“Isn’t the saint attending the meeting today?”

Knight Commander William’s question made Hades lift his head and briefly look at him.

“Yes, she’s not feeling well.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

William replied earnestly.

“I would have liked to hear the saint’s opinion.”

Hades’ eyes narrowed. It was impossible not to know that William was hostile to Angelica.

So his words were hard to take at face value.

“May I ask why?”

“Excuse me?”

“Why are you curious about Angelica’s opinion?”

“Ah.”

William let out a small sigh.

“The saint has already saved us from demons twice. Naturally, her opinion is highly regarded.”

“Is that all?”

Only then did William seem to realize Hades’ intent. He quickly lowered his head in a gesture of submission.

“Your Majesty, I initially thought poorly of the saint. Especially after learning about her relationship with you.”

Hades said nothing.

“But I am not a brute who would ignore someone who saved my life and the lives of my subordinates twice. If you thought otherwise of me…”

“I never thought you were that lowly. Maybe an eccentric old man.”

“Your Majesty!”

William and Hades broke into spontaneous laughter at the same time.

Hades looked at the Knight Commander who had not only taught him swordsmanship when he was young but also filled the role of a family elder.

“I regret how things turned out.”

Caught off guard by the sudden remark, William raised an eyebrow.

“Every time I’m near Angelica, I naturally think of my father.”

Not just William. Any longstanding servant or subject would have been reminded of the late Duke Donovan.

A man who had no interests other than chasing after momentary pleasures and replacing beautiful mistresses.

“If it weren’t for the power vested in the Duchess by the law, Donovan would have fallen and been absorbed into the empire long ago.”

But Hades’ mother had died on the same day as the father he so despised.

They had been ambushed by a group of demons during their annual inspection of their territory and died tragically on the spot.

Hades was sixteen at the time.

Not a child, but not yet fully recognized as an adult either.

Because of that, Hades had to strive even more. He could not afford to show a face like that of his grandfather, the previous Duke, who was corrupt, and he had to act like his grandmother, the previous Duchess, who was unblemished and perfect.

That’s why Angelica’s existence had been a shock to everyone.

“I can’t deny it.”

William lifted his head.

“But, even at an age when you think you know quite a lot, there comes a time when you have to admit you were wrong.”

“Huh.”

Hades let out a deflated sound.

“I would like to tell that to Angelica.”

“Do you want me to tell her directly?”

“It was a joke, Sir.”

“I know.”

A playful smile crossed William’s face.

“And perhaps, she already knows. She’s more perceptive than she appears.”

“That’s true.”

Hades agreed. There was no way Angelica wouldn’t have noticed the change in William’s attitude.

Suddenly, William’s expression turned soft.

“Your Majesty… I’m glad you’ve found a place to put your heart.”

Hades shifted uncomfortably. Soon, Angelica would reveal that she had no real relationship with him.

Yet, looking at William, who seemed genuinely happy for him, he found himself at a loss for words.

‘What should I do?’

(This is a time separator.)

Time flew by, and almost a week had passed since the snowstorm ceased.

“Ha! Look over there. They’re frozen solid, they don’t even need a snowman.”

Amy openly pointed at the envoy outside the window. I took a quick glance outside. The envoys and knights in the midst of training came into view.

And of course, Hades, who was going berserk on his own.

“…Really.”

One fact became clear.

Hades was definitely not taking the envoys along in his training out of consideration.
“Isn’t that outright harassment?”

The person who seemed most affected was undoubtedly Shuzhechin. I grimaced. Was Hades not afraid of the backlash?

But as it was none of my concern, I turned my head away from the window and lifted Denesor again.

Lately, Hades and even the Knights of Tobias had been preoccupied with training against the demons, so I had to practice swordsmanship alone.

Lucky or unlucky.

Besides two excellent teachers, I had one more.

So…

“Drop your shoulders, shoulders!”

“Tuck in your stomach!”

“Straighten your back, put strength into your waist!”

It was Denesor.

Although I made it clear that I would not borrow the power of the Holy Sword itself, there was no need to decline useful tips.

After a while had passed,

I flung Denesor to the ground with my floundering arm, and Amy hastily supported me.

“Your Holiness, you’ve overdone it again…”

“There’s nothing else to do.”

“What do you mean there’s nothing to do? You could go to the greenhouse, or do some embroidery, or, ah! How about learning a musical instrument?”

Amy knew well about my modest background. Naturally, she knew that I lacked culture and artistic sensibility to be a ruler.

So her advice was wellintended, but completely irrelevant to my situation.