At Klaus’s question, Alejandro, as if ready, pulled out prepared documents and presented them.

“Yes, as you mentioned, there was a secretive organization under Duke Rubeleo, operating in the shadows, which used the same symbol.”

“Is that so…”

Klaus’s expression had stiffened suddenly.

How on earth did Antonio know that Rubeleo, the Duke, was involved?

Just because it was an organization under the Duke didn’t mean it was information that could be found by investigating its mere existence.
“To delve into information like this, you need connections and capital befitting a duke. Alejandro may casually report it, but most likely, it took quite a bit of funds and time to uncover.”

Even though Alejandro might report it nonchalantly, Antonio probably knew about this information in detail, or at least roughly. Could it be that there had been contact with the Grand Duke without his knowledge? If so, it was a dangerous situation.

“Attach the shadow to Antonio again.”

At Klaus’s stern words, Alejandro, wearing a puzzled expression, inquired.

“Didn’t you ask me to withdraw him last time?”

“Stop the nonsense and attach him.”

Seeing Klaus’s somewhat impatient expression, Alejandro set aside his perplexity and replied without military formalities.

“Yes, understood.”

The uneasy feeling didn’t subside.

Duke Rubeleo… He got entangled with such a formidable figure.

He was the brother of the current Crown Prince and the uncle of the current Crown Prince.

Though lower in the imperial hierarchy than the Crown Prince, he was a well-known and firmly established figure among the nobility, with a higher standing and recognition.

Born into the imperial family, he was skilled in handling people, a figure who smiled on the surface but concealed a weapon behind his back.

If one didn’t stay alert, who knew what might happen.

Above all, Antonio seemed to know something about them, making it even more unsettling.

Damn it, why do I keep thinking only about Antonio-related matters?

It was probably because he couldn’t stand still and kept investigating the incidents.

Thinking that way, he suddenly realized that the carriage had entered the Imperial Palace.

As the carriage stopped at the entrance of the Crown Prince’s residence, Klaus returned to his usual cold expression, as if saying, ‘When did I change?’

Observing him as if he were impressive, Alejandro got off the carriage to welcome Klaus.

“Well, then, I’ll have the carriage waiting nearby.”

Without any response, Klaus nodded stiffly and walked towards the Crown Prince’s residence, just like any other time.

As usual, Klaus had come to report on the construction of the school.

Of course, the Crown Prince, who had said he would listen to the report, seemed displeased as always.

“This is really annoying. I clearly told Antonio to report, so why does the Duke keep coming for reports?”

In response to the bored Crown Prince’s voice, Klaus calmly spoke without even batting an eye.

“You might get more detailed information from this side.”

With a blade-like reply from Klaus, the Crown Prince, resting his chin on his hand, muttered as if asking him to speak.

“You are truly boring.”

…

Klaus, who had grown accustomed to the Crown Prince’s provocations, remained unfazed.

In fact, the Crown Prince, in a way, could be considered consistent. He hated not only Klaus but all nobles. Perhaps the death of the Empress had a significant role in distorting him like this. However, there was no sympathy for such thoughts.
He, too, lost his parents early and had been living fiercely to protect the family and estate from relatives coveting the Duke’s assets.

In contrast to him, the endlessly twisted appearance of the Crown Prince seemed nothing more than a pitiable loser.

Sometimes, he wondered if the country the Crown Prince was striving for could indeed be a proper one.

At that moment, when Klaus, verbally presenting construction reports, was contemplating different thoughts, the Crown Prince, as if piercing through those thoughts, abruptly cut in.

“They found aconite on the school site?”

Unlike the light tone of the Crown Prince just a moment ago, his voice became somewhat serious.

Looking at Klaus, who had solidified his expression while observing such a Crown Prince, he lowered his head and spoke.

“I apologize.”

At Klaus’s immediate bow, the Crown Prince raised an eyebrow.

“Well, it’s fortunate that the Duke found it on time. If not, I might have had to detain the Duke.”

Whether it was fortunate or regrettable, his words were ambiguous.

As Klaus stared at him without saying anything, the smiling Crown Prince turned the topic.

“Antonio played a role in finding the aconite, didn’t he?”

“…?”

Suddenly shifting the focus to Antonio, Klaus’s eyebrows furrowed unconsciously.

As Klaus, with an unclear expression, was being interestingly observed by the Crown Prince, he casually crossed his legs and opened his mouth.

“Marquis, have you heard about the bloodline of Raphelios?”

To the Crown Prince’s question, with intentions difficult to discern, Klaus, who had furrowed his brow for a moment, spoke calmly.

“Currently, under the Imperial Covenant, Viscount Euclyode, who visited due to the diplomatic agreement, is known to be one of the bloodline of Raphelios.”

“Yeah, even if their blood is now diluted, there are still bloodline members among them who maintain their abilities.”

Information about the abilities of the Raphelios bloodline was recorded only in imperial books accessible only to the imperial family.

Klaus also knew only vaguely that the Raphelios bloodline had influenced history using their abilities for a long time.

The Raphelios Conquest War 200 years ago and internal conflicts in the Charemain capital were all wars caused by their abilities.

Klaus furrowed his eyebrows in puzzlement at the sudden talk of the Crown Prince about the Raphelios bloodline.

The Crown Prince, who was calmly watching Klaus, threw a comment.

“Do you know that they emit a distinctive fragrance?”