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After a bath, Vera, now changed into a silky nightgown, tiptoed across the pine-wood floor. She sat sideways at her dressing table, twisting her hair into a bun as she gazed into a copper mirror.

Reflected in the mirror was a beautiful face, ethereal and delicate like a rose moistened by the morning dew, incomparably stunning.

The room filled with a faint, lingering floral scent, fresh and timeless.

Colin lazily lounged on the sofa, quietly appreciating the gracefulness of his wife, Vera, before finally breaking the silence with a laugh,

“What’s the golden mark on your chest?”

Vera cocked her head, similarly puzzled, “I don’t know, it just appeared today. Maybe it has something to do with the baptism ceremony.”

Colin’s smile faded slowly as he furrowed his brows, “Baptism?”

“Yes, but I don’t feel any different.” Vera didn’t seem to be bothered at all.

Seeing Colin’s worry, Vera tiptoed over, deftly jumped onto the sofa, and cuddled into his arms.

“Then let me take a closer look.” Colin wrapped his arm around Vera’s slender waist, reaching to untie her nightgown.

Vera just giggled without protesting.

However, at that moment, there was a knock on the door.

Colin had to pause, asking irritably, “What is it?”

A maid’s voice reverberated from outside, “Viscount Angler, Her Majesty the Queen requests your presence for a lesson with Prince Harrison and Princess Judy.”

Colin was speechless for a while, Teacher at this hour!

Vera lightly kissed Colin’s cheek, cheerfully urging him, “Go quickly, don’t keep Aunt waiting.”

Resigned, Colin rose to his feet, “Alright, if I come back late, you can sleep first.”

Vera nodded, beginning to help Colin change his clothes.

Once everything was in order, Colin exited the room and followed the maid towards the main hall.

The further they went, the tighter the security Colin noticed.

About a quarter of an hour later, the maid finally halted her steps, subtly pushing open the ornamental Golden Silkwood door, and gestured a bow to Colin.

Colin nodded, stepping in.

Aside from the dark red round table, the white woolen carpet, and the exquisite crystal chandeliers, the room was empty.

“Her Majesty the Queen?”

Colin called out tentatively, and then heard a seductive voice responding, “Viscount Angler, please come in.”

Colin took a few more steps and turned a corner before finding the inner door.

Lifting the light gauze hanging on the door, Colin entered the inner chamber.

Pink curtains, a luxurious ivory bed, an exquisite dressing table—Colin immediately realized this must be the Queen’s bedroom.

A mild night breeze blew in, the curtains on the balcony swaying softly, revealing a faint and delicate silhouette.

Colin quickly greeted, “Your Majesty the Queen!”

Queen Midela turned her head, casting a soft smile towards Colin, “I hope you don’t mind me calling you at this late hour.”

“Of course, not. Where are Prince Harrison and Princess Judy? And how should we start their lessons?”

“There is no rush for that. I have something more important to discuss with you.”

“Please feel free to speak your mind.” Colin had a bad hunch, but since he was already here, he couldn’t just turn and run.

“Don’t be nervous, take a seat.”

Colin glanced around the room. The only seating options were the bed and the chair in front of the dressing table… Clearly he wouldn’t sit on either, so he awkwardly stood still, pretending he hadn’t heard.

Luckily, Queen Midela didn’t insist. Seeing Colin’s reaction, she didn’t press further and instead asked, “What do you think about the baptism ceremony this morning?”

His heart skipped a beat as Colin instantly recalled the seemingly divine stare from above and Prime Minister Heidegger’s hesitations.

“It was wonderful,” Colin played dumb, “To have the Pope himself baptize Vera is indeed a great honor!”

Queen Midela watched Colin with a half-smile, as if trying to see through his real thoughts.

But Colin lowered his head, unmoved by the Queen’s probing gaze.

“Oh~” Queen Midela sighed regretfully, a hint of melancholy in her voice, “It seems that you still don’t trust me.”

“Of course I trust Your Highness,” Colin immediately replied, without any real sincerity implied.

The room fell silent, only the rustling sound of the night wind against the curtains can be heard.

After a long wait without hearing the Queen’s voice, Colin couldn’t help but raise his head, he found her eyes calmly looking right back at him.

The night breeze blew her thin dress tightly against her body, outlining a graceful figure.

Colin immediately averted his gaze and returned to his previous composed state.

Queen Midela finally spoke again, only this time, her voice became somewhat serious: “Colin, you may not have realized the severity of the situation.”

“Your Highness, please forgive my ignorance!” Colin still acted the same, seemingly determined to keep his distance from the gorgeous queen.

Queen Midela’s face did not betray any particular emotion. She left the balcony and began to walk slowly towards Colin, saying, “Remember the first time we met, it was in Winterfell City, right? We were there for Vera’s coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Colin became even more puzzled about what the queen intended to do.

“I remember that coming-of-age ceremony was quite marvelous! The Prince Troll, the Half-Elf Prince, and you, all three of you proposed to Vera. My brother ultimately chose the Half-Elf Prince, and you two almost fought over this…”

Listening to Queen Midela recalling the past, Colin remained silent, continuously guessing the queen’s ultimate intention.

“…oh right, there was another big incident at the time—” Queen Midela walked up to Colin and whispered, “Marquis Adams was poisoned to death!”

Colin lowered his head, looking at the queen’s ivory feet with nails shimmering like crystal. He couldn’t help but squint his eyes.

Queen Midela raised Colin’s chin, forcing his gaze towards herself and asked with a smile, “Do you know who poisoned him?”

Colin’s mind filled with countless thoughts, yet he was unable to grasp the crucial one.

This riddle had confounded him for a long time.

His first main suspect was Marquis Garcia.

As at that time, Duke St. Hilde had just betrayed his own brother and broke his promise. He did not grant Vera the title of Eastern Marquis, but chose his second son Adams instead.

Colin’s first reaction, which was likely most people’s at that time, was that the death of Adams was Garcia taking revenge on his own brother!

However, later on, Colin felt that Garcia, given his nature, might not commit such a sinister deed.

When he guessed Duke St. Hilde’s plan against the Half-Elves in Silver Moon City, Colin thought that it might be a strategy by Duke St. Hilde, who poisoned his own son.

But upon learning that Duke St. Hilde was a Holy Knight, Colin immediately overturned his guess.

After all, Duke St. Hilde, who had the strength of a Holy Knight, would not have to resort to this measure to achieve his goal.

Colin had given up, thinking the death of Marquis Adams would forever remain a mystery. However, now Queen Midela brought it up again.

This made Colin can’t help but think …

Observing the changing expression on Colin’s face, Queen Midela finally revealed a satisfied smile. However, she didn’t seem contented with just that and continued,

“And the will left by Duke St. Hilde, can you guess why he named Vera as his first inheritor?”

Colin’s mouth opened slightly, not knowing how to answer.

The smile on Queen Midela’s face grew even brighter before she dropped another bombshell: “Did you know? The king tried twice to deny Vera’s inheritance rights, but I stopped him both times.

Do you know why?”

Colin looked at her captivating face, his heart pounding as if about to burst out of his chest.

A thousand thoughts converged into one answer in his mind, but that answer made Colin want to turn and run.

Queen Midela enjoyed watching Colin’s struggle and said with a beaming smile, “Colin, did you know that the person in this world who most wishes to see Vera become the Northern Duke, aside from you, is me.”

At this moment, Colin calmed down instead.

He knew that Queen Midela had put her cards on the table.

This could only mean that the situation was as she said, extremely serious.

She didn’t give Colin an inch of leeway to maintain a superficial trust with her while suspecting her intentions at the same time.

“Your Highness, I understand.” Colin no longer avoided Queen Endemic’s gaze and replied solemnly.

“What do you understand?” Surprise flickered in Queen Midela’s eyes.

“I understand why I should trust you.”

“Why?”

Colin gently pushed away Queen Midela’s hand, took a small step back, and said respectfully,

“Because, you are Vera’s biological mother!”