"Ha, if only I had not behaved half as shamefully as my father did today, things wouldn't have turned out so wrong. I even caught the attention of a Saintess for no reason...!"
After his father left, Samon became furious.
The current situation of the Claudio family was a shining apricot.
On the surface, he seemed to be joining hands with Jason, receiving the Emperor's trust, and rising through the ranks, but on the inside, he was rotten to the core.
Perdiccas II rescued the Claudo family by crossing the Strait of El Amuz with the fourth Princess.
However, when Valdina began trading in the strait, and learned that there were large deposits of mithril on the island of Sardinia, which the Fourth Princess had handed over.
"Do you know what I missed because of you little rascals-!"
Perdiccas II's anger reached its peak.
That day, Samon was almost killed by the Emperor. Like father, like daughter, the Emperor beat him mercilessly with an iron staff.
Samon broke his arm while blocking the cane and had to walk around in a cast for nearly half a year.
The secret order was given to him by Perdiccas II at this imperial proclamation ceremony.
"Kill him or knock him down, just make sure he doesn't sit on the throne. You're going to dig a hole in the damned Valdina royal palace and squeeze yourself in! If you fail, I'll slit your throats one by one and feed them to the dogs."
Perdiccas II was not content with simply ruining the celebration.
This old piece of junk he had brought from Valdina at such a high price had to prove its worth.
"The good news is that the Valdina clan still has only one Emperor."
For three years Peleus did not marrу.
Countless marriage proposals have been made to Valdina, but not a single one has returned successfully.
Since the position of Empress is vacant, there is no successor.
It meant that if just Peleus fell, the throne would go to Claudio.
For that to happen, there had to be a major change in Peleus's life.
A matter so great that Peleus could no longer govern, and so a replacement had to be found...
"If we fail to carry out the Emperor's orders, only death awaits us in Katzen."
Samon bit his lower lip. He couldn't hide his nervousness at the situation that had been tangled from the very beginning.
"The celebration is just over. Don't give up yet. There's still St. Augustine's Night left."
Raju came over and tapped Samon on the shoulder, waking him up.
Count Raju was a much more trustworthy person to Samon than his pitiful biological father.
"Saint Augustine... That's right. Oh, I forgot, Uncle."
Samon's voice, which had been anxious, seemed relieved.
St. Augustine's Night was a traditional festival enjoyed by people from all over the continent, regardless of country.
The Holy Nation decided to host the event, which had previously only been held in the Katzen Empire, in Baldina this time.
It was the price they paid for helping them discover the Saintess.
Internally, there was a subtle conflict due to Rachel, but outwardly, it seemed that the Holy Nation considered diplomatic relations with Valdina important enough to entrust the continental system to it.
Even Samon and Count Raju, who did not know the detailed circumstances inside, thought so.
"The Holy Spirit sent by the Pope will soon arrive at the Strait. Are you ready?"
"Yes, uncle. I've made every effort, so everything will go as planned."
Samon nodded at Raju's question.
On the night of St. Augustine, the festival begins when Peleus ascends the altar and floats the holy fire.
The moment Peleus ascends the altar with the Papal reliquary, the altar will collapse. The stone statuary will shatter and cover the body of the holy slayer.
It was unclear whether he would still retain his sacredness even when buried under a giant stone statue.
***
Bang.
After talking with Raju, Samon left the study.
"Master"
The old butler who had been waiting held out a white handkerchief.
Samon glanced down at his hand... The glass bead of his wristwatch was broken, scratching his skin slightly.
"Let's take you to the bedroom. I told the madam that the master has already taken a nap."
"Thank you, Alberto."
As Samon passed by he praised the butler.
The old servant, hastily procured from the Katzen Empire, was hunched but quite capable.
He was particularly quick-witted, and whenever his mother and younger sister were throwing a tantrum, he was able to stop them, just like he did today, and thus earned Samon's trust.
"Ha..."
Samon closed his eyes.
Today's eventful day came to mind like a panorama.
Suddenly, the wound on his wrist from the broken glass of the watch stung again.
Samon roughly rubbed his blood-stained skin with a white, unstained cloth.
What was more painful than the pain was the memory of before the banquet when he had to bend his knees in shame and look up at Peleus.
The gazes of those who stabbed him painfully. The coldness of the marble dug into his knees.
The humiliation of having to bow his head and not meet Peleus' eye.
'Peleus, I should have killed you then.'
Because Jason will never give up his position on him, not even if it means death.
The throne was elevated from the throne in three years. The indifferent face that sat there and received the respect and cheers of the people.
A spark flew in Samon's eyes.
"They say that on St. Augustine's Night, you can find the love of your life. Huh. I wonder if it will be that kind of blessing to you too."
It was a monologue full of anger and hatred.
"..."
"Let's go back."
"Yes."
The servant followed Samon in silence as if he had not heard anything.
"Master, please sleep well."
A servant came out of Samon's bedroom, closing the door.
"Butler, go to sleep. It's late at night!"
"Yes, you guys go in too. If anything happens, pull the bell."
"Yes!"
The slow sound of footsteps echoing through the hallway only stopped when the butler entered his room.
With a "jieeeek" sound, his dark mustache fell off.
Thud. The white wig was with it.
"I thought I was going to die from the heat."
The butler's back, which was raised from a hunched position, was straight as if it had never been like that.
Swaaaah-
Next to the bathtub, where water was pouring down his face, on top of the clothes he had taken off, was a red fox-shaped pendant.
***
Knock knock.
Meanwhile, Raju, who had been left in the study, raised his head at the sound of a knock.
"You...!"
It was Catherine. Raju looked around hurriedly.
"It's okay. The kids and him are both asleep. If anyone comes, just tell them that I was going to ask you about today."
"....Cath, don't I know you? I'm not beating around the bush. That's why I came from the beginning."
Raju sighed and took Catherine in. And just as she had hoped, he told her what had happened at the villa.
"Damn, I knew it! We're going to have to live in this hell forever."
When her worries became a reality, Catherine burst into tears.
"I can't stand it anymore. Rather than going back to Katzen, I'd rather die here."
"Shh, my love. Don't say that. Don't worry. You and our Birna can stay in Valdina."
Raju comforted Catherine. She looked up from his arms with tearful eyes.
"How?"
"I can't go into detail because it has to do with the imperial edict."
"But what if it fails...?"
Catherine was still anxious. Despite her many schemes and careful planning, she always failed against Medea and her brother.
"I know what you are worried about. That is why I have taken additional measures. I have sent a medicine to the Emperor."
"Medicine?"
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