Liam rarely shouted in anger. His hands gripping her shoulders tightened.

Valentine looked up at him, startled into stopping her tears. Her blurry vision gradually cleared. His eyes, which had seemed calm, were also red.

Ah, yes. He was crying too. In body, and in heart.

‘Don’t throw dirt on their name. You must do this. It’s not a choice but a duty. Your land, your vassals, your name, even yourself. You’re the only one who can protect it all.’

Only firm resolve scattered under the black sky.

‘I will protect the path you walk.’

Just as he said.

In that situation, Liam must have been the one most tempted by greed. Nevertheless, Liam willingly assisted Valentine in driving away the dark hands reaching for Blumir, while remaining in the shadow of the young duchess himself.

…He was such a dear brother, which made it all the more poignant.

“…But in the end, you didn’t protect me.”

“Hmm?”

Lumière questioned at the sudden murmur. Valentine curved her eyes habitually.

“It’s nothing, just remembering the past.”

Something that’s meaningless now.

People were bound to change eventually. Liam, who once owed everything to Blumir and dedicated all to it, had simply moved his loyalty elsewhere.

Even to the point of willingly killing the master he had served.

“Blumir is mine, but it’s a place Liam protected.”

The conversation continued thus.

“I realized when I saw Cassian holding my possessions. If my property was confiscated by Sehera because of my crimes, the same should apply to titles. They should go to Cassian, not an adopted son like Liam.”

That made sense logically. That was probably why there were whispers going around.

“Seeing how no one says anything, there must have been some kind of deal.”

“Yes. I think it’s most likely Liam received Blumir in exchange for handing me over. However…”

Valentine’s eyes flashed dangerously.

“Whatever the truth may be, that’s hardly the business of Lumière, the former Queen of Tristan, isn’t it?”

Lumière’s lips curled up slyly.

She could simply pretend not to know about what happened during her absence from Sehera. Who could say anything? She wasn’t here, so she wouldn’t have known.

Being away from Sehera for so long was mostly disadvantageous, but occasionally it could be used as an advantage like this.

“So… would it be alright for me to take it?”

“Oh, while I’d be happy if Lumière received it safely…”

The image of red eyes steeped in greed flashed before Valentine. That─ terrible woman.

“Amaryllis won’t stay quiet about it, right?”

Lumière burst into a snicker.

“What can someone like her do about it?”

“While Amaryllis alone might not be able to do much, there’s Bastian, isn’t there? He’s at an age where he could receive a title.”

“A title?”

Though it concerned her nephew, only then did Lumière realize. That Bastian Pendragon was still just Bastian Pendragon.

Someone who cared for their son would have given him a suitable position by now. In a way, it might mean Cassian doesn’t particularly cherish Bastian.

“He’ll need to be given something soon, with his birthday coming up. If not this year then next, or well, it could be even later. But there’s absolutely no way Cassian would just hand over Pendragon.”

“Yes, thinking coldly… the first title should rightfully be Soner.”

Lumière nodded.

Traditionally, the Duke of Soner was the first position given to the Emperor’s eldest son, that is, the imperial heir. In other words, it was one of the titles Cassian, as the second son, couldn’t hold until he took the throne.

“Yes. In the end, it’s a question of creating new traditions or following the past… Though the dynasty changed, Cassian is still of de la Fleur blood.”

Valentine knew Cassian well. Cassian was far more difficult and particular than Astaire.

Astaire liked purely obedient people who didn’t go against his will. But Cassian kept those he could converse with by his side.

Kindly put, he preferred intellectual people, or somewhat crookedly put, those who knew how to challenge him to some degree. Even the current chamberlain, Marquis L’Isle-Adam, was like that.

Sadly, Amaryllis and Liam, and Valentine of the past, were not among those who met that standard. Now she knows well.

In any case, Astaire, who needed to have everything his way to be satisfied, would have kicked away even such traditions and changed them as he pleased. But Cassian wasn’t someone who would needlessly twist what had been passed down through generations. Rather, he was closer to someone who valued tradition.

“Though they say the dynasty changed, Sehera is still Sehera, isn’t it? Rather, because he was the second son, Soner must be even more special to him.”

Soner held important meaning to Cassian as his paternal title. Even more so because it was a position he couldn’t have.

“But not to Amaryllis.”

To Amaryllis, Pendragon, her current husband’s name, would be more important. It was also what most people currently considered the most important position.

While Soner symbolized the heir of the old Fleur imperial family, Pendragon was the very embodiment of the current dynasty that newly inherited Sehera.

“Blumir is also continuing Sehera’s bloodline anyway. It could have symbolism in many ways.”

At least, being the core of the rebellion and a meritorious retainer who established the new dynasty might have more meaning than being the heir of a fallen imperial family.

“If Lumière asks for Blumir citing the justification of rebellion, wouldn’t Amaryllis be the first to pounce? Then would Liam stay quiet?”

No one would stay still when their position was being contested. Moreover, if not for Blumir, Liam would have to be driven out of Gabrienne. Even if he’s given a new title instead of Blumir, it would mean nothing to Liam.

If it comes to that…

“We need to tear apart Amaryllis and Liam. Though he has some influence thanks to the Empress despite being called half-blooded, once Amaryllis falls away, Liam’s isolation is just a matter of time.”

So that’s the ultimate goal.

“Belle, sometimes really…”

Watching Valentine carefully, Lumière had to choose her words carefully. What followed could have been either praise or something else.

“You point out things I hadn’t thought of.”

Valentine smiled gently, pretending to be docile.

“Oh Lumière. Sometimes you seem to forget who I was.”

She was Madame Marguerite. The one who held and manipulated Sehera’s social circles in her grasp while at the tyrant’s side.

Her gentle speech contrasted with her splendid appearance. Her graceful attitude and excellent insight. An innocent atmosphere that could even seem frail at first glance.

Valentine de le Blumir was a woman who flaunted contrasting charms. Thus, the countless people who conversed with Madame Marguerite would become enchanted by her and completely forget.

Whatever else, ‘Madame Marguerite’ was the woman who had captivated and long remained beside the infamous tyrant, Astaire III. That was what crucially set her apart from those who died at the slightest provocation.

She was a rose covered in thorns. A lethal one where if you carelessly reached out to touch it, you wouldn’t notice until your skin was rotting with wounds.

In the end, Valentine de le Blumir was the one and only person who had watched every move Astaire III made, shared his most intimate circumstances, and knew all of his evil deeds. Had Astaire III been properly brought to trial, she would have been the first witness called.

The Valentine of now was completely different from her childhood when she only knew how to cry. She would willingly take control and subjugate even if dropped in the middle of a heathen harem.

“Doesn’t that just show how perfect your demeanor is?”

This time it was pure praise. Even Lumière, who knew everything about Valentine, would often forget this fact.

“Wearing a mask is a good thing. You can see the answer when you look at that girl who shows her true nature at the slightest provocation.”

“You think too highly of me.”

Even this current whisper, so close to a whine, felt just like that. Who could possibly believe there was a demon inside her now?

When outwardly, she was just a dazzlingly beautiful young lady.

“If I had been the Empress, you might have disliked me for being artificial.”

“Oh, that’s only after knowing your true nature. But seeing how I forget every day even now, it seems impossible to know.”

“What should I do?”

Suddenly, Lucifer, who had been quietly staying beside them, appeared and muttered. Valentine, whose pleasant conversation was interrupted, frowned and turned to look at him.

Unlike Valentine who was used to him, Lumière froze momentarily. This demon possessed a chill that seemed to infiltrate the world. It was a temperature not strongly felt when he was naturally present, but it made one’s skin crawl when he appeared unexpectedly.

“You?”

Valentine questioned, and the man nodded. His black hair swayed softly with the movement.

“Watch.”

“Again?”

“And cheer.”

His indifferent whisper continued without hesitation.

“Stay quiet. Don’t even think about doing anything unnecessary.”

Her attitude made the demon’s lips curl crookedly.