‘Rosana’ smiled beautifully, folding the corners of her eyes. The thin-ice atmosphere shattered completely. The envoy merely listened stupidly to ‘Rosana’s’ words with his mouth half-open.

“His Majesty doesn’t like those who rampage without knowing their place. The reason he left today is along the same lines. There were those who dared to covet the empire.”

She didn’t hide her dangerously flashing eyes.

“As soon as he heard the news, he grabbed his sword and went to war. It’s quite troublesome.”

Not mentioning it was because of monsters was sufficient.

Though ‘Rosana’ waving her hands dismissively looked cheerful, the envoys felt a sharp sword’s tip pressed just below their throats.

“All” meant the Ales Kingdom’s territory. The envoys, who knew the past of various small nations swallowed by Diovaha, turned deathly pale beyond just blue.

“Come to think of it, it really is tempting.”

With an innocent smile, ‘Rosana’ clapped her hands, saying a good idea had occurred to her.

“Should I hint to Mother and my cute little sister? If the empires join hands, wouldn’t the gems easily fall into our hands?”

‘Rosana’ smiled rapturously and asked the envoys’ thoughts.

“What do you think?”

Just thinking about it was horrifying. ‘Rosana’s’ reputation was the worst. Amy, like Rosana, would become Empress someday. She was engaged to Astrot’s Crown Prince.

If those two empires attacked in earnest, they’d collapse in the blink of an eye.

“It would be a good proposal for Astrot too. Rather than buying at a price, wouldn’t they want to obtain them if they could?”

What the envoys hadn’t considered was the relationship between Jade and Rosana. Or perhaps they’d taken Rosana too lightly.

The tone that had been solemn just moments ago changed to one that chuckled mockingly, yet no one noticed it was an act.

“Won’t you answer?”

That’s when it happened.

“Lady Rosana.”

Duke Helpe, standing beside her, spoke heavily.

“How about stopping there?”

“Hm? True, the joke went too far? I only played along since they were joking.”

Shrugging, ‘Rosana’ dismissed all the words the envoys had just proposed to her as a joke.

Awkward laughter filled the hall. ‘Rosana’ said she was tired and leaned back deeply in her chair. There was no time to properly register the beautiful melody and dancers’ movements. She took in the voices of the envoys struggling somehow to lighten the atmosphere.

* * *

Rosana walked silently through the quiet corridor. ‘Rosana’ left the aftermath to Malek and the Duke with a languid expression, saying it was too bothersome and to handle it themselves. 

Having given a clear warning, there seemed to be no one who’d rampage recklessly without knowing their place.

Rosana calmly ignored the gaze persistently following her to the end. Rather, she didn’t spare her mockery until the very last. She smiled, saying you can’t do anything anyway.

As soon as she left the hall, she threw off ‘Rosana’s’ mask. The sneer covering her face disappeared in the blink of an eye. The deliberately clicking shoe sounds also quieted.

Exhausted, Rosana pressed her face against a pillar, letting the cold energy envelop her body. Baron, guarding Rosana’s back, said nothing.

‘Rosana’ had been successful.

In the end, Rosana came down receiving great applause. People showed the reactions she’d anticipated. The stage ended as ‘Rosana’ exited the hall.

Rosana smiled faintly. She’d acted as ‘Rosana,’ yet laughter came. She was flustered that her heart didn’t waver restlessly. She’d expected to be overwhelmed by self-loathing or distress.

But she wasn’t.

Rather…

“Lady Rosana, that was excellent.”

At Baron’s praise-filled words, Rosana’s eyes opened as she walked.

“It’s thanks to the Duke stepping in at the right moment.”

Before stepping onto the stage, Rosana had given Duke Helpe a look. 

To watch appropriately and then step in. She had no actual intention of war. She’d merely given a warning. She’d threatened that they were ready for war at any time.

It was a kingdom that had already knelt once. Then she just needed to make them feel it directly. That sense of loss and helplessness. 

Since they had no way of knowing whether she intended war or not, they were the ones who had to be cautious.

Instinctive fear was already ingrained. At the very least, they’d want to maintain the kingdom’s nominal status.

“No one will deny Lady Rosana’s role was significant.”

“Even with such methods?”

She’d threatened using every trick and crushed their pride. She’d threatened their lives. Rosana didn’t notice, but her tone was self-reproaching. The appearance of ‘Rosana’ that she’d found distasteful and wanted to reject had been helpful.

At Rosana’s sharp tone, Baron said nonchalantly that it was a pointless question.

“Have you forgotten how Diovaha became powerful?”

“…War.”

Rosana, who’d paused briefly, answered. He nodded at her words.

“Yes. Correct. There’s no method as terrible as war.”

At Baron’s matter-of-fact words, Rosana glanced at him. He turned his head to look out the window.

“But we had to. Otherwise, Diovaha’s people, all of us, would have been in danger of death.”

They’d cultivated the desolate imperial palace. Much blood was shed in war. They sacrificed the few for the many and sacrificed others for themselves.

Of course, there was also the reason they moved because the Ales Kingdom was preparing for war to obtain the title of empire. Baron shrugged.

“Though the remarks were dangerously extreme, it’s undeniable they turned negotiations favorably. His Majesty would have used similar methods too.”

At the playfully added words, a smile also formed at the corners of Rosana’s mouth. Baron was someone who’d maintained ties with Jade for a long time. His calm murmur was sincere.

“Excellent…”

Rosana muttered in a breath that seemed about to break. Baron looked at her. Rosana’s expression was truly peculiar. She looked like a child about to cry, yet also like a child happy to receive praise.

“I can’t deny it anymore.”

At her half-resigned words, Baron tried to express puzzlement, but Rosana started walking again. 

Baron couldn’t read the emotion dwelling in her eyes. However, her gait was more confident than anyone’s.

* * *

The sound of fiercely howling wind accompanied by the swishing sound of swinging swords. On the pure white snowfield, large monsters and knights tangled here and there.

Fel struggled against a monster in the deeply sinking snow. Because the applied force was tremendous, his feet sank even deeper into the snow. As a bonus, the blizzard blocking his view made it hard to distinguish what was ahead.

The fortunate point was the monster was the same.

“Your Majesty! Do you plan to just watch!”

“What nonsense. Aren’t I handling the small fry you’re missing?”

“I’m. Asking. You. To. Help. Directly.”

Fel ground his teeth.

The knights confronting monsters also glanced back. Jade was fighting too. Just differently from usual. Completely unlike his previous appearance fighting at the frontlines more than anyone.

While other knights fought for dear life, he was reluctant to get even a drop of blood on him.

Usually, he drew the monsters’ attention from the front and other knights dealt with monsters more easily. But he’d passed that position to Fel. 

Fel suddenly faced the leader. When Fel deflected the force sideways, the monster toppled forward.

“Making a fuss when you’re fighting well.”

Jade said while taking in Fel’s fighting. The reason he wasn’t stepping forward was none other than Rosana. 

Rosana had wished him to return safely, and his reason was she’d be sad if he got injured. Of course, he did help when it was dangerous.

“Don’t you want to see Lady Rosana quickly?!”

“Of course I want to see her.”

“If you abandoned even the imperial palace to come, help us!”

“Right! We’ll tell the lady everything!”

“Rosana believes me more.”

At his cocky expression, the knights’ faces soured.

“I tried to see how much your skills improved. Did guarding the palace dull all your senses?”

“How long have we been guarding the palace for you to say that?!”

However, Jade lightly ignored it, saying someone was badmouthing him.

“But dawdling doesn’t suit my temperament either.”

Jade raised his sword. He’d beheaded the previous leader. Though he’d injured it, he’d merely exposed his side to protect one knight.

“They say they accumulated strength to rise anew, but they’re just leftover dregs. If they wanted revenge, they should have prepared step by step. Too hasty.”

Unlike expectations, it wasn’t particularly difficult. A group that lost 80% of its strength growing in a short time would have been impossible.

The monsters in the rear fled when their leader died. They were likely weak monsters from the start. The rear was easier to flee from, and strong-looking monsters were matched with strong knights. Originally, strong monsters fight at the front more than anyone.

So he’d been watching. Even without Jade stepping in, the knights could sufficiently handle them. It just took time.

“I overestimated them too much. It’s a level that didn’t require me to come.”

“That’s why I begged you to please stay at the imperial palace…!”

Fel, who’d been complaining toward Jade who was saying exactly what he’d said, saw a monster charging again and hurriedly raised his sword.

“Let’s finish up quickly and return.”

At his serious approach, Fel exhaled long in relief.

Then he felt the ground vibrating subtly. The earth shook so much the accumulated snow couldn’t absorb the vibration. He saw the layered snow lifting upward. Jade narrowed his eyes.

It was rare for something to cause such vibration in this vast plain. Jade whipped his head around.

Far away in the white blizzard, something was approaching. It was charging straight through the snow-covered ground. Then Jade’s eyes flashed.

As though Jade had noticed the silhouette’s identity, one knight shouted.

“Your Majesty! It’s Kelpies!!”

Jade, who’d seemed about to help deal with monsters, hurriedly mounted his horse and turned its head. Then he lightly kicked the horse with his foot, urging it to run forward. The horse ran toward the front of the charging Kelpie herd.

Fel turned around in shock.

“Your Majesty?! Will you face them alone?”

“If I leave it to you, the fur will be damaged.”

“…What?”

“Handle the small fry. I’m going to secure the fur.”

When Jade pointed with his finger, ordering them to handle the monsters they were facing, Fel looked at Jade’s retreating figure with an absurd expression. He disappeared far away with the blizzard.

Fel clenched his teeth. He quickly gave instructions to the other knights.

“After handling the monsters, we go help His Majesty!”

“Yes!”

Jade ignored the situation behind him and boldly raised his sword.

“To come seeking your own grave. Coming here was worthwhile. Obediently become my gift.”