"Correct."

Yuder quietly stared at the smiling face of the person in front of him. He could have asked further—what was he thinking, what effect was he trying to achieve by making Kachian misunderstand—but...

‘Is there even any need for that?’

Having reached his conclusion, Yuder silently turned his head, and Kishiar asked,

"You're not going to tell me not to do it?"

"If it’s something you wish to do, then that’s enough for me. But if you’d prefer that I step in instead, please say so. I’ll help."

At that, Kishiar fell silent. After a moment, a voice came from him, calmer than before.

"Even though that person has long become someone bothersome and meaningless to you, you’re saying that, if I wanted, you’d face him again and move for revenge. Is that what you meant? Did I understand you correctly?"

"Yes."

If he were to ask why, there was really only one answer.

Because Kishiar wanted to.

As Kishiar himself had said, Yuder Aile had no particular concern over how Kachian met his downfall. In other words, regardless of how it ended, he wouldn’t feel any significantly different emotions about it.

But if that difference mattered to Kishiar...

Then Yuder could do anything.

The red eyes that met his disappeared behind lowered lids. Kishiar exhaled—a long, sweet breath.

"I figured you might say something like that... No, I expected it. But hearing it in person makes it even sweeter. Sweet enough to make me want to overturn all my plans."

"......"

"But I won’t."

He opened his eyes again. The expression on his face was one no one could possibly think belonged to someone not utterly in love.

Enchanted by that expression, Yuder was a beat late to ask,

"...Pardon?"

"I don’t want you doing something meaningless just because of me. And to be more honest... I want to handle this alone. Still... yeah. I’d like to get permission in advance. Can you give me that?"

Yuder blinked, then slowly asked,

"...Permission for what? I don’t see anything I have the right to permit or deny."

Kishiar smiled.

"Getting permission changes how one approaches the matter emotionally."

Emotionally? As Yuder pondered the meaning of that word, Kishiar kindly offered an explanation.

"What I’m about to do... it stems from emotions deeply personal to me—feelings tied to things that haven’t happened and never will. To put it bluntly... it’s anger directed at someone who, even in this game, shows no sign of change, still wanting only to trample others and take for himself."

Though he lumped it all together as "others," the moment he said it, those red eyes stared straight at Yuder’s face.

"If I were to handle this rationally, there’d be no need to reach out to him now. If my elder brother were to find out, he’d probably ask why I’m bothering with something so pointless. ...But still, I want to do it."

"......"

"For what’s already gone."

For you.

"If you give me permission, then I’ll be able to carry out this task with a lighter, happier heart. Of course, even without it, I’ll still do it."

What could he possibly say to that?

Yuder could only look at his face and nod.

"...I don’t mind. Do as you wish."

Kishiar must have known that would be Yuder’s answer.

But he still smiled brightly, genuinely delighted. He took Yuder’s hands in his own, brought them together, and then bent forward without hesitation to [N O V E L I G H T] press his lips against the back of them. A soft voice escaped from between those lips.

"Thank you."

They climbed the stairs above the courtroom and entered one of the waiting rooms prepared for involved parties. Inside was Melvern, who had disappeared as soon as the trial ended, already waiting for them.

"It’s a pleasure to see you again, Commander of the Cavalry, and Baron. I suppose I’ve already met you earlier, Baron."

"Did you?"

Kishiar turned to him. Yuder briefly explained how he had met Melvern.

"I visited the High Judge’s waiting room, and on my way to the courtroom, we happened to run into each other and exchanged greetings."

"I see."

"Thanks to His Majesty the Emperor’s generosity, I was able to watch the trial quietly. I’m truly grateful. I’ll be appearing publicly tomorrow as Nellarun’s representative, but for the time being, I’ll act as a proper envoy ahead of the Crown Prince’s coronation."

Melvern beamed.

‘Ahead of his coronation?’

That was something Yuder hadn’t heard earlier. While it was expected that Ezein would be crowned once he won the struggle among the princes, Yuder hadn’t known the preparations had already begun in earnest.

"Oh? Has it already come to that?"

Kishiar asked casually.

"People around him did recommend waiting until things were more settled, but given His Majesty’s rapidly declining health, His Highness the Crown Prince made the decision."

If it’s something that must be done anyway, doing it sooner—even if more difficult—might actually stabilize the country faster. In his previous life, Ezein had awakened and ascended the throne when the nation was on the brink of collapse, personally managing both the war surrounding Nellarun and the internal divisions. Within about two years, he had achieved total victory and successfully stabilized the kingdom.

The authority a king can wield is different from that of a crown prince. It seemed Ezein intended to ascend quickly this time as well, to handle numerous tasks simultaneously.

"A wise and courageous choice. Please convey my support."

"Thank you."

"So, I assume you didn’t ask to see us just to deliver that news. What is it you came to discuss?"

"His Highness the Crown Prince is currently preparing to establish Nellarun’s first Awakener unit, ‘Nelleriato,’ to coincide with the day of his coronation. Just as the Cavalry supports the Empire in times of crisis, he hopes brave individuals will come forward to aid Nellarun in its trials. However, since there is no precedent aside from the Cavalry, we’re in need of advice from those who have walked this path before."

Yuder had heard that Nellarun was planning to form an Awakener group, but this was the first time he’d heard the name.

‘Nelleriato. Is that Old Language?’

In the previous life, the Awakener unit in Nellarun had been called “The Seventh Light.” It was clearly a name inspired by the six stones radiating light—Ezein’s powers. But this time, the name was completely different.

"‘Ato’ means ‘wall’ in the old tongue... so I suppose it means the Wall of Nellarun."

"That’s correct."

Even though Yuder hadn’t asked, the man fluent in the old tongue provided the interpretation.

"We first asked His Majesty the Emperor for advice and assistance, but since this concerns the Cavalry, he said we’d need your permission as its commander."

Officially, the Cavalry was a unit under the direct command of the Emperor. However, Emperor Keillusa rarely exercised direct control over it, and when he did, he typically consulted with Kishiar first to issue orders in mutual agreement. It was a sign of respect—for Kishiar as its commander, and as the founder of the Cavalry. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Kishiar, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, suddenly let out a small chuckle.

"I’m reminded of all the opposition I faced when creating the Cavalry. Back then, everyone said no country would ever try to establish a second organization like it. Yet here we are now, having this very conversation. How surprising."

"......"

"Very well. As Commander of the Cavalry, I hereby pledge full support for Nelleriato until it finds stability."

Melvern bowed deeply.

"Thank you for your consideration, Commander."

"Details will need to be adjusted later with His Highness directly... but that can be done during the coronation ceremony. It shouldn’t be too difficult."

He planned to attend in person? As Yuder slightly widened his eyes in surprise, Melvern grinned.

"Oh, in fact, you could even do that right now."

"Hmm?"

"As I briefly mentioned when I met the Baron earlier, there was a minor agreement reached between His Majesty the Emperor and our Crown Prince before I came to the Empire. I needed permission to use my power here."

Melvern folded his hands politely and reintroduced himself.

"Thanks to your help, I was able to return safely to Nellarun and Awaken. My ability is to meet His Highness from afar through a light I conjure—‘Messenger of Light!’"