The deepest part of the Crown Prince’s palace.

Elaina stood in that narrow room where no one but Sinclair could freely enter, staring at one wall with a stiff expression.

“……”

After glaring at the wall for a considerable time, Elaina slowly extended her trembling hand.

And then she began to caress the empty wall.

Though it clearly showed marks of years of something having been hung there, what Elaina was looking for had completely vanished…….

[It was where the portrait was. Mine and mother’s.]

For a moment, words flashed through her mind.

“The former Empress’s villa……”

[It was something I drew when I was very young.] [Where is it now?] [……In the Crown Prince’s palace.]

Is this also my misunderstanding? Am I overthinking things? But the size of the trace left on the empty wall before me was no different from what I saw at the Empress’s villa back then.

[Next time, show it to me too. I’m curious. I’m curious about what kind of person the Empress was, and also what young Sinclair looked like.]

At that time, Sinclair……

What expression did he make?

What face did he show me?

“……”

Elaina chewed on her lip, lost in her own thoughts.

At that time, she just thought that way. That Sinclair was simply lost in memories. That’s why he couldn’t easily give any answer.

But what if that wasn’t the case?

What if the portrait Sinclair hid was really from back then?

Why on earth?

“Did I……”

And Elaina muttered to herself in a heavily cracked voice.

“Was there…… something I shouldn’t see painted?”

So, did he come back to the imperial palace and hide that portrait separately?

Was that why the lock was just loosely in place, so that even I could open it with my strength?

“……”

And only then did Elaina clearly realize. No matter what questions she asked, Sinclair would not answer anything about this matter, and would try his utmost to hide it.

And perhaps……

……That one span of distance that had grown.

That single span of distance might forever separate her and Sinclair……

What on earth, since when has he been hiding from me? Was all the time we spent together a lie? Did he deliberately deceive me?

Elaina, who had been feeling the wall, quietly clenched her fist.

And then, for a long time, she did not move.

* * *

It was no exaggeration to say that Hister was spending the most peaceful time these days.

Today was no exception. Unlike his usual appearance of fretting over all sorts of troublesome matters, he was sitting on a large sofa in a huge bedroom, legs crossed, drinking red wine while checking the report that Liam had meticulously written and submitted.

To be precise, the number of private soldiers that the Grand Duke of Lundberry and the Duke of Rockford had assured they could hand over to him.

‘This alone is quite a considerable number, but the number of private soldiers from Heswin, Walter, and Duke Frederick’s families will not be small either.’

Even with just those three families, they would provide Sinclair with a number of private soldiers that could not be easily ignored. Moreover, that wasn’t the end of it.

Eric Connor. That damned nobleman who had served Sinclair for a very long time.

Although the Connor family had not made it onto the list of Edenbell’s shining five families, it was a family that had succeeded in large businesses generation after generation.

Eric Connor, who had amassed such overflowing wealth, had been gathering private soldiers for a very long time. It was said that he had formed mercenary groups not only in Edenbell but also in other empires.

He probably prepared in advance, thinking that Sinclair would need it someday.

That was always the point where he had a headache.

But now that worry was over.

“If I can get command over all the forces in the imperial palace, including the Emperor’s Knights……”

Yes, if that happened, it would be more than enough to win the fight.

……Of course, there was something that had to be dealt with before ‘getting command over all the forces in the imperial palace’, but.

However, Hister no longer had any intention of backing down like before. Now he did not hesitate, and all preparations were complete.

Now only his decision remained.

“How do you plan to move?”

It was Hister’s guard knight, Liam, who carefully asked in a low voice.

“It’s a very simple matter, Liam.”

Hister finally raised his head, looked at Liam, and began to move his lips with an unpleasant smile.

“The respected Emperor of Edenbell, my one and only father, will be assassinated overnight.”

“……”

“By Sinclair Butler, who finally swung his sword at his father despite the imperial family reaching out first and asking about past matters.”

Hister laughed mockingly.

“Crown Prince Sinclair, who tried to rebel, and Prince Chase who shared his intentions, will all be executed. Of course, the Walter Count family, which is Chase’s bloodline, as well as the Heswin and Frederick Duke families who supported Sinclair, will all face the same fate.”

Thus, before him who would become Emperor, everyone would bow their heads, beg for forgiveness for their wrongdoings, and die miserably. Without exception, every single one.

And Hister himself would create a new Edenbell without being threatened by anyone or any force, and there would be no more obstacles left in his life.

It was a perfect plan just to look at the concept.

The picture wasn’t bad, the plausibility was sufficient, and above all, Sinclair had no justification he could make no matter what excuse he gave.

“Doesn’t Sinclair also know about the Crown Prince’s plan?”

“He’s probably noticed.”

Hister wasn’t foolish enough to be optimistic that Sinclair couldn’t read his intentions.

……But, so what could Sinclair do?

“If there’s a place to pay attention to now, it’s not Sinclair but the collateral line. Especially Anelli Hayworth.”

“……”

“Anelli holds a great grudge against my mother, so she won’t sit idly by while I ascend to the throne. You should know that much, Liam.”

“Yes.”

“If we could include the collateral line in the Emperor’s death, it would be simpler than ever, but that won’t be easy. If Sinclair and Anelli were still in close contact like before, we could have linked them… It’s a pity.”

“How about using the group Anelli created as a pretext? The Crown Princess is also included in that group, isn’t she?”

“Although some nobles in the group seem to have come forward to support Sinclair, Anelli didn’t move anyway. She just reserved her choice.”

Of course, this too would be based on thorough calculation. Anelli was an extremely intelligent and wise person even before being driven out of the imperial palace, and even now after being driven out.

In fact, she lost her only son for that very reason.

“Besides, if we touch the collateral line first unnecessarily, things might get troublesome.”

“Then what do you plan to do? Anelli Hayworth is one of the people who absolutely must not be left alone.”

“Yes, I already know that much. The most rational method is……”

Hister seemed to trail off for a moment, but soon spoke again with a sinister smile.

“To take away all will before Anelli makes any decision and moves. For example……”

“……”

“Reminding her of the moment when she was most miserable, sad, and in pain. But despite that, there was nothing she could do, such a moment.”

Actually, that’s not such a difficult thing for me. Hister laughed alone as if very pleased, and Liam slowly continued speaking.

“……And it seems there was a small disturbance at Sinclair’s palace earlier.”

“Disturbance?”

This seemed to be an unexpected statement, as Hister slightly frowned at Liam, unlike before.

“Since all those we planted there were withdrawn, I can’t know for sure what happened, but since Sinclair was absent, I think it might be related to the Crown Princess.”

“……”

“But it’s a bit strange. She’s so favored by Sinclair, what could there be to cause a disturbance……”

“……Ah.”

“Lord Hister?”

At Hister’s incomprehensible reaction, Liam slightly narrowed his eyes, and Hister suddenly started laughing like a madman. As if something incredibly amusing had happened.

“The Crown Princess must have returned to the bedroom empty-handed.”

“Pardon? What do you mean by that……”

“If only the action had been a little faster, it would have been good. It’s because she was so stupid that she alone didn’t know her husband was much quicker and more sinister than she expected.”

Hister knew very well. Why Elaina caused a small disturbance tonight of all nights, when Sinclair was absent.

And he also knew that she had not achieved her goal.

But it was alright.

“As you said, she’s such a precious person so favored by my brother, I should show her some kindness.”

“……But aren’t both the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince people who will die anyway? If Your Highness becomes Emperor……”

“Which do you think is more painful, Liam, dying at once or dying in despair? Obviously the latter, wouldn’t you agree?”

“……”

“I think I deserve that much entertainment.”

Yes. Now everything is over. This wasn’t just talking about the fight to claim the throne.

Hister already held in his hands the key to shatter Sinclair’s heart and push all of him into the abyss.

“Send a letter to the mansion. Melvin and Leila should be on standby.”

Finally, Hister said, looking at Liam with a very pleased expression.

“Before we carry out our plan, I have a gift to give to our precious Crown Princess.”