Although he had already loaded everything, his eyes now conveyed a look as if questioning why he was being stopped at this point.

Jakal, as if understanding his feelings, grabbed his shoulders with thick hands and said, “You stay here to guard Lycan instead of me and Sosa. I trust you and entrust it to you.”

At Jakal’s words, Geb’s pupils trembled.

Jakal didn’t say more but simply stared seriously into his eyes.

He knew very well how to handle Geb, the epitome of simplicity.

However, he was truly moved by Geb’s actions the last time, and he was fully committed to trusting him and entrusting Lycan to him.

Geb, suddenly realizing that the burden on his shoulders was not just a backpack filled with weapons, showed a puzzled expression.

Jakal drove the point home, “You can do well. If there’s a problem for both of us, you have to lead Lycan out. So, put revenge on hold for a while. We’ll take care of your share of revenge.”

Upon hearing this, Geb seemed to quickly resign himself and nodded.

“…Understood. But you must come back. As the Commander already knows, I’m not fit for a leader role because I have a dirty temperament. If you don’t want to see Lycan in a bad state, you’d better come back soon.”

Jakal chuckled subtly.

“Yeah. Make sure to come back.”

Aisha had given him a precious second chance at life.

He had no intention of dying easily.

He couldn’t die as he pleased until he made her happy.

The faces of the two leaving the hideout were quite serious.

“It’s been a while, Iris Duke. Well, this doesn’t look like a good situation.”

Someone said, looking at Iris Duke, who had arrived at the restaurant in advance and was sitting weakly.

When he turned his head to look at the entrance, there was a man with pink hair entering the restaurant with a bright smile like cherry blossoms.

It was Viscount Blossom.

“I heard that this time, you personally brought in the man who is the leader of Lycan. It seems like you haven’t been out of prison for long.”

Iris Duke, trembling all over, had nothing to say as he turned his head.

As expected, the insane Karaf had confined him to prison.

The crucial reason Jakal could infiltrate the palace was practically because of him.

Viscount Blossom said leisurely, “Well, don’t be too disheartened. It could happen. You haven’t been up from the basement for long, so you naturally wouldn’t know the situation in the capital and the palace.”

“Are you mocking me now… Lord.”

“I’m not mocking you; I’m just watching an interesting event unfold. Didn’t the Duke’s insight into horses turn out to be excellent? Well, maybe not so much for human insight.”

Viscount Blossom responded with a smirk, and Iris Duke, with widened ears, lowered his head without a word.
Other nobles also secretly suppressed their laughter.

Duke Lilac didn’t join the conversation between the two, but wiped his mouth with a napkin and quietly sneered.

They were well aware that Iris Duke harbored feelings of inferiority and jealousy towards the two particularly noble dukes.

This time, with just one famous horse from the Duke of Flowers, he gained the favor of the emperor, and his momentum was rising. The situation was quite amusing.

However, that was when it happened.

“The Emperor is entering.”

With the announcement, the restaurant door opened with a creak.

Karaf, fluttering his uniform tails, walked confidently with an imposing appearance.

As the representatives of the Five Flower Families all stood up and bowed their heads simultaneously, Karaf raised a hand arrogantly to stop them and said, “Sit.”

Duke Sihan Blossom asked with a slightly curious face, “Your Majesty, but isn’t Banet-san coming?”

At his words, other nobles also openly stared at him with faces full of curiosity.

They all seemed determined to learn more about Banet at this banquet.

The rumor that Banet was not in an ordinary relationship with the leader of Lycan was already known throughout the empire.

Moreover, everyone knew that when she returned to the palace, she was practically taken captive along with the Lycans.

Although it might not have been voluntary, everyone suspected that Banet had at least considered leaving the emperor for real.

With his flirtatious personality and nervous and impulsive nature, everyone knew it wouldn’t be easy to handle such a man, let alone love him. They all silently laughed, anticipating that.

Sihan expressed regret, saying, “Without butterflies in the flower field, it seems like the flowers have lost their vitality.”

At his words, other nobles felt embarrassed inwardly.

They all wanted to know how much she knew about politics, whether she was a supporter of the emperor, or simply acting in harmony with the imperial power.

Karaf cut in sharply, “The Empress is not in good health. She’s naturally weak, and her health seems to have deteriorated a lot during the short time she left the palace. Of course, with those damn wolves around, her condition wouldn’t be good. She must have gotten more tired due to two Flower Festivals. It’s a shame, but the lords should understand.”

Karaf spoke as if everything that had happened so far was nothing of importance.

But then, someone spoke up again.

“…It is presumed that Your Majesty has been greatly disappointed by this incident.”

The nobles looked towards the source of the sound.

Karaf also turned his gaze slightly.

In the place where everyone’s eyes reached, there was a man with blue hair.

It was Viscount Kiyam Delfinium.

Karaf’s expression stiffened as he looked at him.