Simon’s unofficial envoy sent by the king arrived at the imperial palace.

The reason they were still an unofficial envoy was because they had come to explore the possibility of a peaceful resolution before lodging a protest through official channels.

Of course, the peaceful resolution they spoke of meant someone’s sacrifice. The sacrifice of Kareina Adrian, accused of murdering Simon’s princess two years ago.

They claimed that if just one person was handed over nicely, Simon would no longer take issue with Princess Charlotte’s death.

“That matter was already concluded two years ago under mutual agreement. Sufficient compensation was paid, and evidence remains in official diplomatic documents.”

Then, at the Emperor’s beckoning gesture, Tirantus’s Foreign Minister approached the negotiation table. The document he placed down bore the signatures and seals of both nations’ leaders clearly stamped.

The envoy checked the agreement Raul presented with a stiff expression. Both Simon and Tirantus would raise no issues regarding Charlotte Simon’s death from this time forward. For any reason, and in any manner whatsoever.

It was content he knew well. It was the agreement that officially concluded Princess Charlotte’s death in Tirantus two years ago.

The envoy placed the agreement back on the table.

“I’m aware. I was present when this agreement was drafted. I won’t deny that the Emperor of Tirantus took sufficient moral responsibility for the princess’s death.”

“It wasn’t just moral responsibility. I recall that 2.5 million gold was delivered to Simon at that time under the name of humanitarian relief funds.”

The envoy didn’t deny the Emperor’s words. It was true that those 2.5 million gold had played a major role in reaching a smooth agreement over the princess’s death.

However,

“The situation has changed. Duke Wynter Tirant has made a new statement regarding Princess Charlotte’s death. We believe his claims are quite valid.”

“His claim being that Tirantus’s former Empress murdered Simon’s princess?”

“Correct.”

“To insist on handing over the former Empress’s person based solely on the words of an imperial family member pushed out of the succession struggle…… How unpleasant.”

“……We simply wish to uncover the truth.”

Raul twisted the corner of his mouth.

They simply wished to uncover the truth? Even a passing dog would laugh at that. He had confirmed two years ago when handing over 2.5 million gold that Simon’s king didn’t have that degree of affection for his daughter.

So this demand wasn’t to dig into the princess’s death.

Raul’s understanding of Simon’s current internal situation was quite serious. The cause was consecutive droughts, corruption, and increased internal discontent due to the failed northern campaign.

And the most traditional method to overcome discontent was to turn attention to an external enemy. Wynter Tirant’s claims, which had conveniently arrived in Simon, would be an excellent pretext.

So Simon simply needed a scapegoat. If that scapegoat was preferably beautiful and eye-catching, but simultaneously a villainess who killed Simon’s princess, it would clearly be more effective.

However, Raul had no intention whatsoever of offering Kareina as a scapegoat.

That was true two years ago, and now as well. Raul sent an overtly cold gaze toward the envoy who had come to him.

“Is it Simon’s intention to abandon diplomatic relations with Tirantus?”

The envoy’s representative immediately became flustered and gulped.

“We merely want the commoner Kareina Adrian. That is all.”

“When demanding the former Empress’s person while even breaking the agreement both nations reached, you must have anticipated there would be a corresponding price.”

“……If you hand over Kareina Adrian, we will also transfer Wynter Tirant from our side.”

Ha. Raul let out a short laugh. Did his cousin know that he himself was also placed as an offering on the feast table he had set? Unlike Wynter’s intention to continue revenge for Princess Charlotte, this game was already dominated by different interests.

Not that he felt sympathy for Wynter, who had become a chess piece. He deserved to die in the most miserable form.

Raul suppressed the wildfire-like anger rising toward Wynter and slowly opened his mouth.

“It should have already been conveyed. Wynter Tirant is a traitor who murdered an imperial prince and kidnapped the former Empress. Simon protecting him is a declaration of willingness to bear any conflict between our nations.”

“……”

Simon’s envoy seemed to have nothing more to say. They left the conference room with thoroughly stiff faces and exited the imperial palace without rest.

However, Raul knew the conflict with Simon hadn’t ended here. In fact, Simon’s king was someone who could start a war with Tirantus at any time using the princess’s death two years ago as a pretext.

“What is Simon’s situation?”

“Not good. The aftermath of the failed northern campaign seems greater than expected.”

“Simon’s king probably wants another war to make up for the failure. This time he even has the justification of revenge for the princess’s death, so it will be easier to mobilize internal public opinion. Guard the borders more firmly and monitor the situation keenly.”

The Foreign Minister and Defense Minister bowed.

After they hurriedly left the conference room, Raul fell into brief contemplation. Though Simon’s king had earned the nickname warmonger, he wasn’t truly a blood-crazed murderer.

He was a terribly rational and reasonable person who knew how to use even his daughter’s death for the royal family. Last time with 2.5 million gold in relief funds, and this time with the scapegoat called Kareina Adrian.

Rather, the truly insane one was a person like Wynter. A person who could throw his entire life into revenge for a woman he had unrequited love for.

Raul recalled the barbed words Wynter had left him a few weeks ago.

—I hope Your Majesty will someday feel what it’s like to lose something very precious. I know well how the life of someone whose most precious thing was taken can be destroyed.

Raul hoped that what was most precious to Kareina wasn’t his child.

If what the woman who had fled in horror of him cherished most was his child, it wouldn’t make sense.

However, no matter how much he thought about it, the one who had stripped away everything else she had was himself.

Raul looked down at the quiet face of the woman who had lost everything. The woman sleeping under the calm light, despite losing everything, had consistently not lost her beauty alone.

Until the fading sunlight disappeared and pitch-black darkness completely swallowed Kareina’s beauty, Raul remained there for a long while.