If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 88

✦

The parlor, where the five princesses, including myself, were waiting, was deathly silent. How long had we been waiting in this tense atmosphere, where even breathing felt like it needed to be done cautiously? The door to the parlor opened, and the mad emperor appeared.

 

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

 

Everyone scattered away from the center, like a school of fish avoiding a predator, under the guise of offering their greetings. The mad emperor, as if accustomed to such a bizarre reaction, paid no mind and sank into the couch.

 

Shortly after, Sister Vivian emerged from the bedroom, supported by her maid as she struggled to walk. Dressed in a thin indoor gown, her belly was unmistakably swollen. It seemed she had been hiding it until now by compressing her abdomen.

 

Whether it was due to her physical condition or the current situation, Sister Vivian’s complexion was deathly pale. It wouldn’t have been strange if she collapsed again at any moment. Yet the mad emperor didn’t even permit her to sit.

 

Time dragged on in silence, as if we were all being punished, until the door to the Blue Wave Room opened. A young man was dragged in by the imperial guards.

 

“Elimond!”

 

From the shrill way Sister Vivian called out, their relationship was obvious.

 

At the gesture from the mad emperor, the imperial guards practically threw the man down onto the floor.

 

“G-Glory to the reign of the Great Emperor. I-I’m Elimond of the Count Ronde, g-greet Your Majesty.”

 

“Come closer.”

 

“…”

 

“More.”

 

Still prostrate, Elimond crawled forward on his hands and knees until he reached the mad emperor’s feet.

 

That mad emperor lifted Elimond’s chin with the end of his scepter. “It seems you’re the biological father of my grandchild.”

 

“Y-Your Majesty… please forgive me…”

 

“Forgive? Does that mean you’ve done something wrong?”

 

“Y-Your Majesty!” Vivian rushed forward and knelt beside Elimond. “Lord Ronde is not at fault. It was I who seduced him.”

 

“Vivian, why are you making such a fuss? I never said anyone was at fault.”

 

“…”

 

It was a statement that completely shifted the atmosphere. Hope flickered in Vivian’s blinking eyes.

 

The mad emperor asked. “You slept together because you wanted to, did you not? To the point of conceiving and carrying a child.”

 

“Y-Yes. I… love Lord Ronde.”

 

“Lord Ronde, what about you?”

 

“O-Of course, I also deeply cherish the princess…!”

 

“That’s how it should be. Someone who carries the bloodline of the imperial family shouldn’t have a frivolous heart.” The mad emperor looked at Vivian with a contemplative expression. “Six months along now, is it?”

 

“Yes…”

 

“Then the due date will be in the fall.”

 

“Yes…”

 

For some reason, contrary to everyone’s concerns, the mad emperor was lenient and merciful.

 

Encouraged by his reaction, Vivian mustered her courage and spoke. “Your Majesty. I-I lack the qualities to ascend the throne. I only wish to live quietly, like the daughters of other noble families, without bringing dishonor to Your Majesty’s name.”

 

“Live quietly, you say?”

 

“I love Lord Ronde. Please, allow me to leave the imperial palace and live with him.”

 

The pregnancy had never been an accident. After half a year of preparation, Sister Vivian had attempted to escape from the succession competition.

 

“That won’t do. The blood flowing through your veins is the imperial blood you received from me.”

 

“…”

 

Of course, the mad emperor wasn’t one to easily let go of what he considered his possession and plaything.

 

Vivian lowered her head to the floor. It was a quiet, profound despair. And the mad emperor’s specialty was to knead that despair, torture it with hope, and keep a person barely clinging to life.

 

“It is my decree. The succession competition for the throne is to be suspended for the time being.”

 

“…!”

 

Toward me and my sisters, who had all widened our eyes, the mad emperor put on a show of benevolence. “My daughter is carrying a child. Shouldn’t we ensure her prenatal care is well-supported?”

 

“Indeed, Your Majesty. With such great love for your daughter, you are a model for all fathers in the world.”

 

Even the nauseating exchange between the mad emperor and the chief chamberlain couldn’t distract me from the sheer unexpectedness of the situation.

 

The mad emperor rose from the couch and spoke. “I’m greatly looking forward to seeing my first grandchild, yet at the same time I am worried. Lord Ronde’s looks are lacking, so the child will need to take after Vivian quite a bit.”

 

“T-The child surely will resemble Your Majesty!”

 

“Who knows. Vivian, your lovely appearance itself is from your maternal lineage, isn’t it? If we were to find my daughter among the princesses who resemble me…” The mad emperor’s blue eyes swept over the other princess and me, appraising us as if we were objects. The place where his gaze finally landed was utterly unpleasant. “Rosasia.”

 

“…”

 

“You are worthy of my expectations.”

 

“…”

 

My body trembled. Even though I was forcing air into my lungs until they felt full, it was as if I couldn’t breathe at all.

 

The mad emperor left the Blue Wave Room, taking the chief chamberlain and the imperial guards with him. The door shut with a sharp click. Then, it felt like all the strength drained from my body.

 

“Si-Sister!”

 

Vivian collapsed, drawing everyone’s attention to her. Thanks to that, no one noticed me staggering, except for Regen, who supported my back.

 

✦

Regen was worried about Sasha. Ever since returning from the Blue Wave Room, Sasha had stayed in her bedroom the entire time. It wasn’t to the extent that she refused entry to her maids, saying she wanted to be alone as she had before. But judging by how little she ate and how she pushed her food away, her mood was clearly low.

 

Regen understood. Sasha was already a princess who loathed the blood running through her veins. Hearing that she resembled the mad emperor would make it hard for her not to spiral into self-loathing.

 

Confirming that the sun was beginning to set, Regen knocked on the door to Sasha’s bedroom. Once night fell, he would have a legitimate reason to come and go from her room.

 

“It’s Regen. I’m coming in.”

 

Sasha was sitting on the couch visible as soon as the door opened, reading a book. The moment Regen saw her, he flinched because of how she looked. Sasha was wearing a thin slip-style nightgown. Draped over her fair shoulders and arms was nothing more than a shawl as sheer as dragonfly wings.

 

“Is that a snack?”

 

“Yes. It’s fruit.”

 

“Perfect timing. I was craving something sweet. Sit down and join me.”

 

When Regen tried to take a seat across from her, Sasha pointed to another spot. “That’s too far. Sit here.” The spot she lightly pressed with her palm was right next to her. He didn’t hesitate and sat down.

 

The grapes on the silver tray disappeared one by one into Sasha’s lips. Watching her eat so well, Regen felt relieved. Sasha seemed to be in better condition than he had thought. Or is she not…?

 

Sasha pretended to be engrossed in her book, but since he had entered the room, not a single page had turned. Just then, something reflecting the candlelight caught Regen’s eye. Hidden in the corner of the couch was a hand mirror.

 

“Hey, Regen.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Do I look like the mad emperor?”

 

“…”

 

“Be honest with me.” It seemed like she had been worrying about it quite a bit.

 

Regen answered honestly, as Sasha had requested. “I have no idea.” He remembered a few moments of emotion he had felt while looking at Sasha. She was special from head to toe, captivating his attention in an instant. He couldn’t imagine anyone in this world being able to replicate her aura and presence.

 

Sasha scrutinized the meaning carefully. “What exactly do you mean by you don’t know?”

 

“I mean I don’t know where the resemblance is.”

 

“The eyes, nose, mouth… Do I really not resemble him at all?”

 

“I don’t know.”

 

“Your answer is vague. Think about it carefully and give me a clear answer. The mad emperor and I are blood-related. There’s no way we don’t resemble each other at all… Look at this. We even have the same platinum blonde hair. Honestly, you think we look alike but just can’t say it, right?”

 

Sasha persistently tried to draw out the exact opposite of the answer she wanted to hear. For the always composed and sharp princess to act like this, it was clear that today’s shock had been significant for her.

 

“Sasha, what are you worried about?”

 

“…”

 

At his words, Sasha seemed to calm down a little and stopped her relentless questioning. Then, she revealed her true feelings.