Recognized as one of the Five Meritorious Houses and receiving numerous rewards, she was currently enjoying a busy life in the capital. There were rumors that she was looking for someone to become her son-in-law, or that she had political ambitions. Emmett didn't believe all these words, but it was true that she, who had become one of the most famous people, was busy. It was Emmett who had ordered her to enter the palace, and it seemed she had time to visit in person.
When he went to the reception room, Maya Arendt, looking somewhat haggard, was waiting for Emmett.
"...You look very busy."
"Ah, I've been participating in the historical records related to the traitor..."
Recently, the academic and theological circles were quite heated, due to the work of recording the previous Emperor August, who had become a traitor, and Liv Gracia, who received the love of the Supreme God. As a scholar, Maya Arendt seemed to be playing an important role in that work.
"The reason I called you is to request that you investigate a certain poison."
"Poison?"
At those words, Marquis Arendt's eyes flashed.
"Hmm, once poisons are out in the world, improved versions keep appearing, making investigation complicated... Seeing that you called me directly, it must have affected quite a high-ranking person..."
However, Maya Arendt couldn't continue speaking after making eye contact with Emmett. She realized who had been affected by this poison.
"Don't tell me..."
"This matter must be kept secret. You're aware that your life could be in danger if it's not, right?"
"Hah..."
Maya Arendt covered her face with both hands.
"Yes, I'll keep it secret. So what kind of poison is it?"
Emmett explained about the poison to Maya Arendt. According to August, it was a drug that induced infertility, but other than that, it had no symptoms and couldn't be detected by physicians.
"My, that's going to be difficult. Well, I'll investigate it anyway."
"Thank you. There's no one I can trust right now."
"Ah, but..."
Maya Arendt asked, habitually bringing her fingernail to her mouth.
"Does Count Schulze not know about this either? I met him recently, but he didn't say anything. Oh, maybe he kept it secret from me?"
"No, he doesn't know either."
"Aha, so it's really a secret."
"Yes, and..."
Emmett continued with a tense face.
"Her Majesty doesn't know about this either."
"What?"
Maya Arendt jumped from her seat.
"No, how..."
"I don't want her to go through difficult times for now."
"Well, I understand given how much has happened, but..."
Maya Arendt looked at Emmett with a bewildered face and said.
"Secrets are never good. Come to think of it, Your Grace seems to have a habit of creating secrets."
"..."
"There are no eternal secrets, so you should be careful."
Watching Maya Arendt withdraw after saying that, Emmett's mind became even more complicated. As Maya Arendt said, it wasn't wise to keep hiding things forever. Eventually, he would have to tell Liv the truth. But...
'It's true that I'm worried about Liv... But more than anything, it's painful that she might hate me.'
Not being able to manage even one court physician of his family was entirely Emmett's responsibility. It wouldn't be strange if Liv resented him.
No, in fact, it would be more painful if Liv didn't hate him. It was agonizing that Liv always showed a devoted attitude without changing, despite all the wrongs he had done to her. When Liv found out last time that Emmett had killed Viscount Wolfe and forgave him for it, it made him feel like his heart was being torn apart.
Walking towards the bedroom where Liv would be, Emmett clenched his fist tightly. Rationally thinking, it would be right to confess the truth, but he ultimately succumbed to his emotions.
'Yes, not yet.'
He just wished for this happiness to continue a little longer.
* * *
Liv's fingertips gripping Emmett tightened.
"Ah!"
As Liv's body under Emmett was pushed back, Emmett quickly embraced her. Liv quietly looked into Emmett's eyes while in his arms.
'Nothing changes.'
There were things that didn't change even after Liv ascended to the imperial throne. For example, the look in Emmett's eyes when he gazed at her or his attitude towards her remained the same.
Of course, some things had changed.
"Hah, I love you, Liv."
Liv felt the words of love whispered to her were sweeter than anything. Hearing those words made her whole body tingle, and Liv opened her mouth in a bright smile.
After being in Emmett's arms for a long time, Liv looked at what was on her stomach. Liv lightly touched it with her hand. Emmett hurriedly brought a towel from under the bed and wiped Liv's hand and body.
"Your Majesty shouldn't touch such things."
"Hmm, to say that..."
Liv suddenly realized that Emmett's behavior had changed from before.
"But why did you do it outside?"
At Liv's direct words, Emmett seemed a bit flustered, but with reddened ears, he opened his mouth.
"Well... since you've just ascended to the throne..."
"Ah."
Well, if Liv were to have a child now when she's so busy, it would cause various problems. Of course, Liv couldn't have children anyway. Emmett must have not noticed that fact.
Liv felt the urge to confess that fact to Emmett. Just as she was about to open her mouth while looking into his gray eyes, an indignant feeling welled up inside her.
'Should I tell him now?'
Emmett had lied to her too.
Somehow feeling it was unfair for only Liv to be honest when Emmett wasn't revealing the truth himself, Liv decided to tell him about her infertility a little later. They would be using contraception for a while anyway, so Emmett wouldn't find out.
...No, in fact, these were all excuses, and she was a bit afraid of his reaction. Although Liv now knew that he loved her, she was afraid that his love might cool someday because of that. Of course, from what Liv knew of him, he probably wouldn't change his mind, but... still, an anxiety of 'what if' held her back.
Liv decided to keep her mouth shut.
* * *
Liv's days mostly consisted of signing documents and government affairs meetings. It was repeated so tediously that Liv was about to forget her sense of days of the week.
"I heard that locusts are rampaging in the Wünschen region and the crops are ruined. We'll need to adjust the tax rate for the Wünschen region this year."
"Oh, that's such a gracious thing, Your Majesty."
"And let's seek cooperation from the temple side."
Liv had become accustomed to the meetings by now. The nobles seemed to have noticed that Liv was not an easy person, and they remained silent before Liv's power, just as they had under August.
At that moment, Marquis Hendel raised his hand.
"Your Majesty, I have one suggestion."
"Speak."
"I understand that there hasn't been a proper banquet held in the imperial palace since Your Majesty's ascension. How about holding a banquet?"
"A banquet..."
Originally, the imperial palace held splendid banquets on every saint's memorial day. Providing a social gathering place for nobles was also a duty of the imperial family.
However, since Liv's ascension, no such events had been held. Liv had been busy making the country her own, and Emmett had been busy overseeing the imperial palace, so neither of them had thought about banquets.
Marquis Hendel's words weren't wrong, but Liv pondered for a moment and then shook her head.
"It seems premature to hold a banquet."
Liv's maids hadn't fully adapted to their work yet. Emmett also didn't have the capacity as he was busy organizing the imperial assets that August had managed poorly. With the palace servants still not working well together, it was unreasonable to hold a banquet now.
When Liv answered like that, Marquis Hendel's face fell, but Liv didn't add anything more and rose from her seat.
* * *
Emmett was bowing before an elderly man. It was a somewhat strange sight, as it didn't make sense for the Emperor's husband to bow to someone, but the old man standing before him was looking down at Emmett quite naturally.
"I have committed an unforgivable wrong, Viscount Wolfe."
The old man, Viscount Wolfe, looked down at Emmett with empty eyes. In his eyes, one could feel the misery and emptiness that only someone who had lost a child could harbor.
Emmett knew he had done a great wrong to him. Not just because he had tried to harm someone who was trying to help Liv, but the very act of absolutely following August's orders and harming innocent people was his mistake. Emmett intended to find other people who had been harmed by him in the future.
Of course, he should start by apologizing to Viscount Wolfe first.
Viscount Wolfe stared at Emmett with blank eyes for a long time, then opened his mouth with a cracked voice.
"How was... my son's last moment?"
Hearing those words, Emmett finally fell to his knees. However, as if that wasn't what he meant, Viscount Wolfe spoke again in a weak voice.
"I just... want to know. No one knew about my son's last moment... But now I need to know."
"Your son... was devoted to the Gracia family until the end."
Finally, Emmett closed his eyes tightly and continued speaking.
"When the traitor imprisoned the young Her Majesty in Abgrund, your son pursued the truth to the end to save Her Majesty. While trying to save Her Majesty... he was dragged to the imperial palace as he was."
At those words, Viscount Wolfe smiled brightly as if truly happy.
"Ah... that child fulfilled his duty until the very end. My proud son..."