“It’s mine now. Left to me by Valentine.”

He didn’t need any other title. Blumir alone was Liam’s everything.

“Thank you for informing me of the situation. I will speak to His Majesty directly about what this is all about.”

The image of Valentine appearing alongside Lumière flickered before Liam’s eyes.

‘So it’s you.’

Then does this mean she would reclaim what was now hers? Or if not…

‘I’m going to take myself away from you. I will strip Valentine de le Blumir from Liam de le Blumir’s life. You have no right to own even a strand of my hair, the last letter of my name, or even a single tear.’

As those words said, was she erasing herself from Liam?

* * *

All Liam could do was rush straight to Cassian.

“Your Majesty.”

“Lord Liam. Welcome.”

Cassian, who was with the head chamberlain Baptiste, greeted Liam as if nothing had happened.

“It feels like it’s been a while since we last met, Lord Liam. Come closer.”

Despite the command, Liam observed Cassian from afar.

Perhaps this distance between them was exactly right for Cassian and Liam.

As Liam stood rooted to the spot, Cassian didn’t press him. He had merely given the order.

“What brings you here in such haste?”

“From Her Majesty the Empress… I heard something about Blumir.”

“Blumir? What did you hear?”

Cassian slightly furrowed his brow as if not understanding. Whether he was pretending not to know or truly didn’t know — as always, it was impossible to read what Cassian was thinking.

“That Your Majesty has decided to give Blumir to Her Highness the Princess.”

“……”

Hearing those words, Cassian recalled past events. Lumière’s intentions had been too transparent then.

However, Cassian’s silence could only be interpreted as confirmation by Liam.

“How could Your Majesty do such a thing?”

“Lord Liam.”

Cassian intertwined Liam’s name with a small sigh. What followed was truly ambiguous.

“I haven’t said anything yet.”

“Isn’t that… just you saying you’re contemplating it?”

Baptiste, the head chamberlain who had been listening to the conversation, slightly bowed his head. Perhaps because the reason for Cassian’s deliberation about Blumir’s fate might lie with him.

But anyone would agree it made sense. Though the Duke of Blumir would find it hard to accept.

“The promise Your Majesty originally made…!”

Liam, who had been pouring out his emotions, closed his mouth. Those ice-blue eyes staring at him without a hint of wavering. That gaze made him suddenly realize…

Right.

Nothing had ever been promised. At least not about the title.

There had been no specific decisions made about Blumir’s disposition. When Valentine died, Cassian had simply naturally called Liam duke.

It was an indirect succession by the emperor’s word. Nothing about the title succession had been officially announced, and naturally, there were no documents to serve as evidence.

Liam simply knew all of Blumir’s affairs, and all the people under Blumir’s actual control had said nothing. Originally, even though he was adopted, Liam’s actual authority was greater than that of the young duchess.

“Lord Liam.”

Liam bit his lip at this call. Unlike Liam’s heightened emotional state, Cassian remained utterly calm.

Veins bulged on the back of Liam’s tightly clenched hand. He finally managed to exhale deeply.

“…Yes.”

“You have great attachment to Blumir, Lord Liam. Is there any special reason?”

“……”

Even mere subjects felt attachment to their homeland where they were born and raised. The attachment of a lord who had protected and cared for that land all their life would naturally be even greater.

Yet he asked if there was any special reason beyond this obvious one?

“I ask out of pure curiosity. Have no other thoughts, please be at ease.”

Meaningful words followed. To these truly multilayered words, Liam carefully chose his response.

“…I’m not sure how to interpret your meaning.”

“Don’t you think it would be far more glorious to receive another title and become the founder of that house?”

This was something only Cassian could say.

The second son of the imperial family. Even though he inherited his mother’s title, Cassian Pendragon was a man of Gabrienne, as he was born and raised in Sehera’s capital. His homeland was Gabrienne, not Pendragon.

It was natural that Cassian had no particular affection for Pendragon. Originally, his descendants would have had to live as nominal royalty.

But now he was clearly the founder of a dynasty. The Pendragon dynasty of Sehera begins with Cassian.

So perhaps it’s natural that he couldn’t clearly understand Liam’s attachment.

“Of course, founding a house is an incomparably glorious thing. But could Your Majesty give the Marguerite duchy to someone else?”

Cassian’s eyebrow twitched at Liam’s counter-question. The voice that followed was earnest.

“It’s… Valentine’s legacy.”

The commonality between those two things. The traces she left in this world.

“How could I not be attached?”

Yes, there was a special reason. It was worth more than just a title and territory.

“It’s the one and only thing my parents, and Valentine, left me. It’s the territory I protected, and the title Valentine protected. Blumir is my everything.”

He could feel the warmth of the deceased former duke and duchess. He could feel her scent. A sense of unity, of belonging. In just a mere name.

Perhaps the feeling that something was still unbroken was what sustained Liam.

But the fact that Lumière brought this up implies clear implications. Especially since Valentine had said she would strip herself away from Liam.

“The place Belle left behind…”

Cassian nodded, chewing over the words he had muttered softly.

Did that answer hold any meaning? Cassian slowly opened his mouth.

“To answer your question, I too wouldn’t be able to give the Marguerite duchy to another. Similarly, I deeply sympathize with your feelings.”

Then the emperor’s lips held a bright red lie.

“Also, my sister and I have never discussed anything related to Blumir. So you may rest assured.”

Liam, unaware of the truth, lifted his head sharply. His sunken cheeks were gaunt. A ray of hope clouded his thin gaze.

“Then…”

“The Empress seems to be in a hurry.”

If she had just sat quietly and waited, Bastian would naturally have everything. It wasn’t wise to be swayed by Lumière’s words and stir up Liam.

That’s why he thought Soner was excessive. What Bastian needed wasn’t a superior title. It was a good teacher.

Though he had his reasons for making her empress, she really was lacking in every way.

“Lord Liam, do you have anything else to say?”

“…No. Nothing.”

“If your misunderstanding has been cleared, you may go.”

Liam bowed his head and turned around. Perhaps because his excitement had subsided, his steps were somewhat unsteady.

Watching Liam’s retreating figure, Cassian slightly furrowed his brow. Click, the sound of the door opening and closing was heard. Liam’s pitiful shadow completely disappeared.

“Lord Baptiste. Has anything happened to Lord Liam lately?”

“As far as I know, there hasn’t been anything particularly noteworthy…”

Baptiste trailed off and let out a small sigh. A vague speculation parted his lips.

“Wouldn’t it have something to do with Count Glastia? He might think the cause of the tragedy lies with the Duke of Blumir.”

“The joust was just an accident. And even if it wasn’t an accident but intentional, no one can say anything to Lord Liam. Lord Matthias created the grudge first.”

“Still, people’s feelings can be different.”

Baptiste slightly gestured with his chin toward the window. The garden visible at a glance from the emperor’s office. The place, desolately colored in winter, was just lonely.

“He must also be the most troubled person when seeing Lady Laure.”

Cassian lowered his eyes. Whatever each person’s circumstances might be, they end up having to care, don’t they? Both Liam and Cassian.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes.”

“May I ask why you sided with Her Highness the Princess?”

Cassian pressed his temple with a clenched fist.

“Wouldn’t it be problematic if Sienne grows too powerful?”

Whether Lumière had thought that far ahead or not, it was better for Blumir and Sienne to remain distant.

Several months had passed since Matthias de la Glastia’s death. The power structure among nobles had shifted toward the new faction. There was a need to check Sienne and Blumir, the centers of that power, before other counter-revolution loyalists stepped forward.

Moreover, Amaryllis de la Sienne was like a volcano that could erupt at any time. The biggest problem with the inadequate Amaryllis was that no one could predict when or what she would do.

“I understand Her Highness wants to drive a wedge between Her Majesty and the Duke of Blumir. Nevertheless, I… think it would be better to empower Her Majesty now.”

This was a natural statement from Baptiste de L’Isle-Adam. He too was a new noble who had gained his opportunity through rebellion.

“You know well how willful the Empress is.”

“If one doesn’t know that, they should be thrown out of the palace. I’m particularly incompatible with the willful Majesty.”

Though said with a light laugh, the content was heavy. As he said, Baptiste did not like Amaryllis.