Werner and Gustav didn’t exchange a single word while walking from the palace to where their carriages waited. This silence foreshadowed the end of their friendship and the intensification of political conflict to come.

Before boarding their respective carriages, they exchanged only a brief glance, maintaining minimal courtesy.

Then the carriages, carrying the deeply concerned leaders of each faction, split in two directions and began their separate journeys.

Though both men were equally heavy-hearted, Gustav’s burden was undoubtedly greater.

Many nobles in the aristocratic faction were under investigation for insurance fraud and connections to arms dealers who supplied weap*ns to pirates. He had been preparing for the Emperor to take advantage of this situation with a direct attack.

‘But breaking off the engagement isn’t enough—she has to marry the Grand Duke?’

This was the ultimate insult to Leonhardt and essentially a declaration of all-out war against the aristocratic faction.

A marriage between the daughter of the imperial faction’s leader and a member of the imperial family would completely overturn the Empire’s political landscape.

But Gustav could do nothing immediately. For now, he needed to keep quiet and search for an opportunity to turn the tide.

He took a deep breath and gritted his teeth.

‘I will not back down like this, Your Majesty. I will never forget the humiliation I suffered today.’

He clenched his trembling fists as he made this vow.

⁕⁕⁕

At that moment, Kartun’s carriage was parked near the Marquis’s mansion.

After finishing their long walk, he had seen Daphne to her home. Christine, through Anton, had invited him to stay for dinner, but he coldly declined.

He left the estate before Anton could return with Christine’s response.

After crossing the mansion grounds—large enough to be a small territory—and passing through the main gate, the carriage stopped in a secluded spot.

Some time later, after the sun had set, a pigeon swiftly crossed the sky. Kartun, as if he had been waiting for this, opened the carriage window.

He whistled briefly, and the pigeon that had been flying toward the mansion circled in the air and changed direction. As if entranced, it flew into the carriage.

The pigeon landed on his finger and blinked its black eyes. It seemed confused about why it had come here instead of flying to Daphne’s chambers as it had been trained to do, repeatedly tilting its head in a rather adorable manner.

Kartun gently stroked the pigeon’s head and said:

“Well done.”

The pigeon rubbed its beak against him as if delighted by his praise.

When Kartun lightly grasped it, the bird didn’t struggle but calmly surrendered itself. Attached to its fluttering chest was a tiny cylinder containing a small, tightly rolled note.

He unfolded it to read:

「The Sun has ordered marriage to the monster」

Here, the Sun referred to the Emperor, and the monster to himself.

Kartun thought of Gabriel, who had sent this note, and once again suppressed his k*lling intent.

If Gabriel hadn’t sacrificed himself to keep his promise to Daphne in his previous life, Kartun would have killed him by now, regardless of her objections.

“Still, I’m impressed. Finding out so quickly.”

After replacing the former chief chamberlain and the guards who had failed to protect the Emperor in the audience chamber, he had strengthened imperial security. It had been a complete overhaul, yet somehow spies had already been planted.

Despite acknowledging Gabriel’s skill, Kartun was displeased.

“How dare he try to deliver the news first, tsk!”

And in such a manner, no less. He had suspected something like this might happen, so he was glad he had waited.

“Monster…”

He examined the note once more with a complex expression before crumpling it violently. Flames erupted in his palm, burning the paper to ashes.

In his previous life, Daphne had been like a kitten with its claws out—highly vigilant and unwilling to let anyone close.

But in this life, she seemed to be hissing as well? Watching her puff up her fur and remain on guard made him strangely concerned.

‘After all you’ve been through, you still haven’t learned.’

Kartun let out a soft sigh.

At first, he had hated this side of himself. But it had been inevitable from the moment he restored her life. It would be easier to simply get used to it now.

“I can’t let my bride learn about our marriage this way.”

He decided to put the past behind them, as long as she cooperated.

Just then, Kartun took a deep breath as if trying to catch a scent, then slowly exhaled.

“The stench reaches even here.”

He frowned with displeasure and ordered the coachman to depart. Then he released the bird through the open window.

But the pigeon immediately flew back in and perched on one of his knees. He chuckled slightly and shook his head briefly.

“Return to your master.”

The pigeon drooped its wings and bobbed its head, clearly reluctant to leave. Then it fluttered upward.

It circled above Kartun’s carriage for a while before finally flying toward Daphne’s location.

After Kartun’s carriage had disappeared into the distance, Werner’s carriage sped toward the mansion at full speed.

⁕⁕⁕

That afternoon, a delegation from the Kingdom of Lucia arrived in the Empire. They had been dispatched to apologize for Anaïs’s actions.

Though they had prepared for the Emperor’s wrath, their troubles began from the moment they entered the country. The entry inspection was more rigorous than ever, and their baggage was thoroughly searched.

Such treatment of delegates representing their country was unprecedented. Yet they were subjected to even more intense scrutiny than ordinary travelers.

As if deliberately causing trouble, the imperial officials didn’t ask about the purpose of their items and confiscated even essential belongings like clothing. They issued a one-sided notification that they would return the items after a detailed examination. No timeline was provided, but the Lucian delegation couldn’t protest.

This wasn’t the end of it.

The Empire didn’t provide accommodations for the diplomatic delegation. Left with no choice, some members of the Lucian delegation went to inns, while the rest went to Anaïs’s house.

They sat around the reception room without unpacking—not that they had anything to unpack after everything had been confiscated.

While everyone was sighing deeply, Anaïs stood nervously in a corner, biting her nails. Suddenly, a woman approached rapidly and slapped her across the face.

“I told you not to do it!”

“…I’m sorry.”

She was Princess Camilla, the head of this delegation and Anaïs’s older sister.

She was eloquent, moderately pretty, and competent enough to handle assigned tasks without mistakes.

She was exactly the type Helmut preferred to use. That’s why she was considered the most likely candidate to be the next monarch.

“You idiot! Do you have any idea what kind of humiliation I’ve suffered because of you?”

Camilla slapped her other cheek as well. Anaïs could only helplessly endure the beating in front of everyone.

Camilla’s anger only subsided after she had administered enough punishment to make her palm red and swollen. As if this were a regular occurrence, an impassive maid quickly brought an ice pack.

Sitting in an ornate fauteuil chair and pressing the ice pack to her palm, Camilla continued to glare at Anaïs.

“Report everything that’s happened.”

Despite the pain in her swollen cheeks whenever she moved, Anaïs spoke rapidly.

“I’ve agreed to continue cooperating with the young duke of Mücke.”

“Cooperation?”

“The magic stone has lost its power, so he no longer harbors romantic feelings for me.”

“Aaaagh!”

Camilla let out a shrill scream and stamped her feet. Anaïs sighed, seeing that her sister’s habit of throwing tantrums when extremely angry hadn’t changed.

Camilla asked while breathing heavily:

“Does he know about the magic stone’s effects?”

“Yes, he does.”

This time, a small vase with flowers flew from the table. Anaïs didn’t dodge, fearing it would anger Camilla further, and took the hit directly.

“Did you tell him?”

“No. The young duke of Mücke is quite clever. He said he found research records about magic stones while investigating on his own. Since someone like him is willing to work with us, we still have a chance…”

Camilla grabbed and threw whatever she could reach.

“Shut up!”

After her outburst, Camilla waved her hand. Everyone around them hurriedly left the room.

Once they were alone in the reception room, Camilla approached Anaïs.

Her cheeks were not only swollen but developing dark red bruises, and her clothes were damp from the water spilled from the vase.

Seeing this, Camilla suddenly changed her attitude. She expressed deep sympathy and apologized to Anaïs.

“I’m sorry. I had no choice.”

“No. You did the right thing.”

Anaïs shook her head while tears streamed down her face.

“If you hadn’t done it, someone else would have reported to Helmut.”

At the mention of his name, Camilla shuddered.

Helmut effectively controlled his people by making them monitor each other like this.

The two sisters embraced tightly, overwhelmed by the absurdity of their situation.

“Anaïs, it’s been hard for you, hasn’t it?”