Ophelia fully understood why Anika’s mother had come to see her.

A large sum of condolence money delivered in the name of the deceased daughter and the royal family.

Although it was said that investigators were dispatched from the royal family, weren’t they also people who moved according to the king’s will?

She was afraid that the royal family would bury her daughter’s death like this.

She probably couldn’t have said such things to King Idren. Although the death of the former Rohos Lord was treated as an accident, the Rohos Lord’s wife and a few others would have known how the situation unfolded.

The former Rohos Lord was not on good terms with his family, so the truth did not come to light. However, it would have been difficult to think that someone who dealt with others’ lives without batting an eye would pay much attention to the deceased young lord.

Moreover, half of the Rohos territory had now been transferred to the royal family. On the surface, it was made to look like Anika had dedicated it to her, but it was actually Idren who managed the territory.

So from the Rohos Lord’s wife’s perspective, it would have felt like the king had enough reason to cover up her daughter’s death.

However, she couldn’t just not appeal to anyone about this situation, so she came to her, who was at least close to Anika.

Of course, Ophelia did not think that Idren would bury Anika’s death. He had promised her that he would do his best in the investigation.

Even though he reacted sensitively to some parts, he was not the type to say things he could not keep.

Unlike her, he was also someone who knew well what it meant to be a king.

But she could not ask Anika’s mother to have the same level of trust in her as she did. Hadn’t she lost her daughter? Just because she had never experienced a mother’s affection didn’t mean she could dismiss others’ love as worthless.

No, rather, wasn’t it a part that she had to treat more carefully because she couldn’t have it herself?

Ophelia spoke to the woman who still couldn’t bring herself to raise her head.

“Don’t worry. The royal investigation will proceed without missing any parts, and if there is anyone involved, they will all receive due punishment. I promise you that.”

She didn’t know how much weight this promise would carry to the other person.

But this was all she could say.

The Rohos Lord’s wife was silent for a while. Her face was not visible, so it was impossible to read what she was thinking, but Ophelia did not urge the woman to raise her head.

Eventually, after a long silence, the Rohos Lord’s wife bowed her head deeply once again.

“Thank you for listening to the words of this lowly servant.”

“Don’t say such things. You merely demanded what you rightfully deserve.”

Even as she spoke, Ophelia felt disgusted with herself. If the Rohos Lord’s wife had known the whole truth, it would have been a situation where she should have at least been slapped.

But the innocent Idren was being suspected, and she, who was almost the cause of the situation, was acting like a saint.

However, Idren, the only person who could understand her words if she told the truth, was also the person who most strongly argued that she was innocent in this matter.

Recalling that irony, Ophelia promised the woman whose expression was still unreadable.

“I will also make sure to return the territory that the Rohos Lord dedicated to me.”

Masaran looked at the beautiful young man sitting in front of him.

They were now facing each other in the indoor garden of Brinwell Palace. There was a tea table between them, and the surroundings were all cleared so that no one could overhear their conversation.

Nevertheless, Masaran was unable to open his mouth readily.

It was not because he had nothing to say. No, if it was only about what he wanted to say, Masaran could have held the other person for a day and a night until it was all said.

It was just that there were parts that bothered him to speak freely.

Last time when he secretly entered the late king’s bedroom – in fact, Masaran didn’t like this expression from the start. He was now the king of Brinwell, no less. So where in the palace could he not go – Masaran had not been able to hear the late king’s words to the second prince to the end.

After hearing him say that he should have died instead of Hator, it felt like he would unknowingly strangle the old man’s neck if he stayed there any longer.

Even though he was angry, Masaran knew that he shouldn’t do such a thing.

No, in fact, if the late king had been alone, he might have willingly put his hands on the old man’s neck.

But the second prince was there.

He couldn’t rationally explain the reason, but Masaran didn’t want to show such a side of himself in front of the second prince.

The second prince was the only person who didn’t compare him to anyone else. Again, there was no representative evidence to support this claim, but Masaran believed so.

And he didn’t want to show disgrace to someone who had a favorable impression of him.

So, ridiculously, a situation was created where he seemed to be mindful of the second prince.

Considering the difference in status between a guest and a host, it was nonsense, but Masaran had not yet felt discomfort there. After all, he rationalized that observing the second prince’s mood was also something he chose to do himself, so there was no need to hurt his pride.

In fact, what he most wanted to ask the second prince was not far from this situation either. What Masaran wanted to know the most was whether the second prince’s thoughts were the same as the late king’s.

Did this man also think that he should have died instead of Hator?

But to ask this, he had to first reveal the fact that he had secretly entered the late king’s bedroom and overheard the conversation. No matter how angry he was with the late king, Masaran was not stupid enough to not know that it was a shameful thing to do.

Anyway, due to this context, Masaran was unable to say anything even after requesting a private meeting with the second prince.

How should he start the conversation? While he was choosing a topic that would save his face as much as possible, a voice was heard from in front.

“Last time, His Majesty spoke too harshly.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Didn’t he say that the weight of his two sons was different?”

And the second prince casually brought the teacup in front of him to his lips. It was a common movement, but due to the man’s dazzling beauty, it looked like a scene from a sacred painting.

However, what preceded the admiration for that beauty was surprise. Masaran, who had turned pale, asked without even thinking to compose himself.

“…Did you know?”

“Do you remember the vase that was placed on the side table by the door?”

Now that he mentioned it, it seemed like there was. Masaran swallowed.

“I guess the flowers in the vase shook.”

“The flowers had heavy heads, so I could see them shaking even from where I was sitting.”

Momentarily regretting the part he had missed, Masaran blushed in embarrassment when he realized that the other person knew about his actions.

“I, I did sneak into the late king’s room at that time, but there were reasons for that. Actually, I…”

“You don’t have to be flustered. I have also felt an urge similar to what the prince felt several times.”

And the second prince put down the teacup he was holding. It was a clean and elegant motion without any excess.

“No one would not be curious about the stories about them that come out when they are not present.”

Only then did Masaran, who recalled that the second prince was also treated no differently from him in his home country, clear his throat.

“You know, don’t you, Prince? Father had always discriminated between my elder brother and me a lot.”

“Although I believe that the king did not do so with bad intentions, what the prince said is also true.”

“Among those discriminations was also speaking carelessly about me when I was not present.”

Recalling how coldly the late king had evaluated him, it felt like something was surging up inside. Masaran put strength into his trembling lips.

“I believe the prince also knows how unjust that is.”

“It’s certainly not a pleasant thing.”

And the man smiled as if to soothe him.

“You don’t need to try to explain yourself to me. Didn’t I tell you that I also had a similar urge?”

Hearing those words, it felt like the heart that had been distressed was being comforted. Masaran, who finally gave up on pretending to be calm, distorted his face.

“…How could the late king say such a thing?”

No matter how many times he had ruminated on the situation since that day, his thoughts did not change.

“I always tried to please the late king. It may be a bit much to say this about someone who has passed away, but my elder brother had a temper. When the late king was troubled by that, I always tried to comfort him.”

He wanted to be praised like that. He wanted to be loved.

But no matter how gentle a son he pretended to be, the late king always loved only Hator, the firstborn.

Even now that he was dead.

“Isn’t this unfair?”

It was then that tears that could not hold back the anger fell. The startled Masaran hurriedly wiped his face.

“…I showed disgrace.”

“No, you did not.”

And the prince stood up from his seat. The man who approached him took out a handkerchief and held it out.

Masaran received the cloth that was scented like the owner. A gentle voice fell from above his head.

“Aren’t we human too?”