Clang.

As Wyatt suddenly stepped out, the sound of knights, including Wyatt who were standing on both sides, gripping their swords at their waists echoed.

Long before the war broke out, these men who were part of the royal guard followed Lakrahan to the North, collectively abandoning the royal family.

They had made a large-scale move after the war, becoming an independent knight brigade in the North.

Lakrahan now possessed an even more powerful army than when they were with the royal family.

He regretted allowing Lakrahan to lead the knight brigade to the North immediately after the war.

It was also one of the reasons why Gerard had been keeping Lakrahan in check for over ten years.

“Lakrahan, rest will come later. First, you should ask why I’ve come here in the middle of the night.”

Lakrahan coldly lowered his eyes and looked at Dylan, who stood before him.

“If you have something to say, go ahead.”

Dylan, who had always lived in a thoroughly dog-eat-dog world, realized as soon as his eyes met Lakrahan’s.

That he couldn’t possibly stand against him.

But he was someone who would have to end his life on the spot if the Emperor commanded it.

Retreat was not an option.

At 17, a war hero, Lakrahan had become even more powerful in just ten more years.

What he would become in another ten years, when he reached Gerard’s age, was exciting to think about.

Probably, a monster.

“I will give you an opportunity, Commander of the Guards.”

Lakrahan smoothly pulled back his lips and spoke with a smile.

“Will you step aside, or shall I make you?”

Though it was a trivial remark, Dylan felt as if the back of his neck tingled.

“That’s enough.”

At Gerard’s words, Dylan took a step back.

Lakrahan’s gaze briefly touched Dylan and Gruby, who stood behind him, then disappeared.

Gerard stepped forward to Lakrahan.

As the two stood face to face, the surrounding knights each took a step back.

“Duke Lakrahan. I don’t want to make useless small talk.”

Gerard looked Lakrahan up and down as if sizing him up.

“As soon as Kelita came through the portal, she called out your name and fainted.”

“……!”

He knew she had collapsed, but he didn’t know she had called his name.

Was it true or false? Could he judge that now?

In any case, if it came from the Emperor’s mouth, then only what the Emperor wanted to believe as truth would become the real truth.

“Is the Princess all right?”

If so, then Lakrahan had no need to be cowardly either.

As long as the outcome was in the Emperor’s hands, the game was lost the moment he became impatient.

“I sincerely hope that Princess Kelita wakes up safe and soon. Also, that it becomes clear who harmed her at that moment.”

Gerard’s eyes narrowed.

He licked his teeth with his tongue and glanced at the officials beside him.

“Well, enough of that. To put it bluntly,”

The Emperor’s face suddenly came up close to Lakrahan’s.

“The woman who claims to be Bercheria.”

For a moment, the humor vanished from Gerard’s expression.

“Hand her over, you weak Northern Duke.”

Lakrahan’s eyebrows still playfully crumpled above his smiling lips.

Dikper had said that the mana-possessed boy’s aura was astonishingly similar to Bercheria’s.

Seeing it for herself, she understood why.

Not just the facial features but also the color of the hair and the white skin were eerily identical.

Had she met him without hearing from Dikper, Bercheria might have wondered if they were twins.

Adding to that, even their mana was similar; it was definitely strange.

“From the same bloodline, huh.”

Pushing her curiosity about the boy aside, Bercheria sat down on the bed.
She calmed her mind and focused energy at her fingertips.

“…….”

Still, she felt nothing.

“What on Earth did they feed me?”

If she knew what she had consumed, she could take measures accordingly.

She couldn’t even question Kelita.

Lakrahan had told her that Princess Kelita lost consciousness while trying to cross the portal alone.

Even if she woke up, it was unlikely that she would disclose what it was.

Bercheria turned her head and looked out the window.

Not long ago, she remembered the story Lakrahan had told her about the Emperor.

“Emperor Jerad probably won’t hurry even if he finds out about you until the guardian energy returns. All he wants is to prove he is above the gods.”

Now powerless, Bercheria had no way to prove her identity.

Since the Emperor brought along a person with blonde hair and golden eyes, her appearance proved nothing.

“Maybe I don’t need to worry too much.”

Bercheria lay on the bed and closed her eyes.

For now, all she could do was wait quietly, hoping nothing would happen.

After crossing the portal, Grooby felt elated as if he had entered a fascinating world.

The palace was also dazzling, but the North had a completely different atmosphere.

Everything was mysterious.

Trees that were three times his height, and the snow that softly covered those trees.

Although he had never felt the softness of a quilt in his life, he thought it would feel similar if he was buried in that snow.