Entering the Emperor’s Palace, they saw the emperor standing alone in the audience chamber, staring blankly out the window.

In the silent atmosphere, an unmistakable air of authority made Evolaine’s shoulders tense.

The emperor, spotting Astrian, Evolaine, and Cardel, slowly approached the three.

“Good to see you, Evolaine. And it’s been a while, Cardel.”

“We greet the Sun of Vesasium.”

“…We greet the Sun of Vesasium.”

“No need for formalities. I called you here casually because I have something to discuss.”

It didn’t feel casual at all… Evolaine, who’d felt like a secret agent the entire way here, suppressed her urge to object.

“Evolaine, I have a proposal for you.”

“Please command me.”

“Participate in the monster subjugation at Barcelonica Gorge.”

“Monster… subjugation?”

“Yes. Your father Nailik also built his combat experience starting with monster subjugation. He only participated in the battlefield after conquering everything from easy monsters to those difficult to attack.”

“……”

This was the first she’d heard of it. While her case was special, the marquis must have learned about Kelic systematically and trained—so why did he take such a roundabout way to gain experience?

“You look like you don’t understand.”

“……Yes.”

“Kelic is a difficult power to handle. Not many people know exactly who it originated from, where it began, or why such power came to exist.”

The facts were recorded in the family head’s chamber with thorough security measures, making it inaccessible to outsiders.

Moreover, even within the family, only the legitimate heirs who inherited Kelic’s power could enter.

In other words, the Marquisate of La Voletta was extremely closed off and sensitive about bloodlines.

“What I know is only what I learned from watching Nailik closely. Compared to the actual information, it’s just a drop in the bucket.”

“…I see.”

“So I had Astrian visit the family head’s chamber, but the results weren’t that substantial.”

“……! Your Highness went there?”

“Yes, he was lucky.”

At the emperor’s words, Astrian coughed and averted his gaze.

He’d gone out of necessity, but originally, it was a place Evolaine should have visited first.

Knowing this better than anyone, bringing up such a topic in front of the person concerned couldn’t be comfortable.

Evolaine also seemed to roughly guess what he was thinking and withdrew her gaze from him.

‘Still, he was lucky.’

It was fortunate that Hesion’s condition wasn’t good—otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to enter.

Both Hesion and the marquis weren’t in their right minds and were in poor condition, which largely contributed to things flowing that way.

If the marquis hadn’t been in that state, he would have absolutely prevented Hesion from entering.

‘I hope Evolaine doesn’t find out about this.’

It remained vivid in his mind.

The sight of him lying in the basement at the entrance to the family head’s chamber, looking no different from a corpse, was too grotesque.

Wasn’t it too horrific to leave a person—not an object—abandoned like that?

‘To treat one’s own father that way, and he’s not even a war prisoner.’

How could everyone in this family be missing a screw?

Since that day, just thinking about the Marquisate of La Voletta made his head feel like it would explode.

“Astrian and I will handle this side somehow, so you just focus on training. Right now, you need to concentrate on awakening.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Cardel, you help Evolaine a lot too. Kelic’s power can never be awakened alone. You absolutely need an assistant.”

“Understood.”

Cardel nodded with a stern expression. It felt slightly awkward seeing such a serious attitude after so long.

After a bit more conversation, the audience ended.

Astrian took Cardel and Evolaine back to the ducal household and returned to the imperial palace.

His reason was that secrecy wouldn’t be maintained if others got involved.

When they returned to the ducal household, it was already late at night.

The servants’ shifts must have ended—only crickets chirped in the garden, and most of the mansion’s windows were lit.

“Want to walk for a bit?”

“Yes.”

Cardel led Evolaine to the garden.

Aside from seeing it from afar during training, this was her first time entering.

The well-manicured flowers and plants formed a beautiful harmony with the architecture.

‘It’s pretty.’

It was pleasant to look at. Though she usually couldn’t relate, seeing the garden made her understand why nobles valued and loved art.

While Evolaine was absorbed in viewing the garden, they arrived at its center.

“Sit here.”

Cardel took out a handkerchief and spread it on a wooden chair.

Though Evolaine was flustered by the escort he might give a noble lady, she pretended not to notice and sat on the chair.

“I didn’t know there was a space like this in the garden.”

“Yeah, it was a space my grandmother loved.”

“Your grandmother?”

This was the first she’d heard of it. Come to think of it, she’d never seen the previous Duke and Duchess of Radelica.

“She passed away before I was born. There was an accident.”

“An accident?”

Was it a major accident? Cardel’s complexion darkened.

“The ducal castle caught fire long ago. It was a huge castle, incomparable to the current mansion, but a fire broke out in the kitchen due to the head chef’s mistake. The problem was that the castle was old and many parts were built with wood, so the fire spread quickly.”

The duke and duchess hurriedly evacuated their son’s family and the servants but ultimately couldn’t escape themselves.

When they suppressed the fire and re-entered for rescue, it was already too late.

“That’s why Father doesn’t like staying in castles. It’s related to why we live in this mansion now.”

“Ah……”

She’d thought it was about the convenience of being located in the capital, but it wasn’t just that simple reason.

Evolaine’s face darkened after hearing the circumstances.

“It’s sad, but the living must go on. After that incident, the mansion’s facilities were also reorganized. Though we rarely go to the castle anymore.”

“I see.”

Evolaine nodded. Such a shocking incident must have traumatized everyone.

Losing someone precious was too sad and painful.

“…Still, they seem like remarkable people. If it were me, I think I would have run away first when the fire broke out. I wouldn’t even think to wake people up.”

Maybe she wouldn’t have even been able to run. She wasn’t someone who could make decisions easily.

She might have just suffocated from smoke while trying to assess the situation.

“Are you trying to comfort me?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a fresh approach.”

Well, it’s not bad though. A faint smile crossed Cardel’s lips.

Nothing was more transparent than clumsy comfort that showed all one’s true feelings.

Thinking that someone whose outside and inside matched like this was probably the first and last he’d meet in his life, Cardel chuckled to himself.

“Why are you suddenly laughing?”

“Just. A funny thought occurred to me.”

From Evolaine’s perspective, laughing suddenly after discussing heavy topics seemed absurd, but he didn’t care.

After laughing for a moment, Cardel calmed down and asked.

“Can you do it?”

“Yes, I can. I have to.”

“……Right.”

“It’s not your fault. The cause isn’t with you. Remember that.”

“……Yes.”

Had he noticed what she was thinking?

Cardel often acted and spoke like he could see through her heart.

He easily detected emotions others around her didn’t notice and pulled Evolaine out from the depths so she couldn’t hide alone.

“I envy you, young master. On the other hand, I’m sorry. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have been caught up in this……”

She felt uncomfortable, like she was causing him trouble. Of course, Cardel would earnestly tell her not to worry about such things, but still, she felt self-conscious.

It was strictly a family matter. Though the scale was large, if she hadn’t come to the Duchy of Radelica in the first place, the ducal household would have had no reason to get involved in this incident.

“Evolaine.”

“Yes.”

“Look at me.”

Evolaine, who had been staring at the ground, slowly raised her head.

Cardel was looking at her.

Two transparent eyes shining golden held her entirely within them.

Light. He felt like light to her.