In front of the prince, who had his sword aimed at Claus and was ready to strike, the Prince’s Consort, entering gracefully through the open door, coldly spoke.

“If I had known it would be such a one-sided interrogation, I would have attended even if it meant violating the imperial decree.”

Having said that, the Prince’s Consort, looking at Count Bernas and Closet, and finally at Claus, spoke with a bitter tone.

“Your Highness, please think rationally. How could a mere servant of a duke enter the key-locked room only nobles can access and steal the seal?”
“Your Highness, even though Duke, but aren’t you forgetting that there is mixed blood of the imperial family?”

“Your Highness, at that time, Duke Baltazar was in the dukedom. Wasn’t the Imperial Guard surrounding the dukedom?”

“If you’re determined to kill me, can’t you create and deceive at least a little?”

Unable to endure the provocative response from the prince, the Princess couldn’t hold back her emotions.

“Please, stop these pointless grudges and suspicions! Haven’t you ever thought that your emotions prevent you from seeing the truth?”

“Silence, Princess!”

At that moment, quietly entering along with the princess, Inyeong spoke with a subdued voice.

“I apologize for interfering in such a situation, but I couldn’t just stand by.”

Realizing the existence she had forgotten due to the presence of the princess, the figure of Viscount Yucleiod caught the attention of the prince.

“Viscount Yucleiod? This issue concerns Rugbelzhet, not other countries’ envoys. Princess, bringing foreign envoys to the sacred court of the imperial family, using the excuse of negotiating with Raphaelios, have you secretly formed an alliance with them?”

In response to the prince’s words, Johannas, who stepped forward in place of the princess, spoke calmly and composedly, unlike the agitated prince.

“I’m sorry, but I think we can’t solely consider the issue of Rugbelzhet.”

“What is this talk?”

At the sudden remark by Johannas, the audience began to stir.

Despite the surrounding reactions, Johannas, without any hesitation, looked sharply at the prince.

“I believe His Highness the prince is also aware. Information related to the Raphaelios lineage is said to have been recorded even among the imperial family of Rugbelzhet.”

The prince, stiffening in surprise, remained silent with pursed lips, prompting Johannas to scan the audience with a calm expression.

And then, as the bewildered Roselia caught Johannas’s gaze, he smiled reassuringly at her and turned back to the audience.

“Antonio de Hesing, or rather, Antonio, the twin of Hesing, is an existence inheriting the blood of the Raphaelios Empire lineage.”

His shocking statement greatly agitated the nobles and imperial officials present in the hall.

Johannas’s calm demeanor was met with the prince’s furrowed brow.

“Viscount Yucleiod.”

“You, more than anyone, must know the significance of the Raphaelios lineage. If Antonio encounters problems like this, the Empire of Raphaelios will not stay quiet.”

In a threatening look at Johannas, the prince then turned to the princess.

Princess, who seemed to have already noticed to some extent, maintained a calm expression.
The prince burst into laughter and casually dropped the sword he had been holding next to Klaus.

“To witness Raphaelios presiding over Rugbelzhet’s court. Soon, even sitting on the throne may require Raphaelios’ permission. I find the sight unpleasant, so everyone, get out of the palace.”

After uttering these words, the prince disdainfully turned his body and disappeared through the door behind the podium, leaving the audience in confusion.

Observing them, Princess Ivyllionne exchanged a nod with Johannes and quietly ascended the podium.

“On behalf of His Highness the Prince, I, Ivyllionne de Rugbelzhet, as the Princess of Rugbelzhet, will deliver the verdict of the royal trial.”

The solemn voice of the princess, both orphaned and distinct, quieted the previously restless hall.

“The imperial family’s responsibility lies in not accurately grasping the truth of this incident. Antonio de Hesing has been revealed to be of the Raphaelios lineage. Considering that I cannot single-handedly deliver the verdict of this trial in the Rugbelzhet Empire, I declare it null and void.”

The princess’s declaration stirred the audience once again.

Ignoring the tumultuous reactions of the nobles, Johannes, without hesitation, bowed his head respectfully towards the descending princess.

“Thank you, Princess Ivyllionne.”

“This is a response to the many concessions made by Raphaelios in the recent imperial negotiations.”

The gaze of the princess, who looked at Roselia in an understanding manner, turned into a reassuring smile before quietly disappearing behind the podium with her attendants.

It was only then that Roselia, who had regained her composure, looked at Klaus.

Klaus, who was still kneeling on the marble floor, seemed to be holding on with sheer willpower, as he trembled and moaned in apparent agony.

“Ugh…”

“Your Excellency!”

As he collapsed as if crumbling, a surprised Roselia rushed to Klaus.

Closet, who had been sitting dazed next to Bernas, also regained her senses and hurried towards Klaus.

“Klaus!”

Supporting the nearly collapsing Klaus, Roselia, who was close enough to see his more severe condition, uttered a trembling voice.

“What on earth happened?”

In her teary voice, as Roselia supported Klaus, who seemed on the verge of collapse, he, with shaky strength, touched the floor and spoke bitterly.

“I want to ask you something.”

In Klaus’s bluish eyes as he looked at Roselia, complex emotions such as anxiety, relief, tenderness, and more flashed by.

“For the time being, I know how to keep you away from the vicinity of the palace.”