“I’m sorry about that. Something urgent came up and I forgot.”

“If you weren’t going to keep your promise, you shouldn’t have said anything… I didn’t expect anything because you’re always busy… This is really too much……”

She couldn’t keep her fingers still, constantly fidgeting with the hem of her dress. Her bustling appearance made him frown. He hadn’t been sleeping properly and his nerves were on edge. His wife seemed frightened as her round shoulders slumped.

“Your Highness, Marquis Reynal has arrived. There’s a meeting soon, so you need to leave now.”

At his aide’s words, he sighed and rose from his seat.

“We’ll talk later.”

“……”

Before leaving the room, he looked back. Her body, standing still, was trembling intermittently. Though he didn’t need to see to know she was crying, he coldly closed the door and left. Because offering clumsy words of comfort wouldn’t change anything.

In the future, he would continue to disappoint her until he resolved the problems, and he had no energy to turn his attention to such trivial matters. As he walked down the corridor, her afterimage kept lingering in his mind, bringing a deep sense of fatigue.

“Your Highness! Duke Adrian has gone berserk and monsters have escaped from Luard!”

Perhaps God hadn’t abandoned him, as the man had caused trouble at a very opportune time.

“Leave him be.”

He felt like sending him a thank-you note. Though the monsters spread to the capital at an incredible speed causing more damage than expected, this actually became an escape route. In the meantime, he discovered the true culprits who had set a trap for him.

The nobles of the 6 Houses centered around Hector, Biastes, and the emperor. Though reluctant, he accepted reality and decided to eliminate his blood relative who threatened his position until the end.

Hector was merely a puppet manipulated by the nobles, but his very existence threatened his king like a queen on a chess board. The moment he hesitated with clumsy compassion, the game would flow in favor of the opponent, so it was an inevitable decision for a perfect victory.

Hector’s death eliminated all problems. It also suppressed public criticism toward the imperial family, and the House of Biastes completely submitted. Everyone knew the truth but remained silent. Cruel, but this was politics.

“I’ve given birth to a monster!”

The emperor raged furiously. But he didn’t love his child enough to betray the glory he had brought to the imperial family.

“No matter how hard you try, the throne is decided by my will.”

The old raccoon in crisis didn’t forget to warn. It was a pitiful struggle filled with fear, so it didn’t resonate at all.

Everything returned to its place. Except for one thing.

“I hate it.”

“…what?”

“I said I won’t go.”

His wife, who had been too shy to even make eye contact properly, looked straight at him and spoke coldly.

“It’s not like we absolutely have to go.”

His once obedient wife had changed as if she were a different person. Though she still glanced at him nervously from time to time.

“You can go to the hot springs with your mistress.”

Jealousy…? Though his sharp-tongued wife was cute, he wondered if this prickly change was influenced by another man. If that were the case, he absolutely couldn’t tolerate it.

“The youngster’s visits are frequent.”

“Pardon?”

The aide asked with a puzzled look.

“You mean His Highness Duke Alexis?”

“Yes.”

“Ah… it seems he often seeks comfort from Her Highness regarding the recent incident with His Highness Duke Adrian.”

“Not comfort, but an excuse.”

He was a contemptible bastard. Pretending to be homosexual. There might be some results of brainwashing, but no matter how generously one looked at it, the way that guy looked at his wife was like a beast’s gaze, and his wife seemed foolish for not noticing it.

“Ban him from entering the imperial palace from now on.”

The hesitant aide spoke with uncertainty.

“Your Highness, if it bothers you so much, why not just speak honestly to Her Highness?”

Wondering what he meant, he looked at the aide, who continued.

“Being brainwashed by His Highness Alexis is a serious issue. It’s a violation of the Guardian Agreement. I don’t understand why Your Highness is letting it slide.”

“…I’ll handle that myself, so watch your words from now on.”

He had no special purpose. It’s just… his wife was too lonely. Though a fake friend, she seemed comfortable when with that youngster, and as long as he didn’t cross the line, he didn’t want to step in and break that false friendship.

If she found out that the only relationship she trusted was a lie, it would be quite a shock to her. Considering that her heart would be hurt more than his own—it was truly a decision unlike himself.

Looking back now, perhaps his judgment had already been clouded. He just hadn’t realized it. Or perhaps he strongly wanted to deny it.

During that period, Maria became pregnant. It was good news amidst the ominous atmosphere of invisible confrontation with the emperor, and outwardly, factions of all kinds offered congratulations.

But anyone with even a slightly functioning brain would have sensed it. That rebellion would soon occur.

Having established his successor, he was now unstoppable, and everyone in the imperial palace knew the cruel ambitions of the heir to the throne who had devoured even his own blood.

Without further hesitation, he revealed the fangs he had been hiding. Even his mother, who had lost all affection due to the emperor’s mistress issues, sided with him. Only nobles who were too late to withdraw and those remaining by the emperor’s side offered final resistance.

The scales of power had already tilted, so it wasn’t much of a fight. He easily took control of the imperial palace and could usurp the throne.

The coronation that followed was like a dream. The bright sunlight pouring in seemed to exist solely for him, and the splendidly decorated path felt filled with infinite glory.

The weight of the crown adorned with gold and precious jewels was lighter than expected, but the sense of mission given to him was by no means light. Only a fool would become complacent after crossing a big mountain.

But being human, as he sat on the throne, he finally felt the reality and excitement. That from this moment, a new era that he would lead was beginning.

Yes, everything flowed smoothly according to plan. Then an unexpected event occurred. His wife, perhaps unable to bear the pressure, suddenly left his side one day.

Uncontrollable anger swept over him. That anger swallowed his soul like a massive wave. Her smile from his memories, the times they had shared together, seemed to mock him like illusions.

“Your Majesty has already obtained everything you wanted. I hope you will stop now.”

Asius warned. He had expressed a strong will not to tolerate it if he touched the Alexis youngster. It was the first time Asius had taken an opposing stance, having never interfered before.

“Let her go and appoint Maria as empress. The saintess’s usefulness to Your Majesty has long ended.”

“Estelle is… this country’s empress.”

“I’ve tolerated Your Majesty’s actions for the sake of the Empire. No more. If you strike Duke Alexis, I won’t stand idle. Maintain the balance of the Guardians as it is. The Empire has already shed enough blood. Now is the time to recover.”

He had to argue with him for a long time. Asius, whom he thought wouldn’t listen to reason, delivered an ultimatum before leaving the office, his hand on the doorknob.

“Lexion… if you ignore my words, you will meet death by my hands.”

He wasn’t a man who made empty boasts. Currently, the Empire hadn’t even fully recovered from the damage caused by Adrian’s rampage. With rebellion added, the country was in turmoil inside and out, not in a situation to wage war. Even without Asius pointing it out, it was a phase where the chaotic political situation needed to be stabilized.

Yet he had terrible thoughts. It seems his heart wouldn’t follow what his head knew.

He told himself such pretexts: if he tolerated someone who disrespected the new emperor’s dignity, everyone would take him lightly. He wanted to grant his wife, who had suffered so much, the highest position. Even if Asius went berserk, he could not possibly handle him now that he had risen to supreme power.

But the truth was, he wanted to make his wife deeply regret leaving him. He wanted to bring her back no matter what sacrifice it took, and he couldn’t accept her absence.