Above all others, Eldrian knew better than anyone that Lesta had one unwavering wish in her heart.

He knew that everything she did was driven by that desire alone.

He understood something else, too.

The blush that spread across her cheeks when he complimented her wasn’t a sign that she had feelings for him.

Lesta simply had an innocent, childlike side.

Whenever someone sincerely praised her, she responded with unguarded honesty.

Considering the life she had lived, this was only natural.

It hadn’t been long since Lesta had begun to understand concepts like myself, me, my own will, and my own feelings.

Until then, she hadn’t even known who she was.

She had lived solely to obey the commands of House Blackwood, like a puppet.

It was only now that she was beginning to discover the world, and herself.

To learn, to feel, and to live as her own person.

She knew that her entire world had once revolved around House Blackwood.

He found himself drawn to her.

No, he simply loved her.

Once he realized that…

His feelings only grew stronger.

Eldrian no longer knew what to do with them.

‘Should I tell her?’

‘Should I confess?’

‘Should I tell her that I love her?’

These thoughts raced through his mind countless times a day.

Yet he always pushed them away.

The worlds they belonged to were too different.

Lesta was a commoner.

A mercenary.

Eldrian, on the other hand, was the young Duke of House Sunray.

This difference in status weighed Lesta down.

It would crush her.

She was already shouldering more than anyone should have to.

The last thing he wanted was for the foolish feelings of a young duke to become yet another burden.

‘I’m certain Lesta cares about me.’

After everything that had happened in the Marquis of Isden’s territory, he no longer doubted it.

The way she spoke to him…

The way she behaved around him…

It was different from how she treated everyone else.

When facing the knights of House Isden, Lesta carried herself like a disciplined knight who understood honor and duty.

But in front of Eldrian…

She was like a young girl.

If he confessed…

If he told her he loved her…

She might even tell him she felt the same.

But would those feelings truly be the same as his?

Lesta was intelligent.

Exceptionally so.

Yet she had experienced very little of the world.

She had a vast knowledge.

However, she understood almost nothing about the complexities of human emotion.

She was still painting her world on a blank canvas.

She was slowly discovering who she was and what she felt.

He feared that confessing now would ruin everything.

It would be like carelessly splashing his own colors across the canvas before she had the chance to paint it herself.

Lesta needed to meet more people.

She needed to experience more of the world

She needed to experience many more emotions before she could decide what her heart truly held.

She needed to gain enough experience to understand whether her feelings for Eldrian were merely affection for a kind person or something more.

Or love for a man.

The problem was that, ever since he realized his own feelings, a desire he could barely suppress surged up inside him whenever Lesta smiled.

This was the first time Eldrian had ever felt this way about a woman.

These unfamiliar emotions…

This restless longing…

These overwhelming impulses…

He found them incredibly difficult to keep under control.

No…

Even if it hadn’t been his first time, would it really have been any easier?

Lesta stirred far too many emotions within him.

Tenderness.

Heartache.

Pity.

Affection.

Excitement.

Sorrow.

Frustration.

When they spent time together like this, with Lesta looking no different from an ordinary young lady, he could keep those feelings in check.

But every time he watched her fight…

His heart ached.

He felt frustrated.

He felt sorrow.

He pitied her.

He was angry.

He didn’t care if she swung her sword mercilessly at House Blackwood.

He only wished…

That she would value her own life a little more.

‘If only you’d leave a little more to me…’

‘If only you’d rely on me…’

‘Even if I had to set this entire world ablaze…’

‘I would still help you.’

Even such dangerous thoughts had begun to take root in his heart.

‘Set this entire world ablaze…’

No matter how much he pitied Lesta, he could never allow himself to think that way.

He could never allow himself to think that way.

Yesterday, in the hope of calming his turbulent heart, he found himself gazing into Leonel’s eyes for the first time in a long while.

Without offering any explanation, he simply cupped Leonel’s face in his hands and quietly looked into his wise, golden eyes.

At times like that, Leonel would usually remain silent, allowing Eldrian to find his own answer.

But yesterday…

For some reason, it was as if Leonel had seen straight through his thoughts.

“Just be good to her, Brother. Do whatever you can… love her as much as your heart tells you to.”

No name had been spoken.

Yet Eldrian knew Leonel was talking about Lesta.

“We’re here, Young Duke.”

The sound of Lesta’s voice brought Eldrian back to reality.

Only then did Eldrian realize that he had been staring at her throughout the journey to the theatre.

It had been terribly rude of him.

Yet, true to her generous nature, Lesta didn’t mention it.

The coachman opened the carriage door.

As Lesta started to rise, Eldrian gently placed a hand on her knee, signaling for her to stay seated while he stepped out first.

Then he turned back and held out his hand to her.

Lesta looked at his large hand quietly for a moment.

Then she smiled brightly.

“This makes me feel like a real noble lady.”

Her hand was tiny.

It was hard to believe that they belonged to someone who could wield an enormous black greatsword with such ease.

She gently placed her hand in Eldrian’s outstretched one.

Fearing that even the slightest force might hurt her, he closed his fingers around hers with the utmost care.

The faint warmth of her cool hand settled softly against his palm.

Lesta didn’t let go of Eldrian’s hand, even after stepping down from the carriage.

Eldrian knew he should have released her hand by now.

However, reluctant to let go, he stood there, watching the carriage roll away with their hands still joined.

“The Marquis of Isden certainly works fast.”

The play they had come to see had been written by a playwright who had been commissioned by the Marquis of Isden himself. The playwright had finished the script after working through the night.

The Marquis then sent the script to several theatre companies, promising generous investment to whichever troupe accepted it.

Thrilled by the funding, the chosen company rushed to prepare the performance exactly as the Marquis had requested.

The actors, having received far higher pay than usual, rehearsed day and night.

With an unusually large budget at their disposal, the stage directors purchased various magic stones to create elaborate special effects for the production.

The play had already begun its run in the Marquis of Isden’s territory.

Today marked its premiere in the ducal capital of House Sunray.

Its title was…

The Reversed Hero.

***

Recently, Rydel, the Duke of Sunray, had noticed a change in the Emperor’s attitude towards him.

In the past, the Emperor had frequently summoned him, and he had come and gone from the Imperial Palace almost daily.

Lately, however…

The Emperor no longer summoned him first.

They only crossed paths during official meetings.

Whenever their eyes met, the Emperor would frown in displeasure before looking away.

Then today…

His wife, Valeria, finally told him why.

“His Majesty believes… I’m plotting rebellion?”

“Yes. That’s what Her Majesty the Empress told me.”

“His Majesty believes that the Duke of Sunray has been protecting Serena Eilune.’ No matter how many times I tell him that this cannot possibly be true, he refuses to listen. As you know, His Majesty has always been prone to suspicion. Someone must have told him something, and now he’s started to doubt you. Give it time. He’ll calm down eventually.”

A deep furrow formed between Rydel’s brows.

Serena Eilune.

She was the painter who had come to the Imperial Palace to paint portraits of the Crown Prince and Isabella.

She later became one of Isabella’s attendants and remained at the palace.

Rydel had long since noticed the subtle feelings growing between the Crown Prince and Serena.

Ordinarily, he had no desire to interfere in the relationship of a young couple.

However, given the current circumstances, he was concerned that House Blackwood might exploit the Crown Prince’s relationship with Serena to their advantage.

For this reason, he had once spoken privately with the Crown Prince.

“I have my reasons for handling things this way, Duke. You needn’t worry.”

At the time…

Rydel concluded that there were only two possible outcomes.

Either the Crown Prince had another plan after all, or…

or he had fallen hopelessly in love and was making excuses.

But look at what has happened now: Serena Eilune has been arrested on treason charges.

The Crown Prince himself was on the verge of being implicated.

And, for reasons that Rydel still couldn’t fathom, the Emperor had also turned his attention to House Sunray.

This couldn’t be a coincidence.

‘Was Serena Eilune placed there by Richard Blackwood?’

It was the only explanation that made sense.

To drive a wedge between the Emperor and House Sunray.

To make the Emperor lose faith in the Crown Prince and gradually favor the Second Prince instead.

“There’s something else I heard from one of His Majesty’s attendants.”

His Majesty has learned that the Young Duke of Sunray has been associating with someone known as the Mercenary King. The Young Duke has stopped visiting the Imperial Palace, yet he has formed an alliance with such a dangerous figure. His Majesty finds that deeply troubling.”

Rydel pressed his thumb and forefinger against the bridge of his nose.

It was true.

Over the past few years, Eldrian had rarely visited the Imperial Palace.

But that was only because he had stayed behind to govern the duchy while Rydel remained in the capital.

To think…

Even that had become grounds for suspicion.

“It seems that Richard Blackwood has been whispering in His Majesty’s ear. But how could His Majesty place such unquestioning trust in him?”

“My dear…”

Valeria gently rested her hand over Rydel’s, her eyes filled with concern.

“It’s not Blackwood. It’s House Isden.”

“House Isden? What do you mean? Why would the Marquis of Isden…?”

“House Isden has always been as loyal to the Imperial Family as House Sunray.”

“Not the Marquis.”

“I’m talking about the young marquis.”

“I believe the young marquis has joined forces with House Blackwood.”

***

The theater was enormous.

Eldrian and Lesta were seated in one of the best seats in the house, where they had a perfect view of the stage.

“There are so many people.”

“They handed out complimentary invitations to the noble families. Besides, the Marquis of Isden has been stirring up public interest by calling it ‘essential cultural viewing for this era’ and things like that.”

Before long, the lights dimmed.

The murmurs of the audience gradually faded into silence.

A moment later…

The stage was illuminated as magnificent orchestral music filled the theater.