"Well then—"
But before he could finish, the second wife interrupted with a sly smile.
"Sigh... I wanted to resolve this quietly," she murmured, "but there's something else... something I hesitate to bring up." She paused dramatically, her gaze shifting to Aqualina. "Are you certain she's even your daughter, Your Majesty?"
Aqualina's heart stopped.... The room fell into an oppressive silence...
"What?" the Emperor asked, his tone sharp.
"Think about it," the second wife pressed on, "Celestia is powerful, gifted—just like you. But Marisandra? Not a speck of talent. How can that be? Two children, both yours, same blood, yet one is... defective. She can't even see. It's as if she's cursed. Could your blood truly produce such a flawed child? Or... Unless..." she let the insinuation linger, her gaze piercing through Aqualina.