“I’m asking why you didn’t report to me first about Editon being outside. Why do you make me repeat myself two, three times?”

After beating the servant for quite some time as if venting his anger, Rihast stepped back a couple of paces, frowning as if his hands and feet were starting to hurt. His hands and feet were covered in sticky blood. Other servants watching this scene rushed in, seemingly accustomed to it, wiping the blood off his shoes with clothes. They had to hurry before he could make another scene about dirty blood touching him.

Rihast snatched the cloth from the servants and said while looking at the unconscious old servant.

“Is he dead?”

“……He’s still breathing.”

“Is that so? As expected of my person.”

A hint of inner satisfaction could be detected in Rihast’s voice. The faces of servants secretly clicking their tongues turned pale.

“Take him away for treatment and bring him back clean before tomorrow morning. I want to appreciate him.”

“Yes.”

The servants dragged out the nearly dead old servant from the bedroom. Editon, who had been waiting for the commotion to die down through the open door gap, entered with a friendly smile.

“You seem to be in a good mood, Your Highness.”

“Hmm? Ah, yes. Perhaps because I can finally see that precious face today?”

Rihast threw the society newsletter he had been reading at Editon. The newsletter slapped Editon’s cheek before falling limply to the floor.

“Would you explain why I have to see the Reibritton princess together with everyone else, Editon?”

Editon’s Adam’s apple bobbed loudly as he swallowed at Rihast’s sharp voice.

“……”

He carefully picked up the society newsletter that had fallen at his feet.

Unlike the recent society newsletters that had covered gloomy topics like the dishonorable rumors surrounding the emperor’s death or interviews containing emotional confessions from Viscountess Geneve, the emperor’s former mistress, this showed a different aspect.

The empire was now emerging from the shadow cast by the emperor’s death and painting a brilliant future ahead — this sentiment was evident even in this society newsletter. The proof was how Amelia, the princess of Reibritton who had briefly hesitated after the emperor’s death, was now gaining attention.

Society was currently heated up over the princess adorned with noble pitifulness.

[Interview With Truvian Head Seamstress Who Received The Princess Of Reibritton’s Dress Order]

[How Far Should The Empire Go For A Prisoner From An Enemy Country?]

[The Jewel On The Princess’s Necklace When the Reibritton Palace Fell Was Sapphire]

[The Reibritton princess sought help from the righteous empire while her kingdom’s people fell into despair from the corrupt king……]

[A suspicious person from Reibritton was arrested attempting arson in front of Duke Ivanstein’s mansion gate. He strongly criticized the empire for holding the princess hostage……]

[The Princess of Reibritton briefly appeared to comfort Reibritton refugees who had gathered at Duke Ivanstein’s mansion.]

Every small step she took, every minor incident related to her, delightfully circulated among the nobles.

The emperor was dead, and the position that lost its master remained vacant. While imperial nobles were being careful with every action, one exception had appeared.

Someone easy to criticize, easy to revere, and easy to manipulate.

“I hear thoughtless gentlemen have already started betting on the weight of the Reibritton princess’s b*ttocks.”

“……”

“Should I be treated like a scale, Editon?”

Rihast wiped the blood off his fist with a handkerchief while not hiding his obvious displeasure. When it didn’t clean off as well as expected, he irritably threw the handkerchief at Editon’s face too.

“Explain.”

“Your Highness.”

“If you’re not confident in giving an explanation I can accept, you’d better start biting this first.”

Editon’s throat bobbed heavily. Rihast clearly disliked the subtle rumors spreading between the princess of Reibritton and himself as prince.

‘How did public opinion turn into this atmosphere?’

As rumors are noiseless yet clamorous, Editon couldn’t understand why this rumor had swollen so enormously.

The flower basket and note that Rihast couldn’t even remember had somehow become the most romantic confession method among imperial citizens. If someone made candles from the flower basket and lit them in front of windows, it meant accepting the confession, while scattering dried petals meant rejection.

Editon already knew how the story of the princess making candles from the First Prince’s flower basket and explaining it to her maid had spread so far throughout the empire.

“The princess probably didn’t do it intentionally. Bored imperial citizens probably started following what began as just a pastime for a captive with nothing else to do.”

“And?”

“If Your Highness reminds other nobles that it’s undignified behavior to be swayed by the words of worthless people……”

Thud.

Rihast’s foot flew into Editon’s shin. Editon couldn’t even scream as he squeezed his eyes shut and collapsed to the floor.

“Are you saying I’m behaving without dignity? Huh? Because I’m being swayed by what they’re saying like this!”

Rihast picked up the fallen society newsletter and threw it at Editon, then picked it up and threw it again repeatedly. The papers tore and ripped, falling like snow over him.

“Such a frivolous scandal has attached to me, who will ascend to the throne! Who will revere me as an authoritative emperor!”

“……”

“Find a solution!”

What Rihast wanted was clear. To increase his presence among those who assumed Rudrich would naturally ascend to the throne. Rihast sincerely believed the empire’s authority would crumble if he, the emperor’s firstborn and the First Prince, didn’t become emperor.

Yet at such an important time, he disliked how the nobles were expecting some romance with an insignificant enemy princess instead of focusing on what qualities and abilities Rihast had as emperor.

“Is this the result of following your suggestion to use the Reibritton princess?”

“Wasn’t it a plan Your Highness agreed to? Reibritton will be the empire’s most important……”

“What do you think everyone will think if I contact and talk with the princess now? They’ll think we’re exchanging shallow romantic words rather than negotiating for the empire and kingdom’s interests!”

Rihast’s eyes blazed as he glared at Editon. Having received much trusting favor until now, Editon knew well what had happened to Rihast’s subordinates who received that look. If lucky, they could escape with their lives while disabled, but in most cases they lost their lives or the damage extended to their families, leaving them in inhuman conditions.

“I thought I could use you effectively, but you disappoint me like this?”

Rihast would probably grind him down thoroughly to prevent future troubles, ensuring he couldn’t even harbor grudges. Editon began quickly thinking to survive.

“Your Highness, Your Highness! There’s Duke Ivanstein. What’s important is figuring out what Duke Ivanstein thinks about this!”

Editon crawled on his knees to grab Rihast’s pant leg and spoke as if screaming.

“Remember how you were angry when Duke Ivanstein invited Your Highness to his mansion but then completely backed out? Perhaps the Duke was actually being considerate of Your Highness!”

“……What do you mean?”

Rihast, who had been acting as if he might strangle Editon any moment, briefly suppressed his murderous intent at Ivanstein’s name. Though it was an incoherent statement, Editon managed to catch Rihast’s interest and could finally release the breath he had been holding.

In that brief moment, he quickly organized his complicated thoughts and continued speaking slowly, crafting the most trustworthy voice possible.

“The Duke always keeps his word once given, doesn’t he? For him to go back on his word means there must be another meaning. Especially for him to change his word to the Raon imperial family — that’s an enormous thing for Duke Ivanstein!”

“……And?”

“There could be two meanings here. One is that he’s interested in the princess and dislikes the rumors circulating with Your Highness, or the other is that he values Your Highness as the future emperor candidate and wants to block unnecessary rumors that could interfere with your ascension to the throne.”

At Editon’s words, Rihast recalled how Duke Ivanstein had nursed the sick princess all night.

He judged there was some credibility to Editon’s suggestion that the Duke hadn’t invited him to the mansion either because he had personal interest in the Reibritton princess or because he considered Rihast an emperor candidate.

“Though it’s unfortunate that Your Highness has become subject to such rumors due to the princess’s rash behavior, the situation isn’t too unfavorable for Your Highness since it allows us to understand Duke Ivanstein’s true intentions!”

Realizing Rihast was subtly persuaded by his words, Editon began convincing him more passionately. As the corners of Rihast’s mouth gradually softened, Editon panted at the feeling of his lifespan extending bit by bit.

“Last time I ordered you to control information about the princess going to Rudrich, you managed that properly, right?”

“Of course! Thanks to Your Highness’s wise foresight in ordering it in advance, His Highness Rudrich probably has no idea about Duke Ivanstein’s intentions.”

“Hmm.”