“The report on the attendees’ list has been submitted, Your Majesty. Everyone invited has sent a reply to attend, except for the Count of Winell, who sent a message that he cannot attend due to illness.”

“That’s fine. The Count of Winell has been in poor health for more than a day or two. You may leave now.”

After hearing the aide’s report, Peter lightly waved him off and adjusted his tie. Although he could have had a servant do it, Peter preferred to dress himself, avoiding others’ touch as much as possible.

His expression while carefully tying the tie to avoid entanglement with the boutonnière or medals of his formal attire was far from cheerful.

However, Peter’s somber demeanor had another reason.

After the Emperor’s aide left the room, Shimoren, who was standing by, spoke up.

“Then, Your Majesty, may I now ask about the matter we discussed earlier?”

“…”

“About entering the banquet hall with Lady Annet.”

Shimoren pointedly reminded him, but no answer came.

Indeed, that was what troubled Peter today.

Annet had sent Shimoren to inquire about Peter’s willingness to enter the banquet hall together.

“If Your Majesty prefers not to, I shall inform Lady Annet to enter separately.”

“Creating gossip in a gathering of the entire nobility, including the Marquis of Change. It would be perfect. Now the rumors won’t just circulate in the palace but will reach the borderlands as well.”

“Then… you will enter with Lady Annet?”

“…Yes, that seems to be the best course.”

Yet, Peter’s voice lacked enthusiasm.

Naturally, Peter wasn’t keen on Annet. However, he had anticipated this situation when he first ordered the invitation to be delivered to Annet. If Annet attended Tillemann, he had assumed they would enter together.

At least, if he hadn’t seen the hallucination of Lowell in the preservation garden.

Shimoren’s face showed concern as he watched Peter.

‘He’s looked particularly weary since that day.’

Shimoren knew about Peter’s situation. He had even planned to take Annet to the preservation garden, so he was genuinely shocked when Peter ordered its complete closure.

But after hearing that Peter had hallucinations, Shimoren understood his decision.

Hallucinations and hearing things are early signs of madness.

“Your Majesty, I understand your worries… but Noah said there hasn’t been a significant change in your condition.”

Shimoren spoke hesitantly.

After seeing the hallucination, Peter had called Noah to examine his condition.

Noah Ernst, a top graduate of the Blua Private Academy, was supported by Peter to research magical power. In terms of expertise in magic, he was second to none.

In return for supporting his research, Peter had entrusted Noah with two tasks, one of which was to examine his madness.

Since madness was a result of the magical power in the dragon’s lineage, if the madness had progressed, Peter’s magical power would also have changed significantly. By checking the state of magic, it was possible to gauge the progress of madness.

Noah’s answer after the examination was:

“There hasn’t been a significant change, Your Majesty. There are minor fluctuations, but those can vary with physical condition and mood… I don’t believe it’s related to madness.”

“What? That can’t be right.”
Peter did not trust Noah’s examination but received the same answer even after several attempts.

His madness had not changed significantly.

“I heard that you hadn’t slept for several days at that time. Maybe it was just due to fatigue.”

“Maybe… I hope that’s the case.”

Peter muttered to himself, giving a forced smile, indicating he did not want to discuss it any further. This was not a good sign. Concern etched on Shimoren’s face, he remembered what Noah had said.

“The best thing for His Majesty right now would be for Annet Martineck to disappear. She is the root of all worries.”

“You used to say you wanted her to stay in the palace longer?”

“That was then. I didn’t think His Majesty would pay much attention to her. But in this state, it’s better to get rid of her altogether.”

It’s like the reverse effect that happens when you try not to think of an apple but end up thinking about it more. Peter’s current state was no different.

“So why not stop trying not to think about it?”

“That makes no sense. His Majesty has been struggling to erase Lowell Hessen from his memory, and now you want him to go back to the past? He’ll obviously try to forget her by any means.”

Noah’s point was that it was better to remove Annet, the root cause.

Shimoren also somewhat agreed with this opinion, not just for Peter’s sake but also for Annet’s.

After a brief hesitation, he spoke.

“…After today’s banquet, how about sending Annet Martineck away, Your Majesty?”

For the past few days, as he escorted Annet, Shimoren observed her closely.

The only changes were two new secrets with Annet and a maid sent from the Martineck family, but somehow, he no longer felt the boredom.

He even heard this from his sister Mabel on the way home.

“Brother, do you enjoy staying at Cheyenne Palace?”

“…What?”

“You’ve been talking more than usual. It’s the first time I’ve seen you talk so much with someone other than Noah.”

Shimoren was awkward in social interactions. He spoke little and had a rigid personality. But after thinking about Mabel’s comment, he realized he had been talking a lot lately.

Especially with Annet Martineck, whom he thought he disliked.

In retrospect, their conversations weren’t all that remarkable.

“Lindel, look at this. Michel Broi’s complete works are in this library. Did you know?”

“Of course. I’m surprised you didn’t know. The palace library holds not only first editions but also Michel Broi’s manuscripts, frequently visited by various private schools for research.”

“I was surprised to find the first edition of ‘The Age of Pride,’ but I didn’t know there were manuscripts. I’ll have to look for them next time.”

Lowell spoke of Michel Broi, a writer known for his cynical view of the world. In his numerous essays and short stories, Broi always described everything in the world as meaningless, and the universal longing for life is actually a longing for death.

Naturally, this perspective was not universally accepted. Had he propagated this view on the streets, he surely would have been deemed a madman.
However, Michel Broi had exceptional writing talent and compelling persuasiveness that surpassed all that. Whenever he released his works, many pessimists were ecstatic, and he even triggered a syndrome of life’s pessimism.

This period, paralleled with Broi’s representative work “The Age of Pride,” was called “The Age of Despair,” a story from over a hundred years ago. While his works are consulted for historical research, hardly anyone reads the preaching of a madman anymore.

Shimoren, finding Annet’s interest in Broi’s memoirs curious, subtly asked, “Do you like Michel Broi?”

“I do,” Annet quickly replied, then added to avoid misunderstanding, “I don’t like his philosophy, to clarify.”

“What about him appeals to you then?”

“I like how Michel Broi died.”

It was an unexpected response that only deepened Shimoren’s puzzlement.

“Didn’t he commit suicide?”

Broi had chosen to end his life by poisoning himself, marking the end of The Age of Despair. If Annet disliked that depressive era, it might make sense, but how could an event from over a century ago resonate with her now?

Annet answered, “But nobody questioned his suicide. Everyone at that time knew his thoughts. I like that. Even after his death, everyone could accept his death.”

“I understand even less now. What meaning is there in that?”

“I don’t see why you think it’s meaningless.”

There are surely cases where one dies without knowing why and no one else can understand the reason. Annet said this, smiling faintly.

“I want to create a death that everyone can accept.”