“Are you suggesting that we mobilize the army to usurp the throne?”

Rodrigo, who had been quietly listening to Edward and Franz’s conversation all along, finally interjected. It seemed he was referring to the mention of using force.

“All power ultimately comes from those who control the military. How else could the Emperor have such great power? In the early days of the empire, the Emperor was so weak he had to follow the opinions of officials. It was only when the Emperor became the military commander controlling all soldiers that imperial power grew so strong. Isn’t that right?”

He had a point. The Emperor’s absolute power was in fact based on the military. In other words, whoever commands the army holds the power. That was precisely why Franz had first sought to bring Rodrigo to his side.

“You’re talking about instigating a rebellion.”

Edward kept wiping away sweat.

His goal was to gain some benefits by siding with the new Emperor. But somehow the conversation was taking an increasingly serious turn.

Is this really okay, Edward anxiously bit his lower lip.

It had been a long day. There was truly no end to the work that needed to be done, to the point where I felt as if I was swimming in piles of documents.

My eyes ached from staring at papers all day long. I tilted my head back and pressed the sides of my nose to try to alleviate some of the fatigue.

“I’ll escort you to the mansion.”

“Mm.”

Clovis worriedly looked at Carl’s face, which clearly showed signs of exhaustion – unusual for someone who rarely let fatigue show.

“No, let’s go to the Count’s residence.”

“Do you mean Countess Louisette’s residence?”

As if there’s another Count I’d want to see right now. Carl opened his closed eyes and gave Clovis a stern look.

Clovis glanced at Carl’s face. No wonder he was surprised – with such an exhausted face, asking to go somewhere other than home.

Fatigue was plainly visible on Carl’s face as he leaned back and closed his eyes. He seems to be in a bad mood today. Clovis quickly turned his head and called for the coachman.

“Are you still uneasy despite stationing soldiers there?”

“I just can’t seem to feel at ease.”

Going to the Count’s residence because he can’t relax? Watching Carl answer nonchalantly, Clovis realized he wasn’t very skilled at lying.

What kind of army was the Alter army led by Battalion Commander Cassel?

Adhering to principles and meticulous in everything, Cassel constantly taught his soldiers responsibility, and made them repeat training countless times, reasoning that one must have strength to protect someone.

As a result, his army was reputed to be far superior to any other soldiers.

Dozens of such soldiers were surrounding and guarding the Count’s residence. Yet he says he can’t relax and needs to go see for himself – who would easily believe that?

“Why don’t you just be honest?”

“About what?”

“That you’re going because you want to.”

Carl’s eyebrow twitched.

“Isn’t it because you want to see the Countess?”

Amusement seeped into Clovis’s voice. Carl slowly opened his eyes.

“Clovis.”

“Yes.”

Clovis tightened his lips to hold back laughter, resulting in a comical expression as he raised his head and said, “Yes.”

“What’s with that face?”

“What do you mean? What’s wrong with my face?”

“It’s the kind of expression that makes me want to hit you.”

“Oh come now, what are you saying?”

“No, really. It’s a face that makes me want to give it just one good smack.”

He even clenched his fist as he spoke. Only then did Clovis clear his throat and completely wipe the laughter he had been struggling to suppress from his face.

“Mocking your superior recklessly is also considered insubordination. Remember that.”

“Insubordination? That’s absurd, Your Highness. How could I dare to mock the Grand Duke?”

Despite his expression, his tone was still full of playfulness. The two men, who were both in a superior-subordinate relationship as aide and boss, as well as close friends, were a reliable pair to each other.

Carl must have really been tired, as he closed his eyes again. And for the rest of the journey to the Count’s residence, no sound was heard from the carriage except for the rolling of wheels.

Soon, the hard-working carriage arrived at the Count’s residence. Carl, who had seemed to be asleep, had already opened his eyes and was preparing to get out of the carriage.

The servants of the Count’s residence didn’t seem particularly surprised to see the carriage arriving late at night. Rather, they seemed to welcome it.

The head maid rushed out in one breath, greeting Carl, Clovis, and the Imperial Knights with a bright smile. The butler, whom I was seeing for the third time now, greeted as politely as ever, but his lips were subtly softened.

“We welcome the Grand Duke.”

“I apologize. It’s quite late.”

“Not at all. We are grateful that you’ve come such a long way.”

Warm water was desperately needed. Clovis followed behind Carl, massaging his stiff neck and shoulders. The butler led the way at the very front, followed by Carl, Clovis, and the Imperial Knights.

The garden of the Count’s residence was truly vast, no matter how many times one saw it. They must employ several gardeners just to manage all this land, Clovis thought.

“Hm?”

One maid quickly ran out along a side path leading outside the mansion.

What business could she have outside the mansion at this hour? Clovis, who had been curiously watching the maid’s retreating figure, quickly averted his gaze at Carl’s reproach for not coming along quickly.

“Young lady Valerie has gone to sleep, and Lady Celeste is still awake.”

Telling us this without being asked probably meant that the lady was awake, so the two should spend some quality time together. Whether the parties involved knew it or not, everyone was wholeheartedly cheering for the passionate love between the Grand Duke and the Count’s daughter.

“Your Highness. Aren’t you smiling too obviously?”

Clovis’s mischievous teasing began again. When did I ever smile? Carl passed by without even snorting, but Clovis persisted.

Seeing you walk so briskly like this, you look like one of our fathers who, despite being tired, musters strength to walk for his wife and children. Your steps seem very excited as you go to meet your wife and child.

Despite being signaled to stop with a glance, Clovis continued to joke around and throw a few more comments, eventually earning himself a smack from Carl.

Despite it being an ordinary day like any other, I was particularly tired because I had been with Valerie all day.

“Oh my, I’m exhausted.”

Taking care of a child really seemed to drain all physical and mental energy. It wasn’t for nothing that they said a mother’s body is ground down to raise a child.

Even though I had two nursemaids and maids dedicated to caring for Valerie, it was still this tiring… I was beginning to respect all mothers in the world.

My body was extremely tired, but my mind was wide awake. As I lay quietly staring at the ceiling pattern, I heard what sounded like the corridor rumbling in the distance.

Knock knock.

“My lady.”

It was Liv. I wondered what was going on, and she said Carl had come to the Count’s residence. Suddenly? I abruptly sat up from where I had been lying down.

“Why so suddenly?”

“Well, I’m not sure. He did come suddenly, but I think he might have been worried about you, my lady.”

While pondering various reasons for Carl’s unexpected visit, I hurriedly changed clothes.

Since I had been wearing pajamas made of material so thin it was almost see-through, I had to change into a suitable indoor dress. Liv grumbled that it was too late at night to dress you in a proper pretty dress, which was a shame.

“Welcome, Your Grace.”

It was an awkward greeting. Was it awkward because of the time, or was it embarrassing because it felt like we had really become a family with him coming after finishing work late at night? Anyway, I gave Carl an awkward greeting.

“You’re still awake, Celeste.”

Thinking it was consideration for us, the maids all slipped out, leaving Carl and me alone.

We had exchanged greetings, but not knowing what to say, I just stared at the innocent wallpaper pattern. How awkward. I should have just pretended to be asleep when Liv came up.

One flower, two flowers, three flowers… As I was counting the wallpaper patterns like that for a while, Carl spoke up.

“Although I’ve stationed knights here, somehow I still couldn’t feel at ease. I’m sorry if I surprised you by coming so suddenly, Celeste.”

Come to think of it, Carl had been naturally calling me by my name instead of “Countess” for some time now.

Were the two really in an intimate relationship? The person he was calling Celeste now was certainly me, but the Celeste in his memories wasn’t me. That fact suddenly felt disappointing.

What kind of relationship did he have with Celeste? It was a curiosity I had harbored since I first saw him in Urentum.

Lovers? Or friends with benefits? Or a one-night mistake? Whichever it was, it wasn’t very pleasant.