***

The attendant showed Edric to the first-class compartment, where he went straight to the bed. His schedule was due to resume the moment he left the estate, but he was delayed slightly by a dinner with his wife.

Soon afterwards, Noah entered the compartment and placed a strong cup of coffee on the table.

“Report.”

As Edric reclined against the headboard and draped an arm over his eyes, Noah stood up straight and began his briefing.

“The King of Darec, Duke Johannes, Duke Cheffield, Marquis Doran, Count Remy and the princess’s other close associates —”

Noah continued, listing each name one after the other.

Ultimately, it confirmed what Edric had already suspected: only Terian Johannes and Jerome Remy posed any threat to Yuis Everett.

‘How dare they.’

Terrian Johannes had already received Edric’s personal warning, so he would certainly be more cautious to ensure his own survival. It was Jerome Remy who required closer monitoring.

Edric lowered his arm and approached the large mahogany table, where Noah stood with his head bowed. Edric pulled out a chair and sat down.

The way Edric pressed his fingers against his temples showed just how exhausted he was by his relentless schedule.

“Jerome Remy.”

“He seems to have returned to Darec.”

“Since retreating to his estate, he has rarely left it. The princess has been quiet as well.”

“What are your thoughts, Noah?”

Whenever Edric spoke about Yuis, his voice softened. However, when he asked Noah’s opinion, it took on a distinct chill. There was no room for error.

Feeling sweat dampen his palms from the tension, Noah carefully continued.

“The princess was originally meant to marry Hétar’s crown prince. After that opportunity slipped away, you and His Majesty became her next-best options. But now that she’s turned you down, she must understand that Jérôme Remy is the only choice left to her. She hasn’t made any recent moves, but I believe she’s still someone we should keep an eye on.”

At these words, Edric nodded slightly and reached for his coffee cup.

Taking this as permission to continue, Noah proceeded.

“Jerome Remy was originally expected to marry Marquis Doran’s daughter. This is the report on Lady Lea Doran.”

As Edric put down his cup, Noah could be heard flipping through the documents in the quiet cabin.

“A marquess’s daughter with a passion for the arts.”

Edric remarked, glancing briefly over the papers before setting them aside.

Noah resumed his report.

“Their interests and ambitions aligned, so their engagement made sense. However, an issue has arisen regarding the match.”

At these words, Edric raised an eyebrow. He moved slowly and elegantly towards the coffee cup, but his blue eyes darkened sharply.

“Lately, Duke Johannes and Count Remy have been meeting quite frequently. No doubt, the Duke sees himself as a more favorable choice than Marquis Doran.”

Nodding slowly at Noah’s report, Edric took a sip of his coffee, a faintly satisfied smile playing on his lips.

‘If those two parasites end up tangled together, nothing could be more convenient.’

“But if Princess Terian is interested in you and Jerome Remy is interested in the Duchess, then things become more complicated.”

Edric’s gaze shifted towards Noah.

When Noah remained silent, Edric turned his attention to the scenery flashing past the train window.

“They’ll both turn their sights to Yuis Descartes.”

Seeing that Edric had swiftly grasped the situation, Noah lowered his head respectfully.

“Keep a close watch on Terian Johannes and Jerome Remy.”

“Yes, I’ll see to it.”

Edric nodded slightly, and Noah bowed and left the first-class cabin.

It was only once Noah had fully disappeared that Edric reached for his coffee cup again.

***

Upon arriving in Hetar, Edric immediately boarded a carriage. As Hetar and Darec were neighbouring nations, the journey was not long.

He declined the king of Darec’s offer of a separate villa and instead checked into a luxury hotel in the capital.

While Noah spoke with the hotel manager, Edric sat down on the sofa in his suite.

His gaze soon fell on the two invitations neatly placed on the table.

“Noah Autumn.”

At the sound of his full name, Noah excused himself from the hotel manager and approached Edric. Two invitations were placed into his hands.

They were from Terian Johannes and Jerome Remy.

Noah shut his eyes tightly and lowered his head towards Edric immediately when he saw them.

“My apologies, Your Excellency.”

Edric simply shook his head and turned to the hotel manager, tilting his head slightly as he spoke.

“It feels a bit chilly.”

“Oh? Does it, Your Excellency?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll have the fireplace lit at once.”

Kalang lay in the northern part of the continent, where cold weather was expected. For it to feel chilly here in Darec—a country in the mild, southeastern region—especially in early June, was highly unusual.

It was hardly cold enough for Darec’s own people to consider lighting a fire.

Noah stared at Edric, unable to hide his embarrassment.

But Edric showed no hesitation, maintaining a polite smile as he handed the manager the invitations he had taken from Noah.

“Since you’ll be lighting the fire anyway, could you burn these as well?”

The manager paused briefly, then accepted the invitations with a polite smile.

“The smell of burning paper may be unpleasant for you, Your Excellency. I’ll dispose of them separately.”

Edric gave a small nod and turned his gaze away.

Noah stepped forward, handed the invitations to the manager and added.

“Thank you. Please see to it.”

The manager bowed deeply and withdrew, with Noah following shortly after.

Raising an arm to shield his eyes from the sunlight, Edric felt a heavy, creeping exhaustion wash over him.

The long war, the peace negotiations, Darec’s issues with his railway concession, and his meeting with the King of Darec concerning Yuis had all taken their toll. The schedule had already fallen slightly behind due to the honeymoon.

He kept his arm over his eyes and remained still for a long time.

***

About four days after Edric left the estate, a visitor arrived at Descartes Manor.

It was Hailey Hartford, the Emperor’s fiancée.

There had been no prior notice of her visit.

Upon her arrival, the butler, Miles, quietly informed Yuis.

“She is a frequent visitor, madam. I believe it would be best to receive her as usual.”

However, receiving her ‘as usual’ was easier said than done. Not only was Hailey Hartford Richard Ellenhower’s long-term fiancée and the future Empress of Kalang, she was also Edric’s close friend and the only daughter of the Marquis of Hartford.

The arrival of someone like Hailey Hartford was no simple matter for Yuis.

Yuis could not fathom why Hailey would visit her personally at such a time, with both the emperor and Edric away. But one thing was certain: it could not be for a good reason.

With Edric away, it was clear that Hailey had deliberately chosen this moment to visit the estate.

Suppressing the tension threatening to show on her face, Yuis forced a calm smile and steadied herself.

Terian Johannes, Princess of Hétar, was no stranger to women like Hailey. She had met their kind before—graceful and charming on the outside, but cold and calculating beneath the surface.

Born into nobility, she had been raised to be served and adored. They weren’t inherently evil, but they were so accustomed to arrogance that it had become second nature.

Terian had long grown weary of dealing with such people, but putting up with them had also become a habit.

Standing at the front of the assembled servants, she took a deep breath. She tightened her clasped hands and straightened her posture.

A woman stepped down from a carriage bearing the imperial crest — a golden wolf embroidered in dazzling gold. Without hesitation, she quickly closed the distance between them.

Her platinum-blonde hair, tied up neatly, glimmered in the sunlight. Her amber eyes fixed on Yuis, filled with curiosity.

Much taller than Yuis, Hailey exuded a bold, confident demeanour, accompanied by a graceful smile. Yuis took in her appearance, noting each detail.

When their gazes met, Yuis saw her own reflection in Hailey’s eyes. She quietly lifted the corners of her mouth, displaying the grace of a duchess.

Hailey smiled brightly and spoke first.

“Duchess Descartes, it’s lovely to see you.”

With a smooth smile, Yuis bent her knees in a graceful curtsy and replied.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

Hailey let out a pleasant laugh and stepped forward to stand beside Yuis.