Although the Emperor showed no fluctuation on his expression, he saw through Empress Carolina's intention fully.
'She wanted to use her relationship to the temple and be one step ahead of me in finding the subject of the oracle!'
He understood in his heart that Empress Carolina will always be a poisonous person. Her moves meant something that would surely benefit her, even at the cost of someone's life.
He then nodded with a mysterious look on his deep crystal blue eyes,
"Uhn, now that you reminded me, my three wives haven't visited the temple yet ever since the blessing ceremony of my fourth grandchild! Then the three of you should come with me!"
His tone was sincere, no one would suspect that he just said it to shackle Carolina's movements in the temple.
Taken aback by the Emperor's reply, Empress Carolina and Queen Lucia could only just nod.
After a bit of discussion, everyone had left the study. While the Emperor met his aides for their reports, before retiring to his chambers.
However, he didn't stay in his bed chambers for long. He immediately proceeded to his secret chamber and saw that Queen Tehila was already anxiously waiting for him, while Leon was steadfastly guarding his mother.
Noticing the arrival of Emperor Valentin, Queen Tehila didn't hold back with her anger anymore and exclaimed,
"It's her! It's definitely her! That curse.. Only she can do that!" Her anger intensified as she remembered that Empress Carolina had almost cause her to hurt Eli and Little Han during that time.
Emperor Valentin also frowned, yet he didn't forget to calm Queen Tehila down. With pain in his eyes, he could only grit his teeth while saying,
"I know.. I know.. But we do not have evidence to punish her right now."
Leon had a confused look in his eyes, he felt that his father and mother really wanted to punish Empress Carolina, but were restraining themselves fully.
"Why can't you just retaliate?" Leon finally asked.
The two paused for a moment. Grievance and hatred flashed in their eyes. It was Emperor Valentin who replied to Leon, with a face full of struggle.
"It was because of the sinister magic she used. It was not the first time we witnessed her use that kind of sinister magic… But we even do not know if the magic really came from her abilities or she bought it from others." Emperor Valentin explained clearly avoiding some facts.
Leon noticed his father's restraint however, he got one important point - it was not the first time Empress Carolina used this kind of sinister magic!
"It would be helpful to know what was the nature of the magic she used during the first time you witnessed it." Rubbing his chin in contemplation, he decided to know more about the matter.
"This.." Emperor Valentin immediately reacted adversely. He looked at the Queen with worry and sighed, "Never mind, forget it.. The matter is too sensitive for - "
But a resolute voice interrupted the Emperor,
"I'll say it. I will be the one to describe it!" It was Queen Tehila, she was clearly shaken yet she tried to stay calm and strong as she uttered these words.
"My Dear, you can't! It will make you remember horrible things!" Emperor Valentin worriedly stopped the queen. A trace of heavy guilt and anguish could also be seen in his expression.
"No.. This matter may even implicate Eli and Little Han in the future!"
"What could the opening of old wounds compare to the safety of our people!" She said in a forceful manner. Then, she looked at Leon and beckoned him to sit and listen intently.
Queen Tehila then explained the truth behind the conception of Kazimir and Antoine.
She started from how obsessed Empress Carolina was with Emperor Valentin. Her trial, her stint in the temple and on how she threatened her way to the Empress title.
Then she narrated how the Emperor was drugged and how she blackmailed the two queens to allow her to sleep with the Emperor, or else he will die.
Leon quitely took in the tragedy that his parents suffered under Empress Carolina's schemes. He never asked about the matters of his birth, even on the reason why his father took three wives instead.
But now, he fully knew and he couldn't help but feel guilty for being emotionally distant to his parents.
Now, as a man who was experiencing a yearning for someone, he could only imagine the heartbreak and the deep wounds his parents suffered before they were healed enough to decide on conceiving him.
Also, Leon was particularly interested in the drug that was fed to the Emperor.
After Queen Tehila calmed down from the emotions she reopened through narrating this horrible story, he looked deeply towards the two and asked,
"May I know the symptoms when you were suffering the curse of the drug?"
The Emperor and Queen enumerated the symptoms in reply.
Vomiting blood, erratic heart rate, appearance of dark purple veins and visible loss of life essence.
!!! Leon couldn't help but stand in alarm and shock.
"Son, what's wrong? Did you realize something?" The two inquired worriedly, seeing that their son was visibly shaken and shocked.
"Those symptoms, I have witnessed them personally happening to someone!" Leon clenched his fist, although like him, that memory was something that brought him conflicted feelings and guilt, he needed to tell it all to his parents.
"It was the very symptom that Eli experienced in Riverfort that left me no choice but to take action!" He said with a low voice.
"What!!" The two exclaimed.
Queen Tehila now forgot her past grievances and asked Leon in disbelief. "Son! You told me before, you didn't force yourself on Eli!" She looked at her with an accusing look.
Emperor Valentin casted a sympathetic look towards his son. It seems like their generation had a clashing affinity with that particular curse.
The two couldn't be blamed, after all Leon still didn't tell them what exactly happened that made Eli and Leon bring Little Han to this world.
"Errr.. It wasn't actually forced.. She woke up in the middle of the struggle from the curse and…" Leon now actually found himself embarrassed as he remembered what really transpired after.
"She gave her consent. She even made me promise afterward that I must not bring the matter up ever." He said meekly.
Emperor Valentin and Queen Tehila were baffled by the revelation. This was the second time they felt as conflicted as that wedding night.
Thinking about it, now it made sense that Leon was not able to immediately take responsibility for the matter.
It was because 'Eli' chose to be nonchalant about it. Only when Leon determined that the event had caused Little Han to be conceived, did he exhausted all he had to find and take Eli in.
The trio paused for a while to take in everything that happened.
After sometime Leon then commented, "We have more or less determined that the same curse that was used against you was also the one used by Eli."
"I can start investigating this matter by backtracking if there are any black market activities with the capital that time. However, during Eli's time, I have already done an investigation and determined that there were no black market operations in town and surrounding areas within that time period."
Emperor Valentin blankly stared at a random flower in the garden, soon a butterfly landed on top of it then flew away to go to the other.
As if getting an idea from the scene he was blankly watching, Emperor Valentin replied, "Why not start directly with the Vesalas? Try to test if there are any links to the curse and Eli's circumstance in Riverfort."
"Alright, Riverfort still has some forces belonging to the Vesala." Leon nodded in agreement.
Riverfort was located in the southeastern border of the Empire, although remote, it was still barely within Vesala's area of influence. Starting from this angle was also not bad.
"Then, I'll start investigating this matter right away!" Leon said as he stood up to leave.
"Wait!" The Emperor suddenly stopped him with hesitation.
Leon casted the Emperor with an inquiring look.
"Will you check if Eli and Little Han were doing well in the Forgeworns?" The Emperor sheepishly requested.
Since they were already in the capital, His and Queen Tehila's every move would be closely monitored all around.
But Leon still has some freedom to do so, since he still was the 'barbaric blood prince' to many.
People would tend to leave him be at the moment.
"Uhn! I'm planning to stay there anyways. I'll make sure they are fine." Leon said with reassurance.
Without hearing his father and mother's reply, Leon immediately bowed with respect to his parents and said goodbye.
"Aiyoo this kid!" Queen Tehila smiled helplessly, "He couldn't wait to see his little family!"
--
Empress Carolina still couldn't help but smile triumphantly as she remembered Queen Tehila's struggling look earlier.
She was sure that she was reprimanded and blamed because of the curse she planted on her.
"Too bad, your father still protected her and concealed the matter." She scornfully said while looking at his son who was equally elated from seeing his Father Emperor's cold treatment of Tehila.
"Well it can't be blamed, but soon, if these things will add up, he could no longer afford to protect her under his wings! No matter how he tried!" Empress Carolina leaned on the couch leisurely while a vicious smile appeared on her aged yet ethereal looking face.
"What are you up to, my dear mother?" Kazimir asked with excitement while slowly sipping his cup of tea.
Placing her hands together in a schemeful manner, she squinted her amethyst eyes while replying, "Well our poor bard queen had already managed to offend the elves right?"
Kazimir nodded wordlessly.
Letting out a light yet spiteful chuckle, she then continued, "Then what do you think about her offending the temple?"
