The Duke of Gareth looked at Gunther and Sir Gareth with displeased eyes. In the end, his anger was directed at Sir Gareth. The duke spoke.

“So, what exactly have you accomplished upon your return? The war isn’t even over yet, and you think it’s right to return so irresponsibly?”

Sir Gareth replied,

“I have already handed over my duties to Lord Ariel before returning. The Marquis of Ariel wished to convey his gratitude for the generosity of House Gareth. Furthermore, since I am to lead the vanguard in the attack on Saturn’s capital—”

Sir Gareth took an envelope from his inner pocket and attempted to hand it to the attendant who had earlier taken the box containing the head. However, since the attendant was still holding the box up, this time Caliban stepped forward to receive the envelope.

The Emperor, after taking the envelope from Caliban, opened it, read its contents, and smiled faintly before passing the letter to the Duke of Gareth. The duke read through the letter once, then started again from the beginning. He even returned to the first page a second time, prompting Sir Gareth to comment.

“What could the Marquis of Ariel have written that requires you to reread it multiple times? Ah, is it perhaps praise for me?”

The Duke of Gareth scolded him sharply.

“That attitude of yours is absolutely—”

Amused by the interaction between the father and son, the Emperor finally spoke.

“The Marquis of Ariel has detailed all of your accomplishments here—training infantry, training cavalry, managing horse purchases, and drills. He even sent a letter of gratitude. Furthermore, he formally requested that you lead the charge in the attack on Saturn’s capital. He claims you understand all future plans, possess deep loyalty to the Empire, and are also training future talents to protect it. It’s not just a letter of praise—it’s practically a letter of recommendation.”

Sir Gareth grinned.

“The Marquis of Ariel is nothing if not meticulous. I have always thought his discernment to be impeccable.”

Even the Duke of Gareth couldn’t entirely hide his satisfaction. However, he remained uneasy about his still-inexperienced son leading the vanguard in the assault on Saturn’s capital.

‘What if he makes a mistake?’

It was likely the Emperor shared the same concern.

The Emperor spoke.

“The vanguard, is it? Given the circumstances, you’ll need to respond flexibly to the situation.”

Sir Gareth immediately answered.

“I will do my utmost. Besides, I need to gain experience, don’t I? With Prince Robert as commander and myself as the frontline officer, I will build the experience necessary so that next time—”

Before he could finish, the Duke of Gareth thundered,

“Is this something for you to speak on?”

Sir Gareth hurriedly bowed his head toward the emperor.

“I beg your forgiveness for my insolence.”

The Emperor waved a hand dismissively.

“The duke is right; this is not your place to speak. You may withdraw.”

Before leaving, Sir Gareth glanced at the Duke of Gareth and stroked his beard once more. The duke’s face immediately twisted with irritation.

Satisfied with his father’s reaction, Sir Gareth exited the chamber. The moment he was gone, the Duke spoke.

“He still has much to learn. I ask for your patience, Your Majesty. I will see to it that he is properly educated on today’s matters.”

The Emperor responded.

“I leave Sir Gareth in your hands, as always. Now, Gunther.”

Gunther stepped forward. The Emperor asked,

“What is the military strength of Umbriel and Ariel?”

“We have recruited soldiers and trained them for over three months. Most of them remain intact, and Umbriel’s forces continue to grow. Meanwhile, Ariel is steadily expanding its training programs.”

“Expanding?”

“They began by training active soldiers, then moved on to older reserve troops. Eventually, even the elderly, young men, and boys joined the training. Later, even women and children—those who would normally evacuate to the fortress—were included. And all of them trained together.”

The Emperor looked intrigued.

“They are training every able-bodied person in the entire territory?”

“Yes. They are preparing for the future. Since they are on the frontier, they encouraged those unwilling to flee to participate in training instead. The vast majority chose to train. Even though the sessions were long, they never exceeded half a day, and the Marquis of Ariel personally ensured that everyone was provided with meals. Additionally, they have identified individuals who require special care.”

“That is impressive. And did they have the resources for this? ”

“They did. More importantly, the process was highly systematic. Everything was executed smoothly according to pre-established plans. Moreover, those who showed exceptional ability during training were selected for ongoing instruction, forming a separate group of trainees.”

“They formed a leadership unit?”

The Duke of Gareth interjected, and Gunther responded.

“Yes. These individuals are being trained to fully understand standard procedures and to lead others in times of crisis. They are also being given official ranks and salaries.”

“They’re even paying them…”

“Yes. The estate was selecting and utilizing outstanding individuals from those being trained to fill its manpower shortages.”

The Emperor spoke.

“Ariel is truly exceeding expectations.”

Gunther cautiously added,

“They are people who place great emphasis on efficiency…”

Duke Gareth was also surprised. The Emperor, curious about the inner workings of Ariel’s domain, also saw new potential. He spoke with admiration.

“All of this change happened within a few months in a single territory—during a war, no less.”

Gunther’s expression said it all—he was proud of Ariel. The Emperor thought that Gunther, who had once leaned toward Ariel, now seemed completely assimilated.

‘It hasn’t even been a year yet.’

There were no lies in Gunther’s report. He had not omitted any information on purpose. The Emperor had already verified everything through other inspectors and intelligence agents.

The Emperor then said,

“Duke Gareth! Are you truly willing to hand over Oberon Harbor to Ariel? Given their capabilities, I can’t even begin to estimate how much their power will grow if they gain control over it.”

Duke Gareth replied,

“It is because their estate is small that the lord can meticulously oversee every detail and achieve such results. However, as their domain expands, there will inevitably be more areas beyond the lord’s direct oversight. If Ariel’s strengths are to remain advantages, we must ensure that they can maintain this level of growth even with increased scale.”

His words were, in essence, an affirmation. Duke Gareth had already informed the Emperor about the contract between his son and Sophia.

The Emperor was bound to find out eventually, and being transparent made negotiations easier to conclude. It also provided an easy way to withdraw if things went wrong.

Sir Gareth had yet to inform Duke Gareth about the conditions in case the Oberon Harbor deal fell through.

From Duke Gareth’s perspective, the Ariel border lord was not a bad choice. His increased favor toward Ariel wasn’t just because the border lord had praised his son but also because he had shown a strong sense of duty and responsibility. Additionally, Ariel’s hostility toward Wiscombe was a welcome factor for Duke Gareth.

He calmly added an explanation,

“With Saturn in an unstable state, the northern territories are bound to grow stronger. If that’s the case, it would be better to support them. Oberon was once occupied by Saturn. It’s better to entrust it to a lord who poses no such risk.”

“What about direct imperial administration?”

“If the Imperial Court manages it, you will need someone to monitor the administrator to ensure they do not waver in their loyalty. Then, you’ll also need someone to watch the monitor to make sure they haven’t been bribed by the administrator.”

The Emperor chuckled.

“You strike at my sore spots. You’re saying that if I send someone from the administration, I’ll need to send another person to supervise them. You still see loyalty as a major issue.”

“I do not believe the administration is useless or full of problems. Their efficiency has improved greatly, and many tasks are now handled transparently. The problem is trust. Take Gunther, for example. We in the capital not only rely on the information he provides but also on his interpretation of it. Yet, our relationship with Ariel remains suspicious.”

The Emperor and Duke Gareth turned their gaze to Gunther. Duke Gareth spoke.

“Can such a person be trusted in a critical moment? Right now, the issue concerns Saturn, so it doesn’t matter, but when it comes to inspecting Ariel, can we truly trust him?”

Gunther’s face turned pale. Duke Gareth then addressed him.

“I am not saying I suspect you of being compromised. But I assume you are already aware of this issue.”

Gunther lowered his head. The Emperor gestured for him to leave. Before Gunther exited, the Emperor said,

“Duke Gareth! Isn’t this the same issue you face with your own vassals?”

“Indeed. The same issue exists. However, Your Majesty is selecting administrators to govern in the place of lords. Their authority is far greater and requires an even higher degree of trust. And the larger their power, the easier it is for them to change allegiances.”

Gunther, though aware that the Emperor and Duke Gareth were discussing systemic flaws within the administration, still felt uneasy.

Once Gunther left, the Emperor asked,

“So, are we giving Oberon to Ariel?”

“Guarding a border is expensive. The poverty of these two domains was not solely due to Baron Oberon’s schemes. The cost of border defense, which other estates do not bear, played a major role. Distributing Oberon between these two territories to fund border security is a reasonable plan, is it not? Oberon is Saturn’s trade port, so there’s a strong justification for using its profits to bolster defenses against Saturn. It would also make intelligence gathering much more efficient.”

The Emperor, as if the matter was settled, changed the subject.

“Does Lady Gareth truly have no interest in Prince Robert? Or rather, no desire to become Empress?”

Duke Gareth let out a sigh.

“It’s actually for the best. If Parma were to join the imperial family, both Your Majesty and I would have a great deal more to worry about. A house renowned for military prowess with a prince in its ranks—there’s no greater threat than that. Even families without military power can cause trouble through their maternal connections.”

At Duke Gareth’s words, the Emperor smirked.

“That issue is something we will have to deal with soon. It seems like you have completely dismissed any consideration of an imperial match since the broken engagement.”

“If Parma wished for it, that would be one thing, but she does not. How could I possibly force her? What rewards would she gain? In truth, there wouldn’t be much for her to enjoy.”

Caliban thought to himself that Duke Gareth was sharper than he appeared. He was also adept at keeping it hidden. The Emperor acknowledged that, while Duke Gareth cherished his children, both his son and daughter were remarkably capable.

‘At times, they seem better than my own children…’

The Emperor concluded,

“The matter of Cressida will be decided after the war with Saturn is resolved.”

***

Sophia visited the office for the first time in a while. Even after sunset, the Marquis of Ariel and Alex remained at their desks, unable to step away.

Sophia turned to the Marquis of Ariel and said,

“Mrs. Finega is returning to the capital. She needs to be there soon for Sol’s entrance exams.”

“Sol is already taking entrance exams?”

“It seems he wants to enter the academy. His tutor also believes he has potential.”

“That’s impressive for someone so young.”

Alex looked at Sophia and said,

“Why don’t you go to the capital with Mother-in-law this time?”

Though Sophia smiled, her voice lacked energy as she responded,

“You told me not to relax until the war was completely over, so why are you suddenly suggesting I go to the capital?”

Alex replied,

“I just don’t feel right about sending Mother-in-law there alone without anyone she knows. Besides, now that you’re no longer the prince’s fiancée, you should be able to stay there without getting caught up in social conflicts. On top of that, the war’s conclusion will be settled through negotiations, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea for you to be there in advance. John can’t leave, so you’d have the chance to personally observe how the peace treaty unfolds.”

Sophia hesitated to respond to Alex’s suggestion.