Nertian couldn’t believe what his father had said. His father, who had made him the heir and never interfered much with what he did, had said something truly shocking.

“Stop bothering Fazel.”

Duke Zieten—no, Aegis—spoke quietly to Nertian. Nertian gritted his teeth and asked once more.

“Do you truly mean that?”

The next words were the worst.

“He may soon become your brother.”

“Father!”

“I won’t take Suran as a concubine, but I will acknowledge Fazel as my son myself. He can’t inherit the dukedom, but since he’s my son, I’ll grant him a title and territory.”

Aegis slowly approached Nertian.

“So you should know that and adjust your attitude accordingly.”

Father had been indifferent.

Even when Fazel came to this house and was abused by others, he ignored it and never looked back. Even when Fazel asked for help, he just passed by coldly.

That same father was showing a completely different attitude after one word from Louelle.

“Why on earth?”

“I don’t need to tell you.”

Aegis warned Nertian.

“If you don’t want to lose everything you have, do as you’re told.”

Under Aegis’s cold gaze, Nertian bit his lip.

* * *

Fazel and Father greeted me when I safely returned to the territory. I spent tea time with them and casually mentioned some of what I’d discussed with the Duke.

“He said he’d keep his son in line.”

“What did you do?”

Fazel asked.

“It’s a secret.”

This was also a promise I made with the Duke.

Fazel didn’t dig deeper. Father didn’t either.

“Duke Zieten wants to have dinner?”

Father stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“Dinner!”

Fazel jumped up and paced around.

“That’s what His Grace said.”

I looked at Father. He was thinking rationally while Fazel was agitated.

“Ha, what! At this point. But he’ll give me a title and territory? Why didn’t you say you’d accept, Louelle?”

Fazel asked curiously.

I spoke like it was obvious.

“Because it’s not mine. You’re the one who should receive it, and you might refuse.”

Then Fazel shook his head firmly.

“Why would I refuse! If he’s giving me a separate territory, of course I should accept.”

At Fazel’s behavior, Father asked, “Isn’t His Grace the Duke uncomfortable?”

Fazel nodded.

“That’s different from this. I have to use everything I can use.”

Father clapped his hands.

“Right, it’s foolish to throw away benefits because of personal feelings.”

At Father’s satisfied face, Fazel shrugged his shoulders.

“Of course. I’ll have dinner with him anytime. I’m ready. I can even politely call him Father.”

No, not that far.

“That’s so like you, Fazel.”

“What is?”

“Overflowing with ambition.”

Fazel looked at me and asked.

“So knowing that, you didn’t decide on the spot.”

He asked again like he was confirming.

“It’s your matter, Fazel.”

Fazel’s opinion should come first.

“That’s right. This is something I should decide. But usually, others decide and just notify you. If I become a noble with territory, it’s good for you too.”

That was true, but I shook my head.

“I’d be fine even if you were a noble without territory. And probably even if the Duke didn’t step in, His Majesty wouldn’t just sit still, right?”

The title would probably happen somehow anyway, wouldn’t it?

“Well, that’s true. Because you’re royalty.”

Saying that, Fazel stared at me intently, then shook his head. Why is he doing that? Did I do something wrong?

“Anyway.”

He smiled at the end.

Because he smiled when he usually had a stern expression, my heart fluttered.

I wished he would smile more often.

His smiling face was pretty enough that I wanted to paint a portrait of it.

* * *

He didn’t know how long it had been since he came home. Fazel only returned home after confirming for a whole week that no assassins came.

At dinner with his mother after so long, Fazel told Suran about Louelle.

“I wonder if she’s pure, or just pretending.”

Then Suran laughed.

“Why do you say that, Fazel?”

He tilted his head.

“I sometimes can’t understand Louelle.”

She was the greatest mystery in his life.

“She’s a pure person.”

At Suran’s words, Fazel spoke incredulously.

“She’s not stupid, and she’s pure while not being pure. And…”

He recalled in his mind again the words he’d muttered alone before Louelle left for the Duke’s household.

‘She’s so good at saying touching things.’

He was moved by Louelle but wouldn’t tell her even if he died. He was embarrassed enough to twist his whole body.

“She’s a strange person.”

Fazel cut off his words, then continued.

“It seems you view her more favorably than before.”

Suran spoke with relief.

It seemed like just yesterday that her son was wary of Louelle.

“I’ve acknowledged she’s a good person.”

Fazel said that and smiled.

“It wouldn’t be bad to have the young lady as a friend.”

At Suran’s words, Fazel agreed.

“Of course. But I’m worried about what will happen when the contract engagement ends. Things are spreading too big.”

It started as a contract engagement.

But now he was receiving a title with territory.

He thought it wouldn’t be just a simple contract engagement, but he didn’t know things would get this big.

“Mother suspected things would turn out this way.”

At Suran’s words, Fazel leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms behind his head.

“I’ll have to desperately search for a reason to break off the engagement later.”

Then Suran smiled mysteriously.

Whether he could actually break it off.

She could see Louelle’s heart, and she didn’t know if Louelle, who was conquering Fazel step by step, would let him go easily.

“What’s with that smile?”

Toward her son who still knew nothing, Suran waved her finger.

“It’s a secret.”

Fazel jumped up.

“Mother?”

“I don’t need to tell my son everything, do I?”

Suran didn’t tell Fazel about Louelle’s intentions.

* * *

Nertian raged.

“That bastard Fazel!”

Lesanelle was also angry, but she held it in and stopped her son.

“Don’t get excited.”

Then Nertian clicked his tongue at Lesanelle, who was maintaining her composure.

“Aren’t you angry, Mother? Father is protecting and helping that illegitimate child.”

Lesanelle thought of her husband, Aegis.

After meeting Louelle Asnel, her husband had changed his attitude.

“The young lady made her move.”

Nertian, who spat out a curse, ground his teeth.

“He’s got nothing but a pretty face!”

At his words, Lesanelle elegantly stood up and patted her son’s shoulder.

“Opportunities will come again.”

“Mother?”

“For now, you need to stay quiet. He’s truly persistent. But… he’s also human, so there will be openings. Until then, do your work.”

Nertian hadn’t been accepted to the Academy yet.

Fazel said he was preparing for the Academy too. He couldn’t lose to him.

“Of course.”

Nertian bit his lip.

“You must get into the Academy and become a mage.”

That was the shortcut to solidifying his position as heir.

Nertian knew that too.

“I understand.”

“I’m counting only on you.”

Lesanelle embraced Nertian.

* * *

Objects made of gold were displayed in showcases. On the wall was a picture carved and drawn in gold—a massive lion picture symbolizing the Karna Empire.

The Emperor sat with his back to that picture.

“You want to give a title to an illegitimate child? You?”

The Emperor looked at Aegis searchingly.

Given the Duke’s personality, there was no way he’d care for an illegitimate child without reason.

“Isn’t he engaged to royalty? Of course I should give it.”

The man watching Aegis—Kaisiel Ruran Karna, Emperor of the Karna Empire—laughed softly.

“You’re not trying to marry your son to Louelle?”

Then Aegis smiled.

“He’s also my son.”

“Interesting. I’ll allow it for now. It’s not good to see our niece just engaged to an illegitimate child.”

Aegis bowed his head.

“Your grace is boundless.”

It was just a formality, but it didn’t suit the Duke to say it.

After Aegis left, Kaisiel stared at the documents he left behind for a long time.

“Louelle Asnel, I hope she resembles my sister a lot.”

My sister truly had no ambition.

She was purer than anyone, someone who seemed like she shouldn’t exist in this world.

“What are you thinking about?”

The door opened and Sezanne entered.

“Empress, come in.”

Kaisiel stood and approached Sezanne, the Empress.

“It seems the Duke visited.”

At Sezanne’s words, Kaisiel nodded and showed her the documents.

“He came because of Louelle.”

She looked at the documents and nodded.

“I want to meet both Louelle and Fazel. They’re among the few royals. I hope they’ll dote on our child.”

Sezanne spoke while touching her pregnant belly. Then Kaisiel grasped that hand and whispered.

“Louelle needs to resemble my sister a lot. Otherwise, it’ll be troublesome.”

The reason he suddenly decided to give her succession rights was because Sezanne became pregnant.

“You’re cunning.”

Sezanne, who knew all her husband’s thoughts, looked at him and said. Then Kaisiel smiled affectionately.

“It’s all for our heir. I need to identify the sprouts early.”

But his words were cold.

“If you’d just left it alone, nothing would have happened.”

At Sezanne’s words, Kaisiel shook his head.

“You never know what will happen in life.”

So it wasn’t bad to learn about Louelle in advance.

“But Count Asnel is fine, isn’t he?”

“He’s special. That’s why I have expectations for Louelle too.”

Kaisiel spoke favorably.

“When should we summon them?”

At Sezanne’s words, Kaisiel pondered.

“Summer is hot. Autumn would be good.”

It shouldn’t be hot so Sezanne could move easily. And it was good for traveling too.

No matter how developed warping was, it still took a good week from the Asnel region to the capital.

“I’ll prepare according to the schedule.”

“Thank you for your trouble.”

Kaisiel kissed his wife in the office where sunlight streamed in. Then he stroked the belly where their precious heir was growing.