“Elder brother. Can we talk for a moment?”

At the early dawn breaking with gray light.

Lewis entered, opening the door to the office.

Frost, who had been unable to sleep all night, gave a small nod and pointed his chin towards the sofa across from him.

Lewis sat on the frosted sofa and quietly stared at Frost.

“Speak, Your Highness.”

The dry, raspy voice of the Grand Duke flowed out with white breath.

“Do as you wish.”

At Lewis’ abrupt words, Frost raised his piercingly blue eyes to look at his future lord.

“Do as you wish, elder brother. I will unconditionally follow your decision.”

“Do you mean it?”

“Yes, elder brother.”

“The Emperor said he would appoint you as the Crown Prince.”

“I heard it together at that place as well.”

Lewis softly curved his amethyst-like purple eyes.

“He said as soon as you are ready, he will abdicate immediately and raise you to the position of Emperor.”

“I told you I heard it too, elder brother.”

“The Emperor promised the peaceful transfer of imperial power that you so desired. In front of all the court officials.”

“Yes. Judging by how the pro-Emperor faction nobles were startled, it seems there was no prior communication.”

“What if I refuse the Emperor’s proposal?”

“I will follow you.”

“Even if a civil war breaks out?”

“There’s no helping it.”

“The barbarians will take the opportunity to invade the Empire. There’s a high probability the Emperor may cooperate with them behind the scenes to launch a joint attack.”

“I am anticipating that.”

“What if I make a decision that causes countless people to shed blood, just to protect my one woman?”

“I will follow you.”

Frost snapped irritably at Lewis who was facing him upright.

“I raised you wrong.”

“I was already a grown young man before coming to you, elder brother. My nanny raised me very well.”

“Lewis.”

“If you choose all-out war, elder brother, I will serve you as my lord and become your vassal. And I will persuade Duke Greco and the West to become your right wing.”

“Are you saying you will no longer be in the position of my lord?”

“War is not my area of expertise. I also believe the throne we would gain by spilling blood is not a position I should rightly sit upon. I have neither the right nor the qualifications to do so.”

Frost spoke in a deeply sunken voice.

“Get angry at me instead. Rebuke my selfishness for being reluctant to accept the Emperor’s gift that should be gladly received, and for hesitating on the decision. That is the proper attitude of an emperor that I have taught you for the past 3 years.”

Lewis got up from the sofa and knelt on one knee in front of Frost.

Frost’s eyes looking down at him flickered with a dark light.

“If your sister-in-law had not saved me from the attack of the demons 3 years ago, I would already be dead. If you had not willingly taken me in, I would not be in this position. Is it only me? It is the sacrifices and dedication of you and your sister-in-law that bring us to the present.”

“Lewis.”

“To me, your and your sister-in-law’s present and future are as important as the future of the Empire. Extremely precious.”

Lewis’ voice was resolute as he spoke with emphasis.

“Think carefully and tell me. Whatever decision you make, your will shall become my will.”

Lewis stood up, deeply bowed his head in salute, and left the office.

*

“What did the Grand Duke say?”

As soon as Lewis returned to the room, Duke Greco, who had been pacing anxiously, approached and asked.

“I’ve never missed the times I acted as Shavell as much as today.”

The ivory corset that suffocatingly tightened around the waist was infuriating, but it was safe under the sturdy wing of his cousin. Everything went perfectly as long as he did what his brother told him to do.

But the moment the Grand Duke revealed Lewis Della Ponti’s survival at the aristocratic council meeting and declared that the North was behind him, they crossed a river of no return.

“I told you to completely forget about the times you lived as Shavell!”

Duke Greco raised his voice with a fiery look in his eyes.

“Your Highness is the son of the late great Emperor! Don’t forget that you are a noble one incomparable to the current Emperor tainted by black magic!”

Lewis, who went and plopped down on the sofa, had a complexion paler than the dawn light seeping through the window.

“I told elder brother. The answer to the Emperor’s proposal is for him to decide.”

“No. The answer is already out there, but you’re telling him to decide the response?”

“Whatever decision Frost makes, I will follow his will.”

“What is that…! The Emperor gathered all the nobles and publicly announced he would abdicate. And soon at that. It’s an opportunity for you to become the Emperor without shedding a single drop of blood. A golden opportunity that won’t come again!”

“It was the Emperor who gave that opportunity.”

A bitter self-deprecation shaded Lewis’ face.

“We didn’t gain it with our own power. Then the Emperor must want something in return, right? Neither I, nor you, Lord Uncle, nor anyone else was asked to pay a price. The one who has to pay the price is the Grand Duke. I have no intention of forcing that on him at all.”

“Just what does the Emperor so desperately desire that he would even offer up the entire Empire…could it be…?”

Duke Greco looked at Lewis with an expression of disbelief.

Lewis slowly nodded his head.

“The mistress of the North. He wants the heart of Frost Ielheim.”

Geuh. A groan flowed from Duke Greco’s mouth as he frowned.

“If the Emperor wants her, is it difficult to give up just the Grand Duchess? We must sacrifice the small for the greater good! Considering the lives that will be saved as a result, isn’t it a sacrifice smaller than a speck of dust!”

Duke Greco jumped to his feet and paced around the room, looking anxious.

“It was rash of you to give the Grand Duke the right to decide. What if he comes out saying he can’t give up his wife?”

“…Honestly, I hope Frost refuses the Emperor’s proposal.”

“What? That doesn’t make any-”

“I wish elder brother would make a selfish decision for once.”

Greco hurriedly walked up to Lewis and knelt before him.

His eyes looking up at the heir who had returned from death moistened with transparent tears.

He must have suffered a lot, losing his mother to the fire and then losing his nanny who was hiding with him to an attack by a horde of demons. It was infinitely admirable that he prioritized the happiness of those around him over his own revenge or glory.

But those are not the virtues needed for the position of Emperor.

Instead of praising that he had grown up so well and was commendable, Duke Greco lowered his head deeply to the heir with the propriety of a vassal.

“Your Highness. Please retract the words you said to the Grand Duke. Wear the crown the Emperor offers and bring peace to the Empire. Show with your own person what the right path is for the Empire and its subjects.”

Lewis made Duke Greco stand up and spoke in a gentle but resolute voice.

“Frost is the person I trust most. And the first vassal to swear loyalty to me. I will protect him and the person he cherishes.”

“Your Highness…”

As a sigh-like groan flowed from Duke Greco’s mouth, Lewis smiled faintly.

“If the Duke is truly my vassal, trust my judgment and follow my decision.”

*

[Yuriella. There is no Nikon in Mare Viola. The String of Wind is also not here…]

I don’t know how many times I’ve circled around the violet flower-waved plain.

I looked through the transparent sphere of wind Aery created until my eyes popped out, but Nikon was nowhere to be seen.

I even stopped by the place where all the villagers disappeared when a strange whirlwind occurred 8 years ago. But only eerie abandoned houses and barren farmland remained.

“Aery. Shall we go down? I keep feeling nauseous and like I’m going to throw up.”

Before Aery could even lower the wind sphere to the ground, I had already vomited up all the food I ate at the inn.

I threw up even the acidic yellow liquid, but my stomach was still queasy. And my sweat-soaked body only drooped.

Aery used his healing energy, but instead of getting better, I even felt dizziness and tinnitus.

[Yuriella. Let’s look for Nikon later and just return to the Grand Duke for now. There’s no color in your face at all right now.]

“I’m fi-. Urp!”

[There’s a village a little further ahead, so let’s go see a doctor there.]

It’s strange. For some reason, neither my healing ability nor Aery’s energy was working at all. This has never happened before.

[This won’t do. I’ll go bring someone to help. Wait here for a bit!]

Aery must have been really worried to even think of asking a human doctor to treat me, with his high standards.

Aery hurriedly flapped his wings and created a wind sphere in the air.

I leaned against Blanca as I watched Aery disappear into the swaying void.

– Heeheehing. Hing.

Blanca also neighed worriedly, as if concerned about me.

“I’m okay, Blanca. I think I got airsick from the wind.”

I used to be fine even flying for a long time in Aery’s wind sphere before. Why is my stomach suddenly churning and I feel dizzy?

“There’s no time to be like this…”

It wasn’t a stage to be relieved just because the Emperor promised a peaceful transfer of power to His Highness Lewis.

I need to somehow find the String of Wind and become the owner of the complete holy sword Aery so I can prevent that kid Justin from having any crazy ideas.

My heart is impatient but with my body in this state, I shed a tearful hiccup, frustrated.

No… not a hiccup. Tears I had been holding back so as not to worry Aery poured out like a broken faucet.

“I want gelato.”

The golden sunlit fluffy clouds resembled the lemon gelato I had only tasted once in the Imperial Palace, making me salivate unconsciously.

I cried harder, pathetic at myself for thinking of food while sobbing.

“Lamb steak is also delicious.”

Seeing the fluffy sheep-shaped cloud next to the cotton candy cloud made me crave the lamb steak Chef Dacua used to grill.

“Biting into the meat full of rich juices is like heaven.”

Sob sob.

Why is it that when I think of lamb, the image that comes to mind is the Grand Duke’s handsome face smiling at me?

Now is the time I need to get a grip.

I can’t keep depending on the Grand Duke.

‘Get yourself together. Never forget who you are!’

I haven’t forgotten… Not even in my dreams. I never once tried to stay by his side. How could I dare to…?

It’s just because I’m alone right now. Because no one is watching. Just for a moment. Only this instant. Sob sob.

[Yuriella! Why are you crying again? Does it hurt? Are you crying because it hurts a lot?]

I don’t know when he arrived, but Aery was anxiously wiping the tears smeared on my cheeks.

“No. I’m okay. Really.”

“Your Highness. You must say if you are in pain when you are in pain. It’s a patient’s basics.”

As I quickly wiped my tears and turned around, a middle-aged priest was approaching with a benevolent smile.

[Greet him. This is Clemence Mazella. A descendant of Angelo Roinas, who was my master five hundred years ago.]

“A descendant of… Priest Angelo?”

I thought priests were celibate?

[It’s a secret that Angelo fell in love with a village maiden and had a child the temple wouldn’t accept. That child then had a child, and another… Anyway! That’s how this guy came into the world.]

At Aery’s sharp explanation, Clemence gave an embarrassed cough.

“Aery. A secret remains a secret when it is not told.”

[I know. I’ll keep both the secret of your ancestor and the secret that you’re as senile as me very safe.]

The priest let out a soft sigh and asked me.

“Your Highness. May I examine you for a moment?”

[Clemence was also a doctor before becoming a priest, like Angelo. By the way, the village maiden’s family who secretly caught Angelo’s eye has produced many famous doctors for generations as a renowned medical family.]

Clemence sighed again and lightly grasped my wrist.

“Do you also know how to take the pulse at the wrist like the doctors of the Eastern Continent?”

“No. I am a priest.”

I could feel the cool and refreshing energy flowing from Clemence’s fingertips and spreading throughout my body.

“I know how to find patients’ ailments by adding divine power to the medical knowledge I’ve learned.”

[How is it? What’s hurting her?]

Aery urged Clemence with an anxious face.

[Our Yuriella is a dense child, you see. She doesn’t show she’s in pain even when it hurts, and doesn’t let on that she’s struggling even when it’s hard. But ever since she came to the East, she’s been wilting like a sick chicken. Keeps throwing up, breaking out in cold sweat. Says she’s cold one moment, dizzy the next. Why is she doing that?]

Clemence concentrated for a while with his eyes closed, then smiled brightly.

“Congratulations, Your Highness. You’re pregnant!”

[What! Pregnant!]

“…Pregnant?”