At the moment the two lifted their glasses together.

Cough.

Suddenly, Revolant’s pupils dilated, and he forcefully spewed out the drink he was consuming.

Splashes of red wine scattered over the exquisitely prepared food.

Even on Alfredo’s face, droplets of redder liquid splattered.

Astonished, Alfredo wiped the wine splattered on his eyes and cheeks with his hands.

“What is this?”

Alfredo’s face, looking down at his hand, stiffened.

Sticky and redder than wine, it was blood.

Alfredo turned his body towards Revolant.

“Re-Re-Revolant!”

A knife protruded from the center of Revolant’s chest.
Like an obelisk soaring sharply into the sky in a vast square.

A sword that pierced through the thick backrest of the chair was stuck into Revolant’s chest.

“It’s an ambush. Summon the royal guards immediately.”

His mind turned white, making it impossible for him to make rational judgments.

Ferber joined forces with the royal guards and annihilated the Imperial army stationed in the royal palace.

Then, even the no longer needed royal guards were all driven away.

But to find the royal guards.

Alfredo realized his mistake and issued a new command.

“No, call the Ferbers.”

Alfredo shouted urgently, trying to grasp the situation.

Where on earth did the attack come from?

In Alfredo’s eyes, Rute’s musicians and performers were visible.

They were looking at Alfredo with terrified expressions.

Alfredo followed their gaze and understood.

Behind.

There were attackers behind.

The one who silently approached and instantly pierced Revolant’s heart was behind him.

Alfredo tried to rise in terror, as if his breath was being cut off.

But pressed by a massive force on his shoulders, he could only sit down again.

“Where are you going?”

A low and moist voice flowed through Alfredo’s earlobes.

It was as soft as foam, but the vitality contained within it was vividly felt.

Alfredo froze in terror.

He didn’t even have the courage to look behind at the giant figure looming.

Alfredo remained still, facing forward.

“I’ve been searching for you so hard. Now I finally get to meet you.”

Aaron slowly revealed himself from behind the throne where Alfredo was sitting.

With not a drop of blood spattered on his hair swaying, it emitted a faint light.

Uncharacteristically for someone who had just killed Revolant, the silver-haired commander’s eyes were charmingly curved like a crescent moon.

It was a beautiful and bright smile, as if meeting a genuinely welcomed person.

“I really missed you. Brother.”

In the demonic smile so beautiful that it seemed sinister, Alfredo saw his own demise.

The Imperial army that seized the grand hall through a secret passage quickly expanded its influence.

Through a surprise attack, they successfully drove Ferber out and regained control of Ioventi’s royal palace.

The first thing the now reigning Imperial army, once again the owners of Ioventi, did was to search for Ioventi’s princess.

A soldier approached Aaron, who was staring at the light pouring through the window, and reported.

“He is not in the west area.”

“We searched the south area and the garden, but couldn’t find her.”

With consecutive reports of fruitless searches, Aaron’s gaze deepened.

As if trying to find Delia’s trace, Aaron looked around the grand hall.

“Not here?”

Aaron muttered while reproaching his subordinates’ reports, then turned to look at Alfredo.

Alfredo, who had been wriggling secretly, stiffened when he met Aaron’s ashen gaze.
“Not here? The princess of Ioventi is not in the royal palace of Ioventi?”

Alfredo was fed up, gripping the arms of the chair tightly.

A mad commander.

The silvery wolf of Stilreitz.

The captor’s sharp gaze was directed at him.

It was the first time Ioventi’s throne felt like a prison.

“This is strange. We made a promise.”

Aaron muttered to himself, revisiting the unresolved question.

The insane commander who smiled brightly even after killing people just grinned.

Aaron glanced over Alfredo, who was trembling, with a piercing gaze.

“She promised not to leave Ioventi.”

The commander didn’t pose any threat to Alfredo.

He didn’t express anger or irritation.

He simply met Alfredo’s gaze with those emotionless gray eyes.

It was suffocating.

If that eerie gaze contained hatred…

Just imagining it made the already frightened Alfredo swallow hard due to tension.

He had to redirect that lively gaze in another direction.

If possible, towards Delia, whom he had been searching for so desperately.

“Well, um. Didn’t I mention it a while ago? I sent her because Delia wanted to go to Ferber.”

“So, she said she would go to Ferber herself?”

“Yes. Don’t you know? No one can break Delia’s will in this royal palace.”

“But that’s unlikely.”

Aaron tilted his head, looking at Alfredo.

His indiscernible gray eyes thoroughly scrutinized Alfredo.

“The commander still doesn’t know Del well.”

Though feeling cornered like he was in a dead-end alley, Alfredo summoned his last courage.

What would happen if that frightening presence harbored hatred?

If he could withstand this crisis, not only could he save his life, but he might also give Delia a new gift.

The commander’s hatred.

“Delia doesn’t hesitate to choose any means for her goals.”

Alfredo cautiously spoke, watching the commander’s reaction.

“Perhaps she smiled at you because she thought you could be useful for Ioventi. She accepted you because you are strong and have utility.”

Aaron silently stared at Alfredo.

“Did Delia say she loves you? Probably not. Love for that child is just a means to an end.”

Alfredo’s words were quite convincing.

If it’s not Ioventi, the princess wouldn’t even bother to look back.

Del, who only pays attention if you have Ioventi.

In Aaron’s ear, who was following Delia’s trail, Alfredo’s voice seeped in.

“To Delia, you were just a means to an end.”