Since the incident at the party that day, unpleasant rumors began to spread. People outside started gossiping about Race, thinking he wanted to take over the kingdom using Ivy, especially after all the investigations into Mr. Marionet. Everything was exposed—the monsters that had haunted the eastern territories, especially Winter, were sent by Mr. Marques Marionet. Even the recent disease outbreak in the east and the monsters looting the ruby stones were also orchestrated by Mr. Marionet.

Now, everyone's suspicion turned to Ivy. They all considered Ivy as an accomplice of Mr. Marionet. Ivy found herself cornered, including the rumors about Race wanting to become the crown prince.

Mr. Milano and King Michel were having tea in the palace's backyard. Both of them had been silent, gazing at the darkening sky. King Michel occasionally sipped his tea while Mr. Milano glanced at his younger brother. After a while, Mr. Milano cleared his throat softly, catching King Michel's attention.

"What's on your mind, brother?" King Michel asked.

"What are you thinking?" Mr. Milano inquired.

King Michel remained silent for a moment and shrugged.

"I don't know, too much on my mind right now."

"Have you been swayed by the rumors about Race?"
Mr. Milano asked again, looking earnestly at King Michel.

King Michel gave a faint smile and shook his head.

"Of course not, brother. He's my nephew, if he really wanted to take over the kingdom, wouldn't he have done it long ago? Besides, he's also a direct descendant of Agnito."

King Michel had no ill thoughts about his nephew. However, everything puzzled King Michel, especially the issue with Ivy.

"What's bothering you so much now? Is it about Ivy?" Mr. Milano continued to press his younger brother.

"Who else? She's my biggest concern. Ivy is very useful to us, but on the other hand, she's also very dangerous. What if she really is Mr. Marionet's accomplice?"

"Why are you hesitating? Prosecute her! Follow the rules of the kingdom!"
Mr. Milano insisted, sticking to his doctrine. Race's father truly disliked Ivy, not for any reason but because she was a witch.

"Should it be like that, brother?" King Michel asked, uncertain.

"What's making you doubt?" Mr. Milano questioned.

"Race, how can I harm my own nephew? He would be devastated."

Mr. Milano snorted softly and turned his face away. He looked straight ahead and took a deep breath.

"From the beginning, this was an arranged marriage. Race was forced to marry Ivy. So you don't need to worry; Race will surely forget Ivy quickly," Mr. Milano said with great confidence.
***
The morning was approaching, but Ivy was still reluctant to let go of her embrace around Race. Seeing his wife acting unlike her usual self, Race furrowed his brows in confusion.

"Are you sick, Iv?" Race asked gently while stroking Ivy's hair softly.

"No," Ivy replied shortly, shaking her head.

"Then why haven't you gotten up? You're not usually like this," Race said again.

Ivy didn't answer and instead lifted her head. She looked at Race and gave a faint smile.

"Just want to," she said.

Race's eyebrows furrowed even more in confusion; he truly felt uneasy about Ivy's current behavior. Race then gently stroked Ivy's cheek.

"Ivy, don't lie to me," Race pleaded.

"I'm not lying, Race. I just want to hug you like this until I'm satisfied."

"We can do that later; now, let's take a bath and have breakfast. Gareta and Selina must be wondering why we're not getting up," Race invited again.

"Just let it be, Race. I still want it like this."
Ivy wrapped her arms around Race again, burying her face in his chest. Finally, Race just let his wife do what she was doing.

A few silent seconds passed, and Ivy lifted her head again.

"Race, may I ask you something?"

"What?"

"Do you want to have children? Lately, after everything that happened, suddenly I want to have a son or a daughter."

Suddenly bringing up the topic of children, Race became even more puzzled about why his wife was discussing this now.

"Why suddenly talk about children?" Race asked, surprised.

"Just answer, Race! Do you want to have children or not?" Ivy insisted.

Race gave a faint smile and then cupped Ivy's cheek.

"Everyone who gets married surely wants to have children. And so do I, Iv. I want to have a son and a daughter. For me, two is enough; the son will become a strong knight like me to protect you and his sibling," Race began to daydream.

Ivy continued to stare at Race with a radiant smile. She kept observing her husband's face. She wanted to keep looking at Race's face until she felt bored, even though that would probably never happen.

"What about you?" Race asked later.

"If you make our son a knight, let me make our daughter like me. She will protect her father and older brother, just like how I protect you and Winter," Ivy said, suddenly teary-eyed.

Race furrowed his brows, looking at Ivy, who seemed sad.

"Hey, why do you look sad all of a sudden?" Race asked.

"I'm not sad, Race. I'm happy. Just imagining it already makes me this happy. What more if all of that can come true."
Ivy wiped away the tears that had fallen. Race smiled and gently wiped Ivy's tears away.

"In that case, let's start planning now. Whether a boy or a girl is born first doesn't matter, right?" Race said, smirking and looking at his wife.
***
The atmosphere in the palace was now bustling, with all the kingdom's dignitaries gathered, including Race and Ivy. This was a sudden meeting called by King Michel. No one knew what would be discussed by Winter's father.

"What do you think will be discussed, Winter?" Race asked his cousin in a half-whisper.

"I don't know; let's just wait!" Winter responded.

Ivy kept staring at Race and Winter with a sad expression. She then held Race's hand, which was beside hers. Feeling Ivy's cold hand, Race turned to look at his wife.

"Iv, are you okay? Why is your hand so cold?" Race asked, feeling worried.

Ivy smiled and nodded.
"I'm fine. Maybe it's just because of the cold weather," Ivy reasoned.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Ivy managed to convince Race and make him believe. On the other hand, Winter looked at Ivy, who had seemed sad since earlier.

"What else are you looking at, Iv? You must be hiding something from us," Winter thought to himself.

Everyone in the meeting room stood up when they saw King Michel entering the room with Mr. Milano. After the ruler of the eastern territories took his seat, everyone else sat down as well. Before starting to speak, King Michel looked at Winter and Race alternately.

"You two are my sons; I will do anything to protect you. Including keeping you away from women like Ivy," King Michel thought to himself as he looked at Ivy.

King Michel took a deep breath and began to speak.

"I called you all here with a purpose. Regarding the rumors that have been circulating, they are all untrue. Race is not someone who wants to take over the kingdom, even if he does, it's okay. Race is also a descendant of Agnito," King Michel began, opening the discussion.

"My goal in gathering you here is not just to say this. There is something more important."

"What is it, King Michel?" one of the kingdom's dignitaries asked.

King Michel didn't answer immediately; he looked at Ivy first, then took a deep breath.

"After the investigation into the Marionet family based on the evidence provided by Race about the crimes they committed. It turns out they not only took substantial profits from the ruby stones, but they were also the masterminds behind the monsters that continue to terrorize us, including the ones that looted the ruby stones in the base camp. All of these were orchestrated by Mr. Marques Marionet."

Everyone was shocked to hear King Michel's words. The ruler of the eastern territories took another deep breath and looked back at Ivy.

"All of this has harmed the eastern territories, especially the recent disease outbreak, which caused us significant losses. Therefore, I will ask King Charles to punish Mr. Marques and Mrs. Liana severely. Also, his accomplice."

Everyone present became even more animated, whispering to each other, asking who the accomplice referred to by King Michel was.

"Ivy Marionet, I will sentence Ivy Marionet to death according to the kingdom's procedures for being an accomplice to an evil person who harmed us all here."

Like being struck by lightning, Race stood up and stared blankly at King Michel. How could Ivy be an accomplice to Mr. Marques?
***