The sunlight coming through the large window settled on the long silver hair with a dark tint.

Spotless glasses were neatly perched on the bridge of his nose.

Perhaps, if not for the glasses, he would have looked like a devout and noble saint, making one believe this was a temple for praying to God rather than the imperial palace.

It was Ileon.

Taking a sip of chamomile tea while seated on a plush sofa, he looked down at the white-haired man kneeling on the cold floor.

“How did it go?”

At Ileon’s question, Ben flinched. The large-bodied man bowed his head deeply and answered.

“He drank every last drop.”

“You burned the letter, I presume?”

“Yes, master.”

“The effects will appear in two hours.”

Ileon smiled gently.

He hadn’t told Erphia all the precautions when handing over the poison.

The toxic substance didn’t take effect immediately upon drinking, and the pain when the skin melted and the face twisted grotesquely was comparable to being stabbed with a knife.

It wouldn’t be life-threatening, but one would suffer terrible agony before their face eventually turned monstrous.

“Um… about what you promised…”

At Ben’s cautious voice, Ileon narrowed his eyes.

“Since you performed the task well, as promised, I’ll give you passage on a ship to a foreign country and enough money to live comfortably for life. You’ve suffered long by the Empress’s side.”

“…Thank you so much.”

Ben bowed his head repeatedly. He carefully studied Ileon’s expression and asked hesitantly.

“Master, are my family members in the territory doing well?”

“Your son married a fine woman and had two children. All your daughters and sons take after you and are quite adorable.”

At Ileon’s words, tears welled up in Ben’s eyes. Originally a first-class knight of the Gredrik ducal family, Ben had been pushed into the imperial palace by the previous duke, Ileon’s father, to monitor Erphia when she came to the palace.

−My half-sister might harbor other thoughts, so keep a close watch on her in the palace.

Thus, over twenty years had passed, and while Ben succeeded in gaining Erphia’s trust, he never once set foot on his territory’s land.

He wanted to rush to his family right away, but he couldn’t because the previous duke had ordered him to monitor the Empress and gain her trust until the end of his life, saying the lives of his family members depended on him.

He was so worried about his family that he actually did so.

He silently killed whoever the Empress ordered him to kill, gaining trust while staining his hands with dirty blood.

Succeeding the previous duke, Ileon, the direct bloodline, inherited the title of duke, and unlike the previous duke, Ileon kindly informed Ben about how his family was doing whenever he showed his face at the imperial palace.

He told him that his wife was doing well, how old his son was, and that he missed his father.

Ileon told him exactly what he was dying to know.

Only Ileon, to him.

Thus, Ben swore loyalty to Ileon.

−I’ll get you out of the imperial palace. I’ll bring your family along with passage on a ship to a foreign country.

Ben’s eyes widened. Seeing his hopeful face, Ileon’s eyes crinkled as he added.

−Surely, Empress Erphia will hand you poison and tell you to feed it to a woman named Celiya. At that time, pretend to follow orders and feed the medicine to the Crown Prince. I’ll arrange everything, so don’t worry.

Ben was surprised. He didn’t expect Ileon to directly order harm to the Crown Prince.

It was even more unbelievable because Ileon had been secretly helping the Empress.

But one shouldn’t question the reasons of those in high positions.

As always, he just needed to silently carry out the orders properly.

Ben’s heart swelled with anticipation at the thought of meeting his family soon.

“I’ve deliberately made security lax under the pretext of preparing for the Crown Prince’s coronation, so you should be able to slip out now.”

Ileon handed Ben a jewel. The ruby gem boasting a brilliant luster was expensive enough to buy two mansions with money to spare.

“I originally intended to give this to Her Majesty the Empress, but it’s much better to give it to you.”

“Master!”

Moved, Ben’s shoulders shook as he swallowed his tears. Ileon patted Ben’s shoulder and said in a gentle voice.

“Leave the palace right now and go to the nearest port. Once the poison spreads in the Crown Prince, even I can’t guarantee your life.”

“Ah, I understand.”

“Get up. Your family is waiting eagerly at the port with the ship passage I provided.”

Ben tucked the jewel into his bosom and stood up. Just before leaving the room, he turned back and gave Ileon a final greeting.

“Thank you so much! You are my lifelong benefactor, master.”

Ileon smiled at him.

Despite his age, Ben’s movements were very quick, befitting a first-class knight of the Gredrik family.

As soon as Ben left the palace, a man in a black robe who had been hiding behind the bookshelf in the room revealed himself.

“Your Grace, shall we depart now?”

Ileon commanded skilled assassins like his own limbs, and this was one of his subordinates.

Ileon took a sip of chamomile tea. Perhaps because it had cooled, the aftertaste was bitter.

“Yes. Maintain a proper distance and eliminate him when he reaches the port.”

“Understood.”

His subordinate disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Ileon smiled as he looked at his own face reflected in the chamomile tea.

Ben, that man’s family had already passed away more than twenty years ago.

Not long after being sent to the imperial palace with Erphia, Ben’s family fell ill and lost their lives.

Of course, the previous duke kept this matter secret.

The previous duke and former head of the Gredrik family, Ileon’s father, informed Ileon of this fact when handing over the position of family head to him.

−That knight knows too much, so it would be better for your future to dispose of him, Ileon. What’s important is that he has the complete trust of Empress Erphia…

His father’s concern was truly unnecessary.

‘You just need to give people what they want.’

Even if it’s false hope, the other person dies without knowing anything, struggling in a dream and sinking into a swamp of their own making.

Ileon muttered to himself.

“…It’s necessary to let them have good dreams too. What else would people live for without hope?”

Celiya hid her body against the stone wall and carefully surveyed her surroundings.

She was wearing the robe Dietrich had given her, disliking her appearance in the white mermaid dress she had on.

Not long after leaving the stable, she saw knights busily moving about.

They seemed to be looking for someone, rummaging through the bushes or checking behind pillars.

‘Are they looking for me?’

Celiya shook her head while gripping a dagger.

She didn’t know that someone of the Crown Prince’s status would cause such a commotion just because she wasn’t seen when he woke up in the bedroom.

Celiya found men really annoying.

At that moment, one of the knights searching behind a lion statue approached the stone wall where Celiya was hiding.

Celiya pondered for a brief moment.

Should she back away and return to the stable? Or should she intentionally catch the knight’s eye and be dragged to the Crown Prince’s palace?

‘No one saw me leave through the main gate, so it would be strange if I’m walking around normally. But if I say I was kidnapped by a stranger, it wouldn’t make sense that I’m unscathed without a scratch.’

Celiya racked her brains while holding her breath.

The knight was closing the distance even at this moment.

“I’m sure I saw a person’s shadow.”

‘Should I use my ability? Or is it better to use the dagger?’

Celiya gripped the dagger.

Just as the knight was about to check the stone wall where Celiya was, a familiar low voice settled in her ear.

“This is my area. What business do you have here?”

It was Dietrich’s voice. Startled by that voice, the knight bowed his head toward Dietrich.

“Du-Duke Calypso, Your Grace.”

Dietrich was wearing black armor with a sword at his waist.

His distinct features under his straight eyebrows were as dazzling as the sun in the sky.

Blood-red eyes gazed at the knight.

Dietrich looked down at the flustered knight with a cold gaze.

“That side is the stable where there are horses that were once fine steeds, though now aged. Surely, you’re not planning to steal the royal warhorses?”

“Your Grace! Th-th-that’s impossible!”

The knight vehemently denied his words, gesturing wildly with his hands and feet.

“His Highness the Crown Prince gave orders to find Lady Celiya Brillion. She went missing last night, and I understand His Highness is extremely worried.”

“No wonder His Highness ransacked my mansion first thing after waking up.”

“…My goodness, such a thing happened!”

The knight fidgeted restlessly, constantly watching Dietrich’s expression.

“You may go now.”

“Yes, yes! Thank you!”

The knight left the place as if fleeing, looking relieved to be alive.

Having chased away the knight, Dietrich immediately found Celiya by the stone wall.

He carefully examined Celiya’s face as she gripped the dagger.

An utterly dry voice flowed from Dietrich’s lips.

“As I thought. You were trying to escape.”