“Rose Asila?”

“It is said she has been quietly staying at the mansion since meeting Count Iolls.”

Enzo, Sandes, and Heriegel fell into thought for a moment.

After careful consideration, Enzo spoke to Heriegel.

“First, send troops to prevent any further damage.”

“Understood.”

“Use all available artifacts to move as quickly as possible.”

“I will obey your command, Your Majesty.”

Heriegel stood up first at Enzo’s order to mobilize troops and left the emperor’s office.

To move troops quickly in the peaceful empire, one had to move quite busily.

“Sandes.”

“If our guess is correct, I expect Rose Asila has an artifact that can urgently contact the two kingdoms.”

“Hmm, do you think the Asila family is closely related to the current situation?”

“Yes, I’m certain. According to the Viscountess of Borbom, the two kingdoms call her ‘Queen’ and worship her like a goddess.”

“Huh……”

Enzo was surprised by Sandes’ words, hearing this for the first time.

It seemed that something was progressing, as Erina had said.

“Yet we can’t force action immediately because there’s no evidence, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct. On the surface, there’s no connection between the Asila family and the two kingdoms. Rose Asila only conducted business through the late Countess Jabel and Viscountess Borbom.”

Enzo’s expression slightly twisted.

Rashly holding Rose hostage could lead to criticism of the imperial family for witch-hunting.

“How do you think we should proceed, Duke Kerenik?”

In truth, Sandes hadn’t found an answer either.

If their desires were clearly revealed, it would be much easier to deal with.

But their actions were incomprehensible and too reckless.

Even a child could understand that even if the two kingdoms combined their forces, they were no match for the empire.

Yet, proceeding so aggressively meant they clearly had something they wanted.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, Sandes remembered what Erina had told him about what Cony had said Rose told the small kingdom alliance.

‘Rose seems to be shaking the empire and diverting attention to deal with me in order to restore Peiron’s honor.’

If it was simply to create a disturbance, their current actions made sense.

“It was to draw attention.”

“Attention? Why, specifically?”

“Rose Asila has continually wanted to bring down and kill Erina. She probably wants to divert attention to make her move.”

“Such an abominable act…!”

Enzo was angered at the mention of trying to kill Erina, but knowing he could do nothing more, he couldn’t continue speaking.

Just because imperial power was strong didn’t mean one could ignore others and act recklessly.

Enzo didn’t want to become a tyrant like his father.

“Rose Asila likely proceeded with her actions to draw attention while simultaneously trying to restore the honor of her lover, Peiron Iolls.”

“Count Iolls?”

Sandes deliberately ignored Enzo’s darkening expression.

Among those staying in the Asilaum Empire, there was hardly anyone who didn’t know about the relationship between the two.

Rumors had spread far and wide, even to remote villages, that Rose Asila and Peiron Iolls had maintained an improper relationship from before.

“It seems she found it unbearable to see Count Iolls, who had incurred Your Majesty’s displeasure, remaining in a knightly order fit only for young knights.”

At Sandes’ cynical tone, Enzo suppressed a sigh and discarded the momentary sympathy he had felt.

If Sandes’ guess was correct, Peiron would likely come to request inclusion in the troops himself.

“Your Majesty, if Peiron asks to participate himself, please just allow it.”

“Is there a need for that? If he can’t go, their plans will be disrupted.”

“I think it might be better to use this opportunity to connect the two kingdoms and Count Iolls to bring down Rose Asila together.”

Sandes thought it would be good to use this chance to cut off the root by linking the reason for the two kingdoms’ actions with Rose Asila and Peiron Iolls.

It seemed possible to cleverly weave together the materials gathered by Cony Jabel before her death and those held by Sereni Borbom.

Although Rose’s name didn’t appear even once in the collected evidence, everything was a matter of how it was presented.

“Is it possible?”

“As soon as Count Iolls departs, I will have Rose Asila followed and handle the matter on-site.”

Enzo nodded with a face full of worries.

“I permit it.”

‘Knock knock-.’

As soon as Enzo gave his permission, someone announced from outside.

“Your Majesty, Peiron Iolls of the 8th Knightly Order requests an audience.”

Enzo and Sandes’ gazes met.

“Let him enter.”

The door to Enzo’s office opened, and Peiron, dressed in the knight order’s uniform, slowly entered.

Sandes quietly observed him from beside Enzo.

His aura seemed a bit more gloomy and shadowy than the last time he had seen him.

Sandes didn’t bother hiding the smirk that appeared on his face.

“Your Majesty, Peiron Iolls greets you.”

Peiron stood before Enzo and bowed deeply in greeting.

Enzo felt conflicted that things were proceeding exactly as Sandes had said, though he had hoped otherwise.

“Yes, what is it?”

Enzo’s voice, mixed with complicated feelings and anger, was ice-cold.

“I heard news at the knightly order.”

“What news do you speak of?”

“I heard that two kingdoms attacked border villages and that troops are being dispatched.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

A moment of silence fell.

Peiron found it a bit strange that Enzo answered so easily, but that was all.

“I wish to participate in the battle, not as a member of the 8th Knightly Order, but as Peiron Iolls.”

“Who are you to do so?”

Peiron, unable to raise his bowed head at the chilly response, tightly closed his eyes.

“As one who once stood by Your Majesty’s side, I wish to atone for past events…”

“Pfft.”

Sandes, who had been quietly listening beside them, couldn’t help but burst into laughter at Peiron’s words that weren’t even funny.

“Ah, I’m sorry, Count.”

Sandes covered his mouth, but he seemed to have no intention of hiding his clearly visible mockery.

Peiron slightly raised his head to glare at Sandes.

Despite the glare, Sandes, not feeling threatened at all, just kept laughing.

“Yes, I know your skills are excellent.”

“I apologize, Your Majesty.”

Peiron bowed deeply once again.

Enzo looked down at him coldly and granted permission.

“I allow your participation.”

“Your Majesty, I sincerely thank you.”

“Go there, and strive to awaken the two kingdoms from their foolishness and resolve the unjust suffering of innocent people.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

For a moment, Peiron was suspicious of Enzo’s all too willing permission, but it didn’t matter.

He only needed to appear to be participating on the surface.

“Then go and prepare quickly.”

Peiron turned to leave the office.

“Peiron Iolls.”

Enzo called out to Peiron again as he was about to push open the door.

Peiron turned back to look at Enzo.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Even if no honor comes to you from this, do you still intend to go?”

Enzo posed a meaningful question.

Peiron’s flickering crimson eyes met Enzo’s cold sky-blue ones.

Peiron could tell from his question.

Enzo knew something.

Peiron stared blankly at Enzo for a moment.

He was once everything to him.

He had taken great pride in serving Enzo at his side and was proud of himself standing next to him.

Enzo was a person who stood at the pinnacle of the Asilaum Empire, yet had a broad mind that didn’t ignore even the new nobility and tried to embrace them.

Such an emperor was once truly the center of his world.

If he hadn’t met Rose.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Even if this feeling he thought was love was created by a curse.

“It’s just to atone for my mistakes.”

Even if others pointed fingers, calling it an abnormal form of love.

“So that is enough.”

None of that mattered.

Enzo quietly observed Peiron, who looked somewhat empty.

He felt a sense of déjà vu in Peiron’s face.

It was a face he seemed to have seen somewhere before.

As if he had given up on everything.

“I’ll take my leave first, Your Majesty.”

Before Enzo could finish his thoughts, Peiron hurriedly moved to leave the office.

In the momentary silence that fell in the office, Enzo’s sigh dispersed.

“Sandes.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Do you really think he’s taking advantage of this opportunity to regain his honor by participating?”

If it had been before seeing him, Sandes would have answered confidently.

“Your Majesty.”

But the Peiron he had just faced had eyes too lifeless for someone going to seek honor with the help of a lover.

As if he knew he was walking towards his death.

“I will confirm once again.”

“…Do so.”

Neither Enzo nor Sandes could say anything more about Peiron after that.

“I’ll be away for a moment.”

Sandes asked Enzo’s permission to move quickly and left the office.

As he exited the office, he saw Peiron walking ahead.

“Count Iolls!”

Sandes suddenly called out to Peiron, drawing his attention.

Peiron stopped walking and turned to look at Sandes.

“Duke Kerenik.”

The two men stood in the palace corridor, silently looking at each other for a moment.

In that brief exchange of glances, indecipherable thoughts and emotions passed between them.