“Thank you for always guarding me.”

“It’s my job.”

The reason Airix didn’t go to the subjugation battle with Medric was because of Eve.

As the Deputy Commander of the knights, Airix was the second strongest in the Anas Knights after Medric. Though he couldn’t use magic, he excelled in combat and stealth.

If not for Medric’s words, it would have been difficult to know that Airix was by Eve’s side, as his stealth was so excellent.

“It seems you have a reason for calling me like this.”

“I have a favor to ask.”

He tilted his head.

“I’d like you to quickly go and check the situation at the Ptotr royal palace.”

“I cannot.”

Airix shook his head.

“My duty is to guard the Duchess. I have orders from His Grace not to leave your side for even a moment.”

“Please. It’s difficult to send someone else to observe the situation… It’s hard to find someone with stealth skills as excellent as yours.”

“I still cannot.”

Airix was adamant.

But Eve needed his strength.

“There’s no place safer than this Archild mansion right now. You must know that.”

“……”

All troops had been deployed for the subjugation battle. The Grand Duchy’s forces would currently be waiting near the border, and the remaining main forces would be heading toward the Ptotr royal palace.

There was no danger to Archild.

“I can’t send an ordinary person to the royal palace now. They would struggle to even stay alive, let alone bring back news. That’s why I’m asking Lord Airix.”

Eve needed a capable person who could infiltrate the chaotic royal palace, stay alive, and safely bring back news.

Above all, Eve was safe as long as she didn’t leave the mansion. She couldn’t waste such a talented person by keeping him merely by her side.

“You can go and come back quickly, can’t you? I’ll stay here quietly with His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Princess without going out.”

“……”

“As you know, His Highness the Crown Prince is an awakened mage. There won’t be any danger if I stay by his side.”

“…Must I be the one to go?”

“Yes, as I told you. No one can go and return as reliably and quickly as you can. It’s important to know the situation at the royal palace right now.”

Airix contemplated.

“You really don’t need to worry. If you don’t go, I’ll have no choice but to go myself. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”

At her words, which sounded almost like a threat, Airix finally surrendered.

“…You must never tell His Grace about this. My head could roll.”

Eve vigorously shook her head up and down at his words.

“I promise.”

Airix finally, albeit reluctantly, agreed to Eve’s request and said he would go, then disappeared in the blink of an eye.

After blankly watching him come like the wind and disappear like the wind, Eve came to her senses and took out a notebook from the drawer. She sat down and began to review the situation again.

By now, Duter would probably arrive at the Ptotr royal palace within a few hours.

No one knew whether he would follow Eve’s plan or go further and wage the war he wanted.

What if he chose the latter and acted on it?

With the royal bloodline, the Crown Prince and Princess, safely protected at the Archild mansion, the succession rights wouldn’t pass to the Grand Duke. If they could buy a little time, the Papal Office would intervene in the kingdom, and there was a high probability that the Grand Duke would be expelled from the kingdom.

‘Grand Duke, how will you move?’

***

Duter hurriedly took control of the Grand Council and summoned the elders.

It was no wonder that the elders were surprised and rushed to the royal palace at once, as the Grand Council was convened not by Gregory Habsburg, the King of Ptotr, but by Duter Betenberg, the ruler of the Lonavita Grand Duchy.

Even as they came to the Ptotr royal palace, they wondered if Gregory would actually be there. The sudden transfer of Grand Council authority was unprecedented.

The elders, scattered across various regions, arrived at the royal palace one after another. Less than an hour after Duter’s summons, the empty seats in the Grand Council chamber began to fill.

“My, the Grand Duke Duter really…”

The Grand Council chamber was controlled by soldiers under Duter’s command.

The elders’ faces began to pale as they sensed that a major upheaval was occurring in Ptotr.

“It’s been a while. Thank you all for coming on such short notice.”

Although one or two seats were still empty, Duter couldn’t delay any longer. He needed to take all authority immediately, in case the Papal Office arrived at any moment. Duter looked around at the elders seated in the Grand Council chamber and continued speaking.

“Since we don’t have time, I’ll get straight to the point. Former King Gregory Habsburg has passed away.”

At these blunt words, the elders gasped.

No one could speak.

The elders even began to wonder if they were mishearing due to their age.

“Wait, the King’s passing hasn’t even been officially announced yet. What do you mean ‘former King’? Mind your address.”

One of the elders stood up and spoke.

He was a distant relative of Gregory, not of royal blood, but more supportive of the royal family than anyone else present.

It was natural that no one would believe it if suddenly told that the King had passed away.

Duter looked at the elder as if he had said exactly what was expected, grinned, and raised something he was holding.

The chamber instantly fell silent.

What Duter was holding was Gregory’s arm with the Ptotr seal ring, the Habsburg family heirloom.

“Will you believe me now?”

“This… this can’t be…”

The elders were too shocked to speak.

Duter slammed his fist on the table to capture their attention. Satisfied that all eyes were on him, Duter began to speak.

“The reason I summoned you all is simple.”

A soldier waiting behind Duter approached and handed him a document.

Then he pushed the fluttering papers in front of each elder.

The words written on the white paper made those who saw them gasp in disbelief.

“I need you to formally acknowledge that I have the right of succession to the Ptotr throne.”

The elders were people who had been respected even by the King of Ptotr throughout their lives.

Now, a king from a neighboring country without any formal right of succession to Ptotr was trying to control them. They couldn’t just stand by.

Moreover, the right of succession to the Ptotr throne? It was nonsense to the elders.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying at all. Even if His Majesty the King has passed away, it’s natural that the next in line of succession becomes king. Do you think we would give the right of succession to a foreign king who demands it?”

“Where are His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Princess? If the King has indeed passed away, it seems right to report to them first and let them decide.”

Duter inwardly suppressed his desire to sweep away all these annoying old men, controlling his anger. Now he needed to persuade them as quickly as possible to stamp the document.

“The Crown Prince and Princess are also dead. Since I am married to Roanne Habsburg, surely you wouldn’t bring in some unknown person to sit on the throne. Aren’t I the closest to the throne?”

To be precise, Glishakov and Juliana were scheduled to die. They were still alive, but as good as dead, so he spoke as such.

At Duter’s words, the chamber began to stir.

“Nonsense! That can’t be. There’s no evidence!”

“Let us meet His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Princess!”

Bang! Duter struck the table.

“If I say they’re dead, they’re dead. Let’s stop talking about the Crown Prince and Princess, it’s irritating. And.”

At Duter’s gesture, the soldiers standing guard all approached behind the seated elders. Their eyes gleamed menacingly, as if they would draw their swords at the slightest movement.

The elders could only listen to Duter’s words, frozen in place, unable to move or speak.

“It seems you don’t understand the situation…”

Duter threw Gregory’s severed arm onto the table.

“I don’t want to see any more blood.”

At these threatening words, the elders could no longer speak.

The elders exchanged glances, unsure of how to handle this bewildering situation.

Duter gestured to his soldiers to step back.

“Now, choose. Will you stay here until you stamp the seal, or will you stamp it quickly and leave this place?”

Though his words seemed relaxed, Duter was inwardly anxious about the situation.

If he delayed any longer here and the Papal Office arrived, it would be disadvantageous for Duter.

‘I just need a majority.’

He needed to do more than just threaten with words. Duter looked around and approached an elder who had been trembling since earlier. When Duter approached, the trembling elder flinched, hunched his shoulders, and began to shake even more.

Duter whispered quietly into his ear.

“If you value your life, it would be better to stamp it.”

***

Airix returned with news from the Ptotr royal palace after half a day.

Eve stared blankly at Airix before asking again.

“So… King Gregory has passed away, and Grand Duke Duter is getting the elders’ seals to become king?”

“Yes.”

Eve covered her forehead with her hand.

“I was going to observe the situation longer, but I thought it more important to deliver this news quickly, so I returned without seeing it through to the end.”

“…Yes, thank you.”

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

Airix bowed his head slightly and disappeared like the wind.

Eve slumped onto the sofa.

She had expected Duter to kill Gregory.

But actually hearing it now that it had happened, an indescribable whirlwind of emotions swept through her.

Eve took a deep breath.

‘The death of Gregory that I had desired so desperately.’

Memories of what Gregory had done unfolded like a panorama in her mind.

He had not only destroyed the Modga family by falsely accusing them of treason, but he had also killed everyone bearing the name ‘Modga.’ Except for Eve and Ivan.

“Ha.”