The moment she stepped out of the carriage, even Flora, who was never one to be shaken, was somewhat taken aback.

The crowd of people in colorful attire was so overwhelming from the entrance of the hall that her worries about standing out too much completely vanished.

Seemingly reading her tension, the Duke, who had stepped out first, showed a faint smile. He elegantly extended his large hand covered in white gloves.

“It’s just a gathering of unremarkable humans, so there’s no need to feel intimidated.”

Flora felt her heart flutter as she carefully placed her hand lightly on his.

“If anyone asks questions, just say you came with me.”

“To any question?”

Flora looked up at him with eyes requiring more detailed explanation.

Was it meant that she shouldn’t engage in conversation? Or should she display their acquaintance?

“They’ll pounce like stray dogs asking this and that. When that happens, don’t respond carelessly, just mention my name.”

It was a simple and clear answer. His name alone would be enough power to ward off troublemakers.

While it also meant not to reveal unnecessary information, it was somehow reassuring.

Flora quietly observed his elegant profile, turning away from the people whispering with curious eyes.

She could understand the cause of all the attention. His perfectly fitted military uniform enhanced his handsome features even more. Though she had always known how tall and handsome the Duke was, today he looked even more splendid.

His straight forehead visible through his fine hair and deep eyes naturally captured attention despite emanating an unapproachable aura. As gazes followed the man wrapped in dignity and grace with each step, Flora naturally had to look back at her own appearance.

‘…Passable.’

He had definitely said that. After recalling those words once, the awkwardness from the unfamiliar environment seemed to ease a little.

The entrance to the banquet hall was so crowded there wasn’t even room to step.

The servant standing at the door recognized the Duke and was about to announce their entrance, but hesitated after glancing at Flora before speaking.

“Announcing His Grace Duke Heinst, and Lady Flora.”

The murmuring instantly ceased, and people parted on their own. Walking calmly through the center, Flora swallowed nervously beside the Duke.

The banquet was magnificent, as if showing off the former prosperity of the Lezentra Empire, which was known as one of the wealthiest nations even in its current state.

Even Flora, who usually showed little emotion, couldn’t help but be drawn to the sight.

The lobby was literally dazzling like brilliant sunlight, and the diamond-decorated chandelier spread light brighter than the midday sun.

Thick exotic carpets covered the floor, and red rose vines that shouldn’t bloom in this season were wrapped around the marble pillars supporting the vast hall.

While Flora was secretly admiring it all, her sensitive ears caught conversations.

“How unusual for Duke Heinst to bring a woman… Who could she be? I’ve never seen her before.”

“Indeed. She must be from an important family, no doubt?”

Whispers wondering about her identity continued with each calm step they took. Though no one showed it openly, everyone cast curious glances, wondering why the head of the prestigious ducal family had brought an unfamiliar woman.

When they stopped inside the hall, nobles approached from all directions as if they had been waiting to greet the Duke.

Each time, Claude responded formally, but he didn’t introduce Flora once to the people who kept glancing at her beside him.

Seated next to the Duke in what was clearly the most luxurious spot in the inner hall, Flora hunched her shoulders at the gazes that had been fixed on her since earlier.

Then several nobles standing nearby looked around and spoke with puzzled voices.

“Isn’t it well past the starting time already?”

“Why hasn’t His Majesty arrived yet?”

Strangely, the start of the banquet was delayed.

Just then, a servant hurriedly approached and bowed politely to the Duke.

“His Majesty urgently requests Duke Heinst’s presence.”

“Wasn’t he supposed to come to the banquet soon?”

“Well… He’s currently with the envoys…”

The servant trailed off, clearly showing an uncomfortable expression.

Annoyance showed on the Duke’s face. There had been a simple tea time scheduled with the envoys before the banquet, but something must have gone wrong there.

“I’ll go right away.”

After briefly stopping the servant who urged haste, the Duke turned to Flora. He was quite concerned about leaving her alone among the hyena-like nobles.

He slightly moved his long fingers to give some instruction to the knight who had come as guard. After the knight left, he called the servant.

“I’ll be back shortly, so wait in the waiting room.”

“…The waiting room?”

Flora, who had been admiring the decorative crafts here and there, blinked.

The Duke gestured to the servant.

“There’s a private lounge for people of the ducal family at the end of the corridor, wait there. I’ve called for Heriot, so don’t go anywhere else.”

“…Yes.”

With those final words, the Duke disappeared among the people.

“I’ll guide you to the waiting room.”

Flora rose from her seat as the servant offered to guide her.

* * *

Claude walked down the long gallery with a sigh.

He had even brought Flora along, and now the Emperor was causing trouble again. He was already tired and wanted to return to the mansion right away.

He forced his heavy feet to move. It kept bothering him that he had left her alone on her first visit to the imperial palace.

She should be fine.

“Duke Heinst.”

Just then, a familiar face heading the same way greeted him. It was Viscount Bargon, who had been the Commander of the Eastern Front during the war and was now the Admiral in charge of the navy.

“It’s been a while, Viscount Bargon. Seeing you in the capital, I assume the East is peaceful.”

“Drop the nice guy act, at least in front of me.”

He spoke in a gruff manner befitting a man who had spent his entire life guarding the borders against sea winds.

When Claude smiled without saying a word, the Admiral clicked his tongue.

“Are you not angry? I have no face to meet the late Emperor in the afterlife.”

“Let’s think positively. Peace is better than smelling rotten corpses every day, isn’t it?”

The South was so hot that corpses decomposed particularly quickly. For Claude, who had to face that sight daily, he had no major complaints about being freed from that ordeal.

“How pitiful. You were on a winning streak, shouldn’t you be more frustrated?”

“Not really…”

At Claude’s tone suggesting he had no regrets, Admiral Bargon’s expression suddenly crumpled.

“It was a war we could have won. Though it was my fault for not predicting those madmen would deliberately fire their cannons inland, we had sunk all their ships so there shouldn’t have been any problem. To think they reported the eastern front had fallen just because a few thousand soldiers invaded and threw the city into chaos…. Hah, really.”

Claude had also heard the news that the empire’s largest trade route and biggest port city was burning like ruins.

“Just between us, what kind of madman is that Bishrom? After persuading His Majesty to end the war, now I hear he’s arguing to invade again, so I rushed to the capital overnight.”

“You mean Marquis Sternbrow?”

Claude’s usually relaxed eyes narrowed slightly at the unwelcome name.

Viscount Bargon, still seemingly unable to shake off his anger, continued speaking through gritted teeth.

“Do you think I’m asking because I don’t know his name? How did such an incompetent fool become the head of the prestigious Sternbrow family known for their swordsmanship? Instead of that loyal subject, for someone like him to become Marquis…. Heavens above.”

“Wasn’t there no one else suitable to inherit the title at the time?”

“I say this out of concern. His Majesty is also frustrating for only listening to someone like him. No matter how immature, how could someone like that come from the Lezentra Empire’s imperial bloodline…”

There was quite a valid reason for the Emperor’s reputation to have plummeted. The unprecedented prosperity the empire had enjoyed had come to this state all because of the current Emperor.

A pointless war that ended without even trying, based solely on the worst-case assumption that the Allied Forces might crawl up to the capital.

While the Emperor might have thought he was being clever, for Viscount Bargon who had been guarding that strategic point with his life on the line, it was incomprehensible how the war ended among the leadership without a single word.

The Viscount opened his mouth, sighing.

“From the beginning, Verseum only planned to take the east and retreat. With their country about to be turned upside down by civil war, what good would continuing the war do?”

“Well, he is known to be quite timid.”

Claude added dismissively to Admiral Bargon’s reaction. But he too absolutely despised the Emperor’s way of doing things.

It was truly lamentable that his lord was this pathetic man who had easily ascended to the throne solely by the luck of being the only legitimate heir without properly establishing any support base, and who recklessly started wars.

The one who destroyed the imperial authority that Emperor Solar, hailed as the greatest emperor in Lezentra Empire’s history, had firmly established was none other than his grandson.

In other words, the war started because he was offended by the envoys’ congratulatory remarks at his succession ceremony expressing hope that he would become a wise ruler like Emperor Solar rather than Max.

It was thus a completely pointless war that broke out due to one person’s rashness.