Aiden couldn’t help but feel conflicted after hearing Javier’s question.
He worried whether this pure-hearted boy could even handle the truth.
Visions of Jun and their companions getting caught up in political struggles flashed through his mind.
Just as Aiden’s concerns were growing deeper—
“Haha. I was being too mischievous, wasn’t I?”
“…What?”
“I understand perfectly well. If it’s something serious enough to be kept from me, then it must be a significant political matter. How could I possibly place that burden on you, brother?”
“Javier…”
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of making you carry the same burden as me.”
Though Javier was still smiling as he spoke, Aiden couldn’t fully accept that smile.
“I…”
“Third Prince.”
Just then, a voice came from the adjacent balcony.
It was Jun, the person Aiden trusted the most.
***
“So, you want to hear the truth?”
Dexter looked at Javier, who had come to see him, wearing a complicated expression.
“Yes, elder brother. What exactly is the real purpose behind this tour that you’re hiding from me?”
“Haah…”
A deep sigh escaped him, and Dexter’s gaze naturally turned to the mage who had brought Javier. It was Jun.
I can’t really blame him at this point.
If Javier had been completely unaware, it would’ve been one thing.
But it was Javier himself who had first sensed that this tour had a hidden agenda.
And Dexter knew better than anyone that forcing Javier to remain in the dark would only backfire in the end.
Keeping this from him would just be playing right into the hands of the Heavenly Church.
What the Heavenly Church desired most was for the bonds among the current royal family to fracture.
Of course, in an empire with a history spanning hundreds of years, it wasn’t uncommon for sibling relationships to break down. But—
It was a different story if those bonds were broken due to outside interference.
What should I do…
He briefly worried whether his sensitive younger brother could truly handle the truth.
Then, at last, Dexter opened his mouth heavily.
“This all began… with your carriage accident.”
“If you mean the carriage accident…”
“It wasn’t an accident, Javier. It was a carefully orchestrated act made to look like a coincidence.”
“…Please, tell me more.”
Dexter pulled out a memory recorder from his coat and showed it to him.
It was the footage Jun had captured and handed over to the Emperor at the time.
“You’ll understand once you see this.”
Eventually, the recording finished playing…
And Javier hung his head low.
“…Does Mother know about this too?”
“She does.”
“So… she kept this from me as well.”
“Lady Beneth was likely thinking the same way I was. She hid it out of concern for you.”
“I suppose so.”
As Javier spoke, his face showed a mixture of emptiness and guilt.
“It would’ve been easier to accept if it had just been an accident.”
They were childhood friends who had shared in his difficult youth.
And now, those two dear friends had been killed by some unknown organization.
Only then did Javier recall the events from the carriage.
“That night… Yes, it was the night before the accident. The coachman said he had some surprisingly good liquor for us…”
It wasn’t the coachman who offered the drink first. One of his two friends who died mentioned during the meal that it felt lacking and that’s when the coachman approached them.
“Now that I think about it, it was as if the coachman even knew my friend’s personality.”
“…I see.”
“If that’s the case, then he must’ve been someone deeply connected with my mother.”
And then, as if he finally understood everything, Javier trembled and closed his eyes.
“So that’s why everything had to be kept so secret. Because… you were afraid Mother might be seen as a traitor. That’s why, wasn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
“What did Father say about all this?”
“He was equally concerned. Our relationship was starting to deteriorate, and from that point on, it was impossible to predict how Lady Beneth would act.”
“…….”
Javier knew this well, too.
That most of his mother Beneth’s political power came from the noble faction.
So what would happen when those nobles learned the truth?
And then, what kind of chaos would that bring to the Empire?
“We know, Javier. We know that Lady Beneth was nothing more than a pawn in all of this. That’s why we’ll capture those vile bastards and prove the Empire still stands strong.”
“…Elder brother, do you know what I fear the most?”
“What is it?”
“I’m afraid… that my mother will even use that truth.”
“……!”
“She’ll seize on the nobles’ weakness, drain their power through it… and ultimately set her sights on the throne.”
And he, in turn, would be used by her will, using even the deaths of his dearest friends to ascend to the imperial seat.
“How… cruel.”
Was that remark directed at someone in particular or at the situation itself?
No one could give a quick answer to the turmoil in Javier’s heart.
Instead—
Javier’s gaze turned to the person who had uncovered the truth behind it all.
The leader of the White Whale Mercenaries.
Jun.
“Even so… I want to thank you. For stopping my mother before she made an even bigger mistake.”
“I only hope things work out because of the choice I made.”
“Well… That will depend on how my mother decides to act.”
There wasn’t even a shred of hope on Javier’s face as he said those words.
With that, he quietly left the room.
“Haah… It’s difficult. So difficult.”
Dexter muttered gloomily.
The throne.
He too was a contender for that seat. And while he knew he was relatively more moderate compared to past members of the imperial family—
If only he had shown open hostility, I could have responded without guilt.
Javier’s contradictory attitude weighed heavily on his chest.
Perhaps this too is a burden one must bear to sit on the throne.
No one would ever give him a clear answer to that.
***
Though the heavy conversation had ended, the situation was far from resolved.
“Ugh… Why does it feel like my burden just got heavier?”
What path Javier would choose from this point forward—
That alone was a major concern for Jun.
But that’s beyond my control, so I’ll push that aside for now. The biggest issue is still Commander Ginovan.
The Evil Spirit Orb.
Its presence continued to weigh down on Jun.
Why did it have to be the Evil Spirit Orb?
In truth, this wasn’t something that could be given to just anyone.
Even within the Heavenly Church, the Evil Spirit Orb was only bestowed upon those considered highly important.
So why would the Church hand one over to Ginovan, someone who barely had any real backing?
No matter how I think about it, it just doesn’t make sense.
Which meant, for now, the best course of action was to approach Ginovan directly.
Jun resolved to seek him out at first light.
***
Early dawn.
Someone knocked at the mansion’s door.
Who could it be at this hour?
Anyone who knew who was staying at this mansion wouldn’t come calling so casually.
The visitor was a middle-aged man with a rather substantial build.
“Huh… Why does the mansion feel so tense today…?”
Wearing a puzzled look, he kept glancing around nervously before approaching a soldier on guard.
“I’m here to see Sir Ginovan.”
“Ah, are you Sir Botan? Please, come in.”
“Haha, the security here seems rather harsh today, doesn’t it…?”
“Please understand. We have guests inside at the moment.”
“Just who are they… Did I come at the wrong time?”
The soldier hesitated, unsure how to respond to the middle-aged man’s reaction. Still, since he was on the schedule, the soldier let him into the mansion.
“The guests inside are of imperial blood.”
“What?! W-What? Why are they here?”
“That much, even I don’t know…”
Though clearly startled, the man called Botan nodded and stepped into the mansion.
“Well, it can’t be helped… Still, I’ve come all this way, I can’t just turn back now.”
“Are you here to deliver something?”
“Yes, I’ll give it to him myself. Thanks for your help.”
“Not at all.”
Jun, who had risen early that morning, watched the two converse quietly from the side.
Then suddenly—
Jun’s eyes sharpened.
That…?
He had spotted an accessory on Botan’s wrist.
It was a bracelet shaped like a snake coiling up the arm.
“Hmm…”
An unexpected clue had fallen into his lap.
So this is what they meant when they said the early bird catches the worm?
But how should I approach that man…?
Jun thought briefly.
A year ago, I would never have dared to try something this reckless…
But so what?
Now, he had the backing of both the First and Third Princes.
Using borrowed power once wouldn’t be the end of the world.
[Mosilas’s Mirror]
Casting an illusion spell on his target, Jun adjusted his posture naturally and approached Botan.
“Welcome.”
“Hmm? And who might you be?”
“I’m a servant. I’ll guide you upstairs.”
“Oh? You must be new around here.”
“Yes, I was hired temporarily for the visit of our current guests.”
“I see. No worries. I’ll find my own way.”
“I’m sorry, but… it’s the hour when our noble guests usually rest.”
At that, Botan shook his head before conceding with a sigh.
He seemed clueless and frustratingly slow, almost as if something were lacking. But what could Jun do?
The man was just a newly hired servant who didn’t know much.
“Alright then. I’ll leave it to you.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
With that, Jun led Botan up the stairs, and they arrived in front of Ginovan’s office.
Knock knock.
“Who is it?”
“Sir, a guest by the name of Botan is here to see you.”
“…Let him in.”
“Yes.”
Jun naturally entered the office.
Of course, he hadn’t cast any illusion magic on Ginovan.
For a brief moment, Jun caught the subtle flicker in Ginovan’s eyes.
And then…
“Oh dear… the flowers have wilted. I’ll take care of them.”
Smiling gently, he casually pointed at the table, which was cluttered with documents, and Ginovan gave a small nod without saying anything.
“You’re quite diligent for a newcomer. But anyway…Ginovan! It’s been a while. You’ve risen up in the world.”
“Indeed, Brother. How have you been?”
“You must’ve read my letter and guessed. But you, do you have any idea how shocked I was when I heard you’d become a commander?”
Tuning out their conversation, Jun picked up the now-wilted flowers and left the room.
Once he had walked far enough down the hall and reached a more secluded corridor—
He tossed the flowers out the window and muttered to himself.
“This might end up going more smoothly than I thought.”
He had spoken without thinking and quickly looked around.
Thankfully, Maya and Eleanor weren’t nearby.
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