The turbulent days had passed, and Yohan returned to his duties as a public officer after his vacation ended.
He was greeted with countless welcomes from the female officers.
“Harssen’s Elite Mage! Oh no, I should say Rahardt’s Elite Mage now, right? It’s been a while!”
“Congratulations on your promotion!”
“It seems like you’ve had a lot on your plate, but I’m glad everything worked out safely.”
“Is it because you’ve earned the title of Guardian of the Sun? I swear there’s a halo around you!”
Their gazes were filled with admiration. It was understandable. Just half a year ago, Yohan was merely the third son of a viscount’s family, but now he had risen to the status of an earl, holding one of the highest honors.
“Haha, you’re all giving me such a warm welcome. Thank you.”
Although Yohan found their attention a bit overwhelming, he expressed his gratitude without showing discomfort.
“So, will you be heading straight to the Ferbace territory after your duties are done?”
“When’s the wedding? Will we be invited too?”
“Oh, now that I think of it, I had something to ask you, Sir Rahardt Elite Mage…!”
The female officers bombarded Yohan with endless questions, clearly curious about the many stories surrounding him.
“Everyone, please calm down. I’ll answer your questions one by one. Here’s what happened…”
Despite the barrage of questions, Yohan patiently satisfied their curiosity. Of course, he tactfully avoided answering the more troublesome ones.
“Rahardt Elite Mage.”
As Yohan conversed with the officers, Deputy Commander Ricard approached and gave a slight nod of greeting.
“It’s been a while, Deputy Commander.”
“You’ve been busy lately. How are you holding up?”
“It’s been a bit hectic, but there are no major issues.”
“That’s a relief.”
After the brief exchange of pleasantries, Ricard smiled faintly and got to the point.
“The Commander has requested your presence. He wishes to discuss matters regarding the demon lair. You should head to his office now.”
A summons from the Commander.
“It must be about sealing the demon lair.”
Yohan smiled slightly and nodded.
“Understood. I’ll head there right away.”
* * *
Click.
Yohan opened the door and stepped inside.
In the center of the office, on the sofa, Fedelian was seated with a cold, hardened expression as he looked at Yohan.
“You’re here.”
“Yes, I heard you called for me.”
“I have something to discuss. Sit down.”
Yohan took a seat across from Fedelian. The atmosphere was tense, likely due to the friction they had over Yohan’s engagement.
“There’s no need for pleasantries between us, so let’s get straight to the point.”
Fedelian began to speak.
“A special department within the public office is being formed, centered around you.”
“A… special department?”
“Yes. It will be the second branch of the public office, with its primary focus on sealing demon lairs.”
Fedelian handed Yohan a document and tilted his head slightly. His face was indifferent, but the wariness behind it was unmistakable.
“This department will consist of first-class officers who will provide you with both logistical and physical support. Their experience and escorting abilities are second to none.”
“…Will there be any assistance from the knightly orders?”
Although the department would specialize in dealing with demon lairs, it was impossible for all knights to be reassigned as support. The numbers would be woefully insufficient.
“Normally, the Black Knights of Renokhonan would assist, but as you know, the atmosphere in the Grand Duchy’s Black Knights isn’t exactly stable right now.”
At Ferbace’s request, the imperial court had reopened the trial concerning the punishment of the Grand Duke’s heir of Renokhonan.
“The situation in Renokhonan must be chaotic.”
“Indeed.”
Fedelian’s lips twisted slightly as he answered flatly, clearly worn out by the matter. As the crown prince and the leader of the second public office, he couldn’t avoid being entangled in such issues.
“Anyway, for now, the demon lair sealing department will begin as a small, elite group. Keep that in mind.”
“Understood.”
Yohan gathered the documents from the table and asked calmly,
“Is there anything else you wish to say?”
“That’s all.”
“I see. Then I’ll take my leave.”
“Wait.”
Just as Yohan was about to leave the office, Fedelian called out, stopping him. Yohan turned back to look at him. Fedelian’s golden eyes were dark and deep, as though searching for answers.
“Rudella… or rather, Lady Bismarck, has been acting strangely lately. Do you happen to know why?”
“…Why do you keep asking me about your fiancée’s affairs? Frankly, I find it puzzling.”
“She’s been acting strange ever since she met you.”
Fedelian’s gaze bore into Yohan with a piercing sharpness, his face as rigid as stone.
“Lady Bismarck began behaving oddly after meeting you. At some point, she even abandoned her duties entirely.”
From the empress to the emperor and even the Senate, many were concerned about Rudella’s behavior. As her fiancé, Fedelian had looked into it out of obligation, but he hadn’t uncovered much.
One thing was certain, though: her behavior shifted dramatically after her encounters with Yohan.
“I believe her odd behavior has something to do with you.”
“…..”
Yohan narrowed his eyes. Fedelian’s persistence seemed to suggest he had some degree of certainty. Still, it was nothing more than conjecture. The best approach was to maintain consistency.
In a calm voice, Yohan replied,
“Perhaps she hasn’t recovered from the shock. After all, it wasn’t just anyone….it was someone she should have trusted….who attempted to assassinate her.”
He was implying that it was only natural for someone to be traumatized after their own fiancé tried to kill them.
“…My fiancée isn’t the type to be shaken by such trivial matters.”
“Human emotions are often more complex than they appear, wouldn’t you agree?”
Yohan could immediately grasp how Fedelian viewed Rudella from their conversation. It was clear that he neither respected nor truly understood her.
People’s emotions are intricate and subtle, often hiding truths beneath their surface. Someone smiling on the outside might be crying within, and a seemingly cold person might possess a warm heart.
“This is all I can offer. I don’t know anything else about Lady Bismarck.”
“…….”
Fedelian silently scrutinized Yohan’s face. Though he didn’t notice anything suspicious, something about him still felt off. However, with only circumstantial evidence and intuition to rely on, there was little more he could pursue.
“…Very well. You may leave.”
“Yes.”
Yohan offered a polite bow before exiting the office.
He could feel Fedelian’s lingering gaze on his back, but he paid it no mind.
* * *
Fedelian silently stared at the door Yohan had closed behind him. His eyes were cold, and a deep shadow lingered near the corners of his gaze. A foreboding feeling had been gnawing at a corner of his heart for some time now.
“Hmm.”
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
‘…Something’s there.’
On the surface, nothing seemed wrong. Rudella would soon return to her duties, and the same routine as before would continue.
But… the unease refused to dissipate.
‘Something feels off.’
Fedelian couldn’t shake the feeling. He knew he was missing something crucial. Though his suspicion stemmed purely from intuition, he trusted his instincts—instincts that had always proven accurate in the past.
‘Go back to the beginning.’
The change in her demeanor had started after she crossed the border for the agreement and returned. Notable incidents included Yohan Rahardt accompanying her as a guard and an assassination attempt by shadowy figures.
But as far as Fedelian knew, Rudella wasn’t the type to be deeply wounded or shocked by an attempt on her life. If anything, she would suppress her emotions, burying them entirely rather than allowing her feelings to take precedence over her duties.
After all, she had been raised under the ironclad indoctrination of the Bismarck family, where loyalty to the crown prince…Fedelian….was paramount, no matter the circumstances.
‘Then that leaves… her relationship with Yohan Rahardt.’
Everything began to change after her involvement with Yohan Rahardt. Her work fell by the wayside, and she no longer paid him the same attention as before.
Occasionally, she even seemed absent-minded, unable to focus, as if lost in thought.
Like a young girl smitten by her first love.
“Hmm…”
Fedelian furrowed his brows and stroked his chin. He sorted through the critical pieces of information in his mind.
Yohan Rahardt’s reaction when Rudella was mentioned.
The fact that Rudella had disappeared from the Topaz Palace without informing anyone of her destination.
The revival of emotions in Rudella after meeting Yohan Rahardt.
The subtle, yet unmistakable attitude she displayed toward him during their encounters…
Hundreds of scenarios ran through Fedelian’s mind, none of which he dismissed outright.
“Could it be?”
Eventually, he arrived at an answer.
‘Rudella, could you have given your heart to Yohan Rahardt?’
It seemed absurd, yet not impossible. Her change in attitude and neglect of her duties had all begun after meeting him.
‘If that’s the case—betrayal.’
To be honest, the idea was baffling.
Rudella? Betrayal?
Over a man, no less?
But his instincts insisted otherwise. They warned him of Rudella’s betrayal. This was the intuition he had honed from a young age, navigating the treacherous politics of the Rozino royal court. Surviving among nobles who could turn their backs at any moment had demanded nothing less.
This intuition was not a constant alarm—it only sounded when enough information aligned to warrant it. And now, Fedelian’s instincts, backed by gathered facts and circumstances, were screaming of danger.
‘…I can’t ignore the possibility. Especially not with the way things have been going recently.’
Fedelian’s golden eyes darkened, his expression turning icy.
Rudella knew too much.
She was aware of his dealings with the mages, the private military he had amassed in preparation for contingencies, and his covert transactions with foreign powers.
She likely had evidence of all of it. Rudella was far more meticulous than she appeared.
The reason Fedelian had not taken action against her until now was that he never believed she would betray him. After all, once he ascended the throne, such evidence would become meaningless.
‘This needs thorough investigation.’
Fedelian snapped his fingers into the empty air.
Swish!
A jet-black figure emerged, the leader of the shadows capable of perfectly concealing themselves even from the palace guards.
“You summoned me, Your Highness.”
“I have a task for you.”
“State your orders.”
Fedelian drew upon his mana, heightening his senses to their peak. His hearing and mana-detection abilities expanded to scrutinize his surroundings.
Finding no magical recording devices or signs of eavesdropping, he issued his command.
“Put Rudella Bismarck under surveillance. Especially her aide. If you find anything suspicious, you may abduct them for interrogation. I leave the judgment to you.”
The kneeling shadow bowed deeply.
“As you command.”
Rustle!
The black figure vanished in an instant, leaving only a faint trace behind. Fedelian clasped his hands on the desk before him.
‘Rudella. I don’t know what you’re planning, but I don’t spare traitors.’
That included anyone contemplating betrayal.