“Your Grace.”

Lewis slightly bowed his head to Frost, addressing him as ‘Your Grace’ instead of ‘elder brother’.

It was a small gesture, but suddenly Shavell, the wife of the Grand Duke, had disappeared, and the only Grand Duke of the empire who had chosen his liege stood firmly in her place as the future sun.

Duke Greco blinked his moist eyes, looking up at him without realizing it.

“Uncle. Your Grace. I do not wish to dwell on past grievances or rights and wrongs. What I want to discuss with you are the things we need now and the future.”

At the prince’s gentle yet resolute voice, Frost and Duke Greco withdrew their sharp gazes that had clashed in the air.

Ricarion, who had been silently watching, bowed his head to Lewis in salute.

When he heard the news that the small, cute child who sometimes visited the West holding Empress Gelsomina’s hand had died, young Ricarion had prayed that the child would become a beautiful shining star in heaven.

Do you wish to become the sun instead of a star?

“So what does Lord Lewis desire from the West and the Tower?”

Lewis felt that unlike Duke Greco, Ricarion was deliberately avoiding addressing him as “prince” or “Your Highness”, and smiled slightly.

“There’s no need to be wary. I’m not asking for anything the Tower can’t do. Even if I did, I know well you’re not one to comply.”

“And yet you called, despite knowing that. You showed yourself in the very form that was pointed at as the northern enchantress in front of my father, who feels deep guilt towards Empress Gelsomina. You reminded him of your relationship as uncle and nephew, making him remember that the heavy promise still lives on.”

At Ricarion’s sharp yet gentle remark, Duke Greco waved his hand in dismay, unable to hide his bewilderment.

“Rion. How dare you be rude to His Highness?”

“No, the Tower Master’s point is not wrong. The request I have for Uncle is by no means a light one. I hope you will accept it.”

Lewis deeply bowed his head towards his uncle, whom he was meeting after 11 years.

“Your Highness…!”

“After my mother’s maiden family, the Vandelys, was exterminated, all the territory and property were returned to the imperial family, but I heard that the Vandely title was passed on to the Grecos.”

“Yes. But why is that…?”

Frost, who had been watching Lewis and the duke with his arms crossed, slowly but clearly told the purpose of this meeting to Duke Greco and the Tower Master.

“Duke Greco. I request that you revive the Vandelys, the seventeenth great noble family of the empire that was erased from the registry of high nobility and the ‘Watchers of the West’. Lewis Della Ponti is the only surviving legitimate heir of the Vandelys.”

Duke Greco’s eyes widened at the completely unexpected request.

“…!”

It was because he guessed Lewis’ intention.

His Highness Lewis no longer intends to hide.

He intends to come out of the shadows and reveal himself with dignity. However…

“Even if His Highness Lewis takes the Vandely name, the neutrality beloved by the West will not collapse. Rather, it will add strength to the West. If done well, an emperor could even emerge from the West.”

The two men’s expressions cracked as they looked at Frost, who spoke of treason as if it were nothing.

“I’m not asking for much. Just hand over one stolen name. Isn’t it quite a small price to pay in exchange for sharing information about what the Empress Dowager is up to?”

Frost, with a relaxed smile on his lips, stood crookedly and stared at the two men.

*

Deep night. The Grand Duke’s bedchamber.

A low moan escaped from the canopied bed.

“Your Grace…! The knights standing guard outside will misunderstand.”

Frost, his upper body completely exposed, lay on the bed with his arm as a pillow and looked at his wife, who was turning his body into a hedgehog with silver needles stitch by stitch, with eyes full of unbearable love.

“It’s unfair. I’m in so much pain I could die. And you’re not focusing on me but worrying about some other men.”

Yuriella gracefully ignored Frost and retrieved the green-tinged silver needles one by two, placing them neatly in a velvet case.

Frost, who had been quietly watching, sat up and pulled Yuriella deep into his arms.

“I hope you like it.”

“Pardon?”

Yuriella felt a chill on her neck and flinched.

Frost put a platinum chain necklace with a red ruby pendant around Yuriella’s neck.

“The ancients saw the burning ruby and thought the phoenix was born as a jewel.”

Frost touched the brilliantly shining ruby with his fingertips and whispered.

“Have you heard that carrying a ruby wards off plague and distracting thoughts? It’s said to prevent injury too. I had it blessed by a priest with high spiritual power, so always keep it on you.”

“I thought you didn’t believe in such superstitions?”

Frost laughed softly, grasping the end of Yuriella’s long hair and kissing it.

“I know. How did I become a foolish man who prays to a red stone? It’s all your fault.”

Frost gently embraced Yuriella and said softly, as if sighing.

“Promise me. That you will never get hurt, no matter what. That you will cherish yourself as much as you cherish me.”

“Yes. I will.”

“I need to be able to trust you. It’s driving me crazy. I can’t even tie you up tightly.”

Yuriella felt Frost’s anxiety and hugged him tightly, gently stroking his broad back as if to reassure him.

Even if they had planned for a long time and prepared meticulously, changing the ruler of the empire was a dangerous thing that could lead to great sacrifices with just one small variable.

“We’ll be fine. Everything will work out.”

When tomorrow comes, the storm that will shake the empire will begin to rage.

A huge wind that can no longer be turned back will hit them.

“Is it wise of me to keep you by my side? I really−.”

But Yuriella’s lips swallowed Frost’s next words.

Even if she couldn’t promise to stay by his side forever, she had become someone who couldn’t leave him alone and in pain.

Even if they were separated far away and could never meet again, their connected hearts could not be severed. She knew that now.

A gust of wind was released from Yuriella’s fingertips, extinguishing the candles on the walls and ceiling.

On the eve of the storm after the heavy rain.

Only the faint moonlight embracing the clouds flowed through the window of the bedchamber where the couple comforted each other’s anxieties.

*

Airy, sitting on the terrace of the guest room on the third floor, sighed shallowly as she saw the light in the Grand Duke’s bedchamber go out, then fluttered into the room.

[Popo. Why haven’t you said anything for a while?] [Hmph!]

Popo, sitting on the bed, snorted and turned his body in the opposite direction, tapping his four small feet.

[Why? Are you mad at me? Why are you upset?] [Lewis Della Ponti! Shavell’s identity!]

Airy rolled her eyeballs sideways.

[That… I didn’t hide it from you because I didn’t trust you. Secrets are safer the fewer people know−.] [That’s the point! The very fact that you were concerned about the safety of your secrets means you didn’t trust me!]

Airy tilted her head and narrowed her brows.

[No…? I do trust you? You’re the only holy sword spirit I can communicate with under the sky, who else would I trust if not you?] [Really?] [Really!] [I had no choice. The Tower Master values the balance of the empire more than Yuriella. He intends to steal Flamma too.] [Ricarion will never be able to harm Yuriella. So have me, his holy sword, protect that child!] [Even if the balance is broken? Yuriella is more important than the belief in neutrality? Do you really think so? Then swear by Goddess Yusterra!]

Popo’s mouth twitched several times, but in the end, he couldn’t make the oath.

[What about you, Popo? If your master and my master fight, will you fight me then? Will you… hurt me?]

Popo couldn’t answer this time either.

Popo turned his back, drooping his head, and slowly moved his four feet toward the door.

[Popo, where are you going? Are you angry? Are you returning to the Tower because you’re mad at me…?]

Airy, who had been pushing hard, fiddled with her clasped hands, watching Popo’s reaction.

[No. I’m going to stand guard for your master. The situation is urgent, so you should hurry to the East to find your main body. In your current state… could you even fight with me?] [Popo….]

Airy stared blankly at his friend distorting the space near the door and leaving the room with a bitter expression.

‘Gaius….’

He had known Gaius since the creation of the heavens and the earth.

But to Airy, who wandered as a breeze and a typhoon without staying in one place, Gaius was just a fleeting acquaintance…

He doesn’t want to fight. Even if they do fight, he wants to face each other as equals.

Airy put aside the thought of saying goodbye to Yuriella the next morning and immediately summoned the wind to fly to the East.

Popo stepped into the corridor leading to the Grand Duke’s bedchamber, sensing Airy’s departure.

In the distance, at the feet of the knight guarding the bedchamber, the black cat Nero was curled up in a ball, sleeping soundly.

Popo recalled the red sacred flame that had burned blindingly bright in Solas’ hands long ago.

He also remembered the moment when young Solas, after making a contract with Flamma, had struggled to control the sacred flame, and the faint smile of the crimson phoenix who had sat back, outwardly testing his young master with an arrogant face while quietly cheering for her on the inside.

Popo let out a long sigh.

Perhaps no one knew better than Popo what Flamma, who had lost her sense of self, was capable of and to what extent.

From the beginning, one of the most important tasks Popo had been entrusted with was to properly contain and manage the fire flowing and boiling beneath the land and sea.

Occasionally, he would open up mountains and cracks in the sea to let out lava, as if providing a breather. But it was always a volcanic eruption agreed upon with Flamma.

However, if Flamma’s last soul was also devoured by the demon energy…

The continent of Yusterra would fall into a great calamity it had never experienced before.

‘I really don’t want to fight you…’

The sigh of the earth spirit stroking Nero’s fur deepened further.

*

The next day. Imperial Palace Blanc Casa.

The carriages of the sixteen great noble families representing the east, west, south, and north passed through the main gate of Blanc Casa one after another.

The great nobles could pass through any part of the palace without separate identity verification, so Aaron Pioni, the captain of the Imperial Knights, and his subordinates politely saluted the nobles who came to attend the meeting and immediately let them pass through the main gate.

As the Grand Duke’s carriage carrying Frost finally passed through the main gate, the gatekeepers were about to close the heavy, lion-emblazoned wrought iron gate.

Neigh!

A luxurious six-horse carriage made of splendid gold leaf and high-quality wood rushed in and passed straight through the main gate.

Aaron’s face crumpled.

“Halt! Halt!”

Aaron hurriedly stopped the carriage and roughly knocked on the carriage door.

“Let’s see you get out! Decorating a carriage with gold leaf and passing through the palace main gate without inspection are privileges only granted to the great nobles! Get out quickly! Let’s see which bold figure has broken the law!”

The carriage door opened and a devastatingly handsome man with neatly combed golden hair and violet eyes descended from the carriage.

It was a situation where the captain of the Imperial Knights should immediately draw his sword with his authority. However, Aaron unknowingly cowered, overwhelmed by the authority and dignity exuded by the beautiful man.

“I don’t think we’ve met before… Who are you…?”

“I am Marquis Lewis Vandely. I have come to attend the meeting of the great nobles.”

“Marquis Vandely…?”

Vandely? Lewis?

Aaron rolled the surname and name he had just heard in his mouth, then looked at the supreme beauty in front of him with a face as if struck by lightning.

It couldn’t be… No way. No way!

Aaron’s eyes stopped at the crest on the six-horse carriage. The eagle-owl symbolizing the Vandely family, the great noble of the West that was exterminated 11 years ago, was clearly visible.

“Go and tell the emperor. The legitimate heir of the Vandelys, the Watchers of the West, requests an audience and fervently wishes for him to attend today’s meeting.”

Lewis’ gaze was calm as he looked at the Imperial Palace towering beyond the tree-lined street.

Frost, who had passed through the palace gate first, got out of the carriage and approached Lewis.

After bowing deeply to show respect as a subject, Frost smiled faintly at Lewis.

“Shall we go stir things up, Your Highness?”