It was the sound he heard on that day when he switched Ilarid’s and his mother’s teacups during his time as Crown Prince. However, Cledius pretended not to notice and acted naturally.

“…I don’t understand what you mean, Ambassador Lindein.”

“Have you ever heard the sound of a clock’s second hand going off-beat?”

Cledius slowly removed the handkerchief. The nosebleed had already stopped. Only the stains on the white cloth indicated that time had passed.

“…No, I haven’t.”

“If not that… Perhaps you’ve encountered someone you shouldn’t have met…”

“Ambassador, you’re asking quite personal questions now. It’s awkward to answer each one, but…”

Cledius’s tone dripped with displeasure. If he had just pretended not to notice and kept his mouth shut, it would have been bearable, but this incomprehensible person sitting in front of him was trying to interrogate the Emperor with seriousness tinged with suspicion.

“I apologize, Your Majesty.”

Lindein bowed, placing one hand over his heart. An indecipherable smile played on his lips, but Cledius failed to notice it.

They needed to return to the original topic. Lindein brought up the main point he had been holding back.

“Actually, the Alliance Leader is quite angry about the situation.”

As if that mattered. Cledius deliberately didn’t change his expression.

“Because of Rosen?”

“Yes. Since it’s a neutral territory, and there were frequent unofficial trades with Pegeia… When news came that the Empire’s flag was flying over Rosen, it caused quite an uproar.”

Uproar was an understatement. Melia, the current Alliance Leader of Pegeia, went berserk upon hearing the news of Rosen’s fall.

Thanks to that, all the rooms in Pegeia’s central residence became one. Lindein had to express sincere condolences to the shattered walls. He still couldn’t help but chuckle remembering the huge flames piercing the walls and Melia’s shouts.

Well, thanks to that, the residence had to be rebuilt. Lindein managed his expression again as he looked at the arrogant emperor sitting before him.

For Cledius, the occupation of Rosen was a natural progression. Geographically, the Empire had an overwhelming advantage compared to Pegeia, and it was originally Imperial territory a hundred years ago.

“We’ve simply reclaimed what was once Imperial land.”

“I heard that the current leader of Rosen, Duke Le Rosen, is imprisoned in the Empire’s tower.”

“The Duke incited the people of Rosen and led a rebellion. It’s a punishment according to Imperial law, and his sentence will be determined in a future trial…”

His words were interspersed with casual sighs.

“And did Rosen and Pegeia have an official diplomatic relationship?”

“No, they did not.”

“Then there’s no need for you, Ambassador, to comment on this matter. Please convey that to your Alliance Leader as well.”

Though calm, there was even a hint of provocation in his tone. It was close to the triumphant attitude of someone who had claimed the opponent’s territory first in a game of land-grabbing.

It seemed this was an interlocutor with whom words were quite ineffective. Lindein, believing the source of the noise in his ears to be here, decided to hold his tongue.

“…I understand. Let’s focus on the main original purpose of Pegeia and Astrid.”

That’s more like it. Cledius flashed a brief smile. Then he drew a line across the table with his finger.

“As you’ve already confirmed through several letters, there’s a massive mountain range dividing the southern and northern parts of the Western Continent.”

The Likas mountain range was modest in comparison. A harsh snow-capped mountain covered in snow for a third of the year. It was a difficult place for people to settle and establish themselves.

Because of this, even the nobles who held territories there were barely managing to hold on. The natural environment was too harsh to develop and increase the population.

“We plan to set up a special district using that area as a forward base to advance northward.”

“Do you have someone suitable for the task?”

“I think you’ll approve of him too. You seem to have a discerning eye for people.”

“As a member of the allied nations, I’d like to meet him in person. Could you arrange a meeting?”

The timing was opportune. In a few days, there would be a ball, providing a good excuse to present Lebel in front of many people.

Could it be that the Empress had invited him? But it might be awkward to present Lebel in front of so many people.

An official event attended by the Empire’s most prominent noble families. Even at the previous victory banquet, when trying to present Lebel and speak about him, didn’t they immediately show signs of discomfort?

He should be kept well-hidden, like a true ‘shadow’. In such a splendid place where even eye contact could be enchanting, how could one contain the overflowing emotions? Cledius tried to wipe away the creeping unpleasant feeling.

The Anent Palace, where the envoys were staying, was a place of restrained beauty. Among the many buildings in the Imperial Palace, it was one of the oldest, but that made it all the more precious and historically significant.

Lindein looked around the room where he would be staying for some time. Perhaps to drive out humidity, a weak flame was rising from inside the fireplace.

‘Perfect.’

He ran his hand through his hair once. Soon, a few strands of long brown hair clung to his fingers. Lindein’s fingertips moved unhesitatingly towards the flames in the fireplace. The hair burned brightly and began to float in the air.

“…Awen Jahar.”

His index finger drew a spell in front of the fireplace. With a burst of static, Awen’s voice emerged.

“Oh my, our brother Lindein. Did you arrive safely? Not seeing your face for a few days, my body has been burning with longing, you know.”

“Your vulgar way of speaking is still the same.”

“There’s no one listening, so what does it matter? And how is His Majesty the Emperor over there?”

If anyone in the Imperial Palace had heard Awen’s manner of speaking, they would have been shocked.

But the spell they used was like a security measure that people from the Western Continent couldn’t hear. Lindein slowly removed his hair ornament. Along with a light jingling sound, his settled voice continued.

“What a noisy person.”

“If you say that, brother, it means your mind is quite complicated… Is it impossible to read?”

“It seems so.”

Lindein Rahmann can read people’s minds. It was one of his innate abilities as a sorcerer, and he was the only one among the current Pegeian Federation sorcerers with this ability.

But how nice it would be if mind reading could be used only when desired. Lindein always had to endure the noise that came at all times.

Especially when relationships with people deepened.

As gaps disappeared, it became easier to read their inner thoughts. Just making eye contact was enough to hear everything the person was thinking, laid bare.

Because of this, he forcibly kept his distance and avoided people. Except for Awen, with whom he had sworn brotherhood, and the current Alliance Leader, he didn’t allow anyone close. If he heard any more inner thoughts, he would be on the verge of going mad.

“And he’s well-versed in poisons.”

“Well, being an emperor, he might have one or two for eliminating political opponents… How many does he have? One is curiosity, two is a hobby, three is professional.”

“It seems impossible to count.”

“…Then he’s a madman.”

Awen concluded seriously and clearly. The emperor here is a madman.

Of course, having reached that position after countless threats to his power, he might have that level of weaponry in hand, but there was a sense of wariness in Lindein’s tone.

There’s no poison that lets people live. Poisons that protect oneself and kill others eventually come back to oneself. In the worst possible way.

Even in Pegeia, the use of poisons was strictly limited. Only after obtaining permission through several stages could one barely use them.

Even then, it had to be done under the supervision of sorcerers. Although it seemed inconvenient and troublesome at first glance, it was a conclusion reached after hundreds of years of conflicts and rejections.

‘That’s right. Who knows what kind of fate awaits if you use it recklessly.’

Awen sat in front of the fireplace in the hotel room, scratching his cheek. Hearing about an emperor who was unrestrained in using poisons made him slightly worried about Lindein staying in the Imperial Palace.

“Be careful. Officially, you’re leading a trade delegation, so it’s awkward to enter the Imperial Palace without an invitation.”

“I hear there’s a ball hosted by the Imperial Palace in a few days. I’ll tell them separately to send you an invitation.”

“Oh my, thank you.”

“And Awen. Is the ‘Mist’ still active?”

Awen’s red eyebrows twitched. The ‘Mist’, famous as an assassination group in Pegeia, was a difficult bunch to handle, beyond Melia’s control.

They only followed the orders of clients who paid them. They were the kind who would take their own lives on the spot if they failed. As such, they moved secretly, and it wasn’t easy to penetrate the veil surrounding the organization’s interior.

“I’ll have to look into it. What’s the matter?”

“They say the Empress here was poisoned with a toxin commonly used by the ‘Mist’.”

“…Damn it.”

“I don’t want to miss this golden opportunity to advance into the Western Continent. Send a message to Melia… no, to the Alliance Leader. Ask if there’s anyone who has recently contacted or dealt with the ‘Mist’ within the Federation.”

“Yes, understood.”

It was better for Awen, who was located entirely outside, to move rather than trying to make contact from within the Imperial Palace. Lindein let out a faint sigh.

This kind of communication was easier on both the ears and the mind. But not every counterpart was a sorcerer, and it wasn’t possible to selectively meet only the people one wanted to.

Soon, the banquet would begin. Lindein finished preparing for the banquet hall, changing into slightly more comfortable clothes than when he entered the Imperial Palace.

**

Ilarid’s expression hardened as she saw Cledius entering the banquet hall. The maids and Cecilia also frowned at the Emperor’s attire as he made his entrance.

“Again this time…”

A low irritation tickled her lips. Cledius had appeared wearing the same dark green clothes as Ilarid.

Ilarid wanted to go back in time a few hours and slap herself. She vowed to tear off the clothes she was wearing right now and shout at herself to change into something else.

Hadn’t she always preferred to wear white clothes? But this time too, it was a dark-colored formal wear.

The light that settled on Cledius was the color of a damp wetland. It looked even more awkward as it didn’t suit his brilliant blonde hair and red eyes.

He seemed quite pleased with this situation. Ilarid beat him to it before Cledius could speak first.

“This is unusual.”

“Are you going to say it’s a coincidence this time too?”

“Yes.”

“That’s good. There’s no need to give the new ambassador any reason to doubt our relationship.”

What Cledius actually wanted to ask and hear was something else. Ilarid casually blurted out, pretending to be nonchalant.

“I received the gift you sent to the Empress’s palace well. I express my gratitude for Your Majesty’s generosity.”

“I’m glad you appreciate it.”

It was a dress specially made by calling in a first-class tailor. Since her body shape hadn’t changed much from before, he didn’t bother to visit the Empress’s palace to ask.

White really suited her well. It blended naturally with her silver hair and green eyes. Perfectly, without leaning towards any one thing. As if it was her innate color from the beginning.

He vividly recalled the moment she slowly walked forward wearing her wedding dress. And the first white, clean dress she wore after officially becoming Empress.

A pure and clean light that would never be lost no matter what it was painted over, shining dazzlingly by Ilarid’s side.

So he prayed that she would always be with that light.

‘…By my side.’

He would make her perfect. Even if Ilarid broke, she would be able to sit nobly in the highest place. So that not even a bit of that bastard’s darkness could seep in.

Cledius unconsciously reached out his hand. And he touched the wispy hair near Ilarid’s earlobe.

The reaction was immediate. Ilarid flinched and avoided his hand.

“Your Majesty. This is an official occasion.”

“…Then, does that mean I can do as I please in private?”

For a very brief moment, their eyes met. Those green eyes, said to blind with jealousy, were filled with contempt. Even that fleeting emotion was quickly withdrawn, leaving only regret.

‘There’s no other monster like him. A blue-eyed monster.’

Ignoring Cledius’s brief smile, Ilarid stared intently at the tightly closed door. She hoped the Eastern Continent’s envoys would soon open that door and enter, breaking this uncomfortable situation.