As soon as Biare arrived at the mansion and closed the door, she collapsed on the floor.

She had not expected Dension to find 34th Street.

‘Sion, you were also approaching the truth.’

He was investigating the case in his own way.

But Biare knew well that it could put him in danger.

If anyone who wanted to harm him found out about this, the past could repeat itself.

‘What should I do…’

Even though she had risen to her current position, it still felt like there was nothing she could do for him.

Feeling suffocated, Biare took a deep breath and squeezed her eyes shut.

‘Why did you ask for information about me…’

She had already finished thinking that he might use her, the princess of the Ruschef family, when she was there.

If only Dension could be kept out of danger, Biare was willing to be used.

That’s how much she loved him and wanted to protect him.

Even if it trapped her in the mud, if it could save him from death, Biare would choose the same method over and over again.

Therefore, to save Dension, she had to find out the truth before him.

Even if that truth was still vaguely out of her grasp.

‘Surely Father knows the truth entangled with Sion.’

Although she had a feeling that she might have to face other hidden facts because of that truth, she would no longer back down.

On a late afternoon when white snow gleamed brilliantly under the winter sun, a carriage was rattling across the wilderness.

“Did something good happen to the princess today?”

“It seems she’s been invited to a new social club.”

“Then the princess will be even busier.”

As Biare, who had been looking out the window, turned her gaze at the whispering voices, her confidants were looking in different directions as if nothing had happened.

Smiling at their behavior, Biare was in an extremely excited and good mood compared to other days.

It was because shortly after sending a reply to the Elmada social club, an appointment had been scheduled.

To become a member there, one had to be chosen by all of them, which proved that Biare’s efforts so far had not been in vain.

‘They’re all noble people, aren’t they.’

It would take more effort and trouble to capture their hearts.

If she could only get information about Dension, she could endure that much.

‘But why are we meeting here?’

As they arrived at the address, Biare slightly furrowed her brow.

Tonio must have been puzzled too, as he checked the location with the coachman several times.

This was none other than the Great Temple of Tanasha.

Biare couldn’t understand why this was their meeting place.

Perhaps because there was no mass today, there were few visitors, and as they approached the chapel, there were even fewer people around.

The splendid doors of the chapel boasted an unfamiliar grandeur no matter how many times one saw them.

Looking at the marble pillars that had become even more splendid than the last visit, it seemed the Duke’s offerings were getting more generous by the day.

As she opened the door and entered, Biare’s eyes naturally squinted at the light reflected from the beveled glass on the high windows and ceiling.

As she gradually adjusted to the light, she saw a priest sitting near the altar.

Thinking he might be praying, she was about to step back, but he spoke in a voice only she could hear.

“Please follow me.”

“……”

“The young nobles are waiting for you, Princess.”

The priest’s inner pocket already looked quite full, as if he had already received money from them.

‘Is he covering for them?’

Following the priest, Biare soon discovered the door to the basement leading below the chapel and frowned.

Who would have imagined that such a space was hidden in the Great Temple of Tanasha?

“You can open this door and enter.”

Following his guidance, Biare swallowed dryly and opened the basement door.

As she entered, she hesitated at the cheers that soon followed.

“Welcome to Elmada, Princess Ruschef.”

“It’s our first time conversing with the princess.”

“You’re even more beautiful in person!”

She swallowed a sigh of relief at their relaxed manner of speaking, which contrasted with her initial tension.

Among the group of less than ten people, she saw a familiar face.

The first to catch her eye was Rosalyn Dantero.

Although they had exchanged a few letters after the recent dessert cafe incident with Gaizen, this was the first time meeting in person since then.

As Biare had expected, she must have joined recently too, which made her feel reassured for no reason.

And another face was Gaizen’s old friend, Josephe Lisandro.

She hadn’t expected that he, the Viscount Lisandro, would have recently become a member here.

“It’s been a while, elder sister.”

Josephe, who smiled a pleasant and clear smile, was a young man with unsullied purity.

As Biare slowly sorted out the situation, the one who appeared to be their leader approached her.

“This is our first unofficial meeting. I’m Mateo Caanderson, who leads Elmada.”

The Caanderson Duke family, with the longest and most distinguished lineage. He had recently become a duke.

Although she was well aware of information about him through the information guild, they hadn’t properly met face to face in social circles.

“…I’m Biare Ruschef.”

“You must have many questions, so please have a seat first.”

Following Mateo’s guidance, Biare took a seat and asked him, feeling alienated by the unfamiliar place.

“Do you always gather here?”

“Yes. It would be difficult to find a place as comfortable as this.”

‘Is it because no one suspects this place?’

This was a place that would welcome nobles from distinguished families with open arms if they visited the Great Temple with substantial offerings.

“By the way, do you know who recommended the princess?”

To this, Biare raised an eyebrow and waited for his words, and Mateo looked at Rosalyn and Josephe and said,

“It was Viscountess Dantero and Viscount Lisandro.”

At those words, Rosalyn’s face turned coral with embarrassment, while Josephe wore a fresh smile.

“…I see.”

Learning that she was able to become a member of Elmada thanks to them, Biare felt grateful but also wondered why they had recommended her.

However, she could only guess that friendship was probably the biggest reason.

As Biare gradually adapted to the atmosphere of the place, they began to share the information they had obtained as if they were used to it.

It started with Mateo Caanderson, who, being a member of the Central Council, was likely to know inside information from the imperial court.

Surely, the information Rosalyn had about Dension Verdeum must have come from his mouth.

“There’s been a strange current flowing in the Central Council recently.”

“A strange current? What do you mean?”

Biare thought the way they waited for his answer with shining eyes looked like hyenas searching for prey.

“His Highness the Crown Prince attended in place of His Majesty the Emperor.”

“The Crown Prince?”

‘Ivan Rio Kartos…’

After Biare’s birthday party three years ago, she hadn’t met Ivan except at official events.

It was completely unexpected that he would grant her request, but Ivan was keeping that promise in his own way.

And unlike in the past, he was no longer the subject of dirty rumors.

Therefore, the lady who had appeared with his illegitimate child in the past also did not show her face anymore.

She couldn’t know the reason for this, but it was also something she didn’t want to know at all in the future.

“It seems His Majesty the Emperor’s condition has become critical.”

“Then naturally, His Highness the Crown Prince will take over the duties.”

They seemed quite surprised by the fact that Ivan might soon go through the succession process, and they appeared to be quickly turning their thoughts.

If it were like the past, the Emperor would probably not survive the coming winter.

“But there’s an even more surprising point.”

At this, all eyes focused on Mateo, and he cleared his throat once and answered,

“Duke Verdeum is being mentioned as a close aide to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

At those words, Biare froze, unable to hide her expression.

‘Sion, why…?’

Unable to understand his actions, Biare couldn’t close her mouth.

Perhaps entering as Ivan’s close aide was the best option for Dension.

However, the fact that he had to take risks made Biare’s insides burn.

Surely Dension had been tracing the actions of those who killed his parents all this time. The conclusion he reached must have been the same as Biare’s.

‘But the imperial family… It’s too reckless, Sion.’

Nothing had been clearly revealed yet, and only suspicions without physical evidence remained before them.

Although she tried to sit calmly in her seat, Biare’s blood was running cold with worry for Dension.

‘If you face death again because of this…’

This question was like a homework assignment that Biare would have to bear alone from now on.

Having already experienced a world without him once, Biare couldn’t lose him again.

It shouldn’t happen, but if such a situation were to arise, she wasn’t sure if she could endure a life without Dension then.