“That grandson—me and my father—tried to kill him.”

The color drained from the former emperor’s face.

“I didn’t know you were unaware.”

Bardi spoke in an unusually soft voice. The emperor’s expressionless face, now devoid of even a hint of life, resembled an old wooden carving.

“You knew the truth all along.”

In that instant, the last shred of dignity left in the emperor’s face turned to ash.

“You knew exactly what kind of person your son was, but you were too weak to punish him yourself, and so you failed to stop him.”

At Bardi’s words, the emperor swallowed dryly and averted his now hollow eyes.

“Did you really think withholding the title of crown prince would be enough?”

The emperor squeezed his eyes shut at Bardi’s sincere rebuke, his once icy blue eyes now trembling.

“What… what are you talking about…”

“The Kark tribe practically led the kidnapping of Kaiden Delcliff, a member of the royal family, to Nopthal, and that’s when things started to fall apart.”

Bardi recited the facts in a low, steady voice, as if reading from a book.

“Still, our exceptional imperial citizen, Kaiden Delcliff, despite the humiliation he suffered, eliminated the Kark tribe’s leader, Axton, for the empire and has remained a reliable protector of the East.”

The former emperor let out a low groan, causing Bardi to pause.

“You want to believe that’s how it happened, don’t you?”

Their eyes met again. The emperor, looking far older than his years, and Bardi, appearing far younger than his, bore an uncanny resemblance to each other.

The emperor seemed more startled by Bardi’s tone than the content of his words.

He had always thought of him as far inferior to his cousin—lacking in every way.

Yet if there was one redeeming quality, it was that he had not inherited his father Edwin’s disposition.

“And now, like father, like son.”

Bardi’s voice made the emperor shudder.

“That’s what you think, isn’t it? But no.”

For the first time, Bardi’s voice trembled.

“That’s not it…”

Bardi slowly rose to his feet. Even in the dimly lit room, his shadow fell over the emperor’s face, which had been barely touched by light.

“You are the one responsible for this mess.”

With a small clattering sound, Bardi tidied up the teacup he had brought with him.

“Failing to deal with the Kark tribe properly from the start.”

He continued, slowly.

“And even if you couldn’t handle your rebellious daughter, allowing her to marry into the Kark tribe and give birth to a horrible hybrid.”

Fury returned to the former emperor’s blue eyes once more.

“Failing to foresee that your son would not let such a sister be, or perhaps knowing what had been done to that family all this time and choosing to turn a blind eye.”

Having set down the teacup on the table behind him, Bardi turned once more to look down at the emperor on the bed. Supported by his thick arms, the emperor reminded him of his indecisive and incompetent grandfather.

Still, Bardi had sought his approval, and even now, deep down, he feared him.

Bardi smirked bitterly to himself. His cold face showed no emotion.

“War… war is not the answer…”

The emperor’s last ounce of strength seemed to go into his hoarse whisper. His frail hand, surprisingly strong, suddenly clamped down on Bardi’s forearm.

“We… we can’t… defeat… the magic users…”

“If I wipe out the Kark tribe, their magic users will die with them.”

Bardi easily shook off the emperor’s grip.

“La… Laz… ar…”

Bardi, who had been turning to leave, paused at the mention of that name.

“What?”

“Beware… of… Lazar…”

The emperor coughed before he could finish his sentence. His rough, metallic cough echoed throughout the dark, dusty room.

Bardi grimaced, turning back to face him.

When he exited, closing the heavy door behind him, Duke Gregory Hanover awaited him. It had been a while since they last met, and the duke bowed his head, waiting for the emperor to speak.

“We must move quickly.”

Gregory flinched slightly in surprise but soon nodded.

“I don’t think there’s any need to keep him alive.”

Despite having said all he wanted to say, Bardi didn’t feel any better.

His survival no longer mattered. All this effort to keep him alive seemed pointless now. Reflecting on it, Bardi let out a small, bitter laugh.

“Though…”

Bardi tilted his head thoughtfully.

“My grandfather’s death could prove useful after all.”

“What… what do you…”

Gregory’s eyes lit up for a moment, as if he had a vague idea of what Bardi meant.

Then, the emperor asked the question Gregory had dreaded since the Battle of Shatonwell.

“Who does your daughter take after, to be so stubborn?”

“She’s just immature.”

At Gregory’s predictable excuse, Bardi frowned. As the two men reached the sunlit hallway, Bardi’s reddish-brown hair gleamed in the light.

“Does your family have Kark blood?”

Gregory recited his denial of that suspicion, as though he’d been waiting for the question. Bardi listened to his excuse, which wasn’t really an excuse, and then spoke.

“Your son is a lost cause.”

His tone was exaggerated, as if truly pained by the fact that Brandt was now held hostage by Kaiden’s side. Gregory shook his head.

“No, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t worry.”

Gregory lifted his head to look at the emperor. Despite the calm tone, his face was filled with the contempt he always showed whenever he thought of Kaiden.

“Kaiden will return him. I know Kaiden fairly well.”

Gregory remained silent, simply listening.

“But you know,” Bardi changed the subject, “do you know anyone by the name Lazar?”

Gregory was taken aback by the emperor’s next question. It was hard for anyone from the generation that lived through the Unification War not to know that magic user. His identity was vague, his abilities uncertain.

“I heard he was the leader of the magic users during the Unification War. Elusive and skilled in every way. But he must be dead by now… right?”

From what Gregory knew, Lazar had disappeared during the war. The rumor that he died during the conflict was all Gregory, who was barely out of his boyhood at the time, had ever heard. After explaining this, Bardi waved a hand as if he understood.

“Inform the physician. My grandfather no longer needs to endure such a painful existence for much longer.”

“Yes.”

After Gregory bowed politely, Bardi turned and headed toward his quarters. The capital was already full of spring.

***

Kaiden’s promise to bring Emily had been true. As expected, she was still staying in the capital.

It had been exactly four days since their arrival from Shatonwell. Today, she too was set to depart from the capital and arrive in Nopthal.

Rohana quietly gazed out the window from the duchy’s manor, returning to Nopthal after a long time. The sunlight streaming through the velvet curtains carried the warmth of spring. It was already spring.

Then, she saw a carriage arrive outside. Before the knock on the door came, Rohana turned and made her way to the dining room to greet her guest.

There were still things to confirm with Emily.

“I heard you called for me.”

Emily greeted her with more composure and sophistication than the last time they met.

Rohana sat down and offered refreshments.

“For what reason did you call me…?”

“I heard you’ve been staying in the capital.”

“Yes.”

“Who is looking after you?”

Rohana’s direct question seemed to catch Emily off guard. She sensed that Rohana was being much sterner with her than the last time they met.

“Sorry. I’m not trying to interrogate you.”

Rohana softened her expression and took a deep breath. The tea and snacks brought by the maids were neatly arranged.

“I needed the voice of a Kark living in the capital. I believed you would be honest with me.”

At Rohana’s words, Emily paused, the teacup hovering near her lips.

“Sorry for calling you on such short notice for a long journey.”

Emily stared at Rohana intently.

“The Duchess is quite peculiar.”

Emily muttered under her breath.

“You seem like someone constantly searching for answers. Is it because you have too much time on your hands?”

At her remark, the corner of Rohana’s lips lifted slightly.

“The one looking after me is Emperor Bardi.”

It was the answer Rohana expected, so she nodded.

“Kaiden could have looked after you too… Why did you choose the emperor’s side?”

Emily quietly clasped and unclasped her hands. She looked uncharacteristically uncomfortable and anxious.

“I’m usually shameless, so I’ll answer honestly.”

“That’s what I called you here for.”

At Rohana’s words, Emily seemed to resolve herself and began to speak.

“I don’t want to die a pointless death.”

Rohana’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Do you think accepting Kaiden’s help would lead to your death?”

“I’m not a fool. I’m not like my sister or my mother.”

Emily continued to pick at the snacks, putting them in her mouth as she spoke.

“It’s not a real war yet, but the fact that Duke Delcliff openly supported Shatonwell against the Imperial Army means it’s only a matter of time before a confrontation happens. You know that as well as I do, Duchess.”

“If war breaks out, do you think the Imperial Army will win?”

“Yes.”

Emily’s answer was cold.

“Why are you so certain?”

“The Kark tribe knows. It’s like how the one who strikes forgets, but the one who gets hit always remembers. We remember what kind of people the Arin tribe is.”

After a moment of silence, Rohana nodded. As someone who knew the original story, she was well aware that the Arin tribe would overwhelmingly defeat the Kark tribe.

“So, let me say something—it’s none of my business, but.”

With nothing left to hold back after her earlier bold remarks, Emily shoved a cookie into her mouth and continued speaking.

“Duchess.”

Emily, after swallowing the cookie, finally spoke in a serious tone.

“Why are you so desperate to die a pointless death?”