“Troubles for me are always related to Your Majesty’s health.”

Edwick replied with his head slightly bowed. He couldn’t bring himself to meet Guardo’s gaze. If he did, it seemed like he might reveal the fact that he was lying to the astute Emperor.

His heart was indescribably heavy. Regardless of the Emperor and servant relationship, from the perspective of a father raising a child, what he was about to confess would be an undeniably shocking story.

Nevertheless, he believed it was right to confess. Even though Guardo might be shocked, he trusted that Guardo, more than any previous prime minister, would firmly overcome the situation like a resolute emperor. However, that trust kept losing its focus and wavered.

Guardo seemed too exhausted. It was unclear whether it was due to the progressing illness or the aftermath of the intense life that had continued for over a decade.

But one thing was certain: his current condition seemed like it could easily crumble even under a small shock.

“People, really, how fickle. My body has become like this in just a day or two. Worrying about something that cannot be changed by denying it is just a futile emotional waste.”

Guardo responded with a resolute voice. Due to that, Edwick couldn’t help but lift his head. Guardo’s voice was filled with a light of resignation.

“Your Majesty, please refrain from saying such things. Especially in times like these, you must hold onto your heart firmly.”

Edwick spoke with an earnest plea. However, Guardo’s attitude didn’t change significantly.

Guardo, who replaced words with silence, suddenly stared into the air. His eyes, as if locked in conscience, shook faintly. His lips, drawn in a straight line, were filled with nothing but bitter emotions.

“A while ago, Liurian came to see me and talked about what to do with the Elia Kingdom.”

“……”

“He said he would demand ownership of the mines along the border with the Elia Kingdom. When I asked for the reason, a straightforward answer came back. It was an answer so excellent that it was almost unbelievable as Liurian’s opinion.”

With a facial expression clouded as if recalling that day, Guardo’s emotions began to turn subtly pleased.

Edwick stubbornly kept his mouth shut. His chest tightened, and a sigh welled up. It couldn’t be helped.

Facing Guardo’s face, it seemed as if he had finally encountered the moment he had been waiting for. Guardo’s face was soaked with ecstasy.

“……Did Your Majesty say such things?”

“Yes, that’s right. However, although I didn’t show it, I couldn’t hide my joyful heart.”

Guardo gave a response that didn’t deviate by even an inch from Edwick’s guess. Consequently, Edwick couldn’t utter a single word out of the many that had surged into his mouth.

He let out a heavy sigh. It seemed like today wasn’t the day. He couldn’t bring himself to put into action the reason for coming here.
Someday, there will be a story that I have to confess to him, and even if avoiding it like this is never a wise answer, I still wanted to avoid it today.

Only until Guardro’s condition seems to improve even a little. Only until I don’t think he’ll collapse immediately at my story. Only until he gets more accustomed to the attitude of a loyal son who believes he’s Riurian.

Until then, Edwin decided to bury the stories that surged in his mouth, at least for now.

It might be a cowardly excuse. He didn’t know if it was because he was afraid to see Guardro engulfed in shock and avoiding him.

But as Edwin, not the loyal follower of Guardro, but as a mere father who had a child just like the Emperor, he couldn’t come up with a wise answer other than avoiding it like this, at least for now.

Edwin turned his head down, deliberately ignoring the surging emotions.

On a sunny afternoon, Isabella, who had entered the reception room, was guarding her seat with an uncomfortable expression. Her gaze, as uneasy as her expression, nervously stared out the window.

At the end of her gaze was Caliph leaning against the window with clenched fists. He had an annoyed face for some unknown dissatisfaction and stubbornly refused to leave his seat. It made Isabella increasingly uncomfortable.

She thought about asking for a reason. However, before she could speak, an unpleasant voice pierced her ears.

“Is the matter we discussed last time progressing smoothly?”

Isabella’s gaze turned directly to Felix, who was leaning against the table chair, as reflected in her eyes.

“… It’s not smooth, but it’s progressing.”

Isabella answered while glancing at Caliph. Dealing with Caliph or Felix alone was a familiar thing, but dealing with both of them was extremely unfamiliar and uncomfortable.

Even though it wasn’t the first time the three of them were in the same place, the reason for the discomfort seemed to be Caliph’s indifferent attitude. Unlike the last time, where he was determined to drive Felix away, today he just wore an unpleasant expression without openly trying to expel him.