Sinclair and Elaina safely returned to the Imperial Palace.

In fact, Elaina thought that she didn’t remember clearly in what state of mind she came all the way to the Imperial Palace.

It was unavoidable. Not only had she suffered without proper sleep or food, but it was no exaggeration to say that there was not a single uninjured part on her whole body.

On top of that, when she took the medicine prescribed by the doctor in a state of relaxation, she couldn’t stay sane.

So Elaina struggled with all her might until the doctor treated Sinclair and diagnosed that fortunately, his life was not in danger. Then, not long after boarding the carriage with him, she fell asleep almost unconscious.

Just feeling Sinclair’s warm embrace tightly holding her with her whole body.

And the ones who welcomed Elaina the most when she returned like that were, as expected, Judith and Anna.

“Lady Elaina!”

The two, who had come out to greet her in advance, looked at Elaina, who had become unrecognizably haggard, and suddenly pouted their lips and avoided their gaze.

But it was a pointless effort. Before long, they burst into tears and examined Elaina’s condition while sobbing.

“Let’s call it a day for now. You’ve come a long way. Elaina needs to rest.”

To be honest, even while shedding tears like that, Judith and Anna thought Sinclair’s words were quite absurd. The very person saying that also looked like he needed rest just the same…

“She’s badly injured, so you have to take care of Elaina to the best of your ability. You know what I mean.”

Sinclair, who had carefully supported Elaina and reached the front of the bedroom, turned to look at Judith and Anna and spoke.

“But, but Your Highness the Prince also…”

“I’m fine. It’s not life-threatening, and thanks to recovering a lot on the way here, it’s not too hard either.”

He really has a beastly recovery ability. Judith and Anna had the same thought for a moment, but they did not dare to utter those disrespectful words out loud.

“Elaina, take a short nap.”

Sinclair, who laid Elaina on the bed, meticulously covered her with the blanket just like when she was ill before, and stroked her cheek, gently continuing.

“I’ll be back soon. So don’t worry about anything…”

“…Sinclair.”

Elaina, slowly reaching out her hand, caressed Sinclair’s face and moved her dry lips.

“You have to come back soon. There are… so many things I want to say to you.”

Elaina, who had barely met him again, had a very different expression from when she left him. It was the same now.

She looked at him with affectionate eyes, just like when they were whispering love, and snuggled into his arms with a gentle touch.

That fact felt very happy, but on the other hand, it also felt a little frightening.

Because Sinclair still had the anxiety that he might lose Elaina in one corner of his heart.

“You don’t have to worry either.”

As if knowing his inner thoughts, Elaina spoke in a quiet voice.

“Because now I know everything. I’m not ignorant of anything anymore.”

“Elaina…?”

“Come back soon. I won’t hold you back any longer.”

If she continued to speak now, it felt like all the emotions she had been suppressing and enduring would burst out at once.

As Elaina let go of Sinclair’s hand that she had been desperately holding onto, Sinclair looked at her with briefly shaking eyes.

“I’ll be waiting.”

With those words, Elaina gave Sinclair a faint smile.

Although he couldn’t be sure what Elaina wanted to say to him, strangely, seeing her smile seemed to make the fearful feelings disappear like snow melting.

Sinclair, who nodded as if he understood, slowly stroked her cheek once more and then began to leave the bedroom.

* * *

The place Sinclair headed to after leaving the Prince’s Palace was none other than the Grand Council Chamber.

“Brother!”

As soon as Schuler opened the door, Chaz was the first to jump up from his seat and ran to Sinclair.

Chaz hugged Sinclair with all his might, and then looked up at him with tearful eyes.

“I heard from Schuler. You were injured!”

“I’m fine now.”

Sinclair patted Chaz’s back and spoke as if to comfort him.

“I was just stabbed in the side. It wasn’t that severe from the beginning, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“…But my heart doesn’t feel that way.”

The one who stopped Chaz, who kept sobbing, was Count Walter, who had been quietly watching the two.

“Thank you so much for returning safely, Your Highness.”

Count Walter bowed his head and expressed his gratitude, and Sinclair just smiled quietly instead of giving any answer. Then he walked into the Grand Council Chamber with them.

“Congratulations on your return, Your Highness.”

Heswin and Walter, who went on the subjugation together, Fredrick and Anelli, who guarded the Imperial Palace, and all the elders of the collateral family bowed their heads to Sinclair with courtesy.

Before long, Sinclair, who sat in the head seat, gestured for them to sit down with his eyes and slowly parted his lips.

“As you may have already heard from Duke Heswin, we succeeded in capturing Hister, Lundberg, and Rockford. Most of the private soldiers they led also died. We left some soldiers in the western castle in case of any eventuality, so there will be nothing more to worry about.”

“Yes, Your Highness is right. So now we should strive to reorganize the Imperial Palace for the time being.”

Duke Heswin added.

“I’ve been watching with Lady Anelli for several days, and there was no particular problem with the movements of the aristocrats either. There was no one who harbored discontent.”

“…It’s the same with the collateral family.”

At Fredrick and Anelli’s words uttered in turn, Heswin nodded and looked at Sinclair.

“Your Highness, you should now prepare for the coronation ceremony.”

Then he slowly opened his mouth.

“It’s not good to leave the Emperor’s seat vacant for long. In my opinion, how about holding it as soon as your body fully recovers? If we start preparing now, it will be possible.”

“I think the same!”

Chaz shouted in a loud voice.

“Now, no one in Edenbell will dare to object. If there is, I won’t let it slide!”

At Chaz’s attitude, which seemed like he would rush out at any moment, Sinclair laughed slightly.

And Anelli…

“…The collateral family will also actively support the coronation ceremony. Your Highness, and Her Highness the Crown Princess, so that you won’t experience any inconvenience.”

He parted his lips while looking at Sinclair with a very cautious tone.

“Last time, I committed a great discourtesy. The same thing will never happen again. I apologize.”

Everyone present at this meeting knew what discourtesy Anelli was talking about. As they looked at Sinclair with tense faces, Sinclair stared at Anelli.

“It would be better to make that apology directly to my Crown Princess.”

“…”

“You know what I mean, don’t you, Anelli?”

“…Yes. I will do so.”

A cripple who will be of no help to the new Emperor.

A woman who is nothing more than a bastard without a solid family or relatives.

There was a time when Anelli thought of Elaina only in that way, but he had no intention of making the same mistake twice.

He could not help but know too well how important Elaina was to Sinclair. So the moment Elaina gets even a little hurt, he also knew what Sinclair could do.

“Then, we will start preparing for the coronation ceremony right from today. We swear that our three families will do our utmost.”

Before long, Duke Heswin spoke again.

“…Then, what do you intend to do about the execution of Hister and his associates?”

“…”

“Please speak comfortably. Whatever Your Highness’s will is, we will follow it.”

“They will be executed by hanging tomorrow. Including Melvin’s daughter, Leila Aswald.”

Sinclair, who had already wiped the smile off his face, commanded with an incomparably cold face.

“Also, the Imperial Palace will be opened so that all the imperial citizens of Edenbell, regardless of status, can observe their execution. It may invite antipathy, but I don’t care.”

“We will all follow Your Highness’s words.”

As Sinclair said, it might invite antipathy, but it could also set a good example.

Moreover, it was no exaggeration to say that the fact that Hister Butler brutally murdered his father had already spread throughout the Empire.

In this situation, if there was anyone who expressed dissatisfaction, it would be no problem to consider them as rebels as well.

“Then it seems the discussion is over.”

After finishing his words, Sinclair slowly rose from his seat, and everyone stood up and bowed to him, paying their respects.

It was a courtesy shown to Sinclair, who would soon become the new Emperor of Edenbell.

“Schuler, have Glen convey all the things we just discussed.”

Sinclair, who was about to leave the Grand Council Chamber, turned to look at Schuler, who was following him, and said.

“And tell him to prepare himself mentally as well.”

“Pardon?”

“Isn’t there no one left in the temple with the ability to succeed the position of High Priest? Except for Glen, I mean.”

“Ah, that’s…”

“Tell him that the new Emperor does not want to be embarrassed from the coronation ceremony with a new High Priest. You understand, right?”

“Of course.”

Sinclair looked at Schuler, who was smiling brightly at him for a while, and then slowly began to walk down the long corridor.

And before long, the place he arrived at was not the Prince’s Palace where Elaina was, but the underground prison where Hister was imprisoned.