Obviously, It’s My Child

The reason the empress was keeping an eye on House Schneider was because Count Schneider’s third son got caught up in the crown prince’s assassination, and as a result, he had passed away.

Johann had thought it was no big deal until now. The dead third son was merely a fourth-grade official of the Crown Prince’s Palace.

He wasn’t exactly the crown prince’s aide, nor was the Schneider County as a whole affiliated with the crown prince.

The watchful eyes were loose, and there was no specific instruction to look into them. Johann had thought until now that the surveillance was due to paranoia.

But perhaps that was not the case. In the last two or three years, the demeanor towards the Schneider County had changed dramatically.

‘No, that’s not something for me to think about right now.’

What mattered now was not the information war between the Empress and House Klausener, but Johann’s own conduct.

If he were to get caught thinking too hard, he would lose his credibility. However, when he says only the obvious, his capabilities would be questioned.

Finally, after hesitating, he answered thoughtfully.

“Countess Schneider has access to the Lotus Palace.”

That was the most confidential  information he could tell, and one that House Klausener wouldn’t know.

* * *

‘The Lotus Palace? Isn’t that the Empress’s villa?’

Why was he suddenly talking about the Empress now?

Claire was taken aback. In the first place, she brought up the topic of House Schneider only because of Iris.

She knew exactly what Iris was trying to allude to by speaking about the dress.

It was common sense—of course, there were surprisingly many crazy people in the world—but she wouldn’t have been able to just act like that without any basis.

Considering Iris’s confidence, it seemed that there was something. So she meant to ask Johann about that.

It was because Louisa was one who would be most sensitive about Erich’s matters with women.

Even if there was nothing between Erich and Iris, there could be something like a promise between their families.

Anyway, it was a meaningless issue now that she had received the marriage proposal and the cornflower key from Erich.

Besides, it was better to just ask Erich directly instead of questioning the informant behind his back like this.

Nevertheless, she had gotten swept by impulse and asked Johann such a question in the end. She had been simmering over the matter ever since she met Iris today.

If she had to make an excuse, there might be a need for a new point of view that was different from the person inside Klausener.

Yet, she never thought that people like Countess Schneider and Empress would come up now.

‘I’m questioning the Empress’ spy, so it’s only obvious that information about the Empress is coming up.’

Claire narrowed her eyes as she looked at Johann. Her private feelings or complex thoughts had to be put aside for now.

Countess Schneider.

Countess Schneider, Katya, hails from a fallen noble household. But even that fact wasn’t certain at all.

Originally, she was known as an opera singer. Count Schneider, an art lover, had taken her as his mistress, and eventually as his second wife.

This was possible because he already had three sons, so the succession of his household already had a solid foundation. Besides that, the older brothers loved their youngest sister.

The Empress, who valued bloodline, was not someone to get close to that kind of person. If there had been any such rumors, Claire would have known too.

If it’s because of business, her ears were always open. If there was such a scandal, it’s impossible that she never heard of it before.

So, this relationship was a secret.

Why would the Empress meet the Countess in secret?

‘Is she a spy?’

Claire lowered her eyes.

“It must have been about twenty years ago that Countess Schneider married into the household.”

“It was seventeen years ago, to be precise. Miss Iris was six years old at the time,” Casey Morris replied.

It’s illogical to think that, since seventeen years ago, the Empress had sent someone to sit next to Count Schneider. No, it should be more than twenty-three years ago considering Iris’s age.

Twenty-three years ago,  the Empress was still only Ducal Lady Ernst, and Count Schneider would not have been worth much at the time. The Schneider County was a traditional Rommel noble family, but they were far from politics.

‘Then, is it because of the third son who died?’

Claire also knew that Count Schneider’s third son had died during the crown prince’s assassination. She went through the list of the dead during that incident many times, thinking that Elliot’s biological father might be among them.

‘Even if the third son had some important position, that was five years ago and Katya Schneider had already become the countess back then. It doesn’t make sense for the Empress to get the Countess on her side just to keep tabs on the County.’

Sending one of her current employees would have been much more efficient.

Claire raised her amber eyes and looked at Johann. Her eyes were radiant enough to dig into his brain.

“Sir, are you keeping Countess Schneider on surveillance?”

“No. I only make sure to inform Her Majesty of Miss Iris’s visits to the Elder Madam.”

“I see.”

Johann did not dare to meet her eyes, keeping his head bowed.

How much did she know? Or, what did House Klausener know?

What was she inferring now?

Feeling pressured, his back had gotten damp from cold sweat.

After a brief period of silence, Claire opened her lips to speak.

“Keep your relationship with Her Majesty the way it is. I wouldn’t dare ask you to betray her. Please continue doing as you have before.”

Johann lifted his head. Claire continued calmly.

“That’s why I’m trying to sign the second contract with Count Crozik, not you, Sir Johann. All I ask is that you give me the same report to the Empress about Duke Klausener’s residence.”

“I see.”

Johann relaxed and exhaled heavily.

“Casey will take care of the contract and visit the County in two days.”

“Yes.”

“Roger, take Sir Johann.”

“Yes, Baron.”

Roger Carson held up a candlestick. Johann stood up, greeted Claire, and followed Roger out of the office.