Elaina paused for a moment and looked at Anellie, startled by her sudden appearance.

“I just came back from seeing His Highness the Prince.”

As if sensing Elaina’s gaze, Anellie slowly moved her lips, wearing her signature gentle smile.

“To make it clear that all of us from the branch family, including myself, will support His Highness the Prince, not the Crown Prince.”

So Sinclair had succeeded in winning over even the branch family to his side.

The man who had shed tears before Elaina, begging her not to abandon him, was more capable than she had thought. He was truly getting closer to the Emperor’s throne, step by step.

Yes.

This might be Sinclair’s true nature.

But the more he became like this, the more Elaina felt Sinclair was drifting away from her. Of course, she had never wished for him to be defeated by Hister even once, but…

Perhaps it was because she had felt a sense of alienation once. Maybe that was why Sinclair kept feeling like a different person to her. Elaina unconsciously made a bitter expression.

“If it’s alright with Your Highness the Princess, may I sit beside you for a moment?”

Elaina had no particular desire to converse with anyone. What she needed most right now was time alone, as she had not yet sorted out her own feelings.

But she couldn’t outright turn Anellie away. Especially not right after hearing that she had decided to support Sinclair.

…Even in this relationship, in this situation, she was still thinking of Sinclair. It was absurd.

“Yes, please do.”

With Elaina’s permission, Anellie slowly took a seat beside her. Then, looking up at the sky, she continued.

“The sun is particularly lovely today.”

“……”

“But why are the faces of Your Highnesses the Prince and Princess clouded with such deep worries?”

Elaina gave no answer, and Anellie silently gazed at her before breaking into a faint smile on her own.

‘As Sinclair gets closer to the Emperor’s throne, they must both have a lot on their minds. Especially Princess Elaina, whose burden will be even greater. Of course, Sinclair will try to protect the Princess somehow, but even that thought alone must feel heavy to her.’

It was not a wrong thought in the grand scheme of things, but Anellie failed to realize that this was not the only reason Sinclair and Elaina were eating away at each other’s hearts.

“They say a position makes a person suitable for it.”

Thus, she slowly began to speak the words she had prepared.

“I used to think the same way. But as I’ve lived to this age, my thoughts have gradually changed.”

“……”

“Perhaps it’s not the position that comes first, but the person.”

What is this person trying to say to me now? Elaina’s black eyes flickered briefly.

“Even among the Princes of this generation… No, among all the bloodlines of Edenbell, the Prince who was most fit to become Emperor was treated so poorly and driven out. Perhaps the catastrophe was to be expected. Conversely, it also means that it was a mistake to crown Hister, who was unfit for the position, as the Crown Prince.”

Anellie continued as if to say more, then closed her mouth for a moment. Then, as if turning her head to face Elaina directly, she asked in a strangely lowered voice.

“So.”

“……”

“What does Your Highness the Princess think?”

“What are you trying to say to me right now?”

“I am humbly asking if you think you are a person worthy of the position of Empress yourself.”

A person worthy of the position of Empress?

At Anellie’s question, which clearly revealed her true intentions, Elaina burst into empty laughter.

It was literally empty laughter. It spilled from her lips out of absurdity.

Not once had she ever dreamed of the position of Empress.

It had been that way from the beginning. Moreover, even when Sinclair had said that the position of Empress was hers, she had been endlessly anxious.

…I had only ever thought of one thing.

Whether it was alright to let Sinclair Butler, the man, completely take over my life.

At one point, she had thought that way. But now, many things had changed. Shattered to pieces.

“Who knows.”

So Elaina answered Anellie in a flat voice.

“But one thing is clear to me. There is no place for me in this Imperial Palace.”

At Elaina’s unexpected answer, Anellie’s eyes narrowed slightly as she hesitated.

“I don’t think a position makes a person, nor do I think a person makes a position. You just choose.”

“What, and how?”

“As my heart desires.”

“……”

“Or, where my footsteps lead me.”

Today’s Elaina was truly strange. It was the first time Anellie had seen her speak in such a vague manner or express her feelings so honestly to the point of excess.

What had happened between the two of them? Other than what I expected?

“Then, are you saying… that there is nothing you want in the Imperial Palace of Edenbell?”

“To be precise, I thought there was, but it turned out to be a misconception.”

“A misconception…?”

“It was a short conversation, but a pleasant one, Lady Anellie.”

Before Anellie could stop her, Elaina stood up from her seat. Then, even in this situation, she politely bowed and delivered her final words.

“Please return safely. I don’t know if we will meet again, but I wish you good health. Also, thank you for asking me such a question outright.”

“Pardon?”

…Thank you?

Of course, Anellie did not think that Elaina would go running to Sinclair to report what had just happened. Elaina was not that kind of foolish woman.

But a reaction like this was not at all what Anellie had expected.

“Thanks to you, I think I’ve been able to sort out my thoughts.”

“……”

“Then I will take my leave first. Goodbye.”

That was the end of it. Without leaving any further words, Elaina left Anellie alone on the bench and began to walk forward with a limping gait.

Although limping, Elaina walked without a moment’s hesitation, and as Anellie watched her retreating figure, she thought.

Does Elaina always walk with such steps?

In the direction she wants and intends to go?

So perhaps, in the relationship between Elaina and Sinclair, the one who had actually held the upper hand was Elaina, not Sinclair?

“……”

Suppressing the ominous feeling that rose up for some unknown reason, Anellie simply gazed at Elaina’s back until she completely disappeared from view.

* * *

Rex was still holding his position in the Imperial Palace today as always.

A little less closely than usual, keeping a bit of distance.

But diligently following Sinclair’s orders.

“Greetings, Sir Rex.”

In the middle of the Imperial Palace.

On the red corridor leading to the Emperor’s bedchamber, where he would undoubtedly be sleeping under the influence of drugs again today, one person who had been waiting respectfully greeted Rex.

“The physician just left. As His Majesty ordered yesterday, he brought a new decoction of medicinal herbs.”

The Emperor had said that even when he slept, it felt as if he had not slept at all, and that he kept having terrible nightmares. So he ordered a new prescription of medicinal herbs to help him sleep peacefully.

Rex thought it was a truly amusing thing. Now reduced to a mere burden in the Imperial Palace, unable to do anything, abandoned by all his sons, yet still trying to cling to life like that.

But it wasn’t a bad thing for Sinclair. No matter how much Hister was the Crown Prince, he would have no excuse to claim the throne as long as the Emperor was alive.

Well, it seemed that even such a pitiful life wouldn’t last much longer.

“Anything else of note?”

“Ah, His Majesty requested to increase the number of guards serving him. So among those in the knight order, they selected those who could be trusted.”

Those who could be trusted?

In this Imperial Palace, were there such people for the Emperor?

Rex chuckled.

“That will be all for the report.”

“Understood. Then I will compile a separate list of the selected individuals for Sir Rex…”

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m sure they did a good job on their own.”

The man conversing with Rex showed a slightly puzzled expression. After all, his superior was known for always handling tasks perfectly. So he was quite strict as well.

But to let such an important matter slide?

“Our knight order has been watching how I serve His Majesty, so I believe they will carry out their duties without fail.”

“Ah, yes…! Of course. I will take responsibility and verify it myself.”

The man replied brightly with a flushed face, and Rex gave a short nod.

“Today, I will check on His Majesty’s condition and return. He will likely wake up again around dawn, so come back then.”

It was to be expected. After all, since the Emperor had fallen ill, Rex had taken full charge of guarding him.

Yes, you must be tired too. The man gazed at Rex with eyes full of respect, and having said what he needed to say, Rex began to take strides towards the Emperor’s bedchamber.

‘Unfamiliar faces.’

Even as he walked without stopping, focusing only on what was ahead, Rex’s attention was entirely on those guarding the corridor.

‘There are unfamiliar individuals mixed in from the entrance of the Imperial Palace all the way here. Discreetly, as if to deceive.’

But Rex deliberately did not show it. Far from showing it, he merely nodded his head a few times as if acknowledging their hard work.

Before long, Rex arrived at the Emperor’s bedchamber and slowly extended his hand as he received greetings from the others.

Then he quietly stepped into the Emperor’s bedchamber, where the only sound was the faint sound of breathing.