"Your Majesty, it seems that Duke Peletta, who had stayed until the end, has finally left Cantameria Palace. Additionally, the Empress has also arrived safely at the Dawn Palace."

"Is that so?"

After the party had ended and all the visitors had left Cantameria Palace, Emperor Keilusa was in his own residence, the Sun Palace. His face, now free from the weight of his elaborate clothing and makeup, showed unmistakable signs of deep fatigue.

Seeing the Emperor's condition worsen beyond the usual, the chief attendant cautiously mentioned a potent yet dangerous herb known for its strong analgesic effects.

"Would you require tea infused with Ponesa?"

"No, the usual will suffice."

By "the usual," he meant tea made from herbs sent by the Empress. The chief attendant quietly brewed a pale green tea and placed it before the Emperor. Only after sipping half of it did the Emperor's complexion slightly improve.

Holding the steaming cup, he soon spoke in a neutral tone.

"How is Baron Aile's condition?"

"Given that Duke Peletta left without any word, it appears there was no significant issue. Baron Aile was able to walk on his own and even joined the Duke in the carriage."

"That's a relief. What about Baron Durmand?"

"He has yet to regain consciousness but is undergoing treatment. According to the palace physicians, his symptoms are mild and he should be able to rise by tomorrow. Several people requested to visit and care for him, but all were denied. Knights are stationed around him to guard against any possible assassination attempts."

Though the questions were similar, the chief attendant's response was far colder than when speaking about Yuder Aile before. The Emperor's gaze also mirrored this coldness.

"Instruct that no one is to meet with him until Duke Peletta sends the results of the investigation regarding the liquor he brought in."

"Yes."

"Also, thoroughly investigate who leaked information to Duke Diarca today, and look into their circumstances as well..."

The Emperor continued to issue a series of commands without pause. His voice seemed to waver, but the chief attendant nodded without questioning. Only after concluding the official matters did the Emperor pause to sip his now-cooled tea.

Upon reopening his eyes, his expression seemed softer than during official discourse but nonetheless complicated.

"...Yuliver."

"Yes."

"What do you make of the words Duke Peletta said to me earlier?"

The chief attendant, who typically gave immediate responses, unusually hesitated to answer this question.

Today's party had gone in unexpected directions. Duke Peletta was scheduled to display his will alongside the Cavalry on behalf of the Emperor. That had happened, but the way it unfolded puzzled everyone.

No one had foreseen the dance between Duke Peletta and Yuder Aile. The Cavalry had moved as though they had been waiting for this cue.

Both the aristocrats led by Duke Diarca and the Emperor himself were shocked by the actions of his brother and his assistant. Naturally, summoning Kishiar was the immediate consequence.

Entering boldly as if expecting the Emperor's summons, the handsome man in a black formal suit faced him and calmly stated,

"I had already informed you about this matter when we last met, Your Majesty. You granted me complete authority over all matters related to the Awakener. I deemed this the most appropriate time to exercise that authority."

Kishiar had told the Emperor that he had no intention of dismissing the recent scandal about him in the West as mere gossip. The Emperor was not entirely convinced when Kishiar mentioned using the rumors to change the fate of Awakeners with the second gender, but he suspected that Kishiar had a plan.

However, he had not expected Kishiar to act so quickly, and in this particular manner.

The Emperor’s younger sibling, Kishiar La Orr, was an Awakener with a second gender. Since the second gender was, after all, not significantly different from the first, there was little one could say against Kishiar's actions. There was still no formal law concerning those with the second gender.

While he was taken aback, the Emperor understood what loophole Kishiar was trying to exploit and what he hoped to gain by doing so. This realization only complicated his emotions further.

In the end, the only thing the Emperor could say was, "Didn't you say it wouldn't harm me, the Empire, or your assistant?"

"My intentions then, and now, have not changed," Kishiar responded.

The brazen gleam in his sibling's eyes was unexpectedly filled with sincere seriousness. A certain emotion carried within those eyes left the observer at a loss for words.

In the moment the Emperor found himself taken aback by an emotion he had not expected from Kishiar, the Empress, who had been sitting at a distance, stepped forward.

"Do you intend to attend such functions with other second-gendered Awakeners in the future?"

"To give you a precise answer, yes and no," Kishiar answered smoothly.

"I only intend to attend with Yuder Aile after today."

The Emperor felt dizzy. The faces of Yuder Aile, whom he had recently met at a dinner, and the rumors about his sibling began to intermingle in his mind.

Kishiar had often played the part of a harmless, eccentric individual to avoid seeming threatening to others. But that was merely an act. The brother the Emperor knew was extremely pleasant and considerate, but also very strategic and patient, a person not even he could fully trust.

Kishiar also knew very well how to make use of rumors surrounding him. While normal nobles or imperial members would have already engaged or married for various reasons, he never once lamented his own forbidden engagements or marriages due to his reputation and the political climate.

Therefore, the Emperor had never thought he'd see the day when Kishiar would have a woman at his side, and he didn't take the recent rumors too seriously.

But what was that look in his eyes?

The Emperor swallowed a low groan, belatedly realizing he should have found it more strange that his sibling was rumored to be involved with a man for the first time.

As for Yuder Aile, the young man who had received the highest award today and seemed to have a bright future ahead of him, the Emperor harbored genuinely good feelings. He was an extraordinary talent who possessed an uncommon combination of politeness, caution, and unwavering belief, difficult to associate with a commoner's upbringing.

Moreover, he was someone who was seeking ways to help with the Emperor's "situation," something he had nearly given up on himself. While he had pushed them away to prevent making their efforts futile, it did not mean he was not surprised.

If the person accompanying him was anyone other than Kishiar, the Emperor would have definitely considered putting him under his wing for greater tasks.

‘But for such a person to be dancing with my brother… that is a matter that surpasses mere fondness.’

Especially under the current circumstances, where the Emperor, with his increasingly frail body, has decided to change the environment surrounding Kishiar as much as possible.

At that moment, shocking news arrived that Yuder Aile was having a confrontation with Duke Diarca at the party, rendering him speechless. Rising swiftly from his seat, the Emperor could only muster a word to Kishiar about needing to meet Yuder Aile again next time.

After Kishiar left, the Emperor, lost in complex thoughts, heard the Empress speak.

"From now on, it seems no one will be able to forget the uniqueness of the Awakener and their second gender. Discussions will undoubtedly resume on establishing related norms. However, it seems the Duke's intentions do not solely lie there… I feel ashamed for being close to him yet unaware of his thoughts."

"…"

"I too will have to reconsider aspects I hadn't thought of before. Two heads are better than one in reaching a better conclusion, so don't worry too much."

Her comforting words seemed to understand the shock and concern the Emperor felt. Swallowing the rising pain and sentimentality in his chest, the Emperor nodded quietly.

"…My apologies, but as your servant, I only consider matters that won't cause you concern."

As the Emperor concluded his thoughts on Kishiar and exhaled deeply, Yuliver, the chief attendant, bowed his head. It was not that the Emperor had sought significant advice from him, so he did not blame him.

"Yes, it will all become clear when I meet him again."

"…"

Confidence, reason, and ambition.

The Emperor murmured these words as he closed his eyes, pondering what Kishiar had mentioned gaining through Yuder Aile.