Of course, Carson was alive until Ines was released, so it is certain that he avoided the disease. However, the real crisis was not the epidemic itself.

“Let’s go… to Monstera.”

“What?”

In the end, even the imperial family could not escape the disease.

“How old is His Highness the Crown Prince now?”

Carson finally wrinkled his face. It was absurd to suddenly ask the age of the Crown Prince while suggesting going to Monstera. However, after a moment of embarrassment, he promptly answered.

“He’s three years older than me.”

“So, he’s twenty-six.”

Ines, benefiting from a special pardon intertwined with the rise of the new emperor, was released from Romfield. It happened exactly ten years from now.

Even if the Empress is alive, there was no Crown Prince in the Kanez Empire who could ascend to the imperial throne until the age of thirty-six. Moreover, in cases where the age difference between the Empress and the heir was so significant, it was even more natural.

The imperial family, swept away by the disease, experienced tremendous turmoil. When those who were high in the succession order died, rebellions occurred naturally, following the usual course.

As a result, the numerous children of the imperial family were reduced to a handful.

It was unclear whether the Crown Prince would die of the disease or become a victim of rebellion.

The only certainty was that the Empress would lose her firstborn in a few years.

It was a truly pitiful thing for a woman who had to endure everything under her feet.

“After the plague passes, the country will be overwhelmed by chaos, and perhaps rebellion might occur.”

“Huh, increasingly.”

“If that happens, the current Crown Prince won’t become the Emperor, Your Highness.”

Carson, unusually flustered, silenced Ines.

It was something to say behind the Empress’s back. He wasn’t greatly surprised even when Noah threw such jokes in the palace. But this woman must not do that.

Shouldn’t she cause as much trouble as she could handle?

“Ines, please.”

Knowing the seriousness of the matter, Ines bowed her head with her mouth blocked. She would only respond quietly with a “I’ll be careful” without saying sorry.

Carson listened earnestly to the story that even Ines found hard to believe.

“I felt that Her Majesty the Empress was very wary of you.”

In the life she had lived, Carson was the Lord of the unified Lusonia, not the Landhill. Judging from Joseph’s safe ascent to the Duke position, the downfall of Graem was a long way off.

That meant the current situation was completely different from back then.

Also, Carson survived the disease, but it was unknown how Louis was doing.

Even if he survived the disease, the fact that there were two in this castle included in the imperial succession sequence was more than enough to attract the enemy’s attention.

Moreover, the current Kanez Empire was paying attention to Carson not only from the Empress but also from all the nobles and imperial citizens.
“So, let’s go to Monstera.”

Ines’s conclusion after much consideration was just that.

“After all, you said that this territory can’t be easily taken away.”

It was about minimizing damage to each other in this battlefield where everyone kills each other. It was also about taking a break for a while, gathering strength to resist the Empress who had insulted her sanctity.

At least for now, it was certain that this decision was not the best but the best available.

When Ines arrived, she couldn’t approach her because she was watching the reactions of others.

Carson von Raymond, to be exact.

The situation was different from Louis, who had to lower his body to the Empress.

Noah made a coughing sound from behind as Ines followed the head maid, and Carson couldn’t help but look at her back, making Noah cough even more.

Even if it wasn’t because of Noah, he couldn’t help but notice. He couldn’t embarrass her, who was still a maid.

But he couldn’t wait until tomorrow and found her.

There was still a year between them, but today he just wanted to stand before Ines not as an equal to the goddess Heclesia but just as a man.

He sent a servant to ask Ines what her favorite flower was. She probably couldn’t imagine it, but he had expanded the balcony and even brought gardeners from Sweden.

Whether his efforts paid off or not, Ines looked around and smiled like a child.

However, expecting a romantic atmosphere and going out, he had to return to the office with a face that seemed to have received a blow to the back of the head.

And he immediately called Noah.

“What’s going on this morning?”

Even he, who had never complained, asked with a rough face after waking up Noah from his peaceful sleep. However, Carson didn’t care at all and gave him an order.

“Go to Edmont right now…”

Noah thought he must be having a nightmare at the mention of Edmont. Going to such a distant place in the middle of the night. Fortunately, as if to prove that this situation was a dream, the lord, who had never stopped talking before, stopped giving orders and fell into a momentary trance.