Obviously, It’s My Child - Chapter 201

As Erich mentioned, he can make Linus completely disappear. Conversely, the only ones capable of achieving such a perfect disappearance are the waves and the Klauseners.

Therefore, unless they rule out the possibility that he was swept away by the waves, Augusta would naturally suspect this place.

‘If she believes he’s alive and is doing her utmost to track him down, it makes sense that she would investigate here.’

Linus looked at her. Claire, standing up, said,

“Don’t worry. Just eat some more bread. As long as you’re my guest, you’re under my protection, so don’t worry.”

Linus paused for a moment. It was amusing for this woman to say she was protecting him, though he could understand that Erich might be different. Still, it felt nice, so he flashed her a smile with his red eyes.

“Alright. I’ll rely on you.”

The young man really was rather arrogant. Claire shot him a glance before stepping outside and asking Maximilian to look after Elliott.

However, she didn’t head straight to the reception room.

This was a sudden visit. Taking a bit more time to wash her face and dress wouldn’t be inappropriate.

Claire typically didn’t engage in power plays by keeping people waiting. Up until now, there hadn’t been much opportunity for that.

Those who visited her were usually business associates, or if not, the noble families from nearby territories with whom she had long-standing relationships.

These were relatives of her parents.

In the vicinity of Delford, there really weren’t any social circles worth engaging in a power struggle with.

Mediocre nobles tended to band together to share information and showcase connections to maintain their positions.

But this time, it was different. Meeting Augusta would only provide her with information. There wasn’t anything she particularly wanted to extract.

Moreover, the other person was an enemy.

It wasn’t just the history surrounding Katya Schneider and Thomas Borjans’ organizations.

‘The source of the ‘sedative’ Erich took would likely be the Empress as well.’

Colorless and odorless, the substance could poison or incapacitate an opponent in small doses, yet it wasn’t a well-known poison like cyanide or arsenic.

As a result, it would appear that the death was due to opiate misuse. Wasn’t this an ideal means for assassination?

‘There’s a possibility that the opiate trend among the nobility is for this very reason. To ensure that no one thinks that death was an assassination.’

Erich’s intelligence department has compiled a list of nobles who died from opiate-related incidents or mysterious heart attacks over the past ten years.

[Now that I think about it, three key members of the cabinet have died suddenly from heart attacks. One was from Arren, and two were progressives. I didn’t think it was particularly strange, given their ages.]

[Were they opiate addicts?]

[I don’t think so, but if it were revealed posthumously, I doubt anyone would be particularly surprised.]

If such cases continue to rise and it’s revealed that they were indeed obstructing the Empress’s plans, it could serve as circumstantial evidence.

[I have one suspicion. The Emperor…]

[Shh.]

Erich whispered this softly while placing his index finger against Claire’s lips.

[Leave the suspicions as suspicions. We’re not at a stage where we can say anything definitively.]

[Did you know?]

[There’s a strong possibility that the pain was too great, leading to a self-made choice. There’s a reason no one advised him otherwise.]

[Still!]

[The governance is already in the hands of the cabinet. There’s no absolute necessity for the Emperor to be present. It’s better to project power through the lower house than to issue an edict in the name of ailing royalty or to establish a regent.]

[Implicit agreement, you say?]

Claire felt a momentary dizziness and had to collect her thoughts after hearing those words.

[So it turns out that ‘you all’ are the only ones who truly understand the situation and have reached an agreement?]

[We haven’t hidden any information. No one is unaware that the Emperor is in seclusion due to illness.]

[It’s not about discussing the Emperor’s health or the cabinet’s governance. The issue is that a consensus on the governing system was reached without my knowledge, even though I’m the owner of the Weaving Guild and a noble from the countryside like Arren.]

[Are you suggesting we vote on whether to appoint a regent from Ernst’s lineage?]

Erich responded decisively, as if the question were not worth considering.

[My decision was that it’s better to empower the cabinet than to deal with that. Do I need to explain and persuade on every little detail? You wouldn’t consider every worker’s opinion when making decisions for the Weaving Guild.]

[The Weaving Guild is a guild. You’re talking about politics right now!]

[If the conclusion will be the same anyway, then the remaining procedures are a waste. As I’ve always said, your opinions are just theoretical discussions.]

[At the very least, there should have been public discussions in the assembly regarding the Emperor’s health and whether to appoint a regent.]

[Even so, if there’s a problem with that agreement, I would have willingly intervened. Are you saying that as long as it adheres to procedural justice, it doesn’t matter that Ernst took on the regent’s position and seized the throne?]

[That’s hindsight bias.]

[Neglecting predictable outcomes is the same as avoiding responsibility.]

Claire had to acknowledge her defeat, not because she had no arguments left, but because it was too close to reality.

‘No, I know it’s realistically correct! I know my argument is radical! It just frustrates me that it’s labeled as ‘my’ decision.’

Claire thought, filled with frustration. Yet, it wasn’t that Erich completely failed to understand her perspective.

“Ugh. Politics shouldn’t even be discussed among family.”

She couldn’t ignore it, especially with her husband involved and their child in danger.

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