Shuher glanced at the person entering the office and turned his head back to the documents as if asking what was the matter. The other person, seemingly accustomed to such behavior, approached him without minding.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen your face. Shouldn’t you at least greet me? I’ve come a long way.”

“I don’t recall asking you to come.”

“Aren’t you being too cold to your friend, Shuher?”

At those words, Shuher finally raised his head to look at Peldin. For a gaze directed at a long-unseen friend, it was filled with nothing but indifference. He even appeared somewhat annoyed.

However, as if used to such treatment, Peldin continued the conversation nonchalantly.

“It seems the imperial palace has been in turmoil lately over various matters.”

“So that’s why you came.”

“To kill two birds with one stone, as they say.”

The two seemed extremely comfortable with each other.

It couldn’t be helped, as Peldin was the only person who called Shuher by name. They had frequent interactions with the Gaer duchy since childhood, and being the same age, they naturally grew close while studying and training together.

Though they were opposite in personality and everything else for friends, ironically, they understood each other just as well.

“Don’t worry. My people are guarding the territory well.”

“If they weren’t, I would have kicked them out immediately.”

“You’re so prickly. Oh, right. Before I came here, I happened to meet Lady Ibnel.”

“Lady Ibnel?”

Unlike when Peldin arrived, Shuher immediately showed interest. That very subtle change was noticeable even to him. Whether that reaction was annoyance or irritation, he couldn’t tell.

“It seems she’s completely at odds with Duke Halan? She was picking unnecessary fights, displeased with your decision. It was truly childish.”

From Peldin’s perspective, the sight of them ganging up on her alone was pathetic. Moreover, listening to what they were saying made him, as a fellow noble, too embarrassed not to intervene.

“You know, things like how they somehow changed your mind and such.”

Even with his vague words, Shuher immediately understood the meaning. He felt upset, but how must the person in question feel? But if it was Ibnel, she wouldn’t have just sat there quietly listening.

“The lady wouldn’t have remained silent, I assume.”

“That’s right. It was no joke. That Duke Halan couldn’t say a word. You should have seen it yourself.”

Thinking back on it again, Peldin found it impressive. Despite facing multiple opponents, she showed no signs of fear.

Shuher could imagine the situation without seeing it. Ibnel was usually as calm as a lake, but when unfairly attacked, she became a massive tidal wave, overwhelming her opponents. Regardless of who they were.

No, the stronger the opponent, the stronger she became.

“So, what did you think after seeing her in person?”

“Well, we only had a brief conversation, but… she seems like a good person.”

Peldin suddenly recalled what Ibnel had said to him. It was an expression that suited her more than himself. Revealing her emotions without hiding them, expressing gratitude sincerely, and standing up to anyone with confidence.

Such words and actions could never be faked.

‘Rather than a good person, she seems more like a foolish one.’

“What are you thinking about so deeply? Is something bothering you?”

“You’re too soft. Don’t you trust others too easily?”

Shuher brushed off his question lightly, erasing thoughts of Ibnel from his mind. How could he be so certain after meeting her for the first time today?

“I do have some ability to judge people. I’ve been observing her actions so far. But as I heard more, I became curious about what kind of person she really is. She’s even gained Count Renel’s approval and changed that timid Young Lord Hibre.”

Of course, Peldin hadn’t been without concerns that Ibnel might have other motives. But as time passed, his curiosity grew more than his doubts with the stories he heard. And meeting her in person completely shattered all his expectations and prejudices.

‘No, what surprised me most was.’

That she immediately noticed he was standing up for Shuher. It was the first time someone other than Shuher had seen through him at first meeting.

“Is that why you decided not to kill her?”

“I merely weighed the benefits.”

“Either way, it’s practically the same as you acknowledging her abilities.”

In fact, that alone was enough for Peldin to recognize Ibnel to some extent. Just the fact that she had managed to move Shuher’s heart in some way was sufficient qualification.

“I told Duke Halan that I actively supported it. He won’t question it anymore.”

“You did something unnecessary.”

“I’ll take that as a thank you.”

As Peldin retorted without backing down from Shuher’s words, his eyes fell on Shuher’s sword placed in one corner of the office. However, something that was always with it was missing.

“Where’s your gun? You always carry it around even if you don’t use it.”

At that question, the pen moving gracefully came to an abrupt stop, and Shuher picked up another document as he spoke.

“I don’t carry it anymore.”

“You never know. There might be times when you need to use it in urgent situations.”

“If you’re done talking, leave. Oh, and when are you going back?”

As Peldin kept probing, Shuher exuded an annoyed atmosphere and urged him to leave.

“This is why people say you’re cold. Thinking only of sending away a long-unseen friend so coldly.”

Soon, Peldin’s gaze became quite serious, unlike before.

“Unless there’s a problem in the territory, I plan to stay in the capital for the time being. It seems some have been acting up a bit while we were away.”

The coldness in his eyes was fleeting; Peldin changed his expression in an instant and asked with a gentle smile.

“You’ll allow it, won’t you?”

“Do as you please.”

With those final words, Shuher turned his attention back to the documents, and Peldin, not wanting to disturb him further, left his office.

“His Majesty has summoned me?”

“Yes.”

Davian, who was about to start her morning as usual, rose to her feet in surprise at the news Bris brought.

“What should I do?”

She felt nervous as it was her first time meeting Shuher since coming to the imperial palace. Bris calmed her down.

“We’ll hurry to prepare you.”

Bris took the lead in calling the maids, and Davian hurried to prepare while receiving their assistance. At first, receiving such service felt awkward, but now she had become somewhat accustomed to it.

She felt like she could fly from the treatment she was receiving for the first time in her life. Every day was new, and wearing expensive things made her physically realize how great her abilities were.

Having quickly finished preparations, Davian headed towards Shuher’s office with Bris. Wherever she passed, the servants bowed their heads respectfully.

It was one of the biggest changes since coming to the imperial palace. People looking at her with reverence instead of contempt and disdain.

Now she wasn’t afraid to take steps. Moreover, she was now on her way to meet none other than the emperor of this empire.

‘I wonder why His Majesty has summoned me.’

At that moment, Davian spotted Shuher in the distance and was about to approach him with joy, but she had to stop when she saw someone behind him.

Ibnel, who should have gone to the training ground, was heading to his office with Shuher.

“So why are you calling for me?”

“You’ll find out when we get there.”

Knowing he wouldn’t answer even if she asked, she didn’t probe further. Shuher glanced at her briefly and mentioned what he had heard from Peldin yesterday.

“I heard you met Peldin yesterday.”

“Ah, did you hear from the Duke? Then I won’t mention what happened. I don’t want to sully my mouth by mentioning it unnecessarily.”

Ibnel’s words revealed her frustration about yesterday’s incident. She seemed quite upset about letting it go so easily.

“Still, there was no bloodshed. I restrained myself with superhuman strength.”

“You didn’t seem like someone who would restrain yourself.”

Shuher found it strange that she had quietly let such insulting words pass. It seemed like a situation that could have overturned the imperial palace.

“I do have some tact. No matter the situation, the fact that the other party is a duke doesn’t change.”

From Ibnel’s standpoint, she couldn’t completely ignore the position of a duke. But she had no intention of letting it slide anymore. If they were to be rude again after saying that much, she was prepared to fight back with everything she had.

“Anyway, I couldn’t cause trouble on my first day of deciding to stay here. Besides, Duke Peldin helped too. He seems like a good person.”

When Shuher heard the same answer from her as from Peldin, his brow furrowed slightly. He wondered on what basis she was calling him a good person after meeting Peldin for the first time yesterday.

“It seems premature to say such things.”

“I could just tell at a glance. He’s kind, gentle, and unlike others, he didn’t speak informally to me when we first met.”

Moreover, looking at Peldin’s smile made her feel like her heart was opening up naturally.

Ibnel was so focused on talking about him that she didn’t notice Shuher’s expression gradually hardening.

“You don’t know that you should be more cautious of such people. That’s what they call naive.”

“No, that’s just how I felt. Besides, isn’t he close to Your Majesty? Then Your Majesty must know him better. Emil told me so.”

Last night, she had asked Emil and learned more details about Shuher and Peldin’s relationship. She was surprised to learn they were that close.

“A tiresome ill-fated relationship.”

“So you are close. Ah, more importantly, how do you like this?”

Ibnel pointed to the training uniform she was wearing and asked. Shuher couldn’t understand the intention behind her question. It was no different from her usual attire.

“What exactly are you asking about?”

“Well, it’s the new training uniform Emil prepared on Your Majesty’s orders. It’s really comfortable, just like the one prepared before.”

As soon as she put it on, she could feel that Emil had put more effort into it.

There was no discomfort in movement, and the material was well-ventilated. It felt too luxurious to be called a training uniform, so she had been hesitant to wear it and put it on for the first time today.

“It feels good to wear new clothes.”

Among the prepared items, many were expensive, but it was just like her to be happy about a single training uniform, putting all the others aside.

Even to Shuher, it seemed to suit her much better than what she had worn before, as if Emil had prepared it just for Ibnel. Of course, he didn’t voice this thought.

Now she was so accustomed to that outfit that wearing casual clothes or dresses felt more awkward.

“I’m planning to train with this gun for the first time today. So I’m kind of excited.”

Shuher’s gun was proudly positioned at Ibnel’s waist. It felt strange even to Shuher to see something that was always in his hands now with someone else.

“Your Majesty.”

At that call, Ibnel noticed Davian standing a little distance away. Approaching slowly, she silently looked back and forth between the two people together.