Chapter 175
Even now, it was a story that Sophia found hard to believe.
She recalled the explanation Killian gave her right after the carriage accident.
‘I’m… that illegitimate child?’
At the time, Sophia thought Killian was mistaken.
‘But I am Count Fraus’s daughter?’
‘… I told you. You and I are not related by blood. You don’t believe me?’
Ian had said.
Sophia couldn’t bring herself to say, ‘Of course, I thought you were a Fraus…’
According to Killian and Ian, Sophia was not the biological daughter of Count Fraus.
She was a child secretly adopted by the former Countess from the northern region close to the Grand Duchy.
“No matter how I think about it, it’s unbelievable.”
Of course, she thought it was the original heroine, Estelle, but she turned out to be a royal.
‘Is it possible for me to be the main character of this story?’
Sophia still felt dazed thinking about her origins.
‘Could it be that in the original story, Sophia Fraus’s death in the carriage accident was…?’
Sitting quietly on the bed, she began to piece things together.
In the original, Killian was depicted as having killed Sophia because she was an obstacle to his love with Estelle.
However, the Killian she knew would never kill her, even if they were only contractually engaged.
Besides, it didn’t make sense that Killian, who lost his parents in a carriage accident, would similarly kill his fiancée, especially given his trauma.
But if, in the original story, Beatrice had discovered the truth first and taken action.
Killian had no interest in Sophia and only cared about Estelle, so it would have been easy for Beatrice to dispose of Sophia.
And then blame it on the Black Moon…
Realising the truth of the original story made Sophia shiver.
“The Imperial Family has completed their investigation on you.”
“An investigation on me?”
Killian nodded.
While Sophia was recovering, the Emperor had people investigate her origins.
They summoned Count Fraus for questioning and sent people to the place where the former Countess had adopted the child.
The conclusion was:
“The Imperial Family has decided to officially recognise you as royalty.”
Killian handed Sophia a golden envelope.
The envelope, sealed with the imperial seal, contained an official announcement recognising Sophia as royalty.
“If you agree, this announcement will be made public.”
“Ah…”
Sophia read the announcement with a strange feeling.
Her agreement seemed more like a formality.
It would be odd for her to refuse, after all.
The Fraus family hadn’t provided her with a prosperous and happy home, so there was no reason to remain a Fraus.
Royalty… it still didn’t feel real.
Whether she was Sophia Fraus or Sophia Orhel didn’t seem to matter much.
Once her body healed, she would soon marry Killian and become ‘Sophia Rivelon.’
“Of course, you can take your time to reply. There’s no rush.”
Actually, the Imperial Family wanted to handle Sophia’s matter quickly.
But for Killian, Sophia’s health was the priority.
“By the way… what about Prince Mikhail?”
Sophia asked as she put down the golden envelope.
She had been curious about Mikhail since waking up but hadn’t dared to ask Killian.
But now that the topic of the Imperial Family had come up, she used it as an excuse to ask about Mikhail.
“Prince Mikhail seems to be quite distressed.”
Killian said.
He hadn’t met Mikhail since that day.
He didn’t know what to say to him.
The Emperor eventually dethroned the deceased Beatrice and did not hold a funeral for her at the Imperial Palace.
Mikhail ended up bidding farewell to his mother alone.
A small, almost unnoticeable funeral attended by no one—neither the Emperor, Killian, nor other guests.
Not even worthy of being called a “ceremony.”
They buried Beatrice’s body, and Mikhail managed to get permission to bury a small memento with her.
“Killian, do you resent Prince Mikhail?”
Sophia cautiously asked Killian.
Killian shook his head.
“Not resentment, but regret.”
After the carriage incident, Killian concluded that he needed to end the fight with Beatrice as soon as possible for Sophia’s sake.
Because of that, he felt guilty for revealing the truth to Mikhail in such a sudden and shocking manner.
Mikhail hadn’t had time to process the truth, let alone manage his emotions and think rationally.
Moreover, witnessing Beatrice’s suicide in front of him would have been too much for anyone to handle.
Killian felt that he had inflicted an indelible wound on Mikhail.
“I don’t think I can go back to how I was with the prince.”
Killian smiled bitterly as he recalled Mikhail, who would come to his side and hold his hand affectionately whenever he had a nightmare.
Then, he glanced at Sophia.
“If it made you uncomfortable, I apologize. It will take some time for me to sort things out with the prince.”
Killian worried that his fondness for Mikhail might hurt Sophia, who had nearly died because of Beatrice.
To Sophia, who hadn’t spent much time with Mikhail, he might seem like an accomplice to Beatrice…
“No, I don’t dislike Prince Mikhail.”
Sophia said to Killian, who was apologising to her.
“I was just worried about you. You liked the crown prince, didn’t you?”
Sophia held Killian’s hand.
There were probably emotions between Killian and Mikhail that neither could explain due to Beatrice’s actions.
Just then, Ben, the servant, knocked and entered.
“Master, Prince Mikhail is here…”
Hearing Mikhail’s name, Sophia and Killian were startled as if they had been caught discussing a secret.
They had just been talking about Mikhail, and now he was here.
“The prince?”
“Yes. He has requested an audience with you. What should I do?”
Ben looked troubled.
The servants were aware of what happened to Empress Beatrice.
And they knew how complicated the relationship between Killian and Mikhail had become.
“He emphasised repeatedly that he came personally because sending a letter would be rude. He also said to feel free to decline if it’s inconvenient.”
Sophia looked at Killian.
“…What’s the purpose of his visit?”
After hesitating, Killian asked Ben.
“He said he wanted to apologise.”
Ben scratched his head awkwardly.
Killian bit his lip.
“Killian.”
Sophia held Killian, who was struggling to decide.
When he looked at her, she nodded.
“You can’t avoid him forever.”
Mikhail must have taken a long time and gathered a lot of courage to come here to apologise.
They couldn’t just turn him away.
This might be the first and last chance to resolve their complicated relationship with Mikhail.
In the end, Killian nodded too.
“Show him in.”
As soon as Killian gave permission, Ben quickly ran outside.
Even after allowing Mikhail in, Killian anxiously bit his lip.
Soon, Mikhail entered the room where the two were.
“Killian… and Lady Sophia.”
Mikhail couldn’t bring himself to fully enter the room, standing at the door, facing them.
In just a few days, Mikhail had noticeably lost weight.
His cheeks were sunken, and his clothes hung loosely on him.
The always gentle and kind face now bore a dark shadow.
Killian noticed how rough Mikhail’s nails had become.
When Mikhail was anxious and uneasy as a child, he had a habit of biting his nails.
It seemed that habit had resurfaced, gnawing at him once more.
“Please come in, Your Highness.”
Killian said to Mikhail, who was hesitant at the door.
Mikhail, hesitating, stepped heavily into the room at Killian’s permission.
“Forgive me for receiving you like this, Your Highness.”
Sophia, who was leaning on the bed, greeted him with proper etiquette, and Mikhail shook his head.
“Please don’t, Lady Sophia. I came here to apologise to both of you.”
Mikhail, having only crossed the threshold, still stood by the entrance, bowing his head.
“Truly… I am sincerely sorry, Grand Duke Rivelon, and Lady Sophia.”
Mikhail’s voice trembled.
He addressed Killian as “Grand Duke Rivelon.”
The distance between them seemed like it would never be bridged.
“I know my apology can’t wash away my mother’s sins. But… I felt it was my duty.”
After Beatrice’s death, no one had taken responsibility for her crimes.
Mikhail was left to bear the remaining guilt alone.
“I should have realised sooner.”
Mikhail said.
If he had realised earlier…
If he hadn’t ignored his mother’s strange behaviour and had paid attention…
If he had boldly faced her sins, perhaps none of this would have happened.
And if he had acted more wisely, perhaps his mother wouldn’t have died the way she did.
He might have paid for her crimes properly and sought forgiveness from everyone…
“I know saying I didn’t know sounds like an excuse…”
“Your Highness.”
Killian interrupted Mikhail’s apology.
“I understand.”
Mikhail looked up at Killian.
Killian just locked eyes with Mikhail.
