Shortly after, a letter bearing the king’s seal left the palace. Once it is delivered to all members of the council, they will gather at the palace to discuss Maximilian’s trial.

The real battle begins after that.

In fact, evidence and arguments are secondary. What’s more important is who can gather more supporters behind the scenes.

“Please forgive my rudeness for leaving first, Your Majesty.”

Anton abruptly stood up from his chair before the king’s permission was given, and with a slight bow, he stormed out of the reception room. As he left, he didn’t forget to glare at Maximilian crouching on the floor.

Gabriel paid no mind to Anton’s rudeness. He merely pointed at Maximilian on the floor and said,

“Remove that filth from my sight. It makes me nauseous.”

At Gabriel’s command, the attendants waiting behind quietly approached and dragged Maximilian away somewhere. Then, without being told, they opened the windows for ventilation.

Only then did Gabriel seem to feel a bit better, smoothing his furrowed brow. He asked Leonard,

“Can you be certain it was Embly?”

“I was taught not to say things I can’t take responsibility for.”

“Hmph. Your words are slick.”

Gabriel snorted and looked Leonard up and down.

“By the way, you were killed but came back to life. Have you become some sort of immortal being?”

“Of course not. I was just lucky.”

“In other words, Embly is truly unlucky to have such a monster as an enemy.”

“But why? Was there a reason for Embly to join hands with Maximilian?”

Diana, who had been quietly standing by, asked. That was also the answer Leonard most wanted to know. As Leonard merely shrugged his shoulders, Gabriel waved his hand.

“Let’s think about the headache-inducing stuff later. By the way, you say you’re Atilei’s disciple?”

“…Pardon?”

“How on earth did you manage to persuade that ill-tempered fellow to take you as a disciple?”

The atmosphere lightened a bit as the topic shifted to Cordelia. Gabriel stared at Cordelia’s face as he asked. Cordelia swallowed once from nervousness before opening her mouth.

“My master happened to come to where I was, and we met. He told me I had talent for magic, so we formed a master-disciple bond.”

“How exceptional must your talent be for him to have taken you as a disciple?”

“Why do you keep prying? She’s just moderately impressive.”

Leonard responded to Gabriel’s words with indifference. Diana openly sent an exploratory gaze towards Cordelia.

“It’s a blessing for the Vasquez family. To be the only disciple of that Atilei. The Marquis Vasquez must be proud.”

Proud.

Cordelia inwardly gave a bitter smile. Would her father really be proud if he knew she was a mage?

Even though she knew it wouldn’t be the case, there was a tiny bit of expectation.

There was a sliver of hope that if he knew she was the disciple of that Atilei, his attitude towards her might improve just a little.

“Oh, come to think of it, I’m having a party at my mansion next week. Would you like to attend and grace us with your presence? Being Atilei’s disciple, everyone will be curious.”

“I-It would be an honor. If you invite me…”

Cordelia was a little flustered but pleased by the unexpected invitation.

The Golden Lion Saracen’s party was famous for only inviting the core power players of Ershe or renowned artists, and it was so influential that the social world would be abuzz depending on who was invited. It was also a place she never dreamed she could attend.

Cordelia’s cheeks flushed red with excitement.

* * *

“Stupid bastard!”

Unable to contain his boiling anger, Anton threw everything within reach. His adjutant, Baron Ruson, stepped back and waited for his anger to subside.

“If he was caught, he should have at least committed suicide! Because of that bastard, Embly might even be put on trial.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to kill Maximilian before the trial to silence him?”

“He’s already in the royal palace, how could we? If we’re caught, wouldn’t that be as good as admitting we’re in league with Maximilian?”

“If we hire mercenaries without leaving any traces…”

“What are you saying, Father?”

The wind must have blown the office door open. His only daughter, Rosalyn Embly, was standing there.

“Is Maximilian in the royal palace? Why?”

“Rosalyn. Go back to your room.”

“Was the Atilei crest that appeared in the sky yesterday Leonard’s?”

“That’s not for you to worry about.”

Anton avoided his daughter’s gaze and pulled the bell rope. Soon, a servant entered the room.

“Did you call for me, Master?”

“Take Rosalyn to her room.”

“Father!”

“Young miss, I’ll escort you to your room.”

The servant approached Rosalyn. However, Rosalyn shook off the servant’s hand and approached Anton.

“Please tell me. Has Leonard Atilei returned? Then what will happen to Maximilian?”

“…Rosalyn.”

“Will, will Maximilian die?”

Her lips trembled. No, in fact, her entire body was shaking. As she staggered as if about to collapse, Anton, startled, grabbed his daughter’s arm tightly.

“The Marquis Atilei has demanded a trial. We don’t know what will happen immediately.”

“He failed to kill the head of the family, so won’t the end result be execution?”

“…We can’t rule out that possibility.”

In truth, the probability of a death sentence was very high, but Anton expressed it indirectly. Rosalyn’s complexion turned pale in an instant.

“Then…”

At some point, Rosalyn’s cheeks were filled with tears. She looked up at her father with amber eyes that resembled Anton’s.

“What will happen to me now, Father?”

“…”

“What about my child?”

Even Anton couldn’t easily answer that question.

Anton remembers every night.

The night his wife left, entrusting their daughter to him, the night the physician said their young daughter’s heart was deformed and she wouldn’t live long, up to the night when his daughter, for whom he would gladly give his own heart, confessed she was carrying Maximilian’s child.

“Go to Ansen. The weather is warm there, so think of it as recuperation.”

“Father…”

“It would be better to give birth there too. So forget about Maximilian and move on anew.”

Though it was Maximilian’s seed, whom he wanted to tear apart, it was also the child of his beloved daughter.

When he called Maximilian to demand responsibility, he agreed but at the same time put forward an outrageous condition.

‘I intend to become the head of the Atilei family.’

‘Are you in your right mind? Do you not know who your brother is?’

‘If the Marquis helps me, what can’t I achieve? Rosalyn should also share in the glory of the White Snake. Doesn’t the child need a father too?’

The last sentence was nothing short of a threat.

There was no choice. No matter that Rosalyn was the only daughter of the Embly family, a woman who bore a child without a husband would be buried in noble society.

Anton gritted his teeth and joined hands with Maximilian.

It was a reckless plan from the start.

Leonard was the most powerful mage in Ershe, and trying to kill him was close to gambling. Very fortunately, Maximilian sent word that he had succeeded in killing him, but Anton was constantly anxious because Leonard’s body couldn’t be found.

But even after three months passed, Leonard didn’t show himself, and Anton felt relieved.

However, as if mocking his peace of mind, last evening, white snakes covered the entire sky.

“Please save Maximilian, Father.”

“Nonsense! Forget about him now.”

“Father, please. You can do it, can’t you?”

His daughter cried, grabbing and shaking her father’s arm. But this time, even Anton was firm.

“He’s already in the royal prison, how could I save him? Besides, as you said, he tried to kill the head of the family. It will be difficult to avoid execution.”

“I love him. How can I raise the child alone if Maximilian dies?”

“Don’t worry about the child. That child will be registered under me and grow up as an Embly.”

He said with a short sigh. Rosalyn just bit her lips while holding her belly.

“So prepare to go to Ansen.”

“Father!”

Anton barely managed to coax and soothe his daughter back to her room. As soon as she left, frost settled on Anton’s face.

“We must stop the trial by any means necessary.”

“The best way would be for Maximilian to die, but…”

“Even if we have to kill him as a last resort, it can’t be before Rosie gives birth. She’s already weak, and if she’s shocked and miscarries…”

It was obvious that if his daughter, who originally had a weak heart, miscarried, her body wouldn’t be able to endure it. Moreover, he had already lost his wife to childbed fever.

Baron Ruson, who had been standing at a distance, stepped forward and said,

“Then how about using the nobles of the council and other marquises to delay the trial?”

“Delay? On what grounds?”

“We can create reasons as needed.”

“Hmm.”

Anton stroked his chin. As much as formalities and procedures are important, there should be several elements we can find fault with if we look.

“Lopez and Saracen will observe as always, and Elfenbaum will side with Atilei.”

“Then Hillerust and Vasquez remain.”

“Regrettably, we’ll have to call those two to Yebo Delim and try to postpone the trial as much as possible.”

“Yes, I will immediately send messengers to Hillerust and Vasquez.”