7. Trade

On the day of the banquet, the imperial palace was in an uproar from the morning.

Even in Reinhardt's time, it was the same on days when large banquets were held. In the past, as the crown prince, she would have woken up early in the morning to make repairs. But Reinhardt only woke up when the sun rose in mid-sky and the sweltering moisture of late summer hit the nape of his neck.

"Please eat!"

After confirming that she was awake, Marc smiled and served her with ice water. His mind flashed at the luxury. It's water with ice.

While carrying it to his room, Reinhardt stroked the dewy surface of the glass with his fingertips. A cold, cool feeling passed through her hand.

“… … preparation.”

“The knights who will accompany you are all dressed in nice clothes. There is still time before the banquet!”

Mark answered cheerfully. Reinhardt wiped the sweat from his forehead with his finger. The cold feel of his fingers on his glass passed through his head. Was there a large public bath in the welcome palace or not? She measured my memory without speaking. She wants to wash herself, but she can't remember the facilities in the Welcome Palace that guests use.

"but."

But she soon gave up on that. I can't use the public bath anyway. You don't know where or what threats may come to her. Reinhardt asked Marc to fetch water and got up. And he added a request right before Mark left.

"Call Glencia's lieutenant."

"Yes!"

Mark hopped out of the room. I went to the window with a glass of ice water, and the garden of the Welcome Palace, bathed in the midday sun, spread out in front of me.

My head was still messed up.

Wilhelm had been avoiding Reinhardt since he had run out of her room two days earlier. He stood as an escort only when absolutely necessary, but even Reinhardt deliberately did not call him. Because he can't appease Wilhelm.

The only thing Wilhelm could see now was Reinhardt. No matter what you say, it will probably end by saying that you want to be Reinhardt's lover.

So Reinhardt decided to wait for Wilhelm to give up, to be precise, for him to cling to me.

However, several problems arose.

The first was that there was too little time. Her emperor will call her sooner or later. Knowing that Wilhelm is of my blood, after he's done his own thing, he'll try to negotiate with Reinhardt.

'But I can't negotiate without knowing how he knew about my origins.'

At least before the banquet, he wanted to check his hand. Besides, it wasn't just because of the emperor.

'Many things went wrong.'

In the first place, Reinhardt had no intention of revealing the name Wilhelm to the emperor so quickly.

It was her intention to build a force with Wilhelm. But it was a pretty long-term plan. Luden was a remote territory and would not have gone unnoticed if he had slowly raised his soldiers by absorbing several surrounding territories. He had made quite a bit of money selling peat from Leylan Marsh.

Rather than turning the current emperor into an enemy, he aimed for the moment when Michelle became emperor. Michel was not virtuous, and in his previous life, after he ascended the throne, there were frequent disturbances. So, if the emperor's illegitimate son had been used to fight the war, it would have been worth trying. In fact, Wilhelm also quickly grew into a powerful knight, so her bet on Wilhelm did not fail.

But things don't work out that way. All plans went awry when Wilhelm made a deal with Glencia using his birthplace as an excuse. A secret loses its value the more people know about it. So, Reinhardt quickly revealed Wilhelm's origins to the emperor. I hoped that he would leave Luden as his great estate and make a deal after fully considering his successors.

'And the conditions that the emperor might offer... … .'

It was then. smart. Someone knocked on the bedroom door.

"Come in."

“Alzen Stogall… … yep."

The knight who was about to report who he was opened the door with a puzzled face at the too quick acceptance. Reinhardt smiled and looked at Algen Stotgall. 'Is something to come!' It was a face that I couldn't help but smile.

“What did you call for?”

“I didn’t call you because of Amaryllis.”

'What, then why did you call me?' It became a facial expression. For a lieutenant that the fox of Pernaha had, everything was revealed in his expression, which was rather interesting. Reinhardt snorted and opened his mouth.

“I know you are not attending the banquet. They also missed the escort mission.”

"Yes. I think there are some people who know my face.”

"great. Take a break and find someone in the capital.”

“Am I? who?”

Reinhardt handed over a memo instead of an answer. Alzen Stegall's face became strange as he was looking through a memo with simple personal information. This is the face I want to entrust to me.

“There is someone I need to find. He is the person Luden must have in order to become stronger.”

“… … Am I that kind of person?”

“When my people go outside, they are rural novices, so they don't know anyone in the capital and it's hard to work properly. You are eligible.”

He was silent for a moment, then opened his mouth.

“I’m sure you don’t know that my superior is Lady Pernaha Glencia… … .”

Alzen was outright saying that he would report this to Pernaha Glencia. Reinhardt shrugged his shoulders.

"Go ahead and say it or not."

"her."

Alzen opened his mouth. Reinhardt added thoughtfully as he tilted his glass of water.

“Whether your superior is the fox of Glencia, the Marquis, or the Emperor is none of my business. Those who play should use it.”

“Am I just a gamer… … .”

“You are not a working person.”

Although Arzen grumbled at her treatment, he asked, "When can I come see you?" she asked. Reinhardt grinned. Asking the deadline first proves that he is a fairly decent servant.

Pernaha Glencia, that's good.

“Your position or occupation is certain, so just check if you are there and come. Bringing it is next.”

"All right."

“I asked Mark for ten gold coins and took them.”

Considering the difficulty of the job, it was a fairly generous down payment. Alzen Stogall's expression became subtle, but he ignored it and left. Just in time, servants brought a large bathtub into the bedroom. Waiting for the bathtub to fill up, Reinhardt looked out the window.

The person she is looking for is the man who took over the management of Helka in her previous life. Her estate Helka. Despite her wealth and her size, the time she let go of her hand was too long when she took over as lord of Helka in her disappointment.

It was the man who maintained Helka, which could have been ruined. He was from Helka and served in the capital, but after his brother died, he returned to take over his family. The man is probably still in the capital. He thought of finding him and entrusting Luden to him.

'Lady Sarah is too old, and she has no experience managing a large estate.'

Mrs. Sarah was a trustworthy person, but that experience was different. The person who counted the price of a bag of apples in Luden would have a hard time managing Orient's jewels right away.

'It's a problem that what he wants is in Helka... … .'

There was another reason why the man desperately maintained Helka. It's just that he'll have to wait a while to get what he wants, so he won't be going to Helka right away.

The reason Reinhardt didn't bring him to Luden from the beginning was because Luden was such a small territory, there was no need to have a separate manager, but not anymore. The man was a genius at math and meticulous. He was flawed by his slightly cocky personality, but that was tolerable. He is the best person to take care of Luden, who has suddenly swelled up.

The reason for entrusting the search for such an important person to Algen Stotgall was simple. Indeed, the people of Luden were kind and well-mannered, but they were not delicate or well aware of the circumstances of the capital. The knights who joined from other territories were not only not trusted by Reinhardt, but were also busy with her escort mission.

'Above all, Allen Stotgall will report what I ordered to Pernaha.'

The reason why Pernaha Glencia persuaded Margrave to give Glencia soldiers to help is clear. Because he knows that Wilhelm is the emperor's son.

In other words, if Wilhelm doesn't help Reinhardt, Glencia is a force that will always fall away from her.

Reinhardt at least wanted Pernaha to be interested in and curious about him as the lord of Luden. What she has now instructed Algen Stotgall is something that would interest the fox of Glencia.

A talented person who had been away from the capital for a long time, and had nothing to do with the Crown Princess. One day, suddenly, out of the blue, a talented person who can manage a territory that has grown to be called a great manor in a short period of time is asked to come. Of course, it would take some time for him to know that he was a decent talent, but when he starts to shine, Pernaha Glencia will be curious.

'How the hell did he find out?'

No one knows that she lived a previous life and came back. I can't even believe it when I say it. So Pernaha Glencia will get the impression that she has her capital threaded crisply. Furthermore… … .

'Even without Wilhelm, it would be nice to judge that the Glencia Territory is worthy of an alliance.'

It was. Reinhardt was also weighing the possibility of Wilhelm leaving.

A knight who quickly turned Luden into a great estate. In addition to studying with the second son of the Ernst family, he was well liked by the Marquis of Glencia. He even lent his privates. Rumors even circulated that he had ended the long war in the north. In a word, Wilhelm's ransom was at its peak.

The bar that the Marquis of Glencia had already coveted. It was not unreasonable for him to think that if he was Wilhelm, he could leave for another place.

'Love is the most fleeting word.'

During the last few days spent in the capital, Reinhardt had become terribly cold and sensitive. He should've accepted it, albeit clumsily, he didn't even think of doing. As she had thought before, if she rashly gave her name as her lover, and then it was wrong, the blow she would have to suffer later would be greater.

However, watching Wilhelm ignore and avoid her for two days, she added another possibility besides the possibility that Wilhelm was clinging on or grieving.

Wilhelm was picked up and raised by her, but it is not for nothing that they say that talking animals are not raised. I overlooked the fact that sometimes it is human to stab and kill the parents who gave birth and raised me, so it was quite possible for Wilhelm to abandon me. Of course he doesn't believe that he loves him.

Of course, even if Wilhelm didn't leave and was anxious about it, that would be several years at the most. Boys grow up and love changes.

'So before that, I need to properly build my forces... … .'

A territory that has grown too quickly is bound to disperse quickly. The unification of the great territories with overwhelming force and ploys, the weaknesses of those territories, and the staggering behavior as if he knew everything were all the work of Wilhelm. The current Luden was created by Wilhelm, and if Wilhelm leaves, Luden will turn to dust.

So she had to firmly unite those territories somehow. Submissive lords are bound by an oath of fealty, but nothing is more powerful than a crystal oath. If Alanquez's empire decides and presses down, the oath of allegiance will disappear as if there was no trace. Just as he raised a private in Helka, some lord might secretly raise a private again and cause a rebellion.

Reinhardt put down his glass of water and groaned with his face buried in his hands.

“Dietrich… … .”

I couldn't help but miss that man who laughs cheerfully when I have so many thoughts. Wasn't that the only person she could trust without thinking?

But even so, he didn't feel sorry for or upset about the current situation where he couldn't trust Wilhelm. Wasn't she also brought here to use her Wilhelm? So it is natural.

I thought so.

***

A young man wearing a black shirt up to his neck was walking down the corridor of the Welcome Palace. As soon as the maids of the Welcome Palace saw him, they recognized that he was a knight from Luden and moved away. If he had walked not in the Welcome Palace but in Evergreen Palace or Chunyang Palace where the emperor was located, anyone would have recognized him.

A slim nose, dark eyes, and a youthful and sharp face that was not yet mature but looked forward to the next few years were noticeable, but there were actually a few handsome men like that in the capital city. Even the crown prince, Michel Alanquez, was famous for inheriting that beautiful face from the emperor.

However, the young man's face was decidedly cold. Cold as a corpse and rough as the north wind, men in the calm capital did not have it.

Instead, there was something that the young man, Wilhelm, also lacked. It is like the exploitative lust seen in men like the sunshine who grew up in a good family, or nobles who have rightfully reigned over others.

A twisted sense of balance unique to men who fall asleep on the battlefield with anxiety as a pillow. Ironically, that kept people's eyes on the young man's face.

“… … .”

Wilhelm's steps gradually slowed down. The place he was going to was Reinhardt's room. Where he hadn't even set foot since two days ago he was rejected by Reinhardt.

Even now he continued to hesitate, but to this day he could not avoid her. Today's banquet is for Reinhardt, the great lord and heir who reinstated the Rinke family. You can't be indifferent to a place like that.

Wilhelm squeezed the wooden box in his hand.

It is made of cherry wood and the four corners are finished with beautiful silver ornaments. It was an excuse that Wilhelm, who had pretended not to know her for days, opened Reinhardt's door and went in to talk to her.

The man who looked like a decent man in the eyes of others, but ended up turning into a 16-year-old boy in front of Reinhardt, looked down at the box he was holding in his hand and smiled.

"under… … .”

It was something I bought because I thought I wouldn't be able to talk without it.

It was a jewelry box that Bondi Marc's lover was busily preparing. Mark prepared all the attire for the knights attending the banquet this morning. The same was true of Wilhelm, and after changing into formal attire, he strode forward and snatched the box from the hand of the attendant who said, 'I'm going to visit the lord.' The attendant flinched, but soon after Marc noticed, he seemed convinced and said that he would like to take care of him.

And now it has arrived.

Wilhelm took the box and went to Reinhardt's room. The knights guarding the door saluted him.

“My lord.”

"He's meeting Sir Alzen Stotgall for a moment."

“… … two people?"

Wilhelm's eyebrows furrowed, and the knight flinched as if he had done something wrong.

“No, I think the interview is over… … The attendants just went in with a bathtub.”

a bathtub It must be because of the banquet preparations. It just came at the right time. Just then the door opened and Alzen Stogall came out.

"what. hello."

“Sir Stugal. What did you come for?”

“Ah, the lord ordered something.”

"What?"

Argen Stotgall noticed that Wilhelm, whom he encountered as soon as he left the room, was acting extraordinarily sharp. He already knew that this baby was overturning her eyes if he was a lord. He probably didn't like the fact that he and the lungs met alone.

Aljen wanted to snort at the young man who was jealous and self-absorbed when it wasn't really a big deal, but life is precious. So, Alzen Stogahl pretended not to know and rolled his eyes.

“That’s a bit far-fetched for me to say. Would you like to go in and ask?”

“… … .”

Wilhelm's face turned grim. Hopefully I won't be slashing here. Arzen added more notice.

“The lord only called me to do it, but I can't just shake my mouth... … Are you?”

"Move."

Fortunately, Alzen's words worked, and Wilhelm frowned and gave Alzen a chin. Alzen said phew and wiped his chest. Then, after Wilhelm entered, he let out a long sigh.

"Damn it. It was better to fight barbarians.”

Back then, in terms of rank, Wilhelm was below me, and for a very long time. Just squeeze that. If you hit my head once, I won't have any wishes! As Alzen grumbled, he suddenly met the eyes of the escort knights staring at him. The escort knights were the ones who came from Glencia with Alzen, and they also spoke with their eyes. you too? I also! hey nadu

Alzen left the drawing room holding his nose, which suddenly became cold because he felt like he was about to burst into tears.

***

Attendants were busily going to and from the drawing room. While installing the bathtub and preparing the partition so that he could wash inside the room, Wilhelm passed through the busy space and entered the bedroom with the door slightly open. Then, he heard Reinhardt's low moaning.

“Dietrich… … .”

He probably never expected anyone to hear.

It was close to a lament that I unconsciously chanted while standing with my back to the window, burying my face in my hands. But, of course, what popped out was the man's name.

Wilhelm suddenly became sharp. A man whose laughter was as loud as thunder and his palms were thick and large. The man who was no longer in the world made Wilhelm stand on his feet in every detail. Is he guilty or is he inferior? Probably both.

"dismissal."

Reinhardt flinched.

It was because I didn't know that Wilhelm would enter my room at this point. She hurriedly straightened her face and looked behind her. Her knight, Wilhelm, who had been avoiding her for two days, was standing there.

“What is it, Wilhelm?”

Embarrassed, Reinhardt's voice was rough and uneasy. He said that made Wilhelm even more sensitive.

"I didn't expect to hear what was going on with me coming to His Excellency."

But did you come because you were called Reinhardt? What do you think? He didn't even want to. She replied, pressing her fingers between her furrowed brows to smooth them out.

“… … Considering the past two days, it was worth it.”

“… … .”

"What's happening?"

To her question, Wilhelm did not answer, but rather responded with a question.

"What did you do alone with Pernaha's adjutant?"

Reinhardt narrowed his eyes.

“Wilhelm.”

The meaning of a single name was complex and strong.

Wilhelm looked straight at her, then lowered his eyes. The box in his hand was put down beside him, and the young man with his arms crossed sarcastically inserted an apple that was not an apple.

"sorry. It's just that I'm alone with the factor of Pernaha Glencia, so it doesn't seem like there's anything good about it. All the escort knights were also thrown out of the room.”

However, Reinhardt did not tolerate that sarcasm. She couldn't afford that, but the two days she was sensitive and sharp were the time that her Reinhardt was forged like her sword.

“You are like your master.”

The woman's words were cold. Wilhelm drew in a breath and then replied with a sigh.

“… … no. but… … .”

“Close the door there.”

Reinhardt ordered an attendant who had just arrived. The quick-witted attendant took the hot water and put it down and closed the door. The clicking sound was unusually loud. Reinhardt spoke in a blatantly annoyed voice.

“If you want to be a prince, tell me now. I'll call you His Highness the Prince.”

“… … no."

But Reinhardt didn't stop there. She strode forward, grabbed the crest of the Luden Spirit Command attached to Wilhelm's chest and pulled it with her left hand. Her copper crest fell in awe, and Wilhelm looked at her with a look of bewilderment. But Reinhardt didn't hide her irritation, she looked up at Wilhelm in front of her and said,

“If you want to touch my every move, I'll treat you like Your Highness the Prince. However, His Highness the Prince is not even my husband.”

The sudden honorific words came out well. Wilhelm's eyes widened, then hardened. Reinhardt didn't care.

“Know that from the moment you are called Your Highness, you will no longer be part of my family.”

“… … line!"

“As a pledge of the undying heart, it is a privilege to be called a nickname by a member of the imperial family. Please take it.”

The eyes of the two met. The confrontation was short, and the one who would be defeated was as if it had been decided. Wilhelm gritted his teeth and grabbed Reinhardt's wrist. In his hand was the crest of the Spirit Command. Reinhardt spat out mockingly.

"Would you like to?"

“… … Why are you doing this to me?"

"I guess that's what I need to say."

He was a man a head taller than himself. But he wasn't scared at all. The young man's face, as if he were about to break his wrist, was pathetic, as if he was being subjected to violence with incomparable cruelty.

"You know better that I'm not doing this because I want to be called a prince by you."

The puffy eyes drooped noticeably. Reinhardt looked at that face for a while before opening his mouth.

“Let go of my hand.”

“… … sorry."

Only then did the young man seem to realize that he was holding Reinhardt's wrist with too much force. The wrist that was freed from Wilhelm's hand was squeezed so tightly that it left a bright red mark. However, Reinhardt did not let go of the sentence in his hand and squeezed it tightly. Wilhelm's gaze landed on her hand, then fell to the floor.

“… … I have brought you jewelry for the banquet.”

"That's none of your business."

The young man who lowered his head looked at Reinhardt again. His eyes were as sad as a dog caught in the rain, but Reinhardt did not fall for that. She caressed her reddened wrist and calmly opened her mouth.

“I don’t want to talk about jewelry for a banquet with you. I didn't bring you here for that."

“… … .”

“Let’s talk.”

Dogs raised at home do not get wet in the rain. If he misses the opportunity to tame it, Reinhardt will be dragged around forever, even if he puts a leash on it. Reinhardt had no intention of untangling a dog who didn't listen to me, so he decided to tighten the leash carefully.

“When did you know? And if you can't say 'yet', when will you?”

Reinhardt looked at Wilhelm while stroking his wrist. Meanwhile, Wilhelm's eyes were still on her reddened wrist. The bright red handprints on the white wrist were clear enough to recognize the shape of Wilhelm's fingers, even the lines on his palm.

“Is that what you meant to talk about?”

“Did you know what I would say to you then?”

Wilhelm closed his mouth. However, Reinhardt had no intention of letting Wilhelm keep his mouth shut any longer. Her banquet was this evening, and she did not want to gamble without looking at her own cards.

“I will be honest, Wilhelm. I need you.”

“… … .”

At those words, Wilhelm blinked. Reinhardt chewed the expression out of his mouth for a moment. It wasn't enough. Without further thought, Reinhardt added.

“No, those words are not enough. I can't be without you now.”

The young man's sulky face frowned vaguely for a moment. Reinhardt wasn't sure if that was a frown for laughter, or a frown from cumbersome, cumbersome emotions.

“But that is when you have nothing to hide from me. as it were… … .”

Reinhardt glared hard at Wilhelm.

“I can’t have a suspicious person around me.”

“… … .”

“You know why I am here. I have lived to get revenge on Michel Alanquez, and I will probably continue to do so as long as the revenge is not over.”

Reinhardt remembered the conversation he had with Wilhelm a few days ago. Although she told Wilhelm that he was like a child or a younger brother, she said that was just an excuse to separate Wilhelm.

the young man grew up She is very much where she is not. She was at least inseparable from her flimsy lies. In that case, Reinhardt should have treated Wilhelm as an adult. Isn't it? At that time, she talked with Wilhelm on an equal footing and tasted the joy of making good friends.

That's why, having been away from Wilhelm for two days, the conclusion she came to was that she had to be honest.

However, that honesty was processed.

“It takes a lot of preparation to kill someone. Wilhelm, I'm not sure you know. Maybe murder is something you know better than I do. But my opponent, unlike you, is not an opponent who went to the battlefield to kill each other, but an opponent who is safely seated.”

Reinhardt said that and looked out the window for a while. The garden of the Welcome Palace, seen through the window, was dazzlingly beautiful. The season passed from late summer to fall, and a pleasant breeze gently blew past the two of them. But it was still winter in her heart.

“I did everything in my power to kill Michel Alanquez. A lot of time alone... … I sent it alone.”

Without realizing it, my insides came out. Her past life was her own secret. Reinhardt looked back at his young man. The young man was still looking straight at himself. Calm black eyes, not disturbed even a breath.

“I spent so many years alone to disembowel him and devour him.”

“… … Dietrich was by your side. And me too.”

At her words, the young man spoke to her as if to confirm. Is it an expression of her sadness, or is it to see what she thinks about her talking about it. It didn't matter. Because the truth is nobody knows. Talking about past lives is useless here. When she says she is living her life over again, she feels the greatest betrayal of the boy she was brought up to take advantage of.

“No, Wilhelm. I was alone a lot of the time.”

So Reinhardt let the young man just think she was lonely. Think of the years that neither Dietrich nor Wilhelm could have filled.

'Father, your daughter is really cowardly... … .'

I felt disgusted with myself. She put her self-doubt behind and opened her mouth.

“Can't you believe me?”

“No, I believe you. whatever you mean.”

Wilhelm shook his head. Then he suddenly looked at her and added a word.

“And I know the years you spent alone.”

Are you trying to buy sympathy, or are you saying this to gain my trust? Rein had no intention of being kind to the young man, so he struck back straight away.

“But why don’t you let me trust you?”

In an instant, his face became incomparably more violent. Reinhardt almost swallowed his breath without realizing it. Because he was like the eyes of a beast, not a man. However, she continued, repeating to herself that it was just the unrefined, fishy, ​​fledgling of a young man who could not easily win love and was not accepted.

“I can't believe you say you love me. People who are courting usually listen to what the other person wants. But you don't give me the secrets you're holding, and you don't behave like someone trying to win my heart.”

At those words, the young man spat out in a fit of rage.

“You really have no intention of giving me your heart.”

“… … Wilhelm.”

Reinhardt reached out to Wilhelm. The young man flinched for a moment, but he obediently placed his face in Reinhardt's slender hands approaching my cheek. Her finger brushed the middle of Wilhelm's right eyebrow. It was a scar that divided his eyebrows.

"I know. You will be a dazzlingly handsome man in a few years.”

“… … .”

“Then there will be many people for you to choose from. And another love will appear.”

I thought Wilhelm would get angry, but the young man's reaction was a bit different. He rubbed his cheek against Reinhardt's palm, which was touching his face, like a cat. Very young, as if he had gone back to being a little boy who was obedient to her. The young man closed his eyes and felt the touch of Reinhardt's palm as he spoke softly.

“I only have you.”

“Wilhelm. I am the only one you met. Right now, you don't just love me, you're just blindly acting on a toy you don't have.”

“If not.”

Only the way he spoke was defiant. Reinhardt put a sneer on his lips.

“I can only return what I told you earlier. Wilhelm. You say your love is sincere, but you're not saying anything to make me believe you.”

“… … but."

“Wilhelm.”

Reinhardt lowered the hand that had been caressing Wilhelm's cheek and touched Wilhelm's collar. The high collar, before the kohl cravat, had lead buttons embossed with a small wisteria pattern. Reinhardt fiddled with the button, gently pulled it off, and slipped his finger into it. It was a very brief and light movement, as if his feathers were falling down, but it was enough to put strength in Wilhelm's eyes.

“Since you’ve become candid, let’s be completely honest, Wilhelm.”

She pulled her fingers out of the collar, where only a small amount of her uvula was visible, and gently stroked the top of his chest. The young man's chest, which had grown significantly during the long war, had a sense of volume. Confirming that Wilhelm's ears were turning red, Reinhardt lightly pushed him. The young man did not even resist and sat back down. Behind the young man was the soft parlor sofa.

"Actually, it's not that difficult to accept your clumsy affection."

Reinhardt climbed onto the thighs of the young man who was sitting on the sofa, grabbed him by the shoulders and raised his knees. Wilhelm's eyes widened. It was the complete opposite of when Wilhelm looked down at her on her bed not long ago. Reinhardt brought his face to him, and for the first time his black eyes flickered in confusion. She paused her lips on Wilhelm's, leaving only a piece of paper behind. It was an intimate distance where the breath of the other person had no choice but to enter my lips just by breathing.

“I could take you right now and roll around in my room.”

“… … .”

“It's nothing like that. As they say, I can drag you into bed every day and mix your flesh with you, I.”

The young man's shoulders trembled. As he sat down, his fingertips on the sofa became white with strength. It was her impulsiveness that was trying to keep her from holding her. She felt the young man's biceps bulge straight up on her thighs. Reinhardt had to work hard not to sit down unconsciously.

“Marrying a man you don’t even love is something I’ve already done once. But why would I do that? Have you ever thought about it?”

“… … .”

“You are so precious to me, Wilhelm. I need you, and I can't do anything without you... … It's not because of that.”

Reinhardt gently stroked Wilhelm's forehead. The raised brow bone and the dark eyebrows set thickly above it. The strong smell of an adult man emanated from his straight, straight forehead.

“After Dietrich is gone, you are all I have left.”

Wilhelm's black eyes stared into hers. It was so close that she couldn't even focus on her, but he was staring at her as if she could see all of Reinhardt's. Reinhardt provoked those eyes even more strongly.

“Nevertheless, Wilhelm, if you want to have me right away… … .”

Reinhardt brought his hand to his neck and unbuttoned it. The sound of the buttons of the mourning clothes that had been filled up to his neck being pulled one by one was particularly loud. Wilhelm's eyes shook more violently. Three of his buttons were unbuttoned, revealing her collarbone, and Reinhardt took Wilhelm's hand and placed it on top of the fourth button. The young man's fingertips rested just below her collarbone, and her palm rested on the center of her swollen left breast. Will this child feel my beating heart? Thinking so, Reinhardt whispered.

“Take me now.”

My fingertips twitched and trembled.

“Instead, you must promise me a certain vengeance. Because one must always come and go. Taking vengeance instead of faith is not a bad deal for me. If you want to have my body, I am willing to trade me with you.”

“… … Reinhardt.”

The young man's voice became harsh. I couldn't tell if it was choking or if it was exciting. But this wasn't the end. Reinhardt continued, rubbing the young man's cheek with his thumb.

“But I will give you nothing but my body. Got it?”

“… … !”

“I can't lose you, so if you want to have my body, I have no choice but to give it to you. I can no longer afford to increase something precious and dear.”

If the young man's love affair with a young man who had just turned 20 could be resolved like this, and he stayed with her, she thought it might be true. But at the same time, Reinhardt had a certain certainty. The belief that Wilhelm would never choose that path. She pushed a little further.

“Do you want to do business with me, or do you want to stay the same. Take your pick.”

Those black eyes were boiling from the moment she got on my lap. What was inside was not something that could be expressed in simple words like heat, love, or desire. It was only for a moment, but Reinhardt felt as if he had seen something like steel sharpened in the fire for a long time.

A moment that felt like eons passed, and Wilhelm closed his eyes.

“… … When your revenge is over, will you be able to love me too?”

It was as Reinhardt thought. She replied with a sigh.

“I don’t know because I haven’t finished watching. I can't promise you anything.”

“… … Dietrich.”

A familiar name came out of Wilhelm's mouth. Reinhardt raised his eyes and looked at Wilhelm's face. The young man was expressionless. As if it was hidden on purpose, to the extent that it was too much.

“You called him by name earlier.”

“… … yes."

“Can I be more than that to you… … .”

At the end of the vague, regrettable words, something was caught. Reinhardt realized that this was a crossroads of some kind. Just as Dietrich was meaningful to Reinhardt, he was also to Wilhelm. However, it was clear that Dietrich meant more than just a teacher to Wilhelm. It was only then that she realized the real meaning of some of Dietrich's words. For example, things that made Reinhardt laugh and say that you still don't know men.

At least it was clear that Dietrich was aware of the blindness the young man had harbored since childhood. And that also meant that the young man's feelings were not so easily resolved. Reinhardt's hands were sweaty.

“Maybe.”

“… … You don't give me any assurances.”

He always showed the image of an immature boy, so he was careless. Reinhardt came to suspect that perhaps he had been deceiving this young man for a long time.

“Should I just give up the sweetness I might have right now, depending on the possibility that you might fall in love with someone?”

“I will not force you.”

"under."

The young man sighed and let out a sneer. That hot breath touched Reinhardt's cheek and was pushed away. Wilhelm seemed to be a far more skilled trader than the fox of Glencia. Reinhardt had guessed that the deal with Pernaha would not have been so easy.

'But it might have been Pernaha Glencia who was rather troubled.'

Reinhardt breathed in lightly and then said as if he was going to vomit.

“Because it is uncertain, love has been called worthy for so long.”

It was a pun. Reinhardt squeezed and opened his hand. The dark eyes of her youth, shining through her black hair, blinked presumptuously at her. However, the observation did not last long. Wilhelm took her hand off Reinhardt's chest and squeezed her neck tightly. Her hand was not hot anywhere.

“… … I'll tell you one thing, Line. There is something I cannot tell you either.”

“… … .”

“But I will give you confidence above all else by pushing you away.”

The inside of Wilhelm's fingers were rough and calloused. The feeling of Reinhardt stroking the nape of her neck with her gritty crust rising made her very sensitive. Reinhardt looked at Wilhelm with all her nerves on edge.

“Because I don’t think having your body will satisfy the thirst I have right now… … .”

It was rare. It was because Wilhelm's gaze now was completely different from before. It was not the gaze of looking at the object of love or desire, but the feeling of putting a price on it. The feeling of looking at the jewel in your hand, looking at it, observing and measuring how much it is worth. Looking at her with those eyes of hers, Wilhelm confessed once again.

“Reinhardt. I love you."

“… … .”

“I will do anything to get you whole. So trust me.”

Reinhardt's words were fixed.

“… … Okay."

As if he had been waiting for the breath he exhaled after his brief reply, Wilhelm inhaled it very sweetly. Because the faces of the two were still very close. Right after that, the young man grabbed Reinhardt by the waist and pushed him lightly. Relying on that power, he got up naturally, and Reinhardt realized that the young man beneath him was more excited than he thought. It was because of the young man's stiff thighs and the man brushed between the hem of the dress.

It's funny, but it was only then that Reinhardt fully realized that the young man standing in front of him was really an adult man. My heart beat a little faster. She knew what this resonance was like. The sleepless night of sixteen thinking about Dietrich, or the first wedding night when I went to bed with Michelle. It was completely the same as the two, but also had a different resonance.

So, at the moment when Wilhelm still couldn't take his hand off his waist and looked at her with eyes full of regret, Reinhardt pulled Wilhelm's face and kissed him on the forehead. As soon as she pressed her lips to her straight forehead, she removed it and raised her gaze obliquely to her knight. The kiss was very light, and seemed no different from other kisses that had passed between him and her, but both knew it.

The two couldn't go back any longer.

***

Michel Alanquez was in a bad mood the whole time. Because banquets have become what he hates the most since he was stabbed by his dethrones five years ago. At banquets, they were not allowed to be carried or carried by attendants, nor were they allowed to ride in a palanquin. Of course, he showed his limp leg and gait to people.

So there was no reason to welcome today's banquet either. This is a place to celebrate the return of Reinhard Delfina Rinke. Neither her death, nor her poverty-stricken figure, having her property confiscated and driven to the northeast, she is presented to everyone as the third great lord of the Empire. However, Michelle herself was humiliated to have to limp in front of the woman who stabbed her, and even congratulate her.

So, after the Emperor had a private meeting with Reinhardt two days ago, and as the banquet drew nearer, the prince continued to lose his temper, and all the ladies-in-waiting were trembling.

The lady-in-waiting who went in to wake the prince in the morning was struck by water, and a couple of vases were broken. The ladies-in-waiting wanted Princess Canary to calm her crown prince, but because she was a Princess Canary, her condition didn't seem all right. Princess Canary, who seemed a bit distraught two days ago, said that her ladies-in-waiting said, “Her Highness, the crown prince, seems uncomfortable… … .” Even though she said, “Please treat me well,” she said and didn't pay attention.

In the end, the ladies-in-waiting had only one person to ask for help. She was the beautiful Empress of Castreya. She is the one who raised the current emperor to the throne, and the empress who loves Michelle dearly. After hearing about the state of her prince from her maids, the empress moved her place at once. Her attitude was that she, too, was dressing up for today's banquet, but that her dressing was not important. In this way, it was obvious that she would finish her decoration in the womb of the emperor, so the maids-in-waiting of her empress followed her with her ornaments.

So the procession of the empress entering the palace of the crown prince was extraordinary. As soon as the maids-in-waiting of the empress entered the womb of the emperor, she said it was to decorate the unused room as the empress's temporary toilet room, and she mobilized the prince's maids. It was a person-slaying technique unique to Jang, the lady-in-waiting who served her empress for a long time. So the Empress of Castreya was able to see her son, Michel, sitting in the middle of her bed with a gruff face.

“Are you here?”

“Oh, my Michelle. I heard that you are having a hard time today, so I jumped. What is this?”

Although he was the only son and the crown prince, the empress was definitely the crown prince's elder. However, the empress would always refer to Michel as higher than herself. No one could stop her from claiming that she was as precious as the emperor. Except for Michelle.

Michelle said, "My Michelle," and angrily brushed off Empress Castreya's hand covering her head. However, the empress reached out her hand again and patted Michelle's cheek as if she was used to it.

“How did you prepare for the banquet and how did you come looking like that?”

It was pointing out the empress's half-up hair. The empress smiled softly.

“Hearing that my Michelle is upset, I should be able to sit back and be served. Michelle's happiness is more important to this mother than anything else.”

The graceful and beautiful woman was always proud of her son. The Empress of Castreya was her third son and played a decisive role in putting the current emperor, who had little influence on her, to the throne. As a young man, the emperor was always intimidated and he was not confident. The Empress was willing to even the arrogant temperament of her one and only son. For she believed that arrogance was a virtue, not a flaw, for those who would ascend the throne.

But ever since the daughter of the goddamn Rinque stabbed that beautiful and arrogant son in the leg, the empress lived in a constant rage. Her son has been irritable since he lost his leg, and sometimes wants to die. Therefore, the empress regarded Michel Alanquez as the most pitiful and pitiful person in the world.

She already guessed why Michelle was upset today.

Reinhard Rinke! It was because of that bitch!

The empress had no doubts in her belief that even keeping a girl alive, who should have been sent away to the dew of the execution ground long ago, was a mercy Heaven would be grateful for. But she had not survived that bitch Anne Tough either, and she had now become a High Lord.

Seeing the emperor offer to restore the Rinke family's rights, bring Reinhardt, and give him the title of great lord, the empress asked in disbelief. She said, “You are going to take that girl of hers and cut her throat this time?” But the emperor shook her head. Since the founding of the country, a great lord of unprecedented scale was born, but he said that he could not use his hands recklessly. The empress said, "Then I can use my hands!" and cried out, but the emperor was stubborn. Hearing that there is a tea time, he screamed at the teacup to put it on, but to no avail.

The empress fell on her bed after a vase broke out. The irony is that the empress jumped up again after hearing the tea time story that had been passed along during that time. Not only did the teatime pass smoothly, but Reinhardt couldn't help but listen to the story that the fox-like girl knelt down on the Emperor's lap and still trembled as if she were his daughter-in-law. Even after that tea time, the emperor was silent for some reason.

“My Michelle. How can this mother not know why she is so angry? Because of that bitch.”

“Ha, mother… … .”

Michel let out a long sigh as if the empress was right. When the empress saw the shadow cast over her son's face, she wanted to tear his chest apart. But comforting his son came first. She reached out and tapped Michelle on her shoulder, her beautiful hand, her jeweled ring on.

“Michelle. Anyway, the throne belongs to Michelle. Even if that girl is a great lord, in the end, she is just an oath to crystal. Until he dies of old age, the girl must obey Michelle. So at today's banquet, I hope you will take comfort in the fact that she has to kneel at your feet.”

“… … It's because His Majesty couldn't see the girl's trembling.”

Michelle's face was still wrinkled. The inside of her empress bubbling. The silence of her emperor was also something she did not like. Of course, the empress was not unaware that an emperor must be cautious. But why is that girl, who has not yet consolidated her power, stammering because she's so scared!

Even so, the empress collected herself and comforted Michelle.

“Oh, Michelle. you don't know yet It’s not that easy for people to rule over people.”

It has been over 200 years since the empire was founded. Nevertheless, what does it mean that there are only three lords who have received the title of great lord?

“Why are Glencia and Rembo the only territories that have been called great territories since the founding of the country?”

Since the founding of the country, there have been more great territories than expected. However, all of them could not maintain less than one and were torn to shreds. It is never easy to maintain a large territory with the power of one person. The reason why this empire lasted so long was because the emperor was desperate to please the lords. Wash in moderation. And the enemies of the empire were just enough to keep them in check. That was the case with Glencia. They maintained a large territory thanks to the barbarians, enemies of the empire, but they were in a state of panic now that the barbarians were gone.

Of course, Luden could have grown because of that, but the empress viewed Luden's chances of survival as low. She had no choice but to do so. A borrowed private, the only knight. In addition, even the disreputable waste. There was no way that Reinhard Rinke, who had never stood out in particular when he was the crown prince, could rule that great estate for a long time.

“The great territories were torn, and the bodies of their lords were torn apart like the territories. By the hands of none other than those vassals.”

The empress soothed Michelle by talking as if singing. The Empress of Castreya's voice was light and husky, and her cracked voice was strangely persuasive.

“I believe you don't have to touch that bitch, Michelle. my son Michelle's body will be torn to pieces as she rises to the throne. Trust me.”

The empress whispered quietly right after that.

“If it wasn't for the vassal, this mother would tear the girl to death herself. Do you dare to leave the girl who caused Castreya's son pain?”

Michelle just kept her mouth shut. Empress Castreya's words were true no matter where you look at them. The great estates embraced the harsh reasons why they had no choice but to be the great estates. Compared to that, what about Luden? Numerous people were already eyeing Luden to eat.

“Even if I pray to the dragon sleeping in that snowy mountain, I will see that girl close her eyes before this Castreya dies. At least I will live with the determination to enter the coffin together. Do you understand?”

Saying so, the empress gestured. The ladies-in-waiting outside the room heard the signal and came in. It was to hurriedly groom Michelle, who seemed to be feeling better. The empress also continued to gossip about her, adorning her hair, which could not be straightened up.

“Where did the rain go anyway?”

“A canary? I do not know. He must be shutting himself up in my toilet room.”

The empress clicked her tongue. At that time, one of her maids came and whispered to the empress. Princess Canaria announced that she had heard it just in time. Before the banquet, she was usually there to help Michelle dress up, and the time Princess Canary came was always appropriate, but she looked hateful in the eyes of the empress.

“Useless. Stop by.”

The empress, who spoke loudly as if she wanted to be heard even though she knew that Princess Canary was already outside the room, began to dress up. Soon after, Princess Canary entered and greeted the empress, but she ignored her with an elegant and dignified appearance. She then said to Michelle, who was deliberately trying on her belt.

“They say that today's banquet will bring together the lords of large territories. Among them, Delfast's daughter is coming. Do you remember, Michelle?”

Michelle narrowed her eyes. The empress smiled and said.

“This is the woman I tried to mate with you in the past. How kind of heart she was, didn't she stay by the side of the sick prince for days at a time?”

It was only then that the expression of Michelle understood. After Reinhardt stabbed her in the leg, the Empress had her relative, the daughter of Delfast, nurse Michelle. Of course, everything fell apart when Michelle met Princess Canary in the rain.

“They say that the girl is not yet married. She reminded me that it was a pity for her, but she felt sorry for Puck Michelle and she thought he was a good match. How about dancing a dance with the daughter of Delfast today?”

At those words, Michelle reflexively looked at Princess Canary. However, her princess was still standing there with a pale face, and she looked at Michelle with a smile. She meant so. Michelle had a confused expression, but the empress snorted inwardly.

'What the hell is the point of sitting in the crown prince's seat with the body pushed together and then sitting down without the indecent sheep? That slut had more spirit.'

Whether it was Princess Canary or Reinhardt, the empress didn't like it either. No, when Reinhardt got married, there was at least a background of being the daughter of Rinke. How easy was it for a master like Rinke Hu to come out again? The Principality of Canary was indeed a small country made up of tiny islands, and even the princess was so weak that Empress Guni felt as if her stuffiness would flare up. Of course, the empress would not have liked it even if Princess Canary had acted on her depravity. It was the empress' honest feeling that no one was satisfied with Michelle's spouse.

'… … done.'

However, the empress put those thoughts out of her head.

'Anyway, that girl came back alive, but that's it.'

The empress was always accustomed to clearing obstacles. From the time she married the current emperor until now. Whether she was in front of the emperor or Michelle, the empress always took the initiative to clean up her trash. She believes that in order to reign as the best woman in the empire, she deserves it, and that is what she has to do.

When the girl left for Luden, she cried because she couldn't break her thin neck with her own hands. She would not miss this time, the empress thought.

However, when the empress met Reinhardt at the banquet, she had no time to think about such things.

***

It was time for the banquet to begin. Reinhardt, who was just about to leave the Welcome Palace, asked what Wilhelm had put out.

“What is this?”

Of course, I didn't ask because I didn't know what it was. On Wilhelm's hand was a beautiful pearl necklace. A luxurious necklace made of gold and the finest pearls the size of Wilhelm's thumb.

Reinhardt glanced around. Mark, attendants, and knights lined up behind them. All of her knights who would escort her to her hall were dressed in black, as were her own. In fact, her attire had not changed from the time she met the emperor at Amaryllis Hall.

A black velvet dress and hair without any accessories. It even looked shabby at first glance as it was simply combed together and tied with a velvet ribbon hanging down. So I did think that someone would make this kind of interjection. Wilhelm cautiously continued.

“I heard that Mrs. Sarah was concerned. We can't send the Viscount to a banquet without anything.”

“I am a Marquis now, Wilhelm. I can inherit my father's title.”

"ah."

Reinhardt, who casually corrected Wilhelm's words, smiled.

“And Wilhelm. I am not very happy with this.”

“… … .”

“Expensive and fine jewels are of little value to me. I will wear black to the banquet. Do you know why?”

“I know the meaning of the protest was for the emperor, but… … .”

Reinhardt laughed grimly.

“Yeah, that’s right. And a warning to those who turned their backs on my father and me.”

Wilhelm was convinced at once.

After Rinke Hu died, many people turned their backs on Reinhardt stabbing the prince in the leg. All the feudal lords who had gathered under Rinke Hu were busy saving themselves, and some took advantage of the chaos to touch the property of Rinke Hu.

They will see Reinhardt's mourning clothes at this banquet. It was Reinhardt's intention to make people guess that a person who reigned as a great lord could pick up a scythe and become a god of death at any moment. Eventually, Wilhelm nodded his head. Reinhardt left the welcome palace with a smile on his face. The banquet would be held in Amaryllis Hall. late summer afternoon. In the midst of the colorful Welcome Palace, the scene of a woman in black walking through the corridor and the black knights following her made a strange contrast.

Wilhelm, who had followed Reinhardt one step behind, quietly whispered as he entered the largest garden of the imperial castle after leaving the corridor.

“I know. That you are beautiful alone without those jewels.”

“Mrs. Sarah made you do the heavy lifting.”

"no. just… … .”

Wilhelm hesitated before opening his mouth again. Reinhardt was still walking with his eyes fixed on the air, so he didn't know what kind of expression Wilhelm was looking at.

“To me, you are the absolute person.”

What do you want to say? Reinhardt could tell everything from swallowing his saliva after he said it, to dragging his toes in a bit of hesitation. because I heard it. That's how sensitive she was.

“I just want to do something for you. Even if it's not Mrs Sarah... … I think so. The things I brought from Orient may be just colorful stones for you, but that's all I can do.”

Oh my God. Wilhelm. Reinhardt almost burst into laughter. That's all. If the lord of Orient had heard it, he would have died from the vases bleeding all over his head. Could there be another man in the world who would bring Orient's most precious and expensive jewels and give them all to me and be so humbled? Under normal circumstances, Reinhardt would have accepted the jewel and put it on with a smile. But today, I couldn't.

As Reinhardt was about to open his mouth, Wilhelm added.

“Even if it's your ugliest warehouse, please make the ones I bought yours. I am… … Every time you do this, I feel like you're rejecting me.”

“… … .”

"I know. I promised to give you faith by pushing you away. But I mean.”

In the next moment, Wilhelm slightly moved half a step closer to her. Until now, he was a young man who had maintained a distance of one step behind Reinhardt. But half a foot. Even though it was only that close, the young man's hot breath came behind her ear with a hook. Reinhardt flinched involuntarily. the young man whispered softly.

“I never said I would stop courting you.”

Why? Words that should have been incredibly sweet felt eerie. Was it because he spoke behind his ear? Reinhardt looked behind him, trying to calm his nerves. Wilhelm was looking at Reinhardt obliquely from right behind her and slightly above her.

Beautiful, fake jewel-like eyes glistened in the afternoon sunlight.

In the eyes of others, it would only look like whispering a secret that the knight and the lord could not tell others. In addition, because of Reinhardt's tragic attire, the two seemed to be exchanging a conspiracy in preparation for a banquet rather than an intimate conversation between a man and a woman.

“Wilhelm. I said... … .”

Of course, Reinhardt also had no intention of having a sweet conversation with him. She coldly reversed the courtship of the man who was after her love.

“If you want to give me something, you can throw Michel Alanquez alive in front of me. I don't need anything else.”

Offer the body of Michel Alanquez to court me. Wilhelm's face turned strange at the frightening words. Reinhardt paused for a moment. For now, the face of that crooked and immature young man seemed strangely like that of a man who had aged for a long time. I felt a sense of deja vu.

Reinhardt couldn't tell if it was the face of Bill Colonna he had seen in his previous life, or whether he was witnessing a young man on the verge of adulthood suddenly getting old because of him. Or is it because of his guilt?

The next moment, the young man gently lowered his eyelashes. He only lowered his eyes, but the change brought about by that action was so dramatic that Reinhardt involuntarily focused on Wilhelm's face. whispered the young man.

“Then, please take one instead of jewels.”

“What do you mean?”

“… … Let me escort you.”

Oh my gosh. It was a very insignificant and humble request indeed. Reinhar unwittingly released the power he had given to his body and laughed.

“Oh, Wilhelm. I really didn’t know if permission was needed for that.”

A knight serving the lord. It was only natural for Wilhelm to escort her if she had no other husband of her own. Reinhardt also had no doubt that Wilhelm would escort her to the banquet hall. However, Wilhelm whispered so desperately that he could feel it.

“Reinhardt. I won't do anything without your permission. Really."

Could this be 'trust'? Reinhardt laughed out loud, ahaha.

“Yes, he is a good boy.”

Saying that, Reinhardt raised his hand. Wilhelm kissed the back of his hand deeply like water flowing. Its eyes shone darkly, but it was hard to see because it was covered by long black hair that gently swayed in the wind.

***

It was a place to celebrate the birth of the third great lord. Although the banquet was held in a hurry, it was perfect as it was held in the imperial castle. Amaryllis Hall was normally very splendid and grand, but today it has increased in scale. A mountain of food, alcohol and people adorning the hall. Hundreds of candles filling the magnificent chandelier and attendants passing between them. It was a sight to behold.

The newly born great lord. Besides, she is a woman who was dethroned. People's curiosity about Reinhard Delfina Rinke was great. But when she saw the woman who appeared there, people became quiet.

The black velvet dress was plain and unadorned. There were no necklaces hanging from her long, slender neck, and neither did her ears. Her cheeks were flushed, but it was because it was hot in a hall full of people. Blonde hair and velvet ribbons draped behind a pale face with barely any make-up. That was all.

"what… … .”

“He seems to be the same person as the former Highness, but... … .”

People whispered. Although she was once the Crown Princess, many people knew her face. However, they rubbed their eyes several times to see if the Reinhardt Delfina Rinke they knew and Lord Luden in front of them were the same person. The atmosphere was so different.

“Since Linke Hu passed away like that, I can only feel sorry for him. That's the way she goes through the death of someone close to her, isn't it? … .”

“But it’s too shabby.”

“Are you shabby? that one? I'm horrified... … .”

At the banquet where everyone was shining, only Reinhardt was wearing no accessories. So, people read the dreariness there. It was only natural that the death of Rinke Hu came to mind. Some even trembled. After the death of the Marquis, those who betrayed the Marquis were the mainstream.

On the other hand, those who had nothing to shy away from looked at others. He was a slim and dignified young man standing next to Lord Luden. A man with dark hair and dark eyes, who still has a hint of youthfulness, but who can see it, like a sharpened sword. He was Wilhelm.

“That person is Luden’s thunder… … .”

“Where did you get such a young man? How about that country estate?”

He is a man who is said to have dedicated six territories to her feet because he was loyal to her. I couldn't help but pay attention. He said that the shameless of the dogs went first and asked to be greeted.

“How are you, Rinke Hu? I said hello before... … .”

“Congratulations on your reinstatement, Your Excellency. I am… … .”

Reinhardt smiled lightly and accepted everyone's greetings. Those who were close to her and greeted her were surprised by her relaxed attitude at heart, but were soon convinced. She said that she was shabby, but if you think about it, she was a great lord with an orient. The hastily held banquet, far from being the great lord, was mostly pension aristocrats near the capital or children of the lord who were sitting in townhouses for various reasons. So, perhaps, except for the imperial family, the richest person here and now was Reinhardt.

The shabby and dreary soon transformed into the leisure of the rich in people's minds. I have a lot of things, so there is no need to boast and show off. Everyone admired Rinke Hu and did not hesitate to say cunning words.

People gathered around Reinhardt, and so did Wilhelm. However, Wilhelm consistently escorted Reinhardt throughout his life. He had the attitude that he had no interest in greeting the nobles. Some grumbled and withdrew with a disapproving expression, while others admired and praised him as a model of a true knight.

That also ended after the appearance of the emperor and his wife. The front door of Amaryllis Hall opened, and everyone bent their knees as the Emperor and Empress entered. Michel Alanquez and Princess Canary followed behind him. Everyone looked at Michelle with curious faces, but the prince's face was calm. In the first place, there was no way he could show his displeasure at a place like this. Although said to be arrogant and sometimes clumsy, Michelle was still the Crown Prince of the Empire. Even the lowly curiosity disappeared in an instant when the emperor crossed his eyes with Reinhardt.

The emperor beckoned Reinhardt to call. A few old-fashioned greetings were exchanged, and the emperor opened his mouth to everyone.

“A happy place to celebrate the birth of Luden, the third great estate. Plus, there's a new Imperial sword. Reinhardt Delfina Rinke, the Lord of Luden... … .”

Reinhardt slightly bent his knees and greeted everyone. Applause and cheers rang out. Things like congratulations from the emperor and poetry that he always followed followed one after another. The emperor and Reinhardt continued talking for a long time, and the people responded with cheers.

It was only natural that Wilhelm's inauguration ceremony followed. Normally, it would end with celebrating the birth of Lord Luden, but it was a big deal to even hold a knight ordination ceremony for one territory. Everyone just thought that the emperor would give the newly born great lord a very big boost. After all, for the emperor, the birth of the third great estate was something that could not be simply celebrated.

But there was one person who couldn't possibly think that way. She was the Empress of Castreya. Even then, the empress, who had been standing next to the emperor like a stone and staring at Wilhelm, had been suspicious of her eyes and ears the whole time.

The young man she is looking at is because the emperor of his youth was completely removed. At first glance, I just thought they looked alike, but when I looked closer, I saw that they had the same eyes as the emperor. The others didn't seem to notice, but Empress Castreya couldn't be unaware. She looked so much like the man who made her walk down the thorny path just because she fell in love with her when Empress Castreya was still the cute cousin and nephew of the late emperor. The empress was quick to recognize that the young man resembled the emperor.

“To the shining imperial sword, Wilhelm Colonna… … .”

When the emperor said the young man's name, the empress almost grabbed the left breast, where her heart was, without realizing it.

Colonna.

As soon as I heard it, I thought it was familiar, and the next moment I remembered whose castle it was. She was a girl who wanted to burn her to death, but missed it and eventually sent an assassin to kill her. She wanted to kill the girl with her own hands, but Glencia and the North were too far away, and she had no choice but to send a trustworthy assassin. Even so, it was a name that I still chewed on from time to time because I felt bad for the girl who ran away for ten months.

The empress looked at the emperor trembling. A middle-aged man smiling benevolently, as if he couldn't see the empress, was holding a ceremonial jeweled sword and placing it on the young man's shoulder while holding a knight ordination ceremony.

It couldn't be like this.

'traitor… … .'

People clapped. Someone laughed. The young man got up and bowed to the emperor, then went up to another and raised his hand and kissed the back of his hand. Cheers broke out. The empress looked at the owner of the back of her hand, barely holding back her trembling body.

Reinhardt Delfina Rinke.

The empress stared at her, then at the emperor who returned to her side. As if she was deliberately not looking at her empress, the empress whispered to the emperor who only looked in front of her, her eyes wide open.

“You can’t do this to me.”

“What do you mean?”

The emperor furrowed his brow.

“I have said many times that it is unavoidable if it is the reinstatement of Fu Rinke… … .”

“I told you you couldn’t do this to me if you were shameless.”

However, the empress did not listen to the emperor's words. She was fed up. It was because the emperor, who had repeatedly said that he couldn't help it when he was evil, only seemed to be making the same excuse again. I endured when he misbehaved, and endured when he distrusted my son, Michelle.

'All of that, I didn't put up with it.'

At that moment, the empress felt as if she was being pushed forward, and the years of fifty and a half became futile. I didn't know that you would make fun of me in front of people like this. No matter how much, the man I loved betrayed her like this.

The empress pretended to stumble a little and took two steps back to Michelle who was behind her. Her little Michelle frightened her and supported her. Castreya whispered to Michel.

“Michelle. It can't be like this. That person, you... … And you can't do this to me.”

Michelle turned to Castreya in embarrassment at the urgent whisper. Princess Canary was also surprised and supported her empress, but the empress pushed her away. Her princess looked at her and stepped back from her. The empress screamed with her hatred and anger, but she spoke quietly to Michel.

“Colonna. It is the name of a woman who once served His Majesty.”

Michelle's face went pale. There was no way Michelle didn't know what that meant.

He raised his purple eyes and looked straight ahead. A portrait of the emperor in his youth hanging in the inner palace of the imperial castle. An out-of-wedlock who looked exactly like it was standing there. Also next to the woman who was once his wife.

In the next moment, Michelle was overcome with anger.

It never occurred to him that the empress, Michel, or the emperor might not know Wilhelm well. Because the situation was so exquisite. The emperor, who had been disapproving of Michel, and the sudden appearance of a knight called Luden's Thunder.

Only then did Michelle fully understand why Reinhard Rinke was able to come to the capital as a high lord. From his point of view, of course. When the prince was just stabbed in the leg by Reinhardt, he didn't kill Reinhardt, he just drove him back to Luden. The reason was simple. It was that there was no way that she, who had been raised from her childhood to be the noble daughter of the writer after her, would be able to go all the way to her far and rough Luden on her own. Even if she froze to death on a mountain road on her way to the Northeast, she had nothing more to wish for if she did.

However, Reinhardt, who had been kicked out like that, returned to the capital after a few years, and at that time he was suspicious about the fact that he was reinstated as Rinke. No matter how great the article is. Even if there were private soldiers of the Margrave of Glencia, how would that be possible?

I'm not impressed with the subject of a girl who can't do anything. It couldn't have been. Michelle remembered what the emperor had said to me at a meeting not too long ago. The father, who always looked down on him with the eyes that said, “That is also his son,” surreptitiously brought up an out-of-wedlock child.

Michelle drew as she felt comfortable. Because the emperor couldn't immediately inform everyone of my out-of-wedlock, he couldn't give me a title or a fiefdom. So, he used Reinhardt, who was at odds with Michelle. Entrusting an out-of-wedlock child to other nobles could result in a stab in the back, so it must have been entrusted to Reinhardt in isolated Luden. Rumors of an illegitimate child might be heard at least once, but Michelle believed that was the reason why she hadn't heard of them until now.

It was he who decided to die of starvation in the mountains as painfully as possible without killing Reinhardt. However, Michelle's delusion, which began to fantasize wildly, spread to other places.

In the end, Michelle thought that the emperor's lukewarm reply when he said he would send Reinhardt to Luden naked was also a ruse by the emperor. The delusion of persecution is such a great thing. My father stabbed him in the leg and crippled him, but he gave away the girl who was once his, to an out-of-wedlock.

Michelle's eyes burned with anger. The empress was the same. However, the empress's side calmed down a little faster than Michelle's. She went back to the emperor, clearing her mind. Reinhardt was still talking to the others near the emperor.

“How long are you in the capital?”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the capital… … I have to collect my father's remains. I plan to stay for another month or so.”

Rinke Hu is still buried in a public cemetery outside the capital. After the banquet, it remained to dig up the coffin and reburial it with the restoration ceremony of Hu Rinke. The empress listened carefully to other conversations as well, recalling when that was.

“Then are you still in the imperial palace?”

“Thankfully, His Majesty was considerate.”

“Ah, the Marquis of Rinke... … .”

The other person blurted out the end of his speech and glanced at Michelle, then their eyes met and quickly turned their heads. It was because everyone here knew that all the property of the Marquis Linke family had flowed to Michel as alimony.

The Empress whispered to Michel.

“I said one month.”

"Yes."

“It was almost 20 years ago that I lost a woman named Colonna. And what I couldn’t finish properly back then has grown so much now.”

More than anything else, it had to come to an end. The empress gnashed her teeth. She clenched her fists so hard that her nails dug into her palms.

Only Princess Canary was looking at the two hats that were falling and whispering with an uneasy face.

***

It was a while before the banquet was over, but the wise ones were already leaving one by one. Reinhardt was also tired. It was far from clear when he had ever met so many people. He thought of going back quickly and throwing himself into his bed, but his eyes opened when he heard a servant come and whisper softly.

“He wants to see you in a minute.”

Those who offended had long since withdrawn from the banquet hall. Reinhardt glanced around the banquet hall and lightly touched Wilhelm's arm. Wilhelm, who was spitting out words that didn't even come to her mind at those around her, escorted her out of the banquet hall. Her regretful people sometimes caught up with her, but there was no one who could overcome her young man looking down through her cold eyes.

“You are tired.”

"Fine. What about the line?”

“I was tired until now, but my eyes are all open.”

Both of them knew very well what it was. The two of them followed the attendant who was waiting for them between the corridors. After going around for a while, the other place was a corner of the imperial castle that Reinhardt had rarely visited even during her days as the Crown Princess. When I opened the door to the small room and entered, a familiar person was sitting there. A middle-aged man who said he was tired and retired long before the banquet was over. he was the emperor

Reinhardt was not too surprised and approached and greeted her like flowing water. The emperor was always like that. The most important story was secretly passed on when others were having fun and busy, when crazy and fancy things were happening. It was natural for Reinhardt to know his disposition, since the time when he clashed with the emperor in the imperial castle as the crown prince's wife had been at least 5 years.

The emperor smiled once and stroked his beard. His sprung words were calm.

“I saw the crystal you gave me. It can't be yours.”

"I had a relationship with Your Majesty at least once, but it's not related by blood."

He could have scolded him for his wayward tone, but the man did not. He turned his eyes to look at Wilhelm instead.

“My son.”

It was embarrassing for the first words that came out of the emperor's mouth. Reinhardt was also surprised inside, but did not show it. He believed that the emperor would have already guessed, but he did not think that he was the type to openly express that he was his blood relative.

The emperor was always puzzling and outrageous. Even if there was something I wanted, I was the type of person who would not tell me right away. So, the servants of the imperial castle always had a hard time.

However, Wilhelm's eyes didn't flinch at those words. But he just silently bowed his head. It was the lightest example of a member of the royal family presenting to the emperor.

‘The gestures expected from a reunion of this kind are a bit different. A greedy person would at least get down on both knees filled with emotion.'

The emperor thought so for a moment, but soon changed his mind. Because it was self-evident who that brazenness came from. It belonged to the emperor himself. From the time he married the Empress of Castreya until now, he had never been servile in public for a single moment. Although he is picky and squeamish to get what he wants, he never asks first.

So my son, who inherited my blood, was able to do that.

Besides, The emperor remembered a woman who smelled like a forest he had seen a long time ago. The crystal Reinhardt gave to him while sitting under my lap. The emperor was not too surprised when he saw the white, round crystal. It was because when he saw Wilhelm in Amaryllis Hall, there was a woman he had unconsciously thought of.

There was a woman who was blunt and not coquettish, who rejected him but loved him even more. Her rough skin or shabby dress didn't even bother her. The woman who smelled of the forest and did not turn to the Emperor for a single moment, as if she wanted to leave him at any moment, had the surname of Colonna.

That was the reason why he asked Wilhelm his age in Amaryllis Hall, where people gathered unlike him. It was ironic indeed, considering the fact that the empress saw in Wilhelm the emperor of her youth.

Anyway, the emperor felt a deep longing for the young man in front of him. In his youth, the empress who threw herself into love made him emperor. However, the man felt that such an empress was terrible, and he was afraid at times. He believed that he was sure to love her too, but after ascending to the throne, he thought, what was left was a woman with a desire for exclusivity.

Wilhelm had the power to remember the freshness he had met in the north around that time. The Emperor looked at the young man with emotion.

“Wilhelm. I mean Wilhelm.”

“That humble name points to me.”

“Who gave it that name?”

At those words, Wilhelm looked at Reinhardt, but she quickly opened her mouth.

“His biological mother.”

The young man's forehead crumpled, but the emperor didn't notice. The overjoyed emperor placed a wrinkled hand on Wilhelm's shoulder.

"Yes, that's a name she would give."

In a way, it was a common and ordinary name, but the emperor believed that it must have been the name given by the blunt woman. The middle-aged man asked Wilhelm as if to confirm several things. Was it my son who demolished the majestic walls of Orient? Was it my son who ran across the plains of Delmaril and burned them all at once? Was it my son who conquered Pala's Sand Tomb? Wilhelm nodded his head each time. The emperor tried to fully enjoy the joys of his old age.

Reinhardt pretended to be a spectator of the father and son quietly holding hands behind the scenes and having a thrilling reunion. So there were things that looked better.

The emperor was already convinced that Wilhelm was his son, and what he asked back was not for confirmation, but for memories. It was the natural reaction of the person who brought Michel Alanquezman as his son for 25 years. For a man who has enjoyed only the best things in a position of universal recognition, it was lamentable that the only one, my son, was not the best son.

To such a person, how much joy can a grown-up flesh and blood suddenly appear one day? There is no other option, so Hwanhee-ran has a better option for those who have accepted Michel Alanquez.

So, when the Emperor turned to me, Reinhardt prepared to receive the best prize. Even the title of her Highlord is not enough for her now. There was something else about her that she wanted. She wasn't going to ask the happy emperor for what I wanted right away.

However, there was one thing Reinhardt overlooked. It is true that the emperor had two days to confirm the correction. In any case, the emperor was a great man who had ruled this fleeting empire for nearly 30 years, and he was not someone who blindly stamped his feet intoxicated with joy. He did everything he could to find out about his son who had suddenly appeared. The place where Reinhardt and Wilhelm stayed was the Welcome Palace. It means it wasn't in the palm of his hand.

So, the emperor also clearly knew what Wilhelm wanted.

“Reinhard Delfina Rinke.”

"Yes."

To Reinhardt, who bowed his head, the emperor declared a reward.

“If I put the crown on you again, would you accept it?”

Reinhardt was stunned.

***

He didn't dress up much, so he didn't have to get someone else's hands after he returned. I was able to rest as soon as I returned to the welcome palace. In Reinhardt's inner room, there was a bathtub filled with hot water that the servants had already prepared. Mark asked if he could help, but Reinhardt waved his hand. When the ribbons were undone from his neatly combed hair, only his mourning clothes remained.

There were beautifully inlaid dragons on the four legs of the bathtub. Reinhardt sat down on the edge of the steaming tub, exhausted, and stared at it in awe. His gaze stayed on the dragon, but he did not appreciate it. He tried to unfasten the lead button with his fingertips, but his fingers were strangely slow.

"under."

Reinhardt stopped unbuttoning the button and sighed in amazement. From the time he left Amaryllis Hall until now, there were so many thoughts in his head that he couldn't control himself.

It's called the Crown Princess' coffin.

It was the most amazing offer she had ever heard. Reinhardt threw off his silk shoes and sat on the edge of his bathtub, thinking. The hot water gave off steam, but it was more about organizing my thoughts than wanting to get into it.

you're sick

The moment he heard the emperor's words, Reinhardt almost answered like that. However, it was not difficult to guess the emperor's intentions. He didn't say that because he thought that Reinhardt wanted the crown of the princess. So, really, the emperor was an old fox. The technology that had supported this large country for nearly 30 years while stumbling around was not going anywhere. He probably threw that out on purpose.

<I think if my son becomes a prince, you should be by his side.>

After saying that, the emperor's eyes turned to Wilhelm. He was brief, but clear. It was to observe Wilhelm's reaction. The young man, still immature, expressed joy and surprise on his gloomy face, albeit briefly. The emperor clearly observed the light that soon disappeared. The Emperor brought out the words to test it out, but it was clear that the moment he saw the light, he would make it a fait accompli.

Reinhardt revisited the situation from a moment ago and drew a picture that would soon disappear with his finger on the water.

***

“I don’t want to.”

Reinhardt calmly replied. It was the answer she had to give on the spot, but it was also completely sincere. I didn't come all this way because I wanted something like that. Besides, she was now a high lord. unimpressed. I heard that the seat of the great lord and the coffin of the princess can be compared.

But because of that, Reinhard realized that it was also the emperor's wish.

The third Great Territory to appear in the Empire. And that great estate was no different from what Wilhelm, the son of the emperor, had made. The Emperor's calculations were quick. If Wilhelm got out of Luden now, Luden would collapse helplessly. The emperor knew very well that Reinhardt would need him if that were not to be the case. The person who best understood the attributes of the lords was the emperor.

The Emperor already knew that Wilhelm was clinging to her.

'Inspiration like a rat.'

Whether it was a fox or a mouse, it wasn't a human, Reinhardt cursed inwardly. He probably unleashed a spy on the Welcome Palace. No, in fact, the entire imperial castle belonged to the emperor, so it wouldn't be strange if virtually all the maids and attendants were the eyes of the emperor. Rumors that Luden's dethronement had dragged the knight into his bed in the first place were so circumstantial that it was more strange not to guess that much.

But I hadn't even thought he'd noticed the slightest bit until the push and pull between the two of them. He said he would throw such a bold number out of the blue.

He shakes Wilhelm by talking about the crown of the princess. It was self-evident that my son was clinging to this woman, so the emperor was going to grab Wilhelm and entangle Reinhardt like her noose. In that case, there was no need to set up a countermeasure against the third great lord. Apart from fully enjoying the joy my wonderful son had presented to me, he was not intoxicated by it.

There was a reason why she was the princess, not the 'princess'.

The title of Highlord does not belong to the Emperor. If he spoke of the crown princess, it meant that Reinhardt would have to lose the position of high lord in the future. However, if Wilhelm remains just a prince, and if she also stays in her imperial household, then she can remain a high lord. The emperor simply proposed an exquisite tug-of-war with just that one word.

And… … .

“Then Reinhard Delfina Rinke. What do you want?”

The eyes of Reinhardt and the emperor collided intensely. She swears she never meant to confront him so quickly, but she couldn't back down now. Was it her gift or her war that Wilhelm gave her by trading her blood? Before even calculating it, the emperor asked again.

“I had a question. You stabbed Michelle in the right leg and crippled her. But no one really knew why. Some say that Michelle betrayed you and was angry with another woman, but the royal family's marriage is not like that.”

“But the person in front of me had such a marriage.”

Reinhardt compared the emperor's marriage. The third prince, chosen by the former emperor's beloved nephew. He was able to become emperor because the Empress of Castreya loved him dearly. The emperor smiled.

“People often believe that love is two-way.”

Crazy baby.

Those words were tantamount to saying that the empress loved him but not the emperor. Even if the empress gets along with someone else, does the emperor not hesitate? The next moment, Reinhardt realized that the answer to that question was right next to him. Wilhelm's existence was proof of that. She looked at Wilhelm quite consciously, and the emperor also looked at Wilhelm. The young man's attitude was that he was even bored, but his eyes were fixed on Reinhardt.

“But I didn’t call you because I wanted to flirt with you like a barmaid, wondering why you stabbed Michelle.”

“Because Alanquez’s blood always takes a step forward rather than staying curious about the reason.”

It was a reference to Amaryllis Depafina Alanques, the founder of the country. It is said that her habit of saying that she created the Alan Cess Empire was always 'I'm not curious about the reason'. One step forward rather than reason. That was the keynote of Alanques, which had been passed down from Amaryllis, and Reinhardt borrowed the story.

It may have been Amaryllis' story, but in fact, it was more of a dignified sarcasm about whether you've already withdrawn your attention from Michelle or something. The emperor smiled. A grim smile disappeared between his well-groomed beard. That also resembled Wilhelm. It is true that blood cannot be deceived.

"yes. There is something more curious than that.”

"What is."

“Are legs enough?”

Unbeknownst to me, a quick sound came from between them. Is that enough? Absolutely not. It wasn't a question the emperor asked Reinhardt for an answer either.

“You stabbed my son. Are you satisfied now that you have returned the body of Rinke Hu, who was chased to Luden and was unable to take care of it? I bet you didn't come all this way because of the body of your adoptive father.”

Of course, that didn't mean the emperor fully understood her. It's the corpse of the adoptive father. How nice it would be if Rinke Hu could be called just an adoptive father. If that was the case, Reinhardt would have fled across the Fram Mountains, where the dragon was said to be sleeping, instead of eating himself to get revenge on Michelle.

So, talking about the royal family's marriage, it's a bond you'll never know.

'That was between my father and me.'

Reinhardt suppressed the desire to laugh at the emperor on the spot. He wasn't even that important. The emperor turned his back and circled his room. Its steps were slow and deliberate, and Reinhardt saw the emperor carefully stepping on the stepping stones.

“For the position of the High Lord to be acknowledged by me? probably not You know better what the status of the third great estate that has appeared in the Empire is.”

“I am embarrassed.”

“Then what do you want?”

The emperor took a step forward.

“I guess he came back because he couldn’t be satisfied with one leg.”

“I am Your Majesty’s son.”

Reinhardt's tone was calm when he said that, but he had doubts about whether he could really force his son into my mouth. The emperor's wrinkled face suddenly became grim.

“He is also the son of the woman who killed the woman I once loved.”

It was absurd.

He knew that the emperor was tired of constantly walking a tightrope between the estates. On the other hand, Michelle is not a son she likes, but she is anxious. But anxiety and affection are two different things. There is also the feeling of being anxious to love. Did the emperor have no fatherly love at all? Reinhardt became curious. The joy of meeting Wilhelm is simply because another candidate has appeared who can take over his position. Is that all?

Besides, it's love.

As far as Reinhardt knew, the Emperor had only met Viscount Colonna's daughter 20 years ago, during a visit to the north. Since then, she has not sought out her, nor has she wondered about her death in the family, nor has she sought the cause of her death. It could be that the former emperor and empress were afraid. But is that also called love?

The emperor replied as if he had looked into Reinhardt's head.

“I know it is difficult to understand. There is just one thing that everyone is overlooking. I have had two sons all along.”

I wasn't referring to Wilhelm. Reinhardt narrowed his eyes and looked at the emperor. The emperor took a short breath and spoke as if exhaling.

“It is the Alanquez Empire.”

“… … understand."

"Well."

The emperor laughed at the brief reply.

“Perhaps you will not understand. Even if she sat in the seat of the Crown Princess, or if you sat in the seat of the Empress, she would never understand. This place is like that.”

“… … .”

“I had only one choice for my dearest son, but now that there are two, all I can do is choose a better option.”

The man's gaze glanced at Wilhelm. Wilhelm's face was different from before.

“Of course, I thought that I hadn’t decided which option was better… … It seems that there is no need for such words.”

The emperor also seemed to realize that Wilhelm had only one desire.

“Anyway, one thing is certain. If you go on like this, you will take Michelle's head no matter what. Everyone has affection for blood, but you must have already guessed that I did not call Rinke Hu because I was afraid that you would kill Michelle.”

The man squinted his eyes and smiled miserably.

“After Rinke. You are a person I hate.”

to say Reinhardt swallowed the words in his heart.

The emperor's calculation was both simple and complex. Even if Reinhardt beats Michel with all his might, the emperor has another son to replace him.

He might bequeath the throne to Michel, not to Wilhelm. However, the emperor did not look down on Reinhardt. The emperor praised his ability to rise again after only five years and become a great lord more highly than anyone else. People said that Reinhardt was lucky enough to meet Luden's thunder and easily became a lord because of his good fortune.

But there are things that only rulers can know.

Luck is also always necessary for rulers. The emperor had heard of how Reinhardt met Wilhelm. A lost orphan child I met in the mountains. such a child For her who used to be her great aristocrat, it was like a stone on her side of the road that could have just passed by.

Picking out the emperor's illegitimate child from among the numerous stones on the roadside was not a feat. only luck And the Emperor thought Reinhardt was lucky.

Of course, Reinhardt recognized who Wilhelm was, and it was possible because he had memories of his previous life, but that was something the emperor could neither know nor need to know. Reinhardt took Wilhelm to Luden and took care of him before he knew who he was.

Anyway, the emperor did not think that Michelle would be absolutely safe even if he handed over the position of absolute to Michelle. Even for an emperor who seeks shelter here and there like an old fox, Glencia is a tough opponent, and Luden is an opponent that needs careful attention.

But what about Michelle? If he clumsily handed over the throne to Michel, there was a high possibility that Alanquez would be torn to pieces, let alone deal with Reinhardt. Because Reinhardt will definitely hit Michelle. That too, by putting Wilhelm, the emperor's illegitimate son, in the foreground. Alanques will be engulfed in fear of war, and as a result, the empire will suffer a heavy blow no matter who wins the throne.

The emperor wanted to leave Alanques intact as a bloodless empire without war, rather than seeing it. The crown was the same no matter who it was placed on after death. It was not without fatherly love, as Reinhardt first thought. On the contrary, he was very exuberant. However, the target is only the empire.

It is an empire that a man who could not become an emperor originally grasped in his hands. So Michelle, who would ruin the empire he loved, couldn't be pleased with him.

However, he didn't even think of putting Wilhelm on the throne. Putting a battlefield hero on the throne doesn't make a great emperor. So the emperor carefully weighed Wilhelm's use.

“But I can’t turn away from the other Alankes I brought just because you said you didn’t like it. No, I'll be honest. I don't have many options.”

“I am embarrassed.”

“You're a person I hate, but you're a great deal anyway. Even just bringing another Alanquez to sit in for Michelle.”

The emperor stroked his beard. In places, white beards and hair stood out.

“Now I understand why Glencia colluded with you. He must have traded that child's lineage with Glencia. The Marquis must have bet on the possibility of me making that kid check them. You dutifully created the stage.”

A smile spread across his lips.

“I know I am being used, but I have to dance to that puppet show.”

The emperor also wanted to keep Glencia in check and further weaken its power. If so, he would have to actively use Luden. Because Luden is right next to Glencia. It is most comfortable to let the two large estates compete against each other.

“I've heard the story that the high lord of Luden and the knight got hitched. But really, you wouldn't have given me the crystal.”

“… … .”

“Since Hu Rinke gave me the crystal, I will also respect Hu Rinke as the great lord. But when the time comes, you will have to wear the Crown Princess crown.”

Reinhardt hardened his expression. The emperor laughed like a joke.

“Think of me as a master of making you dance on the stage of your puppet show.”

***

It was a difficult situation to simply describe as a mess. Reinhardt nervously stirred the water in the bathtub. If he took Wilhelm and slowly consolidated his power and became the great lord, he would not have to consider it. Instead of walking slowly down the long road, the price of passing through the crystal gate was enormous.

She had only one choice left. In fact, she couldn't even say that she was a choice. From the time she seduced the emperor in exchange for her fertilization, she expected that he would ensnare herself somehow. But she didn't think that would be the way to stimulate Wilhelm's desire.

damn it

Reinhardt had a headache and rubbed his temples for a while before suddenly thinking about Algen Stotgall. She is because of what she ordered in her am. Originally, she thought it might take a few days, but she was tired today and decided to rest. However, her thoughts kept blocking her, so she needed ventilation. In the end, Reinhardt called Marc outside the room and asked him to call Alzen. Mark said yes and left.

However, it was Wilhelm who came in soon after. Reinhardt furrowed his brow.

“I didn’t call you.”

“Alzen Stogall is not back yet. And… … .”

Wilhelm came next to her and tapped Reinhardt's lead button.

“Did you ever intend to see him in this condition?”

Only two of Reinhardt's buttons were undone. Reinhardt snorted.

“You are the only strange human who looks at me like that.”

“It's strange that people don't look at you 'that way'.”

The young man replied, tucking her disheveled hair behind her ear. The movement was so natural that Reinhardt was a little surprised. But Wilhelm continued her words without giving her a chance to surprise her.

"Besides, it's in front of the bathtub."

“You are also in front of the bathtub.”

"Yes. And I see you sitting unbuttoned in front of the bathtub.”

Wilhelm bent down slightly and met eyes with Reinhardt, who was sitting there. Then he whispered close to his face.

“Don’t you think it’s too much of a sight to show a boy just twenty years old?”

The words sounded too similar to that of a man other than Wilhelm, and Reinhardt laughed involuntarily. Since he studied under Dietrich, it is natural that he resembles him, but Wilhelm was talking as if he were a spectator.

“You talk like a thirty-year-old man.”

“Because I will have to grow up soon to follow you.”

Wilhelm shrugged and got down on one knee in front of her. There were spots on the floor from the hot tub, but he didn't seem to mind.

"Get some rest soon. Shall I wait for you?"

“… … Now you talk like a playboy?”

“You know.”

Wilhelm took off his gloves and pulled out the bowl the servants had brought. After pouring some hot water into it, Wilhelm held her feet. As soon as her calloused hands gripped her bare feet, Reinhardt was startled at her, but Wilhelm's strength did not let her go. The young man put her feet in the warm water and began to wash them as if they were the most precious thing in the world.

"Whether it's a playboy or a 30-year-old, I'll do anything as long as you accept it."

Reinhardt's shoulders shrugged at the tickling sensation of the tip of his toe. The young man who said he would not stop courting him really seemed to be trying to be someone else. Even though he was as clumsy as a chick that just came out of the world, he was so startlingly good that he couldn't quite get a sense of it. Reinhardt suddenly became curious about the three years Wilhelm had spent on the battlefield. What kind of place is a battlefield that made you grow up to such an amazing extent?

For a while, there was only the sound of splashing water. Reinhardt glanced at the entrance to the room. The door to the drawing room was open. Wilhelm smiled, as if he had noticed that he was wary of creating a strange atmosphere.

“I told you. I won't do anything without your permission.”

After saying that, Wilhelm wiped his washed right foot with a cloth, then pressed his lips gently to her knee and onto the cloth.

“I think I just said that we won’t do anything without your permission.”

Reinhardt asked in a hoarse voice, embarrassed, and Wilhelm smiled brightly as he looked at her.

“Is there anyone who is allowed to worship God?”

worship. I mean worship. to be shameless, she almost asked, 'Am I God?' But she closed her mouth because her next words were so obvious to her eyes. The moment you ask that, you must be getting caught up in the manipulative tricks of that young man. So Reinhardt turned around.

“What do you think?”

“It’s beautiful and ecstatic.”

“… … Do you want to become emperor?”

Wilhelm tilted his head and replied.

"Nope. I am telling you.”

“… … I was asking about what the emperor said.”

"ah."

The young man blushed and blushed as if he really didn't know. However, judging from the fact that his eyes were suddenly folded insidiously, he was undoubtedly knowingly but brazenly cheating. Reinhardt strained his feet and said, "If you talk nonsense one more time, I'll kick you." and threatened. The young man, one head taller than Reinhardt, feigned fright, shrugged his shoulders and continued pouring water on his remaining feet.

“The impressions are similar. I was ecstatic.”

“… … I was fooled by the fact that I was not the crown prince, but the prince. I'll be dubious until I figure out whether you're really better than Michelle or not."

“No, none of that matters.”

Wilhelm's thumbs dug between her toes. The bone between her big toe and second toe. Wilhelm gently pressed the first knuckle of her thumb down there. The slight pain, the coolness, and the tickling made her hair stand on end.

“You were talking about making you my wife.”

I broke out in a cold sweat. It was the tone of saying that it didn't matter if it was the crown prince or the prince, no, even if the emperor proposed a cat seat under my feet. Reinhardt was torn between wanting to get his left foot out of Wilhelm's hands and wanting to leave it as it was. Wilhelm meticulously pressed her foot. I don't know why I didn't know when I was massaging her right foot. Only when the young man touched his left knee like a ritual did Reinhardt finally be able to open his mouth.

“Don’t believe everything. A hundred years old like a fox. Just looking at you and me and Glencia walking a tightrope, noticing everything.”

Wilhelm nodded softly.

“Okay, Reinhardt.”

However, his attitude was so cool that Reinhardt somehow felt more anxious and uncomfortable. she sighed. Wilhelm smiled at her and said.

"If you're going to go into the bathtub, I'll get out."

"no. The water was cold too... … I feel tired. I think it would be better to wash tomorrow morning.”

“Okay, then.”

Wilhelm got her up, put her on the bed, and called Marc to clean the room. The series of actions were so nonchalant that he had no idea that Wilhelm was thinking of killing the emperor.

***

The exhausted Reinhardt fell asleep as soon as he leaned back on the bed. Marc said "Oh... … .” and tried to put her on her bed, but asked Wilhelm for help. Wilhelm put his hands on Reinhardt's neck and knees and lifted them slightly. While Marc quickly arranged the bedding and lifted it up, Wilhelm looked at the woman in his arms.

He looked so big when he was a child, but he wasn't like that now when he was in his arms. As he peered at his nervously haggard face, Wilhelm thought for a moment that he wanted to see that cheek swell in a round shape.

Although quick, it took Mark a little longer to make the bed, as his hands were not yet ready. I put Reinhardt down on the soft bedding and put a pillow around his neck, but Reinhardt barely opened his sleepy eyes.

“Um, I… … .”

“What are you doing when you can’t even speak properly? It's over.”

Marc laughed haha ​​and covered Reinhardt with the blanket. Wilhelm wanted to watch Reinhardt sleep for a little longer, but there was no way he could remain while Marc winked at him. So, Wilhelm turned off the lights in the room where a few candles were lit and left immediately.

"rest!"

"Yes. Mark too.”

Wilhelm greeted Marc and turned around. His own room was right next to Reinhardt's, but he pondered and went down the stairs into the garden. He wasn't just there to get some air. Wilhelm walked through the garden, which was dimly lit in places, neither slow nor fast.

<Because one must always come and go. Taking vengeance instead of faith is not a bad deal for me. If you want to have my body, I'm willing to trade me with you.>

<You're a person I don't like, but you're a great deal anyway.>

Deal.

Wilhelm pondered the words of Reinhardt and the emperor in turn. The content was similar, but curiously, the emotions that arose from the speaker were quite different. The former was tempting, but the latter just wanted to kill it.

As the woman I was clinging to had a conversation with the Emperor, Wilhelm was quietly observing her expression. In front of the emperor, Reinhardt was expressionless throughout, but only Wilhelm could see the reddened nape of his neck.

The emperor's proposal was certainly something that Wilhelm wanted to welcome very much. However, the emperor did not know Wilhelm well. He had no desire to have Reinhardt given to him by others. If he had wanted to, he would have taken her without hesitation when Reinhardt unbuttoned her in front of her in the first place.

However, Wilhelm wanted Reinhardt intact.

In case he didn't know, Wilhelm already knew the smile Reinhardt makes when he trusts someone. When he smiles and lifts the corners of his mouth, a small dimple appears only on his left cheek and then disappears. The wrinkles around her eyes folded and her eyes sparkled with gold, that smile that could only be seen in Luden. That smile I had never seen before in the imperial castle.

However, Wilhelm had never received that smile. I just know it by looking at it from the side. Reinhardt would often give Wilhelm a sincere smile, but it was a different kind. The face of a loved and cuddly pet. She said that Wilhelm was 'like a child', but this is what a woman who has never had a child of her own would say.

The only time she laughed like that was next to him.

Brown hair and bright green eyes. When their eyes met, the two burst into laughter without saying who said first. The warm air drifting between the two was difficult to imitate with any scent. Watching Reinhard Rinke leaning his forehead on the chest of a man he could trust and talking about trivial things, young Wilhelm would be thirsty for an unknown reason.

Those golden eyes twinkled, and he hoped that the person he was seeing was himself.

<Alutica has Halsey anyway. Isn't that what happened?>

<What is good? The girl you like will look at you like a bug.>

I recalled a brief conversation I had with the man. At that time, Wilhelm thought it didn't matter. He still thinks he doesn't really care. If there had been Dietrich, Wilhelm might have coveted Reinhardt like that, driven by impatience. and become a worm

But isn't that man gone now? So Wilhelm relaxed. He even found out the reason for his thirst.

To Reinhardt, the emperor's words were an enchanting proposal. He laughed and joked. Because he noticed early on that Reinhardt was wary of his cruelty. Wilhelm saw that when the Emperor said that, Reinhardt's nape turned red, and he really wanted to kill the Emperor on the spot.

I hate it so much, but it annoys me that I can't help it. He was not the kind of woman to patronize. Her god of death and time were on her side, and she didn't like the arrogance that she only wore a crown on her head.

'How nice it would have been if I could just pull out my sword and kill him like before.'

Wilhelm tried to recall the 'before' for a while. Had it not been for the intrusion of an uninvited guest, he would have been able to ponder the sparsely remembered old times in the quiet garden.

There was a rustle, a sound. Wilhelm reflexively looked to the side. “Oh, damn it.” I also heard someone swearing.

“That bastard, damn it. Where are you supposed to go?”

“Please, Your Highness.”

"Go away! Are you also in the same relationship with that slut?”

An uninvited guest never came quietly. I heard someone begging. The person who was swearing was indistinct, as if drunk. Even if you pick up a little conversation back and forth, you could tell whose party it was.

A whitish head popped up among the green leaves of the garden. Wilhelm stood still and watched it without avoiding it. After that, the silver-haired woman and several attendants followed. Wilhelm rolled the name of the man in front of him into his mouth.

Michel Alanquez.

He was my half-brother, a bastard I wanted to tear to death.

The man stumbled. He was very drunk, and it was because he limped. Michelle, whom I saw in Amaryllis Hall, was beautiful, but when I saw her disheveled in the dark, she looked like a drunkard. “Your Highness, go back. Yes?" Wilhelm also knew the woman begging behind him. She was a Canary Princess.

“I will kill them all! His Majesty and you all look down on people all together!”

“How can I look down on Your Highness? no."

The banquet was over, but he was dressed in banquet clothes and hadn't even changed. Five or six attendants were hanging out around him, but he was at a loss as to what to do with the evil. The only thing stopping the crown prince was a woman, but how could she defeat a large man with her slender arms? Eventually Princess Canary was pushed behind her and fell.

“Oh,”

The princess screamed softly and fell. Michelle was wheezing and was about to even walk towards the Welcome Palace. All he had in his head was the idea of ​​bringing an out-of-wedlock and killing Reinhardt, who openly despised me. Michelle, who withdrew before the banquet was over, had already caused a commotion in the palace of the prince. He turned everything in the room upside down and smashed it, and slapped the cheek of the attendant who was trying to stop me. As usual, she would have been called the Empress of Castreya, but her condition as Empress was not perfect. The empress also struggled with her sense of betrayal, and she shut herself up in the empress's palace.

In the end, only Princess Canary was called, but Michelle, who was violent, did not even listen to Princess Canary. She had already drunk several glasses at the banquet, and the gungnyeo who stopped me only cursed at me, saying that I was in a relationship with the emperor. Furthermore, when she remembered that the garden Princess Canary usually strolled in was the garden of the Illusion Palace, her anger grew out of control.

“Did you meet that slut in a place where I wasn’t around and whisper to each other?”

As a princess, it was an amazing situation. About the illegitimate daughter of the Empress of Castreya and Emperor Michelle, she did not tell the Princess Canary. It was because she looked down on Princess Canary and didn't even think of someone to share her anger with. So she thought that the princess had only become violent because of her hatred for Reinhardt.

But that made it even more embarrassing. Wasn't she, the Princess of Canary, the position that Reinhardt should despise the most? She would have no reason to whisper, and her princess hadn't gone there since her first day when she encountered Wilhelm in the garden of the Welcome Palace. It was because she had nothing good because unnecessary encounters stood out apart from her likes and dislikes.

“Could that be? oh."

The next moment, someone raised Princess Canary up. Since only her maids could touch her body, she wondered if any of her maids had followed her, and she looked behind her, wondering. Then she freaked out. She took her hands off her waist because it was her dark-haired knight who had come with her thief.

"you… … .”

"you."

Before Princess Canary could speak, Michelle also found Wilhelm. Michelle's eyes hardened.

“This wicked man. Whose body did you dare to touch?”

“Looks like you fell.”

“I am the only man who can touch her body!”

Michelle screamed. It was embarrassing to hear the prince of the empire scream, but the man in front of him still only looked at him with a calm face. Then all he said was, “Ah. I didn’t know because it was the Northeast Muji.”… … was

It was astonishing. The word was Northeast Muji, but the action was not. No one in Alanquez could have been so rude in front of the crown prince. What's more, he behaved rudely even when he touched the body of the Crown Princess!

Michelle was sure. That the author believes in my origin and is acting arrogantly.

Michelle immediately pulled the knife from her waist. One of the attendants gasped and held her breath. Since only members of the royal family could openly carry a sword in the imperial palace, Wilhelm was naked.

“I will kill you!”

“Oh, no, Your Highness!”

Princess Canary screamed in surprise, but Michelle was stubborn. He strode forward and brandished his sword. “I’m sorry,” the princess hid her face. It was because I couldn't bear to see the horror that would soon follow.

But it was strange. No matter how long I waited, I couldn't hear any screams or sighs from the attendants. Is that all? “Oooh!” She heard a scream later, but it was a voice Canary knew. Michelle.

Princess Canary flinched, then gently lowered her fingers that covered her face. A wonderful sight unfolded before her eyes. Wilhelm grabbed Michel's sword-handed hand and broke it behind him. Michelle was struggling as if being tied up by a young man.

“Let go!”

"If you put the knife down, I'll let it go."

“Eik! I will kill you!”

However, despite the crude threat, the man still replied with a sullen face, as if asking where the dog was barking.

“I’m holding on to it, so would you let me go if you said that?”

The attendants who came to their senses belatedly screamed in surprise. “Please let go of Your Highness!” “It’s majestic!” Wilhelm nodded his head, and finally sighed through his nose, then reached out with his other hand and hit Michelle hard on his wrist. It was Wilhelm who immediately kicked the sword that fell to the floor with his foot. The sword made a loud noise and flew away behind it.

However, he did not let Michelle go right away. “Let go!” Wilhelm, who was staring at the desperate Michelle, seemed to be pondering for a moment, then pursed his lips. "What?" Michelle, with a puzzled face, asked if she hadn't understood properly, but Wilhelm didn't take Michelle's circumstances any further.

Puck, there was a sound. Princess Canary's eyes widened. Wilhelm knocked out Michelle. It also hit the back of the neck.

Michelle drooped like a lie, and Wilhelm naturally caught him and pushed him forward. The attendants, who were flustered, unwittingly received the crown prince from him and helped him. Wilhelm opened his mouth as if not giving them a chance to say anything.

“Please forgive the rudeness.”

“… … .”

“At least if I just let go, something bigger will happen. You were drunk at the time, so you can just say you had a dream.”

The attendants exchanged glances with each other and looked at Princess Canary. Her princess calmed her bewildered spirit and quickly opened her mouth.

“What you have just committed is undoubtedly an outrageous act for a mere knight of the territory to be committed against a member of the imperial family, but I believe that it was a mistake that he had no choice but to commit since his life was threatened.”

It's nonsensical in the first place. Even if rumors spread that the prince had drunkenly stormed into the garden of the Welcome Palace, there was no doubt that he would not be able to keep his head up. Besides, threatening knights from other territories. A knight who was directly appointed by the emperor just a few hours ago. It would be an endless scandal. So, rather than asking further questions about Wilhelm's fainting of the prince, it was right to say it was each other's fault and make it a thing that never happened.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Wilhelm gave a short answer. The princess urged her attendants to leave. The attendants also hurriedly picked up and helped Michelle as if they had grasped the circumstances. After that, the gungnyeo followed. Wilhelm just watched her back with his arms crossed.

I heard it wasn't like that before. is not it.

Wilhelm vaguely recalled memories of Michel in his head. He was told that when he had just lost his leg, Michelle was almost a monster. He screamed in pain and was told that attendants were beaten and driven away every day.

Wasn't it like that

Originally, he was a prince who was arrogant. It must be that a leg that is forever unusable has changed a person. But when he thought of Reinhardt, who would have shared a bed with a man like that, he was about to burst out laughing.

I'm going to have to tear that bastard to death.

Wilhelm thought so and tilted his head. To me, she is a woman who would drive me crazy just by being touched for a short time, but to think that a man who once monopolized her side was like that. He would be her disgrace to her too.

The attendants and the princess were about to disappear among the trees in the garden. Suddenly, a silver-haired beauty in the distance turned around. Those blurry blue eyes met Wilhelm's gaze. Wilhelm looked at him without even avoiding his gaze. She, too, continued to stare at Wilhelm until he was completely covered by the trees.

Is there anything that hasn't changed?

Soon after, Wilhelm returned. The welcome palace became quiet as if nothing had happened.

***

Alzen Stogall ran the errand faster than Reinhardt expected. As soon as Reinhardt woke up tired, he heard that the man Argen had brought was waiting for him in the hall of the Welcome Palace. It was a good thing.

Reinhardt didn't make the man wait long. Marc prayed that he was only going to get rid of the mucus and left, but somehow he managed to fix his hair and headed for the hall. Even though it was a hall, it was a space like a large reception room. In the middle of the hall, which was empty except for a couple of knights, a man wearing glasses stood looking at the painting of the Welcome Palace.

It was a meeting that Reinhardt knew well, but he did not know her. She quickly glanced at the man. He was much younger than Reinhardt knew. Her frizzy light brown hair and olive eyes were the first things I noticed. Her nervous eyes were thin and small, but things like her fairly slender nose and thick chin kept them from looking unsightly. She was a little taller than her Reinhardt. The tortoiseshell glasses he was wearing were about the same thickness as Reinhardt knew.

'He said he was quite popular when he was young, but he seems to be lying.'

Reinhardt laughed involuntarily as he remembered the man who always grumbled at him in Helka. The man standing at her voice looked this way as if he noticed her. Seeing a woman wearing only a gown over his dressing gown, he was taken aback for a moment and immediately bent his knees.

“Meet Your Excellency, Marquis of Rinke.”

“You are quick-witted.”

“In the imperial palace of welcome... … ”

he swallowed

“Who else is a noble person who can dress like a hostess?”

Reinhardt smiled and tilted his head. She was familiar with the man's character, and already understood that what he was saying now was otherwise very polite. What kind of words would come out of Bondi?

“Isn’t it because no one catches you when you walk around like this?”

“… … Yes?"

the man asked in bewilderment. Reinhardt giggled.

“Heights Yelter. I'm not very good at talking. If someone misunderstood what you said, it's the death penalty. I've never been the hostess of the imperial castle, and it's already been several years since I was fired from a post similar to that of a hostess. I could have felt insulted too.”

“… … I apologize.”

The man bowed his head and replied just like that. Reinhardt shrugged his shoulders. You don't apologize. That's right, since the man has a good brain, he would have noticed right away. If Reinhardt was really offended by that comment, he would have sent him away without saying a word.

If anyone has heard it wrong, the death penalty means it is not the death penalty, and saying that I could have felt insulted means that I did not feel insulted. Reinhardt sat down at the table in the back of the hall. He had a table of ebony wood embossed with beautiful ornaments and a soft chair upholstered in green silk. Anilak, the goddess of spring, was embroidered on the silk, and the workmanship was amazing. The man sat on the spot as if he was ecstatic.

“The second son of Baron Yelter. He is now a low-level manager at the Finance Office.”

“Ah, yes… … .”

Heights Yelter's eyes glided over his glasses. She seemed to wonder why her lungs had called her since the morning. She said she wouldn't. In her present life, she had no ties between herself and this man. The second son of the Baron Yelter family in his previous life, he was unable to inherit the family line, so he studied at the academy in the imperial capital and passed the imperial treasury office. Then, his older brother died in an unexpected accident, and he came to Helka, where Baron Yelter was located, to take over the family in a hurry.

But his sister-in-law strongly objected. She denied her heights, claiming that she had a child of her own in her womb. Heitz, who did not know that she had a child, eventually became a low-level scribe at the Helka estate. He used to count sacks of wheat grains in Helka until Reinhardt, who discovered his ability by chance, appointed him to an important position.

So it was only natural that this man in his present life did not know himself. Reinhardt smiled.

“It is clear that he will not inherit the family.”

“… … .”

“It didn’t get much recognition from the Ministry of Finance either.”

The man watched her carefully. What the hell would you like to talk about? After crossing his legs once, Reinhardt dropped his elbow on his knee and made eye contact with the man. It was an extremely relaxed attitude.

“You must know that Luden united the six territories and became the Great Territory.”

"Yes."

“I want to entrust you with managing the finances of my estate.”

“… … Yes?"

Heitz's eyes widened in bewilderment. Reinhardt spoke quickly. Raising a man's doubts with clumsy persuasion is worse than not doing it.

“Luden is a spirit that has just been created. It was originally a small estate, so the original financial manager was struggling to handle it alone, so they were looking for another financial manager. While I was on my way to Hwang Seong, I tried to find someone, but someone I know recommended you.”

“Which one are you?”

She replied with a sullen laugh.

“That will be answered when you become my financial manager. You know, Luden is very politically sensitive right now, so I don't want to let the recommender know that he's close to me. If you decline, the name of the recommender will never be known.”

"That… … I see.”

That would be an acceptable explanation. Anyway, Reinhardt was no different from the crown prince and his enemy, and apparently he was a newly emerged force between Glencia and the imperial family, so it was natural for everyone to be sensitive. Reinhardt added before the man could ask.

“You took charge of tax evasion collection in Dongbu instead of your boss last year.”

“Ah, yes… … .”

“I saw Orient’s ledger. Too bad he scratched it.”

Heitz's face became embarrassed, but Reinhardt didn't miss the fact that the lobe of his ear was slightly red. As Orient is a wealthy territory, the imperial castle was frantic to scrape money from Orient. Orient was also good at tax evasion, as those in charge were in charge of managing the estate's finances. However, since the opponent was Heights Yelter, it wouldn't have been easy.

Reinhardt remembered what Heets Yelter had said in passing in his previous life. He said he was the only one who took money from that Orient for 20 years throughout the Finance Office. However, his boss, rather than remembering it, rather stamped him, fearing that he would threaten his position.

So, Heitz must be in a state where he is quite discouraged and still has a sense of rebellion. Indeed, Reinhardt's memory was correct. It's because Heitz had a strange frown on his face. Ordinary people avoided Heitz when he made that expression, thinking it would offend him, but Reinhardt knew that it was on purpose when he wanted to laugh. He will feel great.

“I remembered your name from the ledger. Even the recommenders called you by name, so I thought it was right.”

“But suddenly me, such a big… … .”

The man stuttered.

“Besides, how can you trust me… … .”

“I trust the recommender, not you.”

Reinhardt tilted his head. Reinhardt knew that her gold eyes sometimes made her appear overbearing or intelligent. And it works more effectively with someone she's just met than with someone she's familiar with. It was the same with Hayes. He suddenly started to get restless. He's a scout for someone who knows he's good at what he does. There is nothing more gratifying than that of a person who works hard. And Heitz, more than anyone else, was a man who loved what he was doing and worked hard.

But there was a reason why he decidedly hesitated. Of course, Reinhardt knew what that was, so he opened his mouth.

“And I can give you what you want most.”

As if to say that, Heitz's expression hardened. He furrowed her brow and stared at her intently.

“Do you know what I want most?”

“Heights Yelter.”

Reinhardt clasped his hands in his lap and smiled leisurely.

“Because I’m not the type to blindly take someone I don’t know as the financial manager of my precarious estate.”

It meant that I found out about you in many ways. Reinhardt added quickly.

“So you don't have to work by my side for long. Because I know he won't be there for long. Work with me for only 5 years. After that, I won't stop anywhere.”

At those words, Hayes drew in a breath. It was a look of bewilderment.

“You really know what I want… … .”

“I won’t talk too long. I'm busy. If you wish, come back with a letter of resignation and a certificate that it has been repaired. I'll take you with me when I return to Luden in a while. The cost of stay is obvious, but I will pay all of them, and the salary I will give you... … .”

Reinhardt wrote down some numbers. Heitz nodded his head without thinking long. She was satisfied She had the best financial manager she knew.

***

Princess Canary hadn't been feeling well since morning. She skipped meals last night too because she felt like she would upset her stomach. It was so common for her to do so that her ladies-in-waiting left her princess alone. All she did was call her doctor in the morning just in case.

Of course, the doctor shook his head. The princess and Michelle still had no children. There were no children between Michel and Reinhardt either, so people who knew the circumstances would gossip about whether the crown prince had a problem. However, when I stood in front of them, I shut my mouth.

Princess Canary rubbed her forehead. When she had a lot of trouble, her eyebrows and the top of her bone would ache. When she heard her story that she had called her doctor this morning, it seemed as if the Empress of Castreya would summon her and tell her about her child.

No, if you're lucky, you might just pass by.

The princess looked at the blue pond right next to the water slide. The pond was almost the size of the Welcome Palace. Even though several days had passed since the banquet, Michelle and the empress were still in a fit of anger. However, since he did not say the reason for his anger, he could only guess that it had something to do with the dethronement.

'Fortunately, I don't seem to remember what happened with that knight... … .'

Michelle seemed to think that she had only dreamed of getting drunk and messing around in front of the Welcome Palace. When she awoke the next morning, she asked Princess Canary if she had bumped into the knight in front of her welcome palace, but the princess refrained from pretending. As she went back to the womb of the emperor and had the attendants tightly shut her mouth, she replied that she would understand while Michelle tilted her head. She just made weird noises.

“Even in my dream, he uttered lowly swear words. It’s like a bottom life.”

It's a low-key insult. At that, she almost laughed involuntarily. In front of Princess Canary, the man named Wilhelm did not swear at all. Rather, it was Michelle who was swearing. Then, is the bottom life talking about oneself? He could only sigh.

On the pretext of having a headache, she bit all the ladies-in-waiting. The garden with the pond was attached to the dauphin's womb, so she was in no particular danger. Even in the womb of the crown prince, she was not in a position where she seemed to look down without much thought, but Princess Jira Canaria felt a little free after a long time. She was walking on her lawn in heelless silk shoes, when she was about to climb a hill with a small pavilion.

“Kyaa.”

The princess tripped on something under her feet and fell. She closed her eyes, prepared to injure herself because the dress she was wearing was bare of her flesh below her elbows. But this time, too, she didn't get the shock she expected. Instead, something soft rested between her legs.

"this."

A dark, somewhat gloomy voice hit her ears. The princess reflexively opened her eyes. Then she freaked out. What she was sitting on was a person. That article from a few days ago.

“Are you okay?”

Wilhelm Colonna.

The man sat reclining among the low ornamental trees planted in the garden. However, the leg she extended through the gap was too long, and the princess stumbled and fell without seeing it. And the princess reflexively held out her hand to the man, and she sat down on his thigh. Her deep black eyes met the princess's blue eyes. Canary looked at him, forgetting for a moment where she was, and she was belatedly startled.

"uh… … . ah!"

As she tried to stand up, the princess almost tripped and fell, and the knight grabbed her wrist again. It took quite a while for her to come to her senses and barely stand up. By the time she was able to say thank you, her face was flushed red and the rest of her blood was no wonder.

“Thank you.”

“I am only sorry.”

The young man gave a short answer and tilted his head. The princess was taken aback. He immediately sat down again and tapped my side with the tip of his finger. He was calm enough to think that the owner of this place was a young man.

If it was the original Canary Princess, she deserved to be yelled at on the spot. She was the crown princess, and this is the crown prince's womb. People from outside the palace had to go through complicated procedures to enter this place, and they did not even come to the garden in the first place. It was only natural that the purpose of outsiders entering the palace was to become the crown prince.

However, the princess reflexively looked around. There was no one around her. Even in the crown prince's palace, it was hidden from view by tall trees. It was right under the hill, so it was shaded moderately, so no one would have noticed that the two were together unless they looked carefully. The princess looked at her, but she didn't sit down next to him, and she carefully bent her back and asked:

“Hey, this is the Crown Prince’s womb… … .”

"I know."

you know? didn't you know? Canary was taken aback, but the young man remained calm.

“I came here just in case, but I was seated because the scenery was nice. But I never thought I would be able to meet you. I was thinking of going back soon.”

“… … Meet me? me?”

The young man shrugged and pulled something from his bosom. He was a familiar handkerchief. Princess Canary let out a short exclamation, saying, “Ah.” she had forgotten

The night we first met in the garden of the Welcome Palace, the handkerchief I shed impulsively.

It was spilled on purpose. After that, although I didn't have the courage to go to the garden of the Welcome Palace... … . However, the princess carefully accepted her handkerchief without showing any signs of it.

"Thank you. It was something I cherished... … .”

Her name is Crown Princess. There are even hundreds of handkerchiefs. There is no such thing as a cherished handkerchief. However, she knew best that Princess Canary's quiet and sad expression would give her words persuasive power. Wilhelm replied expressionlessly.

“I think so.”

Then, as if asking me not to sit down, he patted me on the side again. The troubles of her princess were short-lived. She cautiously sat next to Wilhelm, at a distance enough that even if someone looked at her, she wouldn't be blamed. However, the Crown Princess' attempts were futile. It was because Wilhelm immediately put his arms on the ground and lowered his upper body.

The Crown Princess was taken aback. Because he walked between the hems of her dress and saw her ankles. Hands in sheepskin gloves. It wasn't bare skin, but it was an overly intimate contact without hesitation, so Princess Canary swallowed her breath.

"what… … .”

“You look fine.”

However, to put that embarrassment to shame, Wilhelm quickly withdrew his hand and sat down. The Crown Princess looked at him with widened eyes. Looking at those eyes that looked like tears would fall at any moment, Wilhelm felt embarrassed belatedly.

“I’m sorry if I surprised you. I was wondering if you were hurt because of me.”

“Surprised… … Done."

How a man can get his hands on her body so easily. If he was anyone else, he wouldn't mind. If she had a lady-in-waiting, she would have been shocked and immediately rushed to confess to anyone. However, judging from the man's dry demeanor, the Crown Princess guessed that it was out of sheer goodwill. Her heart pounded strangely. She recalled the time she had met the man's eyes in Amaryllis Hall. She looked at herself and raised the corner of her mouth and smiled.

oh

Princess Canary, swallowing all the words that came to her mind, was barely able to utter a single word.

“Can you do this to me?”

There was plenty of room for interpretation, but the young man answered calmly.

"What's not going to happen?"

The Crown Princess became a little bolder.

“… … I am the same person who kicked out the lord you serve.”

don't you know? I didn't add the same sound. Instead, she stared blankly at the young man. When I saw her up close, she looked more youthful than when I saw her in the hall. Looking at her like this, she was blunt again, but she also had a refreshing feeling.

The young man, not knowing whether he knew the complex feelings she had for me, glanced at her and opened his mouth.

“My lord is the one who took pity on me, who was like a wild beast. If I knocked over a woman who looked like she would break with just one blow and left, she would be even more embarrassed.”

then added

“And besides, she’s the woman the lord kicked out, so I left her alone. If I do, she’ll hit me on the back.”

It wasn't such a funny remark, but at that moment, the Crown Princess burst into a small laugh. Why? Could it be because of her arrogant attitude? Or maybe it's because of her young talk, like a boy still in her parent's arms. Her young man stood up straight after waiting for her to stop laughing. The Crown Princess looked up at him bewildered. Her calloused, manly hand was extended to her.

“You came alone. A precious person is not alone in such a lonely place. I will take you.”

Did you ask me to sit next to you, not to talk or talk, but just to look at your legs? Princess Canary held out her hand as if possessed, and the next moment she stood up as if she were being carried by a strong force. It was the young man who caught her as she staggered as she was lifted up too quickly in her moment. Wilhelm put one hand around Princess Canary's waist and held it.

"Excuse me."

Unknowingly, the face of the Crown Princess, who was hugging him as if clinging to him, turned red. But the young man held her by the waist and stood her up as if he hadn't even seen her red face. Her hands were so big that Princess Canary's slender waist could easily fit into his hands without a hint of a lie.

However, going to the crown prince's palace with a man was really unacceptable. So, the Crown Princess said softly, tucking her disheveled hair behind her ear.

“No, I want to even go for a walk.”

“But you fell because of me. His ankle looks fine, but seeing him stagger makes him look uneasy.”

The man objected to her words. Princess Canary was about to say she was not hurt, but quickly changed her attitude.

“Um, that’s a little bit awkward.”

The young man's expression immediately changed, so she quickly added again.

“Of course, it’s not like I can’t walk. I'm not that fragile. And sometimes, when you have someone to talk to, this pain is quickly forgotten.”

She looked up at the young man, lightly gathering her thick, white eyebrows. When the delicate and beautiful Canary Princess made such an expression under the gaze of men, no one would refuse to comply with her request. Michelle is the most representative man who fell for it. But the young man hesitated before opening his mouth.

“Others look down on you.”

“… … Knight.”

Princess Canary peered into the man's dark eyes from below. Her jet-black eyes, like the moment they had met in her amaryllis hall, contained only her wholly. Is it because it is daytime? He could see the princess's silver hair reflected in his obsidian-like eyes. She was insanely attractive. Suddenly, Princess Canary became curious about the young man of the night. A young man who said that she was only 20 years old is so erotic even in broad daylight.

She swallowed the thought and whispered softly.

“People always mock me anyway.”

At those words, Wilhelm laughed in vain. He thought that he couldn't show a joyful and happy expression in front of the princess, but the ridicule was a little different.

He was more worried than he thought while coming this far. Since she gave away her handkerchief as if she were proud of her, it was only natural that she would gladly reciprocate, but it was because her treatment of the Princess Canary was worse than she thought.

I expected. Ever since he came to the imperial castle, Wilhelm had been experiencing a series of very funny things. It's a place he wouldn't have even stepped into if it weren't for Reinhard Delphi or Rinke.

'In addition.'

Following the emperor, she was now the crown princess. To say something similar to Reinhardt on the subject of disgusting humans.

Anyway, the words that others look down on him were what Reinhardt had told him a few days ago. Is it a characteristic of the people who became members of the imperial family, or is it just a coincidence? At least one thing was clear. Wilhelm was amused when Reinhardt said it, but what this woman said to me made me sick. Are you saying that it is okay for others to imitate you anyway?

Isn't that the attitude you should adhere to?

<I'm scared. Don't look at me with those eyes... … . It's all because of you!>

Wilhelm remembered someone who slapped him on the cheek while talking in a trembling voice. It was a memory so deeply etched that I will never forget it. It was surprising that I was able to forget those memories for a while and breathe freely and live ignorantly.

It was natural for him to think of the woman who had given him breath.

<Even when I was sitting quietly next to that bastard, Michelle, there were people who looked down on me everywhere. Would I be afraid of that?>

Reinhardt's voice said that. Hearing that, his cheeks turned red. The situation and emotions were clearly different from now. He always was. Reinhardt shook Wilhelm even with trivial words.

Wilhelm turned his head away pretending to be worried. Because it was clear that my gaze would waver. Soon after, he turned to Princess Canary and his expression was as usual as usual. Wilhelm twitched his lips and held out his hand.

“Then, shall I serve as much as I took a moment?”

The princess put her hand on his arm, laughing as if it would break. Wilhelm looked down as he followed her steps as if he were seeing them for the first time as they entered the forest where people could not reach. He could see his ankles shaking as if he was conscious of their gaze. He held out his arm pretending not to know.

“Can I help you?”

“… … I am willing.”

The hand holding her waist was a completely different movement than before. Quite intentional, the princess, pretending to be lame, slightly leaned on his shoulder.

“If you go this way, there is a small pavilion. It would be nice to take a break there.”

"okay."

However, both the princess and Wilhelm knew that the road they were taking did not lead to the pavilion. Wilhelm walked her for a long time without saying anything to her. In the garden attached to the crown prince's palace, there was a path leading to the forest. The forest was not very big, but it was enough to hide the two men and women. The princess walked slowly and looked around in bewilderment.

"It's obviously this way... … .”

I thought I memorized the way because the lady-in-waiting came with me every day, but I guess not. Wilhelm nodded to the princess, who was crying, and said, “Then let’s go back the way we came.” The princess asked several questions.

“My parents died when I was young. How did she grow up?”

Wilhelm gave a short answer.

“I don’t remember too well, but I think it was a beastly life, as others have said.”

dirty. thousand sea So hear me out. The whispered voice passed through Asrai's ears. Wilhelm tried hard not to clench his teeth, recalling the memory of Reinhardt stroking his hair one cold night. 'I was swearing, but you showed up. Really. Do you know how surprised I am?' He still remembers Reinhardt's warm breath as he said that and kissed Wilhelm's forehead as he lay down.

Seriously, how could I have endured those cold nights if it wasn't for that breath.

“What is your schedule like?”

"Tomorrow… … There is the head of the ancestor marquis.”

For someone like you to go to a place like that. dirty crab. Do you know what a shame? The devil's whispers were still there. It was as if someone was whispering nonstop in my ear to torment him. I didn't even know it was painful, but even though I was curious about when I could die, it was too much to recall now. Wilhelm continued, trying hard not to be stunned.

“I’m going to the public cemetery.”

"okay. The death of the late Marquis is truly regrettable.”

This time, Wilhelm really wanted to laugh out loud.

Who is responsible for the riots in Sarawak!

Princess Canary's words were so deceptive that there was a corner that made her want to tear her mouth apart. If the owner of the young man hears this, she is of Wilhelm's lineage and will try to pluck out her eyeballs. Isn't it?

No, no. Wilhelm thought again. Kind and warm Reinhardt. She seems sensitive but blunt, acts like tearing everyone apart, but only she became my salvation, and she will never pluck out this woman's eyes. Reinhardt was always dull at the decisive moment. Perhaps even if she were to bring this woman naked in front of Reinhardt, she would be the woman who would take off her gown and cover it up instead of plucking out Princess Canary's eyes.

so.

Wilhelm reflected slowly inwardly.

Let me do the tearing and plucking out the eyeballs.

Don't get dirty on those precious hands... … .

The two of them were on the verge of leaving the forest again. The open garden came into their eyes again. It was then. "Oh," Princess Canary stumbled as if she had stumbled. Wilhelm quickly snatched her up, and her princess' arms wrapped around his neck. Before he could ask if he was okay, their eyes met.

It is common for lovers to see each other in the woods and then to their stomachs. Needless to say, if it was a woman who was destined to hang herself. She thought it would take a few more days, but the princess's eyes were trembling from the beginning.

Princess Canary was thinking that it was very good to go out for a walk alone today. She slowly closed her eyes. Her man shivered a little, then he turned her face toward her. Her hot breath touched the bridge of her nose and the princess parted her lips a little.

However, no matter how much I waited, the feeling I expected did not return. The princess opened her eyes. Her young man was looking down at her with her confused face.

“… … sorry."

The man who whispered that quickly pushed her away and whispered with a stiff face.

“Since it is the garden of the crown prince’s palace, I believe you will be able to go alone.”

And the young man, speechless, turned around and disappeared among the trees. Princess Canary, who remained alone and stared at the back of her young man in dismay, placed her right hand lightly clenched into a fist on her left breast.

pounding, pounding.

My heart raced. She was shy and wanted to give her the young man she couldn't bear to kiss me, but her Princess Canary soon realized. Rather, the thing she fell for him was that she was herself.

Dulcinea chewed the confused eyes she had witnessed and walked slowly back to the crown prince's womb. On her way back, she picked up her pair of black leather gloves. As if someone had thrown them off while hurriedly walking, her gloves, which were separated by about ten steps apart, were familiar to her eyes.

Dulcinea picked up her glove and swept it away. It was soft and familiar to the touch. She was sure that the sheepskin gloves had wrapped around my ankles a moment ago.

It was a lot of fun figuring out why a twenty-year-old man without a handkerchief threw off his gloves. Dulcinea returned clutching the glove. Her nausea and nakedness, of course, were not in her imagination.

***

Reinhardt thought a lot about where to move the tomb of the late Marquis Rinke. The marquis' mansion in the capital had been taken away by the crown prince instead of alimony. It was the count family that Reinhardt was familiar with who bought the mansion. They thought that Reinhardt would repurchase their mansion, and they were willing to pay a high price. Unfortunately, Reinhardt had no such intention. But he certainly had to consider carefully where to move his father's grave.

“Isn’t there a family crypt?”

"right."

At Wilhelm's question, Reinhardt sighed as he crossed his arms. The Rinke family ossuary was located in Central Peloton, one of the domains of Hu Rinke. Originally called Rinke Mansion, it was the oldest manor of the family, but after it was passed on to the Crown Prince, the name was also changed to Peloton. Besides, there was no way to know what had become of the charnel house there. He could have sent someone to find out earlier, but Reinhardt hadn't had the time to do that.

“I won’t give it back even if I ask for it back.”

“… … .”

The answer was obvious. Would Michelle, who is full of poison, sell Pelletin even if she wanted to? In the first place, it was also unknown whether the charnel house remained. It would be even more surprising if Michelle had left the crypt alone.

“For now, let’s move it to Luden.”

“Are you all right?”

“Is there anything special? Better than leaving them in a public cemetery.”

So, Reinhardt moved the coffin of Marquis Rinke from the public cemetery to Luden through the Crystal Gate. The cost of moving something to the Crystal Gate was very expensive. Reinhardt sold one of the historical colored jewels from Orient that Wilhelm had brought.

“It’s a pity.”

“What can I do? You didn't bring money with you, did you?"

At first glance, Marc felt sorry for the jewels, which seemed to be intertwined with each other, but Reinhardt did not care. In winter, the ground in Luden is frozen solid, making it difficult to dig. I had to move quickly before it was too late.

She still wasn't wearing any jewelry. So, he threw a joke about selling heavy jewelry and reducing the weight of his luggage, but Reinhardt felt embarrassed because Wilhelm didn't laugh.

This chapter took three days. A knight reported that the coffin moved through the Crystal Gate was enshrined in Luden Castle. In my opinion, Reinhardt wanted to check it himself, but the cost of going to and from the crystal gate was formidable, and there were so many things Reinhardt had to do.

The lords near the Luden Territory wanted to know if Reinhardt was thinking of annexing their territory as well. Dozens of people came and went in and out of the Welcome Palace every day, and Reinhardt met them all with Wilhelm standing next to him. Most people praised Reinhardt's ability to become the third great lord of the Empire. Reinhardt appealed that he was lucky because of Wilhelm, but every time Wilhelm said it with an expressionless expression.

“Even if I bring you a great jewel, you are sluggish, so I just tried my best as a servant.”

Reinhardt asked quietly in the middle of the night. “Wilhelm. Are you very sad?” Wilhelm replied in an unusually cold manner. “How dare I be sad.” Reinhardt was full of spirits, but now he was embarrassed to lie about how good the jewel was, so he let it go.

***

It wasn't until a week later that the emperor called the two back for tea time.

It was different from the last meeting. It was a very personal call, and the two sat down in Ceylon Hall.

It was a meeting with the great lord, who does not come to the capital only a few times a year. No one doubted why the newborn great lord was often called to the imperial castle. The first tea time was a hall full of knights, but Ceylon Hall was different. A hall where portraits and statues of members of the imperial family are displayed.

The intention of inviting Wilhelm to a place like this was very obvious. Reinhardt laughed inwardly and sat up straight to admire his surroundings. It was, of course, a familiar place to her.

Reinhardt did not touch the tea that the chamberlain had served. It was natural. I don't know what kind of poison it might contain. Even so, the emperor did not bruise. Reinhardt sat down because it was such a seat. It is a natural and open position to openly walk the line between notice and caution. That was the great lord. Of course, the emperor's attention was focused on something else.

“Amaryllis loses.”

What the emperor gave was a plaque depicting a flower vine. It was also the plaque Reinhardt had when she was crown princess. Since it was a very private meeting, only the chief chamberlain was present. The chamberlain, who had gone through all the battles in childbirth, did not change his face color once or look awkwardly at Wilhelm even as he placed the Amaryllis card on top of the red velvet cushion and held it out to Wilhelm, as the emperor commanded. Reinhardt admired his calmness.

Wilhelm took the card and immediately saved it. He could have looked at the card once in a while, but the sight of him putting it into his bosom without thinking twice made the emperor show signs of regret. He just seemed satisfied.

'Is it really that good for my child to act without humanity?'

Reinhardt suddenly remembered Linke Hu. Laugh a lot, my apple pie. Thinking of her father who said that, somehow I thought I knew where Michelle's arrogance came from. The emperor would never admit it, but the two certainly had similarities. It was funny.

The Emperor got up and walked slowly through Ceylon Hall. Reinhardt and Wilhelm also followed. There were a total of nine portraits of previous emperors in the hall.

“The largest of these belongs to Belux I. Do you know why?”

It was funny. The emperor continued his explanation with Wilhelm right next to him, as if he wanted to pretend to be a benevolent father. Wilhelm replied "I don't know" with an expressionless expression.

“He was one of the most defensive and passive emperors of all time. He was a waste too. The portrait that is large enough to cover an entire wall is proof of that.”

"okay."

Reinhardt followed them a few steps behind them. She had already been in and out of Ceylon Hall a few times, so she was not very new. Since portraits of the imperial family of the time are not supposed to be hung in the Ceylon Hall, nothing has changed.

Most of the portraits were hung high. But there was a portrait of the smallest among them. Amaryllis Depafina Alanques. It was a portrait of the founder of the empire. Free-spirited, he did not paint a separate portrait during his lifetime. Hanging in the Ceylon Hall was a painting that one of her former lovers, a painter, had painted as a hobby and donated to the imperial family after Amaryllis' carp.

It was the portrait of Amaryllis that the people staying at Ceylon Hall were most interested in. But the emperor quickly passed the portrait of Amaryllis. The reason was well guessed. Ironically, it was because of Michelle. Amaryllis with silver hair and purple eyes. It's not just because of the color. Michelle's face resembled Amaryllis. It's funny. Despite being so similar to Amaryllis, who was said to have no one to follow because of her intelligence, Michelle was just stupid and arrogant.

Reinhardt gazed intently at the portrait of Amaryllis. He was not very good as a painter, so his finishing skills were not smooth. She said she had so many lovers that she could open two books. As intelligent as she was, she was also greedy, but unfortunately, her descendants seem to have only inherited her greed.

I remembered [Abandonment of the Cold Land]. Reinhardt was still unsure if Lil Alanquez was Amaryllis Alanquez. So, knowing that Wilhelm and the emperor were walking far away, he stopped her steps and looked at her portrait. Perhaps because it was with her lover, she was wearing a comfortable gown unlike other portraits. There were hardly any ornaments. There is only one gold ring on her finger... … .

'Well?'

Reinhardt glanced at the gold ring. A cameo egg with a small sentence was sitting on top of a gold ring that was drawn slightly blurry. But the shape was not clear, so I couldn't tell where I saw it.

'I've seen it somewhere.'

It was when Reinhardt frowned.

“Reinhardt.”

“… … ah."

Wilhelm called her. Reinhardt, involuntarily surprised, turned to her side. I thought I was walking with her Emperor from afar, but both of her seemed to be waiting for her. The emperor took a few steps ahead and looked this way, and Wilhelm was right next to her.

“Sorry, Your Majesty. When I saw the portrait of the founder, I was thrilled without knowing it.”

Reinhardt quickly lowered his head. The emperor smiled kindly and waved his hand. Wilhelm glanced at the portrait of Amaryllis. It seemed that his brows were furrowing slightly.

“Because the ring is pretty.”

“… … okay."

Wilhelm opened his eyes slightly wide and nodded. “Go to His Majesty.” When Reinhardt said that, Wilhelm hesitated. It seemed to bother her that she fell behind her. Reinhardt smiled helplessly and teased him by slowing down his steps. Only then did Wilhelm follow her.

"your majesty. Did the ancestors march to the north by any chance?”

"Well? Isn't it very famous that the founder drove the barbarians from the north to the frozen mountain range?”

“Ah, yes.”

Reinhardt smiled and continued.

“But you said that the ancestors wandered all over the empire in their later years. He wondered if he might have come to Luden as well.”

"iced coffee."

The emperor nodded.

“The founder wanted to completely exterminate those barbarians. The Empire's enemies are many, many, but it's because you can guess that the barbarians will plague the Empire for a very long time. Even after that, barbarians continued to be enemies of the empire for over 200 years, so he was really wise.”

“It was a long-cherished wish passed down from generation to generation of monarchs.”

When Reinhardt responded, the emperor smiled contentedly.

"yes. How glad I am that this has been resolved in my case. Even by the hands of my son.”

Wilhelm lowered his head. He looked very proud. I really did. The son of the warchief of the barbarians and the warchief were all annihilated at the hands of Wilhelm. In fact, if the emperor wanted to hand over the throne to Wilhelm, he wouldn't have had such a good excuse. Suddenly, Reinhardt was acutely aware of what kind of card he was holding in the eyes of the emperor.

“But the founder had another long-cherished wish.”

"What is."

“The dragon of the Fram Mountains.”

Reinhardt's eyebrows twitched and lifted. The Fram Mountains where the dragon sleeps. The Ice Dragon is sleeping in the Fram Mountains, and the entire mountain range is covered with ice, and humans couldn't dare to enter it.

“The Founder thought that the dragon of the Fram Mountains represented a certain limit rather than a literal dragon. He thought that the continent of spring spread out beyond the mountain range, and he tried to conquer the Fram Mountains. It is no exaggeration to say that she ended her last days in the North. She had lived nine lives, so she joked that her tenth would end in the Fram Mountains, right before she died. Her eyes are closed in the imperial castle, but her spirit remains in the Fram Mountains.”

"okay."

If so, there was a clear possibility that he had come to Luden at least once. Reinhardt nodded his head, lost in his thoughts. Wilhelm glanced at her and opened her mouth.

“Isn’t there a portrait of His Majesty of the time?”

"this. Do you want to see my portrait?”

"Yes."

The emperor chuckled and ordered the chamberlain to open the hall door. The chamberlain lowered his head and opened the hall door. The knights waiting outside the door lined up, followed after the party came out. About a hundred paces from Ceylon Hall was a great corridor. There was a small spring in the garden next to the corridor, and the name given to the corridor was 'The Fountain of Eternity'. It was a rule that the portraits of the family at the time were attached there.

Portraits of the Emperor and Empress of Castreya. And next to it was a portrait of Michelle. Reinhardt smiled involuntarily. It was because I remembered that her portrait was originally hanging next to Michelle. She painted her portrait for the full six months after the painter visited the artist after her and her engagement to Michelle was decided. The portrait with her red cheeks intact when she was young. The emperor said something as if making excuses.

“Right now, the seat for Rain’s portrait is empty.”

“I guess the royal painter is very busy.”

It wasn't unexpected. Her dissatisfaction with the Princess Canary, who had abdicated her original crown princess and took her place herself, was quite numerous. There were rumors that the emperor did not like her very much. I didn't know what Empress Castreya would be like, but... … . She didn't seem to have elaborated on the portrait anyway.

“I may be busier in the future.”

Reinhardt immediately understood the emperor's meaning. It meant that the portrait of Wilhelm could be drawn before the face of Princess Canary. And… … .

It also meant that there might be no reason to upload the portrait of Princess Canary forever. There was no way the emperor, who was willing to put me next to Wilhelm, would say such a thing without such intention. Truly a foxy inspiration. Then an unexpected question was asked.

“Where is His Excellency's portrait?”

It was Wilhelm. The faces of Reinhardt and the Emperor were covered with bewilderment. His Excellency meant Reinhardt. It is obvious that the portrait of Reinhardt, who would have been originally the Crown Princess, was hanging here, but where is the portrait?

'He's been doing well so far, but why is he suddenly talking like this here?'

The portrait of Reinhardt would have been either burned or discarded, of course. Couldn't it have left a portrait of the deposed queen who stabbed and crippled the prince? If you think about it for a little bit, it's obvious, but I don't know why I'm asking such a story in public. I am not a blind person.

The emperor was also perplexed. It was also disastrous that he barely returned the question.

“The portrait of Hu Rinke… … Why are you curious?”

I'm curious about that, so I'll write about it somewhere. However, Wilhelm answered casually.

“I thought it would be nice to hang it in Luden’s castle.”

“… … Luden has been isolated in many ways, so many of the tapestries hanging in the castle are quite old. It's old-fashioned to put it nicely, but to put it plainly, it's a bit dreary. I must have been curious since Sir Colonna cared about me.”

In the end, Reinhardt added his words. Haha, the emperor laughed.

"yes. I should introduce you to a good painter. Amman. Now that he is the great lord, shouldn’t he have at least one portrait?”

This meant that the portrait was discarded. The chief of staff quickly bent his back.

“I’ll ask questions.”

"Thank you."

Reinhardt also responded quickly. Only Wilhelm was rolling his eyes, somehow dissatisfied.

***

“You are suddenly there.”

“… … sorry."

On the way back to the welcome palace, Reinhardt lightly bruised Wilhelm. Wilhelm shrugged his shoulders.

“It's ridiculous that the imperial family leaves behind portraits of high treacherous criminals. My portrait would have been burned long ago. that's not the problem... … .”

Reinhardt rubbed his temples.

“Your Majesty is going to suspect that your son has a bad head.”

“I must have said something stupid.”

Wilhelm replied to her with a face that showed no sign of self-reflection. Feeling a little nasty about that, Reinhardt tugged at Wilhelm's ear. Wilhelm calmly pretended to follow her. get sick or die

Of course, the emperor really didn't think Wilhelm was stupid. It was an established fact that Wilhelm wanted Reinhardt. Maybe I'm just a little blinded by love. But that was the attitude Wilhelm should be most wary of right now.

“Isn’t the guy who threw out the crown princess, blinded by love, sitting in the crown prince’s seat?”

At Reinhardt's explanation, Wilhelm nodded. Reinhardt sighed and walked. As soon as he came out of the castle, he asked the attendants who were guiding them if there was any place to sit. Her attendant nodded her head and escorted her and Wilhelm down a manicured promenade near her.

The outer wall of the imperial castle had a living area with a wide garden, and civil servants watching the affairs of the empire passed by at a glance. The Finance Office and the Examination Office will be around here. Reinhardt sent the attendants away, suggesting that the path to the Welcome Palace was in the palm of his hand. The attendants stubbornly endured, but they couldn't overcome Wilhelm's glaring eyes.

"I'll have to stay until Daejong Church."

“Should I?”

"yes. I thought a month was too long... … .”

Reinhardt sighed. Daejong Church is held in the capital of the empire once every three years. It is an event in which temples dedicated to various gods gather and pray. Her Grand Bell Church was about three weeks away, but her Emperor asked her to attend her Grand Bell Church.

“His Majesty seemed to be disappointed.”

"Is that so?"

“It’s because of you.”

She pinched the back of Wilhelm's hand again. Several civil servants glanced past the great lord and his knight sitting in the garden of the imperial castle. It was then. "uh." Reinhardt found a familiar face. It was the Heights Yelter.

She quickly raised her hand, and Heitz, who had been mingling with the civil servants, came over as if to excuse herself for a moment.

"hello."

"yes. Nice to meet you.”

“Are you on your way to see His Majesty?”

“Then I should have met the crown prince.”

Despite Reinhardt's sarcastic tone, Heit laughed instead of being taken aback or frightened.

“Did you hand in your resignation?”

“I paid, but the Finance Office was in trouble. Well, I don’t think it can be repaired, but I kept my mouth shut when I asked why.”

“It’s not like rumors won’t spread, but they just say they’re coming to me.”

“Is that okay?”

“What do you know? Or call me my lover.”

Heets Yelter smiled, furrowing his brow lightly, then bowed his head deeply.

“I felt it the other day, but it’s nice to think you’re a person without formality.”

“Are you swearing at me for being rude?”

"Nope. As you know, I'm not the kind of person who treats you politely as a boss.”

know. Of course you know. Reinhardt chuckled. Heitz thinks she knows him from his background, but no one knows the character of Heitz better than she does. It was because Heitz was the only one who yelled at Reinhardt, who was so sensitive that his intestines were all rotten and he couldn't even pass the meal properly.

But it is impossible to say such a thing. Reinhardt smiled and gestured to Wilhelm. Then, he took a pouch from Wilhelm's waist, melted the gold inside, took out a few clumps, and gave it to Heitz.

“Write for a while. Until you come to Luden, give generously to the people around you.”

"her."

“As if you were really going to be my lover.”

Heitz grumbled.

“I know it’s being sold.”

"This is the first time I've ever seen a man grumble after receiving this much gold."

“… … knight. By any chance, does the lord I serve give gold to just about any man?”

It was to ask Wilhelm, who had taken a step back. Wilhelm had a stiff face and didn't answer. Reinhardt responded instead.

“I don’t give this to anyone.”

“I’m glad you did.”

"why. Did you fall for me?”

Heitz closed and opened his slender eyes, as if tired.

“If the lord I have to serve is someone who uses the money I have like water, how hard it must be for me to manage my finances under the lord.”

“Ah, that way.”

Reinhardt burst into laughter. Like that or not, Wilhelm asked her, staring at him without taking her eyes off her heights.

“Who is this?”

“Ah, Wilhelm. I didn't explain, really. Sheets Yelter. heights. This is Wilhelm Colonna. You must have heard of it.”

Heitz nodded. After the formal greeting of Luden's thunder, Reinhardt continued.

“It would be difficult for Sarah to manage the territory by herself, so I brought in some people from the Finance Office.”

"okay."

“If you are a person from the Finance Office, you sound like you have nothing to do with anyone but me.”

"No way."

Reinhardt patted Heitz on the back and sent him away. The civil servants were still waiting for him on the other side, hesitating. Hitz lowered his head and walked away. Until he disappeared with the civil servants, Wilhelm's eyes lingered on Heitz's frizzy brown hair.

“When did you bring that person?”

“I asked Alzen Stotgall. It's a watchdog assigned by Glencia's fox, but I guess we'll have to hire some people to play with.”

“… … Somehow I thought he frequented it often.”

Reinhardt chuckled.

"why. Were you jealous?”

“I’ll be glad if it ends with jealousy.”

She smiled at the tone of Wilhelm's plain reply and slowly stood up.

“After taking you there, I would like to visit the Imperial Knights for a while.”

“Why are you there?”

“The commander of the knights, Sir Elon, asked to meet him.”

“Sir Elon?”

Reinhardt was puzzled, but soon understood. Sir Elon was a military commander with a slightly different texture from Hu Rinke. If Rinke Hu valued command of the army as the most important value, Sir Elon was the type who valued the development of individual knights and troops. That was the difference between the armed forces on the frontlines fighting against the enemies of the empire and the commander of the Hwang Seong Knights who guarded the safety of the emperor. Therefore, during the lifetime of Rinke, the knights of Rinke and later fought with the Imperial Knights once or twice a year in peace.

The reason why I called Wilhelm separately was because I wanted to have him match the agreement with the knights.

“There was no message from me.”

“He asked me to have a cup of tea or tea today. He said he would post a message soon.”

Reinhardt thought for a bit and then waved his hand.

"it's okay. It's not like Sir Elon said he was going to do something great. At most, wouldn't it be like asking you to spar with the knights?”

"you're right."

“Then it's okay to go out with other knights as long as there are no holes in the security. It's fine if I don't mind.”

"Yes."

Wilhelm nodded. Returning to the Welcome Palace, Reinhardt told the story of how the Knights of Rinke Hu and the Imperial Knights fought every year. Wilhelm shook his head and listened.

“Because he thinks the ability of each knight is important. Even though he is an old man, he is so correct.”

“It doesn’t seem like that at all… … .”

"so? The last Sir Elon I saw was like that.”

Though he was in his 60s, Reinhardt's eyes widened as he thought of Sir Elon, who was still as strong as a young man. Well, that could be the way Wilhelm sees it. Besides… … Reinhardt has thoughts of Wilhelm from his previous life. It was Bill Colonna who defeated Lord Elon, who had been guarding the imperial castle for 20 years, in a matter of seconds. Since then, the Templars have been reorganized... … . Reinhardt smiled. So really, the old man might look like that to Wilhelm.

“Then rest.”

"yes."

As soon as he arrived at the hall of the Welcome Palace, Wilhelm kissed Reinhardt's hand and turned around. It was before Reinhardt even threw off his silk shoes. Hearing the sound of the drawing room door closing lightly in his ears, Reinhardt ran to the bed. He is a Ceylon Hall, and after walking for a long time, he looks like he is going to die of exhaustion.

***

Wilhelm quickly left the Welcome Palace. The Imperial Knights were stuck between the outer wall of the imperial castle's west side and the inner wall. Sir Elon's request to see Wilhelm sometime was not a lie, but the date was not today. Wilhelm's purpose was elsewhere.

The western outer wall contains the storage area along with the living area. Among them, the Imperial Knights were attached to the warehouse area where the old imperial property was stored. Of course, valuable and expensive treasures were in the inner sanctuary, but the 200-year-old antiques of the empire were somehow difficult to dispose of. I can't even turn it anywhere. So, the warehouse area was created by attaching guards to the area next to the Imperial Knights.

It was also in that direction that Wilhelm was stepping. There were many people coming and going because it overlapped with the living area. Civil servants, maids, and attendants came and went, bumping into each other and passing by. A large black-clad knight walks between them. It was not even the uniform of the Imperial Knights, so it stood out, but everyone didn't care, thinking that it must be someone's knight who visited the imperial castle.

The warehouse area behind the Imperial Knights was out of the way, but security personnel were visible here and there. The patrolling bodyguards called and stopped Wilhelm several times, but without saying anything, Wilhelm showed Amaryllis' hand. The plaque of Amaryllis, which means the royal family. It was also made of pure gold. The knights were very nervous. The emperor gave it to Wilhelm, who was born out of wedlock, in the sense that he was his son. However, to the knights who did not know why, the fact that Wilhelm, who was not of the royal family, had the plaque had a different meaning. It must have been moved by the order of the emperor or the crown prince.

The security engineer standing in front of Warehouse 18 seemed to think so too.

“Could you please vacate your seat for a moment?”

“Oh, but… … .”

“If there is a problem, I will take responsibility.”

At Wilhelm's words, the guard knight nodded after pondering. It was a remote area, so few people would know where he was fooling around. The warehouse door closed, and Wilhelm snorted. He wouldn't have thought of coming here either if the Emperor hadn't given him the Amaryllis plaque.

Wilhelm's purpose was clear. He looked around the warehouse. He was full of old, dusty chests. Chests that seem to have been there for decades. Most of them were not things that were exposed to sunlight regularly, but only needed to be stored in a dry place. Wilhelm went inside and put things aside insincerely. Suddenly, a figure he saw a lot fell off, so he pulled the cloth. It was a familiar sword, but Wilhelm looked at it quietly and threw it away.

Then he found something loosely wrapped in a dirty cloth among the flat square chests. It was what he was aiming for.

Wilhelm unloaded the cloth bundle with a cautious attitude that was quite different from before. Then he carefully peeled off the cloth. What was inside was a portrait. A painting so large that if Wilhelm opened his arms and embraced him, he would fit into his arms.

Her dark blond hair, like melted gold, was much darker than he knew. He probably does because he is much younger. shiny gold eyes. Her apple-red cheeks were less ripe and fresh and lovely. The puckered lips looked stubborn at first glance, but Wilhelm knew the shape they took in a smile. When he smiles, his mouth opens and his white teeth are neatly exposed, and a large mouth cave is visible inside the teeth. It's been a long time since I thought I wanted to kiss those brightly smiling lips.

Reinhardt Delfina Rinke.

was his master.

Perhaps the portrait she had made her paint when she was engaged to the crown prince. Originally, it was a portrait that should have hung in the corridor of the Well of Eternity that Wilhelm had seen today. Wilhelm sighed and laughed. It's what he's been looking for ever since he said he's coming to the imperial city. There were barred windows at the top of the shed for ventilation. The afternoon sunlight streamed in through the windows. Sunlight passed down Wilhelm's cheek and fell on the portrait, and the shadow grimly consumed him. Wilhelm carefully brushed off the portrait with the end of a cloth, made a spot around it, and leaned it forward.

The young Reinhardt was there. Round chin swollen white. Compared to the pointy face now that is sensitively erected, it was childish. In front of the painter sent by the imperial family, the ends of her tense eyes were drawing long arcs like water-filled swallows. Wilhelm took a couple of steps back from the portrait and looked at the painting, then let out a long sigh like a sigh. Then he took another step and knelt in front of him.

The portrait reached below Wilhelm's chest, and as he knelt down, his eyes met Reinhardt's in the portrait. The young man looked at Reinhardt for a while and then quietly kissed him on the cheek.

What reached the tip of his lips was not soft flesh, but the texture of rough paint, and what reached his nose was not a scent but the smell of dust. But that alone made Wilhelm ecstatic.

He narrowed his eyes and looked back at the girl in the portrait. His fingertips traced the nape of the girl's neck, then pressed it gently. The tips of her fingers turned white, and the portrait-painted fabric receded just a little bit. It was natural, not a picture in a frame. The paintings hung in the corridor of the fountain of eternity would have been handled carefully and precisely when they were hung, but when they were taken down, they would have been hurriedly and roughly thrown away.

I didn't know how the painting was in a place like this without being burned. When he asked the emperor, didn't even the emperor think the painting was lost? In fact, even Wilhelm, who already knew that the portrait had been buried here for a very long time, could not figure out the details. Perhaps someone who was paying attention to the superiors was reluctant to openly burn it, so it was roughly buried somewhere and flowed all the way here. And, it caught his eye... … .

Wilhelm searched for the already hazy memories, and at the same time, with his fingertips, he stroked the nape of the girl's neck, collarbone, and bulging upper chest with his fingertips. The only thing he could still feel at his fingertips was the texture of the paint.

Then at some point, Wilhelm startled and withdrew his hand. As if someone was watching him and screaming. He looked around, saw that he was the only one, and stepped back.

The warehouse was packed with goods, and the young man had to step back only two or three steps before being blocked by a mountain of other items. Wilhelm sat down as if toppling over. In the meantime, the black eyes were still full of a girl with cheeks like apples.

After staring at the girl for a while, Wilhelm closed his eyes and took off his leather gloves. Then he intertwined his hands and grabbed my neck. As if someone strangled me. The fingers were long and thick, with calluses on them, but Wilhelm put strength into his hands, imagining the fingers of someone very thin and soft.

Even though I was choking myself, there was not a single hesitation at the tips of my fingers. “Huh… … .” I couldn't breathe. Her hard chest swelled. Pressing his thumb down his throat, he suddenly released the hand in one slap. Coke, Coke... … . A cough filled the warehouse. The young man squinted his eyes and sat back. He had no strength in his limbs, just like a broken doll. The girl in the portrait was reflected in his eyes again, and he was filled with ecstasy.

know. Reinhardt would never strangle him. The little girl in there, though relentless, was always kind to him. Wilhelm was already filled with things he hadn't known in the days when he only imagined that girl. Smiling eyes, a voice calling him Wilhelm. Fingertips that do not become sharp even after pinching the back of the hand.

“Rein, Hart… … .”

I thought of the woman who said to get on my lap and make a deal with me. Her lower body was sore, so Wilhelm could not stand it and called her name. Even without choking her, her breathing quickened. Masturbating while looking at the sunbeams entering the dusty warehouse and the old portraits beneath it was not something that was too far off.

It took a long time for Wilhelm to stand up from his seat. He wringed out a random cloth nearby and wiped his hands. Clink... … . The items inside were scattered. They seemed to be precious metals of no great value. Wilhelm threw away the cloth and picked up the things that had fallen to his feet. He was going to put it anywhere.

The fallen items were not as good as those stuck in the warehouse. Wilhelm, who was roughly throwing them away, found a dull ring among them. He lifted the ring and held it up in the sunlight. And he remembered the ring in the portrait Reinhardt was looking at. Wilhelm roughly guessed why the woman who sold even the most famous jewels that were said to be precious and old without much regret looked at the gold ring. Anyway, she already knew it, but she wasn't an easy woman anyway.

Wilhelm chuckled and shoved the items in his hand roughly anywhere. The hand that put the ring in was close to throwing it away. Then, after wrapping the portrait with the cloth that was originally wrapped around it, it was well placed between the objects. It wasn't supposed to be in a warehouse like this, but I couldn't take it with me right now. As he left the warehouse, a security engineer snooping in from afar approached hesitantly.

"I… … As a matter of procedure, you have to do a body search once.”

"go away."

Wilhelm spat out harshly. The knight flinched and stepped back. The knight's gaze caught his eye as he quickly passed by, but Wilhelm had long since forgotten about the knight.

Heights Yelter.

Returning to the welcome palace, the young man chewed on the man he had met earlier. It was a name he had never heard before, but Reinhardt's attitude towards him was overly friendly. It wasn't that he couldn't guess. It must be one of the trajectories of her life that Wilhelm doesn't know about.

But it was annoying. To be precise, his olive eyes and smoky brown hair. Even if it was different from the people Wilhelm knew, it was too different, but Wilhelm hated them without meaning. I want to wipe it all away. Wilhelm wiggled his hand in his glove. In his mind, he wanted to burn down the imperial castle and tear it apart.

Is that so? Shall I throw it away

and run away. Should I pick her up and go to a place no one knows? If you put her on a leash and put an eyepatch over her eyes, she won't have anyone else in her eyes. Tears flowing from those eyes were no big deal. If the only thing that will be contained in those wet golden eyes for the rest of my life is my appearance, I can handle it.

But it is not 'perfect'.

<Hey man.>

I could still vividly feel the feel of the large hand running through my hair. I can't forget the green eyes that looked at me as young as the bastard raising me.

<I don't know what to say to you now. men and horses. Love is not like that. Really.>

Heat boiled in his throat. If not, what do you mean?

<You'll know when you're older. Ugh. go to sleep Keep your eyes open.>

As for age, I ate much more than you. If what you say is true, wouldn't this repeated life have meaning?

If you realize that simply by spending years, why am I still strangling myself?

Eyes like fake jewels glittered. Even Wilhelm didn't know what was lurking inside that was so full of impurities that he couldn't even see it. The more time he passed, the more he felt like he was being dragged somewhere. If it wasn't for Reinhardt, he really would have fallen down to that abyss and struggled, unable to tell what was going on, as a monster.

Ah, putting it on a leash is really unreasonable.

Wilhelm let out an impatient laugh. Isn't he himself barely holding on with a rope around his neck? That leash was my salvation.

He moved briskly. He had to return to the Welcome Palace before the sun went down.

***

Alzen Stogall took up Amaryllis' hand suspiciously. He turned the tile a couple of times in the light of the candle and opened his mouth.

“… … Isn't this fake?"

"kyung."

“Oh, sorry. When I hang out with Lady Pernaha, I get into the habit of talking nonsense in serious situations.”

At Reinhardt's short words, whose mouth was smiling but his eyes were not, Alzen shyly put down his hand.

"Has confirmed."

“Sir, are you going back to Glencia?”

“Originally, that’s how it should be, but… … ”

Alzen rolled his eyes.

“A message has come. Pernaha is coming to the capital.”

"he?"

"Yes. There is also Daejong Church.”

Reinhardt smiled.

“You want to see it with your own eyes. You don't seem to be a trusted lieutenant."

Alzen's expression became unfair. Reinhardt shrugged her shoulders.

“I’m kidding too. Perhaps there is something you would like to discuss with me.”

Under normal circumstances, Fernaha and the Marquis of Glencia would have known if they said Alzen had confirmed it. But that wasn't the end. On the side of Glencia, they had to find out whether to recover the private soldiers they had lent. For the time being, Luden could not return Glencia's privates. In addition to the emperor quickly reducing Glencia's enlisted men, the Great Manor of Luden also needed enlisted men.

So, Pernaha Glencia will be curious about Reinhardt's move. Trading in Wilhelm's lineage was also a major reason. Receiving the Amaryllis card means that the emperor also found out that Wilhelm was his son out of wedlock.

Now, Glencia will try to prepare for the battle for the throne. He will gather not only the territory of Glencia, but also the lords who support Wilhelm, led by Margrave, and sooner or later, he will openly confront Michelle.

The most powerful enemy there is Empress Castreya.

It was difficult to say that Michelle was the crown prince who was supported by many lords. However, the existence of Empress Castreya made it possible. She was the empress's niece. She is now the emperor's cousin. In terms of blood, Michelle's side was overwhelmingly dominant, and it was obvious that conservatives would also try to support Michelle. If Michelle represents the existing interests, Glencia may be using Wilhelm to maintain her existing spirit order and the size of her enlisted forces.

Will the stage be Daejong Church?

That must be the reason why Pernaha Glencia is coming to the capital at this point. They had no intention of carrying on with this long term. When people's eyes gather in the capital, it will announce the existence of an out-of-wedlock child. The emperor did not simply hold on to Wilhelm and Reinhardt because he felt sorry for his son. Why did he throw away Amaryllis' hand so quickly?

He was hoping for a declaration of war.

People like proof.

It is the same whether the blood is noble or low. Even if the emperor was a child who was related by blood, he would not let him take over the empire just by looking at the white crystal. It was clear that he wanted to prove that Wilhelm was the king rather than a blood relationship that was invisible to the naked eye.

“Crazy human.”

After Alzen left, Reinhardt thought for a while and then spat out.

Her husband, Michelle, was a wayward and slovenly human being. Since he was born, he was in the position of supreme, so he had the arrogance of being able to do whatever he wanted. So, my partner must have also committed the act of changing it at will.

When I was divorced, I just thought of it that way. Even her father and Michelle's father-in-law, the Marquis Rinke, used it as a substitute for his troublesome work, and discarded it after it was used up because of arrogance.

However, looking closely at the current situation, the arrogance was not unique to Michelle. If he was being cruel simply because he was born in a high position, the other nobles Reinhardt knew should also do the same.

'It looks like it.'

Reinhardt unknowingly bit the thumb of his right hand. He doesn't even have nails to bite short, but that's because he's nervous.

Looking back now, Michelle's arrogance was exactly like that of the emperor.

The emperor realized right away that Glencia was already on Wilhelm's side. Glencia was far from the court aristocrats in the center of the capital, so she always had the impression that she was far from power.

In fact, it was. Because they had to take responsibility for the frontier, the Margraves of Glencia were not interested in the politics of the empire for generations. To be exact, I was just watching. He was busy paying attention, and even if he was interested, it was easy to make unnecessary noise when the Great Young Commander, who had enough privates, expressed interest in the situation. So, the Great Lords of Glencia were always close to the centrist faction.

However, the Great Territory of Glencia is now out of the battle of the frontier. If the Great Britain Command, which has regained peace, strengthens its power with a powerful private soldier, the empire will be in great trouble.

Why was it called the Great Spirit Command? This is because it is a huge land that could claim independence as a kingdom.

So, the emperor was intent on grabbing Wilhelm by the scruff of his neck and pulling him out to the surface, while at the same time pushing the Glennian Territory into the vortex of the battle for the throne.

It was the same with Reinhardt's Great Territory of Luden. If there is one more force that cannot be ignored in the empire, the emperor will naturally try to keep them in check.

All of the great lords with enormous military power, led by Wilhelm, seemed to be tied up in the capital for the time being. The unexpected appearance of a new child. The reason why the emperor welcomed Wilhelm wasn't just because of a blood relationship he didn't know about. Even if he seemed superior to the incompetent Michelle, the emperor was willing to push the child into a bloody whirlpool.

“Then it doesn’t matter if I die. Do you know why?”

The time was approaching night. Even after the light meal was finished and bitten off, Wilhelm remained by Reinhardt's side. Wilhelm replied expressionlessly.

“Because even if I die, the crown prince will remain.”

"yes."

Reinhardt clicked his tongue.

"Even though you're incompetent, if you die and Michelle remains, that's like Michelle proving herself."

“If Michelle dies and I stay… … .”

“You will be the unparalleled successor, receiving the full support of the two Great Territories.”

Reinhardt snapped the tip of his thumb nail, annoyed.

It is often said that the parent-child relationship of high-ranking nobles is like that. Parents rightly demand that their children deserve the nobel status given them from birth, and their children also accept the proof as a matter of course. However, these things were not well understood by Reinhardt, who was warmly raised in the arms of Marquis Rinke.

One might question whether Reinhardt was overly naive. However, just because you know that it's a rejection doesn't mean it disappears right away. The appearance of an emperor who drives two of his children into political strife because he is only interested in maintaining the great vessel called the empire. In the case of my son, Michelle, it was my wife. From the point of view of being that wife, Reinhardt thought.

Simply changing a wife is something most men want at least once. But what about changing a child like that?

Does a monarch have to have that level of arrogance?

And suddenly, at the end of his gaze, Reinhardt faced a young man who might become the monarch following the arrogant emperor.

“… … Wilhelm.”

"Yes."

“Are you okay?”

“It can’t be.”

Wilhelm was tearing grapes from Reinhardt's side. For Reinhardt, who did not eat much, the maids of the Welcome Palace prepared grapes. It must have been prepared because it is a fruit that is not well distributed in the North.

However, Reinhardt did not like grape seeds very much. He didn't even touch the grapes because he hated having to spit out the seeds after putting them in his mouth. So Wilhelm was splitting the grapes in half and taking out the seeds one by one.

His well-groomed, long, thick knuckles moved gracefully. I couldn't even tell you how nimble the action of removing the seeds with the tip of the small fork brought by the ladies-in-waiting was. The man who would have held a weapon to take people's lives by nature behaved naturally as if he had served her side for dozens of years. His black eyes and dark lashes were all focused on the little grapes he held in his hand. As Reinhardt was looking at him with a stunned gaze, Wilhelm opened his mouth.

“I am just grateful.”

Reinhardt only knew that he had heard the wrong thing because of that feminine tone. Doubting her ears, Wilhelm removed the seeds from her grapes and placed them on a plate in front of her, then glanced at Reinhardt. That gaze was languid, but strangely, her breath was choked.

“Wouldn’t everyone praise me even if I cut off his head in front of others?”

“… … .”

“How about offering that head to you, Reinhardt?”

For some reason, it felt like my mouth was drying up. Reinhardt was about to swallow her saliva without her knowledge, but Wilhelm, not having finished placing another grape on her plate, picked it up and held it out to her. The tips of her fingers, which stopped just a short distance from Reinhardt's lips, were glossy with juice.

“… … .”

Watching those shiny fingertips, Reinhardt opened his mouth. Wilhelm smiled and put the half-ripened grape into her mouth. Her fingers slipped away slowly and as if it was a mistake, she naturally traced the tip of Reinhardt's tongue and lips. Reinhardt closed her mouth, and at the same time Wilhelm put the tips of her fingers in her mouth without thinking about it and sucked them. The juice of the grapes stayed in her mouth and it felt strangely sticky.

Reinhardt barely chewed and swallowed the grape before opening his mouth.

"I'm sorry, Wilhelm."

"Yes."

“It must be me who put the knife through Michelle’s throat.”

“… … .”

Wilhelm watched her silently. Reinhardt put on his fair share of socks.

“I cannot concede that to you either. Got it?”

“… … My master is very picky.”

Only then did Wilhelm smile.

“You know that it is more difficult to say to bring the animal alive than to hunt it down, right?”

Reinhardt raised his eyebrows.

“You talk a lot about courting.”

"ah."

“Even if you want to get down under me and kiss my feet right now, aren’t you in a position to do so?”

Wilhelm's expression brightened. It was a rare thing. Because the more she tried to crush me, the more Wilhelm seemed happy.

“If you wish, even now.”

“Give up.”

Reinhardt waved his hand annoyedly and tried to look away. She looked out the window, pretending to be lost in thought. It was dark outside and I couldn't see anything. The pitiful small fires lit in the garden are only pretending to light up the surroundings. Reinhardt suddenly thought that Cho was in a similar situation to himself. She's pretending to light up the darkness, but she's not ready to handle the darkness... … .

If Michel inherited arrogance from the emperor, where did the emperor's cruelty go? Reinhardt glanced at her dog. Isn't that young man sitting next to her pretending to be an obedient dog, peeling grapes, who inherited that cruelty from the emperor?

however… … .

How could such a person so easily say that he would kiss someone else's instep? It was something Reinhardt could never have known. She turned her head away from Wilhelm. And she chose to focus on something else instead of Wilhelm.

To her own desire that she had kept turning a blind eye to until now.

The situation was dizzy. Reinhardt tried to hit Michelle, step by step, just like he had done in his previous life. Because her only purpose was to slit her throat. However, the variable named Wilhelm intervened and everything went wrong.

I just thought I was lucky to have the Emperor's illegitimate son and war hero in my hands. He only thought of using Wilhelm to plot a rebellion and win. In his previous life, there was no reason to rebel, but if Wilhelm was in his hands, the story would be different.

But what about now? Wilhelm held onto her and put her where she did not want to go. center of the castle. on the battlefield of power. The emperor was about to fight over his children, and Reinhardt naturally became wealthy. He felt as if a beast had jumped on the map he had drawn and made a dizzying set of footprints.

'What do I want?'

Reinhardt remembered his father's words.

<My daughter. The more you can't catch the galpi, the more you face. Think carefully about what you want and what you don't want, not others.>

I wanted to slit Michelle's throat. The one who killed his beloved father. And the one who exiled himself to the Luden Territory. They cut his throat and tried to drink his blood. But now Reinhardt had to accept that he had another reason for his wealth.

She looked away. Even though she only turned her head a little, their eyes met with black eyes. It was possible because her opponent was staring at her all the time.

Wilhelm.

'… … My arrogance.'

The reason why Wilhelm had been uncomfortable so far wasn't just because he was courting Reinhardt. Unlike before, she didn't avoid Wilhelm's gaze and stared blankly. Wilhelm's faint smile grew a little thicker. But the smile was by no means the delightful and lovely kind. I was reluctant, but at the same time, it was difficult to face it because I was sad.

Reinhardt tried to avoid his gaze. Wilhelm rolled the grape in his fingers, stared at Reinhardt, kissed the egg, and set it down on the plate. Then she lightly knelt down in front of her, kissed the back of her hand, and left her room. No words were exchanged between the two.

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