The atmosphere in the audience chamber was as cold as ice. As if buckets of ice water had been poured all over.

“……”

Sinclair, sitting cross-legged on the sofa, had been silently glaring at Ryan seated across from him for a while now.

…… Frankly speaking, it was absurd.

Sinclair had already noticed that Ryan harbored romantic feelings for Elaina. So when he brought her to the last gathering, didn’t Sinclair advise against it? And very politely at that.

From Sinclair’s perspective, that was Ryan’s last chance.

Yet here he was, shamelessly showing up on his own.

And at such an early hour?

“…… First of all, I am grateful that you have made time for me despite this sudden visit.”

“……”

“And this is a list of families who have come forward to support Your Highness.”

Ryan, who had been quietly keeping his place, carefully took out from his bosom a document stamped with the seals of nobles.

“There was no coercion or external pressure. They voluntarily expressed their will and stamped it with their own hands.”

There were quite a few names of families that Sinclair already knew.

For example, Lady Regas or Perin Ilain. Or people like Voltaire Denhel and Marquis Dwayne.

Of course, Anelli’s name was not among them.

“There are also quite a few families who did not participate in Lady Anelli’s gathering. Although not as many as the five families of Edenbell, they are all capable of playing their respective roles.”

“……”

“I believe Your Highness would know well. How to use them in the right places.”

It’s simple. Let’s take Perin Ilain as an example. The Ilain Marquis family has been showing off their martial arts skills for generations to protect Edenbell.

Perin’s father, the Marquis of Ilain, was naturally a bit older than when he was on the battlefield, but he was still a great guide to Edenbell’s soldiers.

Despite his low status as a marquis for a noble, the fact that his family has been talked about to this day shows how immensely influential he is.

The imperial soldiers. And the private soldiers gathered from various places. If a division occurs among them, or if the time comes to persuade them to Sinclair’s liking, the Ilain Marquis family’s declaration of support will be of great help.

If they are families that have devoted all their abilities to Edenbell for generations, they will all be helpful in such a way.

But……

“Didn’t I say it then? Ryan Henad. My sword can cut down anyone.”

What was important to Sinclair now was not such a list.

“Especially if they hide their personal feelings under the pretext of a cause, as many times as it takes.”

It was Ryan Henad himself, who ignored Sinclair’s advice and warning and came to the prince’s palace.

“……”

Ryan’s brightly shining eyes quietly looked at Sinclair.

…… Yes. You are right.

Perhaps my true cause is not your accession to the throne, but Elaina’s happiness.

However, I couldn’t dare reach out. It wasn’t because I was afraid of Sinclair’s existence itself. I was only afraid that Elaina, who had become the crown princess, would be swept up in scandal because of me like last time.

So I thought. The only thing I can do for Elaina now is to help Sinclair for her safety.

That thought hasn’t changed yet.

However, there was still something on my mind.

“I believe Her Highness the Crown Princess has the capacity to fully embrace and hold the current mess of Edenbell as the empress.”

“So.”

“And if that is what Her Highness the Crown Princess desires, I will always support and believe in her, from the standpoint of a single imperial citizen. Because Your Highness knows well that she has sufficient qualifications for that.”

“What do you want to say, Ryan Henad?”

Sinclair asked back in a voice as cold as the frost of midwinter, and Ryan silently looked at him for a while.

“If I may dare say, I hope you will not make Her Highness the Crown Princess feel insecure.”

And only after a considerable time had passed…… he moved his lips in a low voice.

“Just as there are those who support Your Highness, there are those who support Her Highness the Crown Princess. I am also one of them. I don’t know if what I’m saying now will be seen as a personal feeling for the Crown Princess, but I hope you will listen to it as advice in a broad sense.”

…… That ring.

The heirloom of the former empress and Sinclair’s mother.

Ryan still didn’t know about the something that existed between Sinclair and Elaina. Perhaps he would never know in the future either.

‘Before I face my ugly feelings, you do your part.’

It was an ambivalent feeling that could be had, knowing that Elaina’s feelings for Sinclair were sincere.

I wanted Elaina to be happy and wished for her peace.

If possible, it would be fine to live like this. As one of the imperial citizens in the Edenbell ruled by you and the person you love.

But if for any reason, Elaina tries to leave Sinclair’s side, abandoning everything……

Then I will not back down.

Never.

Even if I am branded as a traitor and lose everything.

“This is all I have to say.”

As if he had finished what he had to say, Ryan slowly closed his mouth.

And Sinclair……

“Is that so?”

He looked at Ryan with a cold expression, then slowly rose from his seat.

“It’s quite long for last words.”

Then, without hesitation, he drew the sword at his waist and pointed it at Ryan’s neck.

“I kindly warned you to take my advice to heart. Unfortunately, it seems my words sounded like a joke to your ears.”

“……”

“Otherwise, how could you dare say such things in front of me?”

“…… If you behead me here, Your Highness will be in a difficult situation. After all, a considerable number of those families were gathered by me……”

“Of course, if I kill you for no reason. Sorry, but I’m not that much of an idiot either.”

Sinclair said with a sneer.

“It seems you were so preoccupied with gathering nobles, which no one asked you to do. Rumors have already started to circulate in social circles. Yes, from the moment you stood up to support me, going against the will of your father, the Duke of Henad.”

“That…… what……”

“The same goes for what happened at the Duke of Heswin’s mansion. The only heir to the Henad family, who had never been involved in political strife, came forward in front of everyone in anger over the Crown Princess’s scandal, of all things?”

Ryan bit his lip slightly.

“You may not know, Ryan Henad, since you’ve spent your whole life buried in books at best. But the imperial palace is a much more vicious, damp, and dangerous place than you think. There are people who can set up a situation to eliminate their opponent with just one such rumor.”

He hated this man who couldn’t hide his feelings for Elaina without getting tired. He had felt that way since the first time he saw him.

Nevertheless, the reason he had been holding back was solely because he thought Elaina would not want such a thing to happen.

But you keep saying such things and behaving like this in front of me, of all people?

“That’s why I warned you, didn’t I? To stop.”

“……”

“Advice from a coward who hides his own feelings behind a petty cause……”

Sinclair laughed.

“Wouldn’t even a passing dog laugh at that?”

…… Actually, from Ryan’s point of view, the timing was not good.

Saying such things to Sinclair, who was already becoming more and more crazed day by day due to his anxiety about Elaina, was almost tantamount to a suicide attempt.

Unfortunately, Ryan did not take that into account, nor did he think that his actions would incur Sinclair’s tremendous anger.

In the end, Sinclair’s words might have been correct.

Perhaps it was Ryan’s naivety, optimistically thinking that such a terrible thing could not happen to him, having spent his whole life buried in books at best, that brought about this moment.

“If you believe my existence will continue to be a burden to Her Highness the Crown Princess in the future, you may behead me here.”

But like Sinclair, Ryan didn’t back down either.

“I will humbly accept Your Highness’s will. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be ridiculous for me to put weight on my own words under the guise of advice?”

“If you desire it yourself, there will be nothing to regret about your death.”

Sinclair did not hesitate. Blue veins bulged on the back of his large hand gripping the sword, and just as Sinclair was about to swing it…

“…… Sinclair.”

It was then that Elaina appeared, pushing aside Schuler who was guarding the front of the reception room, her face as white as a blank sheet of paper.

“And Ryan.”

It wasn’t just Sinclair who was startled by Elaina’s sudden appearance without a pair. Ryan was the same.

So they couldn’t easily blurt out any words, and they remained frozen, looking at Elaina, and Elaina faced them with her black eyes full of shock and asked.

“What on earth……”

In a very trembling voice.

“Are you two doing right now?”