The Duchess of Roam gradually regained her composure.
"Do you remember what rumors circulated when Her Majesty the Empress was attacked by monsters? They said a monster transformed into an animal to approach her. Furthermore, they claimed a Dullahan appeared."
The Duke of Roam, who had been quietly listening to his wife's explanation, asked in a voice heavy with fatigue.
"What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying this could all be a self-directed play by Annelie, attempting to control everything herself."
"Did Lilia make another strange prophecy?"
"That cunning child is trying to win my favor. But I'm not saying this because I'm swayed by her. My dear, I simply wish for you to establish an heir you can control."
Speaking smoothly as if it were all for the Duke's benefit, the Duchess approached her husband with light steps.
"Besides, you said His Majesty disapproves of the First Prince associating with the Magic Tower. His position, having fallen out of His Majesty's favor, is dangerous. If we must lend him strength, we should proceed with a marriage alliance—but who would we send to the First Prince?"
The Duchess reached out and calmly brushed her husband's shoulder. After repeating this two or three times, the Duke's tensed shoulders relaxed slightly.
"The situation has changed, as you say, my dear."
"I cannot send Annelie away. She is of Roam's bloodline."
Not just any Roam bloodline, but a very valuable one at that.
The Duchess understood her husband's meaning. She shared his opinion.
A Resurrected chosen by God, acknowledged by all. Sending Annelie, who was no different from a living divine idol, outside of Roam was unthinkable.
"I'm not saying we should cast her out. I'm merely saying... we should be cautious. We still have options, do we not?"
Though they had maintained a close relationship with Maxel for a long time, there was no proper tie with Heinrich.
If they had solidified their relationship through a marriage alliance as the most certain card, they could not have withdrawn so easily, but no such bond existed.
The Duchess continued.
"Lilia told me. She said the Crown Prince will soon lead an army to launch a large-scale subjugation of monsters. Through this, he will receive the praise of the imperial citizens and ascend to the throne."
Both knew that Lilia's foresight had returned.
The Duke said nothing. Yet deep anguish was evident in his furrowed brow.
The Duchess spoke calmly, without rushing.
"Though God sent a Resurrected to defeat the monsters, how could a Resurrected accomplish such a tremendous feat alone?"
The Duke swallowed a groan.
He could believe that God had resurrected Annelie, but he did not believe Annelie could defeat all monsters.
Even without the Duchess pointing it out, he had probably already considered this.
Annelie appeared to possess no special power, and the only things she had shown to the outside world were her abductions by monsters.
Of course, she had returned unharmed each time... but her abilities remained shrouded in mystery.
"If the Crown Prince leads an army and deals with the monsters, he will certainly gain support."
"Indeed. Roam needs the Resurrected, but we must not forget our close relationship with the Imperial Family either."
After saying this, the Duchess thought of Annelie.
Annelie was the Empress candidate she had painstakingly raised.
A daughter who obeyed her mother's teachings and executed them admirably. But a foolish child who could not overcome her own excessive greed and destroyed herself.
Recalling how she had fallen apart in the past, seating her as the Little Duke solely because of the Resurrected's reputation was still an unsettling prospect.
"Given the Resurrected's current favorable standing, make sure she doesn't act capriciously. It would be troublesome if her temper sours over the hired help issue. Seiry needs time."
"I will convey the message immediately."
In the end, it was the Duke who took a step back.
Recalling the previous night's conversation, the Duchess calmly organized her thoughts and rose from her seat.
Hadn't Annelie gone to the Imperial Palace?
"Prepare for my outing."
"Yes, my lady. And this letter arrived for you."
The personal maid carefully set down the letter. Frisian's name was written on the envelope.
Seeing this, the Duchess clicked her tongue with an annoyed expression.
"Let's go out first."
The unopened letter disappeared into a drawer.
* * *
"So Her Majesty the Empress still hasn't awakened."
I thought she would open her eyes immediately after killing Rusalka.
Hearing the news that the Empress remained asleep, I pressed my lips together in concern. Perhaps it would be better for me to examine her directly?
'If the issue lies with the divine power, I need to see it with my own eyes.'
Heinrich gave me time to think sufficiently.
He sat across from me, quietly sipping his tea in silence, and only opened his mouth to speak again when I let out a long breath.
"After the Magic Tower and the Temple caused quite a commotion and left."
"Yes."
"The Emperor's wrath was considerable."
My. If the Emperor was enraged, the one who suffered beside him must have been Heinrich.
As I looked at Heinrich with faint sympathy, he shook his head with a bitter smile.
"He is becoming increasingly sensitive."
"My word."
I sighed and picked up my tea cup.
"Perhaps he wishes to summon Maxel back to his side. I heard Maxel requested an audience with His Majesty today."
"Is that so?"
"I made some quiet inquiries, and it seems he intends to ask permission to go out."
"Ah."
I nodded in response to his words and set down my cup.
Heinrich spoke in a tone that suggested he had absolutely no idea what Maxel's intentions could be.
"It seems he wishes to visit the County of Ruejak. But wasn't the Count's daughter close with you?"
"...."
My hand reaching for a snack stopped involuntarily in the air.
But it was only a moment, and I casually picked up a cookie.
The crumbs clinging to my fingertips felt unpleasant.
"We were close friends."
The name I hadn't heard in a long time left a bitter taste in my mouth.
"I see, that's why it sounded familiar."
Watching Heinrich nod so naturally, I swallowed a sigh.
I set down the untouched cookie carelessly on the table and wiped my hands with a handkerchief. Then I took out a paper I had brought with me and handed it to him.
After confirming Heinrich had received and unfolded the paper, I gripped the tea cup handle.
"It's an incredibly foolish choice, to the point I can hardly believe it."
As I muttered grumpily, Heinrich replied as if speaking to himself.
"Indeed. Truly insane. Is this really her prophecy?"
"Yes. It's a novel she's been writing quite diligently every night these days."
She was writing so diligently that Tristan had quite a hard time delivering its contents.
Heinrich read through the paper calmly, and after confirming the last sentence, he folded it. Then he brought it to a nearby candlestick.
As I watched the paper curling black, Heinrich quietly asked.
"Will you be alright?"
It was an unkind question, but I could understand what he was asking. I nodded and sipped my tea.
After rinsing the bitter aftertaste in my mouth with warm tea, I felt much refreshed.
"As I said, we were close friends."
At that moment, the daughter of the Ruejak Count's family came to mind, elegantly raising her head to look at me.
A friend of mine whose turn had been pushed far back because so many people hated her.
She was one of the ordinary people who was moved by Lilia's kindness and criticized my callousness.
A woman who used the justification of wishing for her friend to walk the right path, diligently pointing out my actions.
If Lilia was a cookie, the Ruejak Count's daughter was like the crumbs clinging to it.
"She was close with me, but with Lilia, they were inseparable. She was so inspired by Lilia that she was reborn as a warm and benevolent young lady."
Furthermore, the Ruejak Count's daughter's long unrequited love had borne fruit thanks to Lilia. That event became the occasion for her to become Lilia's spokesperson and lecture me.
Heinrich murmured.
"Ah, I see."
"So you need not worry about me. It's actually fortunate. They're gathering together on their own, sparing me the trouble. Without even being told."
After comfortably finishing my tea, I smiled gently at Heinrich.
"So when do those rascals leave for the County of Ruejak?"
"You know the atmosphere in the Imperial Palace as well as I do. It won't be easy to get permission at once."
The territory of the County of Ruejak was quite far from the capital.
Using a warp gate would make it a quick journey, but in these turbulent times with the Empress having collapsed, the Emperor would hardly appreciate the palace being emptied.
Especially nowadays when he distrusts Heinrich, he would be even more likely to keep Maxel close.
I tilted my head, guessing at the conversation between the Emperor and Maxel, then spoke in an indifferent tone.
"But His Majesty's mind is becoming increasingly clouded, so he'll likely permit it soon."
"My, speaking such irreverent words so casually."
"Are you going to arrest me for irreverence then?"
I asked calmly as I poured my own tea. Having dismissed all the attendants to converse comfortably, it couldn't be helped.
Steam rose gently from the adequately filled cup. Just like at the beginning.
"It is sad that His Majesty has lost his cognitive abilities, but as his son, I must accept it. Once Mother opens her eyes, I'll begin Father's treatment."
Heinrich's voice was thick with worry, as if the Emperor were truly unwell.
So it was amusing. I hadn't known Heinrich was someone capable of exaggerating emotions to this degree. He had the skill to go straight onto a theater stage without any deficiency.
"Her Majesty the Empress must awaken soon."
I rose from my seat. The tea cup, still full as if untouched from the start, sat on the table, but I didn't particularly want to drink it.
"I wish to see Her Majesty the Empress."
At my words, Heinrich nodded readily and called for an attendant.
"Tell them the Resurrected wishes to convey a blessing and prayer to Her Majesty the Empress. Prepare to receive the guest."
Rusalka was dead, and the power Rusalka had possessed was now in my hands.
Therefore, if the Empress still could not awaken because of that power, surely I would be able to resolve it.
I needed to go and confirm that.