But before the officer could bring the sword, Belia walked unsteadily and sat down on the floor, trembling. Then, she grasped the hilt with shaking hands.

Mud gradually stained her white and delicate hands.

“No…”

Belia shook her head.

When she cautiously wiped off the mud on the blade with her fingers, she discovered Khalid’s initials clearly engraved.

“Ah…”

Tears flowed from Belia’s eyes.

While everyone looked at her with pity, the Emperor spoke.

“Prepare yourself. The search for the Second Prince will be temporarily halted, and we’ll resume it after the rain stops. Finding Khalid’s sword buried in the collapsed earth implies that the hope for the survival of the Second Prince is not optimistic.”

Even though Belia already knew that Khalid was alive, facing Khalid’s sword made it difficult for her to control her emotions.

What could have happened to make the blade so damaged?

Belia, gripping the sword tightly, burst into tears.

“So prepare your heart. It’s regrettable that such a thing happened shortly after your marriage.”

Regrettable?

In such a situation where her child might be dead, regrettable?

Belia laughed bitterly while looking at Khalid’s sword.

“…We haven’t confirmed his body yet.”

“I understand the Crown Princess’s feelings. However…”

“Yet! Can’t we be sure of anything? He is my husband, but Khalid is also Your Majesty’s child!”

“We haven’t officially announced the death of the Second Prince. Hold off until the rain stops and the body is found.”

Ignoring Belia’s desperate cry, the Emperor continued.

“The Crown Prince should listen. The search for the Second Prince will be temporarily halted, and it will resume after the rain stops. However, finding Khalid’s sword buried in the mud, along with the ongoing heavy rain in the Schpell region, makes the situation regarding the Second Prince’s life or death not promising.”

Belia already knew that Khalid was alive, but facing Khalid’s sword, she couldn’t control her emotions. What could have happened to make the blade so damaged?

“Can you get up?”

At that moment, Raul approached Belia, who was sitting on the floor. Then, he carefully embraced her shoulders.

“Let go. I don’t need your help.”

“I’m just trying to help. If I let go, won’t you collapse right away? I can’t just stand by and watch you fall like that.”

Raul spoke affectionately.
Belia, as if having no strength to push him away, slumped into Raul’s arms, quickly organizing the situation.

‘Khalid is not dead. But there’s no need to reveal that to them.’

Belia’s eyes, lowered, gleamed with determination.

She knew that no one had been buried there. Now was not the time to forcibly prove he was alive; it was the time to let them relax, thinking he was dead, and seize the opportunity.

If Khalid is alive, he will surely come back.

“Your Majesty, I will take the Second Prince’s consort back to the palace.”

“See to it.”

After getting permission from the Emperor, Raul walked towards the Second Prince’s palace with Belia.

Only the echoing sound of their footsteps filled the corridor.

Belia, drained of energy, managed to move her slumped body, and Raul supported her without saying a word. Then, Raul quietly spoke.

“Is it that heartbreaking that he’s dead?”

“…….”

His expression was complex.

But soon, he closed his mouth again without saying a word.

Arriving at the Second Prince’s palace, Raul, who had laid Belia on the bed, sat next to her, silently gazing at her face.

“Belia.”

“…….”

“Belia, let me allow you to stay here. Instead, come to me.”

Belia didn’t respond.

“Think it over. Who you had to choose. In the end, he’s dead, and soon, I’ll become the Emperor.”

“…Please, go back.”

With closed eyes and weakly opened mouth, Belia’s appearance made Raul sigh.

“Come back again.”

Giving a slight farewell, Raul left the room, and as soon as Belia opened her eyes, she got up from the bed.

Khalid’s sword was placed on the table beside her.

Certainly, he must have been there when the landslide occurred. But there was no trace of him in the heap of earth.

Belia let out a long sigh.

‘The fact that he’s alive has become even more certain.’

Belia lifted the corners of her mouth with a bitter smile.

The Emperor’s attitude and Raul’s words today.

There was nothing that was not contemptuous.

Even in a situation where her son or brother might be dead, they showed no signs of sorrow or mourning.

It was fortunate that there was no Khalid or the Knights here as heard beforehand.

Otherwise, she would have almost lost her sanity.

Even though she already knew, seeing the sword made her feel as if her heart had sunk.

‘Fortunately, Rachel knew in advance and went back to the mansion.’

If not, she might not have known whether to faint at this news again.

‘Anyway…’

She needed to plan what to do next.

Derek was by the side of the Crown Prince, and Rachel and Rocus could not exert their strength without the absence of Viscount Kafri.

Habisa did not move at all from the Mausoleum, but she was prioritizing Belia’s requests.

Luness could move through the administrator, and the information network here was still valid. Duke Tessa had returned to the west, but…

‘Wait.’

Belia’s movement stopped.

‘Tessa Duchy!’

Although Schpell was adjacent to the Ronika Kingdom and the New Kingdom, geographically, it was not that far from the Tessa Duchy. If they crossed only two territories, they could arrive.

However, Belia immediately shook her head.

If Khalid and his knights were actually in a dangerous situation…

‘I won’t go to Tessa Duchy in that case. There’s no reason for him to head to the most suspicious place.’

Chewing her lips thoughtfully, Belia continued her thoughts.

Then, where on earth did he go?

‘Surely…?’

At that moment, a fleeting thought made Belia’s eyes widen.