But even if everyone points fingers at the Emperor’s greed right now, in the end, it would be the Emperor who would distribute the appetizing pie that was the Kingdom of Reibritton. If Reibritton were to fall perfectly, that greed would be recorded in the victor’s history as the Emperor’s decision for the prosperity of the Empire.

“But the Emperor died before things were wrapped up, so my position has become quite ambiguous.”

The Emperor should have left when everyone was applauding the victory. He should have left after ravishing the princess who brought about Reibritton’s downfall, beheading the escaped king, and feeding the not-so-small chunks of Reibritton’s land into the mouths of the Empire’s nobles.

However, unfortunately, the Emperor couldn’t do that, and he died leaving behind only the public’s finger-pointing at his desire for the young princess and the yet-to-be-fully-absorbed Reibritton.

The reason why Ivanstein, who actually dyed Reibritton red with blood, could be free from that finger-pointing was only one. Because he was the Emperor’s beautiful hunting dog.

For generations, the Ivanstein ducal family had never refused the Emperor’s will. When ordered, they obeyed. That was precisely why the Ivanstein ducal family, despite standing above all other nobles of the Empire, was guaranteed a secure position from the imperial family.

“I can’t continue to attack Reibritton, nor can I let it go.”

Now that the Emperor who gave the order has disappeared, all eyes in the Empire would be focused on the moves of Genoa, the Duke of Ivanstein. Indeed, how does the Duke of Ivanstein view this war?

“So you’re struggling between the dishonor of agreeing with the Emperor’s justification and the enormous benefits Reibritton would bring.”

“That’s right.”

Seeing that Mel was grasping the situation correctly, Genoa’s expression became even more blatant.

“A true noble desires both honor and profit at once.”

The noble aristocrats. They saw being true to their desires as the most aristocratic thing. That’s why they craved the power to fulfill those desires. Genoa Ivanstein was the very embodiment of what nobles aspired to be. So there was no way he wouldn’t desire both justification and profit.

Mel now had a vague idea of what Genoa wanted from her. She also understood why she needed to exist as the princess of Reibritton.

“Are you saying that I, as the princess of Reibritton, should voluntarily hand over the kingdom to the Empire?”

The princess was abandoned. By the hands of the King of Reibritton. The poor people of Reibritton didn’t even know that the princess was imprisoned in the palace by the King’s hand. They would only know one fact: that the King abandoned them and fled, while the princess did not.

The misunderstanding of the Reibritton people would soon become an appropriate justification. Even if that misunderstanding snowballs and swallows up Reibritton, the King will never be able to clear up that misunderstanding. Mel realized what she could hold in her hand and wield.

“Are you someone who can do that, Your Highness?”

The only one who could put that in her hands was one person. The beautiful but potentially infinitely cruel messenger of the Raon Empire, and her former master whom she had betrayed long ago.

It was Genoa Ivanstein.

* * *

“The hero returns!”

Cheers erupted from the imperial citizens every time the Duke of Ivanstein’s carriage passed through the capital’s gates. It was the return of the war hero, Duke Genoa Ivanstein. With the Emperor’s death still unknown, the entire Raon Empire was in a festive mood.

The incident where the King of Reibritton fled in fear before Duke Ivanstein’s sword was already headlined in the newspapers. Along with it was a brief article stating that only the beautiful princess had stood alone before Duke Ivanstein’s army to defend the palace for Reibritton’s honor.

The beautiful princess of Reibritton Kingdom, whom the Emperor had so desired. The areas inside and outside the gates were packed with imperial citizens who wanted to catch even a glimpse of Princess Amelia Reibritton’s face.

“They say white flags were hung everywhere Duke Ivanstein passed, right?”

“Yes, yes. The knights of Reibritton were swept away like waves before the Duke’s blade!”

“Is the Reibritton princess really in one of those carriages now?”

“That’s what they say. To think she guarded the palace to the end when even the King abandoned it, truly a treasure of the kingdom.”

“What does it matter? In the end, she’s bound to suffer all sorts of humiliation from our Emperor……”

“To covet a young and beautiful princess at his age, I’m too ashamed to even lift my head.”

To them, the old Emperor’s misconduct was a source of shame, while Duke Ivanstein’s bravery was a source of pride. The imperial citizens lamented the fall of the noble princess and praised the Duke’s aristocratic manners for respecting her to the end by transporting her to the Empire in a carriage.

As the imperial citizens’ interest in the princess grew day by day, the Empire’s social circles also began to take notice of her. The nobles who knew of the Emperor’s death anticipated the moves of the princess who had nowhere to go.

“I hope Duke Ivanstein will show mercy to the poor princess.”

“Now that His Majesty has passed away, whose arms will the princess fall into?”

“Surely it will be one of the two princes who will ascend to the throne, won’t it?”

“Surely they wouldn’t take a princess who’s lost her kingdom as an Empress?”

“It’s hard to say. His late Majesty intended to make the princess his Empress before the war, so they might carry on that wish.”

Low-grade expectations and mockery disguised as sympathy pervaded the social circles. The value of a toy the Emperor never got to hold was quite high. The princess’s will was not a consideration. Such was the fate of a princess from a defeated country. The only lovable aspect she could possess was her pitiful state of being swayed by their whims.

Some imagined embracing the princess, while others already tasted the thrill of looking down on the fallen princess.

“…I wonder how long those faces will last.”

Genoa slightly lifted the carriage curtain to observe the joyful expressions of the imperial citizens.

The moment the Emperor’s death is announced, the festival will end. Will they rejoice at his death, or will they mourn? One thing is certain: their intense curiosity, staring at the carriage hoping to catch a glimpse of the princess, will soon dissipate.

Genoa’s expressionless face was tinged with pervasive boredom.

“This is today’s social gazette published by Loanz.”

Bane handed the social gazette to Genoa. Genoa examined the largest headline on the front page of the newspaper.

‘Loanz’ was a social gazette that every imperial citizen of Raon, noble or commoner alike, subscribed to and enjoyed reading. This is how Loanz evaluated the return of Duke Ivanstein:

[Was It The Emperor Or Duke Ivanstein Who Turned Reibritton’s Treasure Into The Kingdom’s Nightmare?]

After confirming the title, Genoa spoke in an amused voice.

“Marchioness Rosemary is so merciful to the princess. Should we say that’s fortunate?”

Genoa chuckled softly, imagining the timid face of the Marchioness hidden behind the social gazette.

“The rumors about the princess seem positive. With Loanz backing her, she’ll probably hold out for a few days.”

“Keep it at an appropriate level until His Majesty’s funeral is over.”

“Yes, I’ll give those instructions.”

Even as he said this, Bane closely observed Genoa’s face. Genoa’s gaze was still fixed on the Loanz social gazette.

At some point, Bane had become unable to discern his lord’s intentions from his face. When he heard the news of the Emperor’s death, Bane couldn’t shake the feeling that everything had gone awry. With the main reason for attacking Reibritton gone, it had become difficult to control the chaotic situation both externally and internally.

In this state, Bane’s limited thinking couldn’t fathom why Genoa ordered to positively adjust the public opinion about the princess within the Empire.

Bane hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“My lord.”

“What?”

“…What kind of conversation did you have with the princess that day?”

After receiving the news of the Emperor’s death, Genoa had many private conversations with the princess. No one dared to enter the room where the Duke and the princess were talking, and that included Bane.

“Hmm? Ah……”

The corners of Genoa’s mouth, which had been set in a straight line, curved up slightly into a pleasant arc. Genoa’s gaze, as he closed the social gazette, drifted to a distant void. At the end of that gaze, the princess’s face during their conversation seemed to be painted.

“An interesting talk.”

Genoa answered briefly like this, then turned to the last page of the social gazette he was reading.

“……”

Unable to ask further, Bane bowed his head and left the carriage. Waaah, the cheers of the imperial citizens assaulted his ears. As he took over the horse from the soldier who was driving it and mounted the saddle, Bane sighed. Behind him, his adjutant Michelo followed and asked.

“Is it true that our lord is taking the princess to the ducal residence?”