“Then you shouldn’t have gone through with the divorce.”

“No, that’s not an option. If Kendali had stayed in Winsor for even a bit longer, I would be heading to Count Hopgrand to pick up Yurisien.”

Had Yurisien married Hopgrand, he would have been disgraced, not by the hand of a stranger but by Erjen’s own.

‘What a hopeless old woman.’

During the time she was brainwashed by Kendali, Count Hopgrand had only agreed to marry a woman much younger than me without any objections.

“I never knew that noble marriages could be arranged so hastily.”

Erjen sneered. Hopgrand had been quick to prepare to receive Yurisien. They didn’t know it back then, but they know now.

‘The Queen Mother was behind it.’

Count Hopgrand was Greta’s great-uncle, and Kendali was in collusion with Greta.

“Have you found out? About the Queen Mother and Kendali’s relationship?”

“Well… I’ve asked the Coperador Guild for help, and they’ve said they don’t have any concrete information. According to Vice-Guildmaster Michel, it’s one of two things.”

“Either it’s been going on for a very long time, or it’s extremely recent.”

“Yes, he said exactly that.”

“And the abilities? Nothing else has been verified?”

“Unfortunately, no. Everyone already knows that the Queen Mother is a magician but not exceptionally talented.”

“However, she has an extraordinary talent for committing regicide.”

Erjen spoke coldly. Though there was no concrete evidence, he was convinced that the Queen Mother had assassinated the Emperor and Empress.

“But no matter how extraordinary her talent, it is not enough to sneak into our Duke of Winsor residence, defeat Sir Calley, and escape without a trace while taking two criminals.”

“True. In the end, the Queen Mother is human. She can’t be more elusive than a ghost.”

Erjen, playing with the pen between his fingers, propped his chin on his hand. Unlike Andersen’s rugged jaw, his smooth chin made him look younger than his actual age, which was more a result of Yurisien’s distaste for facial hair than his own intention.
Feeling like touching an unknown animal in very thick fog. There’s something huge and it feels dangerous, but I have no idea what it is… I wish I even knew where Kendali is now.

Urgeni let out a groan and lightly shook his head.

“It seems something will be resolved when the Crown Prince arrives.”

“Yes, so please start moving your hands again.”

Andersen subtly urged. Thinking about Greta was good, but his throat was parched right now.

Kendali had knocked it down, and it had barely been patched up by Yurisien and Andersen; the Windsor had to be firmly erected. Only then could they properly assist the Crown Prince or do whatever needed to be done.

Urgeni, who had softly muttered that he had been thinking the same, moved his pen again. Into his ears flowed the lively voices of the young ladies. Urgeni’s lips twitched. It was not a particularly pleasant feeling.

Because all those young ladies had once turned their backs on Yurisien.

A garden bathed in the warm sunlight of spring.

“Ah, how nice it is to see this place again!”

“Who would have thought? I never thought I’d be able to come back here!”

“You too, Yurisien! You should have told us!”

“We’ve been waiting for you to ask for help, it’s disappointing!”

Yurisien was forcibly in the middle of a tea party from early morning, hosted by those who had once been friends.