A moment of silence.

Prime Minister Orteca, seeing Leandro’s uneasy expression, asked, “Lord Felix, is there any problem?”

“…Could you please tell me which part of the rumors was malicious?”

“If I may point out, the most problematic part is the embellishment that makes it seem as if Duchess Blanshet is the mastermind behind everything.”

Prime Minister Orteca lowered his eyebrows and shrugged as if in embarrassment.

“In the first place, the Duke and Duchess of Blanshet happened to visit Viscount Hetel. Ironically, it was Viscount Hetel who intended to exploit Duchess Blanshet to extort money.”

Leandro clenched his fist.

‘Prime Minister Orteca wouldn’t speak baseless nonsense.’

Duchess Felice, not just Duchess Felice.

Everyone around Leandro talked as if Viscount Hetel had played with Estelle’s scheme.

‘Did they all conspire against that woman?’

That makes even less sense.

‘What is the truth, after all?’

Leandro didn’t want to believe that everything around him was so wrong.

‘Unfortunately, I haven’t done anything wrong. You can’t apologize for a nonexistent crime.’

Estelle’s firm blue eyes without a trace of shame. Leandro considered even that appearance as Estelle’s ignorance.

‘If everything around me and I were wrong…’

Leandro had never doubted his world even once.

The symbol of Viscount Felice was a shield engraved with tulips.

Symbolizing the desire to protect the empire, Viscount Felice protected the empire, serving as a predecessor with the temple.

Leandro also wanted to become a shield to protect the good and orderly empire.

‘Just remember this.’

But his shield had been stained with absurd filth. Leandro hurriedly tried to wipe off the filth without anyone noticing.

‘Just because you don’t believe doesn’t turn lies into truths. The truth doesn’t exist as you think.’

But no matter how hard he tried to wipe it away, his shield didn’t get clean.

“…Such an incident. It’s entirely different from what I heard from Diana.”

At that moment, Prince Hessen opened his mouth with a shocked voice. When Leandro raised his head, Prince Hessen also had a serious expression.

“How on earth could that happen?”

“It was also strange to me. False stories continued to spread from the case I mediated.”

In response to Prime Minister Orteca’s answer, Prince Hessen asked while looking down.

“Do you know more about this duel, Prime Minister?”

“Well, isn’t it something that Prince Royum should know better?”

Prince Hessen stood up.

“That’s right. I misspoke.”
Prince Hessen left with a bitter smile, hastily leaving the place without wishing Leandro, who was about to enter the duel, good luck. However, Leandro, the person involved, wasn’t in a state to care about it.

After Prime Minister Orteca left, Leandro remained alone in the waiting room. Leandro touched the proud emblem of the White Night.

Some time passed.

“Lord Felix, it’s time for the duel.”

Knock, knock.

“Now you must move to the duel arena… Lord Felix?”

With no response, the attendant had no choice but to open the waiting room door. His eyes widened.

Inside, there was no one.

This duel took place in the imperial arena.

John Blanshet, the duke, and Leandro Felice, the commander of the imperial knights, participated in the duel. It was rare for noble parties involved to participate directly, given that both were high-ranking nobles.

“Duke Blanshet personally applied for the duel to protect his wife’s honor, right?”

“Duke Blanshet seems to genuinely cherish the duchess. Now, there shouldn’t be anyone doubting Duke Blanshet’s feelings.”

Even though Estelle was adopted into the Libertan duke’s family, evaluations still persisted that Duchess Blanshet brought her in for some purpose.

‘No matter if the blood of the Libertan duke doesn’t flow in her…’

‘How could he genuinely love his wife? Especially after causing the downfall of the Libertan duke’s family, her own family.’

Duke and Duchess Blanshet slowly appeared at the imperial arena.

A woman who became a traitor to Libertan.

And a man who ruined Libertan on charges of treason.

Moreover, the man’s family had perished due to the Libertan duke.

Even though they seemed to have a difficult relationship, strangely, they appeared full of affection. Watching only the two of them, it felt odd to doubt the relationship between the two.

‘Is that really a relationship filled with love?’

Dash

When the duel time arrived, John stepped forward.

Estelle waved her hand, cheering for John. However, Leandro, who should have naturally appeared for the duel, was nowhere to be seen.

“Lord Felix is late; something must have happened. He won’t just not show up for the duel like this, right?”

“Could it be that he’s afraid of the duel with Duke Blanshet?”

“Oh, that’s too much to say.”

John, with clenched fists, asked Judge Prime Minister Orteca, “Hasn’t the time for the duel arrived?”

“…Yes, that’s right. I’m worried if something happened to Lord Felix on the way.”

Prime Minister Orteca, looking embarrassed, asked the attendant.