Since Ryan Henard had announced that he and a significant number of nobles would side with Sinclair, Anelli was equally troubled.

“……”

The townhouse in the capital.

Whenever Anelli stayed here, she used to spend most of her time in the study.

It was not because she enjoyed reading books, or because this place was the most suitable for solitary contemplation.

It was because Henry greatly loved this townhouse that had been owned by Anelli’s grandfather.

[Mother, when I grow up, will I be able to read difficult books like you?] [Of course, dear. You are so smart that you will read all the books here and more, long before you become an adult. I guarantee it.] [Really?]

However, it was a pity.

Henry, who used to smile as brightly as the sun and come into her arms, died before he could properly open those books.

At the hands of Yuria.

Sorrow deepened as the years passed, and pain ate away at her life like a swamp. Anelli, who had lost her only beloved family, lived her life just enduring like a withering tree.

For Anelli, this study was one of the few places where memories of Henry lingered.

Even though she saw his once rosy cheeks turning pale, even though she caressed Henry’s cold, stiff hands countless times, knowing better than anyone that she could never see Henry again, Anelli just sat still in the study, staring blankly at the closed door.

Aside from gatherings, it was her only routine in the townhouse.

Imagining an adult Henry whom she could only rely on in her imagination, imagining reading books together. Or the still young but still lovely Henry, following her around like a puppy.

Opening that door……

…But today, Anelli was not lost in memories as usual.

She was simply filled with anger.

“Hister…… Butler……”

A voice that sounded like a groan or anger escaped from between Anelli’s tightly closed lips.

“How dare you……”

Anelli’s eyes, filled with rage, were fixed on the spotlessly clean table.

Somewhat out of place, there was a small jewelry box occupying the space.

Inside the jewelry box was a neatly folded letter and……

…A very old handkerchief with the Haworth family seal delicately embroidered on it.

It had belonged to Henry.

Anelli’s hand trembled slightly as she picked up the letter.

– To the respected Lady Anelli.

But she clenched her lips tightly and slowly began to read the letter.

– I am returning the item that Henry left behind long ago when he visited the royal palace with you.

“……”

– Although I am giving it to you too late, I hope you will understand. I apologize, but it was because I had not properly built trust with you.

Trust?

Between you and me?

– Even after becoming the crown prince, I continued to hear news about you and the Haworth family. This time was no exception.

“……”

– Unlike the members of the gathering, I sincerely want to express my gratitude to you for not making a move.

“Ha……”

– Now, I have no intention of touching any of the cadet branches, including the Haworth family.

Suddenly, Anelli’s face crumpled miserably as she read the letter.

– I have no doubt that you, wise Lady Anelli, will make the choice to protect everyone. Unlike the past when we tore each other apart and fought,

Grind……

The sound of teeth grinding could be heard from between Anelli’s lips.

– everything will be safe and at peace at the same time. So no boys from any cadet branch, nor any Haworth, will shed futile blood or leave this world without being able to bloom properly, as poor Henry did……

Hister’s letter was not fully read.

It was just instantly crumpled into garbage, rolling on the study floor.

There was no need to be played by his scheme any longer. Hister’s intention in sending such a letter and handkerchief was already too obvious.

“Stay still……?”

Just like when she lost Henry and couldn’t do anything, exactly the same?

…No, if she didn’t want to lose the children of the cadet branches like she lost Henry?

Anelli, who had thrown away Hister’s letter, reached out with a face full of emotions. Then she hugged Henry’s handkerchief tightly to her chest.

What Hister had said to Liam was right.

Because Anelli, who had lost Henry, was the most miserable, sad, and suffered the most in the world.

But there was one thing Hister had misjudged.

Anelli’s misery came from her disgust with herself for being unable to do anything despite it all.

“This time it’s different……”

Anelli, hugging the handkerchief tightly, muttered softly like a person whose soul had left her body.

“Of course, I still can’t completely destroy you……”

Yes, even if she couldn’t do that.

“……I can lend my strength to the one who will grant my wish.”

So, she could achieve her desired goal by joining forces with that person.

She certainly thought making a member of a cadet branch sit on the throne was not a bad choice.

Broadly speaking, it was somewhat true.

After all, since the grand cause of driving out Hister was the same, she could help Sinclair only in that regard, and then act independently from then on.

Anelli had that much power. Although she had been driven out of the capital because of Yuria, she had constantly communicated with other cadet branches and raised a private army, and she had even traded with nobles and royals of other empires to the point of being consumed by vengeance.

“But if you come at me like this……”

……I have no choice but to give you the most painful, most miserable, most agonizing end.

With the sword named Sinclair.

“……”

Anelli, biting her lip to the point of drawing red blood, remained still for a long time.

Holding only Henry’s handkerchief tightly in her hand.

* * *

The bedroom was as quiet as a tomb.

Elaina, lying on the bed, did not give Sinclair any words or glances. She just lay with her back turned, quietly breathing evenly.

“……”

Sinclair’s face, looking at Elaina’s back, was filled with distinct anxiety.

It was a truly strange thing.

Even though they were in the same space, it felt like being alone.

The small embrace that had held him tightly, the warm and excited voice that called his name, the beautiful black eyes that looked at him kindly and gently……

It felt like he had lost everything in an instant.

……This was unbearable.

“Elaina.”

In the end, it was Sinclair who broke the silence. He, who had gotten up at some point, carefully took a seat at the foot of the bed where Elaina still lay with her back turned.

“……I wish you would talk. Anything.”

Then slowly, he moved his dry lips.

“To me, anything at all.”

Don’t leave me alone in this silence forever, as if you will never say anything……

Sinclair made a pained expression.

“Please.”

His voice was practically a plea.

Nevertheless, no answer came back.

He thought that no matter what happened, his heart that he believed would never crumble again…

[The Sinclair I loved is not here.]

The moment he heard Elaina’s words, his heart that had slowly begun to crack without a chance to stop it……

[No, maybe…… he never existed in the first place.]

Sinclair closed his eyes tightly, hung his head low, and continued in a cracking voice.

“Call me. Not titles like Your Highness, but my name.”

“……”

“Elaina, please……”

What went wrong and where did it start? Why is Elaina turning her back on me? The fight for the throne and the forces of Edenbell outside the imperial family are also tilting in my favor.

I tried.

So that we could be together as ourselves.

But why……

“There is only one reason I call Your Highness, Your Highness.”

And then, Elaina, who had been silently listening to Sinclair’s murmuring without saying a word, slowly opened her lips.

“Sinclair, it’s because you have changed. Back to when I knew nothing about you. Just like when we first met.”

“……I haven’t changed, Elaina.”

Sinclair muttered in an unsightly, cracking voice.

“No, only one thing has changed. That I have come to love you even more than before.”

“……”

“That’s the only thing.”

He had only become more blindly cherishing, loving, worshipping Elaina like a god, and wanting to be with her until his last breath. No, even after death. That was the only thing that had intensified.

……His love for Elaina had never changed.

From the time he was Ren, until now. Not for a single moment.

“Then can you promise me? Sinclair.”

But the returned question was a bit strange.

“What?”

“That you will always be truthful in front of me.”

Suddenly, Sinclair uncharacteristically hesitated.

Because it came to mind.

What Schuler had said, that Elaina had entered the room where the portrait that she must never see… was hidden.

“So that I can trust you.”

“……What?”

“So that you can answer all my questions honestly, without a shred of lies.”

“……”

“Answer me, Sinclair.”