"Julian rarely engaged in public activities during his time as Crown Prince. Occasionally, he would make brief appearances at social events, but those were few and far between.

However, with his father Canbraman ascending to the throne and himself becoming Crown Prince, he could no longer maintain his semi-reclusive lifestyle.

“Welcome, esteemed guests from the North. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Lord Entir for serving as a bridge between the North and the Empire, on behalf of all the Imperial citizens.”

This marked the first time Julian was taking on a significant public role.

His focus? The North, which had recently been gaining prominence not only in the Empire but across all of Arcadia.

“On behalf of the North, I thank Your Highness for your warm welcome.”

“It is a great honor for my family that Your Highness thinks so highly of me. Hahaha.”

Everyone was taken aback by the sudden appearance of the Crown Prince, whose presence had been relatively insignificant until now.

“But may I ask why you’ve summoned the Northern delegation and myself?”

Entir, however, reacted calmly.

Having met Julian several times in the past, he was less awkward in addressing the Crown Prince.

‘Did Emperor Canbraman order his son to probe us?’

Even so, Entir remained cautious.

He knew Julian’s usual reputation as timid and weak.

“I wanted to have a conversation with the Northern delegation. This is my first time meeting Northerners in person.”

Julian’s eyes sparkled as he spoke to Entir and Garde.

“I’ve always been very interested in the Empire’s northern territories. I’ve even been collecting Northern art and celadon.”

Clap, clap, clap.

As Julian clapped, attendants who had been waiting outside entered the reception room carrying paintings and celadon pieces.

“This painting, I heard, was personally painted by the famous Northern sorcerer, Count Arad Jin. I paid a hefty sum to acquire it. And this celadon...”

Suddenly, Julian began showcasing his collection.

“……”

“……?”

“……!”

Garde, Entir, and Carpe found themselves speechless, their mouths agape at the Crown Prince’s flushed face and enthusiastic display.

‘It seems he’s acting on his own, without the Emperor’s intent.’

‘So Julian truly is interested in Northern art, as I’ve heard.’

‘Is this... really the Crown Prince? The Empire’s future seems a bit dim.’

Regaining their composure after a moment, the three began to piece together their thoughts as they watched Julian, who was still proudly displaying his Northern collection.

“It is truly an honor that Your Highness holds such affection for the North.”

“I had heard that the Imperial Family had a great patron of Bishop Company. To think that patron was Your Highness! If I had known sooner, I would have paid even closer attention to my work...”

The conversation that followed with Julian was nothing particularly remarkable.

“Lord Garde and Lord Entir, then you must have met the Northern Grand Duchess and the Northern Sorcerer in person.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I suppose you’ve also encountered the Frostblade Master Balzac and the Northern Ice Wall Guardian, Sun.”

Julian’s interest revolved solely around the North—more specifically, the two most famous figures on the continent at the moment, Arad and Arina.

“Wooooow! Then, have you seen the Northern witches as well? Do they truly ride brooms and control spirits?”

“Hahaha, of course. But they’re no longer witches; they are magicians now, just like in the Empire. The Witch Society has been renamed the Renslet Magical Society.”

“Ah! I’ve heard about that. But hearing it directly from Northerners makes it even more meaningful.”

Julian was thirty years old this year, yet his behavior felt at least ten years younger.

“I would love to visit the North someday. Is there any chance of that happening?”

“Hmm... As a merchant who has traveled to and from Renslet numerous times, I must advise that the North is best admired from a distance, Your Highness.”

“Why is that?”

“Well... this may be impolite to say in Lord Garde’s presence, but the North is truly a dangerous and freezing place.”

“Indeed, Your Highness. I urge you to heed Lord Entir’s advice.”

“Is that so...? But couldn’t I accompany Lord Entir on his next trip to Renslet Citadel?”

“Hahaha... That would be too dangerous. Besides, His Majesty would never allow it.”

Truthfully, Entir wasn’t entirely pleased with the current situation.

Regardless of Julian’s personality, he was still the son of Emperor Canbraman, Entir’s sworn enemy.

Julian’s resemblance to his father—the same hair color, eyes, and facial features—gnawed at Entir’s nerves.

“Well... I suppose Father wouldn’t approve. After all, I arranged this meeting on my own accord.”

Julian’s face fell slightly at Garde and Entir’s outright objections.

Yet, perhaps due to his inherently cheerful and pure nature, his dejected expression didn’t last long.

He quickly brightened up and shifted the topic.

“Ah! Speaking of which, Lord Entir, why aren’t you with Marchioness Havana? I heard it’s been years since you’ve last seen each other. Don’t you miss her?”

“……”

This tactless and innocent remark struck a nerve.

‘This idiot really doesn’t know.’

Entir stared intently at Julian, while Garde and Carpe, disguised as Phil, exchanged uneasy glances.

“Marchioness Havana is a loyal servant who prefers to remain by His Majesty’s side. I will reunite with my wife after the coronation.”

“Wow! A marchioness who chooses to stay by His Majesty’s side over her husband, and a merchant risking his life to travel to the North for the Empire’s sake... Truly, the Empire is blessed with such devoted individuals. Hahaha!”

“……”

“……”

Garde and Carpe grew increasingly wary of Entir’s reaction.

‘Surely... he’s not doing this on purpose, is he?’

Entir forced a stiff smile.

If Julian was doing this knowingly, he was worse than his father—a lunatic.

If he was doing it unknowingly, then he was a natural-born, pure evil.

“In any case, thanks to Lord Entir’s efforts, exchanges between the North and the Empire continue smoothly. On behalf of the Imperial citizens and His Majesty, I once again offer my gratitude.”

Oblivious to the tension in the room, Julian continued speaking with a radiant smile.

“Your words are too kind. I simply followed my instincts as a merchant, chasing the scent of profit like a moth to a flame.”

Entir silently cursed the saying “you can’t spit on a smiling face” as he dealt with the innocent evil before him.

“Actually... I do know a little. About the matters between the Imperial Family and the Renslet Duchy.”

“?!”

“!!”

The atmosphere in the room, which had seemed like it would crumble under Julian’s innocent chatter, suddenly shifted.

“My father’s tyrannical policies are deeply flawed. Instead of breaking the chain of resentment that began during the late Emperor’s reign, he has only made it worse...”

‘So there was a real purpose behind this meeting after all.’

‘Of course, the timid Crown Prince wouldn’t have met with us thoughtlessly.’

It became clear to Entir, Garde, and Carpe that the real discussion was about to begin.

“My grandfather, Emperor Soled, was a conqueror. During his reign, the Empire gained vast territories and strengthened the Imperial authority, which had previously been little more than a figurehead.”

Julian’s words sounded like praise for his grandfather, but his tone suggested otherwise.

“Domestically, he freed the serfs to weaken the power of the nobles and the Church while expanding the Imperial domains. Externally, he broadened the Empire’s influence.”

"It felt as though he was shyly confessing a sin.

“But… in the process, far too many enemies were created.”

“Indeed… Among those countless enemies, we Northerners are certainly included.”

Garde seized the opportunity to deliver a rather provocative reply.

“I deeply regret and apologize for that,” Julian said as he clasped Garde’s hand.

“!!”

Both Garde and the onlookers, Carpe and Entir, widened their eyes in shock.

“No matter how harshly the cold winds blow, all one does is put on more layers of clothing. What the North needs now, I believe, is warm sunlight. Don’t you agree?”

“Well, yes… that’s true, but…”

Garde, visibly flustered, nodded in agreement while recalling Arad’s words before he left the North.

—If you attend the coronation, make sure to speak with Crown Prince Julian.

A deliberate instruction to establish contact with the Imperial side, particularly Julian.

‘Count Jin must have had his reasons. This royal is very different from the rumors and expectations.’

As Garde spoke with Julian, a cold sweat broke out on his back.

Meanwhile, Entir scanned their surroundings.

‘What is the Crown Prince’s true intent? Every word spoken here will likely be reported back to the Emperor.’

From the Imperial knights escorting Julian to the maids and attendants present, at least half of them were likely spies planted by the Emperor.

Entir’s gaze shifted to Garde, who was still holding Julian’s hand.

The uncharacteristic confusion and uncertainty were clearly visible on the Northerner’s face.

‘Surely, he won’t be swayed by this.’

Seeing this, Entir couldn’t help but feel a mix of competitiveness and unease.

“Your Highness, the banquet is about to begin,” a man who appeared to be a servant informed Julian.

“Is it already that time?”

Julian smiled brightly and nodded at the report.

“Let’s go. I’ll personally escort you. Ah! Make sure to bring in the rest of your party waiting outside.”

With elegance, Julian rose from his seat and began to guide Garde, Entir, and Carpe.

“Understood, Your Highness.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Entir and Garde bowed their heads in unison.

Julian walked a few steps ahead, while the three followed closely behind.

“Lord Garde,” Entir suddenly whispered as they walked.

“The creed of Northerners is to repay both kindness and grudges, correct?”

“That is correct.”

“Then let me tell you the creed of Imperial merchants.”

“Oh? And what might that be?”

“Beware of kindness.”

With those words, Entir cast a meaningful glance at Julian’s back before quickening his pace to catch up with the Crown Prince."

***

"Despite the coronation still being days away, grand banquets continued in full swing.

Banquets to honor the achievements of the late Emperor, banquets to wish the late Emperor a peaceful rest, banquets to pray for the coronation to proceed without issue.

There was no shortage of reasons to host such elaborate gatherings.

“Arad Salt! Where’s the Arad Salt?!”

“It’s on its way!”

“We’re in a hurry! If nothing else, bring spices from the East!”

“We’re running out of white porcelain for serving dishes!”

“Use celadon, Northern celadon if you must! Reserve the white porcelain for the royals and aristocrats only!”

As a result, those working in the Imperial Palace—servants, maids, head chefs, cooks, attendants, and more—were overwhelmingly busy day after day.

And elsewhere, just as busy as the palace, another branch of the Empire’s administration was working tirelessly.

“Princess Aska of the Esca Kingdom will personally attend the coronation!”

“Request knights and female mages from Sigma! Disguise them as maids and extract information!”

This was the Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Empire’s intelligence organization, Sigma.

“A delegation has arrived from Daijin, a major power on the Eastern Continent.”

“Hmm? The Eastern Continent is far away; the news must have only just reached them.”

“It seems the embassy in the Empire’s free port acted preemptively.”

“Treat them with the utmost care.”

“A cardinal from the Holy See’s Inquisition, Longos, is attending in place of the Pope!”

“Make absolutely sure they do not cross paths with the Imperial Church! Especially keep them away from Archbishop Theresia!”

“From Scania, the Third Prince Isilus has arrived to attend the coronation.”

“Duke Sephiros, head of the Nobles’ Council, is holding regular meetings with the cardinals from the Church.”

“The Kingdom of Gargant has sent Duke Harold, the king’s uncle...”

Major powers from across the continent had gathered in one place for the coronation.

This, of course, meant that the stage was set for a grand spectacle of diplomacy and espionage.

However, the efforts of the Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Sigma soon began to lose focus.

“Reporting! Based on eavesdropping results, the Scania delegation’s primary discussions revolve around Renslet!”

“From royal delegations to nobles of the council, everyone is focused solely on the North.”

“??”

On this grand stage of diplomacy and espionage, the most frequently discussed topics were neither the Emperor nor the Imperial Family.

Instead, it was the delegation from Renslet in the North and Entir Bishop.

Not even the Emperor or the Archbishop drew this level of attention.

“What… is this…?”

For the Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Sigma, who had meticulously prepared for every contingency, this development was nothing short of deflating."