After the investiture ceremony for Saint Liese, Leopold fell into deep thought.

If Noah Diaz was truly in league with the dark mages, simply confining him to the mansion would not be enough.

However, he was a Duke of Atlan. He couldn’t hastily pass judgment on the events in Helmir Forest based on mere suspicions.

“Richard.”

At his call, Richard, who was standing outside the office, opened the door and entered.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Bring Walter.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

Richard left the office.

Planning to discuss how to handle the current situation with Walter, Leopold actually wanted to quickly conclude not just Noah Diaz’s case but all matters at hand.

Knock knock–

“Come in.”

Thud—!

“I greet the glory of Atlan.”

“I called you for a consultation. Please, take a seat.”

Leopold, who was sitting in front of the desk, got up and moved to the sofa. Walter also took a seat on the sofa.

“You don’t look well. Is it because of Noah Diaz?”

“Yes. For now, I have him confined in the mansion. He is, after all, a member of the Atlan imperial family and a duke. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that he had close ties with dark mages.”

Leopold smoothed his chin thoughtfully.

Noah Diaz had promised to reveal everything once the matter was settled, but when Diaton and Bill died, he remained silent.

What could he be thinking?

Leopold narrowed his eyes.

“For now, it seems best to incarcerate him in the palace dungeon.”

The palace dungeon was where political offenders who challenged the imperial authority or plotted rebellion were imprisoned, managed jointly by the imperial knights and mages.

If Noah Diaz was involved with dark magic, his powers needed to be neutralized by the mages’ magic.

However,

“That pretext must exist. Although Atlan is currently governed by strong authority and rotates between the imperial family and Atlan, there are still those who seek to elevate Noah Diaz to power. We must be cautious since there are still those who may attempt to do so.”

Leopold pondered if there were insufficient grounds to incarcerate him.

There were only suspicions that Noah Diaz had connections with dark mages; there was no decisive evidence.

“Walter, wasn’t Hyle with Helmir Forest?”

“Yes.”

“Since this matter involves life and death situations, based on their testimonies, it seems appropriate to incarcerate them. It was an incident where even the Empress of Atlan almost lost her life. Moreover, they fearlessly rushed into the noble hunt where nobles’ lives were at stake, didn’t they?”

Leopold nodded at Walter’s words.

Although it seemed like there were suspicions, there was no evidence. So they couldn’t impose a severe punishment right away; if he was just incarcerated, there wouldn’t be much resistance.

“How is public opinion among the nobles?”

“The noblewomen and young ladies who were present at the hunt are reportedly suffering from shock and mental distress. Therefore, there are also those waiting for Your Majesty’s decision on this matter.”

“I see…”

Thanks to Walter’s prompt actions, Leopold felt relieved of his worries.

“Have Noah Diaz locked in the palace dungeon. Immediately.”

Leopold said so then got up and walked to the desk. From the drawer, he took out a paper with a golden band wrapped around it and wrote with a pen.

「Imprison Noah Diaz, who has plunged the Atlan Empire into chaos, in the palace dungeon.」

As Leopold held out the paper, Walter stood up from his seat and took the paper.

“I will carry out the order, Your Majesty.”

Walter bowed his head.

***

Upon hearing the news that Noah Diaz, who had been confined in the mansion, had been safely imprisoned in the dungeon, Leopold felt relieved.

“He walked in without any resistance, obediently with his own feet.”

Listening to Walter’s report from his visit, Leopold furrowed his eyebrows.

‘What kind of game is he playing…’

He didn’t answer any questions during the interrogation, and now they said he entered the dungeon obediently without resisting.

After finishing his work and returning, Leopold sat quietly leaning against the head of the bed lost in thought.

“Leo. Do you want to go for a walk?”

Ariel, who was about to finish the day after dinner, thought she shouldn’t just leave him alone when she saw his pensive expression.

‘He must not be feeling good because of Noah Diaz.’

Ariel was also worried that confining Noah Diaz in the mansion was not a safe way, since she thought he was related to Diaton.

After hearing from May that he had been imprisoned in the palace dungeon, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Lost in deep thought, Leopold didn’t hear her calling out to him.

“Leo.”

“Uh, yes.”

Leopold, who was looking at the bed, turned his gaze towards Ariel.

“If we look at the scenery of the courtyard while walking, your uneasy feelings will be somewhat relieved.”

“Sounds like a good idea.”

As Leopold’s stiff face relaxed, a smile formed on his lips.

“Let’s go.”

Ariel took his hand. She felt the rough palm with calluses on her hand. His firm hand led her as they walked together.

“Richard. Release all the servants.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Leopold’s command, Richard dismissed the servants who were following behind them. He also stood at the entrance of the courtyard.

“If you need anything, please call me anytime.”

“Thank you, Richard.”

Richard smiled and bowed at Ariel’s greeting.

Leopold and Ariel entered the courtyard.

The sky was tinted with pink, clouds scattered gently, and a faint moon rose above them. The chirping of birds spread through the air.

Droplets sparkled on the grass, as though it had not been long since they were watered, and flowers were bathed in the evening glow.

The peacefulness of nature enveloped the two.

‘You did well.’

Ariel’s anxious heart settled calmly. She looked down at Leopold’s hand that firmly held hers.

A hand covered in scars and tiny wounds from battles. Ariel liked his rough hand. It spoke of his intense life.

When that hand caressed her cheek, trailing down her body, she felt exhilarated.

The rough hand brushing down her spine felt so tender and warm that she couldn’t help but close her eyes and moan in his arms.

‘Oh… What am I thinking.’

The faint twilight spread across her cheek as well.

But Leopold still hesitantly brushed her hand with his thumb.

“Leo.”

“Hmm.”

Leopold stopped walking at her call.

‘It looks like he’s smiling.’

Shadows fell on his face against the red evening glow, making it difficult to see.

“May said, that even if such a thing happens again, we can overcome it just like we have so far.”

Leopold thought that walking while holding Ariel’s hand would quickly improve his mood. But when he actually did it, it wasn’t as simple as he thought.

Looking at her vibrant trees exuding vitality, he fell into thought again.

But after hearing Ariel’s words, his heart felt heavy and then it lightened.

‘El is right. Just worrying won’t solve anything.’

He felt choked up. He had to respond but couldn’t speak. Afraid he might burst into tears mixed with sobs.

To calm his mind, Leopold took a deep breath.

When no response came from him, Ariel added,

“So don’t worry too much about Noah Diaz. You’re not alone. I’m here, Evan is here too. Trust the people by your side.”

Ariel believed that even if her comfort didn’t reach Leopold, sincerity always finds a way. Although he might not be able to accept her words right now, she believed that he would understand her intentions someday.

Thud!

Leopold embraced her as if he was collapsing, and Ariel reached out to embrace his waist with her arms. He buried his face in Ariel’s shoulder.

“I know. You were so afraid of losing me…”

“Yeah.”

His voice was moist as he answered shortly and simply.

“I regained my mana. I won’t be helpless anymore.”

“Yeah…”

“Lift your head.”

He raised his face to look at her.

‘How cute.’

His deep and stern eyes softened, and tears seemed to well up, as if they would flow out at any moment when he closed his eyes.

Ariel stood on her tiptoes and lifted her heel. Her smiling red lips almost touched his eyes filled with tears.