In a situation where Gauwe’s restoration riots suddenly subsided, the Crown Prince’s steps were like rain falling in a drought.

With powerful knights and large-scale support, the chaos in Valere, which had always been precarious, entered a lull.

Edward Castarty Valere.

The ill-fated illegitimate child of the Emperor, born to a woman who was not the Empress. Lord of the barren northern Valere and guardian of the border. The soldiers added words of pity towards him.

“No matter how much effort the Grand Duke puts in, it’s certainly different with the Imperial Knights.”

“There was a time when just having the Grand Duke made things truly peaceful. Now we’re in a position to envy the neighboring territory of Orland.”

“Can’t be helped. The Grand Duke has always been soft-hearted.”

Ahem-. An intentional cough interrupted the soldiers’ conversation. The soldiers who had carelessly looked back were startled and saluted. It was the Grand Duke, a tall man with brown hair.

“We greet the lord of Valere!”

“Is the Crown Prince inside?”

“Yes! That’s right.”

The Grand Duke passed by the flustered soldiers and entered the tent. Baron Ronald Ilauser, the Grand Duke’s aide who had been following him, glared at the soldiers before following suit.

.

.

.

“You’ve worked hard, Grand Duke.”

With magnificent blonde hair and an elegant figure, Claude, the one and only Crown Prince of Castarty, nodded lightly towards his half-brother entering the tent.

His expression looked even more pleased than when he had received cheers from the territory’s residents earlier. Claude folded the newspaper he was holding and casually tossed it aside as he stood up.

“I know it’s difficult to guard the border. But I hope you’ll continue to work hard in the future. Well, it would be nice if every night was like tonight. But that’s probably difficult, right?”

“I will do my best.”

“Of course. His Majesty will also be pleased with the Grand Duke’s efforts.”

Claude narrowed his eyes and patted the Grand Duke’s shoulder. It was a gesture that clearly showed who was superior, beyond being brothers, but the Grand Duke showed no reaction at all.

That was natural. Claude was the future of the empire, and Edward was just a Grand Duke quelling border disturbances.

Claude quietly observed the Grand Duke and then smirked. Despite taking after their emperor father in every way, he just had to have his mother’s eyes. The Grand Duke would forever bear the stigma of hatred.

“Well then, take care.”

Claude left the tent with a slight smile. Edward, who had bowed his head towards the Crown Prince’s retreating figure, slowly raised his head. Aide Ronald grumbled.

“You were robbed again, Your Highness.”

Edward smiled casually.

“What do you mean robbed? We received unexpected support and managed to provide relief well.”

“That’s because the one who provided that relief suddenly changed from Your Highness the Grand Duke, who barely scraped together taxes and personal funds, to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Ronald.”

The warning voice was low.

Realizing he had crossed a line at the warning tone in that low voice, Ronald quickly lowered his body towards the Grand Duke.

“…I apologize, Your Highness. I spoke out of turn.”

“Don’t do anything that might get you in trouble unnecessarily.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“By the way… Has Count Esteban’s whereabouts been confirmed?”

Right after Russore’s painting was announced, the Grand Duke unexpectedly inquired about Count Esteban’s whereabouts. It was the first time the Grand Duke showed interest in anything outside Valere territory, so he really wanted to find out.

“I apologize, Your Highness. We deployed all personnel for territory reconstruction and couldn’t confirm. Instead, would you like to take a look at this article?”

Ronald picked up the newspaper that had fallen to the floor and dusted it off.

While Ronald frowned at the crumpled newspaper he had prepared for the Grand Duke, Edward looked at it with an indifferent expression and let out a low sigh.

-[Breaking News] Count Nerea Esteban officially declines invitation from Imperial Palace.

-Imperial Palace expresses regret at her refusal and responds that they will send imperial robes. Expresses intention to invite her again once she recovers.

-Is the Black Knight’s comeback a lifelong unfulfilled wish?

No wonder Claude’s face looked brighter than usual. With a pang of regret, Edward bit his lip tightly.

The pale face he had seen in passing long ago flickered before his eyes. Somehow, his heart ached.

* * *

The grand conference hall of the Imperial Palace.

Soft sunlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The silhouette of the first emperor on the stained glass above cast shadows on the round conference table.

“…Thus, the masquerade ball and charity bazaar during the 10th anniversary victory celebration will be prepared under the supervision of Her Highness the Crown Princess. Additionally, the tournament of knights and the 10th anniversary commemorative banquet will also be grandly…”

The meeting with the central nobles proceeded smoothly. In truth, the real purpose of today’s meeting was not about the 10th anniversary celebration or taxes.

“Lastly, after His Highness the Crown Prince’s border tour, the Gauwe prince restoration movement that had been stirring up the border has greatly subsided.”

Here it comes!

Catching the Emperor’s mouth corners lifting slightly as he sat on the majestic throne, the nobles waited for the chamberlain’s report to end before eagerly adding their words.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has truly done an amazing job. To greatly weaken the Gauwe remnants that even the Grand Duke had difficulty suppressing all this time!”

“And that’s not all. What about the relief rice that His Majesty the Emperor bestowed upon the border people?”

“In our Sorent territory, the great achievements of His Highness the Crown Prince in dealing with the Gauwe remnants are already spreading through the songs of minstrels.”

Praises for the Emperor continued.

The Emperor narrowed his eyes and smiled faintly. Then he gazed down at the nobles leisurely.

All the nobles who had acted arrogantly, believing the Emperor’s foundation was weak at one time, had disappeared.

The places of those nobles who treated the Emperor as a figurehead and sucked up the profits from the war like mosquitoes were now erased.

Those seated here now were the noble faction that produced the Empress, the imperial faction centered around Count Esteban’s proxy, and a small minority of neutral factions that were clinging on while watching the situation.

Now, among all these nobles, the Emperor was the supreme sun and a powerful ruler.

That fact thrilled the Emperor.

Everything was perfect.

Except for one thing.

The brown eyes that had been smiling contentedly turned cold for a moment.

One empty seat in the middle of the table.

Though the servants must have deliberately removed the chair, it was not easy to erase the presence of that empty space at the spacious table.

Alejandro Rosa. That arrogant bastard.

The Emperor clicked his tongue inwardly. At a time when everything was going well, that empty seat was nothing but an eyesore.

Everyone knew that the man who had gradually expanded his influence starting from the northern Orland territory of the empire was now staying in Jedo.

Yet Alejandro Rosa had been avoiding the Emperor’s summons for over a month, making excuses about being busy with schedules for foreign exchanges.

To think I raised someone without even a knightly title to the rank of count! He still didn’t seem to know who his master was.

In that sense, it was time to reward those who acted like the tongue in one’s mouth.

After the meeting ended, as the Emperor was leaving the conference room, he whispered to the chamberlain.

After the meeting concluded smoothly and the nobles ebbed away like the tide, Gabe followed the chamberlain’s guidance towards the Emperor’s office.

Having a private audience with the Emperor was a situation Gabe had already anticipated.

The magnificent chandeliers sparkling on each high ceiling, the elegant carpets stretching along the long corridors, and the decorative cabinets all displayed the current wealth of Castarty.

It was the victory in the Hundred Years’ War achieved by the Esteban family that made this possible.

This recent incident was the same. The massive relief rice and financial support provided by the imperial family – a significant portion of that support was actually provided by Gabe Esteban himself.

Nevertheless, what decorated the entire empire was the Crown Prince’s dignity and the Emperor’s grace.

“Have you come, Count?”

“Glory to Castarty. I greet the sun of all people.”

But Gabe bowed his head towards the Emperor with a smiling face. There were words that Helen had whispered to him countless times.

“You shouldn’t receive such treatment. But not now. Soon, the time will come.”

From when he first met Helen, she had dug into Gabe’s weak spots as a branch family member. And she warmly encouraged him.

Thanks to that, Gabe had risen this far. Since then, those words of Helen’s had become a creed in his mind.

“Here. Have a drink.”

Though it wasn’t even early evening yet, the Emperor personally offered Gabe a drink. And he brought up the subject subtly.

“I heard your name was completely left out of the relief efforts. You must feel slighted.”

“How could I add my personal affairs to the great grace Your Majesty has bestowed? It is more than enough that Your Majesty acknowledges it like this.”

“I see.”

The Emperor smiled faintly and leaned back on the sofa.

“In any case, after providing such massive support, it would sound much better if the one who helped was called at least a marquis.”

A marquis…!

As if struck by lightning belatedly, Gabe’s entire body tingled. He slowly raised his head, mulling over the Emperor’s words.

Seeing Gabe’s expression as he carefully considered whether he had heard correctly, the Emperor smiled faintly.

“How long must Castarty’s shield remain at merely the rank of count? With the baronage and viscounty you’ve received for your merits so far, and even territory. Consider the scale of what you command.”

At those words, Gabe couldn’t breathe. His heart pounded as if it would burst. Not just a count, but a marquis? And for someone like himself who came from a branch family!

The Emperor went further, stroking his chin as he spoke.

“It happens to be the 10th anniversary of you exercising proxy rights as count, isn’t it?”

According to Castarty law, if a proxy holder faithfully fulfilled their duties for 10 years, it was possible to succeed the title, not just act as a proxy.

However, this law had a strong prerequisite.

It was only possible when the original noble could no longer fulfill the responsibilities of the title due to illness, mental deficiency, or inability to regain consciousness.

So the Emperor wore a strange smile at the corners of his mouth. At that moment, Gabe knew what the Emperor was going to say.

“So. How is the current count doing?”