Why did she fall for that guy, different from Carlos? If she had her eyes straight, naturally choosing Carlos would be the right thing, wouldn’t it? However, the Rue that he tightly bound with magic, despite suffering, only looked at that vulgar, leech-like guy. Even if she’s deceived, it’s fine!

Carlos knew the reason but deliberately ignored it.

‘No. Rustica still has room to change her choice. It’s not over yet. It’s because she’s possessed by that guy. Rustica is young, reckless, and often talks nonsense anyway.’

Yeah, that was it. That’s why she was more beautiful. In fact, objectively, everything was perfect.

Although the weak Bella bloodline used Rue, Carlos was lenient with her. If he squeezed her through Rue, he could extract the last remaining power of the Bella bloodline. The plan was perfect, but Carlos was annoyed.

He should have captured her then. Thinking about the dirty woman who betrayed him left nothing but regret.

“Tidy up!”

Carlos swept aside the monster corpses he had reluctantly killed and returned to the Cata Tower. It would be good for the morale of the knights if the Emperor didn’t leave the south. However, he couldn’t completely empty it either.

The wall to the east was clearly pierced. Hayden was handling the barrier where his power was invested, and there was no way to prevent cases like Rustica, contaminated by the Ferseta Empire, from happening again. There was too much for him to handle.

“Your Majesty, a message from beyond the wall.”

A deeply bowing person cautiously placed an envelope in front of him. Carlos tore open the envelope nervously. Inside was a brief report written in neat handwriting.

[#Italic] Caleta magistrate Aldwin Rochester dead. Cause of death is poisoning. The culprit is Martin, enchanted by the ‘Wicked Ferseta Doctrine.’ Apprehension complete. Awaiting further instructions. Emperor’s loyal shadow, Eliza Barkova

Carlos frowned.

“What the hell… Dead?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. The body retrieval process is underway.”

When did things related to Ferseta become so difficult?

Duke Negarete’s face turned pale, as known, and he vented his anger throughout the morning. In the afternoon, he somewhat calmed down and began to contemplate. Since Negarete was known for bouncing walnuts, they had to find a way to survive.

“…Let’s organize. The Emperor has no intention of respecting our nobility. We’ll be flattened under the Emperor’s feet like this.”

The core members of this household gathered in the room, along with a few others who needed to help them, nodded their heads. Some were silently listening.

“I understand why Duke Moikwifel made that choice.”

“What are you going to do?”

“We have to be more subtle. We shouldn’t rush in like Duke Moikwifel. We need to gather our side as much as possible.”

Duke Negarete knew enough about what the Emperor was thinking through this engagement announcement and how he would shake and control the country in the future. It couldn’t happen. The freedom that nobles had enjoyed for the past 430 years couldn’t be taken away like this.

The Emperor should have compromised with the nobles to some extent. Even if it was the Empress, he should have given in, but he refused to! What was left for the Eastern aristocrats was either resistance or submission. However, submission was an impossible task for those who had preserved their pride for 430 years.

“Is Nirva trading with Caleta beyond the wall?”

“I am aware of it in the initial stages.”

“We need to establish contact beyond the wall too.”

The expressions of the five people in this room changed rapidly.

“They probably don’t want to maintain this situation either. We need to grab a proper alliance.”

“Are you insane? What if we get caught like this! Haven’t you seen Moikwifel disappear from the surface? My cousin who married Moikwifel doesn’t even know where she is now, expelled! This is insane! I’m out!”

After angrily standing up from his seat, the gentleman stormed out.

Bang!

Without hesitation, Duke Negarete pulled the trigger, looking sternly at the family that collapsed, bleeding.

“We are Negarete, not Moikwifel. Betray our flowing blood, and death is the only outcome!”

Five became four. Among them, Godeo’s wife, the only person belonging to the household system, remained silent.