Countess Eunis (from Chp 9-10) is an illegitimate daughter, born from the Emperor laying his hands on a maid. The main reason he let Eunis be born was to preserve his image with the citizens (although he did dote on her growing up). He's also had other children with the Empress, although all of them died when they were still very young. Popular rumour was that it was divine punishment for him executing Cedric's parents on trumped-up treason charges (implied it was done to remove competition for the throne) although the Emperor quickly put an end to the rumour-mill by executing the rumour-mongers.
