42.

“Yeah, it’s been a really long time. “You can stop sitting.”

As I sat down on the chair at the head of the table and spoke, Count Mantel also sat on the chair.

“What brought you here?”

“It is to comfort His Majesty who is in sorrow.”

Count Mantel blurted out nonsense with a calm expression on his face. Theodore deliberately lowered his eyes and fluttered his eyelashes. Praying that his own face would look vulnerable to that raccoon.

“It’s definitely a bit difficult.”

“I thought so, so I ran. Other nobles are clinging to each other like crazy, right? “How can you be so hyena-like?”

You are no different. I held back what I wanted to say.

“I was so worried I couldn’t bear it. majesty.”

The raccoon made meaningless noises for a long time. It is half praise for Maia and half praise for Theodore. He believed that Theodore never escaped his mother’s influence. Even though I knew that Alione was kicked out, I thought that was a separate issue.

Thanks to this, I was able to see how Alione usually behaved outside. Alione has done all the things that Maia could not do under the mask of a good empress. So the evaluations of Maia and Alione were also conflicting.

Count Mantell, who had been talking for a long time, gradually revealed his ambition. He pretended to care about Theodore and coveted the position of his guardian.

“I think we still need to think about that further.”

“sure. You need to think more. Isn’t this an important position? But please don’t forget that I, Mentel, can be of great help to Your Majesty.”

The long audience has ended. He felt that if he only met Count Mantel, he would be misunderstood as taking him in as his guardian, so he met several more people. But everyone said the same thing. Whether it’s more or less, they were both overflowing with ambition.

I want to become the crown prince’s guardian. Among them, there were those who attacked their own daughters or sons.

‘That’s okay with my daughter, but why are you barging in on my son?’

Theodore was appalled. He had never been close to a woman or a man before, so he seemed to be wondering just in case.

‘Because my mother didn’t want the power to be shared.’

It didn’t even cost the Crown Princess any money. Since she doesn’t have her mother anymore, it would be okay for her to pay for the crown prince. She will become the future empress.

’empress.’

Theodore sat in the empty throne room and thought about the past.

“Theodore, remember. The Empress is not one to let her loved ones in. Rather, it is correct to think of them as political partners. “Choose the woman who will benefit you the most.”

The most beneficial political partner. That’s what her mother said, but now she wonders if she really needs to follow that? She feels bad thinking about living skin to skin without affection. If I was going to have skin-to-skin contact, I wanted to do it with someone I liked.

As I was thinking about it, a face suddenly came to mind.

‘Licht.’

Theodore’s uncle.

‘No, why does that face come to mind now?’

I like Licht, but not in that sense. Theodore hit the back of his head on the chair. I felt a tingling pain.

I wish the guardian was him. But it will not be an easy position. Because hyenas will try to bite you. Looking at Richt’s current actions, it appears that he has no intention of entering the center of power.

If so, this is the next best option.

“Sir Alex.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“Please contact Archduke Graham. “Come to the imperial palace.”

At that moment, I received information that Archduke Graham was coming to the capital where the imperial palace was located. He would be suitable for the position of guardian. Although he is a member of the royal family, he does not want to become emperor. Yet, there is power and strength. Even though he was driven out to the barren North, he made it prosper.

Although I won’t give you guardianship out of favor. I felt it the first time I saw it.

This person doesn’t have any feelings for me.

If you want something, you have to give it in return. What does Archduke Graham want?

‘If you don’t have what you want, you’ll be in trouble.’

If so, he would be a great political partner.

Lauren hesitated for a moment in front of Abel’s room. Abel’s mood has been so bad recently that others are reluctant to approach him. Still, he couldn’t back down from here. This is because other knights pushed Lauren.

“Why is it falling?”

Another article responded to the complaint.

“But Abel, you wouldn’t beat a helpless person to death, would you?”

“you’re right. Besides, Lauren is an indispensable person.”

This is not wrong since I am handling a huge amount of documents on my own. Finally, Lauren raised her hands. If something happens, you should jump out. He asked the spirits, who were slowly recovering, for protection and went inside.

“The imperial palace has sent someone.”

There were liquor bottles lying around on the table. Half full, half empty. Even if I drink like that, I won’t get drunk. It’s a waste of money to drink. I’m glad I stayed homeless for so long. Because I didn’t drink alcohol while I was homeless.

Now they were rushing like crazy and staying in a city a day away from the capital. I arrived late in the evening, but left again at dawn. Since he didn’t even try to hide his identity, rumors spread that Archduke Graham was heading to the capital. In the meantime, he urgently sent someone from the imperial palace.

“In the imperial palace?”

Abel raised his head and asked again.

“Yes, I ask you to come to the imperial palace as quickly as possible.”

“To the imperial palace. Yes, since there was no emperor or empress, it was time for things like bugs to stick to it.”

Those who are aiming to become the guardians of the still young crown prince. But what’s wrong with that? If it gets bitten, it’s because the prince is weak.

I had no intention of sympathizing with the weak. He had no intention of jumping into the muddy water and fighting. Although he was now heading to the capital because of Richt, it was a separate matter from the crown prince.

Lauren noticed Abel’s thoughts. So she relayed what the Crown Prince added.

“You want to make a deal.”

“transaction?”

Was there anything the crown prince could give him? After thinking for a moment, Abel put down her drink and stood up.

“Good, deal.”

Even though he is young, he is the crown prince. He seemed to be able to get what he wanted more easily.

“Are you leaving now?”

“I guess everyone has eaten dinner.”

You couldn’t rest. I was excited to finally come back to the inn after sleeping out all this time. But Lauren never said it out loud. Because of that, it was obvious that if she asked for more rest, Abel would punish her knights for lack of training.

‘Thank me.’

I’ll have to show some courtesy to the knights later. Since Lauren was also involved in this terrible schedule right now, I had to save the energy to speak.

Abel, the Redford Knights, and Lauren left the inn and rode off again. People are tired, but horses are also tired. Therefore, he left the warhorse here with a knight and ran off to find a new horse.

It was fortunate that it was not difficult to find a horse since it was near the capital. So Abel arrived at the imperial palace half a day after receiving the call from the crown prince.

“Archduke Graham.”

Theodore came out and greeted Abel in person.

“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

Abel, lightly polite, glanced at Theodore. She had grown a lot since the last time I saw her. Still, she was still a child to Abel.

“I’ll take you inside.”

Theodore guided Abel to his drawing room. There is a sense of caution in that it is not a throne room. I guess they want to let people know that they are closer friends. Abel decided to go over there.

The two started talking as soon as the maid left the tea.

“I want you to be my guardian.”

“What is the price?”

“What do you want?”

“I want to find one person.”

“Is there someone that Archduke Graham can’t find?”

“There is.”

Abel didn’t even touch the car. His attitude was that he only stopped by to discuss business. Still, Theodore continued the conversation steadfastly.

“Can I know who it is?”

“It’s not difficult. “Your Majesty knows this person.”

“What if it’s someone I know?”

“Lord Devine.”

Theodore looked surprised for the first time at those words. Then he asked carefully.

“Why are you looking for Lord Devine?”

“Do you even need a reason?”

“I need.”

Is it because of my mood? Theodore’s attitude seemed to have become firmer. Could it be that he also knows the Licht he knows? Thinking about that made him feel bad.

“majesty. He was plotting treason.”

First, let’s think about it.

“That can’t be possible.”

The answer that comes back is resolute.

“Didn’t they come into the imperial palace as soon as the Empress passed away and take Her Majesty hostage?”

“no. “He just protected me.”

“Your Highness is mistaken.”

“I guess it’s the Archduke who is mistaken.”

The look in his eyes as he said that was filled with faith. Licht, what is this guy? Why do you bewitch people everywhere you go? Starting with the knight named Ban, is the crown prince now also possessed? Abel ground his teeth without realizing it.

“What I want is Lord Devine.”

“Can you tell me specifically what that means?”

“I would like to have Lord Devine by my side.”

“… … “Isn’t that something that can be resolved if you win Lord Devine’s heart?”

It was a very standard answer.

“In order to do that, shouldn’t you be next to me first?”

“That too.”

“But you don’t have Lord Devine now?”

“Don’t you know your whereabouts too?”

“I do not know. So please help me find it. “That’s what I want in return.”

It’s not difficult to keep it around once you find it.