"What shall we do?"
The aide, who had been surveying the surroundings, asked cautiously while lowering his voice a bit more. His tone was filled with concern.
However, to the aide who was thoroughly tense, Heinrich offered a light answer, almost making the aide's tension seem pointless.
"Leave it be."
"But... His Majesty's suspicions are growing increasingly excessive."
Of course, Heinrich knew that well. Fresh hadn't planted only Count Hason as his spy; they were scattered throughout the imperial palace, fabricating words to create the flow they desired.
Anneli had said that since she dealt with Fresh, she would leave the puppets inside the palace for him to handle.
Those who lost their leader would fall into immediate chaos, and if they were swiftly purged now, they could likely be cleaned up without much effort.
But Heinrich decided against doing so.
"What happens when suspicion becomes excessive?"
Heinrich glanced at the aide. Seeing the aide unable to readily answer, he gave a faint smile.
"It becomes a disease."
The aide's eyes went wide. Heinrich, withdrawing his gaze from him, continued indifferently while staring straight ahead.
"A sovereign who loses proper judgment easily turns into a tyrant, and vassals of sound mind would not follow such a ruler."
"But the official successor position is not yet..."
The aide trailed off.
Heinrich spoke firmly.
"It was His Majesty who elevated the successor. Then the one who can bring them down must also be His Majesty. So leave it be."
Anneli's words surfaced in Heinrich's mind. She had said that since their intentions aligned, he should simply repay her properly when the time came.
She was right.
"His suspicion will spread like wildfire, and soon he will consume the very successor he cherished."
There was no reason to find patience burdensome. As long as he stood with Anneli, reigning above all others was an established course.
* * *
On the day I returned from the Lindéa River, Lilia was flustered to see me looking perfectly fine.
Then a day passed, two days passed, and her complexion grew increasingly worse until today, when she claimed to be ill and shut herself in her bedroom.
She said it was just a cold, but I knew the real reason all too well.
"So the body was finally discovered, you say?"
I straightened my posture and asked, having been spending a leisurely afternoon in my private room.
In response to my question, Zigor, who had returned with news from outside, reported proudly.
[Yes, that's what they said!]
"Good work going out there."
[Not at all!]
At my praise, Zigor puffed up his feathers even more as he answered.
Tristan, who had mainly stayed by Lilia's side, decided to remain at the Lindéa River for the time being to search for traces of monsters, so Zigor had taken over his duties.
Zigor busily observed around Lilia and brought news from outside.
He had looked listless right after returning from the river, but after seeming to have a private talk with Mori, he thankfully regained his usual lively self.
However... it seemed he had a big fight with Mori.
'He still won't greet him.'
Seeing them not even looking at each other despite being in the same space for several days now, it was certain.
Even right now, Zigor must have seen Mori coiled in one corner of the desk.
I was watching them for now, but if it started affecting daily life, I thought I might need to intervene.
'I never thought I'd be mediating a dispute between a small bird and a snake though...'
Anyway, separate from that, the news Zigor brought was welcome.
"Right, that's news enough to make her collapse."
I nodded and murmured.
Fresh and his subordinates were discovered after some time had passed, but due to broken trees in the area and the wounds remaining on the bodies, it seemed the conclusion was that it was the work of monsters.
The problem, however, was that while everyone was saying it was the work of monsters, the Emperor alone believed it was magic.
Because of this, the composition of the subjugation force to hunt the monsters had not yet been completed.
Naturally, the voices of the Imperial citizens calling for me grew louder, and it became harder for my father to keep me hidden.
'At most, tomorrow? He'll probably tell me to come forward for now.'
Since the Emperor suspected the Magic Tower and was growing distrustful of the resurrected one as well, he would think harboring me was dangerous.
It would be difficult to declare me as the Little Duke of Roam right away, but he would likely propose that they resolve the Empire's major matters first, saying he would sort things out soon.
Of course, for me who had no intention of becoming Little Duke in the first place, there was no need to stall through Heinrich anymore, so it was actually more convenient.
'Anyway, Father is away from the mansion more often to appease the Emperor.'
Thanks to that, it became much easier for me to search through Father's office. Such a virtuous cycle!
Though it differed somewhat from the plan I had when first entering Roam, everything was flowing in a very good direction for me.
"But it's noisy outside."
At my murmur, Samuel, who had been watching from one window, answered casually.
"The workers are moving luggage, it seems."
"Ah, was today the day Mother decided to remove all of my sister's belongings?"
For several days before I went to the Lindéa River as a resurrected one, older sister Frician had tried to somehow reclaim the Little Duke position.
However, her mistake was trying to persuade Father first.
As someone who had mainly worked with Father as Little Duke, she seemed to have momentarily forgotten Mother's power.
Or perhaps, she didn't know Mother would go this far.
"Yes, they said they'd load it onto a luggage carriage at noon!"
Falides said in a bright voice.
Previously, Father had taken older sister Frician and directly visited Baron Kendall's family to try to nullify the marriage, but failed.
Afterwards, Mother, furious with older sister Frician, declared she would marry off the eldest daughter who had damaged the family's dignity and committed a thieving marriage to the Baron's family.
'Nice words, marry off.'
In reality, she was kicking her out. Given that the servants were whispering about older sister's outrageous behavior, it must have been unavoidable to quell the household atmosphere.
'Also, she probably had to make a direct blood relative take responsibility for their actions.'
If problems arose with this marriage, the Kendall Baron family would likely spread word that they had been scammed into marriage by Roam's eldest daughter.
It was a natural outcome that the atmosphere of the knight order that followed older sister became miserable.
Actually, after the incident where I had Falides spar with them, I had visited a couple more times and done similar things.
As the次数 increased, I could see their spirit withering before my eyes, and with this incident, they might have fallen into complete self-loathing.
I asked, murmuring.
"Are there no knights picking fights lately?"
"Even if we fight, they're no match at all. Everyone's just stumbling about."
"These days they only behave like street rabble; one cannot find the pride that knights should possess."
Falides clicked her tongue and spoke ill of Roam's knights. Samuel also evaluated Roam's knights calmly.
I nodded and sank deep into the chair, propping up my chin.
"I see..."
After pondering for a moment, I took out a piece of paper. After writing down a not-long sentence, I put it in an envelope and sealed it.
"Falides, could you secretly deliver this to older sister Frician?"
"Yes!"
Falides took the letter and left the private room. I watched her retreating figure for a moment before rising.
As I approached the window where Samuel had been watching, I could see the workers moving busily outside.
"I couldn't even give a proper wedding gift as a sibling, so I should at least do this much now."
Having been kicked out so coldly due to the mother she trusted, older sister Frician was probably shivering with betrayal.
How much more furious would she be if she learned that Mother had secretly introduced Seiri to the Crown Prince around this time?
I could feel my lips naturally forming a smooth curve.
Ah, I suppose I was enjoying myself.
* * *
Ganik and Nadav, who looked after the large Barkna and baby Lizardmen, returned to being bracelets.
And Tristan, Zigor, Falides, and Minté were busy handling various tasks Anneli assigned them.
The only one among the Durahan who was idle was Mori, curled up alone in one corner of the private room.
Since the day I returned from the river and asked Mori about information regarding monsters, I hadn't specifically given any further orders. Nor had I told him to go into the bracelet.
I simply left Mori in the room and did my own work.
Today was no different. I said I needed to go watch the struggling Frician and left my seat for a while, and the other Durahan also went to do their respective tasks.
Mori, who had been quietly coiled and guarding the private room, raised his head at the sound of the door opening.
Minté, who knew how to open the handle easily enough, was entering the private room.
[Mori.]
Minté, who had been looking at Mori coldly, glanced around the room for a moment. Confirming no one else was there, she asked in a calm tone.
[Why are you acting like that?]
[W-what?]
[I thought you of all people would have awaited the Captain more than anyone, but you're not like that at all right now.]
At Minté's words, Mori hesitated and averted his gaze. Minté, who seemed to be observing Mori's reaction closely, slowly rose.
[You've changed a lot.]
[Y-you're the ones who changed.]
Mori, curled up tightly,反驳ed with a mumble.
[H-how is everyone so peaceful?]
[What are you talking about?]
Mori didn't answer, but Minté didn't rush him either. She simply glared with an intense gaze.
Unable to withstand that gaze, Mori reluctantly opened his mouth.
[The Captain was strong and merciful. Not someone scary like that.]
At Mori's words, Minté narrowed her eyes. Her swaying tail revealed her displeased mood.
But Mori didn't stop speaking. He too had been feeling too frustrated these past few days.
[Someone who tried to save even one more living creature if possible. Not a human who would laugh coldly even after destroying everything like that.]
Mori's words didn't continue.
[Mori.]
Because Minté bared her teeth and growled low.
[If you dare raise a banner of rebellion against the Captain, I will deal with you first.]
Minté, who warned in a voice full of displeasure, turned sharply and leaped up onto the open windowsill.
Mori, watching with a sullen gaze as Minté went outside, buried his head in gloom.
[Without knowing anything.]
Murmuring with resentment in his voice, Mori fell silent for a while.
But soon, unable to overcome the frustration, he opened his mouth again.
[Why doesn't anyone remember?]
His voice, full of tears, was a monologue that didn't expect an answer.
That was why Mori couldn't help but be startled by the voice that suddenly interjected.
"What?"