Three days before the meeting of the great nobles. One day before the imperial ball.

The nobles gathered in Yurahil, the capital of the empire, appeared to be living their usual daily lives on the surface, but beneath, they were busy sharpening their senses and trying to gauge why the emperor had summoned the meeting of the great nobles, devising countermeasures.

Indeed, which faction should they bet their fate on, and which should they abandon? They were even more anxious as they were wandering in a fog where they couldn’t see an inch ahead.

The four great noble families of the East, including the Figuera Duchy, the empress dowager’s family, were openly pro-emperor.

The four great noble families of the South, led by Duke Yobel Gauze, were anti-emperor, repeatedly going against the emperor’s will and expressing support for the North.

The four great noble families of the West, centered on the Greco Duchy, which had maintained neutrality along with the Magic Tower, had supported the North during the emperor’s northern conquest, but since the imperial family’s purge of black mages a hundred years ago, they had been following a pro-imperial line, so it was unclear if they would continue to support the North.

Among the sixteen great noble families, the most noble Grand Duke Ielheim of the North had officially reconciled with the emperor, but unofficially, they were in a state of explosive tension.

The number of assassins the emperor sent to the North as if it were a hobby had increased even more. As the grand duke displayed the bodies of the assassins on the castle walls as if mocking the emperor, it wouldn’t be strange if something went wrong at any moment.

Leo let out a deep sigh.

While all eyes and ears of the empire were focused on the grand duke, his lord’s eyes and ears were focused on something entirely different.

“How dangerous a tea party can be. I can’t leave Bi alone there.”

Frost hurriedly mounted his beloved horse, Mars.

“The tea party isn’t dangerous. Cassandra and Airy went too. And Lord Shavell, who changed his appearance to Delilah, also followed.”

“You fool. Women’s sharp tongues are scarier than black magic or typhoons. How can Shavell’s poor conversational skills protect Bi?”

Knowing how the haughty noble ladies would treat his wife, who had lived as a wandering dancer, Frost became anxious.

Leo spread his arms wide to block Frost, who was pulling the reins hard.

“Duke Yobel has been waiting in the reception room. For quite some time now.”

“Tell him to wait longer since he’s already been waiting.”

Leo threw out the first bait he had prepared in anticipation of this situation.

“If you go, won’t Lady Bi be very displeased?”

Frost’s shoulder twitched as he was about to turn the reins.

“Won’t she think you’re treating her like an idiot who can’t handle even a tea party?”

“No, that’s not-”

“Lady Bi will be sad that you lack trust in her. She might even cry.”

Frost fiddled with the reins, turning his head towards Davano Duke’s mansion where the tea party was being held.

Thinking that a late first love is truly frightening, Leo threw out the second bait he had prepared.

“Women like husbands who are good at their work. Being good at work means being responsible and capable.”

“I am good at my work. I revised the agricultural law, reclaimed wasteland so that no one would starve to death even in winter. The merchants in the North are enjoying unprecedented prosperity thanks to me eradicating the pirates.”

“Those are all achievements Lady Bi already knows about.”

The grand duke’s eyes flashed with killing intent as he looked down at the knight commander who was snorting, conveying the meaning ‘You were still rejected despite all that’.

Leo grinned as he saw the last bait that had just arrived and was dismounting from his horse, which would surely tie down the grand duke’s feet.

“Oh, Young Lord Yobel has arrived?”

A handsome twenty-year-old young man, nicely tanned by the hot southern sun, approached Frost and bowed deeply.

“I greet you, Grand Duke. I heard there was a meeting. Are you going somewhere?”

Like many young men in the empire, the youth’s eyes were filled with admiration as he looked at Frost.

“A meeting? Aren’t you still too young to join meetings as an academy student?”

“Then may I be excused?”

Daviao brightened up.

“Actually, I had a prior engagement at Lady Davano’s tea party.”

“Davano?”

It was the tea party that Yuriella was attending. Frost’s head tilted crookedly.

“Why would you go to a party for women only?”

“I was invited by Lady Davano. And since Lady Bi is also attending, I thought I’d protect her.”

Frost’s cold blue eyes scrutinized Daviao thoroughly.

Distinct features with obsidian-like sparkling eyes. A slender build and firm chest revealed under the navy blue uniform of the Imperial Academy. Broad shoulders.

As Daviao smoothly mounted his horse, the grand duke’s eyebrow twitched.

The wild, primal movement of muscles was something that would impress his wife, who was truly passionate about muscles.

“Protect? My Bi?”

“Isn’t women’s gossip scarier than a razor-sharp sword? I heard all the invited guests are ladies from the North. They must be dying to get at her, having all set their sights on you, Grand Duke, only to be disappointed.”

Daviao’s fresh smile looked quite handsome even to Frost’s eyes.

“The mistress of the North is not some weak ordinary lady. And what you should be worried about is the welfare of the South. Your father has been waiting all this time, do you have the mind to be distracted?”

“What? You said earlier that I wasn’t needed…”

“When did I say that? I said it’s a place the one responsible for the future of the South shouldn’t miss.”

Frost leaped off his horse and fiercely gestured with his chin for the young lord of Yobel to dismount as well.

The young lord of Yobel looked bewildered at the grand duke who was feigning innocence, then awkwardly dismounted and followed behind him.

“Neigh~”

The glossy black horse stomped its front hooves angrily as it watched its master enter the front door.

Leo handed Mars’ reins to a stable boy and shook his head, letting out a sigh of relief.

As Frost entered the reception room, Duke Yobel, who had been sitting on the sofa, stood up.

Duke Yobel, who looked like a massive bronze statue with clothes draped on, was big and sturdy, unbelievably so for a man over fifty.

“You’re late.”

“You’re here, so that’s fine. Daviao, what are you doing here?”

“Sir Leo said father was calling for me.”

“I did?”

Duke Yobel and his son turned to look at Leo, who was just entering the reception room.

True to his master, Leo maintained a straight face as he feigned innocence.

“Yes. You said to call him, don’t you remember?”

Frost shot a cold glance at Leo, who was subtly avoiding eye contact.

“Anyway, you’ve come at a good time. We need to put our heads together to discuss this matter.”

Duke Yobel gestured to his son and got straight to the point.

“Your Highness. Have you heard about the sleeping sickness?”

The expression of the man who never lost his smile even in difficult situations, befitting the master of the land of the burning sun, was unprecedentedly dark and heavy.

“A disease where people suddenly fall asleep and can’t wake up, I hear.”

Frost sat down in the chair opposite Yobel.

“The number has already exceeded a thousand. My nephew who was visiting the empire also fell victim to this disease that doesn’t discriminate between gender, age, or status. But I don’t think this is just an ordinary illness.”

Daviao nodded at the duke’s words and added:

“Because of this, the public sentiment is uneasy. There are rumors that this is heaven’s punishment for the emperor’s tyranny.”

“Nonsense. Heaven’s punishment is received after death. It’s always the living who torment the living.”

Frost gave a slight nod to Leo.

Leo found the documents related to the sleeping sickness from the pile of reports neatly arranged on the table and handed them to Duke Yobel.

The sleeping sickness was also one of the main agenda items that the masters of the North and South needed to discuss urgently today.

“The time of onset, previous medical history, current condition, and special notes for the sleeping sickness patients are all detailed here.”

“As expected. You’ve already investigated everything.”

Yobel was busily flipping through the report when he suddenly frowned at a certain part.

“This is…!”

“There were people secretly monitoring the houses of sleeping sickness patients. When we traced them, they turned out to be the empress dowager’s people.”

“Why would the empress dowager be interested in the sleeping sickness patients?”

“If it was to help the patients, they would have advertised it openly, not watched in secret.”

Daviao nodded vigorously.

“They say the culprit always returns to the crime scene. Could it be to destroy evidence?”

Frost glanced at the excited young man and shook his head.

“They’re not trying to destroy evidence. They’re just watching.”

Frost tapped the armrest of the chair and mused.

“They’re secretly looking for something. The fact that their footsteps haven’t stopped means they haven’t found it yet.”

“Are you certain that the empress dowager is the culprit?”

“She’s capable of even worse things.”

At Frost’s gesture, Leo handed another report to Duke Yobel. This was also a matter they had planned to discuss together.

“The empress dowager has turned the holy sword Flama into a demon sword. The high priest Comboni and the holy maiden candidate Karina Pioni are in cahoots with the empress dowager.”

Duke Yobel’s beard trembled with anger as he flipped through the report.

“The empress dowager and the grand temple conspiring together. But I don’t see any evidence of the emperor’s involvement? Could it be the empress dowager acting alone?”

“That’s not important. Whoever committed the crime first, they will become one as they taint and cover for each other. We need to cut out the rotten roots completely.”

“Have you… made up your mind?”

Duke Yobel’s face showed both expectation and concern.

In every aspect, the grand duke was more than qualified to become emperor.

Except for one thing. The uncertainty of when he might collapse due to the magic poison was the only worrying factor for the great cause.

“I will depose the emperor. I’ve already found the most suitable person for that position.”

“What? The most suitable person… what do you mean-”

“I’ll introduce you when the time comes.”

Frost did not allow any further questions.

He turned his head towards the window and fell into deep silence as the brilliant sunlight poured over his face.

Duke Yobel and his son looked at the grand duke, who had been conducting thorough investigations and preparations, with eyes of awe. Their expressions showed that they were surprised and curious about what else might be in the mind of the master of the North.

But Leo, the grand duke’s closest confidant and friend of 20 years, knows.

That right now, the grand duke’s mind is completely filled with thoughts of his wife attending the tea party. Along with slight irritation at the troublesome matters holding him back from rushing there and the handsome young lord of the South.

*

In the garden of Davano Duke’s mansion in the empire.

“Lady Bi must have no worries about the imperial ball. You must be such a great dancer, having been a dancer. I wonder if you captivated the grand duke’s heart with your mesmerizing dance?”

A woman with a voluminous ribbon as big as her own head on her face blinked at me, covering her mouth with a fan and giggling.

“I heard it wasn’t that, but that you captured the grand duke’s heart with mysterious acupuncture from the Eastern Continent? I’m envious, Lady Bi. I wish I had been born the daughter of a lowly medicine peddler too.”

Her head is a complete flower garden. Roses, daisies, calla lilies, tulips. Oh, there’s even geranium?

“My lady. Those flowers on your head look dangerous. I saw beehives here and there in the garden. I’m afraid you might get stung by bees and your face could become a beehive. I’ve seen faces swollen as big as a horse’s behind before.”

I said it out of concern, but did it sound like I was threatening to turn her face into a beehive with needles?

The face of the flower bouquet lady turned pale.

Girls, take it easy. Over there, our house’s black mage has been trembling with the desire to turn you all into pigs for a while now.

I looked at each of the beautiful northern ladies with benevolent eyes.

Every time my gaze touched them, the bodies of the young ladies sitting in a circle in the garden trembled one by one.

It was very interesting, just like when you line up horseshoes and tap the first one, the vibration is transmitted in order, making them tremble.

Lady Davano glares at me with triangular eyes, her pretty lips pursed.

This one has some spirit. Look at how she’s straining her neck, trying not to tremble. Is it because she’s the daughter of Baron Davano, the third-in-command of the North?

“Lady Bi. May I make a request since you’re here?”

Lady Davano’s dark brown eyes are solemn. She looks like she has prepared a secret weapon to strike me with.

“Unfortunately, my maid has fallen ill with the sleeping sickness and hasn’t woken up yet. Please wake her up with your mysterious acupuncture, Lady Bi. This will be beneficial for you too, Lady Bi.”

The eyes of the young ladies with flowers and ribbons in full bloom on their heads sparkle as they focus on me. Their mouth corners are thickly smeared with mischief and sneers.

“Indeed, there are so many doubting eyes wondering if Lady Bi’s acupuncture really saved the grand duke, or if it was just a coincidence. Why don’t you clearly show your ‘skills’ this time, Lady Bi?”

They must have thought I would get scared and run away if asked to cure the sleeping sickness that even the emperor’s personal physician couldn’t cure.

“Lead me to the maid.”

“Pardon?”

Lady Davano’s eyebrows rose high in surprise. The flowers on her head swayed messily.

“I was very curious about this disease anyway. I’d like to see that maid.”