Joseph found the crow Cain had mentioned. But it was only much later that he realized the crow was Jane.

When Jane took off her thick-lensed glasses, his body recognized her before his mind did.

Seeing her clear, clean eyes, warmth blossomed near his heart. As warmth spread to his fingertips and toes, his tension eased.

However, Joseph couldn’t keep his eyes on Jane for long.

Fearing Helena might notice Jane’s appearance and harm her, he quickly lowered his head.

Even though he couldn’t properly look at Jane, Joseph’s mood soared.

‘Mother has returned.’

When Jane left, she had told Joseph clearly.

That when she returned, they would live together.

So, if he left this prison-like palace, he could live with Jane.

Joseph was on the verge of realizing his dream. He was no longer afraid of anything.

“I see you’re smiling.”

Not even Helena’s mockery.

“Let’s see how long you can keep smiling.”

The child calmly endured even her subtle threat.

“Your Majesty, happy birthday.”

Joseph faced Helena with his eyes wide open.

The child who didn’t stutter reminded her of Hastings.

Helena clicked her tongue and stood up.

Naturally, the orchestra changed its tune.

“Everyone, enjoy today!”

At Helena’s declaration, people bustled about looking for dance partners.

Cain bid farewell to Lady Eucalisto and leisurely walked to stand before Helena.

Until he arrived, no one had asked Helena to dance.

Because in this world, only one man was suitable to be the queen’s first dance partner: Cain Hastings.

“Shall we dance?”

Helena took Cain’s hand as if it were natural. Once again, the surroundings stirred. Speculations about the two continued.

‘So are they on bad terms or not?’

Cain placed his hand on Helena’s waist. As Helena grasped his shoulder, the orchestra began playing a waltz as if on cue.

Cain’s lead was, as always, neat and gentle. Thanks to his effortless lead, there was room for conversation between them.

“Even a well-trained military dog sometimes barks at its superior.”

Helena filled that gap with unnecessary words.

“A disobedient dog should be killed. But whose loss would be greater then? The dog loses its life, but the superior only has to endure a little inconvenience.”

Cain skillfully turned Helena’s body. His gaze swept behind a pillar. The spot where Jane had been standing was empty.

“But the superior doesn’t kill the military dog recklessly. It’s acknowledging the nature it was born with. However, that acknowledgment.”

Cain made no reply. Helena thought he was taking her advice to heart, but far from it. He was ignoring her words while observing the surroundings.

After confirming the signal that the second floor had been cleared, he surveyed the first floor. Several figures disappeared into the shadows. They were the core members of the coup who had finished their preparations.

The timing matched perfectly with what he had calculated.

The song is slowly coming to an end.

This was as far as Cain could give Helena a reprieve.

If he stalled any longer, Helena’s side might notice and counterattack.

“It’s only possible when the dog lowers its tail. Duke Hastings, you’re a talent that’s hard to lose.”

As Helena finished speaking, the music stopped.

Cain kissed the back of her hand and stepped back.

They stared at each other without moving. The people who had filled the floor noticed the strange silence between the two and slowly backed away.

A large concentric circle formed around the two.

“Is this your decision?”

Cold, indifferent eyes.

Helena was an extravagant queen but not a fool. She asked Cain, who was determined to strangle his own neck.

“Stop barking, Your Majesty.”

Cain replied nonchalantly while rummaging through his pocket.

At that, the queen’s hidden guards rushed towards Cain. About ten gun barrels pointed at him.

The sound of gasps and low screams filled the void left by the music.

“It seems difficult to even take out a single document in front of Your Majesty.”

Cain smiled leisurely as if unafraid of the guns and waved his hand.

All eyes focused on the paper in his hand. Helena’s under-eyes twitched.

“What is that?”

“There’s always a process of negotiation before war. Life is, equally, just one for everyone.”

“One word from me and you die. Yet you dare to be insolent.”

Cain closed his eyes and shook his head. The smile on his lips deepened.

“Who doesn’t know that, Your Majesty? However.”

Cain took a breath and snapped his fingers. A moment later, a sleek revolver was in his hand.

No one saw the movement that happened in the blink of an eye.

“Lower your guns!”

“Duke Cain is, gasp, rebelling……”

“Lower your gun, Duke!”

The men with guns drew closer. But far from lowering his gun, Cain raised it. Towards Helena’s heart.

She then raised one hand. It was a gesture to calm the guards. The guards slowly backed away.

“You warn me that I have only one life, yet you act as if you have dozens. But there’s something you’ve overlooked.”

Helena turned her head. Where her gaze landed, a path opened and Joseph walked out. Behind Joseph was Helena’s aide.

“Ah, Father……”

Cain put strength into his mouth corners to hide his shaken appearance.

“Joseph, do you feel something behind you?”

Joseph nodded.

“Y-yes, on my right shoulder.”

‘He’s aiming at Joseph’s right shoulder.’

Threatening a child with a gun, how base. Despite having predicted this situation, anger boiled like magma. Cain clenched his jaw so hard his teeth might break.

“Duke, you’ve lost. Lower your gun.”

Cain lowered his head.

We haven’t even started yet, what nonsense.

“Think as you wish. But aren’t you curious?”

“About what?”

“The negotiation terms I’ve prepared.”

People’s gazes focused on the fluttering paper. Even Helena stared intently at the paper.

She was curious about what Cain had dug his own grave for.

If she heard those demands, it would be easier to weed out the involved groups.

Those who would benefit if the world changed according to the demands would have participated in this audacious act.

“Read it.”

“An excellent choice. Out of the sentiment of having served Your Majesty for a long time, I’ve brought two options.”

“What a waste of time.”

To consider even listening to one.

“You’ll think differently once you hear them. The first option is for me to kill Your Majesty here and now and declare the fall of the dynasty.”

People’s mouths gaped in shock. They swallowed hard, as surprised as when Cain had drawn his gun.

“That would mean war. But I dislike war. Because many innocent people die. Let me say in advance, it’s not because I think I’d lose. As Your Majesty knows, I.”

Cain reflected on his ruthless past. To Helena and the kingdom’s people, he was a hero, but to those who had him as an enemy, he was a devil.

It was a past he couldn’t honestly reveal to Joseph.

No matter what justification there might be, murder is a terrible act. He realized that far too late.

Cain wanted to be honorable to the child, even if only now.

If he could avoid killing through threats or negotiations, he would do so by all means.

“I’m confident in killing enemies. A slightly insufficient army isn’t a problem. Because I have more than enough money to compensate for that. The same is true now.”

As Cain looked up at the second floor, his men forced the queen’s guards they had bound near the railings to kneel.

Helena’s lips twisted. The aide’s face also turned pale.

“Do you think you can get out of here alive?”

“Of course. I don’t fight battles I’m not confident in. We don’t have much time. Your Majesty’s birthday will soon end. You should settle this and continue receiving congratulations. Here’s the second option. It would be better for you to read this directly.”

As Cain moved one step, dozens of feet moved simultaneously.

Cain smirked.

It was quite amusing to see dozens of people rushing to catch just one person.

One bullet is enough to kill a person.

If he were Helena’s guard, he wouldn’t try to kill but to protect.

Moreover, when dealing with someone holding a gun like Cain.

They can never be faster than Cain.

They must have been ordered to move only after Cain fires or after he harms Helena.

“Well, do I have to read this long text, Your Majesty?”

“Bring it here.”

Helena ordered the attendant standing beside her. The attendant, though trembling, took the document Cain was holding and handed it to Helena.

Eyes are faster than the mouth.

Helena’s hand tensed as she quickly read through the densely packed words. The document crumpled in her hand.

“You madmen. Confiscating my property?”

“Only two-thirds, Your Majesty.”

But even the remaining one-third would leave nothing after paying the imposed taxes regularly. From Helena’s perspective, that is.

“Relinquish military authority? Revoke political participation rights? You want me to shut my mouth, cover my eyes, and live like a puppet?”

“It hurts to hear you say it like that. We’re asking you to focus on diplomacy. The people of the kingdom will take care of the country and the people’s livelihood themselves.”

The gist of the proposal that Cain and Cedric had carefully crafted was simple.

To avoid war with the nobles, maintain the monarchy. But the country’s affairs will be handled by a prime minister elected by the people of the kingdom.

For this, various restrictions were created to bind the king’s hands and feet.

“All Your Majesty needs to do is accept. Then I will protect Your Majesty’s path.”

Helena snorted.

“You, did you read the very last line of this negotiation proposal?”

“Of course. I wrote it myself. Those involved in the unjust accumulation of wealth by the Strain royal family and the oppression of the kingdom’s people will face just punishment. I will probably be the first to be arrested.”

As his words fell, several people’s shoulders flinched. They were Cain’s subordinates who had never heard of the last clause.

Among them, the most surprised was Jane.

Cain had truly laid everything down. His pride, his wealth, his honor.

Jane wanted to protect what he was trying so hard to set right.

She lifted her skirt and pulled out a revolver.