Not only Adel, but also other nobles went to the Western Territory to fight for recapture, and a ceremony to mark their departure was held at the central palace.
It was an event attended by all the royal family members, including the ailing Emperor, but Perdes was unable to attend.
Because the Emperor had become dizzy, he ordered him to stay in his room and rest.
'It's not treatment, it's confinement.'
It would be a disgrace to the royal family to present a half-deaf Prince in front of the guests.
He knew this would happen, but he still regretted not being able to see Adele off.
So, Perdes resolved his regret by helping her with her makeup.
...I also had a little greed.
Perdes touched his lips lightly with his fingertips.
Even though it had been more than two hours since Adele left, the feeling of his forehead touching hers was still vivid.
He thought he'd be satisfied with just a kiss on the forehead, but once they actually touched, he became a little greedy.
With fresh green eyes.
With a smart and pretty nose.
And more than anything, he wanted to kiss those lips that seemed sweeter.
That's why they say human greed is endless.
Perdes smiled bitterly and looked at the magic communication ring he shared with Aaron.
There was no contact from Aaron as if he hadn't found anything yet.
'Should I contact him first?'
Perdes hesitated for a moment but did not do so.
It's only been half a day, so it feels a bit too early to be contacting her.
If he was undercover somewhere, he held back because he was afraid that contacting her for no reason could cause trouble.
Some things had to be resolved first.
About three hours after the inauguration ceremony, Perdes left the Spring Palace and headed to the Central Palace.
Behind Perdes, his escort of knights and court ladies followed.
It was to assist Perdes so that no trouble would arise.
'It's annoying.'
It was annoying. Perdes really hated having someone following him around.
Perdes wanted to separate them, but he could not do so because they were people who had joined him by order of the Emperor.
'Well, I guess the guy will take care of it.'
Duke of Lucien.
The reason Perdes went to the central palace was to meet the Duke of Lucien.
Perdes tried to meet him yesterday, but today's meeting was too long because of the inauguration ceremony, so they couldn't meet.
Perdes' wish he had some free time today.
And he hopes he can get the information he wants.
While thinking about this and that, Perdes arrived at the central palace where the Duke of Lucien was and heard unexpected news.
“His Excellency the Duke is currently speaking with Her Majesty the Empress.”
The Duke of Lucien and the Empress are talking.
It was a rather odd combination, and it was also strange that the Empress came all the way to the central palace in person.
Because it was usually called the Empress's Palace.
'Come to think of it, I told the Empress that Chernosser might be alive.'
And he mentioned that the Duke of Lucien knew of its whereabouts.
Perdes, who belatedly remembered what Adele had said, finally understood the Empress's actions.
'The timing is bad.'
If it had been anyone else, he would have ignored it and gone in, but he couldn't do that if it was the Empress.
Not only was her status higher than his, but she was also an awkward person to deal with.
Especially if she came here on business in Chernosser.
“Your Highness!”
So Perdes turned around, thinking he would have to come back later, but someone called out to him urgently.
She was the Empress's maid.
The moment he saw her face, a bad feeling crossed Perdes' mind.
“Her Majesty the Empress calls you in.”
Why are bad feelings always wrong?
The only good thing was that since there was an Empress, the Emperor's minions wouldn't follow him around.
The atmosphere inside the reception room was not very good.
To be exact, the Empress had an expression on her face as if she was about to cry.
The Duke of Lucien sat drinking tea, seemingly indifferent.
Then, when Perdes came in, he stood up with a smile on his face.
“Welcome, Your Highness.”
Why are you acting so friendly?
Suspicious and uneasy, Perdes stared at him without responding.
But Duke Lucien continued to smile, wondering what was so good about it.
“You seem to be in a pretty good mood.”
“Of course, it feels good. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Your Highness the Prince. How could I feel bad?”
What the heck is this kid?
Perdes' eyebrows furrowed at the absurd answer.
If the Empress hadn't been there, Perdes would have grabbed him by the collar and asked him what his intentions were.
Perdes glanced at the Empress, feeling sorry for her presence.
The Empress happened to be looking at Perdes at that moment, so their eyes met without any chance to avoid it.
“...Welcome, Prince.”
The Empress greeted him with a moist, wet voice.
Perdes also greeted her appropriately, and at the order to sit down, Perdes and the Duke of Lucien sat down side by side facing the Empress.
The Empress took a sip of tea as if to calm her melancholy heart, then asked Perdes.
“I heard you came to see the Duke of Lucien. May I ask why you came?”
“It’s not a good thing.”
So, he meant to say that she should not ask any more questions, but the Empress continued speaking obliviously.
“Oh, I see. It looks like you had an argument with the Duke of Lucien. If you tell me what you were arguing about, I will try to mediate.”
Why you.
Words that Perdes absolutely could not say lingered in his mouth.
He was about to firmly refuse, even though it was a little annoying when the Duke of Lucien said.
“It seems that His Highness the 4th Prince came here because he was curious about His Highness the 2nd Prince’s whereabouts.”
What are you talking about, you crazy bastard?
Perdes opened his eyes wide and looked at the Duke of Lucien.
On the other hand, the Empress smiled and asked him back.
“Really?”
"No."
Because it was something he did not want to say even in vain, Perdes answered firmly.
Then the Empress's face became stained with disappointment.
Duke Lucien tilted his head as if he didn't know.
“Then why did you want to see me?”
“...”
It seems like he knows everything and is doing this on purpose.
Maybe he said that to get Perdes' to tell the truth.
'Who would have thought that someone would fall for your tricks?'
No way.
Perdes laughed at him inwardly.
“Didn’t you send my fiancée a secret note in the middle of the night?”
“...!”
"Oh."
The Duke of Lucien and the Empress both gasped in surprise.
The strangely sparkling wet eyes turned towards the Duke of Lucien.
“The Duke of Lucien. You really sent a secret note to Duke Leopold...?”
Duke Lucien, who had been staring intently into the wet eyes stained with hot misunderstanding, sighed softly and opened his mouth.
“I indeed sent the note, but it did not contain the strange content that Your Majesty the Empress was thinking of.”
“Then what is it?”
“It was about the knights who escorted Duke Leopold.”
What.
“The Duke Leopold’s knight-errantry betrayed her and joined His Majesty the Emperor.”
Is it okay to say all this?
Perdes looked at him in bewilderment when he spoke so bluntly about something he thought he would naturally keep hidden.
The Duke of Lucien's actions were surprising, but what was even more disconcerting was the Empress's reaction.
“Ah, so that’s why he was able to see through Duke Leopold’s every move.”
The Empress's reaction was as if he knew everything he was doing to Adele.
In that case, perhaps...?
“Do you also know that the person who pushed the Second Prince to the brink of death was the Emperor?”
Perdes asked just in case, and the Empress nodded.
The eyes that had briefly sparkled at the interesting story were once again stained with resentment.
“I told Duke Leopold everything about it, but she didn’t hear anything, Prince.”
Perdes told that to Adele too.
It was a series of shocks in many ways.
“It seems that Duke Leopold does not trust the Prince as much as I thought.”
He was annoyed by this kind of sarcasm.
Perdes said with a stiff, stiff face.
“I guess you didn’t think I needed to tell you. I don’t care whether the Second Prince dies or not.”
“What nonsense...! Chernosser is the Prince’s older brother!”
“I’ve never had a brother like that point a finger at me and kick me, calling me a swindler.”
The Empress kept her mouth shut as if she had nothing to say about that part.
After seeing the Empress, Perdes said to the Duke of Lucien:
“I don’t want to talk to you any longer, so tell me everything you know about Sir Aldor.”
“If I speak, what will Your Highness do for me?”
Perdes's brow furrowed at the returned question.
“Are you trying to make a deal with me now?”
“No, I just want to be compensated. If you had come to see me on the day I sent you the note, I would have told you everything... But now, a lot of time has passed. I want to be compensated for the wait.”
Duke of Lucien was so good at talking nonsense that Perdes was afraid someone would call him a mad dog.
'Well, I knew this would happen.'
Because it would be impossible for the Duke of Lucien to easily show off the cards he has.
“Then let me ask you something else.”
He's thought about how to respond to this situation in advance.
Perdes smiled inwardly and placed a hand on the Duke of Lucien's shoulder.
“Why were you in an illegal organization run by the Dark Council?”
It was an event attended by all the royal family members, including the ailing Emperor, but Perdes was unable to attend.
Because the Emperor had become dizzy, he ordered him to stay in his room and rest.
'It's not treatment, it's confinement.'
It would be a disgrace to the royal family to present a half-deaf Prince in front of the guests.
He knew this would happen, but he still regretted not being able to see Adele off.
So, Perdes resolved his regret by helping her with her makeup.
...I also had a little greed.
Perdes touched his lips lightly with his fingertips.
Even though it had been more than two hours since Adele left, the feeling of his forehead touching hers was still vivid.
He thought he'd be satisfied with just a kiss on the forehead, but once they actually touched, he became a little greedy.
With fresh green eyes.
With a smart and pretty nose.
And more than anything, he wanted to kiss those lips that seemed sweeter.
That's why they say human greed is endless.
Perdes smiled bitterly and looked at the magic communication ring he shared with Aaron.
There was no contact from Aaron as if he hadn't found anything yet.
'Should I contact him first?'
Perdes hesitated for a moment but did not do so.
It's only been half a day, so it feels a bit too early to be contacting her.
If he was undercover somewhere, he held back because he was afraid that contacting her for no reason could cause trouble.
Some things had to be resolved first.
About three hours after the inauguration ceremony, Perdes left the Spring Palace and headed to the Central Palace.
Behind Perdes, his escort of knights and court ladies followed.
It was to assist Perdes so that no trouble would arise.
'It's annoying.'
It was annoying. Perdes really hated having someone following him around.
Perdes wanted to separate them, but he could not do so because they were people who had joined him by order of the Emperor.
'Well, I guess the guy will take care of it.'
Duke of Lucien.
The reason Perdes went to the central palace was to meet the Duke of Lucien.
Perdes tried to meet him yesterday, but today's meeting was too long because of the inauguration ceremony, so they couldn't meet.
Perdes' wish he had some free time today.
And he hopes he can get the information he wants.
While thinking about this and that, Perdes arrived at the central palace where the Duke of Lucien was and heard unexpected news.
“His Excellency the Duke is currently speaking with Her Majesty the Empress.”
The Duke of Lucien and the Empress are talking.
It was a rather odd combination, and it was also strange that the Empress came all the way to the central palace in person.
Because it was usually called the Empress's Palace.
'Come to think of it, I told the Empress that Chernosser might be alive.'
And he mentioned that the Duke of Lucien knew of its whereabouts.
Perdes, who belatedly remembered what Adele had said, finally understood the Empress's actions.
'The timing is bad.'
If it had been anyone else, he would have ignored it and gone in, but he couldn't do that if it was the Empress.
Not only was her status higher than his, but she was also an awkward person to deal with.
Especially if she came here on business in Chernosser.
“Your Highness!”
So Perdes turned around, thinking he would have to come back later, but someone called out to him urgently.
She was the Empress's maid.
The moment he saw her face, a bad feeling crossed Perdes' mind.
“Her Majesty the Empress calls you in.”
Why are bad feelings always wrong?
The only good thing was that since there was an Empress, the Emperor's minions wouldn't follow him around.
The atmosphere inside the reception room was not very good.
To be exact, the Empress had an expression on her face as if she was about to cry.
The Duke of Lucien sat drinking tea, seemingly indifferent.
Then, when Perdes came in, he stood up with a smile on his face.
“Welcome, Your Highness.”
Why are you acting so friendly?
Suspicious and uneasy, Perdes stared at him without responding.
But Duke Lucien continued to smile, wondering what was so good about it.
“You seem to be in a pretty good mood.”
“Of course, it feels good. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Your Highness the Prince. How could I feel bad?”
What the heck is this kid?
Perdes' eyebrows furrowed at the absurd answer.
If the Empress hadn't been there, Perdes would have grabbed him by the collar and asked him what his intentions were.
Perdes glanced at the Empress, feeling sorry for her presence.
The Empress happened to be looking at Perdes at that moment, so their eyes met without any chance to avoid it.
“...Welcome, Prince.”
The Empress greeted him with a moist, wet voice.
Perdes also greeted her appropriately, and at the order to sit down, Perdes and the Duke of Lucien sat down side by side facing the Empress.
The Empress took a sip of tea as if to calm her melancholy heart, then asked Perdes.
“I heard you came to see the Duke of Lucien. May I ask why you came?”
“It’s not a good thing.”
So, he meant to say that she should not ask any more questions, but the Empress continued speaking obliviously.
“Oh, I see. It looks like you had an argument with the Duke of Lucien. If you tell me what you were arguing about, I will try to mediate.”
Why you.
Words that Perdes absolutely could not say lingered in his mouth.
He was about to firmly refuse, even though it was a little annoying when the Duke of Lucien said.
“It seems that His Highness the 4th Prince came here because he was curious about His Highness the 2nd Prince’s whereabouts.”
What are you talking about, you crazy bastard?
Perdes opened his eyes wide and looked at the Duke of Lucien.
On the other hand, the Empress smiled and asked him back.
“Really?”
"No."
Because it was something he did not want to say even in vain, Perdes answered firmly.
Then the Empress's face became stained with disappointment.
Duke Lucien tilted his head as if he didn't know.
“Then why did you want to see me?”
“...”
It seems like he knows everything and is doing this on purpose.
Maybe he said that to get Perdes' to tell the truth.
'Who would have thought that someone would fall for your tricks?'
No way.
Perdes laughed at him inwardly.
“Didn’t you send my fiancée a secret note in the middle of the night?”
“...!”
"Oh."
The Duke of Lucien and the Empress both gasped in surprise.
The strangely sparkling wet eyes turned towards the Duke of Lucien.
“The Duke of Lucien. You really sent a secret note to Duke Leopold...?”
Duke Lucien, who had been staring intently into the wet eyes stained with hot misunderstanding, sighed softly and opened his mouth.
“I indeed sent the note, but it did not contain the strange content that Your Majesty the Empress was thinking of.”
“Then what is it?”
“It was about the knights who escorted Duke Leopold.”
What.
“The Duke Leopold’s knight-errantry betrayed her and joined His Majesty the Emperor.”
Is it okay to say all this?
Perdes looked at him in bewilderment when he spoke so bluntly about something he thought he would naturally keep hidden.
The Duke of Lucien's actions were surprising, but what was even more disconcerting was the Empress's reaction.
“Ah, so that’s why he was able to see through Duke Leopold’s every move.”
The Empress's reaction was as if he knew everything he was doing to Adele.
In that case, perhaps...?
“Do you also know that the person who pushed the Second Prince to the brink of death was the Emperor?”
Perdes asked just in case, and the Empress nodded.
The eyes that had briefly sparkled at the interesting story were once again stained with resentment.
“I told Duke Leopold everything about it, but she didn’t hear anything, Prince.”
Perdes told that to Adele too.
It was a series of shocks in many ways.
“It seems that Duke Leopold does not trust the Prince as much as I thought.”
He was annoyed by this kind of sarcasm.
Perdes said with a stiff, stiff face.
“I guess you didn’t think I needed to tell you. I don’t care whether the Second Prince dies or not.”
“What nonsense...! Chernosser is the Prince’s older brother!”
“I’ve never had a brother like that point a finger at me and kick me, calling me a swindler.”
The Empress kept her mouth shut as if she had nothing to say about that part.
After seeing the Empress, Perdes said to the Duke of Lucien:
“I don’t want to talk to you any longer, so tell me everything you know about Sir Aldor.”
“If I speak, what will Your Highness do for me?”
Perdes's brow furrowed at the returned question.
“Are you trying to make a deal with me now?”
“No, I just want to be compensated. If you had come to see me on the day I sent you the note, I would have told you everything... But now, a lot of time has passed. I want to be compensated for the wait.”
Duke of Lucien was so good at talking nonsense that Perdes was afraid someone would call him a mad dog.
'Well, I knew this would happen.'
Because it would be impossible for the Duke of Lucien to easily show off the cards he has.
“Then let me ask you something else.”
He's thought about how to respond to this situation in advance.
Perdes smiled inwardly and placed a hand on the Duke of Lucien's shoulder.
“Why were you in an illegal organization run by the Dark Council?”
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