“Gather in front of the main palace before the full moon moves to the west three days from now. If anyone tries to leave the palace, kill them all. If there’s anyone blocking the way, kill them, and hold the officials hostage.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Aaron obediently left the portrait room after relaying the message.

Reviewing the plan for a moment, the Grand Duke stood there and then moved a step to the side again, facing the front. The candlelight illuminated only Hersis’s portrait.

“Hersis.”
He affectionately called the figures in the portraits.

“I regret that I have to send you off in such a dull manner. Originally, I wanted to make it more enjoyable.”

It was only natural for the imperial family to dispatch the guards to the Turen region.

They say one should stir the water when putting in a pitchfork, and this was a golden opportunity to further raise the imperial family’s credibility amid its flourishing influence.

The fact that the imperial family was considering the safety of even the remote regions was enough to move the hearts of all citizens.

The Emperor’s faction would naturally approve. While the other elders might resist, it wouldn’t be a significant problem if he, as the chief judge, could placate them.

Supporting the deployment of the guards, this matter needed to be seen from a broader perspective, not as a struggle between factions. A few words about joining forces to stabilize the empire were sufficient.

‘Indeed, the Grand Duke has a broad mind.’

To them, he would appear as a merciful aristocrat who continued to strive for the imperial family, despite being mistreated by his nephew…

“Foolish ones. Just know it until the end.”

The Grand Duke planned to seize control of the palace with his soldiers while the guards were away.

And before that, subtly leaking the news would prompt Hersis to request reinforcements from the most reliable source—Isar Valdemion. He wouldn’t even demand many soldiers.

Hers knew that capturing one leader in the group, especially an unruly newly formed group without discipline and structure, would be enough. He would opt for a tactical approach of suppressing effectively with a small number of people.

In other words, he had set them up in advance to surprise them at a crucial moment.

“Ah…”

A sigh of regret involuntarily escaped the Grand Duke’s lips.

He aimed for that, extending his hand into the pitfall to pull Isar in.

Sending a messenger or a scout from the palace after throwing away any news, he intended to send a defected Valdemion soldier who had fallen into his hands in place of his own soldiers.

He wanted those men to point their swords at the boy’s neck.

He wanted to see the face of his most trusted subordinate in despair at the betrayal.

All those plans were foiled!

Isar never took his hand.

He believed that the young man wouldn’t easily endure in the face of the terror of public execution. Or maybe the lad lacked remorse.

‘A worthless brat. Just reside in Hersis’s shadow like a herbivorous plant for the rest of your life.’

The only fortunate thing was that Isar was currently far away from the capital due to an inspection. Therefore, it would be difficult for him to refuse Hersis’s request, even though the situation had not developed as planned.

This fact somewhat eased the disappointment of the plan falling apart.
Fortunately, Isar was away from the capital and the Valdemion territory due to an inspection, which meant he couldn’t easily respond to Hersis’s request.

This fact somewhat alleviated the disappointment of the plan falling apart.

The Grand Duke took another step to the side. To get a broader view, he took a step back.

As a result, both Hersis and Reese’s faces came fully into the radius of the candlelight without any shadows.

“You won’t be lonely, Hers. Your woman and… your child will be with you.”

The Grand Duke murmured quietly.

“Family should be together, shouldn’t they?”

The Grand Duke burst into laughter.

His laughter echoed eerily in the silent darkness.

“It’s absurd.”

Reese was halfway lost in thought.

As the guards left the palace like sand slipping through fingers, there was nothing she could do.

If only she could jump out of the window or do something to block their way.

But it was impossible. Not because it was a three-story building… but because of Cain.

“Phew…”

Reese sighed as she paced back and forth in the room.

She felt inexplicably empty.

It was like a ballet dancer who had performed all the difficult steps perfectly but stumbled over something silly at the last moment.

No, that wasn’t it.

It was as if someone intentionally tripped her over a leg that was outstretched.

Moreover… from the person she trusted the most, her husband.

‘Why on earth is he doing this? We promised not to send him away.’

But that was something she couldn’t entirely comprehend.

If most of the deities wanted the guards dispatched, he couldn’t outright oppose it. Moreover, he didn’t know that the situation would lead to something unfavorable.

‘But there was no need to confine me.’

That was the part she simply couldn’t understand. As if Harsis was certain that she would hinder something, he prevented her from stepping even one foot outside the residence.

‘Moreover, he even placed a guard inside.’

Reese stopped walking and glanced briefly at Rosa.

She was firmly positioned in one corner like a tree, watching Reese.

This was a bit too much.

“Rosa.”

Reese wanted to talk to Hersis. It seemed necessary.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Either let me go, or summon Emperor Your Majesty. One of the two. Right now.”

“Your Majesty, I’m afraid neither seems possible.”