Carson eventually bit his lower lip. Once the emperor designated him as the crown prince, there was no way to escape. In the current situation where he was referred to as the crown prince, he couldn’t abandon the capital.

He turned toward the garden, clutching his head.

It was the emperor’s words, a declaration made in front of the designated successor in the form of the crown prince. There was no way to avoid the situation; he had declared war just like declaring war.

Carson only turned his head and glanced at his father. Fear was not evident on his face. He had been guarding the throne for so long without seizing power.

“You are truly remarkable.”

“I never thought I would hear such an evaluation from you. It’s beyond comprehension.”

The momentum of the two people facing each other with the same expression did not waver at all.

Carson closed his mouth and fell into thought. He had already entered the currents of the storm. There was no way out anyway. Then, there was only one path left.

Carson, as always, erased all the opaque things surrounding him and took a step toward the most certain place.

To protect his people, he had no choice but to grasp them all and move into that space.

Into the silent eye of the storm.

“How can I become the emperor? Is the throne a position that can be obtained with a single word from Your Majesty?”

“Yes, as long as I am the emperor of the Keynes Empire, if I say a word, you are already like the crown prince. So whether you protect it or lose it, it’s all your responsibility.”

“Am I in such a state as a mouse trapped in poison?”

Although the words were still rough, the emperor knew that the tone had softened considerably.

“It’s awkward to tell a beast to catch a mouse while crouching.”

“Why did you prepare a way like this?”

“What way? I couldn’t even find a way to save my own life.”

He said so, but Carson knew that the emperor had made the maximum preparations within his capabilities. Just by looking at the emperor’s knights surrounding him in the hall where the crown prince was declared, he could realize that fact.

Carson approached the emperor and sat down. The emperor poured a full glass of alcohol into Carson’s glass.

Since the emperor had already designated him as the crown prince, there were only two options left.

To die or to become the emperor.

At that moment, Carson thought of Ines. Now, she had less than a month left until she could reclaim her status. Just when she was finally going to be by his side, another unpredictable waiting time had come.

He looked at the liquid shaking finely in front of him without realizing Carson’s speed. The sky was clear. It was the moment when the clouds split, and a huge beam of light poured down as if announcing the prologue.

The unavoidable war for the throne had begun.

On a day when the spring breeze was clearly evident, Ines stepped into the Swenden family again as the adopted daughter.

Seeing her from afar and watching her mother and Susan running towards her, Ines laughed even more brightly than the flowers blooming in the garden.

Now, at the age of twenty-seven in winter, looking around the mansion, Ines thought that the current moment was perfect.

She smelled the missed scent, nestled in the arms of her affectionate and warm mother.

Fortunately, neither the plague nor the signs of rebellion had passed through the Swenden mansion. Thanks to Carson’s efforts, Landhill was safer than anywhere in the empire.

Even if he had warned his parents to leave in advance, they would never have left Swenden.

Knowing that, Ines only gave a word of caution.
The peak of the epidemic will be achieved, and the momentum of the summer heat will gradually retreat even in the southern regions.

As Ines entered the reception room, which had been converted into a restaurant, warm and gentle smells of food vibrated.

“It seems like the chef has shown some skills because you’re here.”

Onion soup, grilled sea bass, roasted cabbage and capers in an iron pan, and steak with grape sauce on the side – all were dishes that Ines liked the most. It was a peaceful scene that seemed to have swallowed up the three years of time in a gulp.

After a long time, Ines had a hearty meal. Just by looking at her eating, you could tell the expressions on her parents’ faces without seeing them.

“Susan, my face will be worn out if you keep staring like that.”

With a piercing gaze, when Susan tried to say something, she blushed and stepped back. Glancing at her, Ines noticed that her belly was slightly protruding. She looked incredibly happy, and Ines thought it was fortunate.

Even after finishing the meal, Ines, her parents, and even Susan couldn’t leave their seats.

Especially, Elena consistently wiped away her tears and continued to smile. Ines, looking at her mom, had a similar expression.

“I’m curious how you’ve been all this time.”

“I really haven’t had a single worry here.”

Elena leaned close to Ines, sweeping her hair aside. Ines involuntarily closed her eyes at the soft and warm touch.

“All the nobles here are friendly to you and our family.”

In response to those words, Ines raised a skeptical eyebrow. Before Landhill merged with Lesonia, this territory was mountainous and had little interaction between nobles, making it quite closed-off. It wasn’t close to the capital, so it tended to be conservative. It was unbelievable that such people would be friendly to her.