"Is it true that Duke Peletta is currently in Charloin? Moreover, he demolished an illegal betting fight club and arrested several nobles' sons who were habitual gamblers? What is this all about?"

To this inquiry of Crown Prince Katchian, his attendant bowed deeply.

"Exactly as I've reported, Your Highness. Duke Peletta went there incognito to personally oversee the recruitment of the Cavalry. It was during this time that the incident occurred."

"I'm pointing out your dullness in failing to notice a person, who I thought was within the Cavalry Headquarters, moving all the way there! If I'm to remain ignorant of such covert operations, what use do I have for you as my eyes and ears?"

Prince Katchian's face flared with anger, prompting the attendant to quickly bow and apologize.

"I am deeply sorry. But Duke Peletta moved with minimal personnel and disguised himself. Even the locals of the south only recognized him after the event unfolded. Even Duke Diarca was unaware of Duke Peletta's visit there..."

"Are you suggesting it's normal for me to be unaware if Duke Diarca is?"

"No, Your Highness, that was not my intention. I meant to imply that the Cavalry moved with such secrecy that..."

"Save your excuses. It seems you have another master to serve. Leave now!"

The Crown Prince crumpled a letter on the table and threw it. The attendant, murmuring an apology, hastily retreated, picking up the crumpled paper and backing out of the room. As he exited, the sound of something breaking came from within the Crown Prince's room.

Shuddering at the thought that it could have been his own head, the attendant was approached by another who whispered secretly.

"You should've been more cautious when discussing Duke Peletta or the Cavalry. After the recent event where he attended the family dinner with only Duke Diarca, he's become quite sensitive."

"I was careful, but look at the result. I thought his relationship with Duke Diarca had improved while he focused on the investigation of the intruder in the Sun Palace, but he seemed even more enraged at the mention of Duke Diarca."

"Perhaps it's not just about Duke Diarca. You weren't here this morning, but the Emperor sent an urgent letter regarding the Sun Palace intrusion investigation."

"Ah... Is this crumpled paper the one?"

Still holding the crumpled paper, the attendant sighed.

"His Highness the Duke must be quite concerned. He’s been assisting His Highness the Crown Prince in capturing the Sun Palace intruder, hasn't he?"

"Indeed, it's his efforts that matter. Wasn't he the one who sent the healer?"

"Where else could one find such a noble person..."

Despite being the Crown Prince's attendant, his comments leaned more towards Duke Diarca, justifying the Crown Prince's anger.

The noise from the Crown Prince's room eventually subsided after a while. An attendant muttered.

"If only those healers were quick to sense and come at such times! They are always away when needed."

"Indeed. If they came to treat His Highness, why do they wander so much? Lately, they are hardly seen around."

“I heard that they went to inspect the new accommodations they had acquired. There are rumors that since they could not completely heal the Crown Prince's deep-seated illness, they might be looking for an opportunity to flee."

"Surely not. Such an act would trouble Baron Renbow, the overseer of those men…"

At that moment, the subject of the attendants' conversation, Baron Renbow, was at the residence of Duke Diarca.

Duke Diarca, with a tobacco pipe in his mouth that clouded his mind, smiled and began to speak.

"That fox-like Awakener who called himself sage promised to mess up the recruitment of the Cavalry. I wonder what he actually did. Did he know that Duke Peletta was in the south?"

"That is…"

Baron Renbow, sweating profusely from his back, trailed off. What could he possibly say in this situation? He and the sage had planned to infiltrate spies into the new recruits of the Cavalry and report back. However, their initial attempt to plant people in the west had failed miserably when Yuder Aile appeared like a ghost, weeding out all their spies and rejecting them. The mercenaries sent for revenge merely took the money and disappeared, having escaped so effectively that not even a trace of them was left.

Yet, the real plan was to be executed in the south, and it seemed fine until Duke Peletta suddenly appeared there, destroying an illegal Awakener fighting ring and earning the adulation of the Empire's citizens.

Despite these circumstances, the sage was strangely unresponsive, making it impossible to share information with the Awakeners they intended to infiltrate into the south, leaving their plans in disarray.

'Had I only known this, I would not be at such a loss for words here…'

Even now, if the sage had been by his side, Baron Renbow wouldn't have had to endure this pressure alone before Duke Diarca. However, the sage had suddenly left on some important business today, leaving Renbow to come here alone.

Had he not trusted the sage deeply, he might have suspected him of abandoning Renbow to escape on his own.

"I need not hear it to know the answer."

Duke Diarca exhaled a deep puff of smoke. Baron Renbow barely managed to suppress a cough and began to speak.

"Cough, cough, ahem. I am deeply sorry for causing you concern. However, we have not been unprepared. The sage assured me that he knows many in the south and confidently promised to plant people there who would become your men, Duke. The recruitment for the Cavalry is not yet over, so please watch a little longer."

"Indeed. Your task was only that part, not to predict and prevent the mishaps caused by Duke Peletta. Of course, had you been properly prepared, I suppose you wouldn't have missed such movements…"

It's foolish to only focus on one task when entrusted with many. Duke Diarca's laugh, filled with thinly veiled scorn, was apparent in his attitude, suggesting he didn't expect much from them if they couldn't even properly gather information about Duke Peletta's movement to the south. Baron Renbow's hands trembled slightly with shame under his cold laughter.

"Renbow, as you said, the recruitment for the Cavalry is not yet over. Let's see what results it brings. As for me, I have no knowledge of your actions and merely await the outcome."

The underlying meaning of his words was clear: should Renbow and the sage's plot fail, Duke Diarca's side would claim total ignorance of the affair's proceedings.

“...Yes, thank you.”

“By the way, how fares His Highness the Crown Prince? Is his recovery progressing well?”

“Ah... Yes, of course. I have heard that recently, he has had no issues with either meals or sleep. His Highness is also diligently carrying out the investigation of the intrusion into the Sun Palace, aided as he is by Duke Diarca's assistance…”

“Ah, speaking of which. Did you know? Today, a bouquet of flowers was sent to me from the Sun Palace.”

Caught off guard by this sudden revelation, Renbow wore a look of bewilderment.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It was a bouquet of Macarea flowers, bestowed as a mark of appreciation for dedicated service.”

Only then did Renbow notice a previously unseen, unfamiliar vase placed where Duke Diarca's gaze lingered. The luxurious glass vase, faintly adorned with the emblem of the Sun Palace used by the Emperor, contained vibrant Macarea flowers. Duke Diarca, with a cold gaze, murmured,

“Sending this to me instead of the Crown Prince's Palace, the meaning is clear. His Majesty knows I am the one truly at work, a subtle command to remain compliant.”

Silence fell, a bold, yet elegantly veiled provocation, all the more poignant as an accolade from the Emperor could not be casually discarded.

Renbow recalled the youthful face of the Emperor, briefly seen at a recent celebration of the Cavalry’s victory. Until his recent retreat due to illness, the Emperor had been aggressively implementing policies to strengthen imperial power and suppress the nobles, engaging in such provocations with the leaders of the four great ducal houses. It felt as if those days had returned.

Does one become fearless facing death, or was there another reason for such actions?

“Is the rumor of His Majesty’s critical illness true or false? It’s quite perplexing, isn’t it?”

Duke Diarca echoed Renbow's thoughts exactly.

It was a secretive conversation, unheard by others. Yet sometimes, even inanimate objects seem to have ears, capturing the words of men.

From the crumpled letter in the hands of the attendants and the Macarea flowers in front of Duke Diarca, a faint, unseen haze seemed to swirl, as if by some unspoken agreement. Meanwhile, far from the Bright Palace where the Crown Prince resided, Emperor Keilusa, sitting in front of his desk in the Sun Palace, abruptly opened his eyes.

“Huh.”

“Your lips are dry, Your Majesty. I will refill your tea.”

The loyal, aged head attendant meticulously poured tea into the Emperor's cup. After sipping the tea, Emperor Keilusa finally spoke, his eyes clear and resolute.