Was my thought revealed in my expression? My body tensed naturally at the mention of those words.

Deviation from the destination meant delaying the time to find Meriel.

“I can’t delay any longer. Just agreeing to travel together is already a big compromise for me.”

“…”

“Decide. Who will you go to find?”

As if drawn by the sharp gaze, I instinctively embraced myself with both arms.

Although I knew I had to make a decision as Duke Pferren said, neither side was an easy choice.
Meriel and Iden were both my family. I loved them, and I didn’t want to give up on either one of them.

“I will do it. Then it’s settled, isn’t it?”

“Is invading a castle a joke?”

“If it’s something Your Excellency does, I can do it too. Intrusion has been my specialty.”

“Don’t be so proud just because you sneaked into a few mansions like a petty thief. In the current situation with strict security, you can’t come out with those arms.”

“Then what about you?”

A selfish question. But now I have no shame.

I lifted my head laboriously. The sunken eyes revealed no emotions, but the more I looked, the more a strange sense of unease lingered in the corner of my heart. It felt like the calm before the storm.

“Meriel and I will go to find Cheshire.”

Still, I couldn’t stop speaking. Breaking through the strict guard, the only one who could return safely was Duke Pferren.

“Speaking like this, do you know how shameless it sounds[Dash]?”

“Then, I won’t say anything.”

“…”

“The line I can concede is up to your daughter. Don’t expect more from me.”

“But[Dash].”

“Are you going to use the same move again this time?”

At the sharp response, I involuntarily took a step back.

There was a deep hatred in Duke Pferren’s face, which always seemed indifferent. I had seen it when I reunited with him in the past. The fact made my throat dry.

We didn’t say it, but both he and I felt it. There was a misunderstanding between us. However, we couldn’t say anything about the twisted past.

I knew it. The habit didn’t linger only in me. It lingered in him too. He had always had the habit of giving in to me.

In the end, I thought he would pretend to lose to me again this time.

“Fine. Give it a try. But remember, once you send me away, you’ll regret it.”

“You think I’ll regret it?”

“If the author named ‘elder’ is the man I know, I’ll kill him before anyone else.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Again, that talk. I don’t know anything.”

I don’t know anything.

I clenched my hands tightly, staring at his cold eyes.

“Speak. What do you mean by saying that?”

“It would be better not to listen.”

“Still, I have to listen.”

As I stared at him, deep wrinkles formed on Duke Pferren’s usually smooth forehead.

“…No matter how royal they were, they were Pferren and Craiton, but they crumbled too easily.”

“Does that mean there was another reason?”

“There was a traitor.”

“…”

I didn’t want to hear more. Even without hearing the answer, I felt like I knew what Duke Pferren would say next.

But this time, Duke Pferren did not grant my wish.

“Your brother.”

For a moment, it felt like a sharp dagger had pierced my heart. Unconsciously, I groped my chest, breathing heavily.

“That’s impossible. My brother, no, my older brother[Dash].”
“He was a man everyone admired. Truly, he was a perfect man, as if molded to fit a template. I sincerely respected him.”

So, I believed without a shred of doubt.

Duke Pferren’s distorted expression contained many things unexpectedly.

But I didn’t believe it. There must have been something wrong, just like the misunderstanding between him and me. That was my initial thought.

The Iden Craiton I knew wasn’t that kind of person.

“It’s a misunderstanding[Dash].”

“He was the one who sent me to Phael.”

My words got stuck.

Phael, ten years ago, was where Duke Pferren had been captured. I vividly remembered how everyone had clamored when he was absurdly caught, trying to evade pursuit from the royal family.

“Someone must have framed him.”

“I personally met him with that pretty face and made a request. There’s no way there was a trick.”

Duke Pferren sneered briefly.

“You won’t accept it. At least, he would have been a better brother than anyone else to you. But not to me. I…!”

Duke Pferren couldn’t say more and sealed his lips. No matter how much strength he exerted, the muscles near his jaw bulged, and his lips trembled slightly.

He was recalling someone else through me, someone resembling me.

A brief silence.

Duke Pferren, who had stared at me with bloodshot eyes, took a deep breath with a rough exhalation, composing his emotions. Soon, he wore his usual indifferent expression.

“Leave in an hour. I can’t afford to delay any longer.”

“…”

Duke Pferren turned his back as if nothing had happened, but I couldn’t stop him from getting further away. He quickly regained control of his emotions, but I could clearly see that his eyes were still red.

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know.”

I sighed deeply with my hands clasped. Everything was confusing.

“There must have been some misunderstanding. He wouldn’t be that kind of person, right?”

Cheshire was trying to console me in her own way, but it didn’t sound soothing in my ears. Not being that kind of person was a pattern I always believed until I was betrayed.

Of course, I believed it would be different for my brother, but judging by Duke Pferren’s reaction, it pricked my neck like a thorn.

“Or should I try to subtly inquire about it? If I know what happened between you two[Dash].”

“Do you think you can get a straightforward answer?”

“…I’ll try my best.”

“You won’t get him to talk.”

Because it’s something related to me.

I closed my eyes. I couldn’t hear all the circumstances from the mute man.

Yet, I vaguely sensed it.

Duke Pferren had hesitated to tell me everything, and above all, he resented me. It was clear that there was something I didn’t know but was involved in.

“Of course, you can’t ask for help either.”

I couldn’t just ignore it this time, even if it was a feeble temptation.
If Duke Pferren’s words are true, he will never help me. The Pferren family has completely fallen into ruin since Duke Pferren’s arrest.

Though the origin of all events might have been the madness of the former emperor, it was my older brother who led Pferren to ruin.

“If it’s not right, I will take action.”

“No, you can’t. If you recklessly intervene, you’ll only put yourself in danger.”

“But we can’t just leave it like this. Especially if the person they’re talking about as the elder is really your brother.”

“…….”

Cheshire was right. I couldn’t just leave it like this. Even if my older brother was truly a traitor, I couldn’t turn a blind eye.

I stood up from my seat.

“Prepare to leave right now.”

“Are you heading to the original destination?”

“No. We’re going to Nagata.”

“Nagata?”

Cheshire, surprised by the sudden announcement, widened her eyes.

“What are you going to do?”

“I’ll use the same method as last time.”

“By last time, do you mean…”

“Nagata and Phaeton are quite close.”

If there really is a giant hidden in Nagata, causing a disturbance there will naturally make the surrounding forces move, and the vigilance will be loosened. We can take advantage of that.

Suppressing the complex emotions filling my mind, I raised my chin with effort.