“Then, I will take my leave.”

As the maid who served the tea withdrew, silence descended upon the sunroom.

Although she had no intention of following Kedilen’s words exactly, when the thought struck that nothing would be accomplished by staying in the room, her feet moved first.

Her husband has no intention of letting her go.

Even when she was brought back to the mansion by him, she knew it wouldn’t be easy, but she never expected that man would think of seeing the child.

The man who had spoken in a businesslike tone about it being time to have a child when she left truly desires a child now.

And not just any child, but her child.

Kedilen was telling her to offer a sacrifice. To present an offering that would become his limbs and hands in her place.

Ludmila would gain freedom on the condition of placing that child on the altar, but that wasn’t the way she wanted.

Sighing, Ludmila stood up and slowly began to walk.

Leaving the warm tea behind, Ludmila exited the sunroom and headed straight for Kedilen’s office.

She turned the doorknob, but as expected, it was tightly locked. Biting her lip slightly, she turned around and headed for Kedilen’s bedroom.

She needed a weakness. A definite weakness that could make Kedilen let her go.

Of course, she knew he wasn’t naive enough to reveal it, but if she didn’t do something, the frustration felt like it would choke her to death.

“Ah, Lady Marchioness.”

Contrary to her expectation that the bedroom would also be locked, the door was open. It was because there was a maid cleaning inside.

Smiling at the maid who turned around in surprise, Ludmila said, “I need something, could you step out for a moment?”

Knowing that Ludmila had occasionally entered Kedilen’s bedroom before, the maid bowed without suspicion and withdrew.

In the silence that followed as the door closed again, Ludmila slowly took a step forward.

She already knew the places where Kedilen hid things.

Her hands were busy opening each place one by one, searching for something that could be a weapon for her, but even as time passed, nothing came out.

The man who suspected her had clearly cleaned everything out.

There was no gain even after quite some time had passed.

Sighing and thinking she should give up now, Ludmila ran her hand through her hair and turned around.

“That’s…”

It was then that she noticed an unburned piece of letter next to the cold fireplace woodpile. Ludmila slowly walked over and picked up the letter.

Although most of it was burned, it wasn’t difficult to recognize the seal stamped on the letter from what remained.

The Crown Prince’s seal.

As Ludmila silently looked at it, she slowly turned it over, and the phrase written on the back caught her eye.

Although the exact content was hard to infer as other parts were burned, that was enough.

With this, she now held the knife to press against Jeffrey’s throat.

Now it was time to drag him to the negotiating table.

Kedilen felt that it was about time now.

It had already been two weeks since Aden died.

They had tried to find Aden’s body, which disappeared with bloodstains at the hunting competition, but it was not found anywhere.

That was unsettling, but since bones and clothes that appeared to be human were found in the stomach of a brown bear, his death was considered a fait accompli.

The only reason it hadn’t been officially announced yet was because someone from Havertz had to come and confirm that the bone fragments and clothes belonged to their master.

However, Jeffrey and Kedilen already knew.

That Aden was dead and no longer in this world.

Therefore, it didn’t matter when Havertz would arrive.

Jeffrey had killed Aden as the Grand Duke wanted in order to keep his position, and Kedilen had become a faithful bait.

Jeffrey had gotten what he wanted, so now all that remained was Kedilen himself.

“Have you arrived?”

Jeffrey, who had risen from his seat, approached with a smooth smile and extended his hand.

Kedilen, who shook hands lightly, smiled and followed Jeffrey to take a seat.

The Crown Prince’s office was as antique and elegant as ever, with little change from before to now.

The one who sits in this seat becomes the next Emperor.

And if a child is born between him and Ludmila, that child would become the nephew of that Emperor.

Although the child’s position would be unstable due to the mother being illegitimate, just having royal blood mixed in would allow them to obtain legitimacy and noble lineage.

What could be more welcome than being able to fill the two biggest complexes of a newly risen noble at once?

“It seems like it’s been quite a while since we last met. I meant to call you earlier, but various matters delayed it. I apologize.”

“It’s alright, Your Highness.”

“I saw the press conference well. It was such an interesting story that I read all the contents published in the morning paper. To think that the person who had assisted the Marquis most closely for years was a traitor. Being in a position where I too must be careful about keeping people close, I dare say I can imagine how the Marquis must have felt.”

As usual, the opening was always filled with casual conversation and greetings.

Kedilen smiled quietly and deflected his encouragement, waiting for the meaningless talk to end soon.

The story of his wife was important to him, but it couldn’t be important in the conversation with this man.

Noticing this intention but deliberately changing the subject, Jeffrey changed the atmosphere only after spending an appropriate amount of time by crossing his legs.

“Well, seeing that you’ve come to see me like this, it seems you have some very important matter to discuss. May I assume it’s related to the letter you sent earlier?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Kedilen briefly affirmed, having no intention of hiding it.

Jeffrey’s narrowing eyes pierced him sharply, but there was no need to be intimidated.

He was one of the few who knew Jeffrey’s plan. Moreover, since he had witnessed Aden’s death with his own eyes, he thought this level of attitude could be somewhat tolerated by Jeffrey.

Jeffrey, who had been silently watching Kedilen looking at him without wavering, smoothly raised his lips and nodded.

“Very well. Tell me what you want.”

“It’s simple. I’d like you to give me my share.”

“Your share as a Marquis?”

Kedilen bit his lip at the attitude that seemed to probe his intentions and recited what he had thought.

The speculation that there must have been a great benefit as a result of using himself as bait, since Aden wouldn’t have been killed without any thought, wasn’t far-fetched.

The explanation that flowed naturally like water clearly showed that Kedilen was not just a nobleman but also a businessman.

Jeffrey, who was listening to those words with his chin resting on his hand, laughed slightly at the fact that Kedilen had figured out more than expected.

He might not know the exact nature, but if he had made that much of a guess, he probably realized that the counterpart who had made a deal with him was a family that could stand shoulder to shoulder with the imperial family.

Jeffrey sighed slightly and buried his body in the backrest, folding his hands.

“So. It seems the talk is getting long, but what is it that you want?”

“I understand that Speaker Bex’s term in the Lower House is ending soon. Please recommend me for that vacant position.”

“To the Speaker of the Lower House? Do you know how ridiculous that is when you say it?”

The Imperial Parliament had been the domain of elder nobles for hundreds of years and became the focal point for old nobles after newly risen nobles gained power.

Becoming the speaker there meant having that much power and strength, and when applied to Kedilen, it would clearly show that generations were changing.

Asking to be recommended there ultimately meant asking the Crown Prince to be a witness acknowledging the generational change.

It was extremely arrogant and unpleasant, but on the other hand, it was worth gambling on.

If Kedilen had been crumbling, he would have ruthlessly rejected such a proposal, but in recent days, Kedilen was recovering surprisingly quickly.

As speculation circulated that he would rise even higher than his brilliant past, no one could guess how high his position would rise in the empire.

Jeffrey, resting his chin on his hand and pressing his lips firmly with his fingertips, narrowed his eyes.

Erdi as Speaker of the Lower House.

Building a friendship with him would surely bring many benefits when he becomes Emperor.

He could become a useful piece to check both sides as the Grand Duke wanted.

“That’s not possible.”

But no matter what, placing Kedilen as Speaker of the Lower House was premature.

He didn’t want to endure the fierce backlash from the old nobles, and moreover, there was no reason to endure it.

“But it might be possible in 10 years.”

It was then that Jeffrey, watching Kedilen’s disappointed face, raised the corners of his mouth and spoke.

Jeffrey nodded at the man’s eyes that regained their light once again.

“After the Marquis has solidified his position more than now, I could recommend you not just for the Lower House Speaker but for the Upper House.”

“…The Upper House, you say?”

Unlike the parliament composed of 233 members, the Upper House consisting of only 20 members was difficult to enter just by itself.

The individuals belonging to it were figures that even fairly powerful people would be in awe of.

Just entering it was enough to be called the top of the top among the empire’s leadership, as even Speaker Bex of the Lower House was mentioned as a figure to be included in the next Upper House.

A position that transcended position and title. A position that could be a good ladder to become Prime Minister. It was certainly an enviable position.

“…I appreciate Your Highness’s proposal, but I want immediate results right now.”

But he didn’t come all this way to receive a promise for 10 years later.

As Kedilen firmly rejected the proposal, Jeffrey rested his chin on his hand, hesitated for a moment, and then sighed.

“Alright. I’ll make the recommendation for now. However, whether you’ll be appointed or not is entirely up to you, so don’t blame me.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Jeffrey nodded and continued the conversation with a tired face before gradually wrapping up the meeting.

“Then, I’ll be taking my leave now. Thank you for your time.”

Kedilen, who had risen from his seat, left his final greetings and exited the room as Jeffrey silently watched him.

He shook his head, pressed his eyelids firmly with a tired face, clicked his tongue, and then turned around.

Knock knock−.

It was then that the sound of knocking was heard.

Jeffrey, who had frowned slightly, gave a short answer and was about to return to his desk when the sound of the door opening was heard.

Jeffrey’s hand stopped at the moment he was about to turn his head with a calm face to examine the person who had entered the room.

“It’s been a while, elder brother.”

A gentle voice masking a laugh mixed with resignation echoed through the Crown Prince’s office illuminated by golden sunlight.

“Could you spare me a moment?”

Ludmila Perez.

His half-sister had come to see him without any notice.