‘Ah, so that’s where he went first.’

Thanks to Helios’s words, Nix could understand why Chase hadn’t immediately gone to see Ailexia. Come to think of it, since the emperor had caused the trouble, it made sense that he would visit him first.

“At first I didn’t meet him. I had other things to confirm first.”

Helios recalled the moment Ailexia woke up. The woman who had seemed clumsy and docile had turned back into a cunning fox who didn’t know her place. So he thought it had been his misconception.

But something in the corner of his mind kept bothering him. It felt uncomfortable, like something was blocked that couldn’t be properly resolved, as if he was missing something. He only realized what it was after allowing a private meeting with Chase, which he had been consistently refusing.

“He was furious, asking why I fed her such a thing. Isn’t it funny? The sight of him showing anger for the first time then, when he never showed it even after being pushed away from the imperial throne twice when it was right in front of him.”

When Helios answered carelessly that it was fine since she didn’t die, Chase raged on for a long time, saying that even a small amount could be fatal.

If you’re so worried, take her to the duchy and imprison her by force. Helios felt that his very appearance was like a farce.

That’s when Chase uttered the decisive words.

[“You promised not to kill her, didn’t you make that promise with the late imperial consort!”]

Yes. That promise. The promise with the late imperial consort that he had forgotten, distracted by the absurd situation. Helios finally caught the thread leading to what he had missed.

The late imperial consort had approached Helios to propose a deal for her daughter’s safety, using the late emperor’s lifeline. The essence was that she would help him ascend to the throne early by dirtying her own hands, not Helios’s.

When Helios first heard this, he had scoffed. That hadn’t changed even now. Who did she think she was, not knowing her place and daring to mention the imperial throne? The late imperial consort was nothing more than a pr*stitute with a child that the late emperor had brought back from his recuperation.

Considering how his mother, the late empress, had subjected him to more severe discipline bordering on abuse due to the appearance of those two, it was impossible not to find it amusing when he felt like drawing his sword and cutting them up would not be enough to satisfy him.

Moreover, he had already finished his plans and preparations to usurp the throne even if it meant killing the late emperor. He had something more desperate to find than parents for whom he had no affection. In other words, the late imperial consort’s deal offered him no benefit at all.

But in the end, he accepted the deal. It wasn’t because of the late emperor. After all, he killed his father with his own hands. Why wait for the late imperial consort to become addicted to the slow-burning poison?

Nor was he interested in Ailexia. Why would he be interested in someone who, like her mother, didn’t know her place?

He had only hoped for one thing as an alternative. That was the only reason.

‘In exchange, I was bound by a sorcery contract.’

That he could not kill Ailexia with his own hands, nor could he cause her any harm. If he violated this, the same consequences would come to him as well.

That was the reason he had no choice but to keep Ailexia alive until now.

Of course, that ruffian, being the party concerned, was unaware of these reasons and was simply acting recklessly.

‘It’s a contract only I know about.’

He didn’t know how that cunning woman would exploit it if she knew. So during the contract, he set a condition that she should not tell anyone.

‘When I told her that if she disclosed it to anyone, even to the person concerned, I would kill her daughter along with myself even if it cost me my life, her face turned pale with fear. Seeing that she still doesn’t know, it seems she kept that promise well.’

“Let’s end the preamble here. Now I’d like you to answer my questions.”

Helios, emerging from his thoughts, flashed his eyes at Nix.

“Or should I guess?”

The conclusion he reached, using that contract as a clue, was only one.

“You know the truth. And that is……”

He cannot harm Ailexia. Even a small amount should have resulted in a significant impact on him as well, since she had suffered a major shock.

But that wasn’t the case. Why?

That question could only be resolved with a single answer.

“It seems to be the truth I’ve been hoping for.”

That the Ailexia he fed the financier to wasn’t the real one.

That he had neither been confused nor mistaken.

Helios moved his finger slightly. Then shadows emerging from the darkness surrounded Nix.

“It seems it’s time to end this protracted pursuit, leader of Aether.”

For the first time in 13 years, the fog that had blocked the path cleared.

* * *

Meanwhile, Iella, who had left the secondary palace in a carriage with Chase, had just arrived in the city.

The carriage was filled with an uncomfortable silence, similar to when she was with Aster, making her unable to appreciate its smooth ride, even though it was the opposite of that experience.

Thanks to this, Iella, who had been oppressed by the suffocating atmosphere, hurriedly inhaled as soon as she got out. Only when fresh air filled her lungs did she finally feel like she could breathe.

‘I should have just stayed in the secondary palace.’

The thought that had occurred throughout the carriage ride came to her once more.

But that was only momentary, as the lively scenery of the city filled her vision. Iella stared at the sight, momentarily entranced.

‘So this is what the imperial city feels like.’

It was definitely different from her territory or the Calver duchy. There were more people, and consequently, a bustling and vibrant energy permeated the streets.

“Ailet.”

Just then, Chase, who had been talking with the coachman and a few knights he had brought along, approached her. When she looked at him at the unfamiliar name, he extended his gloved hand.

“You’re so famous that there’s no one who wouldn’t recognize you, but that doesn’t mean we need to reveal everything.”

“My name?”

“Yes. Don’t you like it?”

“It’s just… it seems too familiar.”

Strictly speaking, it didn’t matter to her, but the thought suddenly struck her that if someone saw and rumors spread, it would become troublesome. So as she was indirectly refusing, Chase laughed insipidly.

“Do it even if you hate it. It’s my request.”

Then, before she could place her hand on his outstretched one, he shamelessly grabbed it first. While Iella was bewildered, wondering why he had asked for her opinion if he was going to force it anyway, she was escorted.

Not stopping there, Chase made one more shameless request.

“Call me Ace.”

“…I’ll think about it.”

Iella, who had opened her lips to retort in disbelief, discovered his expression looking happy for the first time and unconsciously closed her mouth again. She couldn’t bring herself to say harsh words to that face. In the end, what came out was just a curt voice.

‘Ailexia wouldn’t have acted like this….’

Though such a thought crossed her mind, it was already water under the bridge. From the beginning, she wasn’t harsh by nature. No matter how much of this was an act, she couldn’t help but hesitate to be cold to someone who was so happy just from going out.

“What would you like to do first? Shall we go to the dress shop first? Or if there’s another store you want to visit, we can go there.”

A light smile finally escaped through Iella’s lips, which had only been sighing at his unusually excited appearance.

Well, in that state, he probably wouldn’t think deeply about how she acted, being too happy.

‘Get a grip.’

With that judgment, Iella urged herself to snap out of it.

She mustn’t forget the purpose for which she had undertaken this dangerous outing. That was important now.

“I just want to walk a bit.”

“If we walk a little past the city, there’s a lakeside where we can go boating. Let’s head that way.”

Iella also knew that there was a large lake on one side after passing through the street lined with shops. It was on the map, and it was a lake with such a long history that it was occasionally described in the Empire’s historical books.

The surroundings were well-maintained, and above all, the lake itself was extremely beautiful, making it famous as a place visited by many people. Those who wandered around the shopping district would stop by to rest, and some would even set it as a meeting place to meet lovers or friends. Because of this, it had naturally become one of the social venues.

‘Is it okay to go together?’

Though she was slightly worried, she soon dismissed it.

Anyway, they were already walking the streets together, calling each other by familiar shortened names, so what difference would one more thing make? It was fine until just now, but in the brief moment she hesitated, several nobles who had been wandering the streets had already recognized Chase and her.

“Let’s go quickly.”

Iella pulled Chase along before those piercing gazes increased. The one fortunate thing was that the size of her bonnet was large enough to cover most of her face unless she was conscious of it.

‘Let’s just quickly survey the city and go back.’

We can just stop by the lake briefly before going. With that thought, she hastened her steps. She looked around naturally, searching one by one for places necessary for escape, such as carriage rental shops.

Chase, watching her from the side, carefully gripped her hand that was placed on his even more tightly.

Because the situation felt like a dream and it seemed she might disappear at any moment, he needed to feel that this was reality.