Deivan’s gaze was still fixed on the ground.

“Why there?”

“To find evidence.”

“Evidence?”

Even if he searched, nothing would have come out. Yet, he stood around the teleport area for hours, from last night to dawn?

“Why?”

Upon questioning again, Deivan reluctantly opened his mouth.

“This time, it wasn’t my fault. I really didn’t do anything. But to say that, I need evidence…”

“So you’ve been wandering around the teleport area since dawn?”

An involuntary sigh escaped me. No wonder Mikael hadn’t seen Deivan since last night.

As I sighed, Deivan’s face darkened even more. Before his misunderstanding dug a hole too deep, I quickly spoke up.

“I understand.”

“Huh?”

“I know it wasn’t Deivan who caused the accident this time.”

“Oh, how did you know?”

“Just because, Deivan made a promise with me.”

Actually, when I first heard the news, Deivan didn’t come to mind, I would be lying. But I quickly brushed off that thought.

‘We made a promise, swearing on our fingers.’

I didn’t think Deivan would break that promise and do something like that. Deivan just grinned at my words.

“Deivan said he would keep the promise with me. That’s why I know it wasn’t Deivan who did it.”

“…Do you really believe me?”

“Yeah.”

Deivan quickly became silent. I took this chance to emphasize to Deivan again.

“But earlier, when you were going to tell my brother, you can’t do that. My brother will be extremely worried. Deivan wouldn’t like it if the incident got known to our family, right? We said it was our secret, just between the two of us.”

“Our secret…”

The most significant event of the National Foundation Day was a festival held across the capital and a grand banquet inviting the elite of society.

The banquet took place in the Diamond Hall, the largest hall in the palace.

However, the atmosphere inside the banquet hall did not brighten up.
The entire inspection team that had been sent to Hesela died. The news quickly spread throughout the social circles.

“How could such an accident happen? Haven’t we had no incidents like this due to teleportation side effects?”

“They called it a magic explosion accident, but I couldn’t find any records of such incidents anywhere.”

“Well, that’s why I’m saying…?”

A person who liked to move words here and there, attracting the attention of those around, quietly spoke up.

“Who is currently in control of Hesela?”

“Why are you suddenly asking that? Of course, it must be Duke Krustel, right?”

“Yes! Moreover, aren’t there individuals from that family closely related to the current incident?”

“No way…”

The gazes of the people wavered. It was impossible not to know the fact that the Duke held those rumored twins.

“If you think about it, why would the Duke raise those kids? It’s probably his scheme to have them in his grasp and manipulate them as he pleases.”

“Then, all this must be the Duke’s doing…!”

At some point, an eerie silence settled around them.

Everyone seemed to be tense because of someone whose identity they didn’t know.

“Oh!”

The aristocrats, who had been talking behind someone’s back, looked shocked at the sight of the person they were gossiping about.

Caught by Caelius, who stared at him intensely, the person coughed awkwardly and changed seats.

Looking at his back, Philine, who had been watching him intently, said with a sneer, “It’s Asilwood. He’s always been talkative. He has a history of fraud, and his conduct is not admirable. But since the past, he has been quite favored by the current Empress Amelia, who protected him until she ascended the throne.”

Those who had been conversing with Asilwood shared similar sentiments. All of them wore expressions of not knowing at all that the Duke would come to this banquet.

Caelius changed seats and spoke up, “Don’t worry about them; we don’t have time to waste on those troublemakers.”

Although somewhat annoying, there was no time to deal with such matters right now.

He planned to visit Duke Vasco tomorrow morning and immediately depart for Hesela to investigate the incident.

The purpose of Viscount Vasco’s visit was to investigate the incident that had occurred at that time.

Ideally, he would have liked to ignore the Viscount and leave immediately in the early morning. However, the reason for coming to the capital today was not only to inform the Emperor but also to determine the truth behind the incident and resume the operation of the teleportation.

“Tsk.”

Caelius clicked his tongue inwardly.

Due to an unexpected accident, the teleport connected to Hesela and the capital was closed, causing disruptions in various schedules.

Above all, the most significant disruption was the fact that a round trip between the capital and Hesela now took a month.

Considering that they were obliged to come and go once a quarter, it was undoubtedly a tremendous loss.
Especially after Dianne said these words, it became even more pronounced.

“Dad, do you need to come quickly?”

At that moment, a servant guarding the entrance of the banquet hall shouted loudly.

“His Imperial Majesty, Empress Consort, and Crown Prince are here!”

The buzzing noise subsided. Even the music that had been resounding throughout the banquet hall fell silent.

As everyone stepped back, the path from the entrance to the center of the banquet hall was revealed.

Emperor Fraser appeared wearing the most luxurious and dark robe. Next to him stood Amelia, the elegant young lady with a gentle smile, who was said to be the Empress’s favorite.

In the Empress’s arms was the young prince, about two years old now. The child laughed brightly, capturing the attention of the nobles.

When the Emperor spotted Caelius, he let out a good-natured laugh.

“Duke Krustel! How long has it been?”

“Your Majesty.”

A subtle smile appeared on Caelius’s lips. The way they warmly approached each other seemed as if they were meeting a long-lost friend.

“Always sending letters through messengers is quite unsatisfactory! It seems my wish for you to attend this time has been granted!”

“Your Majesty, I should have visited you first before Your Majesty mentioned it.”

How dignified their exchange appeared caused those around them to reconsider the relationship between the Duke and the Emperor.

Only their closest aides knew about the circumstances between the two.

Among them, especially Philine, who knew the meaning behind the Duke’s smile, felt a shiver down her spine.

‘It seems like he wants to stick his tongue out.’