10 – An Uncertain Future

Elian had a long dream.

The capital of the Kingdom of Arpen, bathed in brilliant golden light.

Lion, grown considerably taller than he was now, exuded the full majesty of an emperor. He was a strong yet magnanimous emperor, loved by all for his handsome appearance and gentle smile.

The streets, where paper flowers fluttered, overflowed with vitality, filled with peace. It was truly beautiful. It was a scene filled with a glory incomparable to the present.

‘This… is the future Lion will create.’

Elian knew that what he was seeing was a scene from the future.

The perfect image he had only imagined was unfolding before his eyes.

A sense of relief and pride welled up within him. With such a future, he felt he could push forward with all his might, no matter how difficult things became.

‘Good…’

Seeing the future felt quite good.

Valterias, dozing under the sunlight, and Lion, smiling as he watched him. Beside Lion, Lucian assisted him in his perfect form.

As the peaceful Imperial Palace flashed by, the scene shifted to the streets.

Gren, who had founded a mercenary guild and was living a vibrant life.

Cecilia, happily raking in gold coins.

Haron, who had emerged into the light and started a new endeavor.

The faces of the rebels were illuminated one by one. Elian smiled with satisfaction. They all looked happy.

‘Where are Jade and Kirendis? And the Imperial Guard?’

If he were to pick those closest to Elian, it would undoubtedly be the Imperial Guard, Jade, and Kirendis.

Kirendis was Elian’s heart, and Jade and the Imperial Guard were his hands, feet, and legs.

As they were crucial elements that made him who he was, he was curious about their future.

‘There they are.’

As if pulled by something, the location changed. It was a familiar training ground. Having always pushed the Imperial Guard to grow here, he was overcome with emotion.

‘Huh?’

At that moment.

Elian sensed something was wrong. The faces diligently training were not the ones he knew.

Even the Knight Commander, adorned with a blue banner, was not Jade.

Unfamiliar faces.

Someone he had never seen before was leading and commanding the Imperial Guard.

‘This…’

Elian’s heart began to pound with unease. Only then did he realize something was amiss.

The view shifted again, revealing Duke Lipen’s residence. It was the Duke’s study. Having received the title succession, Kirendis should have been here.

But Kirendis was not in his place.

‘This…’

In his stead was the former Duke Lipen, who had passed the title to Kirendis.

His face was still resolute, but it held a hint of sadness.

‘No way…’

Elian’s heart began to race wildly. He told himself it couldn’t be, that it must not be, yet he couldn’t stop the rising anxiety.

Just then, the former Duke Lipen, having put down his pen, uttered words that confirmed his fears.

[You pathetic fool.]

‘No.’

The vision changed. He almost screamed, but the tragic sight that appeared before him left him speechless.

It was a cemetery.

A place to honor the victims of war. He couldn’t even begin to count how many had died.

The air, which had been so beautiful, grew somber, and sadness settled upon the faces of those who had been happy.

Elian realized they were forcing smiles. They were acting, pretending to be bright, pretending to be okay, pretending to have overcome.

‘…’

Elian approached them without a word. He saw tombstones bearing familiar names.

He had hoped it wasn’t true, but the names he expected were there.

Jade Rustas.

Kirendis Riphen.

And…

‘Elian Eshton.’

Drip. Drip.

Tears streamed down his cheeks.

Elian, waking from his dream, couldn’t stop crying. Recalling the incredibly vivid future, he thought,

‘No. If this is the future, I have to change it.’

It was fine if he died. He had a fated death anyway, so he could just accept it and move on.

But not Kirendis and Jade.

A future where those two died was impossible. According to the original story, that’s how it should have been.

But the future had changed. Then there was only one cause.

‘It’s because of me. I changed the future.’

He couldn’t help but think that. If he hadn’t been there, the future wouldn’t have changed.

Both of them were people who, though they struggled at first, had futures where they would ultimately smile happily.

‘What… should I do?’

War.

The future Elian had seen was not far off. It meant war was imminent.

‘I can’t let war happen.’

But how?

Even in the future he saw, they must have tried to prevent the war. Yet, war had occurred, and many had died.

Thinking of that made his chest ache and dizziness wash over him. A throbbing headache accompanied it.

“Elian?”

Just then, a gentle voice was heard.

“Huh? Are you crying? Why are you crying? Are you hurt? Eli…”

Hug.

Elian embraced the man who approached him, his face full of worry. As he felt the warm body heat, his heart finally calmed.

He was still alive. Since he was still alive like this, there might be a way.

‘Even if there isn’t… I have to find one.’

Elian wiped away his tears. He couldn’t just cry. Crying was foolish. He needed to find more solutions in that time.

“Are you in a lot of pain? Is it because you’re in pain? Should I call a doctor… no, a priest?”

“No. I just… I just had a bad dream. I missed you so much.”

“Ah…”

Kirendis, letting out a low sigh of admiration, held Elian tightly. The strong embrace was incredibly warm.

He wanted to protect him. He didn’t want to lose him. He wanted to keep this warmth by his side forever.

“What are you saying now? It’s hard to bear.”

Kirendis whispered, grumbling softly. He seemed to be trying to be considerate of Elian, who had exerted himself excessively, after saying he’d see him after the coronation.

‘You don’t have to.’

His body was fine. He was just mentally and physically exhausted from seeing a bad future.

So…

“Don’t hold back.”

“Yes?”

Kirendis lifted his head.

“You don’t have to hold back.”

“But…”

He seemed to have a lot to say. He still seemed bothered by Elian showing tears.

“It’s okay. What I need right now is…”

Elian paused for a moment and met his eyes. Gazing into his red pupils, he whispered softly.

“You…”

“Elian…”

Through their locked gazes, he could feel Kirendis’s hesitation. Once started, he would throw all consideration to the wind, but before beginning, he always showed such consideration.

Elian spoke once more, ensuring Kirendis would understand him clearly.

“So… will you hold me?”

Before the words were even finished, their lips met. Kirendis began to shower him with a soft, warm kiss.

“What’s the situation in the Kingdom of Arpen?”

Gaius the Conqueror.

He, who led the Spandia Empire, the largest territory on this continent, was currently keeping a close eye on the small nation.

The country itself was merely a negligible minor power, but it possessed two Sword Masters, which made him hesitant to dismiss it.

However, everything changed when a rebellion occurred and a new king ascended.

The revelation that the second prince was a contractor of a Gold Dragon shook the continent, and the emergence of another Sword Master caused another stir.

An emperor who was a Gold Dragon contractor alone was threatening, but with the addition of more Sword Masters, it had become a force that could no longer be ignored.

“They say they blocked and annihilated a Black Dragon. However, the information indicates that the number of monsters was so vast that the damage was also considerable.”

The appearance of the Black Dragon, which was akin to a catastrophe. Had it not been for Emperor Lion, who contracted with a Gold Dragon, it would not have been stopped.

Furthermore, because three Sword Masters were in the capital, they were able to defend the country from monsters.

If it hadn’t been for the Kingdom of Arpen, the capital would likely have been swept away, or even if it had been defended, the damage would have been immense.

But the Kingdom of Arpen was protected. Although it suffered damage, compared to other countries, the damage would have been greater, so it could be considered a success.

“Then…”

Gaius rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought. To achieve the task of continental unification, there should be no beings stronger than him.

The Emperor of Arpen was still young, but he possessed infinite potential. If things continued like this, he might grow into a threat to him in the future.

He had to nip it in the bud before that happened.

“Now is the opportunity.”

“I agree. While the Gold Dragon and the Sword Masters are threatening, war is not fought alone.”

As he said, war is not fought alone. Even if a superior being leads a nation, it is meaningless if the number of followers is small.

The Spandia Empire did not have a large number of Sword Masters, but it was a nation with immense military power.

It was overflowing with knights possessing above-average abilities. That was the pride of Spandia and the source of its unbroken winning streak.

“Good. Prepare for war.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

‘Today… is it? Am I going to die today?’

He had no feeling in his lower body. Elian had underestimated Kirendis’s overflowing vitality.

Since he had been prevented from doing so for so long, Kirendis must have been even more intense than usual.

Drained of his energy, Elian lay limply. Especially in his lower body, he had no strength at all, making him wonder if everyone lived like this.

‘No. That’s impossible. This is absurd.’

He couldn’t get used to Kirendis, who knew no moderation. Elian forced his trembling body to sit up.

Although the crisis had been averted by successfully blocking the Black Dragon, there was still much to do. Since there would inevitably be some damage, they needed to reorganize as soon as possible.

Having foreseen the future of war, he needed to find out which country it would be with and devise countermeasures.

To do that…

‘I need to contact Phantom quickly.’

Why had he been so foolish as to get intimate first? If he had handled urgent matters first, he wouldn’t be suffering like this.

Elian cursed his foolish past self but nodded, accepting it couldn’t be helped.

His mind and body were in a very unstable state after seeing the future, and he had regained stability by sharing body heat with Kirendis for a long time.

Thanks to clinging to him without thinking about anything, his mind felt lighter.

‘Though my body feels heavier…’

For every gain, there must be a loss.

Elian struggled to get up and find paper and a pen. Fortunately, he didn’t need to leave the bed as the necessary items were in the drawer.

Propping up a thin book, he wrote a request for Phantom to investigate the country preparing for war.

‘The most likely candidate is, of course, the Spandia Empire.’

He had a bad feeling about it even during the coronation, so investigating the Spandia Empire first seemed appropriate.

‘Now, this…’

How to deliver it?

Unable to move, he let out a sigh. He had managed to write the letter, but the thought of delivering it made his vision go dark.

‘There’s no other way.’

Elian carefully folded the letter and placed it in an envelope. Then, he waited for Kirendis to arrive.

He harbored the hope that Kirendis wouldn’t come rushing back for more after yesterday’s encounter and tidied himself up quietly. Soon after, the door opened, and Kirendis entered.

“You’re awake?”

He was wearing a neat suit. His hair was slicked back stylishly, giving him the air of a Duke.

“You must be hungry. Let’s have lunch together.”

“…We’re just eating.”

Having been through it once before, Elian narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Kirendis’s eyes widened, then he smiled softly and said,

“If you eat my love, you’ll be even more full, you know?”

“You, you crazy bastard!!”

Elian, his face flushed red, threw a pillow at him. How could he say such embarrassing and awkward words so casually?

“Haha. It’s a joke. Of course, we’re just eating.”

It didn’t feel like a joke, so he couldn’t trust him at all.

“By the way, what is this?”

As the pillow flew, the letter for Phantom also went with it, and Kirendis picked up the envelope, saying,

“Ah. That’s…”

“A love letter? Can I read it?”

A love letter… Did he perhaps want to receive one?

Elian imagined himself writing a love letter. Him, with a cold face, spewing out awkward words…

…It seemed he shouldn’t write love letters.

“Give it to Jade.”

“…”

After his quick correction, a moment of silence ensued.

Kirendis’s face, which had stiffened, turned pale, as if he was wondering what Elian was thinking.

“Don’t tell me it’s a love… for Sir Rustas.”

“It’s not!!”

Whether he was teasing him intentionally or still unsure, it was impossible to tell. Seeing Kirendis exhale a sigh of relief, Elian continued.

“It’s a letter for Phantom. I want to ask them to investigate the Spandia Empire because I’m concerned.”

Contacting Phantom required complex procedures. Especially when Elian contacted them directly, he had arranged for it to be only through himself or Jade.

Perhaps knowing this, Kirendis nodded, but his expression was complicated.

“Why?”

“Just… because I’m a little jealous.”

Again…?

Elian’s eyes wavered, wondering what part of it had sparked his jealousy.

“There’s still so much I don’t know about Elian… I felt that way. This letter is also for that reason, isn’t it? Because I can’t do it myself.”

“Ah…”

Hearing that, he realized it was true. He had been too thoughtless. From Kirendis’s perspective, he could certainly think that.

“I didn’t think of that. Next time, I’ll tell them so you can contact them too. For now, my body…”

He trailed off, glaring sharply. Thinking about it, if his body weren’t like this, he would have delivered it himself.

Then Kirendis wouldn’t have had a reason to be jealous in connection with Jade.

“…Are you okay?”

As if realizing his mistake, he avoided Elian’s gaze and asked about his condition. His voice was full of concern, but Elian found him, who was not only fine but practically sparkling, infuriating.

“Are you asking me that?! You beastly wretch!”

Elian grabbed a nearby pillow and began hitting Kirendis repeatedly. It was just hitting with cotton, so to him, a Sword Master, it was a meaningless blow. But it was cathartic.

“I’m sorry. It’s because Elian is too beautiful. Next time…”

“You won’t do it again?”

“…I’m sorry about that too.”

As if he couldn’t even promise himself, he averted his gaze. Not saying he wouldn’t do it, even if it were a lie, was typical of Kirendis.

“Elian is always beautiful, so I can’t help it. It’s not my fault.”

“What?”

Another absurd logic unfolded. It was ridiculous. But seeing his face, which smiled prettily as if begging for forgiveness, he couldn’t help but yield.

“I love you.”

His face burned at the sweetness laid out before him. How could he say such things so casually?

Elian, embarrassed, changed the subject.

“Th-that’s enough now. What about Lion? Is he okay?”

In his haste, he hadn’t heard any news about Lion. He should have asked about him first, and he felt a little embarrassed that he was asking about his well-being so late.

“His Majesty is safe. At first, there was a brief period of magic power deficiency, but he has recovered from that now.”

“That’s a relief.”

Although he had seen his magnificent growth in the future, hearing that he was okay nonetheless brought him peace.

“And tomorrow, there’s a celebration party for the successful rebellion.”

“Celebration party?”

Not just any party, but a celebration party for the successful rebellion. He couldn’t even fathom what they were planning.

“You’ve been running non-stop until now. Especially the rebels, who did a lot but weren’t properly recognized.”

“That’s true…”

It seemed they had planned the rebellion centered around Kirendis and Lucian to gain legitimacy. But Lion’s journey to this point wasn’t solely due to their efforts.

It was successful because Gren, Cecilia, and Haron were there.

“So tomorrow, they will announce it to the people and bestow rewards. After that, a feast for everyone to eat and enjoy will be held.”

“Ah.”

Only then did he understand and nod. The battle that occurred simultaneously with the new emperor’s ascension.

While it couldn’t be said there was no damage at all, it was natural to celebrate since they had won. Time was needed to commend those who had rendered service and to relieve their pent-up feelings.

This would boost morale, making the nation stronger, and it was also good for preparing for what was next.

Because they could protect the nation by utilizing the power and authority bestowed by the Emperor more efficiently.

At the same time, a good evaluation of the new Emperor would spread far and wide among the people.

What kind of conversations would be shared over delicious food and drink during the festival?

“You thought well.”

As expected, Lion was smart. He seemed like he would be a good Emperor. He would lead the nation magnificently, just like the future he had seen in his dreams.

“Ah, and we decided to hold my investiture ceremony tomorrow as well.”

“Is it okay to just rush it like that? Won’t you regret it?”

Elian asked, surprised. Even so, he was a Duke; he wondered if it was right to do it together.

“Once it’s over, I must immediately… prepare.”

Kirendis said, patting the chest where Elian had handed him the letter.

He was already thinking about the future.

“I will protect Elian.”

Elian couldn’t say anything. He wondered if this was why Kirendis hadn’t existed in the future.

To protect himself…

‘I really need to do something.’

It would be just like Kirendis. He would undoubtedly do anything to protect Elian. It was highly likely he had lost his life doing so.

‘Jade is the same.’

Both were people who cared for Elian dearly. Those who could willingly lay down their lives for him.

That was why he couldn’t just watch. He vowed that he would absolutely not create the future he had seen.

“Alright. I… I will protect you too.”

Elian and Kirendis looked at each other and smiled faintly.

“……Hereby, we bestow rewards.”

The three leaders of the Rebel Army, dressed splendidly, were being recognized for their contributions by the Emperor.

Just as seen in the future, Gren was promised the qualification and support to establish a new mercenary guild, and Cecilia was promised trading rights to deal directly with the Imperial Family.

And Haron…

“I wish for you to become my new eyes.”

“……!!”

That statement meant only one thing. The Emperor had declared he would establish a dedicated Imperial intelligence guild.

Information was a truly vital resource, allowing one to be in an advantageous position when undertaking any endeavor.

This was why Elian had first acquired the intelligence guild Phantom. But Lion was now declaring he would establish it himself. And he entrusted it to Haron.

An officially recognized intelligence guild by the Emperor, not one operating in the shadows, was born.

‘Haron… Haron.’

This seemed to be Haron’s new venture, as seen in the dream.

‘Although it’s a famous Assassin’s Guild, that might make it even more advantageous.’

They were people who moved without a trace, anywhere. People who infiltrated and took lives wherever they went.

What if they pursued information instead of lives?

‘Not bad?’

It was rather good. Although they shouldn’t, their ability to also operate as assassins broadened the scope of power the Emperor could wield.

Although it would be officially kept secret, rumors would surely spread among the nobles. The fact that the head of the Emperor’s intelligence guild was the head of the Assassin’s Guild.

That alone would allow for the smooth resolution of minor disturbances that might arise in the future.

‘Thank goodness.’

It was fortunate that Lion had reliable allies by his side.

Elian watched, unconsciously picturing a future he didn’t want, and began to observe.

After the rebels, it was Lucian’s turn. The Berick family, including Lucian who had helped Lion in every way, was elevated to the rank of Marquisate.

Since Lucian would inherit the family anyway, it was essentially a reward for him.

‘Marquis… they are becoming a Marquisate now.’

If Duke Cheston’s family, Marius’s maternal family, were to face repercussions, it seemed likely they could be elevated to a Duchy in the near future.

That would allow them to assist Lion more smoothly.

“Duke Kirendis Riphen, step forward.”

Finally, it was Kirendis’s turn. Kirendis, dressed splendidly, knelt before Lion.

“From this moment, I appoint you Duke Lipen, and in recognition of your contributions shown this time, I bestow upon you the territory of Ethylene, which belongs to the Imperial Family.”

“……!!”

Ethylene, the trade city.

It was the most commercially active place in the Arpen Kingdom, and simultaneously a trade city that many nations utilized as a base.

Bestowing it upon Kirendis meant many things.

As a strategic point, it showed how much trust Lion placed in him. It also implied that the trade city would become stronger and larger under the power of Kirendis, a Duke and a Sword Master.

It was a fragment of the future the Emperor would build.

‘I really can’t let him die.’

Thinking of this newly added reason, Elian closed his eyes for a moment. He hardened his resolve and vowed once more to prevent the sorrowful future.

Just then.

“Lastly, Archduke Esiton, step forward.”

Huh…?

Elian looked up in surprise. His habit of maintaining his expression was strong, so it wasn’t obvious, but those who had spent a long time with him would easily notice his expression.

‘No, you never said I would be included in that group!’

They were all chuckling, seeing Elian’s surprise at being so easily deceived.

Kirendis was among them.

Elian shot sharp glances at the annoying people before stepping forward and kneeling. Then, Lion’s words continued.

“I have received much help from you. I have no doubt that you will continue to build a glorious Arpen Kingdom with me. Therefore, I bestow upon you the territory of Sertia.”

“……!!”

Everyone wore expressions of surprise at the Emperor’s words. It was understandable, as Sertia, bestowed by the Emperor, was the most barren land in the country.

It was a place with rugged mountains, teeming with monsters, and subject to capricious weather.

He had granted that absurd place to Elian.

‘Could it be that the Emperor already…?’

The thought that he was immediately trying to sideline the Archduke by checking his abilities and power upon his ascension came naturally. However, Elian was surprised by something else.

Sertia, though appearing to be barren land difficult for people to inhabit, was in a surprisingly excellent location.

If one were to create a second trade city in the west, mirroring the one in the east, Sertia would be the best spot.

‘Lion is already thinking about the next step.’

Although it seemed like he was trying to drive Elian out at first glance, it was not the case at all. He intended for Elian to make it the second trade city with his power and ability.

‘When did he….’

Did he grow this much?

Elian replied with a gentle smile.

“I accept your command.”

His response to being granted a barren territory as a reward seemed somewhat incongruous. However, those who knew them nodded with warm expressions.

They were all in on it.

‘I’ve been tricked.’

First the Minister of Finance, and now Sertia. He felt the Emperor’s will to not let him retire.

“Then…”

After that, minor commendations followed. Rewards were given to the Royal Guard, the Imperial Guard, and the nobles who had supported Lion, imprinting them as the Emperor’s people.

This would undoubtedly work to Lion’s advantage as his power grew. Since it was only a matter of time, the nobles’ faces bloomed with smiles.

“Now, let the victory celebration banquet begin!”

At first, it was a ceremonial banquet with the nobles. As it was an official event, it was difficult not to attend.

Lion, Elian, Kirendis, and Lucian were squeezed among the nobles, unable to move.

‘It’s one thing for those three, but why are they crowding me so much?’

Hadn’t Lion just granted him the territory of Sertia? He thought they might be here to mock him, assuming there were those who misunderstood, but that wasn’t the case at all.

“His Majesty greatly values the Archduke’s abilities. We look forward to the Sertia that the Archduke will create.”

He listened intently, wondering if they were being sarcastic, but they weren’t at all. They genuinely thought so.

It wasn’t empty flattery; they spoke with sincerity.

‘Before, even if they smiled and laughed on the outside, they would look down on me behind my back….’

Was it because the Emperor had changed?

In the past, his poor relationship with Marius, who was to become Emperor, led to such reactions, but now, perhaps because his relationship with the current Emperor, Lion, was good, they were reacting differently.

Moreover, those who congratulated him sincerely were all nobles who supported Lion. The nobles who had supported Marius mostly looked bewildered.

‘Right. Granting territory to an Archduke is a symbol of trust in itself.’

The title of Archduke was generally an honorary one. Because they were royalty, they could aspire to the throne at any time, so territories that could provide power were not granted alongside it.

Therefore, granting territory was akin to a symbol of trust.

‘Still, to not harbor any suspicion…’

He let out sighs, wondering if the people who would lead the nation were really like this. It couldn’t be helped, as the people who had led the nation hadn’t changed just because the Emperor had.

‘Still… this is quite good in its own way.’

What a relaxing banquet this was.

Elian, feeling a new sense of comfort, enjoyed the banquet. As time passed and Lion and other high-ranking officials departed, the nobles’ banquet officially began.

Lion’s private banquet also started from this point.

“Everyone worked hard. Drink to your heart’s content today.”

Lion raised his glass and spoke. In a secret space prepared in a corner of the Imperial Palace, the three leaders of the Rebel Army, along with Lucian, Kirendis, Jade, and Lac, gathered and raised their glasses together.

At that moment, Valterias spoke.

“Yes, drink to your heart’s content. Lion secretly siphoned off expensive… for you all.”

“Va, Valter!”

Lion hastily covered his mouth, flustered. Since many non-nobles were mixed in, he seemed to have been particularly careful.

Revealing the source would expose his association with the Rebel Army, which would directly affect Lion’s prestige.

Sadly, he was now Emperor, and had to be cautious about even small matters.

“Hahaha. Such a glorious occasion. Let’s drink quickly! When else will we get to drink wine siphoned off by His Majesty the Emperor?”

Lac laughed heartily and urged them to drink quickly. Only then did Lion raise his glass again.

Unfortunately, what filled his glass was not wine, but the joy on his face was no different from the others.

“Then…”

Everyone waited for Lion to speak. He was now their dignified leader.

He smiled more happily than ever, though somewhat embarrassed, and shouted.

“For the Arpen Kingdom!”

“For His Majesty the Emperor!”

“For Lord Lion!”

“To us!!”

They clinked glasses, each saying what they wanted. The wine that splashed out from the impact felt incredibly good.

Elian burst into laughter and drank the wine more heartily than ever before.

It was a beautiful, beautiful night.

“Ah…”

Is it today? Is today indeed the day I die?

Elian was dying again. He didn’t know why humans repeated such foolish mistakes.

He knew he would end up like this if he drank that much, yet he couldn’t control himself.

‘Still, I managed to make it to the Duchy before passing out.’

He must have decided it was better to pass out at the Duchy than to make a spectacle of himself in the Imperial Palace. Elian lay sprawled on the bed in the Duke’s mansion.

‘As expected, amazing.’

He looked at a figure lying beside him as if dead. The young man with messy black hair showed no sign of waking up.

Even when he pressed his cheek with his finger, he didn’t budge. Even Kirendis, who rarely drank, had ended up like this because he couldn’t escape yesterday.

‘He somehow brought me all the way here in a drunken state.’

In his fragmented memories, he recalled Kirendis carrying him here. In his dazed state, he had even showered, brushed his teeth, and changed clothes with his help.

Was it because he was a Sword Master? Even while drunk, he managed to take care of all the arduous tasks.

“Mmm…”

He found the poking with his fingers amusing and continued, and finally, a reaction came. His slightly furrowed brow was cute.

Elian giggled, pressing his brow with his finger. At that moment, a playful hand grabbed his finger and pulled it down.

— Kiss.

His lips touched his fingertips. The soft sensation, without any preparation, made his face flush.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Uh…? Mmm…”

Elian replied blankly, like an idiot. His voice, noticeably deeper than usual, pounded relentlessly against Elian’s heart.

“How’s your stomach? You seemed to have drunk a lot.”

“It’s bearable. You?”

“Me, well…”

His voice trailed off, still sounding sleepy. But a red aura briefly bloomed from his body, and with a fwoosh, he felt something evaporate.

“Huh?”

As Elian exclaimed in surprise, Kirendis opened his eyes wide and said.

“I’m fine now.”

“……”

It seemed he had blown away his hangover with Aura.

Overwhelmed by the absurdity, Elian stared blankly before expressing his displeasure.

“This is unfair.”

Elian felt wronged. It was truly unreasonable that some people could drink heavily without a hangover, and even have a passionate night together and remain perfectly fine.

They were both people, so where was the difference?

‘Is it because he’s the protagonist? Or because he’s a Sword Master?’

It was probably both, but Elian didn’t want to admit it.

“If I’m fine, then I can take care of Elian. Wait, I’ll bring you something to cure your hangover.”

With that, he left a ticklish kiss on Elian’s forehead and got up, disappearing from view.

Still, his devoted care made his feelings of unfairness subside.

‘Right. It’s better than both of us lying here.’

He rationalized it that way and spent the lazy afternoon.

After dispelling his hangover, he went out to the balcony and enjoyed tea while feeling the breeze. The gentle wind blew, calming Elian’s heart.

A wish for this peace to continue, and an anxiety about how long it would last, struck him simultaneously.

Elian’s anxiety became reality a few days later, when he received the reply from Phantom.

[Spandia Empire. Preparing for war. Scale unknown]

It was the war news he had feared.

The next morning.

An emergency meeting was convened. It was worth rushing to the Imperial Palace as soon as he heard the news and contacting Lion.

The nobles, summoned early in the morning without knowing why, seemed displeased. However, as it was the Emperor’s command, they kept their mouths shut.

“The reason I have summoned you all so early is because we have received information detecting a great crisis in the kingdom.”

Lion began by laying out the information Elian had brought. The information came from Phantom, the most renowned organization in the capital, so the possibility of it being wrong was low.

Therefore, he conveyed the truth with a grim expression. The Spandia Empire was preparing for war, and there was a high probability that their army would march towards the Arpen Kingdom.

However…

“Then, it is not yet confirmed that the Spandia army will march towards us?”

“That is true. But the possibility is high. Our troop strength has been significantly reduced by this recent battle, hasn’t it?”

“While that is true, it does not serve as proof that they will march towards us. As Your Majesty knows, we have Sir Chen and Sir Rustas, Sword Masters. Furthermore, with Duke Riphen having joined the ranks of Sword Masters, they will not be able to easily provoke us.”

His words, in a way, held merit. The reason the Spandia Empire had not invaded the Arpen Kingdom until now was due to the presence of Sword Masters.

Now, one more Sword Master had been added, and with Lion, the contractor of the Gold Dragon, it was even more so.

Although the overall troop numbers had decreased, when considered, it was almost as if they had been strengthened.

However, Lion’s thoughts differed.

“Your words have merit. But Spandia did not invade Arpen simply because it was their turn later. Their goal is continental unification. They are simply conquering the easiest targets first.”

“Then, Your Majesty believes this is our turn?”

“To think so, there are the Alit Kingdom and the Jetton Kingdom.”

“We cannot forget Reibeig either.”

Nobles began to object one by one.

If viewed simply, their words were not entirely wrong. There were plenty of places with less national power than Arpen, based on the current situation.

The nobles were cornering Lion, using that point.

However, in Elian’s eyes, they only appeared as fools desperately struggling, wanting to turn away from reality.

“Enough!”

Unable to watch any longer, Elian gathered their attention with a cold voice. The nobles habitually shut their mouths at the chilling tone, heard for the first time in a while.

“Are you saying… that the possibility of war is not high, so we should just watch?”

“……”

“……”

“……”

It was a sharp rebuke. It was not just due to the piercing tone, but also Elian’s piercing gaze that prevented them from saying anything.

This information came from the Phantom, and the Phantom belonged to Elian. Although official records stated otherwise, everyone knew.

As such, his words could only be heard as:

‘How dare you question the information I brought?’

The nobles trembled. They realized what they had just said. It seemed they were trying to take an easy path because the Emperor lacked experience.

This would have been unthinkable when Elian always attended meetings.

“Ahem. That is not what we meant. We were merely offering our opinions so His Majesty could view the situation from various perspectives.”

“Th-that is correct. How could you say such a thing.”

“Shouldn’t diverse opinions lead to the right choice?”

They all hastily made excuses. But their underlying intent to disregard Lion was embedded within.

Less than a month after the coronation ceremony, they had already begun to step forward to secure their own interests.

Their intention was to gradually seize Lion’s authority, as their own profits would increase if imperial power weakened.

‘Nothing has really changed.’

Elian clicked his tongue briefly and stepped forward in earnest. He had intended to leave it to Lion, but seeing how things were unfolding, he realized the meeting would drag on if he didn’t intervene.

If they had ample time, he would have led the meeting centered around Lion, but the matter at hand was war.

They needed to reach a conclusion and prepare as quickly as possible.

“Diverse opinions… Then, if war breaks out, propose how we should respond. I will watch to see how diverse and correct your opinions are.”

“……”

“……”

“……”

It was a threat to take their lives if they acted carelessly. The nobles shut their mouths tightly.

The meeting hall instantly shifted to a solemn atmosphere, and a proper meeting began to take place.

The anti-Emperor nobles, who had tried to seize the initiative, gritted their teeth. They realized that before they could surpass the Emperor, they had to overcome the massive wall that was Elian.

‘Archduke Esiton siding with the Emperor is this significant.’

‘He used to give us carrots sometimes, but now it seems we’ll only get whipped.’

‘We have to find a way.’

Elian, who had been neutral in the past, made this change feel significant.

He was now someone they had to completely oppose.

However, they were not the only ones thinking this way.

The pro-Emperor nobles who supported Lion could not simply rejoice at Elian’s strong stance.

‘Archduke Esiton’s influence is too strong.’

‘He might surpass His Majesty someday.’

‘What to do about this…’

They too were wary of Elian’s immense power and authority. While it was unavoidable now as Lion was not yet an adult, it was clear the problem would grow with time.

Of course, Elian was not unaware of this fact. He knew it better than anyone, but he had no choice but to act this way now.

If he didn’t step forward strongly now to prevent the war, it would unfold according to the predetermined future.

‘Therefore… I cannot back down.’

The meeting continued. As the meeting progressed, additional information arrived from the Phantom, causing it to continue endlessly.

Still, there were conclusions reached. First, they decided to gather a minimal number of troops in the territories bordering the Spandia Empire.

There was initial resistance to this, with some arguing it would provoke the Spandia Empire if it wasn’t for war, but it was accepted when Lion countered that it could be framed as troops for Monster subjugation.

It was fortunate. He had worried Lion might just sigh at the foolish nobles, but he was managing and guiding them quite well.

Elian wielded the whip, and Lion offered the carrot, bringing their opinions together.

‘He will indeed be a good Emperor.’

Elian, due to his background, had no choice but to resort to a reign of terror, but Lion was different. He was an Emperor with no flaws in many aspects, and Elian was convinced he would be called a benevolent Emperor in the future.

‘I’ve seen it before.’

The golden, shining nation was the ideal country Elian had envisioned. It was protected with the lives of three people.

‘If someone must be sacrificed because of war…’

It had to be him.

Elian was selfish and absolutely did not want to see his loved ones lose their lives.

He thought it was better for him to sacrifice himself. It was regrettable for those who would remain, but that was how he felt now.

‘It would have been different in the past.’

Kirendis had entered his heart too deeply. He wanted to save at least him.

Elian prepared his mind as the meeting continued for a long time.

He organized his thoughts on various directions to respond quickly when the time came to make a decision.

However, there was little he could do as nothing was certain.

“Given that there has been no news so far, haven’t we been mistaken?”

A week passed like this.

There was still no movement from the Spandia Empire. Other than the information that they were preparing for war and their numbers were immense, there was nothing else.

Despite this, they maintained their vigilance because the number of troops they had gathered was terrifying.

“Even so, we cannot lower our guard. Haven’t you all received reports? With those numbers, wherever they strike, they will be crushed in an instant.”

Lion delivered a stern rebuke. The Spandia Empire’s forces were that immense.

“Still, don’t we have His Majesty in our country? Wouldn’t Lord Bartarias be able to stop them, no matter the difference in troop numbers?”

A foolish noble spoke up. Then, Lac immediately scoffed and retorted.

“Hah. With heads that don’t work like that.”

“Wh-what did you just say!”

“What would you who sit at desks and laze around know? I’ll explain it to you myself, so open your ears and listen well. You think it’ll be fine because His Majesty is here? Of course, it will be. We have the Gold Dragon Bartarias here.”

“No, then…”

“But what about the other territories? Lord Bartarias is not a god. He cannot protect this entire country.”

Bartarias might have taken offense if he heard it, but that was the reality. Even a legendary Divine Beast had a limited range of attack.

He couldn’t be everywhere at once.

‘Lion’s magic power is also an issue.’

The difference in troop numbers was vast, so if they were pushed by sheer numbers into a protracted war, there would be no answer. Magic power would be depleted, reaching its limit.

However, the nobles still seemed to have much to say.

“I know that. Then, if war breaks out, Lord Bartarias can go to the region where it occurs.”

“What if the capital is attacked in the meantime?”

“That…!”

The noble fell silent, perhaps having not thought that far ahead.

Lac, judging that further pointless arguments were meaningless, stood up. He seemed to be asking for permission to leave the meeting hall.

Elian also judged that continuing the meeting was meaningless unless more definitive information was added.

Therefore, he intended to suspend the meeting until new information arrived.

“Y-Your Majesty!”

Just then, a knight covered in dust burst in and shouted. He was one of the intelligence operatives dispatched to observe Spandia’s movements.

“Th-the Spandia Empire…”

‘It’s finally here,’ Elian thought.

“They have dispatched an envoy to deliver a declaration of war. The destination is…”

The knight’s face contorted with anxiety. Just seeing that expression, one could predict what would follow.

“The Kingdom of Arpen.”

The dispatch of an envoy to deliver a declaration of war.

This also meant they intended to have a dialogue. Otherwise, there would be no reason to dispatch an envoy to deliver a declaration of war.

‘But the talks will fail.’

It was too obvious how the negotiations would proceed. They would undoubtedly make unreasonable demands that would be difficult to accept.

That was why war would break out.

Elian had seen the future and clearly understood the cost of war.

‘I must stop it somehow.’

It had to be stopped through diplomacy, not war. That was Elian’s best course of action.

“There is still time before the envoy arrives. If we can know in advance what they want, we can prepare.”

Lucian spoke quietly, sharing his thoughts.

This was an informal meeting held because there was virtually nothing they could do until the declaration of war arrived.

Elian, Lion, Lucian, Kirendis, Jade, and Lac were in attendance.

“Whatever they demand, it will be difficult to accept. Spandia has no reason to refuse war.”

Lion replied with a troubled expression. He accurately grasped the situation.

The reason Spandia was initiating diplomacy first.

It was to easily absorb the Kingdom of Arpen. They had already amassed a massive army and completed their war preparations, so it wouldn’t be strange if they attacked immediately.

In such a state, diplomacy could exert significant psychological pressure on the opponent. They could secure an advantageous position. This would greatly aid in the subsequent war.

Depending on the outcome of the diplomatic talks, they could boost their own morale and lower the enemy’s.

‘There is no easier opponent than an army with low morale.’

Therefore, this meeting was crucial. Everything could change depending on how the talks were conducted.

It would be best if war did not break out, but even if it did, they had to ensure morale did not drop.

To achieve that, one thing was needed.

“First, we must prevent the scenario where the envoy simply delivers the declaration of war and leaves. Only then can we create a venue for diplomatic talks.”

Although the possibility seemed slim, they had to prepare. This meeting was to discuss that.

“That’s right. If a meeting isn’t arranged in the first place, the only alternative is war.”

“Then His Majesty will have to put in some effort.”

Lac lightly retorted to Lucian’s words. Although he seemed somewhat relaxed, it was a composure that stemmed from trusting Lion.

“Will I be able to do well?”

However, Lion seemed overwhelmed by the pressure and lacked confidence.

His condition also seemed to be affected by the long meeting.

“Don’t worry. That’s why we’re gathered here. I’ll help you until then.”

Dealing with the envoy would be solely Lion’s responsibility. Elian could not interfere. If he did, it could be seen as disrespecting Spandia.

Given the possibility of war, it was best to be as cautious as possible.

“Thank you, Uncle. I will lead the talks well, no matter what.”

Fortunately, the encouragement seemed to help, and Lion clenched his fist.

He was responsible and intelligent, so if trained well, he should be able to handle the envoy without issue.

The problem was what came next.

“You’ll do well. Leave the rest to me. I will definitely… try to stop the war.”

Elian also strengthened his resolve, clenching his fists tightly. The important thing was the diplomatic meeting that would follow. Elian intended to prevent war from breaking out at all costs.

However, others seemed to have different thoughts. Kirendis, in particular, asked with a hardened expression.

“Does that mean Elian will attend the meeting?”

“Huh?”

Elian tilted his head as if hearing something unexpected. It was so obvious from his perspective that he didn’t feel anything strange.

“If I don’t go, who will?”

Lion’s role was to create the venue for the meeting. He was not involved in the meeting itself.

No matter how important the meeting was, if Spandia did not send their Emperor, Arpen could not send theirs.

Furthermore, taking Lion with them would be too dangerous. One could not know what might happen in such a situation.

“It’s too dangerous. What if something happens there? Why would you go?”

Kirendis seemed to read Elian’s mind exactly. He appeared to have intervened because he knew too much.

“Even if it’s to prevent war, we cannot afford to lose Elian there. It’s not an emotional statement; it’s a loss even from a rational perspective.”

Elian’s presence.

In this chaotic situation, with the imperial power having just changed hands, Elian’s presence was significant. It would be different if Lion had been in power for some time, but for now, someone was needed to quell and stabilize this chaos.

Kirendis precisely pointed this out, trying to persuade Elian. It would be a lie to say he had no personal feelings, but it was a sufficient argument to persuade others.

Especially for those who loved Elian.

“I agree. No matter what, it’s too dangerous for Uncle to go directly. There must be another suitable person.”

Lion quickly stepped in, lending weight to Kirendis’s words. The others remained silent, seemingly agreeing with their points.

However, Elian’s thoughts were different.

“That’s precisely why I must go. There is no one else suitable but me. If I don’t go, who do you intend to send?”

“I will go. I am a Duke of this country, so I have sufficient justification, and as a Sword Master, I can escape if things go awry.”

The words followed as if he had been waiting, and Elian realized that was why he had brought it up.

Rather than send him, he wanted to go himself. He had given various reasons, but his will not to yield on this point was palpable.

“If you escape, will the Imperial army just stand by?”

“It’s fine because I will win.”

“Just in case you don’t know, they have Sword Masters too. If you go, a Sword Master will come to face you.”

“I can win.”

“What kind of nonsensical thing are you saying so confidently?”

Beyond surprise, sheer absurdity washed over him. It wasn’t a matter of winning or losing.

“If the talks fail, you must immediately go to the battlefield. You should be preparing for war, not talks. It will be the first battle, and morale will be low. Therefore, you, a Grand Duke and Sword Master, must stand on the front lines.”

Elian delivered a precise rebuke. If emotions were used to block him, making him face reality was the most effective approach.

However, Kirendis did not back down and replied.

“This country does not have only one Sword Master.”

“Of course, not just one. Lac and Jade are here too. In terms of combat, those two might be better than you. But their positions are different. Lac must protect the Royal Guard and the capital, and Jade and the Imperial Guard must protect Lion. That leaves only you, Kirendis.”

“……”

Kirendis could not say anything. He probably knew that if war broke out, he would be the first to go.

Yet, his stubbornness was likely due to his unwillingness to put Elian in danger.

And that was the same for Elian.

The reason he had to prevent war using diplomacy was because he believed Kirendis would be the first casualty of combat.

‘If that happens, I probably won’t be able to make rational judgments. I might go mad with revenge.’

At that time, Jade would also move to protect Elian. He was the kind of person who would jump into hellfire for Elian, so he could guarantee it.

‘And then even Jade…’

Elian clenched his fists tightly. He had to act to prevent that from happening.

“Alright. But that doesn’t mean Elian has to go. There are plenty of people who can go even if Elian doesn’t. So….”

Kirendis said, suppressing his emotions. But Elian couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh at his words.

It was absurd.

“If that were truly the case, I wouldn’t have been the first to volunteer.”

Elian’s expression turned cold as he continued.

“If not me, then who else is suitable? The nobles too busy saving their own skins? Or perhaps the former Duke Rippen, who has lost his standing after just retiring?”

There was no one in this country capable of leading the negotiations to success. While former Duke Rippen was the most likely candidate, he had lost the justification to attend the negotiations after handing over his ducal title.

Since Lion, as Emperor, could not attend either, Elian was the only suitable person.

“Of course, it’s dangerous. But that doesn’t make an important matter any less important. Someone has to go, and we have to prevent a war. It’s a critical issue that could erase this country from the world map if handled incorrectly.”

Elian was certain. If there was anyone who could prevent the war, it was probably him, and that fact would not change.

That was why, even though he knew their concerns, he had to speak coldly.

“I have no intention of entrusting my life to anyone else.”

Not for others, but for myself.

Not for the country, but for my own life.

If he said so himself, who could stop him?

Elian deliberately donned a selfish mask and pleaded. That he was the right person, that he had to go.

And the plan was successful.

“But….”

“Haa….”

Kirendis still seemed to have lingering doubts.

Lion, sensing that Elian would not give up.

Elian realized from their expressions that they were halfway convinced. At this moment, there was only one thing to do.

“Thank you for understanding.”

It was to drive the nail in.

“I will make sure there are no further concerns.”

Elian said, without pause, as if coaxing them. Then, their faces sank gloomily. But they did not object.

It was a clear permission.

The same was true for the others. Lac, who was indifferent, merely wore an annoyed expression, asking if it was over already.

“Then….”

—Knock, knock.

Just as they were about to continue the meeting, a knock was heard from outside the door. Since they had been told not to let anyone in, they wondered what it was and allowed them in.

“Your Majesty. The Crown Prince of the Radion Kingdom has arrived.”

Radion?

“If it’s Radion….”

“Why is Radion here all of a sudden….”

Question marks appeared on everyone’s faces.

Radion was the country with the second strongest power on this continent, after the Spandia Empire.

While the Spandia Empire chose territorial expansion to improve its barren land, Radion had become wealthy from the start with its vast territory and abundant resources.

For that reason, or perhaps due to its geographical characteristic of bordering the Odis Mountains, it was also a closed country with no foreign relations.

For this reason, they had not been able to invite Radion to Lion’s coronation ceremony, so their sudden appearance was bewildering.

Especially since it was not just any noble, but the Crown Prince himself.

“What did he say was the reason for his visit?”

Lion asked, and the flustered attendant replied, rolling his eyes.

“That is… he only said it was a critical matter that he must discuss in person….”

Something clicked.

The Spandia Empire, on the verge of declaring war, and the unusual visit from Radion.

The two strongest powers on this continent were converging on the Arpen Kingdom.

‘This….’

Elian’s mind began to race.

The Spandia Empire’s goal was continental unification, and Radion was likely to be the last target. Radion, knowing this, must have been bothered by the great power beyond the mountains that was expanding its territory.

Especially given their policy of isolationism, how much more so? If they didn’t pay attention, they could be devoured without anyone noticing.

‘If that’s the judgment, Radion has only one choice.’

To open the gates.

To gain information and guard against Spandia’s further expansion.

For that, using Arpen would be the best. It was the closest country to Radion.

‘Depending on how we use Radion, we might be able to lead the negotiations with Spandia to our advantage.’

Not to mention advantage.

Depending on the circumstances, a way to prevent war might even emerge.

“Tell him I will be there shortly.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As the attendant bowed and withdrew, Lion rose from his seat. Elian also stood up.

Then Lion’s eyes widened as he asked,

“Are you going too, Uncle?”

After all, it was the Emperor who should greet the delegation. But this time, it was an exception.

“Yes. Is that not allowed?”

Elian shamelessly stood by his side. His instincts screamed at him. That he absolutely had to follow Lion.

“I would be reassured if you were there, Uncle….”

Lion seemed to be contemplating. They had just finished discussing greeting Spandia alone, so he wondered if it was alright to go with Radion.

“Radion is fine. They are a neutral country.”

“Ah, I see.”

Lion nodded as if relieved. Of course, it was not polite and therefore not entirely fine, but it couldn’t be helped.

Wasn’t this a tense situation where war might break out?

Even if it offended the Crown Prince of Radion, he could not back down.

‘I can smooth things over if I talk to him well.’

As long as they weren’t hostile, Elian could handle it. Elian thought so and followed Lion.

Then, this time, Kirendis abruptly stood up and followed behind them.

“Huh? Why are you standing?”

Elian asked in surprise, and Kirendis replied with a look that asked why he would ask such an obvious question.

“I am going too.”

“You too?”

“Radion is a neutral country.”

“…….”

Elian was speechless at Kirendis repeating his words exactly. It seemed he had taken to heart the argument about attending the negotiations just moments ago.

“Well… one more person joining….”

Whether it was two or three, it was already ruined the moment someone other than the Emperor attended. So, he thought, it might be alright.

But the aftermath was the problem.

“Then, I will go too.”

“Oh? Then I’ll go too. It sounds like it will be fun.”

“It might be dangerous, so I will accompany you.”

Lucian, Lac, and Jade spoke in succession. They were all trying to follow for their own reasons.

Elian was taken aback. No matter what, they couldn’t all go together like this.

“No, why are you all rushing off for something like this? Three of us will go and come back, so you stay here.”

Elian quickly tried to stop them, but they were not easily deterred.

“While it’s understandable that Lord Elian, as His Majesty’s uncle, is going, what reason do I have not to go? Furthermore, it was I, Lucian Veric, who has served His Majesty for a long time, not Kirendis!”

“If everyone else is going, I’d be sad to be left out. As Sir Rustas said, it might be dangerous.”

“It will be reassuring to have three Sword Masters.”

“…….”

Elian was speechless. It was too much. Far too much. As Jade said, bringing three Sword Masters…

It could be taken as a declaration of war, and the relationship could instantly deteriorate.

‘Or it could be perceived as a threat.’

Elian realized the gravity of the situation and shouted.

“No one is needed, everyone stay put right here!”

It was a place where important negotiations might take place. A place where a way to prevent war might be found.

Elian did not back down.

But he seemed to be the only one taking it seriously. Lion asked with a gentle smile,

“Me too?”

…Did I just say everyone?

Elian was flustered, but he shouted loudly.

“You!”

And replied.

“……have to go.”

Let me correct that. Everyone stay put except the Emperor!

“Wow. The Crown Prince of Radion, I wonder what kind of person he’ll be. It’s been a while since I’ve had this much fun.”

“…….”

Elian’s head began to throb at Lac’s excited words.

Although he had told everyone to stay put, Lac ended up accompanying them because Elian said at least one guardian knight was needed.

Kirendis and Jade were also candidates, but Kirendis’s position as Duke was deemed potentially burdensome. Jade, on the other hand, was dismissed with the childish question of who had more seniority.

Although Jade had also served in the Knights Order for a long time and was a commander, he couldn’t beat Lac in terms of experience within the Imperial Palace.

“Since it’s a closed country, I can’t gauge what kind of person he’ll be, which is troublesome.”

“That’s the joy of life! If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it! Your Majesty, you should engrave that in your heart too. Otherwise, it’ll be hard to endure this arduous life in the Imperial Palace?”

As they walked down the corridor, the two began a trivial conversation.

At first, it was about what kind of person the Crown Prince of Radion would be, but it soon turned into Lac’s life lecture on living life casually and joyfully.

Since he hated anything that gave him a headache, the meaningless strategy meetings that happened daily must have been quite agonizing for him.

“So, what I mean is, you should play when you can play. You have to find ways to play. Understand, Your Majesty?”

“But then work will pile up.”

Lac retorted as if he had been waiting for Lion’s innocent remark.

“Of course, it will pile up! But it will still be less than before you procrastinated, right? Someone else would have handled it for me.”

“Oh.”

“The important thing here is that you need to place outstanding talents under you. Do you understand what I mean?”

“So the point is, the more outstanding talents, the better?!”

“Exactly! As expected, Your Majesty, you get it right away!”

“…….”

The conversation seemed to have gone slightly off track, but Elian was relieved. He thought that Lion, who had sound principles, would not be easily corrupted by that wicked devil.

“In that sense, the Archduke lives a very difficult life. He has a habit of trying to do everything alone.”

“It’s efficiency, not a habit. And don’t advise His Majesty with your corrupted way of thinking. This is a warning.”

Elian warned coldly and glared at Lac. Others might have trembled in fear, but he merely shrugged and continued.

“Corrupted? That’s too harsh. Where can you find someone as diligent as me?”

“You have to be at least Jade’s level to be called diligent.”

“I can’t deny that. Sir Rustas is not human. Hmm? Then, among humans, aren’t I the most diligent?”

“Why Sir Rustas? Why is he not human?”

“Ahem. That is, you see….”

Lion’s question led the conversation astray again. Lac launched into a lengthy speech about how thorough and amazing Jade was.

Most of it was nonsense, like saying one would get sick living like that, and that His Majesty should never do so, but Lion seemed quite amused, so he let it be.

‘It’s important to ease the tension before meeting him.’

In this regard, Lac was quite useful. No matter what happened, he didn’t lose his composure, which naturally eased the tension for those watching.

Isn’t that why many people follow him, even if he’s not diligent?

“We’ve arrived.”

“We have indeed.”

“That’s right.”

The three people standing before the reception room door uttered their thoughts and gazed at the tightly shut door.

It was time to tighten the reins of tension and be fully alert.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go!”

Elian opened the door and gestured for Lion to enter first. He went inside, wearing the mask of an Emperor.

Elian followed behind him, and then Lac.

“Welcome, Crown Prince of Radion. I am Lion Arpen, Emperor of Arpen.”

“I have long awaited the pleasure of meeting you. I am Theseus Radion, Crown Prince of Radion.”

As the two exchanged greetings, Elian and Lac also greeted them according to Imperial etiquette and introduced themselves.

“Lord Elian and Lord Lac. Your deeds are known even in Radion. You are individuals who have achieved great accomplishments.”

The Crown Prince of Radion, Theseus, praised Elian and Lac.

With his eloquent speech, gentle smile, and handsome appearance, he was likable.

‘At least he doesn’t seem to have come to antagonize us.’

The Crown Prince was very friendly. Praising the two was an expression of respect for Emperor Lion and a desire to build a good relationship in the future.

If he were to mention the Emperor’s own achievements, there would be nothing more to say.

“I heard there was a great battle recently. You defeated the Black Dragon with Your Majesty’s power. It’s a shame I couldn’t witness it, having arrived just a little earlier.”

Theseus added that he had originally planned to attend the coronation ceremony.

“As you know, the Odis Mountains are very treacherous and unpredictable, which is why I have only just arrived. I sincerely apologize for not being able to attend.”

“Not at all. We are grateful just for your presence, so please, have a seat.”

Elian tilted his head at the somewhat excessive bowing. He wondered why he was going to such lengths.

‘He’s not getting to the point at all.’

It was customary to have light conversation at first. Especially when meeting someone for the first time.

Elian watched the two engage in meaningless conversation. His personality urged him to demand they get to the point immediately, but he held back.

When the conversation still didn’t move towards the main topic after a long wait, he interjected at an opportune moment.

“There is one thing I would like to ask.His tone was calm yet sharp, like a drawn blade. Sensing this, the Crown Prince offered a different smile and replied.

“I will answer anything I can.”

He still seemed relaxed. Perhaps he had been waiting for them to ask first.

“I know this may be rude, but I cannot believe that your visit to our kingdom from the isolationist Radion is solely for congratulations. May I ask if you have another reason for your visit?”

He asked directly, without beating around the bush. Then the Crown Prince’s eyes widened. It seemed he hadn’t expected such a direct question.

However, he soon burst into a hearty laugh, as if amused, and said.

“Indeed, your epithet, Iron Blood Archduke, is well-deserved. That is correct. In fact, I have a proposal for Arpen, which is why I have come to visit.”

He no longer spoke indirectly. He spoke confidently, befitting his status as the Crown Prince of a great power.

“For several years, there have been voices in Radion advocating for an end to isolationist policies and for exchange with other countries. However, it was not accepted due to the long-standing tradition.”

It was as expected. Radion seemed to be starting to engage in foreign relations. He said there were only voices, but the fact that he brought this up and was here now meant that internal conflicts had been resolved.

And the story that seemed to be the cause of that resolution followed.

“Then, one day, we heard news that a black dragon had covered the sky, and that a golden dragon had driven it away.”

It was Lion’s story. More precisely, it was Marius temporarily disappearing to plan for the future. However, it seemed that way to those who didn’t know the full story.

‘It was intended, after all.’

That was how people would not fall into fear.

“The symbol of the Arpen Kingdom is the Golden Dragon. That is, the Gold Dragon. The peace and achievements brought by the Gold Dragon when this kingdom was founded are famous even in Radion.”

The preamble was long. Elian wanted to urge him to get to the point, but he endured and waited. Then, what seemed to be the main point finally emerged.

“Radion judged that the Spandia Empire would not remain idle.”

“Are you referring to the Spandia Empire?”

Lion asked, pretending ignorance. It wasn’t certain, and there was no need to reveal something that could be a weakness.

“Although Radion practices isolationist politics, we are not unaware of the continental situation. We know that the Spandia Empire is waging war with the goal of continental unification.”

That was the gist of it. He was saying that they knew the Spandia Empire’s next target was the Arpen Kingdom. Furthermore, he was hinting at Radion’s desire to prevent Spandia from growing any larger.

They knew that if it continued to grow, the blade would one day turn towards them. But for now, the blade was aimed at the Kingdom of Arpen, so they had nothing to lose.

‘I didn’t expect them to have this much information.’

Elian clicked his tongue briefly.

He thought they were opening the gates for information, but they possessed an unexpectedly large amount of it. The speed at which they obtained information was also rapid.

Most of what the Crown Prince had said were recent events. Nevertheless, they wanted the gates opened and wished to use Arpen.

Fortunately, they were favorable towards the Kingdom of Arpen and held it in quite high regard.

And when all these facts were put together, the words that followed were.

“Therefore, I propose this. Before Spandia declares war, Radion will become Arpen’s shield.”

The words they had been waiting for were spoken.

Elian was not particularly surprised, but the other two seemed quite startled, their eyes widening.

At the same time, it was difficult to discern whether these words were spoken because they knew war was imminent or merely based on conjecture, and a flicker of confusion crossed their faces.

Though the emotion was fleeting, the Crown Prince did not miss it. Confident that war was close based on their expressions alone, he continued.

“Spandia is strong. If things continue like this, the Kingdom of Arpen will suffer great damage. In the worst-case scenario, it might even disappear from the map.”

It was a direct approach. He was gradually increasing the pressure. He was clearly conveying that the urgency was on their side.

This was to better utilize the cards they had been dealt.

“We do not wish for that. We hope to become strong allies, shields for each other, and grow even further.”

Allied nation.

Their true desire was subtly revealed. Elian felt he understood what they wanted.

Radion was trying to take a leap forward by using Arpen. They were trying to grow ahead of time to overcome potential future crises.

Therefore, while acting favorably, they were applying pressure to gain even more advantage.

However, to achieve what they desired, there was something they absolutely needed.

“I see. We would have no complaints if that were the case. Radion’s prosperity is well-known.”

Elian began cautiously. He erased his expression and continued speaking as if unfazed.

“However, that is only within the walls. The world beyond the walls operates differently.”

In essence, he was asking what and how they could help Arpen.

A shield?

Anyone could say those words. But how could Radion, which had maintained a policy of isolation, manage this situation?

This was precisely what Elian wanted to ask. Only by being able to answer this definitively could he grant them what they desired.

“Therefore, I ask you. How do you intend to stop the war…?”

He asked directly, without beating around the bush. He conveyed that Arpen was not the one in need, but Radion, and that they would not get what they wanted unless they showed their hand first.

He was able to make this statement because he was certain they had something they wanted from Arpen.

Otherwise, there would be no reason for them to come seeking to prevent the war now. Even for Radion, war was a dangerous word.

As proof, the Crown Prince’s eyes widened in surprise, and his expression showed bewilderment. Then, he burst into a clear laugh and replied.

“Haha. You are just as the rumors say. I suppose this kind of power struggle isn’t really my forte.”

He did not seem inclined to engage in a lengthy tug-of-war. After acting just enough to ensure his country wasn’t underestimated, he immediately backed down.

However, Elian somehow felt this too was a deliberate act. There was no trace of negative emotion from him.

Instead, he continued speaking calmly with a confident expression.

“You are aware that our country borders the Odis Mountains, are you not? That is a place teeming with powerful Monsters found nowhere else.”

His words were true. Whether it was a blessing or not, because it was teeming with powerful Monsters, it was also an easy place to defend if war broke out.

After all, one had to cross the mountains to enter Radion. Armies exhausted from fighting Monsters would be easy prey.

Furthermore, there was one more reason why they had to be strong.

“So, one thing became famous. Known as the Knights Order specialized in subjugating the Odis Mountains…”

“The Fern Knights.”

Elian interrupted the Crown Prince’s answer, speaking himself. He knew it very well.

It wasn’t just Elian.

No one on this continent was unaware of the Fern Knights. The entire Knights Order was composed of Sword Masters.

“That is correct. They are magnificent individuals, the pride of Radion. They have never disappointed as Radion’s shield.”

Radion’s shield.

Despite their formidable power, they had used that strength solely to protect their country.

Though they could be sharp blades, they functioned only as shields, protecting the country from the threat of powerful Monsters.

The Crown Prince seemed to take considerable pride in this.

“Since you know, our conversation will be much faster.”

He looked at Elian with a confident expression and continued.

“Currently, Radion’s pride is at the border of the Kingdom of Arpen.”

“……!!”

The words that echoed throughout the reception room were enough to surprise everyone.

Radion’s elite Knights Order was at the border.

“There is no need for such surprise. Did I not tell you? I said we would become Arpen’s shield.”

The Crown Prince quickly added, explaining himself. His face was still full of composure. It was a composure with good reason.

“We will use the Fern Knights to prevent the war. Since war has not yet broken out, their mere presence will be enough to facilitate dialogue. Wouldn’t you agree?”

The Crown Prince’s gaze met Elian’s precisely. His look seemed to ask if the answer was sufficient. It felt as if he already knew how Elian would respond.

It was slightly irritating, but Elian had to acknowledge what was true.

If the Fern Knights became allies, the war could be prevented. Merely showing them would be enough to turn Spandia back.

However, these words could also be interpreted as a threat, a blade that could menace Arpen rather than a shield.

They were that formidable. Therefore, what they would demand was clear.

“What is it you want?”

What they wanted was an alliance. More precisely, something they would demand in exchange for forming an alliance.

They had come with the condition of becoming a shield because they clearly had something they wanted. That way, the Fern Knights would function as a shield, not a blade, and become a sure ally to turn Spandia away.

Therefore, they would undoubtedly propose an alliance. The problem was what they would demand.

‘It will surely be something difficult to accept under normal circumstances.’

Elian clenched his lips. He found himself in a position where he had no choice but to accept whatever demand they made, given the circumstances.

If he refused, he might have to wage war against two nations, Radion and Spandia.

“I like your straightforwardness.”

Whether it was misfortune or good fortune, the Crown Prince’s expression was pleasant. He nodded as if pleased and addressed everyone.

“We want only one thing. A marriage alliance with the Royal Family.”

“……!!”

The moment the resolute voice echoed, everyone’s eyes widened.

Elian was no exception. He had expected a difficult condition, but he hadn’t anticipated this.

“We want the most certain form of alliance, a marriage alliance. And among those, a marriage alliance with the Royal Family would be best. Of course, under the condition that they become part of Radion’s Royal Family.”

He was smiling broadly. He looked not at the Emperor, who was supposed to grant approval, but at Elian.

They knew this too. That the only remaining members of the Royal Family in this country were the Emperor and Elian.

“That…!”

Lion, unable to bear it, bristled and tried to stand. But Elian quickly stopped him.

Showing hostility now would make it truly irreversible.

‘Damn it.’

It was a condition he had no choice but to accept. If he refused, the country could vanish without a trace, but if he accepted, the brilliant future he had seen in his dreams would unfold.

‘Not only can we prevent the war, but we can also expect trade.’

Forming a bond through marriage would create a cooperative relationship on equal footing, rather than an alliance where one side held the advantage.

Of course, it was forced, but the fact that it was an attractive condition could not be denied.

Therefore, he had to nod. Not only would marriage solve everything, but he could also gain benefits.

However…

‘Kirendis…’

Kirendis weighed on his mind. Why, of all things, a marriage alliance?

If they had made a difficult condition, he would have found a way to resolve it. That way, he could save everyone.

But what could he do with a condition like this?

‘Sigh…’

He closed his eyes tightly. His head swam, and the future he had seen in his dreams flashed before him.

A terrible future where Kirendis did not exist.

‘No.’

He gasped, unable to breathe. Just thinking of a future without him made it impossible to breathe. He had to stop it.

‘There’s no choice….’

For him, Kirendis’s living reality was important. Even if they couldn’t be together, his being alive was more important.

So, he had to ask.

“Does it just have to be a member of the Royal Family…?”

A word that was tantamount to permission…

“Uncle!!”

Lion, who had instantly understood the meaning of those words, shouted. But the Crown Prince seemed to have anticipated this reaction.

He replied with a composed expression.

“Of course. As I am the one to be betrothed, Radion’s stance is that the other party must also be of the Royal Family. We ask for your understanding.”

Yes. Why else would the Crown Prince have come in person? There was a reason for everything. If the party involved came himself, it would be difficult to refuse him face-to-face.

And he had even brought the Fern Knights with him.

He knew this too. That this proposal carried an element of coercion. That’s why he came in person. To make it feel like a choice, not coercion.

‘Otherwise, there would be no reason for him to be here.’

From their perspective, there was no need to go to such lengths. The situation was that advantageous for them. Yet, the Crown Prince did not act that way. He came in person and delivered an outrageous condition.

He brought a condition that could not be refused, yet he sought to build a good relationship. He was looking ahead to Arpen’s future, which would soar even higher.

‘The scariest part is that he knows the benefits he can gain by making me part of the Royal Family.’

What they wanted was not a marriage alliance with the Royal Family, but a marriage alliance with Elian.

What they wanted was Elian himself. Everything he possessed.

His status could become a strong bond of alliance with Arpen, which would soar high in the future, and his assets could greatly help with the financial drain that would occur when the gates were opened.

Of course, it was a matter of handing over a certain portion, but Elian possessed something more important.

It was…

‘Experience.’

When the decision was made to open the gates, what Radion needed most was experience.

They knew what they lacked and where to obtain it.

And they waited. For the opportunity to bring the best hand at the most opportune moment.

This was the terrifying aspect of Radion.

“Whether you are aware of it or not, there are only two members of the Royal Family in the Kingdom of Arpen. His Majesty the Emperor, and myself.”

“Wait, Uncle…”

“So, I ask. Is it acceptable to Radion for me to be the principal party in the alliance?”

Lion tried to stop Elian, but it was futile. He had lost the initiative and his face turned pale. He seemed unable to control his expression due to being too flustered.

Thinking he would have to scold him later, Elian waited for the reply. Then, the Crown Prince, with his uniquely handsome face, smiled broadly and answered.

“Of course.”

“Absolutely not!”

Lion shouted. The Crown Prince of Radion had excused himself to allow them time to think.

Since he had traveled from afar and made a generous offer, temporary lodging had been arranged for him in the Imperial Palace.

‘I seem to be the only one who thinks it’s a good offer.’

To reiterate, an alliance with Radion was beneficial, never a bad condition.

It was an alliance with a country that had had no prior exchange with any other nation, and they would gain countless benefits through future active trade routes.

The Crown Prince had even said this.

―You need not worry about successors. We intend to resolve it by taking a consort.

―Then…

―If we form an alliance, you will ascend to the position of Empress.

Radion was a country with a system of consorts. Therefore, even if he became a member of the Royal Family, he thought he would enter as a consort. That way, he could gain at least some advantage.

However, they had restricted it to the position of Empress, the Emperor’s legal wife. Interpreted in their way, it was akin to saying they would pass the throne to an illegitimate child, which was surprising.

Of course, from their country’s perspective, it was irrelevant, but it was still an unprecedented decision.

‘I don’t know why they’re offering the position of Empress, but they must be looking far into the future.’

Radion held the Kingdom of Arpen in high regard. They were foreseeing the country Lion would build and seeking to forge an even stronger bond.

Therefore, this proposal was bound to be beneficial to the Kingdom of Arpen in many ways. Not a consort, but the Empress. This single phrase was tantamount to saying that Radion wished to build a friendly relationship, rather than trying to dominate them with force.

‘It truly is a perfect alliance.’

However, even with such perfect conditions, a lingering issue remained.

It was how Kirendis would react to this news.

“Have you forgotten why I became Emperor? I became Emperor to be with Uncle!”

“Lion, you would have become Emperor even if I hadn’t been here. There is no one who loves this country as much as you do. And why do you think we cannot be together? Once the trade routes with Radion open, you can see him anytime.”

“You know that’s not what I mean!”

Lion slammed his hand on the table with a frustrated look. It was the first time he had seen Lion raise his voice like this, so Elian felt a bit uneasy.

‘No. Snap out of it. The priority is to stop the war. Only then can we save them.’

The future where Elian, Kirendis, and Jade died.

If this proposal was accepted, all of them could live. Even if they couldn’t be together, they could live under the same sky.

‘Sometimes… if I can just see his face, I’ll be satisfied.’

A sharp pain shot through him. Elian quickly regained his composure.

He couldn’t think emotionally. He had to think coldly and rationally. Only then could he change the future.

“Lion.”

Elian spoke with gravitas, looking at Lion. A firm resolve could be read in his eyes. Lion realized that Elian’s mind would not change.

“You have already… made up your mind.”

“Help me.”

But Lion could not help Elian. He knew that as the Emperor who would lead the country, he had to accept it, but he couldn’t.

“I cannot.”

His voice was firm but calm. The emotion contained within it had enough weight to shake Elian’s heart.

“You can think I am young. You can think I am inexperienced. I love this country, but not enough to abandon my family.”

“Lion…”

Only then did Elian understand Lion’s position. He was a person with a warm heart. Although a crisis had arrived, they were not completely cornered.

Frankly, if war broke out, it would be enough to fight. There would be great damage, but that wouldn’t necessarily lead to defeat. From his perspective, not knowing the future, it was merely something that hadn’t happened yet.

‘Even after the war broke out, the Kingdom of Arpen remained strong.’

That’s why he couldn’t back down any further. He had no intention of explaining his reasons. He planned to carry it all alone until the end.

‘Someday, the day will come when they’ll understand why I did this.’

It didn’t matter if that day never came. This was the path Elian had walked all this time. It was nothing new.

However, his heart couldn’t help but waver at the words that followed immediately.

“What do you plan to tell Kirendis… What do you plan to tell Kirendis?”

“…….”

What should he say? What could he possibly say to that child who liked him so much…

“If you continue to be stubborn, Uncle, there’s nothing I, the Emperor, can do. But Kirendis is different. He won’t accept it.”

“…….”

“The reason why the person he loves… would agree to a political marriage with the Crown Prince of another country to prevent a war.”

“…….”

Lion was right. Kirendis would not accept any reason given. From his perspective, it would only look like he was scared and running away.

It was more likely that Kirendis would step forward to fight the war. Even if he were told the reason why this had to be done, it would be the same.

He would draw his sword, saying he would protect him.

It was the same for Jade. Both were people who could give their lives for him at any moment.

‘So I can’t tell him. I have to persuade him somehow.’

What should he say? What words would persuade him?

While he was lost in thought, he sensed someone’s presence.

“What… what are you saying right now?”

…It was Kirendis’s voice.

He quickly turned his head to see Kirendis standing there, his face shocked and bewildered.

“Elian… Ha…”

Unable to finish his words, he covered his face with his large hand and sighed.

Confusion was evident in his breath.

“Kirendis…”

He hadn’t figured out what to say yet, and he was suddenly confronted.

Perhaps because of that, his mind, which usually worked well, began to falter.

“Please… give me some time to think.”

“Kirendis!”

Kirendis muttered softly and turned to leave.

Elian immediately chased after him. He had expected Kirendis to rage and storm off like Lion, but this was unexpected.

Seeing his somewhat anxious appearance, Elian’s heart began to pound.

‘Kirendis is soft-hearted.’

Wasn’t he always anxious? Their relationship had improved recently, and he had forgotten his old ways.

It felt as if the tower of trust they had built had crumbled.

“Kirendis!”

He was walking so fast that Kirendis was crossing the garden. Elian ran with all his might and turned him around.

“Ah…”

Hurt eyes turned towards Elian. He didn’t know what to say to him when he looked like that.

Still, it didn’t seem like a conversation for a public place, so he pulled him to a secluded spot.

Fortunately, he followed obediently as he was led. Once they had put some distance between them, he stopped and spoke.

“Kirendis.”

“…….”

He wasn’t looking at Elian. Perhaps he was afraid to meet his eyes. It seemed like his desire to avoid the possibility of what he had heard becoming reality was manifesting in his actions.

But avoiding it wouldn’t solve anything. This wasn’t a message for Kirendis.

It was a message for Elian himself.

‘It’s about saving Kirendis. I need to be cold.’

It was a matter of the life of the one he loved. He would be hurt, but it was better than dying. Elian thought so.

“Radion has proposed an alliance. They say the Fern Knights are at the border. If we accept, we can prevent the war with their strength. We can save countless lives.”

“…….”

“It’s for the sake of the country, and I am of the Royal Family. I have a duty to protect it.”

He didn’t particularly feel such a duty, but he pretended to. He thought it would be slightly more convincing that way.

“And you know this too. The strongest bond among alliances is…”

“…….”

“A political marriage.”

“…….”

The first persuasion was over. But Kirendis showed no reaction. He just kept his head bowed.

He felt he should give him time to sort his thoughts, so he waited. Then, his lips slowly began to part.

“Then…”

His voice sounded as if it were sinking into an abyss. There was no strength in his voice at all. Deep melancholy resided within it.

He didn’t know what Kirendis had been thinking, but his voice was not normal.

―Plink.

Something transparent fell from his face.

―Plink, plink.

What was falling drop by drop was something Elian had never imagined.

“K-Kirendis?”

A flustered Elian took a step closer and reached out his hand. But before his hand could touch him, Kirendis lifted his head and spoke.

“Then what about me?”

“…….”

His beautiful face contorted as tears streamed down.

Elian couldn’t say a word. He was frozen, captivated by the transparent tears.

“I know you love this country. Then what about me? Don’t you love me? How… How could you…”

“…….”

He thought, ‘It’s finally happening.’ What would he do if he said he loved him here?

‘Wouldn’t he suggest we face it together?’

If that happened, the only outcome would be participating in the war and dying side by side.

Elian steeled his heart further.

“I…”

He spoke resolutely, not wanting to be swayed by Kirendis’s tears.

“I have never loved you.”

Kirendis’s eyes widened in shock.

Elian continued to speak.

“I can’t say I had no affection for you. But that’s all. This country is more precious to me, and I want to protect it if I can.”

“…….”

“You know better than anyone how I’ve protected this country all this time.”

“…….”

“Compared to those things, marriage is a very easy matter.”

“…….”

“You shouldn’t act emotionally either. You are the Duke of this country. You are a pillar supporting the nation. Can someone who should play their role as a strong pillar be swayed by trivial emotions?”

Elian spoke more coldly than usual, deliberately. He spoke as if it were his lifelong belief, though he had never thought so before.

He was skilled at lying, so it didn’t show. He was worried because it was Kirendis, but it was unfounded. He acted brilliantly, and it was effective on his opponent.

“Trivial… emotions?”

Zing.

As the words he had spoken came back like a boomerang, his heart ached.

He knew well how much Kirendis cherished him. He could feel it just by looking into his eyes, so it hurt to belittle and degrade him.

‘It can’t be helped…’

If he didn’t do this, things wouldn’t change. He knew his heart wasn’t simple, so it was even more so.

Elian endured the pain and replied.

“Yes. Don’t be caught up in trivial emotions anymore. If you are a noble, you cannot ignore what you carry on your shoulders.”

The lies flowed out smoothly.

Elian observed Kirendis’s complexion. He was no longer shedding tears. He was just looking at Elian with empty eyes, devoid of any emotion.

He flinched at that gaze, but he clenched his fists and endured.

“…I have one more question.”

Kirendis asked in a voice that had sunk deep.

“What were… the things we shared all this time?”

What they had shared.

The two of them were clearly sharing love. Both physically and emotionally.

The feeling of being deeply connected and becoming one was unforgettable. It was the first time he had felt such fulfillment and comfort.

He still desired him now. If he could, he wanted to be together forever.

But knowing he couldn’t, he clenched his fists and replied.

“What do you mean? It was just a few… playful encounters out of curiosity.”

“Ha…”

Kirendis let out a long sigh. This time, he seemed to have been properly hit, his face turning cold.

“Then… what on earth am I…”

No, he seemed a little disheartened.

He wiped his face several times with his large hand. Then he lifted his head and said.

“Very well.”

The voice that pierced his ears held no more hesitation. Perhaps he had given up, his voice was cold.

“Do as you please. I will do as I please too.”

Whoosh.

With a wind that sliced through his heart, Kirendis departed.

What did he mean by “do as you please”?

He didn’t get a chance to ask properly, and it kept circling in his mind. However, knowing wouldn’t change anything.

Elian had already made up his mind.

“An alliance with Radion is a matter that requires careful consideration. Furthermore, it involves a political marriage with the Royal Family. You must think carefully before answering.”

An indescribable, chilling aura emanated from behind Lion. Elian had already made up his mind, but Lion had not, and that was the cause of the ensuing events.

He called a meeting, stating that he could not decide on such a grave matter alone. He summoned the nobles to seek their opinions.

It was a meeting held with the belief that the nobles who supported him would follow his opinion.

But that was Lion’s assumption. A delusion brought on by his haste.

These anti-Emperor faction members were Elian’s rivals, so it was understandable, but the pro-Emperor nobles were no different.

‘A political marriage…’

‘His Majesty seems to want to keep the Archduke by his side and empower him.’

‘It could become a great threat in the future, even if it’s not the case now.’

‘Then, right here…’

They were likely thinking such thoughts. For them, Elian’s political marriage with Radion’s Crown Prince was not a bad proposal either.

It would allow them to remove a potential threat by sending him far away, and the position of Empress of another country was far higher than remaining as Archduke.

Therefore, the justification was sufficient.

As expected. One of the nobles, who had been watching cautiously, slowly opened his mouth.

“It is presumptuous of me to speak, Your Majesty, but I believe this is also a very good opportunity for Archduke Esiton.”

“…….”

Lion’s expression was not good. He flinched at Lion’s cold expression, but a helping hand appeared.

“That is correct, Your Majesty. Is it not the position of Empress of Radion, said to be the second strongest power after the Spandia Empire? I believe this must be done for the Archduke’s sake as well.”

“I agree. If we forge a good relationship with Radion through this, Your Majesty’s reputation will rise, and I believe the Archduke would also desire this.”

They spoke very well. They even created an escape route, saying they were speaking this way because Elian wanted it, not because they did.

If Elian were to disagree here, they could push him further by asking if he didn’t want His Majesty’s reputation to be elevated.

‘I have no intention of objecting, but…’

Perhaps knowing this fact, Lion’s expression grew darker. Though he didn’t show it, a sense of betrayal must have been building.

Those he thought would agree with his opinion had betrayed him first.

‘Still, Lion will understand. That they are saying this for his sake.’

So it was fine. Lion was a considerate Emperor, so their relationship wouldn’t be strained by his feeling of betrayal.

“I am of the same opinion. Furthermore, the possibility of war with Spandia will disappear, so it couldn’t be better.”

“That’s not all. If trade routes are opened, the Kingdom of Arpen can grow significantly. If that happens, we can be completely free from the threat of war.”

“Considering the people who follow Your Majesty, you must accept it.”

The anti-Emperor nobles also quickly agreed, considering the benefits they could gain.

If an alliance were formed and trade routes opened, where would be the most activated area?

There was no base city yet, but there was one good location. It was the Sertia territory, which Elian had recently been granted.

Lion had already revealed plans to further develop the eastern trade city of Etilen and develop Sertia in the west into a trade city as well.

For that plan, this alliance was very effective.

And the target of the political marriage was Archduke Esiton, who had been granted Sertia.

If the proposal were accepted, the territory would naturally be returned to the Imperial Family, and thus, opportunities would arise for them again.

If they could somehow take over Sertia and manage it successfully, they could rebuild their power.

‘It’s obvious without even looking.’

In other words, there wasn’t a single person on Lion’s side here. If someone like Lucian, Lion’s follower, were present, it would be different, but he had not yet inherited his family’s position.

‘I wonder what Kirendis was thinking, he didn’t attend either.’

His absence meant consent?

“Your Majesty. I am of the same opinion. I am fine, so please grant permission for the sake of the Kingdom of Arpen.”

“Please grant permission.”

“Please grant permission.”

“Please grant permission.”

All bowed their heads with one heart and one mind. Seeing them, Lion, his patience exhausted, trembled.

He stood up abruptly and shouted.

“How can you all do this! The Archduke has dedicated himself to this country! How can you be so casual about it!!”

“I am well aware of your special regard for Archduke Esiton. However, as the Emperor of this country, you must make a cold decision when necessary.”

“That is correct. The Archduke has also made a great decision for this country, so Your Majesty must also make a decision.”

“It is in times of such turmoil that Your Majesty must show your wisdom.”

No matter what Lion said, they were resolute. Even Elian, whom they considered the greatest obstacle, desired the political marriage, so there was nothing more to say.

They began to persuade Lion, saying that they must respect Elian’s wishes as well.

“Your Majesty. Once again, please consider carefully…”

“Enough! Stop it!”

Lion exploded. He was so angry that he panted, unable to control his rage.

He had a trivial thought that he might not see such an angry face again.

“…I have understood your intentions, my lords.”

Finally, Lion spoke in a dejected voice. No matter how firm his will, the country was not led alone.

Therefore, he would have to accept it.

“However.”

Lion raised his head with a resolute voice. Elian and the nobles, who thought it was settled, were surprised and looked at Lion.

He conveyed his intention, as if he would never back down.

“I absolutely cannot permit it.”

Ah…

“Even if the result is…”

No.

“War.”

Lion’s decision as Emperor was irresponsible. It was a matter that required the sacrifice of only one person, yet he decided on the sacrifice of many because he didn’t want to do it.

Considering the countless lives that could be sacrificed as a result, it was a decision that should not have been made.

‘But…’

Nevertheless, Elian understood Lion. The decision made as the human Lion was beyond justifiable; he was even grateful for it.

To be willing to risk war for his sake? How could it not be moving?

‘Still, it’s not right.’

Elian let out a long sigh. Lion was resolute and showed no intention of yielding. The nobles were trying to persuade such an Emperor.

‘Still, in the end, he’ll have no choice but to accept it.’

As he said, Lion loved this country dearly. Elian loved it too, but it was merely a political marriage, not a march to death.

However, if it were not accepted, the lives of the people would remain.

For now, his emotions were heightened, and he couldn’t make rational judgments, but with time, he would side with Elian.

‘Then, is Kirendis the only remaining variable?’

Recalling his cold, turned back, he didn’t think there would be any major variables. Still, the fact that he hadn’t shown himself until now bothered him.

After a brief inquiry, he was not found at the Duke’s mansion either.

‘Where did he go?’

He thought, ‘What great harm could befall a Sword Master?’ But since he had heard no news, he couldn’t help but worry.

“Haaah…”

Elian let out a long sigh, gazing at the lake sparkling in the sunlight. The artificial lake in the Imperial Palace was beautiful, but to his eyes, it only looked gloomy.

The way he seemed to sparkle, pretending to be unfazed, felt like looking at himself.

“Is the reason for your sigh perhaps because of me?”

Turning his head, he saw a familiar person approaching. It was the Crown Prince of Radion, one of the instigators of this whole affair.

“How could that be? It’s just that opinions aren’t converging, so I’m feeling frustrated.”

“So you’re saying it’s because of me.”

Elian didn’t refute him. It was true that he had given a good suggestion, and while he knew it wasn’t solely because of this person, he couldn’t help it.

It was like throwing a spark onto oil.

“May I sit beside you?”

“……Please do.”

He was already troubled, and the request to sit beside him didn’t sit well with him.

“……”

“……”

A long silence flowed between the two. At first, it was slightly uncomfortable, but as time passed, that feeling strangely faded.

He could hear the gentle sound of the wind rustling by his ears, and the sparkling lake filled his vision. Not even a breath could be heard, making him feel that this was someone who could exist as if they weren’t there.

‘It’s not bad.’

Perhaps it was because he had always lived a life where someone else initiated conversation. He had lived fiercely, caught among people trying to gain his favor or find his weaknesses.

That was only natural. Yet, a stranger he barely knew offered him silence, which felt quite refreshing.

Perhaps that was why. Elian broke the long silence and asked first.

“Why me? Even though I am of the Royal Family, I am only half-blooded, so there must have been nobles with better qualifications.”

It was a question born of curiosity, wondering if he truly knew him. A question asked with the hope that perhaps he was overestimating their abilities.

But he seemed to have no intention of answering, or perhaps it was to tease him, as he replied with a faint smile.

“You are mistaken. What we proposed was for the Royal Family. The Archduke doesn’t necessarily have to accept.”

“……”

…Was he serious?

Elian looked at the Crown Prince with eyes that had gone cold.

The man, who was uncharacteristically well-informed and had come all this way, couldn’t possibly not know the lineage of this kingdom.

It was unthinkable for the next emperor to enter into an alliance marriage with the emperor of another country. Therefore, by process of elimination, there was only one person left, wasn’t there?

It was as good as specifically nominating Elian.

‘And yet, he’s going to back out like this?’

He narrowed his eyes to try and understand the intention. Then, finding something amusing, the Crown Prince burst into hearty laughter and said,

“It’s a joke. From the beginning, we were thinking of the Archduke.”

“……”

He seemed like a rather frivolous person for a Crown Prince. To think of making a joke in front of a foreign noble, especially one bearing the fearsome epithet of the Iron Blood Archduke.

Those who knew Elian well might have let it slide, but this was the first time a stranger, someone who knew who he was, was acting like this.

‘No, Lac was like this from the start too.’

So, should he treat him as if he were the high-ranking Lac?

The thought sent a dreadful feeling through him.

“You asked why me? The answer to that is simple. It’s because the Archduke possesses what we need most.”

“What you need?”

“Yes. We need someone whose mind works best in this area.”

Tap, tap.

The Crown Prince lightly tapped his head and smiled.

It was as he expected.

“You mean someone specialized in diplomacy.”

“As expected, you get it right away.”

The Crown Prince smiled brightly, pleased.

Radion didn’t just want someone intelligent. They wanted someone well-versed in global affairs and specialized in diplomacy.

They wanted someone who could be a guide when Radion’s gates were wide open in the future.

“From what we’ve learned, the Archduke has achieved numerous accomplishments. Diplomacy was only one aspect, and we know you’ve excelled in other areas as well.”

“Well, I am of the Royal Family, after all. I’ve only done what was natural.”

It was natural for the Royal Family to contribute to the nation. Weren’t they people who lived off the taxes paid by the populace?

If the country ran well, they could continue to live well and prosper. In Elian’s case, the reason he didn’t want to die was a larger factor, but there was no need to tell him the complete truth.

“That’s not true. The more we learned about the Archduke, the more we could only say how truly remarkable you are. Ingenious ideas, swift execution. And perfect results. The fact that you’ve never failed even once is astonishing.”

“……”

Elian looked at him with a vacant expression at the flood of compliments. His face was slightly flushed, and he even clenched his fists, burning with passion.

‘This… somewhere…’

It was when Elian furrowed his brow slightly, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu.

The Crown Prince, with a look of realization, cleared his throat.

“In any case, we made the proposal to the Archduke for these reasons. Radion welcomes you with open arms. And so do I.”

“……Is that so?”

Elian drew out his words, sounding doubtful.

The skilled Crown Prince’s face showed a hint of favor. But Elian thought it wasn’t genuine.

Alliance marriage was merely an unavoidable duty for those born into nobility or royalty, not something done out of affection.

Therefore, his words were merely polite. Yet, he shamelessly continued.

“Of course, I wasn’t keen on it at first either. To be told to marry someone I’d never even seen, even if it’s the destiny of the Royal Family. But…”

He paused for a moment, closing his eyes as if recalling something, and spoke slowly.

“A few days ago. I saw you, and my mind changed. Ah, this is the one, I thought. A dazzling halo shone behind you, and my heart pounded. I suppose this is what they call love at first sight.”

“……”

“Yes. That’s right. I seem to have fallen for you. Before meeting you, I had heard quite a bit, so I suppose I fell in love quickly.”

“……”

“So it’s okay. It would be more accurate to say it’s become okay.”

“……”

The Crown Prince spoke at length. Elian could only stare at him blankly.

‘So…’

Elian calmly organized his thoughts. Meanwhile, the Crown Prince turned towards Elian and took his left hand.

As if about to say something important, he slightly squeezed Elian’s fingertips and parted his lips. But…

“Love…”

“Stop the nonsense.”

Elian cut him off with a cold expression.

“……”

“……”

A long silence flowed between the two.

The Crown Prince, who hadn’t expected Elian to be so firm, blinked. His face, filled with bewilderment, was quite a sight.

But he quickly regained his composure and continued playfully.

“That’s too harsh. What part of my words sounded like nonsense?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

He wondered if it was genuine, but he quickly dismissed the thought. It was utterly absurd.

“Didn’t it seem quite sincere?”

The very fact that he said this meant it was already wrong. If he were sincere, he wouldn’t be so nonchalant after being so thoroughly rejected.

Elian, wondering why this person was acting this way, replied with a cold face.

“If you’re going to deceive someone, fix your eyes first.”

“My eyes… you mean?”

He tilted his head as if he didn’t understand. He guessed that the Crown Prince had probably never been in love.

Because his face truly looked like he didn’t understand.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince’s eyes are not those of someone in love. If I had to name them, I’d say they are the eyes of someone who has discovered a great talent.”

“……”

“Am I wrong?”

As Elian stated with certainty, the Crown Prince blinked in surprise. Then, he burst into a soft laugh and said,

“As expected, I can’t fool the Archduke. I thought this might lead to a better relationship.”

He was relieved that the Crown Prince hadn’t continued with his nonsensical talk. There was nothing more tiresome than listening to continued nonsense.

“Still, it’s true that I have a favorable impression of the Archduke. A favorable impression towards a talented individual is still a favorable impression.”

Having said that, the Crown Prince looked relieved. He seemed to have felt burdened by the idea of marriage, even if it was an alliance.

“My goal is to make Radion the safest country. A country where all citizens can worry about trivial things like what to eat today.”

As the Crown Prince began, his eyes sparkled more than ever. He was looking towards the future he would create, rather than the emotion of love.

“The beginning of that is the alliance with the Arpen Kingdom. The Arpen Kingdom will undoubtedly grow significantly in the future. So, if we form an alliance in advance, won’t I reach my goal that much sooner?”

The ability to obtain information despite being a closed country, and the ability to combine that information to predict the future.

And the decisiveness to act on it immediately.

If this man became emperor, Radion would be a much safer and more peaceful country than it was now.

He showed such talent, and his eyes were clear.

“Therefore, I want to bring the Archduke to Radion. The alliance is important, but I also highly value your abilities.”

“……”

“I guarantee that you and I will be great partners.”

With that, the Crown Prince extended his hand towards Elian.

He was treating him not as a betrothed partner, but as a partner who would lead a grand enterprise.

The engagement was merely an excuse. It might even have been a means for Radion to increase Elian’s influence.

Before becoming a citizen of that country, who could easily dismiss the words of a nation’s Empress?

“It’s not bad.”

Elian clasped the Crown Prince’s hand and shook it briefly. It was truly not bad. A clean relationship like this was better than him being bothered by genuine affection.

For himself, there was already…

“But how did you realize so quickly? I’ll be embarrassed to say this, but I was really confident.”

The Crown Prince, quickly releasing his hand, asked the question lightly. It was likely just to continue the conversation, but it was a difficult question for Elian to answer.

However, he felt it would be alright to tell him. After all, the alliance would be made, and he was someone he would have to face continuously in the future.

‘I also want to confide in someone.’

Words he had never told anyone.

Words he would never be able to tell anyone.

He conveyed those words to a stranger he barely knew.

“Because I know very well what the eyes of someone in love look like.”

Elian spoke in a casual tone. A soft smile, one he had never seen before, appeared on his lips.

However, that smile also looked sad, lonely, and pained, more than any smile he had ever seen.

‘Ah…’

Theseus finally understood why Elian had seen through his lie so quickly.

“You… have someone you love, don’t you.”

Yes.

These were the eyes that only someone in love could possess. He, who had only associated love with simple joy and excitement, could read the deep emotions melted into Elian’s eyes.

It was something that couldn’t be faked. It showed a will to endure for the sake of the person they loved, even if it was painful and difficult.

“Yes. I… have someone I love.”

His eyes, confessing his love, looked truly sad.