# 24
“How long has she been taking Rostor? Prolonged use leads to infertility...”
If it had been known that a woman in the royal family was using Rostor, the matter would not have merely been dismissed.
‘ That's why there were no knights or servants. 'The head maid must have been preparing Rostor.'
As Duke Tessa stared at the terrified head maid, he walked out.
“……”
He motioned to the head maid to come in, and he seemed very worried.
Have you ever seen Duke Tisza with such an expression?
Although she could not fully understand the situation from the conversation alone...
However, she learned of the return of the Second Princess and Lady Nigel's drug use.
‘I got two valuable pieces of information without doing anything.’
Helen smiled broadly and called Duke Tessa.
“Duke Tisza.”
“…Princess Helen.”
Duke Tisza straightened his stance and shook hands respectfully.
“What brings you here...?”
As Helen took a step forward, Duke Tessa blocked her way.
"What do you think you're doing? How dare you get in the way of the royal family?"
Helen did not hide her dissatisfaction and furrowed her eyebrows tightly.
Duke Tessa was not oblivious to Helen's knowledge of Lady Nigel's weakness. There was no better chance to silence him effectively.
“I heard the Second Princess is returning. Lady Nigel must be pleased.”
“……”
“It must be a joy to see her daughter after such a long absence.”
Helen stifled a smile.
“So you heard everything.”
Duke Tessa spoke slowly, narrowing his eyes.
"I warned you, didn't I? Not to touch my daughter. If you had heard that, you should have told your daughter too."
Helen did not raise her voice or fill her words with anger.
“…Her Highness.”
In a monotonous voice that did not reveal anything, Duke Tessa clearly looked nervous.
“Can this be considered advice given to a subordinate just this once?”
He seemed very disturbed by the discovery of Lady Nigel's drug use. His usual negotiating prestige disappeared.
“Servants from Reimer Palace and Tyson Palace heard these words.”
Helen sneered as if she found it ridiculous.
"And you are wrong, Duke. I am not the Empress's subordinate. The honorific titles were out of respect for my father."
“……”
“Lady Nigel is no superior to me, I have royal blood.”
Legally, even the position of empress was not clearly defined in imperial law.
“The same goes for Shivaline, who officially holds the title of princess.”
The position of Lady Nigel was only a ceremonial position, given to her to avoid being seen as a mistress or the mother of an illegitimate child.
'Mrs Nigel cannot use the title Pitstein.'
So, officially, Lady Nigel was not considered a member of the royal family.
“I ask you not to talk about my daughter again as if she belonged to me.”
“…I was reckless. Please forgive me.”
Duke Tissa, overwhelmed by Helen's feelings, apologized immediately.
Helen saw no point in continuing to talk to him, so she nodded to the side.
“Go away.”
Duke Tessa hesitated for a moment, biting his lips.
“Your Highness!”
Duke Tissa could hardly speak.
“Mrs. Nigel is not well.”
The head butler, who had been watching from inside, approached.
“Lady Nigel would like to meet Princess Helen in the drawing room.”
“Does Mrs. Nigel wish to meet her?”
“Yes… Duke.”
“...I apologise. Please do so, Your Highness.”
Despite her obvious hesitation, Duke Tessa sighed and stepped aside.
Helen followed the butler, and glanced at Lady Nigel in the drawing-room.
“Lady Nigel, it has been a long time since the New Year celebration.”
“……”
Normally, Lady Nigel would have demanded proper etiquette, but she remained silent.
The teacup in her hand kept making a sound.
“…Indeed. What brings you to the Waynes Palace?”
Helen did not want a long conversation, so she got straight to the point.
“I came to find out why you humiliated a five-year-old girl in front of everyone.”
At her words, Lady Nigel's breath trembled.
“The servants from the Rimir Palace and the Tison Palace witnessed this. News will soon reach the Third and Fifth Empresses.”
Helen retold the situation as Elisha told her.
"This! What more can I do?"
Lady Nigel, who had involuntarily raised her voice, replied more kindly.
“You must bear the responsibility as the First Empress.”
Helen watched her closely and ordered.
“…a responsibility as First Empress?”
repeated Lady Nigel, as if she did not understand what Helen meant.
“As the First Empress, you must ensure that rumors do not spread about my daughter.”
In other words, she had to deal with the situation to prevent rumors from spreading.
“Okay. Don’t worry about the Third and Fifth Empresses… this lady will behave.”
Lady Nigel answered in a tone that seemed sad.
'Has she always been this submissive?'
Lady Nigel always held her head high beside the Emperor.
Although Helen saw Lady Nigel's calmness, she felt no pity.
‘She only bends temporarily because I have her weak spot.’
Without this feature, the debate would have been prolonged.
“Your Highness, this will not happen again. I hope you understand.”
“I will fix the problem.”
Lady Nigel pleaded desperately. She was asking Helen not to mention what she had seen and heard today.
“I have to go take care of the frightened princess.”
Helen did not want to hear any more of Lady Nigel's insincere voice, so she turned to leave, but Lady Nigel quickly caught her.
“Her Highness!”
“…?”
“What I saw earlier, I will explain to you later. So please, don’t tell anyone.”
Helen moved Lady Nigel's hand away from her arm.
“Lady Nigel, remain silent for the next two months.”
“…”
“It's not that hard, is it?”
murmured Helen softly, looking closely at Lady Nigel.
Without waiting for Lady Nigel's response, Helen left the drawing room.
“Duke of Tisza.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
“Go take care of your daughter.”
Duke Tisza, standing in the hall, bowed to Helen and entered the drawing room.
"Ah! How dare you! How dare you humiliate me like this?"
Exactly three seconds later, Lady Nigel's angry scream was heard.
“Your Highness! Lady Nigel, please calm down! Quickly, calm her down!”
“Yes, Duke!”
Duke Tessa hurriedly tried to calm Lady Nigel down.
Helen had no intention of announcing or revealing Lady Nigel's drug use immediately.
The enemy's weaknesses must be exploited to put pressure on him.
"Don't feel so aggrieved. The Duke did the same to me first."
Helen quickly turned her gaze away from the Wenz Palace.
At the Largon Mansion, Helen sat in a rocking chair to rest for a while.
After a while, Sheveline, who had been crying before, came running over with a storybook, which Helen carried on her lap.
"Come on, get up, my dear. What are we reading today?"
“Cherry wants this!”
"Let's go?"
Shivalin shook the storybook she was holding tightly.
When Helen opened the cover of the book, Shevelin's ears perked up.
“Whose yellow shoes are these?”
“…”
Helen was proud to see that Sheveline was so engaged and enthusiastic.
"Firstly, these are not pictures of the rabbit, nor are they the cat. Looking at the back, they are pictures of the dog."
As Helen clapped her hands and continued reading, Shevelin suddenly shook her head vigorously and pointed to the dog in the picture.
“No, it's a cat.”
“…but that’s a dog.”
“Look at the next page, Mom. I asked you to look back.”
As Shevelin said, when Helen turned the page, the dog on the previous page looked like a cat.
“Lin, how did you know?”
Shevelin's nose twitched slightly.
Her cheeks trembled as she tried to contain her joy.
Most children would have taken it easy, but Shevelin easily understood the hidden meaning the book was trying to convey.
“Isn’t her observation better than most adults?”
Shivalin gently shook Helen, who was lost in thought.
“Mom, mom.”
“Hmm?”
“Cherry wants pudding.”
Helen turned her head slightly toward Shevelin's shining eyes and pleading gaze.
“In times like these, she is just an innocent child.”
Helen laughed softly and gently stroked Shivalin's hair.
“Do you want pudding?”
“Yes~ very much~!”
Sheviline formed a large circle with her arms.
“Elisha. Go to the kitchen and make some pudding.”
Helen ordered Elisha, who was accidentally entering the room, to bring candy.
Elisha nodded and told about the situation outside.
“Your Highness, the head maid of Wenz Palace is here.”
“Elisha.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Tell the head maid of Wenz Palace to wait a moment. I’m a little busy right now.”