At Sinclair’s unexpected words, Elaina clenched her hands tightly, unable to find a suitable answer as she looked down at him.

In Sinclair’s golden eyes that met Elaina’s, a clear desperation was seeping through.

Sinclair’s heart was a plea, asking her to stay by his side even if it meant hurting him in the end.

…… But would that really be the right thing to do?

Then, every time I see you getting hurt and suffering like that, how would my heart feel?

Perhaps I wanted to run away from all of this. Even from a relationship that torments me, and torments Sinclair as well……

“I know. That you need time.”

However, Sinclair continued to speak.

“This time, I’ll be the one waiting.”

“…….”

“Just like how I waited for you for a long time in that valley.”

If it was waiting for Elaina, he was confident he could do it for as long as needed. Even if it wasn’t a matter of days, but years of a long time.

Suppressing his desire to hold Elaina tightly in his arms right at this moment, Sinclair slowly rose from his seat.

“Elly, I haven’t changed one bit.”

Then, very carefully, he lightly brushed Elaina’s cheek as he uttered his final words.

“The me from back then, and the me right now…… It was all sincere. There was never a single moment of falsehood in front of you.”

“…….”

“That much…… I hope you know.”

He couldn’t say anything more.

It was fine if Elaina blamed him for hiding all the truths, or resented him for abandoning her and leaving.

But he hoped she wouldn’t misunderstand the fact that his feelings for her were always sincere.

“…….”

Sinclair gazed at Elaina for a moment with eyes filled with sorrow, then slowly turned his back. And then he began to quietly leave the room, even muffling his footsteps.

Finally left alone like that, Elaina bowed her head deeply with an anguished face.

For a very long time.

* * *

It was late at night, but unlike usual, the drawing room of the Crown Prince’s palace had a considerable number of guests gathered.

…… Grand Duke Lundberg and Duke Rockford. A few nobles they had brought along.

And also, Melvin and Leila, seated behind them on the sofa as if they were attendants.

“It feels quite good to gather like this in one place.”

It was Hister, who was sitting at the head of the table, who broke the lead-heavy silence.

“You all won’t know how long I’ve been waiting for this moment.”

An eerie atmosphere was dripping from Hister’s voice as he continued speaking.

The nobles, who had been quietly watching Hister, seemed to properly understand what ‘this moment’ he was referring to. As soon as the words left his mouth, every single one of them showed an even more determined expression than before.

“Now all the preparations are complete.”

Eventually, Hister continued to speak.

“All that’s left is to seize it.”

“The private soldiers are also fully prepared.”

Grand Duke Lundberg, who had been quietly listening to Hister’s words, slowly parted his lips.

“We have gathered the private soldiers of Rockford, Lundberg, and other noble families who have decided to join us in one place. At a single word from Your Highness the Crown Prince, they will move at any time.”

“Yes, very good.”

Hister answered with a grin, as if he was about to laugh, and eventually took something out of his chest.

“Since everyone gathered here has come together to pursue a great cause with the same ambition, I thought we should each receive a token of that.”

What Hister held in his hand was his own seal.

“Melvin.”

“Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

As soon as his name was called, Melvin brought the papers he had prepared in advance.

“From this moment on, every single one of us will stake our all and fight together.”

Hister, who received the papers, looked around at everyone and spoke.

“Those whose names are on the list will become the founding contributors of the new Edenbell, and I swear before God that they will enjoy eternal wealth, honor, and power.”

Hister stamped his seal at the very top, and handed it to Grand Duke Lundberg who was sitting next to him.

Grand Duke Lundberg also soon took out his seal, and the other nobles did the same.

In the drawing room filled with a tense atmosphere, only the sound of nobles stamping their seals quietly resonated.

Not long after, Hister, who received the papers with everyone’s seals stamped, smiled in satisfaction.

“Ah, it looks great.”

Then, quickly hardening his expression, he looked around at the group of traitors and spoke.

“Now all the preparations to welcome the new Edenbell are complete.”

“…….”

“So we will move right now.”

“Yes.”

While listening to the nobles’ answers, Hister couldn’t hide his excitement and showed a sinister smile.

Yes, no matter how much Sinclair struggles.

And even if that damn Emperor, that ridiculous father of his, let go of his hand in an absurd manner.

It still didn’t matter at all.

Because soon, the throne and everything in Edenbell would be grasped in his hands anyway.

* * *

At a time when he would usually be asleep, today’s Chaz was in his bedroom. He was sitting at the table, writing something.

“…… Phew.”

Chaz, who had been writing documents for a considerable amount of time, looked over them several times. Then, he meticulously sealed them and parted his lips in a careful voice.

“Lavi.”

As soon as the name was called, a tall man politely entered the bedroom.

It was Chaz’s new guardian knight, sent from the Wilter family.

“Please deliver this to elder brother Sinclair.”

Eventually, Chaz whispered as he handed over what he had been preciously holding in his hand to Lavi.

“It must never pass through anyone else’s hands. Elder brother should still be awake, so you have to go directly and deliver it to him. Also, try not to catch the eyes of others as much as possible. You know what I mean, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Then go and deliver it quickly.”

Lavi, who received the document from Chaz, put it in his chest and left the bedroom. Since Sinclair’s prince palace and his palace were not far apart, Lavi would probably return within at least 15 minutes.

“For now, I’ve prepared everything that was on my mind, but…….”

Chaz, who was sitting alone at the table, began to mutter with a somewhat dark face.

“Just what on earth happened between the two of them…….”

The reason was unknown, but in any case, Chaz also easily noticed the fact that the relationship between Sinclair and Elaina was not the same as before.

Moreover, last time when Leila came to visit, she even stayed with Schuler, so it was even more so.

‘…… I should go pay my respects to Lady Elaina tomorrow. Who knows? Just as Lady Elaina had told me, maybe I can also be of some help to her.’

The timid and wounded Chaz of the past had somehow faded away.

Of course, that didn’t mean Chaz had become an extroverted person like Sinclair or Hister overnight, but he had gained incomparably more courage than before and had also made up his mind.

All of this was thanks to the good words Elaina had always said to Chaz.

So in a way, it was only natural. The desire to somehow help Elaina, who had given him such great comfort and had become a precious person to him.

‘Elder brother seemed very busy……. The Wilter family is the same.’

Chaz was also aware of the news that the nobles who had joined forces with Sinclair were gathering private soldiers.

The people of the Wilter family informed Chaz of how the situation was unfolding, and Sinclair was also sharing with him all the matters that could affect him.

‘Anyway, it’s coming soon. It won’t take long.’

Although the Emperor was still bedridden, if Sinclair didn’t make a move first, Hister would. Sinclair also knew that fact, so he might be trying to make a preemptive strike.

‘I should also do what I can do now.’

Chaz took a few deep breaths with a determined face, and began to ponder over what he could do to help Sinclair and Elaina in any way possible.

First, I’ll meet Lady Elaina tomorrow, and I’ll send Lavi to elder brother again.

And if elder brother says he has time, I’ll go see him too and ask. If there’s anything I can do to help.

Of course, I can’t bring people together like elder brother Sinclair, and I can’t go out and fight…… But there must be something I can do.

Or should I send someone to the Wilter family as well? Yeah, that might be a good idea too.

And that’s when it happened.

Chaz, who had been lost in his own thoughts, pondering over this and that, flinched greatly.

It was because of the presence coming from outside.

“…… Lavi?”

Did he already deliver the document to elder brother and come back? But not enough time had passed for that.

Or did something happen halfway through?

Chaz, whose heart had become urgent, unknowingly rose from his seat and opened the closed door.

However, standing in front of the door were not Lavi, but unknown men hiding their identities with all-black attire and masks.

“Wh-who are you!”

Chaz unknowingly took a step back, but it was a futile action.

Beside the bed, through the slightly open gap in the window, a few more men were seen infiltrating belatedly.

“Is, is anyone out there!”

Glaring at the men approaching him as if they were hunting, Chaz began to shout loudly.

“There’s an intruder here…… an intruder……!”

But that didn’t last long either.

The men, who had already rushed up to Chaz’s nose, covered his face with a handkerchief soaked in drugs.

“Umph……!”

Chaz struggled with all his might, but eventually, not long after, he slumped down like a drugged insect.

“…….”

As Chaz fainted like that, the men exchanged glances with each other, as if……

They carried the unconscious Chaz on their shoulders and leisurely began to leave the prince’s palace.