The added remark, as if saying they knew everything, made Bake’s eyebrows twitch.

But he didn’t completely reveal his true feelings. Fortunately, the figure outside the door couldn’t see his expression.

Bake cautiously raised his stiff neck due to tension.

“…What will you do?”

“Your Excellency just needs to move. I will handle the rest.”

With that, the hand was withdrawn.

Bake hesitated for a moment, then carefully stood up and picked up the pouch.

Inside the pouch were a bunch of keys, a map, and some money.

These were the most needed items for Bake right now.

Now, the mansion is no longer visible.
After confirming that fact, Bake relaxed his grip on the reins and let out a sigh of relief.

As the extreme tension eased, fatigue rushed in heavily.

While he enjoyed horseback riding, it was merely a hobby. He had never forced a horse like this before. If transportation was needed, a carriage would suffice.

The higher the rank of nobility, the more they knew how to enjoy leisure.

Fleeing in this desperate manner did not befit the status of Viscount Crayten.

Bake gritted his teeth, trembling in the night breeze.

As the realization of his freedom sank in, resentment welled up.

Nothing pleased him. Not even his chafed thighs, the state of his disheveled appearance from not bathing for days, and especially the sight of himself running away like this.

“…Wait and see. Once I go back, I will settle everything properly.”

The disgrace was over.

The crude methods employed by the Emperor and Calix worked from behind. Once he appeared properly dressed and revealed his presence in the official stand, he could no longer be used.

From the start, he was deliberately framed as a traitor. If they really planned to do that, he wouldn’t have shown up like this.

Even though he was sailing somewhat smoothly, the Emperor had not been fully recognized yet. Without a formal reason, he couldn’t capture Crayten using the unestablished imperial authority.

Even if he tried, the only result would be getting himself into a predicament by doing nonsensical things and intimidating with charges of treason.

However, even though he knew that, it was not entirely comforting. It wasn’t only the Emperor and Calix who were turning his insides upside down.

‘Mentioning the successor ultimately means they’re going to discard me.’

Bake shook his head weakly.

In the end, the mark of a betrayer was stamped on him as he feared.

‘…What should I do now? Should I just let everything be known and suffer?’

He had no way of winning.

The fact that he sneaked into the mansion to save himself was just one person’s effort. But even so, that person broke through the mansion’s stern security.

Walking through the blood-stained corridor, Bake keenly felt the power of the man he used to follow.

Even though his prestige had died down compared to before, at one point, he was about to occupy the highest position in the empire.

Bake tightly closed his eyes.

No matter how he thought about it, this was a fight with no chance of winning. In the yard marked with betrayal, if he stood out more, the granted grace period might disappear.

‘No. I don’t want this. I don’t want to die. I worked hard for what I have.’

It wasn’t that he gave something for nothing; he just provided an opportunity. The effort was his own.

Swearing, Crayten was a fair and just reward for what he had done. Just because he left a few records behind didn’t mean they could take it away.

‘Why did I even think about checking my pockets separately?’

It was unfair. In his mind, Felt was also to blame for changing his mind.
Honestly, if he had shown a strong stance to prevent changing his mind, I wouldn’t have doubted.

From constantly fleeing from the emperor and insisting on continued trust and obedience, the behavior itself was fundamentally wrong.

‘…As expected, I can’t just keep taking this.’

Although surprised by the skill of Calix’s infamous subordinates, he couldn’t know how many they were.

Honestly, during the time Felt was idling, pretending to take care of his body, were there only a couple of people carrying different pockets? Even if he had some excellent subordinates, he couldn’t be sure that he would win just because he had them.

To change the outcome with just a few people was too big of a task.

‘Honestly, I’ve fallen into a toothless tiger.’

Felt was born to be a ruler, not a merchant. Regardless of anything else, he couldn’t be surpassed in matters related to money.

Bake stuck out his tongue and moistened his lips. His lips were parched after a while.

He didn’t just record Felt’s actions.

To move a huge fund without catching the Emperor’s eye, there were many aspects to be careful about. And he was the one who devoted himself more than anyone else to that task.

Bake extended his tongue and licked his lips. His lips, which had dried up, felt sticky.

Even though Felt had exposed him purely for revealing Calix’s location, it wasn’t the only reason. His use of the experience of a merchant’s son played a significant role.

Even though it was launde
Someday, a successor might be necessary, but not now. Still young and with a promising future, it’s not time to pass everything to a yet unborn child.

Regardless of what anyone said, Crayten was himself.

Even if it were his child, it wasn’t a position to be easily passed on. If anyone dared to covet his position, he wouldn’t just stand idly by.

Bake exhaled a rough breath. Perhaps because of the cold wind, the breath that came out felt unusually warm.