“The Duke of Peleta left on vacation as a reward? Is that true? Did he really leave at a time like this?”

Duke Diarca couldn’t hide the disbelief in his voice as he responded to the report. The man delivering it was bent almost flat to the floor, and answered in a tense voice.

“Yes, sir. Even our informants inside the palace initially suspected some kind of trick. But after confirmation, it appears to be true. Two days ago, Duke Peleta took only a few close aides and went to the Sanctuary Forest near the Capital for leisure, and then departed for Peleta immediately upon returning.”

“...Hah.”

Duke Diarca set down the pipe he’d been holding in his mouth. Under the fingers pressing against his temple, a cold gleam flashed through his cynical gaze.

“Neither the Sun Palace nor the Duke of Peleta seem capable of understanding the danger they’re in. I warned them so often out of concern, and yet... now that their health has returned, it seems my words failed to leave any impression.”

“...”

“Must I once again offer loyal advice... or is this some outrageous ploy to mock this old man?”

His tone was soft, as though genuinely concerned for the nation. But the thorns beneath it were sharp, and the thoughts in his head were likely even more sinister. Those around Duke Diarca stiffened quietly and lowered their heads further. Everyone knew that when the duke was like this, even the slightest misstep could bring disaster.

He exhaled smoke slowly through thin lips and tapped the end of his pipe. Just as he was about to speak—

“Your Grace. Apologies, but you should come out right away.”

A voice called urgently from the hidden wall. Duke Diarca frowned and turned his head.

“What is it?”

“A visitor from the Radiant Palace, sir. At first, we thought it was just a servant sent on an errand... but...”

The whispered explanation that followed made the duke’s eyelids twitch. He stood and walked straight out the door.

Amidst flustered servants, he spotted someone cloaked entirely in black. The figure wore a hat low over their face, but as soon as they saw Duke Diarca, they swept it back—revealing the face of Crown Prince Kachian, who should’ve been in the Imperial Palace.

“...Your Highness. What brings you here in person?”

“No one comes when I call. What else could I do? I had to come myself.”

With a pale face, as bloodless as a doll made of wax, Kachian raised the corners of his mouth into a smile. But it was nothing like the beautiful smile that had once captivated everyone. It looked more like the forced grin of a corpse. Those who saw it felt a chill and instinctively looked away.

Even Duke Diarca frowned at that expression—but he quickly recovered his usual graceful and composed demeanor.

“With so much going on lately, there must have been some miscommunication when the message was delivered.”

“A miscommunication, is it.”

“To have made someone so noble come here personally... those responsible must be punished.”

Kachian’s tone was laced with sarcasm, but Duke Diarca remained calm. Watching the duke’s composed face, Kachian bit his lip, then asked in a subdued voice:

“Fine. Let’s say it was a miscommunication. So, are you just going to keep me standing here?”

“Of course not. Please, come in.”

Duke Diarca led him not to his office, but to an adjacent room. With only a glance, the entire space was prepared to receive a guest in seconds. Kachian sat at the head seat, as if it were only natural, and accepted the tea offered by the Duke’s servants with formality.

“Strongly brewed Ponegrisa tea.”

“We always keep it ready, knowing Your Highness favors it. If it puts your heart at ease, please speak freely. A carriage will be prepared for your return.”

The words exchanged were nothing but polite. But the air between them was not so soft.

Kachian stared at the impenetrable smile on Duke Diarca’s face, then let out a twisted one of his own.

“You think I don’t realize that you’re telling me to drink quickly and go.”

“You misinterpret me, Your Highness.”

“We both know why I came, so let’s not waste time with meaningless pleasantries. The reason I kept requesting to meet you is because I had something to tell you.”

“Oh my. What happened?”

“A few days ago, the Cavalry dogs barged into the Sun Palace and dirtied the garden with their filthy boots. While walking there, I ran into the black hound of Duke Peleta. You know which one I mean.”

“...”

A shadow passed briefly through the aged wrinkles around Duke Diarca’s eyes—something even Kachian’s words had not been able to stir before.

“That mutt doesn’t know where not to bark. Vile and stupid, like the monster it is, not even knowing whether it’s male or female. It dared insult me—and Duke Peleta, who came looking for it, was no better. But then... they said something strange.”

“What did they say?”

A mix of fury, hatred, tension, and fear swirled in Kachian’s eyes. He tried to hide it from Duke Diarca as he spoke.

“...That someone in the Cavalry remembers the ‘old me.’”

Duke Diarca’s eyes narrowed.

“Is that true?”

“After investigating, I found that there’s a Cavalry member with the same name who was active in the South. I couldn’t confirm more than that.”

“Your Highness’s past was thoroughly erased. Unless you contacted them after entering the palace, it should be impossible for anyone to know.”

Duke Diarca wasn’t wrong. Kachian la Orr had once secretly sent a man to his hometown and had an old childhood # Nоvеlight # acquaintance—a local herbalist—killed. He had used their shared knowledge of toxic herbs to his advantage.

Though the plan ultimately failed, the incident itself should have remained secret.

Yet Duke Peleta had mentioned that herbalist’s sister by name—loud enough for Kachian to hear.

He’d claimed she was in the Cavalry. As if he knew everything Kachian had done from the past up to now. As if he were laughing at him.

The incident left Kachian with a tremendous sense of crisis. His hatred for the duke, his inferiority complex—it all cooled for a moment beneath the heat of survival instinct. The wisest course was to seek Duke Diarca’s help—but Kachian also feared the duke might use this as an excuse to cast him aside.

So he decided to emphasize only the part that would make Diarca feel threatened, hiding his own wrongdoings and pretending he hadn’t heard the rest. He lashed out in feigned agitation.

“The Cavalry’s full of people with bizarre abilities! How can you be sure no one knows? Even if Duke Peleta’s words weren’t literally true, their implication is clear. Don’t you see it? They’re trying to drag up the old rumors from the Crown Prince selection! That message was just a warning to you!”

Whether or not his suspicions were true, Kachian deliberately emphasized that point.

“I find it very odd that the Diarca House hadn’t uncovered this earlier. But fine—you were busy. Still, Duke...”

Kachian paused, then locked eyes with the elderly man. He spoke slowly and deliberately.

“You always told me that human power matters more than divine power. But what has that human power achieved? Duke Peleta does whatever he pleases. His Majesty the Emperor toys with both of us at his leisure. Is this the future you promised me?”

“...”

“Treating me like a lunatic, keeping me locked away—how am I supposed to trust you or House Diarca under these circumstances? If I hadn’t come here myself to deliver this information, maybe you would’ve been the one betrayed again.”

Duke Diarca remained silent. Kachian didn’t bother hiding the flicker in his eyes as he pressed on.

“One thing’s certain. They want my downfall to bring yours down too.”

“...”

“That’s all I came to say. I don’t need a send-off—I’ll go.”

He set down his barely-touched teacup and stood. When Duke Diarca lifted a hand, servants respectfully escorted the Crown Prince out.

Once alone, the butler behind the duke cautiously spoke.

“Your Grace. I’ll send word to increase the security around the Radiant Palace to prevent another such incident. Do you have any other orders?”

The duke nodded as he stared at the lone remaining teacup on the table.

“Investigate every Cavalry member who earned merit in the South. If any are from the same hometown as His Highness, abduct them and extract information. If that’s not possible—eliminate them. And... find out whether His Highness ever sent someone or contacted anyone from his hometown. That part must be carried out in absolute secrecy.”

It was both an acknowledgment of Kachian’s words—and a refusal to trust him fully. The butler’s face stiffened with tension.

“Understood.”

“And to the one on vacation... and His Majesty the Emperor... We should send each of them a lovely gift.”

A shadow passed across Duke Diarca’s face.

“Yes... perhaps something similar to what pleased them before. That way, we’ll learn exactly who is truly off their guard.”

***

The road to Peleta appeared peaceful, but it wasn’t truly so.

More accurately, it was being forcibly made peaceful—despite every reason it should not be.

As night fell, Yuder clicked his tongue softly at the masked assassins who appeared out of nowhere.

‘Again tonight.’

It had been a long time since he’d encountered assassins so brazen. He didn’t even know who had hired them. They were like gnats, sent not to kill but simply to be a nuisance.

The intent behind sending them was far too obvious—there was really nothing left to say.