A hawk that had been freely soaring through the sky was struck by an arrow and staggered in the air before plummeting onto the grassy field.

Watching from the side, Shallen clapped with unrestrained admiration, and Isabella shyly lowered her bow.

“Your hunting skills are truly remarkable, Lady Isabella.”

“No, you flatter me too much.”

“I never imagined such a delicate lady would have such a bold hobby.”

“When I caught deer or birds and presented them to my father, he was always so pleased. I think I practiced harder just to see his smiling face.”

“What a devoted daughter.”

Invited to the Kan Palace, Isabella spent most of her days with Shallen, building a close bond.

Shallen, who had been unable to sleep or eat properly due to thoughts of Kasallin, found a small spark of vitality through Isabella.

To Shallen, Isabella was like a fresh breeze.

She showed active interest in somewhat rough hobbies like hunting and horseback riding, and she knew well how to entertain others.

Her humble smile and shy gestures provided a pleasant stimulation to Shallen’s long-dormant senses.

From time to time, the two spent quite enjoyable moments for their mutual satisfaction.

Of course, there were no serious or special feelings involved, just simple amusement born of interest.

“It’s a pity that you’ll soon have to return to your homeland. If you were from the Kan Kingdom, I’d keep you by my side and have fun all the time…”

Returning to the palace after hunting, Shallen muttered.

“Are you perhaps lonely?”

“Well, maybe. Since Kasallin coldly abandoned me, it feels like a huge hole has opened in my heart. I miss everything about her. Not a single moment passes without her face in my mind.”

“Poor Prince Shallen.”

Isabella, with a look full of pity, took Shallen’s hand.

“Your Highness, you regret and suffer so deeply, yet why doesn’t Empress Kasallin ever look back? How can she be so cold-hearted? I truly can’t understand.”

“Thank you for saying that, Isabella. My dearest friend.”

“Come here. If my embrace is acceptable, I’ll offer it as much as you need.”

“Isabella, you’re truly kind.”

Leaning against a nearby tree, Shallen didn’t hesitate to bury his face in Isabella’s chest.

He closed his eyes and imagined this embrace was Kasallin’s.

Her cool skin, devoid of warmth, her firm shoulders and stiff hands, her awkward stance, never knowing how to charm.

There was nothing about her that surpassed Isabella, yet only her scent made Shallen feel alive.

“Soon, I’ll take you back, Kasallin.”

Yesterday, he had finally made contact with Lord Jeffrey, the court physician who had once diagnosed Kasallin.

Thanks to Duchess Rudo, who hailed from the Lam Kingdom, it wasn’t hard to track him down while he was there on personal business.

When asked to meet urgently, he readily accepted the invitation.

If he could reveal Kasallin’s secret to Parnes, who likely knew nothing, she would no longer be able to remain empress.

The glory and trust she thought she had secured would be lost in an instant, and she’d be pelted with stones by the people.

Abandoned and with nowhere to go, Kasallin would say to him:

“Shallen, I was wrong. Please take me back.”

Imagining Kasallin shedding pitiful tears and begging for forgiveness, Shallen could no longer contain his excitement.

“Kasallin…”

Though he hated and despised her, he loved her unbearably, and Shallen repeated her name endlessly while embracing Isabella even tighter.

The knights and attendants following them couldn’t fully hide their exasperated expressions and tactfully turned their heads.

“If you thought the love and glory gained by betraying your sister would remain sweet forever, doesn’t that mean your conscience took a wrong turn?”

Spitting venomous words at Rose as if venting, Aster stepped out into the garden and paused by a fountain, catching his breath.

He first thought that this wasn’t like him.

He could’ve just brushed off the proposal, but the moment Kasallin’s name came out of her mouth, irritation surged uncontrollably.

Aster scooped water from the fountain, washed his face, and roughly wiped it with his shirt collar.

Wondering if that foolish king was fooling around with that Isabella or whatever her name was, he walked quickly along the palace perimeter.

“Then, Lord Jeffrey, is it certain that Kasallin cannot bear children?”

“Yes, Your Highness. That is correct. I have the diagnosis from back then.”

Hearing faint conversation from a slightly open first-floor window, Aster instinctively pressed himself against the wall.

Along with the unfamiliar voice of a man called Lord Jeffrey, the voices of Shallen and the Rudo mother and daughter occasionally mingled.

“I’m staking everything on your diagnosis. Not that I doubt the skills of a renowned physician like you, but we must approach this cautiously.”

“Rest assured, Your Esteemed Highness. I confirmed multiple times that when I dropped Kasallin’s blood into mistwood sap, it turned dark red. There’s no mistake.”

What kind of conversation is this?

Sharpening his senses, Aster’s mind raced faster than ever as he listened more closely to their voices.

“Lord Jeffrey, you’ll need to play a big role this time.”

“Me, Your Highness?”

“Kasallin committed an unforgivable sin. She hid the fact that she cannot produce an heir and shamelessly became empress. When Emperor Parnes learns this, he’ll be shocked and furious. Shouldn’t we inform those being deceived by Kasallin of the truth as quickly as possible?”

“Well… that’s true, but…”

Lord Jeffrey trailed off hesitantly.

Shallen, as if waiting, spoke up.

“If you help me this time, I’ll reward you handsomely. Tell me what you want. Oh, you have a daughter, don’t you? I happen to be close with the king of the Lam Kingdom. I could pull strings for you there.”

“…Is that true?”

“The spring festival is coming soon. Many will gather in the Renel Empire. On the day of the grand ball, let’s enact justice by exposing Kasallin’s cunning and deceitful tricks to everyone.”

It seemed this physician was just as greedy as Aster himself.

Having roughly grasped the situation, Aster let out a hollow laugh.

He had wondered why the Rudo mother and daughter, who seemed to have no ties to the Kan Kingdom, had come here. It appears they’d joined hands with Shallen.

That Isabella Rudo must have been a leading candidate for empress before Kasallin appeared.

Nobles and royals, who put on all sorts of refined airs, secretly gathering to plot against one woman—it was laughably absurd.

“Duchess Rudo, I’ll need your help.”

“Of course, Your Highness. That’s why I came here in the first place. What should I do?”

“I’ve heard you hold sway over the Renel Empire’s high society. Until the promised day, I’d like you to subtly spread word that Kasallin’s health is quite poor. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”

“Yes. There’s a woman among my followers, Marchioness Clemens, who’s very skilled in such matters. Leave it to me.”

In other words, spread ominous rumors to lay the groundwork.

“And Lady Isabella will stay longer at my palace and travel with me to the Renel Empire for the festival. Duchess, is that acceptable?”

“Why would I object, Your Highness?”

And in the meantime, he wants to have some fun with Isabella, the perfect substitute for Kasallin.

Disgusted by such shameless and base behavior, Aster shook his head and headed straight to his office.

Rummaging through a drawer for leftover stationery, he dipped a pen in ink with his other hand.

Leaning against the desk’s edge, Aster scribbled a message to someone with swift strokes.

This moment suddenly reminded him of that day.

The day Kasallin left the Kan Kingdom.

“Let’s talk for a bit. Come quietly, without her knowing.”

While Kasallin was chatting with Logia in front of the Blueback Inn, Parnes had abruptly pulled him aside.

“What’s this about?”

“You said you’d stay in the Kan Kingdom, didn’t you?”

“Yes, so what?”

“Keep a close eye on Shallen Riche and Rose Riche. If they do anything suspicious, report to me immediately.”

His voice, imperious as a ruler accustomed to commanding others, left no room for refusal.

“Why should I follow your orders? I’m not from the Renel Empire.”

“Strictly speaking, you have some Renel blood too.”

“…”

“And you’ll do as I say. Because if it’s for Kasallin, you won’t ignore it.”

And his uncanny perceptiveness.

Speechless and dumbfounded, Aster chuckled for a while before shrugging.

“That’s why people shouldn’t fall for hopeless love.”

“So, you’re telling me to be your spy? Fine, it sounds kind of cool, so I’ll do it.”

“I’ll reward you generously. If you wish, I can help your family relocate to the Renel Empire and reestablish themselves as alchemists.”

“Hmm, that’s nice. But what I really want is something else.”

Aster paused, gazing at Kasallin, who was holding hands affectionately with Logia in front of the Blueback Inn.

Parnes’s gaze naturally followed hers.

“Don’t make her cry. That’s my only condition.”

“Sorry, but that condition is meaningless. I decided long ago to make her the most noble and happy woman in the world.”

“Haha, I figured as much.”

Aster tilted a nearly spent candle to drip wax, sealed the letter with a stamp, and stood by the window, whistling sharply.

After a short wait, a large pigeon fluttered out from the distant forest.

Tying the letter to the slightly dazed bird’s neck, as if it had been napping, he sent it soaring into the sky.