Someone can you gimme a spoiler? Some spoiler thats make me like the ml, cuz i always keep...

I’m about to write a really long reply for you. Just wait.

Wow damn no wonder it still ain't showin up imma comment so I can know it too-

Omo thanks bestie

Spoiler

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I’ll try my best to explain and keep it decently detailed, witch some excerpts:

In the past life, the Crown Prince, under the pressure of the nobles, was forced to take in a concubine. (In the past, the nobility had more influence than the royal family.) through the selection process of course, Veronica was chosen. He knew that she was a cruel person, so naturally, he despised the Fake Veronica.

On the first night, Fake Veronica was acting shy and docile, so he thought that she was trying to deceive him, and found that disgusting, so they did nothing. He didn’t touch her after they had gotten married.

But, even after that, the fake Veronica would visit him every two days to try and have tea with him, and he’d send her back most of the time. She would never cease this behavior. But one day, she did stop. Sian had received news that the Fake Veronica was having tea with the Emperor. Sian went into a panic, thinking that she really WAS trying to do something, and that he had let his guard down for a moment.

But, when he got to the place Veronica was having tea with Emperor Richard, and for the first time in a while, he could hear his laughter. Emperor Richard seldom laughed, because his health was deteriorating due to sickness.

Sian got there and sat down, silently staring at the Fake Veronica, then she bowed and hurried off. This is an excerpt of the conversation that Sian had with Emperor Richard:

"Would you like a drink? That child made a fuss about it, but she's very skillful."

Sian looked down at the water and put the teacup near his mouth. He only wet his lips slightly, but Sian's eyes opened. The deep scent and taste that stabilized the mind and body were deeper than any other tea Sian had in his lifetime.

"Aren't you surprised?"

Sian couldn't hide his surprise. Although aristocratic young ladies learn tea ceremony as a basic skill, it was possible only after years of grinding and polishing to show such a noble skill.

"It's urgent. Say it."

"Actually, it's because I heard from Den that Veronica was alone with His Majesty. May I ask you what kind of conversation you had?"

"She talked about you."

Sian's face, which had been expressionless at Emperor Richard's words, cooled down. He was suspicious of what she said to Emperor Richard.

"What did she tell you?"

"She complained that you didn't meet her."

"Complained?"

Sian blanked out. If that story had been told by someone other than Emperor Richard, it wasn't so contextual that he would have ignored it as a nonsense lie. Complaining. Is there anything else that doesn't suit Veronica more than this?

"She's a good-natured kid."

"..."

Sian stared silently at Emperor Richard. He acknowledged Emperor Richard's view, but he couldn't agree with it. Sian knew better than anyone what kind of heart Veronica had. Moreover, human nature does not change easily.

"Daughter of the Grand Duke."

"Yes, the daughter of the Grand Duke. You can't deny that. Hoho."

"I don't trust her."

"My dear, natural blood is not a sin. The more I see her, the more than I think she is the daughter of the Grand Duke, I think she looks like a good daughter-in-law. Cough, cough."

And so after that Sian Emperor Richard had a coughing fit, and Sian told him that he should go in. Three months later, Emperor Richard died.

Sian became emperor, Elena became Queen, and Cecilia became empress. There was obviously a large banquet. During that large banquet, Sian overheard Veronica and Ren:

"Will you keep doing this? It hurts my feelings."

"I-I'm sorry. I worked hard, but I couldn't figure it out."

Sian, who tried to ignore and pass by, stopped walking.

'Is this voice Veronica and Ren?'

Their conversation caught up with Sian, who was about to go back because he didn't want to bump into them.

"You want me to blow it all? What happens when you get caught? Will the Grand Duke abandon you?"

"Don't do that. I beg you, please."

Sian stopped.

'What do you mean? What's the catch, the Grand Duke abandoning Veronica?'

—

After hearing that conversation, Sian questioned many things about how the conversation didn’t line up, then after Ren left (after threatening Veronica some more) walked over the corner to see a relieved Veronica leaning against the wall. She quickly gathered herself up, surprised. Saying ‘Your Majesty!’ But Sian walked away and ignored her. Sian found himself walking to the terrace, wondering what the hell he was thinking because he had strong impulses to comfort her. He wondered what the hell he was thinking. Then he began talking to another noble to distract himself.

After that event, talked with Count Lyndon about how the Grand Duke’s surveillance was increasing, then met up with Raphael (because he had heard that the Fake Veronica had started to learn how to paint.) Raphael said that he had judged Fake Veronica was not an evil person, he had these thoughts:

Sian, who was bitten by Raphael, was deeply lost in thought. The words of the people around Veronica were so different from what he thought.

"I need to find out."

Sian fixed his thoughts. He had consistently ignored Veronica. He didn't even want to marry her. The bigger the problem is, the bigger the doubts about Veronica. He didn't know if that's why, but he kept paying attention to her. Which is what she really is, and whether Veronica has changed in the time he didn't know. He thought this question would be solved only after checking it in person.

Sian sent a man to Hwigin outside the palace to investigate Veronica. The investigation was further carried out, but he didn't mind it because he was also in charge of reforming the Imperial Guard.

The past three years when Veronica disappeared from society. The incomprehensible conversation between Ren and Veronica.

Veronica's eyes that couldn't be understood.

If he could find this answer and solve the question, he was willing to wait patiently.

In the meantime, the season changed, and the heat withdrew, and cold winds from the north blew, and snow fell in the capital for the first time in a decade. Empress Cecilia died on the day when people ran out to the streets and looked at the snow.

—

(Hwigin is the Imperial Guard Commander.) When the doctors had done an autopsy on Cecilia, they found out she was poisoned. Obviously, by the Grand Duke. Sian had sworn that he would take revenge, and of course, Count Lyndon said he would do the same, because it was his daughter who died.

It was the first time in nearly half a year that Sian and Hwigin had met face to face. Even this was barely possible because Den was posing as Sian in his bedroom.

"What's your progress?"

"An additional four nobles agreed to share their will. I sent them to Count Lyndon, saying that they would add the principal after a little bit. I also recruited three of the fallen nobles to be useful."

"That's a lot of hardships."

"And as you ordered, we looked into the Queen. Should I report it?"

Sian nodded. The reason he came out of the palace at risk was to hear directly from Hwigin about Veronica.

"Two years ago, the Queen, who had been suffering from a fever, returned to society and there was a strange rumor."

"Strange rumor?"

"The Queen had turned into someone else."

At that time, Sian was a student at the Academy. It was a time when he was constantly trying to persuade Cecilia to marry him. He also couldn't afford to be interested in others because he was acting as an incompetent prince. Considering the academy's connections to the social world, information was inevitably dark.

"Shall I say that she had become naive? It is said that there is a history of almost being eliminated in the social world."

Sian frowned. Veronica, whom he knows, is not a woman who will be eliminated, even if she will abandon society. She's not a good enough character to tolerate it.

"But the funny thing is, a year later, she became a queen who swallowed the social world. It's like going back and forth between extremes."

Sian's thoughts were not organized. Veronica was an unregulated kind of human being.

"Maybe it's the aftermath of the fever or something?"

"I've already looked into it, but doctors say there are no aftereffects."

"Your Majesty, it's true. The aftereffects can permanently degrade intellectual ability. But I don't think that's right, given that she's made a name for herself in society again."

The doctor, who had been listening silently, also supported the remarks. Hwigin continued again.

"But there was a rumor going around at the time. Queen Veronica didn't actually have a fever, she was poisoned."

"Poison?"

The doctor repeatedly moved the poison as if something had come to mind.

"I remember. At that time, most of the doctors who were called to the Great House had a strong opinion of poison. My junior was one of them."

"Can you reach them?"

When Hwigin suddenly asked, the doctor shook his head.

"No, I haven't seen him since."

"Not long ago, we found the bodies of doctors who are believed to have been called to the Great House. It's been about a month since he was killed, assuming it's corruption."

"T-That kind of thing."

The doctor had lost his mind. Sian asked, mulling over the kinds of accidents.

"If so, are you saying that the doctors could have been involved in the poison that killed the empress?"

"I don't think so. Spider venom is sensitive, so if you want to artificially combine it, toxicity dies. Moreover, what the Grand Duke bought at that time was a poison deciphering drug."

"Maybe it's true that Veronica was poisoned."

Sian based it on the circumstances so far. The deeper he thought, the more questions arose.

'Veronica returned from poisoning a few years ago. But now you're killing the doctor she used to see? Is there any reason for that?'

Something doesn't add up. The imitation of the Grand Duke who is famous for her conspiracy, Leabrick. There must be a good reason why a woman who plots everything creepily killed doctors.


"Shall I blow up? Will the Grand Duke abandon you if your identity is revealed?"


For a moment, what Ren had said passed through Sian's mind. At that time, he couldn't understand the meaning of the words, but he felt like he had found a clue.

'No way, Veronica...'

Sian's face, which had something on it, hardened. If he guessed right, the puzzle that went wrong fit perfectly. The expression shown below the laurel, the nature of Veronica seen by Emperor Richard and Raphael, and her heart toward Sian were also somewhat explainable.

—

After that Sian acknowledged that Veronica was a stand-in, he thought it would be a chance to fight back against the Grand Duke.

There was an Imperial Ceremony, and how Sian slowly begins to fall in love with her:

'If Veronica is a stand-in... Then the crime of the Grand Duke is never light.'

It was dangerous enough to bring political isolation on its own, even though he is the Grand Duke that does not know how high the sky is, it is a great deal to appoint a substitute, not his real daughter, as a Queen. Although authority has fallen to the bottom, the act of annihilating the imperial family cannot avoid criticism from the nobles. Furthermore, the Reinhardt family, who put Avella in for the selection ceremony for the concubine, will never pass it lightly.

'Maybe it's a chance to fight back.'

There may be a gap to squeeze into the Great House like an Iron Fortress. Sian, who was lost in thought while spinning a glass of wine, looked at the fake Veronica, who was talking to a foreign envoy. As the suspicion of being fake grew stronger, there was an explanation for Veronica and her surprisingly similar appearance. He'd believe if it was said they were twins since she looked just like her.

That's not all. The fake Veronica was communing with the envoys in good manners that he wanted to take her as an example. The graceful gestures, laughable smiles, and unbelieving speech were incredibly dignified.

But only that. Fake can't be real. He didn't know what the story was, but it doesn't change that she is a person of the Great House.

Veronica turned her head and their eyes met in the air, perhaps conscious of Sian's eyes. Unlike Sian, who looked indifferent, the fake Veronica, who was showing signs of embarrassment, smiled awkwardly.

"...!"

For a moment, Sian's face was stained with embarrassment. Facing that smile, it shook his heart to the point of displeasure with a strange feeling that he couldn't describe. Sian flipped his head away to look away from the unknown emotion. Of course, Sian didn't see the disappointed fake Veronica's expression.

'Why the hell am I like this?'

The sudden beating of the heart and the tug-of-war of strange emotions made Sian feel very confused.


After that day, Sian intentionally avoided the fake Veronica. However, many events with the emperor and empress have led to more frequent encounters with the fake Veronica. He tried not to make eye contact as much as possible, but she smiled awkwardly whenever she encountered him unintentionally.

Thud. Yes, that's the smile. Without permission, she suddenly squeezed in and left a trace deep inside Sian. Her smile made him think of her when he closed his eyes and did other things.

This happened during the National Foundation Day event. Sian, dressed in pure white royal robes, was just coming out of the parlor when he encountered Veronica, who often ran with a skirt in the distance.

"I-I'm sorry I'm late, Your Majesty."

The fake Veronica, who breathed hard, was not understood. It was a good idea to go directly to the South Gate, where the National Day Memorial Gate was announced, and he couldn't understand why she would take the hassle of returning to the main palace. Sian, who could not overcome the curiosity, asked Veronica for the first time.

"Why are you here?"

"I'm going with Your Majesty."

"...!"

The shy but fake Veronica answered surprisingly clearly. Like she'd practiced answering this question hundreds of times. Seeing her like that, Sian was in a strange mood. It was an unfamiliar sensation he had never felt before, a feeling that something inside that was rigid and full of boundaries was loosening.

Sian walked without even giving an answer. He was nervous about whether this strange feeling would be revealed with an expression. After that, the fake Veronica followed closely. With a faint smile that Sian couldn't see.

After the ceremony, the capital became a festive mood. On behalf of the imperial family, which lacked finances, the Grand Duke celebrated National Foundation Day and released alcohol and meat. It was intentionally a shallow trick to make them feel more grateful to the Great House than the Imperial Family.

That night, a dinner was held in commemoration of the National Day at the Imperial Palace. It was the highest banquet in the imperial family, as the local nobility also admired it.

"Oh!"

A drunken nobleman made the profane mistake of pouring wine onto Sian's robes.

"I-I'm guilty enough of death, Your Majesty!"

"Everyone can make mistakes. Never mind it."

Sian left the banquet hall without saying a word of bitterness. The aristocracy laughed at the emperor, who had no authority to reprimand, but he ignored it. The more they looked down on him, the more opportunities Sian had.

Entering the drawing room nearby, Sian took off his wine-soaked coat. Seeing the smell on his body, he thought he should wash it.

Knock knock. He heard a knock.

"Come in."

Just half-unbuttoned his shirt, the fake Veronica came in. He was sure he told a maid to bring extra clothes. Sian's face hardened.

"Why would you bring it?"

The face of the fake Veronica, who encountered Sian without his top on, was red. She bowed her head and spoke in a crawling voice.

"I-I wanted to bring it to you..."

"It's useless. Whatever you want, there will be nothing to be expected."

Sian drew a cold line fiercely. It was no use trying to approach, so stop it. No, that was like what Sian said to himself. Don't be shaken.

The fake Veronica, who was hurt, tried hard and smiled lonesomely.

"Nothing to look forward to."

"What?"

"I just wanted Your Highness to see me once, and in rare cases, he did, and it was good."

"..."

The fake Veronica, who was standing close to collapse, left the drawing room with courtesy. Sian, who was looking at the shirts and robes brought by the fake Veronica, frowned and touched his forehead with an impression.

What she said. Why was she shaking him so much that he couldn't handle it. Also, even though he knew she was a fake Veronica, he felt frustrated and couldn't bear it.

"Damn it."

—

Then, Sian had caught a fever due to overworking himself.

The Fake Veronica went to check on him:

Sian's pupils were blurred out of focus. There were some things that weren't good, but he also seemed to have a lot of thoughts. The deterioration of Sian's health had a greater mental impact than external factors. After the death of Emperor Richard, the duty and responsibility given to him, the sense of loss that Cecilia's death gave, and...

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty. Are you awake?"

Sian slowly turned his head. It was dreamy, but he could tell who the woman was in front of him. She dug deep into Sian's heart without permission and took root like the laurel which had endured hundreds of years. The fake Veronica was looking down anxiously at him.

"Who are you?"

"What?"

The fake Veronica's eyes shook violently.

"I asked who you are."

"..."

Something he'd never asked you before. However, he wanted to ask her more than a thousand times. Who are you? Sian used his hazy consciousness as an excuse to ask the question without realizing it.

The fake Veronica was silent for a moment when asked unexpected questions. Soon, she smiled. A sad and painful smile.

"It's me. Empress Cecilia."

"...!"

Cecilia. It couldn't be Cecilia. Because she's dead. Nevertheless, the fake Veronica called herself Empress Cecilia.

Why? Why is that? The answer could be guessed by the sad smile of the fake Veronica. She was worried that Sian might kick her out of the fact that she was Veronica, so she wanted to be next to Sian even if she lied, so she couldn't leave his side because she was so worried about Sian, who was sick.

Sian couldn't say anything. His heart seems to hurt so much. Because her sincerity toward him was so sad. And Sian's heart, which he had kept deep in his heart, was not different from her, so it was heartbreaking.

Maybe that's why. Why Sian wanted to lay down his duties and responsibilities on his shoulders for the first time even though he was in a daze. He had no confidence to ignore her mind.

The latch, which was tightly surrounding Sian, slowly melted down. She was precious as if he had forgotten even his fever-stricken body.

Sian pulled her hand.

"Y-Your Majesty?"

The fake Veronica's upper body bent down as if she were falling. Her surprised face briefly closed her eyes and soon the lips of the two were overlapped. They gave each other a sad kiss that would only remain through wounds.

—

This is Sian’s reaction after they had sex:

"Your Majesty?"

"..."

"Are you listening to me?"

Sian, who was sitting like a man who was mesmerized at Hwigin's continued call, came to his senses.

"I'm sorry. Go on."

"Your Majesty knows him. It's Raphael, the court painter. He donated a huge amount of money to help reform the Imperial Guard."

"..."

Sian couldn't concentrate on the conversation like a man whose soul escaped. It would be so, but now Sian's head was full of thoughts of the fake Veronica.

Sian was able to face up to what he had been turning away from last night. It was an excuse that his fever rose and his mind was hazy. It was his will and his choice to hold her hand. Sian would make the same choice even if he went back to that day. Sian already knew she had a place deep in his heart.

—

During that conversation, it was discovered that the Grand Duke had a safe house;

"Yes, I didn't expect him to have such a mansion near the capital. I couldn't get close to him because of the tight security around me, but the Grand Duke was in and out regularly."

"Tell me the details."

"According to research, rare medicines and herbs are usually delivered there, and items have changed recently. A dress, accessories, or shoes that a nobleman would like."

"...!"

Sian's eyes shook.

Doctors well-versed in poison that are dead and the changes in items that went into the house. Judging from the circumstances given, Sian made a hypothesis.

'What if Veronica was alive? And if she's preparing to return...'

She was only a stand-in, and she was likely to be removed. No, she'd die no matter what. Grand Duke Friedrich and the conspiracy Leabrick are not so clumsy as to keep her alive.

"Did you tell Count Lyndon about this?"

"Not yet. I'm going to visit him separately and report it."

Sian was relieved inside. Hwigin, who is innocent to the point of having no goal to steal, lacks the ability to analyze information.  Since he had never actually seen Veronica, there was a limit to his guess. But Count Lyndon is different. If this kind of clue is given to him, he is likely to know that Veronica is a stand-in.

'The Count shouldn't know.'

Then Count Lyndon would try to use the fake Veronica by any means possible. Defeating the imperial family with a stand-in is a crime that can't be easily forgiven, even if it's the Grand Duke. But, then the fake Veronica wouldn't be safe.

"It's better to keep silent to Count Lyndon about just now."

"What? Why?"

"Not going is a secret place. When the Grand Duke visits there, I'm worried that the Count will act arbitrarily in the hatred of the loss of the Empress."

"Oh, yes, Your Majesty, I will."

Upon receiving the report, Sian hurried to the palace. All the way back, Sian couldn't shake off his anxiety. Even at the moment of emptying the palace, the idea that Veronica might return and kill her followed like a shadow.

'I need to tell Den and take action. No, that's not enough. By attaching people separately...'

Sian's mind was filled with thoughts of her. There was only a single thought to protect her, and there was no room for other thoughts to squeeze in.

Not long after that, happy events that were not happy came to the royal family. It was news of Veronica's pregnancy.

—

Sian felt puzzled and strange. Being a parent was an unfamiliar feeling that he'd never felt before.

'I can't stay still.'

The strange feeling paralyzed his mind. He tried to overcome it with patience, but it didn't work out. He kept making ridiculous excuses and went to see her.

"I need to see Her Majesty."

Empress Florence and the Queen were living in the West Palace. Although she wasn't his biological mother, it was part of the Imperial Court's law to greet her regularly as she was the wife of the Sun Emperor. Upon reaching the west palace, there was no time to step by with socialites who visited to celebrate the pregnancy of the fake Veronica.

"Your Majesty, congratulations."

"The Imperial family successor is coming."

"..."

Sian's expression was hardened by the celebration of the nobles who were heard from afar. Externally, she was the princess of the Grand Duchy and her name was Veronica.

"Y-Your Majesty."

In the drawing room, the fake Veronica, who was celebrated by the nobles, ran with a skirt as if she heard that Sian had come near.

"...!"

Sian's body flinched. Be careful. What if you fall down like that? Where did you leave your usual elegant behavior? Countless words circulated in his mouth and stabbed him like a thorn stuck in his throat.

However, Sian quietly lowered his hand reaching for her. He couldn't express his feelings because there were so many eyes around them.

"There are a lot of guests."

"Pardon? Ah, congratulations on hearing the news..."

When she blurted out, Sian looked around and said bluntly.

"It's rude. Considering the stability of the queen and the fetus, they shouldn't have been so thoughtless."

"I-I'm sorry about that, Your Majesty."

"I'll leave you alone."

The nobles greeted Sian's apathetic point one by one and left there. Most of them were small and medium-sized aristocrats to look good to Veronica, so there were no people who stretched out. It was only until the last person was sent back that he could face her.

"You look tired."

"No, Your Majesty."

"Take a rest."

Sian turned to leave a short, plain word. There was a feeling of sadness on her passing face, but she couldn't help it.

According to the report, stability is more important than anything else in the early stages of pregnancy. In addition, it was good to avoid contact with many people as much as possible as it increases the possibility of exposure to the disease. So he sent them back. He didn't want to keep them any closer because he knew most of them didn't sincerely congratulate her, but came to look good to her.

—-

(As you can see, Sian really loved the Fake Veronica. As opposed to hating her.)

—

Sian took advantage of the night to find the queen's bedroom. It was not difficult because Den briefly turned the eyes of the maid and the knight working at night.

"..."

Sian, who approached the bed, glanced at her sleeping face. Was today a tough day? Or is it because she was hurt by the day? She seemed to suffer from something throughout her sleep. Sian's heart throbbed as he could not even say a word of warm words.

Sian reached out and swept her face down. His touch was very kind and careful when she fell asleep.

"Forgive me that I can only do this."

Sian sang in a sad tone pretending to be calm.

"Only then can I protect you."

The reason why he had to treat her harshly even though he knew that it hurt her. It was to protect her from Veronica, who will return to her place one day.

"I made a slip of tongue. We have a child."

He once considered strengthening the imperial power as a duty and responsibility to be pointed out as an emperor. But not anymore. In order to protect what was precious, Sian wanted to succeed even if he sacrificed his life. That way he can protect her and her child from the Grand Duke.

—

Sian had never visited her since news of her pregnancy. Fake Veronica regularly visited Sian, but he sent her back under the pretext of being busy. There were no official events in the imperial family. Because overwork is not good for the fetus and mother, he stayed away.

It was an inevitable choice for Sian. There are many eyes and ears in the imperial family. Every move of Sian is on the lips of the nobles. As a result, Sian could not help but be conscious of the pro-Imperial nobility.

The day when the two could officially meet was the day of the Gaia church priests' visit once every two months. From the birth of imperial descendants, the Gaia order held the ceremony of blessing the birth of a healthy child, Sian and her child were no exception.

"Your Majesty and the Queen must hold hands."

Sian pretended to be reluctant and held her hand tight. Her hand, barely held, was too cold. Enough to be worried.

The fake Veronica prayed eagerly with her eyes closed. Just by looking at her extreme attitude, he could see how much she devoted herself to the child in her stomach. Sian had her in his eyes for a long time. This time to be with her was the only joy and comfort for Sian.

"Now open your eyes."

After praying, she opened her eyes. She opened her eyes from the beginning and made eye contact with Sian, who was only looking at her. And she gave Sian the awkward smile she always wore.

Sian avoided that look. Sian's heart seemed to be torn apart when he saw her expression, which was instant but bitter. He knew how terrible it was to hide his heart for her, turn it away, and hurt her because it wasn't enough. It hurt so much that he thought it would be better to cut his body.

Sian clenched his teeth and endured it. There's not much time left. Her stomach was swelling and the birth date was approaching. Sian planned to take her and her child out of the palace one step ahead of the Great House.

He had already set up a shelter for escaping. If he succeeds in reforming the Imperial Guard and strengthening the imperial power, she and the child can be brought in as much as possible later. With the conviction to protect her and his child, Sian abandoned every day. It was so hard that his body was ruined, but it didn't matter. Because she was the first person he thought was worth throwing away everything for.

But people don't know the future. She began to feel pain seven weeks earlier than her due date. It was a premature birth.

—-

Ian’s birth: (Now this is the explanation behind the line everyone hated him for.)

Sian wandered around the office and was restless. His mouth was burning with anxiety about her and her fetus ahead of delivery. A doctor said that premature birth is dangerous enough to take not only the fetus but also the mother's life.

"I must go to the Queen's place."

Sian, whose patience reached its limit, eventually kicked out of the office. For the first time since the fake Veronica entered the imperial palace, he visited the queen's bedroom.

"Here you are, Your Majesty."

The maids in the tense hallway were surprised and polite to Sian. Sian tried to ask bluntly, pretending not to be interested.

"What about the child?

"She's still in labor. In the midwife's words, tonight is a crisis..."

The maid's words didn't last. Beyond the wall, a cry rang out to announce the birth of life.

Den and the maids bow their heads in unison and pass congratulations to Sian.

"Your Majesty, congratulations."

"Congratulations."

Sian's expression, which had been heightened by tension, became subtle. It was awe-inspiring to know what the rumbling child's cry was talking about.

'Is she all right?'

The moment the joy of becoming a father and his worries crossed, the closed bedroom door opened. The maid, who came out to announce the news of the birth, bowed her head quickly in surprise at the unexpected visit.

"Go back in and ask the midwife. I want to see the baby right now."

Sian tried to suppress his desire to ask about the child and her personal safety. He wanted to make sure that she and the child were safe with his own eyes, not someone's mouth.

"Your Majesty, they say it's okay to come in."

Sian entered the bedroom, suppressing his desire to run in. The warm heat that hasn't gone yet gave him an idea of how much her pain from childbirth might have been.

"Y-you are here, Your Majesty."

Her face was pale as if she had lost all her energy. Although she looked tired and exhausted, fortunately she did not look dangerous.

"See? It's a prince who looks just like you."

The midwife carefully took the child she had in her arms and pushed him to Sian.

"..."

Sian stared silently at the child who fell asleep. If there's an angel, it would look like this. The child, who resembles his sea-like eyes with black hair symbolizing the blood of the imperial family, seemed to burst into tears, even as he looked at them.

"Hug him."

At her words, the midwife handed out the child wrapped in a blanket. It was when Sian stretched out his arms, possessed by the child's loving appearance just by looking at it. A thicker and more transparent reason than glaciers prevented Sian's behavior.

'If I hug this child now, I can't go back.'

Sian glanced around the room. There were four maids with midwives and a few feet, and as many as six doctors waiting over the partition in case of a situation. There was a high possibility that Sian's words and actions would flow into the ears of the Grand Duke and the nobles.

'I'm.'

Sian was in conflict. At this moment, he wanted to encourage her, who poured everything into giving birth. He should have crossed a warm word that she had worked hard. However, the cold reason drew a line saying that it should never be.

In a situation where the breath of the Grand Duke is inevitably stronger due to the birth of the prince who is qualified to succeed the emperor, there is fear of a backlash from the imperial aristocrats who have barely pacified the nuances of defending the fake Veronica or rejoicing in the birth of the prince. If so, the risk of shaking the support base to protect her and her son from the Grand Duke cannot be ruled out.

"Your Majesty?"

She looked uneasily at Sian, who was standing still. Sian firmly grasped his heart that became extremely fragile in her eyes.

He had no choice but to hurt her. The wound can be healed no matter if it leaves a scar. But if he lost her, he couldn't bring her back again.

Sian turned coldly away from the child. Her face, which would have been hurt, was white in his eyes. The fact that he had to hurt her even more wasn't letting his mouth fall.

"My momentary mistake ended up driving the millennium empire to the abyss."

"Y-Your Majesty. How."

Despite her shocked voice, Sian never looked back. He left her bedroom, leaving his wife and son as if he were cold-blooded. The maids, who saw Sian with a demon-like scary face, swallowed their breath and bowed their heads.

Sian, who passed them and went back to the main palace, clenched his fist hard. Angry at himself for not being able to protect his wife and child. So he couldn't stand the way he hurt her because he was so pathetic.

—

After that, the nobles tried to convince Sian to promote Elena to Empress, but he obviously couldn’t do that, considering his weak position. Then he went back to his office to discuss the Fake Veronica’s escape with Den:

After returning to the office, Sian called in Den.

"Ready?"

"I'm done."

"Remember. There should never be a mistake."

Sian advanced the escape plan. Now that the safeguards of pregnancy are gone, the Grand Duke will try to get everything back in place in a hurry.

"Your Majesty, it may be presumptuous, but will Her Majesty really leave the palace?"

"She has to go. If she doesn't go... I'll have to drag her away at least by force."

That's the only way for her and her son to live.

Sian changed his clothes and visited the Gaia Church in the Imperial Palace. Today is the 11th day after the birth of an imperial family member. The Gaia denomination, a state religion, was named by the Pope of the main group when the descendants of the imperial family were born from generation to generation and passed on the name through a cardinal.

As Sian entered the cathedral, cardinals and priests were seen under the statue of Gaia in the front. As he approached, the prince fell asleep in the cradle, and she stood across from him.

'You're very thin. Are you eating well?'

Sian felt so bad for her who looked blue. He felt like he was going crazy because he wanted to pat and comfort that tired face.

Then, she looked at him with her head up.

"...!"

Sian's heart froze in her cold gaze. The awkward smile that she always made wasn't there, and his breath seemed to be taken away.

The cardinal recited the congratulatory message and soaked the holy water in a golden bowl with his hands, dripping water on the prince's forehead. Then he held out the golden parchment on the pedestal that the priest brought.

"Goddess Gaia has given her holy name to bless the royal family. His Majesty and Her Majesty will politely see the honor of the Crown Prince containing the words of the Goddess with their eyes, put it in their mouths, and remember it with their ears."

"Claudius de Ian."

"May the grace of Goddess Gaia be with the noble prince Claudius de Ian."

When Sian and the fake Veronica engraved Prince Ian's name on their hearts, the cardinal responded with a congratulatory speech.

Ian. Ian. Ian. Sian was overwhelmed by the mere mention of the name. He also had a love that was incomparable to anything on his way to see the sleeping child.

The cardinal and priest quietly left the cathedral. From now on, there will be an organ performance that mimics the sacred words of the Goddess Gaia for a short time. During that time, two people will pray sincerely for Ian. She closed her eyes and clasped her hands. The appearance, which even seemed desperate, made him guess the depth of endless affection.

"I have something to tell you."

Sian carefully opened his mouth. More important than prayer was her and Ian's life. If it wasn't now, he had no time to ask for understanding and persuade. But she didn't answer anything. Nervous Sian called her again.

"Queen."

"No, don't."

"..."

"What other harm do you want to do to me?"

She opened her eyes, which she had gently closed. Beyond the cold-looking gaze, there was the pain of a brutal wound. She said, pressing down on the blessings of that feeling.

"I knew it from the beginning. It was an unwanted marriage. And my presence and background alone is a hindrance to His Majesty."

"Queen."

"Even though I knew that, I was clinging to Your Majesty. Because I liked you. Even my pride was not important. When His Majesty embraced me and Ian was formed, I was so happy that I cried out."

Her voice trembled thin. Sian couldn't say anything. He couldn't even say anything to console her because he couldn't even guess how much she must have been hurt.

"But I'm going to stop now. I can bear all the scars you give me. But it's not Ian, is it? Even if you didn't want to, even if it's a momentary mistake, he's Your Majesty's child."

"..."

Sian was full of words up to his throat. It was a misunderstanding. It was an inevitable choice to protect them. He also deeply...

"I'm not going to hang you anymore. I can't see Ian getting hurt because of me."

"Queen, please let's talk for a moment..."

It was when Sian was going to make a belated excuse.

"I loved you."

"...!"

"I really wanted to say this."

She smiled. Tears fell from the tail of her smiling eyes. Sian regretted to death. He was resentful of himself for giving her an indelible wound.

Sian reached out. He wiped those tears and decided to be honest with her even now. Otherwise, there was no guarantee that Sian would not collapse like her, who had been ruined. However, such a wish of Sian did not come true.

Kung. After the organ performance, the cardinals and priests returned to their final ceremonies.

"His Majesty and Her Majesty, please hold the hand of His Highness the Crown Prince."

All ceremonies ended with a toast to good health. She held the inside of the cradle in her arms without even making eye contact with Sian.

"Ian, that's your name."

Talking as if it was being imprinted, she left a formal goodbye to Sian and turned around. Sian could not bear to catch her as she was moving away. He had to endure it so as not to ruin the plan that he had been preparing even though it hurt her.

"Queen."

He didn't know then.

That it would be the last conversation he had with her. If he had known, he wouldn't have let her go like that.


—-

After that, Sian tried to create more opportunities to meet the Fake Veronica and convince her to escape, but he couldn’t. Then, one day, Sian decide he would go directly to her. He asked where Den was, the maid said that he hadn’t showed up yet. The maid said that she sent out another maid to check up on Den. He was worried because Den hadn’t done something like that in years, but believed Den to be competent, and let it pass. So he went to visit the Fake Veronica:

Sian, as usual, headed to the West Palace under the pretext of Empress Florence. He'd already figured out that she spends the day in Ian's room, finishing it off,

Sure enough, there were maids serving the fake Veronica in the hallway in front of Ian's room. Sian calmed down by slowing down the pace of unknowingly fastening. He'd reorganized his words thousands of times where to start and how to confess and persuade his true feelings.

It was time for Sian to stop walking.

Kkiiik. A visit, which preceded Sian's will, caught his way.

"Aren't you His Majesty?"

"Grand Duke Friedrich, why are you here?"

Sian's face confronted with an unexpected character hardened. Grand Duke Friedrich said to be polite in silence.

"Isn't she my daughter before the Queen? I stopped by because I was worried about her body."

As if he had oiled his tongue, Grand Duke Friedrich revealed the reason for his visit with a fluent speech. Sian's eyes became thinner. It is not wrong in principle. Why do parents come to see their children? Of course, under the assumption of a normal father-daughter relationship.

"Oh, is His Majesty here?"

From the opposite side of the inclined door came a clear woman's voice. The slightly raised tone was subtly different from the one Sian knew.

"I guess he's here to see you. Come and say hello to His Majesty."

The door, which had been half-closed horribly for Grand Duke Friedrich's words, opened and she came out.

"...!"

Sian's eyes opened wide. Wearing a elegant dress to be dignified as the queen, she was wearing a mermaid dress that showed her figure. She wore a colorful tiara on her head and decorated her whole body with earrings, necklaces and bracelets. It was a surprising change considering the simplicity of taking care of Ian since giving birth.

However, it was a subtly changed atmosphere that Sian was annoying, apart from the external changes. Last time she tried to distance herself from Sian, but she couldn't hide the pain behind it.

However, he could not feel such feelings from the woman in front of him. A proud and arrogant smile. It was an authoritative look that even looked down on Sian, the emperor. She looked overlapped with a devilish woman who was in Sian's memory. Sian felt that something was wrong.

"Father is also true, if Your Majesty comes, you should take him inside. What if you let him stand?"

"I've made a mistake. Your Majesty, come inside."

Veronica smiled. The reluctant smile hardened Sian's heart into conviction.

"Your Majesty, please come inside. I was enjoying tea time because the sun was so bright in the palace."

"..."

"I think it's going to be a better time with Your Majesty here."

Sian's face became serious when he realized it wasn't her.

'Why are you here.'

The woman in front of him is not her. It was really Veronica. They looked similar enough to believe they were twins, but Sian did not miss the subtle gap. They were married. He couldn't treat her as gently as he felt for her, but he never closed his eyes for a moment.

'What about her?'

Sian's mind turned white. If Veronica is here, it means that there was something wrong with her, who was the stand-in.

"What's wrong, Your Majesty?"

Sian bit his lower lip hard enough to leak blood. He wanted to get rid of Veronica, who was pretending to be her abominably. And he wanted to ask. Where is she? Bring her while I can say good things. But he knew that it would make things worse, so he put up with it for now.

"I'm not interested."

Sian, who coldly refused, headed toward the Empress Palace.

"Then there's nothing we can do. Go ahead, Your Majesty."

Veronica was consistent with ignoring Sian rather than being hurt. Then, she looked into eyes with Grand Duke Friedrich and laughed at him, dismissing Sian's disregard as the emperor's petty pride. Regardless, Sian, who reached the Empress' Palace with a scary face, suddenly turned around.

"Your Majesty, where are you going?"

When the immediate maid asked for his destination, Sian replied with a voice that killed his feelings.

"Get Den."

"Pardon?"

"Quickly!"

The maids under direct control were surprised by the intimidation of Sian, who had never shown his feelings, and told them to find out quickly. He was sure Den knew everything about the situation in the Imperial Palace.

'I'll find you wherever you are. So please just be safe.'

Sian did not believe in the Gaian denomination despite being a state religion. However, for the first time in his life, he prayed to Goddess Gaia with desperation.

May she be safe. I've never thought of a world without her. If she is safe, I will die and dedicate my soul to Goddess Gaia.

—

Turns out, Den was dead. Another knight that Sian had placed was also dead:

Boom! Sian hit the table hard while shaking his fist tightly. He didn't take his eyes off her for a moment. Although his plan went awry due to her premature birth, he moved the plan forward as much as possible to avoid the eye of surveillance. If she and Ian succeed in escaping, he planned to reform the Imperial Guard in the hope of a time when the Grand Duke was confused by the absence of the Queen and the Crown Prince. It was close to half the success. All he had to do was persuade her, but how did it get to this point?

"You're saying that even Sir Damon was killed?"

Sian secretly planted a man in the Imperial Palace. This is Damon, a knight who is quick to notice and is responsive to improvisation, and will be a member of the Imperial Guard in the future. Even that Damon went missing. Anxiety increased. Even at this time, he couldn't guarantee her safety.

"Your Majesty, Count Lyndon wishes to see you."

"Let him in."

Count Lyndon's expression, which came in when the office door opened, was also serious.

"Sir Damon's body has been found."

"What?"

Sian's eyes shook. Ominous speculation had become a reality.

"Your Majesty, what are you hiding from me? Why did Sir Damon keep an eye on the queen, and why was he killed in pursuit of someone late at night?"

"Pursuit? Who did Sir Damon pursue?"

"That's what I want to ask. What is Your Majesty's thinking with a rebellion on the verge?"

"Answer my question first. Who did Lord Damon track down?"

"I don't know either. But Sir Damon disappeared after he left a mark from the palace to the outskirts of the capital."

Marks are traces left when pursuing an enemy. Each knight has its own method, so you don't know it unless you are the knights' family.

"Where did he leave the last mark?"

"I'd like to ask you before I answer that question. Why did you keep the safe house secret?"

"You're saying that the direction the marker is not to go to the Great House?"

"Your Majesty, answer me first."

Count Lyndon did not back down. Although he was disappointed when Veronica was pregnant, he stood by Sian. It was the best choice for the revenge of Cecilia, the late Empress. However, from some point on, Sian's actions have become more incomprehensible.

Sian was also impatient. In the meantime, something could have happened to her. Sian stared at Count Lyndon, who was not convinced. He had a hunch that he could no longer hide it, and confessed the truth.

"The Queen Veronica seen by the Count is a stand-in."

"...!"

Count Lyndon was frightened by Sian's subsequent confession. He was shocked by the arrogance of the Grand Duke, who had made a stand-in, and he learned the reason why Ian was born with her. And the reason for the death of Den and the knight Damon.

"Why did you hide it from me! If you had been honest, you could have found another way."

"Because I had to protect her."

Blinded by the revenge of the Grand Duke after losing Cecilia, he almost tried to politically isolate the Grand Duke by using her by any means. Sian tried to stop it. In order to do so, it was best to hide that she was a stand-in.

"Even if you don't agree, today I am reforming the Imperial Guard."

"Your Majesty!"

It was a plan that he'd been preparing for several years. Count Lyndon's stomach burned as he said that he was going to move ahead of the board even if he did everything he could.

"Even if the Count does not agree... I will proceed with the event today. And I'll go to the safe house and save her."

Sian refused to compromise. It was too much to bear the desire to save her even now.

—

The Imperial Guard took control of the palace under Sian’s command. Sian decided to head to the safe house:

"Your Majesty, we have received the main palace."

Count Lyndon, who succeeded in occupying the imperial palace, ran over and reported.

"Please take care of the aftermath."

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! What are you doing? Your Majesty, please. Come on!"

When Sian ran away without looking back, he was surprised and attached three members of the Imperial Guard separately. Sian's phenomenal swordsmanship has no disagreement, but his own behavior was certainly dangerous.

Arriving at the stable, Sian rode out of the palace on his horse.

"Please, you must be safe."

Sian sprinted so that his eyebrows fluttered. He left the capital in no time. The sky was dark and he was on the first road, but he ran without hesitation because it was the geography he had seen on the map and memorized hundreds of times.

A mansion was seen in Sian's view, where even the noble stallion was exhausted. It was not suitable for this deep and subdued forest, so he could see that it was a safe house at a glance.

"What a bastard!"

Knights guarding the mansion blocked Sian's front. Although there was a report with extraordinary strength, it can not accept an inspection on Sian. Sian, who quickly defeated the enemy, ran into the mansion. Anyone who showed hostility was killed. Except for one person.

"There must be a woman who was brought here a few days ago. Tell me where she is."

"S-she's in the last room of the dungeon. Please, just let me live... Kol."

Sian killed the butler without any hesitation. Then he ran into the dungeon he told him about. Numerous prisoners trapped beyond the bars shouted for help, but they could not be heard by Sian.

"Only be safe."

As he reached the far corner of the third basement floor, he saw a cage over the other path. It was the last room the butler told him about.

"Queen!"

It was her. He saw her lying over the bars.

Sian lost his breath. Despair rained down to dampen his thoughts. His heart left nothing but empty cries. Please, he hoped it wasn't too late. Sian ran praying earnestly for her to stay alive. The steel bars that should be tightly closed were half open for some reason. As if it didn't matter if she ran away. He wouldn't have been so anxious if the iron bars were closed tightly.

"Queen!"

Candles swaying over her lying down without motion. Sian's heart fell to the reddish blood stains on the hem of her dress. Sian held her lying face down in his arms. Her skin, touching his hand, was as cold as ice. Sian bit his lips hard. He believed it was because it was cold here. However, at the sight of her face, which was pale and lifeless, Sian collapsed.

"Wake up."

Sian's voice trembled weakly.

"I was wrong. I won't hurt you again. I promise, can you look at me?"

The voice of Sian, who had been begging for it, gradually changed into a feeling of fainting. He tried to look away. And he wanted to believe it. She's alive. She just lost consciousness for a while. He waited for her to smile to purify his weary life as always.

However, it didn't take long to realize that it was a useless wind. She didn't smile. Keeping the coldness, she didn't even move in his arms.

"... Was it so painful that you couldn't even close your eyes?"

Sian's throat was dry. Her bloodstains were clear inside the prison. Her eyes were white as she crawled toward the cage with a sword stuck in her abdomen.

How unfair was she to die without even closing her eyes? Thinking of the fear and hopelessness she must have felt when she was killed, Sian grabbed her dress tightly.

He promised to protect her. He couldn't stand it because he was so pathetic that he made it into a false truth.

"I'm sorry."

Sian, who was sobbing silently, finally showed tears. The fact that there were so many things he wanted to say that he couldn't tell her again made him crazy.

He should've been more honest with her. If he was, she wouldn't have been hurt. Every moment he couldn't deliver anything and even ask for her name, he regretted it so much. Sian was sobbing. Without any sound.

"I'm sorry..."

Sian's empty apology, which hugged her strongly, echoed through the prison.


—-

Sian headed back to the imperial palace, Count Lyndon reported to him about how they were successful:

"Your Majesty, you're just one step away. Don't push the nobles too hard."

Instead of answering, Sian turned around and ignored him. Count Lyndon, who felt something chilly, asked.

"Where are you going, Your Majesty?"

"I need to see Veronica."

Sian did not name Veronica the Queen. For him, the only queen is she. Upon arriving at the West Palace, Sian headed straight to Veronica's bedroom. Lorentz, a direct knight from the Great House, had long been killed by Hwigin. Veronica was also trapped in the bedroom as if she was being detained.

"Your Majesty."

As he entered the bedroom, Veronica turned around and looked at Sian. A woman who looks like her but is too different. An authoritative, arrogant, and absolutely cruel woman. It was disgusting that Veronica, who didn't even want to do business, was using her place as hers.

"The palace has been noisy all night?"

"..."

"I can't see Lord Lorentz. What did Your Majesty do?"

Veronica smiled, pretending not to know even though she knew everything. While feeling nervous about the situation of the imperial palace, she was able to remain calm because of her firm belief in the background of the Grand Duke.

"Can I give you one advice to be blood and flesh for Your Majesty?"

"..."

"That's enough. If you cross the line, we get tired, right?"

Veronica left a significant comment and hugged Ian, who was asleep in the cradle. Ian, who had fallen asleep, cried loudly as soon as he was hugged by Veronica. As if he didn't like the fact that he was hugged by Veronica and felt uncomfortable.

"Look. Your Majesty is surprised by the smell of blood."

"To say that."

Sian strode toward Veronica, squeezing the handle of the sword tightly. Veronica, who was relaxing at best, asking what he could do, suddenly swallowed up in vain. She saw the sparkling madness in Sian's unusual eyes.

"W-Wait a minute, Your Majesty."

Veronica stepped back and was nervous. She didn't know why. There was a cold sweat on her back. There was a breathtaking fear. Veronica's body, which was stepping backward, hit the window frame. Veronica was nervous. He was so mad that she wondered if this man was really right. There was a fear that she could be killed.

"I-If you touch me, my father won't let it go."

Step.

"I'm your wife. I'm Ian's biological mother. You're not going to treat me like shit, are you?"

As Sian approached, composure disappeared from Veronica's face. Soon after, she realized that Ian was the only way to protect her body from Sian and tried to deal with it. Ian, who was in Veronica's arms, was taken away by Sian.

"Ian."

Sian looked down with a warm look, calling the child's name. A woman that no one in the world would remember. She couldn't even leave a trace just because she was a stand-in. He didn't even know her name.

Ian was the only precious thing she left in the world.

"You will never see Ian again."

"W-what?"

Sian left a one-sided notification and turned around, holding Ian in his arms. Although he couldn't keep her, he would still try his best to protect Ian. That was Sian's only atonement for her death.

"Y-Your Majesty, wait a minute! Stand there!"

To Sian, who turned around and moved away, Veronica only raised her voice and could not move a single step. Sian's cold eyes hardened her legs.

"You sleep well."

Ian, who was in Sian's arms, was asleep quietly. Even though it was his first time hugging him, he was as comfortable as if he knew it was his father's arms.

Sian told Ian everything he couldn't say. He didn't stop even though his throat was choked up. Keep sobbing tightly and calmly...

"Ian, your mother. She was the most beautiful and wise woman in the world. I've never stopped loving her for a moment. So let's remember. Although she may have lived as a shadow, she was a great Queen. You and I must not forget, Ian. Do you understand?"

Damn that took an hour.

The novel is on w*ttpad.

Also, the translator has a website.

https://thewebnovelhaven.wordpress.com/shadow-queen/

Oml praise u for typing this long ass comment BIG THANK YOU

God bless you cause I loved this. Thx so much (づ￣ ³￣)づ

You’re welcome!

╥﹏╥ thanks for the spoiler! Appreciate it. <3

Holy sh!t, you weren't kidding when you said you were writing a long reply LOL

omg thank u for this(≧∀≦)

Thank you for typing this long. ┗( T﹏T )┛

That was

what chapter is this in the novel?

Thank youu so muuuch
*respect*

Chaps 211 to 218

thank you huhuh your a great person