Anton dismissed the doctor and sat alone in the reception room chair, catching his breath.

“Phew.”

How much time had passed?

He wobbled back to his daughter’s room. The nanny, who had been massaging Rosaline’s arms and legs, jumped up when she saw Anton arrive.

“You’ve come, my lord.”

“How is Rosaline?”

“Similar to this morning, sir.”

Meaning not good. Anton sent the nanny out and sat in the chair she had occupied. Then he habitually massaged his daughter’s arm. It was so thin, like a winter twig.

“…Father?”

“Sleep more.”

“I’m thirsty.”

He poured water from the cup on the side table and handed it to her. Rosaline couldn’t even swallow it a few times before handing the cup back.

Anton stared at the returned cup for a long time. There was blood mixed in.

Three months.

The doctor’s parting words echoed in his ears.

“…What do you want to do when Maximilian gets out of prison?”

“We’ll go to Ansen together and have our wedding. In the garden where my favorite roses are in full bloom. And raise children together… Oh, Father. About the baby names, I’ve thought of a few.”

A tiny bit of color returned to Rosaline’s face. She chirped like a bird waking in the morning, listing all the things she wanted to do with Maximilian. Anton took in every detail of her appearance without missing anything.

My daughter. My treasure. My ocean. My sunshine. My everything.

“Do that.”

“Ansen is hot, so I suppose…”

“Do whatever you want.”

“Ah, Father!”

Rosaline suddenly sat up from her half-lying position. Her amber eyes sparkled intensely. Rosaline grabbed Anton’s arm and shook it.

“You mean you’ll save Maximilian? You’ll get him out of prison, right?”

“Yes. I’ll do that, so make sure to eat your meals even if you don’t want to. And take your medicine regularly.”

“Of course. I’m suddenly hungry. I want to eat.”

“You couldn’t even drink water just now. Don’t overdo it.”

“I feel like I could eat a whole ox right now.”

Anton just smiled at his daughter’s words. As if wanting to prove her point, Rosaline called a servant to bring food.

All she ate was a bowl of thin soup, but Anton was satisfied with just that. Then a servant quietly approached him and whispered:

“Archduke Vasquez has arrived. Shall I show him in?”

“Vasquez? Yes. Bring him in.”

Anton moved to the reception room.

Soon after, an old man in splendid clothes entered, limping slightly.

“Oh, Archduke Embly. It’s been a while.”

“Archduke Vasquez. You’ve come a long way. Please, sit.”

He gestured to the chair opposite. Pablo Vasquez looked around Embly’s reception room with greedy eyes before sitting down with an air of arrogance.

“So. I heard you wanted to see me. What’s this about?”

Pablo’s voice was equally haughty.

“Haha. You’re impatient. Want to get right to the point?”

“Is there any point in wasting time?”

“Well, that’s fine with me. But what happened to your leg?”

“Oh, this?”

Pablo suppressed the anger that rose at the sight of his right foot and pretended it was nothing.

“It’s nothing. Just got a little hurt while hunting.”

“Vasquez goes hunting even in spring, I see?”

“Well.”

Pablo avoided answering. Anton found it a bit strange but didn’t press further. It wasn’t an important matter anyway.

“Since beating around the bush doesn’t suit either of us, I’ll get straight to the point. Have you heard that Atilei is holding a trial?”

“I heard. He’s putting his own brother on trial?”

“That’s right. What I want is to prevent that trial from happening.”

“What does that trial have to do with Archduke Embly?”

“Atilei wants to put Embly on trial too. It’s a very unpleasant affair for me.”

“Oh ho. Does that mean Embly was involved to some extent in Atilei’s succession?”

Pablo’s eyes gleamed. His behavior was too blatant, as if he had caught a good lead. Anton found the sight quite disgusting but didn’t show it.

“Involved? Haha. That’s nonsense. Embly has absolutely nothing to do with that matter. Atilei just wants to take out his anger. Because I agreed to Maximilian’s succession when he was reported dead.”

“Wasn’t that the same for other houses?”

“There were a few houses that initially opposed the funeral without a body. I’m only guilty of believing what that family’s second son said.”

“Hmm. Well, I understand the situation more or less… So what’s in it for me if I help you?”

“You’re not asking what you need to do?”

“Whether I’ll do it or not depends on what I get in return.”

“Well…”

“Well?”

He swallowed the words ‘How mercenary’ down his throat. Anton addressed him with a smiling face.

“I like your frankness.”

“Haha. Well, I often hear that.”

“I’ll make sure you’re well compensated. But before that, there’s one thing I need to be clear about.”

“What is it?”

“Your daughter, Cordelia Abrams. She’s Atilei’s only disciple, isn’t she?”

“What about her?”

Pablo immediately frowned as soon as Cordelia was mentioned.

“You might help me upfront but then contact your daughter behind my back and side with Atilei.”

“Ah, don’t worry about that. I won’t have anything to do with that ill-mannered wench.”

“Oh?”

“She’s a very wicked and nasty girl. Disrespectful to her father. She takes after her mother in that regard.”

Pablo went on at length badmouthing his daughter. His hostility was blazing. It was as if they were enemies rather than father and daughter.

Anton couldn’t understand his way of thinking. Weren’t children supposed to be the apple of one’s eye?

Moreover, that daughter is the first disciple of the magician who is said to cherish her the most. The fact that he carried her out in the middle of the Saracen banquet has already spread widely in social circles.

“She’s completely different from my son. Dennis takes after me perfectly. But she…”

“Hmm. You had a son too, right?”

“That’s right. Dennis Vasquez. My son who will lead the Vasquez family. He’s quite skilled with the sword too. As it happens, he came up to the capital with me to see the sights.”

Unlike a moment ago, Pablo’s eyes were full of pride.

Anton found it quite strange. No matter how great Dennis Vasquez’s swordsmanship might be, it couldn’t compare to his daughter who was Atilei’s disciple, yet he cherished his son more.

It might make for an interesting picture to pressure the daughter by taking the son hostage.

He had only called in Vasquez as one of several means to pressure the king, but it seemed Vasquez could be used more effectively than expected.

“Your son is skilled with the sword, you say? Well, that works out perfectly. The Silver Stag Knights were in need of talent like your son. I’ll mention it to His Majesty.”

“Is that true? If you do that for me, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to help.”

Pablo’s eyes instantly swelled with expectation. If his son could enter the famous Silver Stag Knights of Ersche, it would open up a bright future for him.

* * *

“Are you focusing?”

“I am.”

Leonard yawned openly in front of the king. He picked up an ivory chess piece and ended the game in one move without any hesitation.

After losing three games in a row, Gabriel’s face twisted with irritation.

“Do you have no loyalty at all?”

“Since when did you expect such sentimental things from me?”

“Ha. You’re quite shameless.”

“And what does loyalty have to do with a game of chess? There must be a problem with Your Majesty if you keep losing despite playing chess with me so often.”

“Alright, alright. Your unpleasantness remains the same even after dying and coming back to life.”

“Speaking frankly is my way of showing loyalty.”

The king shuddered at Leonard’s nonchalant tone.

Gabriel leaned back and waved his hand widely. The servant standing behind hurriedly cleared away the chess board and pieces.

“Embly came to the palace with Hillcrest recently.”

“What business did those two have?”

“They brought some musty old law book and argued that there are necessary forms and procedures for holding a trial, and that all of them must be observed. Moreover, they’re being a nuisance saying that just imprisoning Maximilian is against the law and he should be moved to the tower.”

“Since when did they care about such things?”

“Unless they’ve suddenly turned into legal scholars, their purpose is obvious. They’re trying to prevent the trial from happening by any means.”

“If you know it’s a ploy, is there any need to listen to them?”

“I can ignore one. If two gather, I have to pretend to listen, and if three argue together, even I have to pay attention. You know that, don’t you?”

In Ersche, eight archdukes elect the king through voting. Even after becoming king, one cannot wield absolute power.

If three or more archdukes join forces, they can even dethrone the king. Of course, the other archdukes must agree as well, but since it’s theoretically possible, Gabriel couldn’t completely ignore Embly’s words.

“Of course, there’s still one seat left, but…”

“Archduke Vasquez has been frequenting Embly’s townhouse. It seems Vasquez will fill that empty seat.”

“You knew?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t know?”

Leonard smiled slyly. He crossed his legs in the opposite direction and said:

“Hillcrest and Embly are just temporary allies anyway. Their connection with Vasquez will be even more tenuous.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I met with Archduke Hillcrest yesterday.”

“Ha.”

Gabriel let out a dry laugh. It was just like Atilei to act coy while already knowing everything.