That's a very good hypothesis. I actually think this could be possible. ヾ(☆▽☆)
Can you tell me ,in which chapter does the queen come in?? I don't remember her face lolol
When Jeremy was sick and the crown prince wanted to visit him, he had a discussion with the king and there was a picture of her on the wall, and she looked exactly like the FL. I don't remember the chapter but you can go back a few chapters and you're going to find it.
javascript:;
oh shoot ma dumb*ss phone
ch. 28
TYSM!! ヾ(☆▽☆)
Holy shizzles!! You were right!! The queen looks exactly like Shuli!!
What if shuli is actually the love child of the late queen.. and the Duke. Now bare with me!
What if the queen hid her pregnancy as much as she could and gave the child awy.. what if the duke finds out later but realises he's got little options if he wants to save the dignity of all involved. If he admitted shuli was his child, the assumption would straight away go to the queen who looks like her and who he had access to, right. Ruining his relationship and reputations within society, which would thus effect his childrens (more importantly his son andheir) futures. It could also taint the memory of his wife and ruin any relationship he had with his kids.
But maybe his honor still couldnt bare to see his child with a woman he cherished, suffer poverty, when she had right to more, when he could give her more...
Now! What if he knew he was dying (which some evidence shows was probably the case) and he being worried about leaving his children and fortune in the hands of his greedy family, what if he saw an opportunity to kill to birds!
His eldest technically by the theory eould be Shuli, she could in a legitimate setting be the legal guardian for her siblings and control the estate until his son is old enough, and as long as shes not greedy there should be no problems...but he already knows legitimising her would be a trouble.
So how does he give her control and guardianship of the estate, while also giving her the life she deserves as a full noble that she is....
╥﹏╥
Sooooo yhhhh...he even raised her as if he was raising the eldest child in a crash course of taking over once he's gone, all under the pretence of her duty as his wife... what if this was all his plot of bringing his family together to prosper without interference while he was gone, and without ruining any lives and reputations..
(๑•ㅂ•)و✧
Look its kind of icky but it could work as a theory! Unless i missed something? Lets discuss!