With more shame, Fernando was about to say he could no longer confess to Etienne, but the Duke of Suprahe’s words were faster.

“Do you think that liking and confessing are the only things for that child? Everything you’ve built up so far has been pointless!”

Trembling with the Duke of Suprahe’s thunderous shout, Fernando lifted his head. It wasn’t the expression he had just lost enthusiasm and felt powerless.
In response to the Duke of Suprahe’s thunderous roar, Fernando trembled and lifted his head. It was not the expression he had just lost enthusiasm and felt powerless.

The blurred focus became clear, and the parted lips were tightly sealed. Fernando understood exactly what the Duke of Suprahe intended to say.

“Ask. What do you want to do with Etienne?”

“…I want to protect her.”

Fernando’s voice flowed thin. Soon, he shouted with strength again.

“I want to protect her.”

Although he couldn’t soothe the loneliness Etienne endured alone in the prison, he wanted to protect her.

Upon Fernando’s exclamation, the Duke of Suprahe returned to his usual expression, as if asking when that would happen. It was the composed face of etiquette.

“Then go and protect her. When that child wears a happy smile, your task will be done.”

When that day comes, Fernando’s heart might find resolution. In response to the Duke of Suprahe’s instructions, Fernando looked at him with a firm, resolute gaze.

“I have a request.”

“Speak.”

“Father, please step back from the position of duke for a moment.”

Fernando’s request was unrelated to the previous conversation. However, the Duke of Suprahe, understanding the meaning behind it, nodded.

The Duke of Suprahe shouted for everyone to hear.
“I’m lying in the sickbed and unable to attend the Duke’s duties, so I delegate all the Duke’s authority to Fernando for the time being.”

The administrative officials, knights nearby, and even the passing servants all knelt and acknowledged the Duke of Suprahe’s command.

Finally, Fernando also knelt on one knee.

“Thank you, Father.”

Now, he could understand his father’s heart, which always insisted on rigorous training. Fernando would now protect Etienne with an unwavering and strong heart, not yielding to anything.

The rumor that Duke of Suprahe fell ill overnight quickly spread. As the Empire, which was preparing for the coronation ceremony, changed its plans as if it were all deliberate, an air of anticipation filled the place.

“He seems to have some thoughts.”

There was a hint of regret in Leharth’s words, suggesting that he could find out by going to the Duke’s mansion himself.

At the moment, he was so busy that even having two bodies wouldn’t be enough. Therefore, unable to leave the castle for a while, he had to grasp the truth of the incident only through the rumors and information that Alex brought.

“If everyone in the capital knows about it when he collapsed yesterday, it’s like giving wings to the rumor.”

It was undoubtedly intentional.

“Why would he do such a thing?”

As Leharth chuckled and murmured, Alex handed him the next document, answering his question.
“Does it have anything to do with His Majesty’s coronation? It must be to create a new momentum for the new Emperor.”

“Then, I should have died.”

Leharht casually mentioned death in response to Alex’s words.

“If you say it’s not because of me, then there’s only one left. Fernando.”

As if indicating that he had a hunch about Fernando, Leharht clenched his fist. It was unclear whether he understood the Duke’s thoughts or not. The reason for the Duke’s actions seemed to be related to Fernando, but what came next was unknown.

“Fernando seems to have visited the lake, but I don’t know what kind of determination he made.”

He might have conveyed the message not to feel unfairly treated, but could there be another interpretation?

Considering Etienne’s unrequited love for him, perhaps they could eventually reciprocate each other’s feelings…

“We need to keep an eye on what Fernando is thinking.”

How he would treat Etienne.

“Where is Fernando now?”

“He headed to Viscount Pigman’s estate.”

“Pigman?”

What could be there to make him go?

Leharht’s question flowed out through the open window.

Fernando had asked Viscount Pigman for a favor and was in a certain location.

When Viscount Pigman first heard the request, he couldn’t understand why Fernando would do such a thing. However, to show compliance with the authority of Duke Suprahe, he granted permission.
The place Fernando was heading to was the fountain in the Viscount’s estate garden.

Two years ago, Etienne fell into this fountain. At that time, due to my inadequate abilities, I couldn’t figure out what happened here, but not now.

To discover the identity of someone who might have felt jealousy or enmity towards Etienne, Fernando approached the fountain with determination.

Dipping his hand into the water, he opened his abilities to see the face of the person who had pushed Etienne before.

The image that ended with the delicate and small hand he saw at that time, appearing to be a girl’s hand, illuminated the face.

It was Hana.