At Sinclair’s shocking remark, a chilling silence filled the drawing room.

Anellie stared at Sinclair with a stiff expression. Heswin closed his eyes tightly and let out a sigh. Fredrick had a shocked look on his face, while Walter only shed tears.

Even Schuler hung his head low with a guilty face, as if he still thought it was his fault that Elaina was lost.

“Answer me, Anellie Haywors.”

“……”

“What choice will you make?”

Being spoken down to by Sinclair, Anellie finally realized.

The person in front of her eyes was not the ruffian of Edenbell, but the next emperor Sinclair Butler. Thus, carelessly going against his words would be inviting death…

However, Sinclair was not the only one who had a reason that made it difficult to back down easily. Anellie was the same.

Her son, who was like a newborn, got caught up in Yuria’s clutches and died at a young age. In order to avenge her son, the most suitable and perfect method was to seize the throne that should have been taken by Hister.

“…I apologize, Your Highness, but I still cannot agree with that opinion.”

“……”

“As you just said, please do not forget that our lives depend on your every action, Your Highness. Also, think about how many things had to happen for us to come to this place today.”

If one were to argue, there was nothing wrong with Anellie’s words. Even using Prince Chaz as an excuse when she should stop him, how could he do such a dangerous thing just to save that crippled princess consort? It made no sense.

Moreover, there were far more people who did not welcome Elaina’s existence than those who did.

It was no exaggeration to say that the reputation and power of the Aswald family had already been thrown into the mud during Elaina’s kidnapping incident.

No matter how much Sinclair cherished Elaina, it was safe to say that there was no possibility of her being of help to Sinclair once he became the emperor.

“……”

Soon, a heavy silence fell upon the drawing room again like lead, and everyone’s gazes turned to Sinclair, who stood still in his place.

“Anellie Haywors.”

And it was after a considerable amount of time had passed that Sinclair parted his lips with a voice that was eerily ominous for some reason.

“You lost your young son to Yuria and lived your whole life vowing revenge. I am not unaware of the reason why you, who had no interest in power struggles, struggled to gain a position within the collateral line and eventually made it to this place.”

Sinclair continued to speak.

“Heswin and Fredrick. Even while in charge of one of the five brilliant families of Edenbell, you harbored discontent towards the former emperor who endlessly checked on you. If Anellie’s source is her vengeance, then your driving force would be the glory of your family. And Walter.”

As his name was called, Count Walter flinched slightly and looked at Sinclair.

“The Walter County family must have always been bothered by the existence of Chaz, who was born as a prince but never received any treatment despite it throughout his life. I believe the reason for helping me is no different.”

Sinclair was right. Anellie, Heswin, Fredrick, and Count Walter all had their own circumstances. Although their stories differed, the final destination they reached was not different.

It was to drive out Hister and make Sinclair the emperor.

“Then what do you think is my source?”

At Sinclair’s unexpected question, everyone showed a puzzled expression.

That was because…

“…Hasn’t Your Highness lost a lot to Yuria?”

“That’s right. It was the same with the former empress, and also when the position of crown prince was taken away from you.”

It was no exaggeration to say that every citizen of the Edenbell Empire knew what had happened to Sinclair.

That’s why it was even more incomprehensible. With time being of the essence, why was Sinclair asking such a thing?

“Yes, it would be a blatant lie if I said those things had no influence at all.”

At Sinclair’s words, which were difficult to understand, Anellie’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“But the most decisive person who allowed me to reach this place today… is neither my mother nor Yuria.”

What kind of nonsense was this? If not those two, when was there ever an incident that would make Sinclair determined to become the emperor?

“Was the princess consort, who is of no help and even crippled, such an eyesore?”

“That, that’s…”

“I was the one who made the princess consort’s leg like that, and the one who completely ruined that woman’s life.”

At Sinclair’s voice, which spat out the words as if vomiting, Schuler closed his eyes tightly, and the nobles began to watch each other’s reactions.

“If it weren’t for a woman named Elaina Aswald in the first place, I wouldn’t have even thought about the position of the emperor. I would have just lived and died carelessly, wandering from one battlefield to another.”

The death of the empress, his mother, also had a profound impact on Sinclair.

But even killing Yuria with a single stroke in broad daylight, and in the imperial palace at that.

Even after losing the position of crown prince because of that and endlessly surviving while rolling around numerous battlefields. Even vowing to somehow build up his forces and sit on the emperor’s throne…

It was all because of Elaina.

At first, it might have been just a simple desire for revenge.

So he endlessly hated himself for ruining Elaina’s life, and then killed Yuria, the mastermind who created such a situation.

After bringing Elaina in as the princess consort out of a petty sense of guilt to get her out of that damn Aswald family, he dreamed of the emperor’s position to protect her, whose life was constantly threatened due to his precarious position.

If he reached the highest place like that, no matter what happened, he would be able to protect Elaina.

No one would be able to treat Elaina recklessly…

“When you lose your most precious existence, you know better than anyone else how merciless a person can become, Anellie.”

“……”

“Do you want me to hold a grudge against you like you held a grudge against Yuria?”

Only after facing the strikingly golden eyes did Anellie belatedly realize.

No matter what words she uttered. No matter what excuses she made, there was no way to stop Sinclair anywhere.

Also, if he were to lose a woman named Elaina Aswald…

Sinclair would completely collapse and never be able to get up again.

Just like how she was when she lost her young son back then.

“……”

It seemed that Anellie was not the only one having such thoughts. Heswin, Fredrick, and Walter couldn’t easily utter a single word. They only exchanged glances with even more silent eyes than before.

“I think the conversation is over now.”

Only after a considerable amount of time had passed did Sinclair move his dry lips again with a low voice.

“I will immediately head to the western region, leading all the soldiers and private soldiers except for the minimum number of troops to guard the imperial palace. I don’t care at all if you don’t help.”

“I, I will go with you!”

Count Walter raised his hand and shouted loudly in a tearful voice.

“Our Lord Chaz is also captured, isn’t he? Although I may not be of much help, I still cannot let Your Highness go alone.”

“……”

“I want to go and definitely… come back with Lord Chaz and Her Highness the Princess Consort. I’m sure we will.”

“…I will also join you.”

The one who added to the words was Duke Heswin, who had been quietly listening to the conversation. Although he still had a complex expression on his face, he seemed to have clearly realized that no matter what he did, Sinclair’s determination would not change.

“Count Walter is right. As you just said, Your Highness is now clearly the next emperor of Edenbell to anyone’s eyes. You cannot go to such a dangerous place alone.”

Although it had been a long time since he retired from the front lines, Duke Heswin also had his own career to some extent. If such a person accompanied him, there was nothing bad for Sinclair.

As Sinclair nodded, Duke Heswin slowly rose from his seat. Then, looking at Anellie and Fredrick, he spoke.

“I hope you two will stay and guard the imperial palace.”

“……”

“The collateral line will still be in chaos, so please keep a close eye on them. Duke Fredrick, please assist Lady Anellie as well.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Fredrick replied as if he had been waiting, and Anellie looked at Sinclair for a moment with an extremely complicated face.

…This is unexpected.

She was not unaware that Sinclair cherished the princess consort, but she did not expect it to be to this extent.

Moreover, the reason he decided to become the emperor was because of the princess consort.

…What on earth did she say to that woman?

Quietly biting her lips, she recalled her own appearance that day when she indirectly urged Elaina to leave.

“We leave immediately.”

As if Anellie’s reaction was not of any concern to him, Sinclair rose from his seat without any lingering feelings. Then, he began to leave the drawing room with slightly faster steps.

‘Definitely.’

Even if it costs me my life, I must at least save you.

No, to make sure that you will never be involved in such a thing because of me again… I have to put an end to it this time.

Like that, Sinclair swallowed his determination, which was hardened by guilt, and thought only of Elaina’s face.

Praying that she would be safe even at this very moment.