Chapter 6.2

“Marquis, there’s an interesting story I’ve been wanting to ask you about.”

The private chamber of the Emperor of Rontiano. Under the ceiling adorned with the royal lion emblem, Alexei gave Damon a meaningful smile. With Earl Harrington absent, Damon found himself alone with the Emperor—so nervous that even his beloved chess set before him couldn’t ease his tension.

“During your last vacation, didn’t Young Master Belif stay at your estate? For several days, at that.”

“Ah, yes, that’s true, but…….”

No sooner had the Marquis replied than Alexei burst into hearty laughter. Damon, misunderstanding the meaning behind that laugh, hastily added,

“H-however, we never discussed state affairs or factions. You know well that I swore to be your loyal subject since that day, Your Majesty.”

“Yes, I know that well. I have no intention of doubting you without reason. Besides, now that you’ve come this far, you wouldn’t betray me, would you, Marquis?”

“…….”

“You’re a father who cherishes his daughter dearly, aren’t you? Someone willing to give up everything and take my hand for her sake.”

With a gentle smile, the Emperor offered Damon some wine, as if to put him at ease.

“It’s surprising that you, of all people, would let this matter slide for the Empire’s sake. It’s fortunate for Earl Harrington, but it must have put you in a difficult position. I imagine your daughter was quite disappointed by it.”

“In truth…… yes. Given the circumstances, her feelings must have been deeply hurt.”

Damon accepted the glass politely, forcing a sad smile. Emperor Alexei nodded as if he truly sympathized.

“Adults have their own reasons. No matter how grown up she is, she’s still a child, so it’s only natural she doesn’t understand her father’s heart. Time really flies, doesn’t it? The child who suffered so much is already an adult.”

“Well, it has been ten years…….”

“Yes, and in those ten years, you’ve stood by my side. I hope I didn’t bring up Young Master Belif just to make things awkward. Why don’t we have a drink before we get into the details?”

Trying to lighten the mood, Alexei gestured toward Damon’s glass.

“Your expression is so tense, it reminds me of when you urgently begged for a vacation.”

“I’m sorry if I made you feel that way. I just didn’t want you to misunderstand anything about Young Master Belif, Your Majesty……”

“I understand your concern, but I’m not so narrow-minded. I only brought up his name because I wanted to ask you something.”

“Yes, if there’s anything you wish to know……”

“Did Young Master Belif show any interest in your daughter?”

At that direct question, Damon caught his breath. Alexei’s face was expressionless as he gazed at the flustered Damon, but Damon’s palms grew damp.

But the Emperor’s intentions were truly straightforward.

“As you know, there are only two Dukedoms in Rontiano. And both are at the core of the noble faction, so no matter how good my policies are, it’s hard to win over the young nobles.”

It’s impossible to persuade the heads of families whose allegiances are already set. So, the only way is to win over their heirs, who will become the next heads.

Bannon and Belif.

How much influence do those two families have? If he could win over even one, it would greatly weaken the noble faction.

Emperor Alexei had watched the Marquis Ford’s daughter grow, convinced she would one day play a key role in uniting the two factions. That was also why there had never been any marriage talks between Harrington and Ford.

If Bannon was the one standing beside her, it would be a perfect plan for all involved.

The daughter of the Ford family had always wanted to marry Young Master Bannon, and the Marquis surely wanted his daughter to marry the one she loved.

But the union between the two families, which had seemed so promising, never came to pass, and Alexei’s thoughts changed. If he couldn’t sway the stubborn Duke of Bannon, his only option was the Duke of Belif.

However, Damon, who knew nothing of the Emperor’s true intentions, looked troubled.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty…… Weren’t you planning to use this opportunity to get rid of the noble faction?”

“Of course. In the simplest way.”

A faint smile appeared on Alexei’s face. He reached across the chess table and picked up a bishop.

“But right now, Belif isn’t my enemy. He’s only interested in money, not politics.”

“……Even so, he still follows Bannon, doesn’t he?”

“That’s why I plan to make it impossible for him to do so. We have the son that Duke Belif raised so well, don’t we?”

Herace Belif.

What greater hope could there be?

From the moment Alexei heard that Herace had voluntarily entered the Academy, he realized that, unlike his noble father, Herace was sympathetic to the Holy Kingdom of Roeta.

So, the meeting between Brienne and Herace was excellent news for the Emperor. Placing the bishop in the center of the table, Alexei smiled and asked,

“Marquis, do you know what the most terrifying emotion a person can have is?”

“Pardon? The most terrifying emotion……”

Damon’s face grew serious as he recalled the outcomes of so many human relationships—envy, curses, ultimately harm. He tried to guess the Emperor’s answer.

“……Are you talking about hatred?”

“Hmm, hatred……”

The Emperor shook his head briefly, then after a moment’s thought, picked up a knight from the chessboard.

“Love.”

“…….”

“The most terrifying emotion a person can have is love.”

With those words, the bishop standing in the center of the table toppled. The Emperor placed the knight in its place and turned to Damon.

“I intend to use Belif to strike at Bannon. And if Bannon destroys himself in the process, all the better.”

“You intend to use Belif……”

Only then did Damon realize the purpose of the tabloid laid out on the table.

The article, likely published about a week ago, claimed that Kaiden Bannon had vanished on the day of his engagement, and described a love triangle between Brienne, Herace, and Kaiden.

Damon, who had expected the Emperor’s reproach, looked shaken.

The Emperor, not missing that brief moment, burst into cheerful laughter.

“Aren’t you curious which side will back down first, Marquis?”

* * *

On his way back after meeting with the Emperor.

Damon, staring gloomily at the tabloid, fell deep into thought. Hearing the Emperor’s true intentions, which he had never dared to guess over the years, was quite a shock.

‘To think His Majesty was planning such a thing……’

Divide Bannon and Belif, destroy the noble faction, and use Brienne’s love in the process.

Looking at it objectively, the Emperor’s plan wasn’t bad for Damon. After all, he had always wanted Herace and Brienne to end up together.

But there was one problem: the Emperor treated Herace Belif like a chess piece. And using Brienne’s feelings meant using his own daughter’s heart. The Emperor’s last smile left Damon feeling deeply unsettled.

So, he decided to take this opportunity to have an honest talk with Brienne about marriage to Herace. It would also be a good chance to explain why she shouldn’t go to the Holy Kingdom of Roeta.

Getting out of the carriage, Damon didn’t hesitate to go find Brienne and climbed the stairs.

But today, it seemed, the Emperor wasn’t the only one intent on surprising Damon.

“M-master, you’ve returned.”

The maid standing outside Brienne’s room bowed her head quickly upon seeing Damon. Realizing she was Brienne’s personal maid, Damon asked, relieved,

“Ah, good. Is Brienne in her room?”

“Um, well……”

The maid’s face was full of worry as she hesitated, her lips trembling. Her pale, anxious expression made Damon suspect something had happened to Brienne again. He grew anxious.

“Why, has something happened again? Is Brienne not home?”

“……Ah, Miss left a letter for you. Here, she said you should check it yourself……”

The maid took a step forward and handed Damon a letter. Seeing Brienne’s name on the familiar stationery, Damon’s face turned pale.

‘……No, it can’t be. It can’t.’

Damon’s hands trembled as he hurriedly opened the letter.

[To my beloved father,

Hello, Father.

By the time you read this letter, I’ll probably be on a ship bound for the Holy Kingdom of Roeta. After finishing my enrollment paperwork, I plan to stay in the dormitory. I’ve already received my admission letter and prepared the tuition.

I’m truly sorry for leaving without a word. And for making this decision on my own, even though you told me not to.

But…… just this once, I want to decide my own life. I don’t want to be Brienne Ford, locked in her room waiting for Kaiden—I want to be someone else.]

Whatever kind of person I might become, I promised myself I would be someone you could be proud of, Father. So, just this once, I hope you will allow me to make my own decision. If you could trust me and let it go, I promise never to trouble you again—I promise this to mother and Shylo as well.

I would write again once I arrived at the Academy. I believe you would understand my decision, Father.

With all my respect, from your loving daughter, Brienne Ford.

P.S. Don’t worry; I have two friends I know well in Roeta.

Do you remember when we used to play hide and seek when I was little? This time, Father, you are ‘it’.’