“Do you not need my answer? Duchess.”

Eriel stared at Gerald without a word.

She now truly felt like she didn’t know Gerald anymore. The Gerald who spoke such words and burst into laughter was unfamiliar to her.

She couldn’t read from Gerald what he exactly wanted.

Was it simply that he wanted to heal the wounded heart from past memories through her, or did he desire Eriel herself…? But now, it felt like Gerald was neither of those.

It even seemed like what remained between her and him was not even memories.

Was he politically aiming for a comeback?

“Viscount Shannon? The answer to the question is no. It could be helpful, but an answer was not absolutely necessary. That was closer to my remaining consideration as a friend. You seem to have overlooked the fact that you’re the one who took the steps to come here just for that answer. You may leave as is.”

Eriel pointed out Gerald’s attitude of trying to take the high ground.

She made it clear that his position was not such. However, even so, a leisurely light shone on Gerald’s face.

“I can also say that my coming here is close to consideration as a friend.”

“…Viscount.”

As the eye contact between Eriel and Gerald prolonged, Damian called out to Gerald.

Gerald’s gaze slowly shifted to Damian. He still looked at Damian with a smiling face and gently bowed his head.

“Take care of yourself, Your Grace. Well, come to think of it. Since a situation where enemies are spread everywhere is not very unfamiliar to you, I suppose my concern is not much needed.”

Due to the last remark, Damian’s eyes distorted. The discrepancy between the impertinent attitude and the gentle attitude was large.

Eriel judged that there must be something Gerald had realized in relation to that glove on his side.

If he had confirmed something towards Viscount Scala’s side, it was something the Noble Faction would welcome with open arms.

It was the internal division of the Imperial Faction at the time of its greatest strength. Did Gerald really intend to turn this matter into a political one?

“Eriel.”

Gerald’s resolute voice resounded inside the parlor.

The Gerald who boldly called Eriel’s name in front of Damian was not the old friend Eriel knew.

Was it from the moment he gave her the glove and lied to her? Then were all the tears at that time false?

Eriel felt confusion at Gerald’s unfathomable appearance.

“You will regret not hearing that answer from me today.”

Damian, who had been hardening his expression, let out a snort at Gerald’s last words.

Damian, leaning sideways, brushed his hair back and moved his gaze into the air, then quickly turned his head towards Gerald.

“What great confidence.”

Damian stepped aside as if there was no need to listen further.

“Then, go ahead. Viscount.”

*

At that time, in the Imperial Palace, Eden, who had finished his lessons, was walking down the corridor.

On a usual day, it would have been time to go straight to the training grounds, but today, he was moving towards the Emperor’s audience chamber.

Worry rose on the boy’s face, as if it was an unfamiliar situation for Eden as well.

Was it because of the upcoming autumn hunting festival?

Eden, who had been walking while speculating about his father’s summons, raised his head at someone’s greeting.

“I pay my respects to His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince. It seems like it has been a while since I last saw your face, Your Highness.”

Marquis Farnese, who had walked from the opposite corridor, briefly bowed to Eden and straightened up.

As soon as he saw him, the gossip he had heard from his aide passed through his mind.

The clash between Marquis Farnese and Duke Genova at Duke Genova’s departure ceremony.

Of course, it seemed more like he had gotten involved in something between the Duchess and Viscount Shannon rather than political matters, but anyway, Eden hardened his face while looking at Marquis Farnese.

Even though he knew he shouldn’t act emotionally, it was inevitable to have a more favorable feeling towards Duke Genova, who was a member of the Imperial Faction and Lucy’s father.

“Yes, Marquis. Today is not a day for the aristocratic council meeting, is it? You are always busy, so you rarely come to the Imperial Palace unless it’s for a meeting. What brings you here?”

Even with the uneven expression management of an 8-year-old, Marquis Farnese smiled brightly.

“I am on my way back from an audience with His Majesty. It seems that Your Imperial Highness is also about to have an audience with His Majesty. Your expression looks dark.”

“No. I think my expression was dark because I was briefly thinking about something else. …Then, I will go ahead first. As you know, I have business to attend to.”

As Eden tried to pass by him, Marquis Farnese called out to Eden.

As Eden hesitated at that, the imperial attendants, maids, and aides following Eden also briefly stopped their steps in line with Eden’s.

“Your Imperial Highness.”

“Yes. Marquis.”

“…You are still on good terms with the Lady, aren’t you?”

The Marquis’ half-closed eyes turned towards Eden. Even at the mention of Lucy’s name through others, Eden blushed and briefly swallowed hard, stiffly.

However, that was only for a moment. Eden quickly cleared his throat and nodded.

“Yes, that is so.”

There was no need to hide it unnecessarily.

It could be seen as support for Duke Genova, who would soon become the leader of the Imperial Faction, but for Eden, he didn’t want to hide his feelings for Lucy more than that.

Even if adults thought it was a passing love of childhood, so be it.

And what if it was seen as support for Duke Genova, who would become the leader of the Imperial Faction?

“Even in a bitterly cold winter, flowers bloom, Your Highness. I hope it blooms beautifully.”

Leaving behind words of unknown meaning, the Marquis bowed to Eden.

Although Eden briefly paused at the Marquis’ words, he nodded his head once towards him without asking further. Marquis Farnese was no ordinary aristocrat.

It was better not to frown at such a single remark or engage in further conversation.

Because Marquis Farnese, who had long dominated the political arena, would not say something for no reason, but he was not an easy opponent for Eden to deal with.

Eden listened to the Marquis Farnese’s footsteps getting farther and farther away.

Eden did not stop his steps until the sound of his footsteps could no longer be heard.

Only when he had completely turned the corner and even the footsteps of his subordinates could not be heard by Marquis Farnese did Eden briefly stop.

The aide who had heard the Marquis’ words briefly stood next to Eden as his steps stopped.

Eden gestured to him that it was alright, then looked straight ahead.

It was a time when imperial authority was strong. The Empire’s firmness was also boasted through the conquest war, and Duke Genova, the main figure of that victory, had also properly returned.

Even though a long war would have consumed that much mental factor, fortunately, Duke Genova showed no signs of wavering at all.

Although there were many incidents in between, everything was merely a passing wind to the extent that Duke Genova made a successful return, and the momentum of the Imperial Faction, which followed him, also grew day by day.

The incident at the departure ceremony was just a clash between the Noble Faction and the Imperial Faction, which had been peaceful for a while, so even if there was a lot of talk, it was to the extent of thinking that the two would finally have a big fight.

But…

“Which time is this bitterly cold winter referring to?”

Eden, who had briefly chewed and spat out the Marquis’ words in a small voice, narrowed his brows.

*

“Do not give the hunting prey as a gift to the lady of Genova at this hunting festival.”

An unexpected remark resounded in the audience chamber.

Taking a slow breath, Eden calmly asked his father for the reason. For some reason, Marquis Farnese’s words passed through Eden’s mind.

“May I ask the reason? Why…”

“You must have heard about what happened at the departure ceremony, Eden?”

“Yes, I heard.”

The Emperor, who let out a short sigh, frowned with one eyebrow and looked at his son. The eyes of the young son who had inherited the imperial blood trembled finely.

“It seems like it will turn into a political matter. Politics is originally like that. It is about bringing private matters to the public arena to find causes and justifications.”

“Is it turning into a fight between the leader of the Noble Faction and the leader of the Imperial Faction?”

“Yes. And Eden.”

The Emperor revealed a new fact to his son, who seemed to rely a bit too much on the Imperial Faction as a political group.

“Do not forget that the Imperial Faction is also aristocratic. Just because they are the Imperial Faction does not mean they cease to be aristocrats. Furthermore, Duke Genova is closer to a hero and a knight who has traversed the battlefield for a long period.”

“That is why there is no room to doubt his loyalty to the Imperial Family, isn’t it?”

Eden countered.

“My son.”

The Emperor narrowed his eyes, looking at the favor underlying that counter-argument.

“Genova is not a family that serves the Emperor. They serve the Imperial Family itself. It is because it is for the Empire that they serve the Imperial Family. Even if you do not know what the difference is right now, you should try to take a step back and observe.”

At the Emperor’s words, Eden lowered his gaze.

It was a head that had fallen lifelessly, but fortunately, the son nodded without much resistance.

“Yes, I understand.”

“Good. Thank you for understanding. I will have a list of suitable individuals sent to you to give the hunting prey as a gift.”

“Yes, I understand.”