There have been traitors in every era. However, whether they were called traitors or opportunists depended on the outcome.

Victory makes one an opportunist, failure a traitor.

Naturally, the punishment also varies depending on that label.

“The Duke surely has no intention of giving up that woman.”

Kurto made no effort to hide that he was in communication with the Crown Prince.

Originally, a mere member of the declining Kan clan could not become wealthy just by getting a taste of money and becoming worldly.

It was an achievement that could be obtained because of connections to the Imperial nobility, especially the Imperial family.

The successive Dukes, including Benito, must have known this.

They simply did not raise it as an issue because it had not been revealed until now.

Even if they had raised it as an issue, he was confident that evidence of his communications with the Imperial family would not be discovered even if a search was conducted, as he had carefully collected and hidden it in a place only he knew.

Thus, for 50 years.

Kurto, who survived the war and became the Imperial family’s dog, took the lead in bringing down Habertz.

Though 50 years was an excessively long time, he had to be careful not to make a mistake by wrongly touching those united around their leader, lest he be cut off.

For that reason, it didn’t matter that half a century had passed.

Finally, the downfall of Habertz was at hand, and there seemed to be no way to prevent it.

“The Duke must know. Returning that woman is the only way to resolve this situation. He simply refuses because he loves her.”

Terpal and the other followers looked at Kurto with tense eyes.

As Kurto’s voice trailed off, they each swallowed and rolled their eyes.

A faint longing could be seen in their eyes as they observed each other, but fear also lurked beneath.

Though changed from the past, those still following the Duke were from noble families who had sworn loyalty to the former Kan clan leader.

As long as they stood firm, Aden would not easily fall.

Just today, Terpal could not even speak properly, blocked by Muniar.

“In the end, the Duke will choose the path of ruin himself.”

Kurto’s lips opened just after the sound of firewood collapsing in the fireplace.

Leisurely crossing his legs, Kurto looked into the eyes of each of his followers staring at him.

“He won’t send the woman back, nor will he be able to muster a complete army. The meetings will drag on day after day, and the internal conflicts will deepen. Then, if the conclusion is reached to return the woman, the Duke will cut us off and gather a half-hearted army to wage war.”

“An army at half strength won’t last a year.”

Even if the three gateways built in the rugged mountains are locked, it will eventually rot from the inside when next winter comes.

With supplies running low and food running out, the Duke would eventually be unable to hold out.

Kurto smiled slowly, nodded, and leaned back in his chair.

“If we just scratch him enough so the Duke can’t give up the woman, he’ll fall apart on his own. When that time comes, the Imperial family will give us what they promised. We may even receive some decent Imperial territory, away from this barren land.”

Being worldly individuals meant they were ultimately those accustomed to Imperial culture.

Born in the post-war generation, they did not want to live in such a barren land.

Having seen the splendid Imperial culture with their own eyes more than anyone, leaving this place was a long-cherished wish and dream.

However, knowing how the Kan clan was treated in the Empire, they could not move rashly.

If this war ended safely, it was clear the Imperial family would give them a new opportunity.

“But… will there really be no problems?”

Terpal’s voice flowed among those whose eyes were filled with enthusiasm for a long time.

Still unable to shake off his unease, he wet his lips.

“The Duke must know we are acting on the Crown Prince’s orders. If he uses that as leverage to threaten or punish us, won’t we be in danger?”

“Tsk, do you think I would have revealed it without considering such things?”

“Do you have a plan?”

To the expectant question, Kurto quietly pulled at the corners of his mouth.

“The Duke has no intention of waging war from the start. He’s probably thinking of being ousted and expelled on his own. That requires the consent of all the elders. The Duke’s loyal servants will never abandon him. But we can.”

“Then, has the Duke been using us as pawns from the beginning?”

“Wait just a little longer. As time passes, the Duke, realizing problems have arisen, will first propose negotiations. So don’t worry.”

Kurto, who had slowly leaned back in his chair, tilted his head to look out the window.

As he gazed down at the scenery of the Send Plateau shrouded in darkness, a deep greed glistened in his eyes.

“In the end, we will be the opportunists who seize victory.”

“Here it is.”

After breakfast, Ludmila set out from the castle with Beressa around lunchtime, and was able to arrive at a villa on the outskirts of the Send Plateau by evening.

Only a few torches were lit in the villa where darkness had fallen heavily.

Entering between the beams of light tearing through the darkness, Ludmila gave a polite greeting to the stable keeper and a man who appeared to be the steward welcoming them.

A white-haired old man who looked to be nearly 70 years old gazed steadily at Ludmila before bowing in response to her greeting.

“We’ve been waiting for your arrival. I am Ogito, the steward. Please feel free to call me Steward.”

“It’s been a while, old man. Have you been well?”

Beressa, who had come after leaving the horses, greeted him with a smile, and the steward likewise welcomed her with a smile.

After exchanging a few words of conversation, he shifted his gaze to Ludmila, gave her a nod, and turned his body.

“As it’s late at night, I’ll prepare a light meal, bath, and bed for you.”

Ludmila slowly followed him as he moved ahead.

As it was late evening, Ludmila finished her meal quickly and immediately washed up, then wandered around here and there with Beressa.

For a villa in such a remote location, the rooms were clean and spacious, and the furniture inside was quite luxurious.

The furniture, which looked much more expensive than those in the Black Wall where Aden resided, along with the interior decorations, and the chandelier with soft lights twinkling on the high ceiling at the entrance they had seen coming in.

It was a scene not much different from that of the capital.

“Then I’ll go to bed first. Good night, Ludmila.”

Ludmila, who had been touring the inside of the villa guided by Beressa, realized it was about time to sleep and returned to her room.

Lying on the soft bed and staring blankly at the ceiling, Ludmila thought of Aden, who was working hard in preparation for the war that she had become the cause of, far away.

In her heart, she wanted to go directly into the meeting and say she would return.

That there was no need to shed Kan clan blood because of her. Her reason shouted that she should tell them not to worry.

But she couldn’t directly betray Aden’s wishes. Rather, knowing how he would react to that, she couldn’t move rashly.

‘The frozen ground will be completely thawed in about a week.’

Ludmila recalled the words Beressa had casually thrown out at a rest stop on the way here.

Though it probably wasn’t said with any particular meaning, Ludmila understood what it meant.

It meant that she only had a week left to stay here.

After that time passes, she can leave this place and go to the distant neighboring kingdom of Islau.

The ending she had so desired and wished for had come within reach.

But Ludmila calmly accepted that the reason it was so unwelcome was because of lingering attachments she couldn’t shake off in the end.

If she leaves this time, she probably won’t be able to return.

In the past, she had certainly dreamed of a future where she could return here and be with Aden.

If he waited for her, she had wanted to come back someday and be with him. But now even that was impossible.

She had to leave him.

Unable to organize the many thoughts flowing through her mind, Ludmila tossed and turned for a long time before her eyes gradually closed as the moon hanging highest in the sky began to set.

Ludmila’s eyes closed as she gazed at the cool silver light reflected on the flickering image.

In the room where silence had settled, only the sound of the pendulum clock announcing midnight flowed quietly.

There was a faint fatigue in Ludmila’s eyes, who had avoided oversleeping thanks to Beressa coming to wake her.

There was also the lingering effect of the travel fatigue from riding horses all the way here.

After eating the simple breakfast prepared by the steward, Ludmila left the villa at Beressa’s suggestion to take a short walk.

Ludmila, who had thought it would all be plateau, was surprised to discover a long river flowing behind the villa.

“It’s the source of water that flows into the Radman River in the capital. How is it, beautiful?”

The river at the tail end of winter, with the cold wave past, was calm.

The grasses of the arborvitae trees growing long on both sides flowed neatly, and when the wind blew, a soft rustling sound echoed.

As she silently gazed at the scene where golden sunlight poured down onto the river, creating silver fragments, Ludmila’s eyes suddenly furrowed at the sight of familiar trees coming into view.

Though many petals had fallen, it was clearly recognizable as a white plum tree.

It had certainly been in the garden but disappeared. Why was that tree…

“It seems Aden wanted to come live here with you after taking responsibility for everything and stepping down from his position.”

Beressa’s calm voice rang out as Ludmila stared blankly at the scene.

“He had instructed to renovate the villa in advance and make new furniture inside using high-quality materials. He also invested in the roads and nearby villages so they could be used if needed.”

Ludmila’s eyes slowly turned to meet Beressa’s.

Beressa, who had been gazing silently at the river, met Ludmila’s gaze with a long sigh and drooping shoulders.

“Aden is sincere, Ludmila. No, he has never been insincere even once.”

It must be because he was sincere that he took the risk of killing Kedilen.

There was nothing insincere in all of his actions, words, and the look in his eyes as he gazed at her.

But that sincerity leads Aden to death.

At that undeniable truth, Ludmila swallowed her breath.

The white plum tree swayed in the blowing wind. The few remaining petals fell mournfully onto the river water and flowed quietly away.

Time had already reached the end of winter.