Blood Ties to Protect the Saintess
“Me?” Ivetta looked utterly stunned. “That’s impossible…”
Learning the identity of the family she had believed had abandoned her seemed to have dealt her a heavy blow.
But after piecing together the button I had brought as proof, the fragments of Ivetta’s faint memories, and the suspicious circumstances surrounding her, she appeared to accept it, at least to some degree.
‘The late Marquis Robertus was so notoriously evil that this must be even more shocking for her.’
It was the kind of truth that might have been better left unknown.
I gently patted the back of Ivetta’s ice-cold hand, trying to soothe her.
The real discussion was only beginning now.
“The reason I’m telling you this is because it gives us a legitimate justification to protect you within the imperial family.”
It would require the agreement of everyone involved and a few formal procedures, but if we couldn’t use the contract-dating strategy, this was the most reliable option.
“How exactly would that create any justification?”
Ivetta must have been quietly worrying about being sent to the Grand Temple, because she calmed down quickly and asked with renewed focus.
“There’s one more illegitimate child in the Robertus family. Someone close to His Majesty the Emperor.”
Beth Robertus.
The youngest member of Blue Hawk.
The Saintess’s only remaining family—her younger sister.
“As soon as we return, the ‘recognition’ process will begin.”
The recognition was the legal procedure to prove blood relation and officially become family. With magical tools to verify the blood tie, it wouldn’t be difficult at all.
‘There’s no doubt the two of them are sisters.’
Kyle would handle the additional paperwork without issue.
In the original story, even though Ivetta and Beth only met as adults, they had become genuinely close sisters. Both of them had been quietly longing for family.
‘Any initial awkwardness should fade with time.’
“After that, she’ll need to receive a title. Since she’s the Saintess’s only blood relative, an honorary position should be possible as a matter of precedent.”
Between a titled noble and the Emperor, a conceptual duty naturally arises.
‘A titled noble owes loyalty to the Emperor as his subject, and the Emperor protects that subject in return for their loyalty.’
Since Ivetta and Beth would be family, the Emperor’s protection could extend to Ivetta as well.
“His Majesty will establish a framework in which he protects the family of his vassal.”
‘It feels somewhat forced to apply worldly standards like blood relations or titles to the Saintess, but politics has always been a battle of justifications.’
I planned to fill in the logical gaps with appeals to emotion.
Feeling a twinge of guilt, I presented the final piece required for this plan.
“We’ll need to make the inspection results from Peram Temple public.”
Even though this meant exposing Ivetta’s painful past to generate sympathy, her expression remained perfectly calm.
“That’s fine with me.”
Ivetta smiled faintly and added, “Because it’s the truth.”
She even seemed to think it was for the best.
“And revealing that she’s an illegitimate child of the Robertus family…?”
This time her answer came after a slight pause.
“If it helps resolve our current predicament, then that’s acceptable too.”
After a brief hesitation, her words were clearly affirmative.
I had secured Ivetta’s permission.
Now all that remained was obtaining agreement from the other parties involved.
‘Starting with the Emperor, then.’
Fortunately, since Kyle had come out to greet us, confirming His Majesty’s stance shouldn’t be too difficult.
“Let me help you down.”
I stepped out of the carriage first and offered Ivetta my hand. She took it and descended gracefully.
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing.”
I answered her shy expression of gratitude while my eyes scanned the area for Kyle.
‘There he is.’
When I looked around, I spotted Kyle standing a short distance away, engaged in what appeared to be a very serious conversation with Everett.
‘What could they possibly be discussing so intently?’
Fortunately, their discussion seemed to end soon, and their gazes drifted apart.
I waved my hand to catch Kyle’s attention.
Kyle and Edwin had left Lina in the carriage after she said she had something to discuss privately with Ivetta. They walked together in silence.
Lina had asked them not to eavesdrop because she would explain everything later, but Kyle also had matters he wanted to discuss with Edwin away from her.
Edwin seemed to be walking without any particular thought, his mind completely elsewhere.
Once they were far enough from the carriage, Kyle spoke first.
“Would you like a handkerchief?”
Edwin’s golden eyes were dry to the point of being utterly parched, yet Kyle rummaged through his pocket as if he genuinely intended to offer one.
After hearing Lina suggest that he enter a contract relationship with another woman, Edwin had been left in tatters, half his mind checked out.
Even so, he still caught the teasing remark perfectly.
A dangerous glint and murderous intent flashed simultaneously in Edwin’s golden eyes.
He had regained his spirit, just as Kyle intended.
Having recovered too much spirit—looking as though he might drag Kyle straight to the training grounds at any second—Edwin soon drooped again.
“Dust got in my eye.”
The fact that he still bothered to make an excuse suggested he was doing slightly better than before.
“Ah, dust. Of course.”
Kyle deliberately drew out his words, attempting to provoke him once more, but this time Edwin didn’t respond at all.
Instead, he simply let out heavy, troubled sighs.
This was the second time Kyle had seen Edwin so thoroughly deflated.
Both occasions had involved Lina.
At this rate, Kyle thought it might almost be better when Edwin had been singing Miss Diaz’s praises.
Though he occasionally crossed the line and acted arrogant, Kyle faithfully upheld the principle of I can insult her, but no one else can.
His own mood sank in sympathy.
‘Sorry, Lina.’
Kyle steeled himself and spoke.
“Why don’t we just tell her the truth? We made considerable progress during this trip, didn’t we?”
Edwin and Lina, who had stubbornly used formal titles with each other, had begun using affectionate nicknames.
Their mutual fondness was clear, and the lingering awkwardness in their attitudes had eased considerably.
‘At this rate, wouldn’t it be all right?’
Kyle ran the probabilities through his mind and made the suggestion.
But Edwin shut it down immediately, leaving no room for negotiation.
“That’s not possible.”
It wasn’t as if Edwin hadn’t considered it himself.
Back in the carriage, he had even felt the impulsive urge to simply blurt everything out.
What had sealed his lips was the acute fear that revealing his identity now would result in a definitive rejection.
As Kyle said, this business trip had brought him and Lina a little closer.
But a smaller emotional distance also meant they now understood each other better.
Because of that, Edwin had realized that Lina was still far from liking him enough to overlook the fact that he was the Emperor.
Lina was far more resolute than he had imagined.
Like a tree with roots that reached deep into the earth.
To shake someone like her, the light, tickling emotions they shared now were simply not enough.
He needed something intense enough to squeeze the heart and blind all reason.
‘This is difficult. It would be easier to wage another war.’
Lina was the first true challenge Edwin had encountered in his life.
He let out another deep, heavy sigh.
Kyle, who had been watching the entire turbulent thought process play out across Edwin’s face, swallowed the words he had been about to say.
‘He’s still terrified of being rejected, I see…’
To be fair, Kyle’s judgment was currently rather biased.
When he had advised Edwin to reveal that he was the Emperor, he had done so after fully considering the possibility that Lina might not accept him.
‘Of course she would reject him.’
From Kyle’s perspective, the two of them were, at best, in the very early stages of romance.
With feelings that shallow, there was no way Lina—who possessed drive but no real ambition—would accept the position of Empress.
‘She would try to end things before her heart became any more invested.’
But Edwin was the Emperor.
Being rejected by the Emperor could only happen if the Emperor himself permitted it.
However, Edwin was far more pure-hearted than Kyle had anticipated, making it impossible to suggest such a method.
Kyle neatly folded away the rather ruthless solution he had devised.
‘If I said it out loud, I’d be treated like monster byproduct.’
Kyle was not the type of vassal who would act against his lord’s wishes.
Not even as a friend.
Straightening the arm he had unconsciously bent inward, Kyle offered clumsy consolation instead.
“Shall we arrange another business trip?”
If it was like this one—returning only at night—they could probably manage about two weeks.
If Edwin gave the word, Kyle was prepared to push it through immediately. He mentally rearranged schedules as he asked.
“Not right now. Maybe later.”
Edwin answered distantly, his gaze fixed on the still-dark night sky.