Chapter 176
Killian had experienced the despair, betrayal, guilt, and sense of loss that Mikhail was feeling.
He too once thought of Beatrice as a mother, and learning her true nature had been agonising.
He felt deep betrayal upon discovering that Nicholas was part of the Rosarphi.
The guilt was suffocating when he lost those who had helped him chase down the illegitimate child.
Moreover, he had witnessed his parents’ deaths right before his eyes.
He couldn’t say that he understood Mikhail completely, but at least he knew how painful the emotions Mikhail felt were.
Mikhail’s lips trembled as he met Killian’s gaze.
Mikhail felt guilty even for receiving Killian’s comfort.
When Killian lost his parents, discovered the truth about Beatrice, and was betrayed, wounded, and tormented by guilt, Mikhail was oblivious.
He had thought they were together, but in reality, he had left Killian alone.
All the pain he now felt, Killian had endured alone at a younger age, with no one to acknowledge or understand him.
Only now did he understand the distant expressions Killian sometimes showed.
“…I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Killian.”
Mikhail bowed his head again, his shoulders shaking.
In the past, Killian would have readily patted his shoulder and offered words of comfort, but now he felt a distance between them.
Killian watched him for a moment before quietly offering him a handkerchief.
Mikhail eventually broke down in tears.
Unable to even accept the handkerchief, he kept repeating his apologises.
—
A few days later, Sophia and Killian headed to the imperial palace.
Sophia was to be formally recognised as the Emperor’s illegitimate child.
“It’s been a while since I’ve worn a dress; it feels uncomfortable.”
Having only worn comfortable dresses while she was bedridden, the formal dress felt restrictive.
Killian, sensitive to Sophia’s complaints, responded quickly.
“Is it uncomfortable…?”
He worried that her injuries might be aggravated.
Sophia laughed at Killian’s attentiveness.
“Dresses have always been like this. Don’t worry.”
“Then perhaps you shouldn’t wear it.”
“It’s not like that, Killian!”
Sophia stopped him from seriously considering changing her outfit.
The dress wasn’t tightly laced or harmful to her injuries; it was just not as comfortable as casual clothes.
“It’s just that you haven’t looked very happy since earlier.”
“Me? Really?”
“I thought you’d be happy. Isn’t that the case?”
Killian asked, seeing Sophia’s less-than-enthusiastic expression.
“Oh, I’m just a bit overwhelmed; it doesn’t feel real.”
Sophia smiled.
But Killian was right. As he had read from her face, she wasn’t entirely pleased.
Sophia had many concerns about meeting the Emperor.
What would change now that her lineage was revealed?
She didn’t feel any more like the Emperor’s daughter or Count Fraus’ daughter.
She simply wanted to marry Killian and quietly enjoy her life.
‘Besides, isn’t it largely the Emperor’s fault that things turned out this way…?’
The apology she wanted wasn’t from Mikhail but from the Emperor.
How had he failed to properly supervise Beatrice, allowing this catastrophe to happen?
Standing up to Beatrice, uncovering the truth, and resolving the incident were the Emperor’s responsibilities.
‘But an apology from the Emperor is a big deal…’
Sophia thought her biological father was truly incompetent.
Killian watched Sophia, lost in thought.
Seeing she had many concerns but seemed to want to resolve them herself, he didn’t press further.
The central garden on the way to the imperial palace was still in disarray, unable to fully recover from the recent rampage.
Gardeners were busy levelling the ground and planting new soil.
They finally arrived at the imperial palace after passing through the garden, still bearing the scars of that day.
“Grand Duke Killian Viprons Rivelon and Lady Sophia Fraus.”
At the attendant’s announcement, the doors to the audience chamber opened.
Inside the vast audience chamber, people were already gathered.
At the end of the long red carpet leading from the entrance, the Emperor sat.
Sophia and Killian walked side by side down the carpet.
Next to the Emperor stood his attendants and Mikhail, with the Empire’s officials lined up on both sides below.
Count Fraus was among them.
Count Fraus flinched visibly upon making eye contact with Sophia.
Having stayed at the Grand Duke’s residence for her treatment, it was his first time seeing her since that day.
Although he had expressed his desire to visit her at the Grand Duke’s residence several times, he had been refused each time.
‘Sophia is an illegitimate child!?’
‘It seems so.’
‘That’s impossible! That girl is the daughter of the former Countess!’
‘Well, the truth is…’
One can imagine the uproar at the Count’s residence once the rumours about the illegitimate child spread.
Speculation about the illegitimate child’s identity ran rampant, but Count Fraus had already been summoned to the palace and interrogated about Sophia’s birth.
Learning the truth, Rubisella had been furious, wondering how to handle the situation.
The Count also felt uneasy.
They had despised her as an unknown girl, never imagining she was the Emperor’s daughter.
‘Still, she should be grateful…’
Thinking about it, Sophia owed her current life to the Fraus family.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say her life was built on the Fraus family’s power!
As the Count rationalised everything, Sophia and Killian stopped in front of the Emperor.
Despite their respectful bows, the Emperor remained silent for a long time.
The officials exchanged uneasy glances.
Normally, the Emperor would proceed with the formalities to declare Sophia’s royal status, but he just stared at her.
“…You are Gwendolyn’s daughter.”
The Emperor’s unexpected words made Sophia awkwardly smile.
The Emperor’s illegitimate child. Gwendolyn’s daughter.
Neither title felt like her own.
But she noticed a different look in the Emperor’s eyes.
She couldn’t tell if it was guilt or remorse, but it wasn’t an insolent gaze.
Perhaps he felt some responsibility for the Beatrice incident, she thought.
The Emperor eventually rose quietly, leaning on his cane.
His attendant handed him a golden decree.
“Sophia, step forward.”
The Emperor commanded Sophia, standing beside Killian, to step forward.
She took a step forward, feeling the eyes of the officials on her.
The Emperor opened the decree and looked around the room.
“To the gathered officials, all subjects of the Empire, and before God, I, Orhel III, hereby acknowledge Sophia as my daughter and a member of the Orhel Imperial Family, granting her the name Sophia Orhel.”
He slowly read the decree.
The decree not only acknowledged Sophia as a member of the royal family but also detailed the wealth she would receive.
In addition to the wealth she would inherit as a princess, it also included rewards for her role in resolving the recent incident.
Despite the vast wealth of the Fraus family and the Rivelon Duchy, Sophia was astounded by the immense fortune and rewards bestowed upon her.
‘Can I really receive all this?’
Sophia felt dizzy reading the list of her newfound wealth.
There was so much that she couldn’t remember everything, but it was enough to ensure she could support Killian even if he became a pauper.
“Thus, I command that Sophia Orhel be treated with the respect due to a member of the royal family.”
At the end of the long decree, the Emperor lifted his head.
The officials bowed to Sophia.
“Congratulations, Princess Sophia Orhel.” (T/L: Woah)
The audience chamber resonated with congratulatory voices for Sophia.
Feeling awkward, Sophia looked at Killian, who smiled and bowed his head.
“Congratulations, Princess Sophia Orhel.”
And, my fiancée.
—
That night, a grand banquet was held to celebrate Sophia.
Though Beatrice, who usually organised such events, was absent, the experienced palace servants managed everything flawlessly.
Among the guests, Count Fraus and his wife pushed forward to the centre, proudly showcasing their connection to Sophia.
“Sophia…!”
They stood in the centre, acting as if they were the main characters.
“This is such a wonderful event!”
Rubisella clasped her hands to her chest, congratulating Sophia.
They presented themselves confidently as the foster parents of the princess.
But.
“Please mind your manners.”
Sophia spoke without smiling.
“Uh, what?”
“I never gave you permission to call me Sophia so casually.”
Sophia’s cold words left Count Fraus and his wife bewildered.
Honestly, Sophia didn’t care much if people called her Sophia or Princess.
If Estelle had congratulated her, even calling her ‘Sophie,’ she would have smiled and accepted it.
But not Count Fraus and his wife.
‘How shameless…’
They had despised and humiliated her, only to now act friendly.
“Did you come here not knowing who I am?”
