CHAPTER 111……………………………………………
Five years ago, I had taken in the royal palace, thinking it would be the last time I’d ever see it.
And now, five years later, Minerva was back here.
“Wow, it’s sparkling so much.”
“Really.”
The children pressed themselves against the windows, busy staring around.
Indeed, the palace was visually stunning in a way that would delight children.
The golden palace, seen after such a long time, was as grand as ever, overwhelming, and luxurious—but at the same time, it made one’s breath catch.
As the carriage entered the palace gates, Minerva and Lloyd each lifted a child onto their lap.
“Children, step away from the window now.”
“Ugh.”
“O-okay…”
The children, reluctant, kept glancing at the windows.
When curtains were drawn to prevent anyone from looking in from outside, the children pouted slightly.
Theodora led the way to announce Minerva’s arrival, and the guards, without even checking who was in the carriage, allowed them through immediately.
As the carriage traveled along the familiar path, the sound of the wheels clattering against the stone echoed, and soon it stopped.
“This way, Your Highness. His Majesty awaits.”
Theodora led them to the audience chamber of the main palace.
Even without her guidance, Minerva could have found her way; it was exactly as she remembered.
A massive door, as if made by stacking three people on top of each other, blocked the chamber.
Theodora announced their presence at the door.
“Your Majesty, I have brought Princess Minerva.”
When the knights forcefully opened the double doors, the brilliant light of chandeliers poured in.
A long red carpet and grand staircase—so majestic that it dared anyone to look directly—led to the golden throne.
And on that throne…
“My Princess Minerva!”
A middle-aged woman with slightly faded platinum hair styled high—Empress Jupiteria—greeted them with such warmth it seemed she might leap down from the throne.
But her position as Empress demanded restraint, leaving her visibly restless.
Minerva slowly approached and, after a long time, bent her knees and waist in respect.
“Your Majesty, I hope you have been well.”
“I have awaited your return. You’ve endured much.”
“Your warm welcome humbles me, Your Majesty.”
At Minerva’s response, Jupiteria’s face shone with pride.
She turned her gaze to Lloyd and addressed him personally.
“Duke, thank you truly for protecting my princess. Your loyalty has moved me deeply.”
“I have only done what was right, Your Majesty.”
Even this formal, modest answer was perfect in Jupiteria’s eyes.
She nodded in satisfaction, smiling.
The children, overwhelmed by the grandeur, squirmed and hid further behind Minerva.
But their movement caught Jupiteria’s attention.
“Who are these children? Show me your faces.”
The children hesitated, glancing nervously between Lloyd and Minerva.
When Minerva smiled reassuringly, they gained courage and stepped forward.
Jupiteria’s eyes widened at Aslan’s face, and she alternated her gaze between Minerva and Aslan, flustered.
“Hey, hey, Minerva… Who is this child…?”
“She’s my daughter.”
Minerva answered boldly, as if daring anyone to challenge her.
Jupiteria gaped in shock, then pointed at Ayla and asked,
“And this child?”
Already suspecting the answer, Jupiteria seemed to be looking for some way to escape reality.
No chance. Minerva clarified immediately.
“She is my daughter as well. Ayla, Aslan, greet His Majesty.”
“Roar!”
“Yes.”
The children stepped forward.
Ayla, elegant and refined, lifted her skirt slightly and bent her knees.
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. I am Ayla.”
“Aslan is meeting you for the first time, Your Majesty!”
Aslan’s greeting was in a strange, almost half-bent posture, neither fully kneeling nor standing straight.
Yet this impudent attitude didn’t even register in Jupiteria’s gaze.
“So… two daughters…”
Having many children is a blessing.
But after five years, to suddenly return with two granddaughters—both of whom she had never seen!
One of them, resembling Minerva closely, even spoke oddly, as if she had stopped learning polite speech halfway.
Jupiteria shook her head violently, trying to regain composure.
“How old are the children?”
“Both are five years old.”
They can’t be twins since they don’t resemble each other. Or are they? Maybe fraternal twins?
Minerva, being a twin herself, could have given birth to twins.
At five years old, that means she was already pregnant when she was confined. At that time, the marriage talks with Duke Eckhart were ongoing.
“Five years old? So you gave birth almost simultaneously with your confinement… but there was no sign of it!”
Jupiteria’s suspicion was reasonable.
A pregnancy typically lasts ten months.
Minerva had a flat belly when she left for confinement.
However, Aslan’s strong resemblance to Minerva made it hard to completely deny she was her daughter.
Minerva replied brazenly.
“Some women don’t show a belly even when pregnant. I was one of them.”
“When did you… find out? When?!”
“As soon as I arrived at the confinement place. That’s when I gave birth to Aslan.”
It wasn’t a lie; she met Aslan and felt as if she had brought her into the world immediately.
Jupiteria massaged her neck, absorbing Minerva’s words, then flinched.
“Princess Minerva.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You said both are five years old? Then when was the other child—”
“Ayla is adopted. We need two heirs, but I didn’t think I could have two naturally.”
“Ha.”
Jupiteria snorted and gave a wry laugh, overwhelmed.
“My perfect daughter, pregnant before marriage…”
The more she thought, the more her head felt ready to burst from all the information—but the most important part remained.
A child cannot be conceived alone.
Minerva had said they needed two heirs.
So the shameless, beastly, utterly unrefined man who dared impregnate Minerva before marriage must be a titled noble.
“How dare someone leave such a mark on my Minerva’s life.”
Jupiteria gritted her teeth, thinking of throwing that man into ruin the moment she found him.
“Minerva… who is the father of the children?”
“I’m about to introduce him.”
“What?”
The only man present was Lloyd Eckhart.
Seeing Jupiteria’s face turn pale, Minerva smiled faintly, linked arms with Lloyd, and nodded.
“I formally request permission to marry Lloyd Eckhart, Your Majesty.”
“Hah… ha ha…”
Jupiteria could only laugh in disbelief.
That man—whom she had chosen as Minerva’s suitor, even sent to protect her—had actually…
Her daughter, as exalted as the heavens!
She had entrusted Minerva’s safety to Lloyd!
Looking at him, Lloyd lowered his head apologetically.
His masked face, brazen as ever, made Jupiteria’s laughter grow louder.
“Ha ha ha… ha ha ha ha!”
The laughter grew so loud that everyone but Minerva became uneasy.
Suddenly, the laughter stopped, and Jupiteria leaned forward.
“Ha…”
“Your… Majesty!”
Theodora rushed to her, checking her pulse.
“She has fainted! Call the palace physician!”
Jupiteria was carried to her bedroom by Theodora.
Minerva had thought long the previous night.
She had many shocking things to reveal, and she wondered how to lessen the impact on Her Majesty.
But upon entering the palace, her thoughts changed.
Since everything would be shocking anyway, it was better to face it all at once rather than in pieces.
The first thing Minerva did upon returning to the palace was an extravagant act of filial piety.
