkened even more when a handsome blond child ran out from inside the house towards the woman.
Marquis Ketron, who had observed the situation for several days, finally decided to approach her.
At first, she was very suspicious of Marquis Ketron’s intentions, but when he revealed his ident.i.ty and offered to help her after expressing all sorts of comforting words, such as ‘I know what you’re going through’, she let him into the house albeit with some hesitation.
“Is the blond child your son?”
“Yes. He’s my son.”
“By any chance… is he His Majesty’s son?”
“… I think so.”
Marquis Ketron was delighted.
“Then why are you staying here? Why don’t you take the child to the Imperial Palace?”
“I don’t want to be a nuisance to His Majesty. He’s newly married…”
“That’s right. If you appear out of nowhere and claim to be his mistress, His Majesty will act puzzled. If His Majesty doesn’t recognize you, no one will.”
The woman took out a beautiful pendant and whispered,
“His Majesty gave it to me as a token of love, even if I have this will everyone think I’m lying?”
Marquis Ketron rejoiced inwardly. In fact, the pendant had the emblem of the imperial family.
A woman he had dated in the past and had been close enough to give her a pendant with the emblem of the imperial family.
Marquis Ketron chuckled inwardly, calculating that this woman would be extremely useful.
“Can you give me that pendant? I’d like to show it to His Majesty.”
However, the woman pocketed the pendant and drew a line coolly,
“Why should I trust the Marquis?”
Marquis Ketron tried to persuade the woman a couple of times, but seeing that it wouldn’t work, he offered her his own emblem. It was his family’s emblem.
“Take this. Let’s exchange emblems later.”
Only after receiving the Ketron Family emblem did the woman give him the pendant.
Once he returned to the capital, he met alone with Heinley to discuss the rumor of Navier’s infertility.
“I don’t think that’s the case, but if it turns out that the empress is actually infertile…”
“That won’t happen.”
“I speak in a hypothetical case, Your Majesty. You must be careful not to get carried away by emotions in such an important matter.”
“…”
“If the Empress is infertile, will you choose the next empress from my family?”
“Whether or not I let myself be carried away by emotions, the next empress will not be from your family.”
“But Your Majesty will not want the Empress to be injured by the same thing twice.”
“It definitely won’t happen, Marquis.”
At Heinley’s categorical refusal, Marquis Ketron showed a feigned smile.
But as soon as he returned home, he decided to reveal to the world the existence of the woman Heinley had hidden.
“Will that be all right?”
“There is a great risk in revealing that the child is of the imperial family. Although she believes that her son is His Majesty’s, there is no certainty of that. However, isn’t that woman undoubtedly His Majesty’s mistress? At least that’s how others will see it.”
Marquis Ketron visited the woman with confidence and suggested,
“Don’t you want to return to His Majesty’s side? I set the stage. You only have to reveal at that time that you are His Majesty’s mistress. Then, you will also be able to enjoy all that the current empress enjoys.”
“I’m not that greedy.”
“It’s about taking what is rightfully yours. Not just receive some baskets.”
She thought about it for a moment before murmuring gratefully.
Two days later, on the day of the State Council, Marquis Ketron brought the woman with an expression of satisfaction.