Looking at Arthur's fierce eyes, Carl sighed and said,
"I don't think I can get away from you now, can I?"
Arthur replied,
"No, you can't. There are way too many factors, which make it impossible not be suspicious."
Carl interrupted,
"Like?"
Arthur, whose eyes had turned cold, replied,
"This is not the time for jokes, Carl. Don't make me spill out the truth from you... With the last of my patience, I am asking, What is your relationship with Alicia de Raywin?"
Carl, with a sad, defeated expression, replied,
"I'll tell you now, but it has been like a secret in my family, so I hope you keep it that way..."
Arthur agreed.
Carl asked,
"Do you remember when I called Alicia my niece?"
Arthur replied,
"Yes... I do."
Carl continued,
"Well... It was not because I wanted to feel close to Isa, but because she really is my niece."
Arthur, confused, asked,
"What do you mean? Say it clearly Carl."
Carl replied,
"Alicia... she is my niece by blood."
Arthur, shocked, shouted,
"WHAT?"
Carl continued,
"Alicia's grandmother, Mariella Herbert, her maiden name was Mariella Windsor... I also got to know this by accident when I was a kid..."
Carl stopped, thinking that anything more might lead to exposure of forbidden secrets.
Arthur, with an unbelieving expression, asked,
"How? How is that possible? I thought the Windsors kept their family close. And as far as I know, Mariella Herbert was registered as a commoner before marriage. Explain this completely, Carl."
Carl, with a defeated expression, replied,
"Mariella was my father's younger sister. They were siblings by blood. As you know, my father cares a lot about maintaining dignity, but he loved his younger sister very much. It was the time when the Windsors were under suspicion of treason. The previous Emperor, who became wary of the Windsors' rising power, decided to use Count Grev. He used the count to spread rumours that our family was committing treason. When they became quite widespread, he secretly sent the current count to investigate in the disguise of a servant. In other words, as a spy. At the time, we were desperately looking for a young butler. The Count used this opportunity and successfully entered the mansion as Perlo, a butler-in-training. During that time, he conducted his investigation. But I don't know how he fell in love with my Aunt Mariella, who reciprocated his feelings..."
Arthur replied, "Tell me the whole story, Carl."