The murmuring grew louder. Like wind rolling over fallen leaves at first, then shaking entire thick trees, it spread quickly and suddenly escalated into a verbal argument.

Some people raised their voices, saying that Duchess Himierd was right.

Then on the opposite side, others argued fiercely that this was a matter directly approved and overseen by the king, and how could they interfere in the prince’s marriage, which was no simple matter.

The commotion that showed no signs of subsiding suddenly stopped at a “Bang!” sound. Duchess Himierd had risen from her seat, her hand pressed on the table so hard her knuckles were white. Her intense, piercing gaze swept over the people.

“After the tragedy of the previous generation, I don’t think there’s anyone here who doesn’t know how much danger Sierau has fallen into. Due to the sink problem, with unknown cause and solution, citizens have fallen into hardship and live in fear and suffering. All sorts of evil things, ghosts and monsters, are roaming our land freely. Why was Tentinella created? Does anyone not know why those knights have come to wage war every day risking their lives, and where the cause lies?”

Someone coughed quietly. It was a sound mixed with tension and anxiety.

A heavy silence swept over the place like a sandstorm. Everyone felt the pain… or sense of crisis that seemed about to be carved away.

The uneasiness of being unable to deny Himierd’s words, yet also unable to easily agree with her, swayed as it tried to maintain balance. It seemed about to collapse at any moment.

“Well then.”

Everyone turned their gaze to Count Tomen’s deep voice. Himierd also looked at him. Both had tired eyes.

“What does the Duchess think? Surely you’re not bringing this up without any plan?”

“Of course not. But since it’s not something I can do alone, I’m requesting your help.”

Baron Iena spoke.

“Please tell us what it is. Only when we all clearly know what plan you have in mind, can we form our opinions, don’t you think?”

Others nodded. Himierd, her lips pressed into a straight line, looked at each of their faces. It was a gaze like a blade.

Himierd said.

“We must all submit a petition to His Majesty the King. All of us. We must advise His Majesty to recognize the seriousness of mixing witch’s blood into the Hyanmorik royal family. We must have His Majesty dismiss the prince’s consort and take a new one.”

Count Tomen laughed hollowly. His face, which looked very generous when smiling, was now furrowed as if in derision.

“Do you think that’s possible?”

Himierd looked at the count with an even stronger gaze.

“Even if it’s not possible, we must make it possible. Haven’t I said repeatedly that we can’t just sit back and watch?”

“Make it possible, you say? What exactly do you propose we do? What if His Majesty ultimately opposes?”

“Then…”

Her lips slowly closed. At that moment, the expressions of everyone present froze at once. They had realized what she was about to say.

It’s not a new thing for Himierd to argue that Eustar should succeed the throne in place of the ill King Ord.

Count Tomen also shared the thought that Ord should pass the throne to Eustar and focus on recuperation. However, their resolve was ordinary compared to Himierd’s. It was closer to just a wish that ‘it would be good if that happened’.

“Then His Majesty…”

Duchess Himierd’s words were cut off midway before she could finish.

With a sensation like her spine was bristling, she unconsciously whipped her head around. The murmuring grew louder, and Ord appeared beyond the arched entrance.

“We greet Your Majesty.”

“We greet His Majesty the King.”

The people present turned pale and bent their knees in a bow. Only Himierd silently looked down at Ord, seated in a wheelchair with large wheels.

He looked up at Himierd with sunken eyes, his skeletal appearance blackened, his thin thighs covered with a blanket.

“…I greet Your Majesty.”

Himierd, who had been staring at Ord as if in a battle of wills, belatedly bent her knee in a slow bow.

When she rose after bowing, she could see clear contempt and anger in Ord’s eyes as he stared directly at her.

Slowly turning his head to look around, Ord moved his convulsing lips into a bitter smile.

“It’s not time for an official meeting, yet you’re all gathered here having some interesting conversation?”

The nobles’ gazes suddenly turned to Himierd. There was no fool here who didn’t know that Ord wasn’t actually asking a question…

Himierd briefly lowered her gaze to the floor. Then she noticed Ord’s bony fingers gripping the wheelchair handles tightly. The hands of a sick person.

“Your Majesty.”

Himierd stepped forward and bowed again. Ord glared at her face challengingly.

Taking a deep breath, Himierd said.

“We were planning to come report to Your Majesty after finishing our discussion, but since you’ve come here, I hope Your Majesty will also join us in discussing this grave and serious matter.”

Ord, who had been grinning, retorted in a sneering voice.

“Nothing escapes your eye as a problem, Duchess Himierd. Isn’t that right? Even if a bird just builds a nest on the palace’s outer eaves, it would be a life-or-death issue for you.”

Himierd ignored his sarcastic words as if brushing them off.

“It’s not an easy topic to bring up, Your Majesty. It’s about the tragedy of the late king and queen.”

Ord’s fingers gripping the wheelchair handles tightened even more. Though no one screamed or made any big movements, everyone present felt a chill as if a cold wind had blown in from somewhere.

When Ord’s sunken eyes widened, the murderous intent and anger radiating from his emaciated body sent chills down everyone’s spines.

“If you know it’s not a matter to speak of lightly, Duchess. Act as you know.”

“I have done so until now. However, I cannot stand by and watch any longer, so I am prepared to face Your Majesty’s wrath as I speak. Your Majesty, Prince Consort Kristrad has witch’s blood. We cannot allow an ominous person in the Hyanmorik royal family, so please quickly dismiss her to prevent the royal bloodline from being endangered.”

“How dare you!”

Ord shouted in anger. People thought he might soon cough severely or lose consciousness, but he did not.

Everyone flinched and lowered their heads at Ord’s thunderous voice that made the vast meeting hall resound. But Himierd alone didn’t bat an eye.

Ord, who had been breathing roughly in rage, glared at Himierd with an expression of obvious mockery.

“You were just a child when that happened, Duchess. Have you gone mad, inflating terrifying delusions by gathering stories you’ve heard? If you don’t know exactly what the late king and queen did, how such a tragedy occurred, don’t move your lips any further to provoke my anger.”

“Your Majesty’s words are not wrong. I was just a child then, and only overheard adults whispering. However, after becoming a duchess, I have thoroughly investigated the matter of that time.”

Ord’s lips twisted at an even sharper angle.

“Oh? You investigated thoroughly? What exactly did you investigate?”

Himierd said.

“The late king and queen had more children besides Your Majesty and the current prince, didn’t they? However, they were not able to put their names in the Hyanmorik royal family tree. I think I know the reason why. Your Majesty probably knows as well.”

“You think you know? Yes, I had siblings other than Eustar. But those children died of illness shortly after birth.”

Several officials whispered among themselves. They were relatively young and didn’t know much about what happened then. On the other hand, older ones like Count Tomen remained silent.

They knew that before giving birth to Eustar, the queen had given birth to three more children after Ord.

Two were girls, one was a boy. And they all died within a month or two of birth. The late king said the children died of illness, but no funeral was held for any of them. It was a death without a coffin, flowers, or mourning.

Himierd’s heart beat faster and faster. An uncontrollable mix of fear and rage created an emotional storm that made her feel like she might go mad.

Looking at Ord, still seated in the wheelchair with a mocking look in his eyes, she felt like she could commit murder. But at the same time, an unbearable sadness also weighed her down and tore her apart.

“Your Majesty is lying.”

“Shut your mouth!”

“I cannot! Don’t you know what consequences the mistakes of the late king and queen brought to Sierau? What has become of the royal family!”

Suddenly, Ord burst into a sickly laugh. It was a sound that made listeners want to run away.

A laugh devoid of any emotion, an eerie sound like something wearing a human mask sharply imitating human laughter, that scraped at the innards of everyone present.

Ord’s eyes flashed as he spoke.

“What has become of the royal family, you say? Why don’t you tell me, Duchess. Has Sierau fallen? Has the Hyanmorik royal family collapsed, is that what you’re saying?”

Himierd was silent. By not answering, she was affirming his words with her whole body. She was letting out a quiet scream that the kingdom and the royal family had indeed collapsed, that they could not hold on.

Her scream was clearly heard in Ord’s ears.

“Baso.”

At Ord’s words, Baso, who had been standing silently like a statue holding the wheelchair, stepped forward.

“Speak, Your Majesty.”

“Write an order. Sui Duvet Himierd has dared to incite the noble officials serving the kingdom to form a faction and wickedly plot rebellion. Moreover, she attempted to commit an insolent act against the prince’s companion who will continue the royal lineage, putting her personal feelings first, which is an unforgivable crime. Strip her of her title of duchess and ban her from entering the royal palace.”

Baron Iena, unable to hide his surprise, swallowed hard as he looked at Himierd. Himierd’s complexion had turned as white as paper. Her eyes trembled severely.