The guest palace where the Imperial Raphellios delegation was staying.

The nobles visiting as envoys from Raphellios had gathered in the conference room at the summons of Marquis Yukiliode.

Taking advantage of the marquis’ absence, some nobles were quietly engaging in small talk.

“I heard the medicinal herbs to be sent to the homeland this time were discovered?”

“It’s a shame. We were planning to present them to Lady Gwenhella.”

Gwenhella was the first concubine of the Raphellios Empire’s emperor.

They were one of the many concubine factions divided within the Raphellios imperial court.

At that moment, Marquis Yukiliode entered the conference room and stiffly asked the two envoys who were conversing:

“What are you discussing so secretly?”

Startled by Johannes’ sharp words, the two envoys cleared their throats and straightened their postures.

“It was nothing important.”

“We were just discussing our concerns about the imperial treaty negotiations not going as smoothly as expected.”

Johannes listened to their excuses impassively, his gaze hardening as he looked around at the envoys seated in the conference room.

“I was actually going to talk about that. I think it would be good to propose slightly higher conditions for opening the Port of Berdan in Lugbelzet.”

At Johannes’ calm words, the Raphellios nobles who had come as envoys began to stir.

“What are you saying!”

“Why should we, the great Raphellios Empire, bow down to Lugbelzet?”

As expected, Johannes quietly observed the nobles who reacted vehemently to his words.

As Johannes silently glared at them, the nobles who had been shouting fell silent with displeased expressions.

Although they were displeased with Marquis Yukiliode, who belonged to the empress faction, they couldn’t ignore his position and influence, so they were subtly backing off.

Looking at them as if they were pathetic, Johannes slowly opened his mouth.

“If the trade route between the empires is opened through the Port of Berdan, we’ll see benefits several times, even tens of times greater than the immediate costs. This is not an exchange with a mere kingdom, but trade with Lugbelzet, which has as much land and population as Raphellios. If the port is opened, both countries can see astronomical profits.”

At Johannes’ words, one noble frowned deeply and protested.

“That’s exactly my point! It’s good for both countries, so why do we need to compromise? Why is that crown princess of Lugbelzet being so conservative…”

At the noble’s words, Johannes furrowed his brow and continued.

“Use your heads. While it’s profitable for both countries, Lugbelzet’s Port of Berdan is militarily vulnerable. It’s a place that could be breached if Raphellios decided to invade.”

“Oh, I see.”

As an oblivious noble exclaimed in realization, Johannes sighed and sharply pointed out.

“Baron Rymond, I’m not suggesting we invade right now…”

Having said that, Johannes scanned the nobles and added gravely.

“It means that from Lugbelzet’s perspective, it’s a choice that involves taking risks. To persuade them, we need to make a proposal with better conditions.”

At Johannes’ words, the nobles of the delegation looked at each other and let out displeased groans.

Johannes’ expression showed disgust as he looked at the delegation.

The imperial court divided into factions led by concubines and corrupt nobles.

While people were clamoring that Lugbelzet was in a precarious state without an emperor, in his view, Raphellios, whose people were baring their teeth like dogs to secure their own interests, was in an even more precarious state.

The Yukiliode marquis family, being part of the empress faction, was in a position to be especially checked by the factions of other concubines.

It was around that time when the concubine factions were gaining strength that his mother and Cecilia had disappeared.

Perhaps… the assailants who had suddenly attacked the carriage he and Cecilia were riding in might also be related to this power struggle.

Although the childhood memories had become blurry now, he still clearly remembered.

His mother’s scream and Cecilia’s cries that day. The sound of numerous hooves and shouts…

With the sudden attack of the assailants, the carriage overturned, and his mother, who had been holding Cecilia, was thrown out of the carriage, but he survived the attack by being trapped under the overturned carriage.

When the attack happened, he was barely 8 years old, so he thought it was just an attack by bandits.

But as he grew older, he became convinced that the incident wasn’t a coincidence.

That period was also when the concubine factions checking the empress faction were joining forces to take control of the imperial court.

He predominantly thought that the attack on the marquis family’s carriage, who belonged to the empress faction, was not unrelated.

Currently, with Johannes leading the marquis family, the empress faction had somewhat established its position, but the concubine factions were always lying in wait, looking for an opportunity to bite the weakened marquis family’s neck.

Until he became strong enough to firmly establish the marquis family’s position and root out those bastards, it would be safer to keep Cecilia here.

Johannes’ expression clouded with worry as he thought this.

Klaus was glaring at the door with an extremely displeased expression.

Soon, Antonio, who had been summoned by him, opened the door of the study and entered.

Antonio, who had received the call late at night, stood blankly in his neat servant attire.

As Klaus just glared silently after calling him, Antonio hesitantly opened his mouth.

“Um… Duke Balthasar… sir?”

Even at Antonio’s voice, Klaus only glared silently.

Klaus had heard about today’s events through the shadow he had placed on Antonio.

Damn it, he went to the imperial palace again, and of all people, he met Grand Duke Rubellio there.

He had told him not to go to the imperial palace and not to get involved with Grand Duke Rubellio.

Does this willful servant even pretend to listen to his warnings?

“Um… Did you call me because you have something for me to do?”

A bitter laugh escaped at Antonio’s oblivious question, unaware of Klaus’ burning feelings.

“Something to do…? Ha… Yes, there is.”

Having said that, Klaus approached Antonio threateningly.

Antonio’s back reflexively touched the wall as he stepped back.

Klaus pinned the wall next to Antonio’s head, looking down at him dangerously.

He couldn’t understand.

How Antonio knew about Grand Duke Rubellio, how a minor baron from a fallen family knew about the emblem of Rubellio’s organization.

How much he knew about the grand duke’s schemes.

And why he himself was so anxious and worried that something might go wrong with him.

“I need to check something.”

“What do you mean by checking…”

He didn’t know why such a sadistic desire welled up at the sight of Antonio looking up with round eyes like a frightened rabbit.

Antonio swallowed dryly as he looked into Klaus’ dangerously shining navy blue eyes.

“Antonio de Hessing.”

Klaus’ voice calling him was deeply lowered.

Unlike his initial intention to scold him harshly, Klaus’ mind became clouded as Antonio’s familiar scent touched his nostrils.

Again, this scent that seemed to stir up a base desire deep inside him.

“Damn it… Didn’t I tell you not to wear that perfume?”

“I told you I don’t wear any perfume.”

Klaus only felt more frustrated as Antonio stared at him with sparkling green eyes that seemed wronged, even though he was trying to blame Antonio.

Those lips that spoke their piece clearly were both annoying and maddeningly tempting.

Sensing the dangerous aura in Klaus’ eyes, Antonio looked up at him with eyes mixed with bewilderment and perplexity.

But Klaus detected a faint heat in those fearful eyes, if only for a moment.

Damn it, this is dangerous…

“Duke…?”

Klaus took a deep breath, trying not to reveal his surging emotions.

He didn’t know why the situation had changed like this when he had intended to question Antonio thoroughly.

Why did just his gaze and voice make him so anxious?

He tried to repeat and excuse to himself that this was because Antonio resembled Roselia, but his damn body wouldn’t listen.

This must all be because these siblings are shrouded in mystery.

He thought he knew everything on paper, but the more he learned about them, the more mysterious they became.

Perhaps that mysteriousness stimulated him more and made him more curious.

Yes, that’s all it is.

“I told you, Antonio. I’m devilishly good at finding things that are hidden.”

Contrary to his intention, his voice was excessively hoarse and cracked.

Yes, whatever it is, once he clearly knows everything about Antonio… this incomprehensible desire and emotion will fade away.

It must.

“I need to know what you’re hiding.”

At Klaus’ meaningful words, a look of bewilderment flashed in Roselia’s eyes.

It was dangerous.

She thought she had managed to avoid his gaze until now, but fear arose that he might know everything.

Roselia wasn’t foolish enough not to understand what this atmosphere, which she had denied several times, meant.

The bodies were too close.

She could feel his stiffened muscles all too clearly.

It felt as if his breath was coming down to her ear and touching her neck.

Startled by this, Roselia reflexively pushed Klaus away.

Klaus, who had stepped back a few steps, had a gaze as confused as hers.

And as if he had come to his senses belatedly, Klaus roughly brushed up his bangs and spoke in a cracked voice.

“Don’t try to hide from my eyes. The more you do, the more I want to dig deeper.”

Roselia’s gaze wavered in confusion as she tried to understand the meaning of his words.

Klaus also knew well how his words would sound in this atmosphere.

He too was not yet certain of what his emotions were.

Soon, Klaus continued with a self-deprecating smile.

“I hope you won’t carelessly enter the imperial palace and encounter the grand duke again. Whatever you know about the grand duke, whatever you’re hiding.”

Only then did Roselia realize that he had called her to question about the incident at the imperial palace, and she showed a relieved expression.

Of course, while that might have been the initial reason, Klaus’ gaze held a different meaning.