For a moment, my mind went completely blank at the unbelievable words I’d just heard.

“A will…?”

I barely managed to open my mouth to question Norbert.

“All men of the Hedegen family must update their wills annually from the time they begin military service. But unlike his usual timing, on the day he returned to the castle—right after I reported my concerns about the Lamberoo tea—he suddenly revised it…”

“What did His Highness write in that will? Why would he still drink the tea after hearing your report?”

“I don’t know the exact details, Madam.”

“Norbert, please tell me if you know anything at all.”

“I truly don’t know. Besides, didn’t you end up saving His Highness? The Lamberoo tea did test positive for sleeping medication, but there was no evidence suggesting you added it. I only reported my suspicions because you had never sought out the Grand Duke before, yet suddenly offered to serve him tea. It was completely my misunderstanding. I made the wrong judgment.”

Norbert was apologizing, believing he had completely misunderstood me.

I wanted to tell Norbert he had nothing to apologize for, but Odin quickly grabbed my arm tightly, signaling me to remain silent.

“Then… you’re saying we can’t know what His Highness wrote in that will or what he modified?”

“Only two people have the authority to view the Grand Duke’s will.”

“Who are they?”

One would naturally be Carlo himself.

And the other…

“His Majesty the Emperor.”

When Carlo entered the Emperor’s bedroom, Emperor Cedric finally breathed a sigh of relief.

With a visibly reassured expression, he gestured for everyone except Carlo to leave.

Carlo walked steadily across the now-silent bedroom and stopped.

Cedric’s sickly yet tenacious eyes looked him over carefully.

“At last I can summon you.”

A fit of coughing followed Cedric’s words.

“Sit down, Carlo.”

Cedric even offered him a seat, suggesting he didn’t intend to end their conversation quickly.

“I’m fine standing.”

When Carlo calmly declined, Cedric swallowed dryly and lifted his pale face.

“That means you don’t plan to stay long?”

“I need to return to Novahans as soon as possible.”

“Yet you had time to see your wife.”

Carlo raised the corner of his mouth impassively, as if he had anticipated Cedric’s remark.

But his eyes showed no trace of a smile.

Cedric looked at the somewhat arrogant young Grand Duke and spoke.

“Replace my physician and ensure the Empress and Crown Prince cannot enter this room.”

“That’s beyond my jurisdiction.”

“No. You will do it. Without fail.”

Carlo’s calm gaze turned cold.

“I see you modified your will. Isn’t that something you usually do at the new year?”

“……”

“I confirmed you prepared it meticulously in case of your death. Much more detailed than before. Of course, it’s proper to accurately record all your territories, businesses, and other possessions in due time, but that was something you would start at the new year. Yet you made a complete revision when there was no need. There’s never been such a precedent.”

Cedric paused briefly, gave a rough cough, then drank some water placed beside him.

While Cedric pretended to drink water while scrutinizing Carlo, Carlo maintained his silence with an inscrutable, emotionless face.

Guessing that Carlo still harbored resentment toward him, Cedric forced a smile and continued.

“I suppose you want the St. Berte incident buried as is?”

Cedric, struggling to lean against his pillow, narrowed his eyes.

“I found it strange that the culprit, who should have been identified long ago, remains a mystery. Then it occurred to me… someone must be deliberately keeping it from coming to light.”

“……”

“But this isn’t a case that should be concealed, no matter who attacked you. The target was none other than the Empire’s only Grand Duke. Yes, given your temperament, you should have already scoured the Empire to capture and kill the culprit. So I concluded this wasn’t the work of an ordinary person. And the only one capable of hiding the culprit from the Grand Duke’s eyes is the Grand Duke himself.”

“……”

“Moreover, Carlo the War Devil leaves Novahans during training to visit St. Berte Castle, then visits December again to meet his wife?”

“……”

“You’ve never once neglected your military duties.”

“I still haven’t neglected them.”

“You never left Novahans during training before.”

Cedric’s smiling lips twitched with intermittent spasms.

“Rumors circulate that your wife orchestrated the attack. The Imperial Police Investigation Bureau has placed her as the prime suspect, yet no one dares touch her. A mere Count Azanie couldn’t have protected his daughter like this…”

“……”

“Word has spread that you’re fiercely protecting your amnesiac wife, the daughter of that vulgar Count Azanie.”

“……”

“People now believe Lea Hedegen isn’t the culprit since you, always wise, are protecting her. People have always moved according to your intentions. However…”

Cedric forcibly exhaled with a trembling breath, trying to prove he was still strong.

“I’m different. I’ve had to think for a long time. Alone, where no one could know. Then I reached a conclusion. I’ve finally found an opportunity. The only weakness that could make you come when I call.”

“……”

“Didn’t I advise you since childhood that anything you cherish becomes a weakness?”

Carlo raised an eyebrow with a cold smile.

“Get to the point.”

“This Empire is still mine. Though I couldn’t protect your father and family when I was under the influence of drugs, things are different now. I’m regaining my health. I remain the master of this Empire. And the lord you must serve.”

“……”

“You must know there are certain imperial powers that cannot be changed regardless of the Empire’s circumstances. One of them is…”

Cedric deliberately paused and looked up at Carlo.

“The right to exonerate suspects.”

“……”

“A power I can use just once.”

Carlo stood there with an imposing posture, not blinking an eye. Though his lips remained tightly sealed, the knuckles of his hands clasped behind his back had turned white.

“Even if your wife regains her memory and confesses, I can easily declare her innocent. Of course, it would be fortunate if she committed no crime, but seeing how the Empress and Count Azanie are in communication, your wife, as part of that family, must be involved.”

“……”

“That’s why you’ve kept both the Empress and Count Azanie alive. Memories can return anytime, and you fear how disappointed your wife would be if she learned you killed her family with your own hands.”

“You say I fear? Me?”

“Only those who have lost family know what that fear is, Carlo. You were afraid.”

Cedric reached out his hand as if beckoning Carlo closer, but Carlo remained firmly in place without moving an inch.

Only his eyes, engulfed in anger yet buried in unfathomable calm, looked down at Cedric.

“……”

When Empress Genevieve began keeping the Azanie family close and checking the Hedegen family’s power, Carlo’s father, younger brother, and mother—all loyal to the Empire—died over the course of three years.

Though no incriminating evidence remained, it was suspicious.

The mentally confused Emperor allowed the reinvestigation Carlo demanded to fizzle out under the Empress’s influence.

Despite this, Carlo was the one who kept the Emperor barely alive.

Two years ago, when Carlo inherited the title of Grand Duke, he immediately filled the imperial palace with his own people to ensure the Emperor’s life was maintained just enough to prevent death.

This hindered the Empress’s plan, who only awaited the Emperor’s death so her son could become Emperor.

After a long period of preventing the Emperor from taking drugs, his mind slowly began to return, and Carlo pressured him to appoint someone other than the Crown Prince as Emperor.

The Emperor agreed but lacked the strength to find a suitable alternative that the nobles would accept, so even that task fell to Carlo.

For the past three years, an intense battle had been flowing beneath the Conz River surrounding the imperial palace for this very reason.

“You’ve misjudged.”

Carlo wanted to bitterly mock the Emperor’s words.

But his lips didn’t move at all.

Having partially restored the old Emperor’s mind, it seemed he had vaguely regained his terrifyingly remarkable intuition.

Yes, that must be why he made Carlo realize the reason he himself hadn’t understood.

Carlo now understood why he had hesitated and failed to investigate the incident thoroughly.

He had been afraid.

Afraid of her regaining her memories.

Afraid of the look of shock and horror in her eyes when she would see him—the man who had killed her entire family.