A small guest annex located in the rear garden, a little distance from the palace.

Rather than a green garden, the exotic atmosphere was heightened by a garden adorned with colorful, beautiful stones. The sound of footsteps crunching on gravel echoed.

At that moment, Franz appeared. His blonde hair was wildly tousled, and his unusually long, horizontal brown eyes gleamed.

“Lady! No, Duchess.”

He quickly threw away the cigarette he had been smoking and grinned as he looked at her. He gave a slight nod of acknowledgment to Heath as well.

“I need to have a serious talk with the Marquis.”

He was, after all, an old friend from home.

“It feels strange to see you like this after so long. You never know how life will turn out, right?”

When she extended her hand, Franz naturally bent his knee and kissed it.

“As strange for me as it must be for you.”

Indeed, it was truly a peculiar situation. Why was he even here? He nodded slowly as if he understood her confusion and continued speaking.

“That is, if you didn’t come here to see me.”

Rohana slowly raised her eyes.

“No. Where is she?”

“She’s here.”

A voice suddenly came from behind, and Rohana turned around.

The woman in the blue dress.

It was Aurelia, the “Golden Woman.”

Recalling the original story, Rohana narrowed her eyes.

She might be the key to everything.

“Shall we talk?”

Aurelia gave her a clear gaze and nodded. Leaving a displeased Heath behind, Rohana and Aurelia moved into a small adjacent room. Before Aurelia could even sit down, Rohana was already seated and began speaking first.

“Why didn’t Lazar come with you?”

Aurelia frowned at Rohana’s straightforward question.

“What is your relationship with Lazar?”

Their eyes met.

“What kind of relationship do you have that makes Lazar so obsessed with you?”

Aurelia mumbled to herself as if she didn’t expect an answer.

Rohana briefly recalled those swirling red eyes.

And the chilling voice of the boy who had said, “I’m sorry.”

Forcing her slightly furrowed brow to relax, Rohana spoke again.

“R.D. is the same as ever. His methods were as vile and pathetic as before.”

This time, it was Aurelia’s brow that furrowed.

“Just like when you were Jody.”

Leaning deeply into the backrest, Rohana continued.

“So what’s Lazar’s plan? Is he going to win the war and make Kaiden emperor, or something like that?”

Her cold voice and expressionless face exuded a sense of intimidation.

Although she spoke as if she were calmly taking her time, the question she had suddenly thrown out was anything but casual.

The tea brought by the servant had a sharp, spicy taste.

Aurelia finally spoke.

“Isn’t it hard to look at me?”

Rohana narrowed her eyes slightly. One corner of her red lips lifted into a slight smile.

“You don’t seem too easy to deal with either.”

At her retort, Aurelia’s face twisted further.

“Regardless of who you are or what you mean to me.”

Rohana corrected herself.

“I’m not in the mood for idle talk, so just answer my question.”

“R.D. said he would assist Kaiden Delcliff, but he never said he would submit to you.”

Before Aurelia could finish speaking, Rohana snorted.

“Do you think there’s a difference?”

Rohana crossed her arms and stared at her.

“Tell me the plan. I won’t tolerate any more of these sneaky, backstabbing tactics.”

Aurelia bit her lip and then slowly spoke.

“This is all Lazar has told me. I don’t know any more.”

“And why are you a leader of R.D., anyway?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I was the Empress—until Bardi cast me out for ridiculous reasons.”

Aurelia’s voice was passionate, as if truly wounded, but her face remained unnervingly calm.

“For a puppet, you sure have a lot of pride.”

At Rohana’s remark, a crack appeared on Aurelia’s beautiful face once again.

“Tell Lazar this: I remember his ‘apology’ very well, and I’m always willing to have a conversation.”

Rohana abruptly stood up, leaving behind words that made no sense, brushing past the servants bringing refreshments as she stepped outside.

Franz and Heath stood side by side, watching her as she approached.

“Lady Rohana—no, Duchess,” Franz said, quickly hiding the cigarette he had been smoking behind his back and bowing his head. Heath, however, looked displeased.

“It’s been a while.”

“Your aura has changed a lot since I last saw you,” he said, moving his body leisurely as if surprised by the shift.

“And the Marquis seems to have changed a lot as well,” Rohana replied, as Franz extended his arm toward her.

“Then, since you’re here, how about a quick chat?”

“It’s dangerous,” Heath interrupted, stepping between them.

“No, Heath,” she reassured him. There was no need for that.

“Right, Her Grace even saved my life,” Franz chimed in.

Heath’s eyebrows twitched.

“He was injured yesterday,” Rohana added in explanation.

“I should be allowed to repay the favor.”

“And how exactly do you plan to repay the lady?” Heath asked, his hostility apparent, though Franz ignored it.

Despite Heath’s dissatisfaction, Franz continued in a softer tone, “The only Arin people left between here and Shatonwell are the Duchess and me, after all…”

He ran his hand through his blonde hair, a sly smile spreading as he glanced between Heath and Rohana.

“It would be good to catch up a bit and talk.”

Grabbing Heath’s arm to stop him from intervening again, Rohana said, “If I could meet with Aurelia separately, talking with Franz isn’t any more dangerous.”

At Rohana’s calm tone, Heath reluctantly backed off, though not without a warning. Franz led her to the farthest part of the garden. Although they walked out of earshot, they made sure not to leave Heath’s sight.

“Marquis Soyez, what exactly is going on?”

“Duchess, how much do you know about the current situation?” Franz asked in his usual, sly voice.

“I’m not sure how much I know,” she responded.

“You were with Duke Delcliff in Nopthal, so I imagine you’re not entirely unaware of what’s happening in the capital or across the empire,” he suggested.

Rohana frowned slightly. She couldn’t shake the feeling that both Kaiden and Heath had been withholding some information from her.

Of course, she was aware that the protests, led by Jody and Aurelia, had intensified, and that Bardi’s absurd laws were squeezing the Kark people into a corner.

“Why don’t you explain it to me, Marquis?”

“I’ve always told you to just call me by my name when we’re alone, but you never do,” he teased.

Rohana smiled faintly. He hadn’t changed, except for now being with R.D.

“Anyway, you remember how I was never particularly popular, right?”

How could she forget? He had always advocated for Nopthal’s independence, claiming that if they didn’t break free, there would come a day when the Kark people would wipe them out entirely.

“Judging by your expression, you remember everything,” he remarked.

“How could I forget? Your lack of popularity and your cynical views were quite well-known,” she replied.

Franz opened his eyes wide, deepening the wrinkles on his forehead.

“Duchess, you’ve become even more charming since I last saw you.”

That’s how he’d always been—popular for his blunt remarks and his bronze skin.

Rohana shook her head.

“Just as I said before, the Ardgold Empire is trying to control or suppress everything related to the Demon Realm because it’s unpredictable and uncontrollable.”

Rohana narrowed her eyes. She had already suspected as much.

“This kind of unnatural oppression will inevitably reach a breaking point. I remember you being well-versed in history and politics, so this shouldn’t be surprising to you,” Franz continued, sighing deeply.

“You must have your own thoughts, but as a fellow pure human, I’d like to ask one more thing.”

As he blew out a puff of smoke, his violet eyes watched her.

“Do you have a reason for siding with the Kark people? And I don’t mean your personal relationship with Kaiden Delcliff.”

Though his voice was teasing, Rohana’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“I know the Emperor is obsessed with you, and the entire empire knows it too. But still, you turned down the position…”

Franz went on, “I can understand your decisions and actions. As an Arin person with magical abilities, it makes sense that you might feel some connection to the Kark people.”

He leaned in slightly, his tone becoming more serious.

“But choosing a side in the war is an entirely different matter.”

His pale eyes locked onto hers.

“Though I barely escaped death yesterday, I still feel compelled to ask.”

His gaze faltered slightly.

“The Kark people will attack fiercely. You’ve seen it—Kaiden’s combat abilities go beyond human limits. Heath, even in his mid-teens, was already a force to be reckoned with, capable of dominating the entire Kark tribe.”

Rohana swallowed dryly.

“Are you confident you won’t side with the Arin people? It took me a long time to finally take action.”

Their eyes met.

“If you don’t have a clear reason, it will only get harder for you.”

Rohana bit her dry lips. She knew this, even without him pointing it out.

“I heard you have a lot of grievances with R.D. and Aurelia because of that maid incident.”

“Aurelia said that?”

He blinked slowly, as if to confirm it.

“In this latest operation, R.D. did everything they could to ensure Princess Serin wasn’t hurt. I have nothing to say about how despicable and brutal the plan was, but…”

Rohana looked at Franz, a man who was neither a close friend nor a complete stranger.