The meeting ended like that, but people were still in a daze.

“The Lundberg Duchy and the Rockford Duchy really joined hands with Crown Prince Hister? For what reason?”

“Well, if you think about it, isn’t it obvious? They’ve always coveted the position of the Heswin Duchy. It’s only natural that they would be resentful.”

“Then the Heswin Duchy, the Wilter County, and the Fredrick Duchy……”

“The Wilter County will follow Prince Chaz’s will, so there’s no need to say more. Besides, seeing how the Lundberg Duchy and the Rockford Duchy have sided with Hister, it’s easy to know whose side the Heswin and Fredrick Duchies are on, isn’t it?”

“Then all that’s left are the collateral relatives, but what in the world is Lady Anelli thinking……”

“That, we don’t know. When has Lady Anelli ever clearly expressed her intentions?”

Hearing the murmurs of the people, Elaina felt the headache she had been suffering from like a chronic illness rising again.

The members of the meeting talked among themselves, and this time they approached Elaina. Although it wasn’t surprising as she had already anticipated this turn of events, Elaina also clearly had nothing to say.

“What does Your Highness the Crown Princess think about this matter?”

“His Highness Prince Sinclair must be determined to seize the throne? He must do so. Of course, I believe he will, but……”

“By any chance, have there been any unusual movements within the palace? His Majesty the Emperor……”

“Come to think of it, His Majesty the Emperor’s attitude has changed a bit too. Haven’t you heard about what happened at Duke Heswin’s birthday banquet last time?”

To the barrage of questions from the people, Elaina slowly sorted out what she could say now. Then, after waiting for the commotion to die down, she moved her lips with the most serene expression possible.

“……There is only one thing I can say to you with certainty. I hope you will understand.”

“If there’s only one thing……”

“His Highness Prince Sinclair is always looking for young talents who will share his vision. Whether they are nobles, commoners, or even lowborn, he doesn’t care at all.”

“Hmm……”

“I also cannot predict how the situation will unfold in the future, but if you side with His Highness the Prince……His Highness will gladly build trust with you and establish a good relationship.”

She couldn’t reveal the fact that Sinclair was aiming for the throne, or that the Emperor had chosen to turn a blind eye to everything.

Although there wouldn’t be anyone closely related to the imperial family among those Anelli had gathered one by one, one could never be sure.

If she were to tell the whole truth and be accused of treason, in the worst case, everyone present at this meeting could be arrested.

Therefore, this was the best she could do.

‘I need to discuss the rest separately with Sinclair.’

While carefully deflecting the questions that kept coming her way, Elaina was struggling at that moment.

“I was the one who declared that I would no longer remain neutral and threw the meeting into chaos, yet all the arrows are pointing at Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

“Ah, that’s……”

“Your Highness the Crown Princess didn’t know I would say such things today either. Only Lady Anelli knew. So I think it would be better to stop bothering Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

Suddenly appearing and subtly driving people away was none other than Ryan Henard.

“I apologize, Your Highness the Crown Princess. We were just so flustered by the unexpected situation……”

“No, it’s alright. I understand. So please don’t say such things.”

“Anyway, it seems most of the members are already of the same mind. Madam Regas, could you bring over those gathered there? I think it would be good for us to take our time and have a conversation about each other’s situations.”

As he said that, Perin glanced at Ryan, as if telling him to take Elaina away from here.

“Shall we step outside for a moment and get some fresh air, Your Highness the Crown Princess?”

Ryan, who understood her intention, asked Elaina.

In fact, it wasn’t just the members who wanted to ask questions now. Elaina felt the same way. She was curious as to why Ryan Henard had made such a choice.

“Yes, let’s do that.”

So Elaina slowly rose from her seat and began to walk with Ryan.

* * *

The garden of the townhouse connected to the main gate was incredibly quiet.

All that could be heard was the chirping of insects and the occasional gust of wind.

“Please sit here, Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

Ryan took off his outer coat and spread it on the bench, and Elaina shook her head as if to say it was alright, but he was adamant.

“I cannot commit the discourtesy of having Your Highness the Crown Princess sit on the cold ground, so please sit for my sake.”

“…….”

“I implore you.”

Eventually, Elaina sat on the bench with his outer coat. Ryan also sat beside her, and Elaina, who turned her head, silently gazed at Ryan’s side profile as he stared straight ahead.

“Why does your face look like that?”

Then she carefully asked.

“Could it be that you received your father’s anger for saying you would no longer keep your mouth shut?”

“……Sometimes, it seems that Your Highness the Crown Princess has quite a sharp side.”

Ryan answered with a chuckle.

“That’s right. I got a thorough beating from my father. It must have been quite a shock for him that his son, who had never rebelled even during his teenage years, had raised such a large rebellion in this way.”

“…….”

“But it can’t be helped. I have already made up my mind.”

“……Young Master Ryan.”

Elaina, who had been quietly listening to Ryan’s words, looked at him with a serious face and asked.

“Is there a reason why you made such a choice, Young Master?”

At Elaina’s question, Ryan flinched ever so slightly.

“I know it too. The fact that the Henard family is a family that never gets involved in political strife. And that there is no benefit for you, Young Master Ryan, to take His Highness the Prince’s side at this point.”

“Benefit…….”

“Young Master?”

“No, it’s nothing. I will definitely gain a clear benefit.”

Ryan laughed softly.

Then he recalled the conversation he had with Anelli a few days ago……

[Young Master Ryan. What do you want to say to me that you came to see me?]

……Together with Anelli.

[So, what benefit do you expect to gain by siding with that Prince Sinclair?]

That’s right. Anelli had asked the same thing.

[For my happiness.]

And Ryan answered briefly.

[I am not as naive as you think, Lady Anelli. Nor am I kind-hearted enough to sacrifice myself without any reward.] [Then let me ask you this. Where does your happiness come from that you made this choice?] [……I don’t think I need to tell you that much. What I can say with certainty is that I am no different from others. That I made this choice to gain something.]

Ryan deflected the question like that, but he clearly saw it. Anelli’s bright eyes twinkled faintly as if she already knew the answer.

It was the same. He couldn’t tell Elaina his true feelings either. No, he had no intention of being honest in the first place.

Just……

“If you become at peace……”

“Pardon?”

Elaina, who didn’t hear Ryan’s words that were muttered in a small voice, narrowed her eyes slightly and looked at him.

“I thought I would feel at ease if you became stable like that.”

“…….”

“People sometimes lose their lives or get severely injured due to mental illness. And that mental illness often comes from anxiety. But if you can eliminate that anxiety, what greater benefit is there?”

Ryan continued.

“The current Adenbell is the epitome of anxiety. I just lost the will to sit back and watch it. That’s all.”

There was nothing he could do for Elaina, who had already become another man’s wife. And who loved another man.

He could only help her life, which was shaking along with Sinclair, to regain some stability.

Although he couldn’t lend his strength like the five brilliant families of Adenbell, Ryan was confident. Confident that he could unite and gather the nobles using the reputation of the Henard family. And confident that he could make good use of all the knowledge he had learned while studying abroad.

Yes, that was enough.

Ryan looked at Elaina with eyes that seemed to be filled with a somewhat poignant emotion.

“If you say so, Young Master, I have nothing more to add. But……”

“If you have nothing more to add, then just accept it.”

Ryan said with a smile.

“That’s all I want.”

“…….”

“I believe the benevolent Crown Princess will grant the wish of this humble subject of the empire.”

“Humble, you say. You’re joking too much.”

“If I’m not humble, you’ll grant it all the more, won’t you?”

Elaina couldn’t help but laugh as if dumbfounded by Ryan’s words, which somehow felt like he was pushing it.

……And it was at that very moment.

Ryan’s gaze, which had been endlessly fixed on Elaina’s face, unconsciously and reflexively fell on her finger.

To be precise, on the ring Ren had given her.

“…….”

Elaina, sensing his gaze, hesitated slightly and fumbled with her hand, but Ryan quickly parted his lips.

“Where did you get that ring?”

“Pardon?”

“I remember seeing something similar before……”

Ryan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the ring with a sapphire that shone endlessly like the sea, just like Elaina’s eyes.