Yohan and Rudella joined forces with the knights guided by Vera.
The troops sent to capture the crown prince consisted of elite inspectors and royal knights, and their presence was anything but ordinary.
Their official justification for arming themselves and mobilizing such forces was to apprehend Fedelian Rogino, who was suspected of treason.
“Miss… Are you all right?”
Vera asked tearfully, her voice trembling as she gazed at Rudella with tearful eyes.
“I am fine. You, on the other hand, have endured much.”
“No… I should have been more careful…”
Vera’s voice shook, and tears of guilt streamed down her cheeks.
“This is not your fault.”
Rudella gently clasped Vera’s hands and smiled softly.
“The one truly at fault is someone else. You mustn’t carry this burden any longer.”
Rudella echoed the words she had once heard from Yohan, remembering them vividly and passing them on to Vera.
“Miss…”
Vera sniffled as she embraced Rudella tightly.
Hug.
Rudella patted Vera’s back as she held her close, soothing her.
“Rest for now. Take your time to recover, and we’ll talk after that.”
“Yes…”
Vera’s condition was visibly poor. Her pale face looked gaunt, and dark shadows hung beneath her eyes. She had been staggering for a while now, likely suffering from symptoms of anemia.
She had clashed with shadowy foes and had been captured, enduring physical abuse as an outlet for the crown prince’s rage. Rest and recovery were the priorities now.
“Then, I’ll be off…”
With the help of a knight, Vera walked away. Though still deep in the forest, there was a carriage brought by the inspectors where she could rest.
“I thought Lady Bismarck was a lonely person, but it seems that isn’t entirely true,” Yohan remarked with a warm smile as he watched Vera leave.
“She is more than I deserve,” Rudella replied, nodding slowly.
Rudella and Vera shared a bond that couldn’t be summarized in just a few sentences. They had gone through so much together, sharing countless emotions.
“…”
Yohan glanced at Rudella’s profile and felt a sudden question arise in his mind.
‘Wait… Was there always a character like Vera?’
It had been so long since he’d read the original work that he couldn’t clearly recall all the details, but he was confident he remembered the main characters and their backstories.
He had spent considerable effort recalling and memorizing those details, jotting down notes to help him remember.
‘No, I’m sure. Vera wasn’t part of the original story.’
Vera, despite being Rudella’s close aide and a key character here, hadn’t appeared in the original narrative. It didn’t make sense. In most stories, the main antagonist’s aide would at least make a few appearances.
‘Unless I just forgot….’
If it were merely a lapse in memory, the name Vera would have at least sparked some sense of familiarity. Yet, he felt none of that.
‘No, I can say with certainty. Vera wasn’t part of the original story.’
There are many reasons for this, but the most likely reason is that she is dead, and so Rudella began her downward spiral in earnest…
“What are you thinking?”
Rudella tilted her head. Her light blue eyes bore into Yohan’s.
“It’s nothing, Lady Bismark, I’m sure you’re tired, and you should rest.”
“Hoo-hoo, I have nothing to be tired of, you’re the one who’s tired.”
She wasn’t tired, but not as tired as Yohan. Unlike Rudella, who was only slightly foggy from the psychic attack, Yohan’s magic circuits had been damaged.
“Rest first.”
“Yes, Lady Bismark, at your ease…”
As he exchanged a quick glance with Rudella, he felt a chilling gaze behind him. A fierce chill crawled up the nape of his neck.
Yohan whirled around, frozen. A pair of red eyes stared back at him, devoid of any emotion.
“…Francia?”
“Yohan.”
She approached him with slow, deliberate steps.
“…You two seem so sweet together.”
“Is that because…”
“I was worried about Yohan, and I was shaking with anxiety.”
“….”
“Unaware of my feelings, Yohan…”
Francia’s voice was low and cold. Her eyes pierced through Yohan without wavering, but the jealousy hidden within them was like ice.
Come to think of it, the anxiety she must have felt was more than even Yohan could have imagined.
What man in the world could not feel uneasy at the thought of his lover entering him limb from limb?
“I’m sorry…”
“I need you to kiss me.”
“Right here?”
“Yes. Why not?”
Francia stared at Yohan, her face cold.
“Prove to me that you love me.”
“Uh…”
Yohan glanced away and looked at Ludella, who was wearing no expression. He couldn’t tell what she was thinking.
“I hope she’s okay…
He wanted to take her mind off of it as much as possible, but he couldn’t right now.
“Then…”
Leaning down, Yohan locked eyes with Francia, and gingerly pressed his lips to hers.
“…!”
At that moment, Francia’s arms wrapped around Yohan’s neck like a snake. Her tongue darted into his mouth.
Francia’s tongue boldly explored Yohan’s mouth. Their tongues tangled and teased. A kiss of desperation. The saliva running down his chin proved her desire.
Hoo-hoo.
Her hot breath stung his lungs. Francia’s scent filled his head. He felt dizzy as his vision blurred.
“….”
Meanwhile.
Rudella stared at them, silent, not making a sound. But her heart was beating wildly.
The icy loneliness tightened around her heart. A small, fiery ember ignited within her chest. As jealousy spread, a sharp pain she couldn’t put into words cut through her.
Even though the relationship between the three of them had been mutually agreed upon, this feeling was unavoidable. It was a natural emotion for any human to experience.
She had accepted the idea of a polygamous relationship and understood the situation, but… her inner emotions were not so easily calmed.
“…..”
At that moment, Francia glanced at Rudella with slightly opened eyes. Francia was in the middle of a passionate kiss with Yohan.
Her gaze towards Rudella was anything but ordinary. It wasn’t the kind of look one would give to a companion or a friend.
And that was the breaking point.
It felt as though Francia was silently declaring,
‘This man is obviously mine, but I’m letting you borrow him temporarily.’
Rudella’s sky-blue eyes darkened. She had tried to respect their relationship and maintain a low profile, but…
‘If that’s how it’s going to be… then I have no choice.’
The truth was, she had her own way to ensure Yohan loved her even more. A method that Francia couldn’t possibly counter.
She had refrained from using it, fearing the impact it might have on their dynamic, but Francia’s attitude convinced her it would be fine.
A frosty resolve filled Rudella’s sky-blue eyes. Quietly, yet firmly, she made up her mind.
“Phew…”
It was only after quite some time that the heated, intense kiss between Yohan and Francia ended. A thin, white line lingered between their lips as they pulled away.
“…Are you satisfied?”
“Yes.”
At Yohan’s question, Francia, her face flushed red, bashfully smiled and gave him a light peck on the lips again.
“I can feel Yohan’s love for me.”
“That’s a relief…”
Still catching his breath, Yohan repeatedly took deep breaths as he gently ran his hand through Francia’s hair. The soft texture of her hair lingered on his fingertips.
“Oh, I almost forgot to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“The First-Class Inspector requested to see you briefly.”
“Ah.”
Even without further explanation, Yohan immediately understood why the inspector wanted to see him. Given the case he was working on, they must have needed more information.
“I’ll head over right away.”
* * *
Yohan arrived at the site where the inspectors were diligently conducting their investigation.
As he approached, a knight standing guard recognized him and promptly called for the inspector.
“An honor to mee— huh?”
Eris’s breath caught in her throat as she laid eyes on him. His beauty was ethereal, like frost settling in the early dawn. For a brief moment, her heart wavered.
“Ahem, cough. It is an honor to meet you, Count Rahardt. I am Eris Highlander, a special-class inspector overseeing this case,” she said, quickly regaining her composure and offering a polite greeting.
Moonlight reflected off Yohan’s pale platinum hair. His ice-gray eyes, framed by his alabaster skin, radiated an almost otherworldly allure.
His poised demeanor and delicate features added a cold, striking beauty to his appearance.
A remarkably handsome man, yet one whose skills were undoubtedly just as extraordinary. Judging by the sword at his waist, he seemed to be a knight as well.
“Likewise, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
When Yohan extended his hand, Eris smiled softly and accepted it with a handshake.
“I heard you called for me. What is the matter?”
“I need to understand exactly what happened here.”
“Well, let me explain…”
Yohan began recounting everything in detail: how Vera and Rudella had been kidnapped, what actions the crown prince had taken, and how he himself had responded.
Eris listened carefully, her eyes widening in shock as he spoke.
“…Are you saying that all this devastation was caused by you, Count Rahardt?”
“Yes. It was a bit excessive, but it was the only way to avoid getting killed myself.”
“Good heavens…”
Eris looked around in disbelief. The scene was akin to a wasteland—one might even believe a meteor had struck the area.
“How could you wield such power…?”
“My magic differs from that of other mages; it’s heavily focused on offensive capabilities.”
It was the truth. All of Yohan’s advanced spells were centered on combat.
“…I see. Then I will now deliver the royal decree issued directly by His Majesty.”
Eris pulled a sealed letter bound with a golden ribbon from her belongings and unfolded it.
“You are commanded to secretly detain Fedelian Rogino, who is suspected of treason. He will be imprisoned in the Tower of Confinement, where the truth of the incident will be determined through trial, and his punishment decided.”
With a decisive motion, Eris closed the letter.
“As I mentioned earlier, this is a direct order from His Majesty. We are acting under this royal decree, and we will do everything in our power to apprehend Crown Prince Fedelian Rogino.”
The fact that the emperor had sent a special-class inspector along with an immediate order for his son’s detention suggested that he had no intention of protecting the crown prince simply because of their familial bond.
‘Still, the fact that it’s being handled secretly must mean the emperor isn’t fully convinced yet,’ Yohan mused.
“Have you found any traces of the traitor?” he asked.
Eris shook her head.
“Unfortunately, no. There are no signs or clues left behind. However, we will locate him soon—that’s why we were dispatched, after all.”
Perhaps it was her status as a special-class inspector, but her confidence was persuasive.
Yohan nodded.
“I’ll trust and wait.”
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
“Then I’ll take my leave…”
As Yohan headed toward the carriage brought by the inspectors and knights for rest, a confident smile appeared on his face.
‘At this point, his dethronement is inevitable.’
The emperor had cut ties completely, refusing to shield his son. It was clear even to him that there was no way for the crown prince to escape.
‘Protecting him would only put the emperor himself in jeopardy.’
More than anything, it was the revelation that Fedelian had been amassing troops outside the empire that sealed his fate. He had been preparing to stab the emperor in the back at any moment.
‘Things have progressed faster than expected, but dealing with the crown prince is as good as done.’
The damage was minimal.
By all accounts, this was a success.
* * *
Surprisingly, the Tower of Confinement wasn’t too far from the capital.
It was a place where even members of the royal family could enter, primarily used to detain high-ranking nobles who had committed crimes.
With the help of the shadows, Fedelian barely managed to reach the Tower of Confinement.
He entered the building naturally and headed straight to the underground level, stopping in front of the iron bars where Cassis Renokhonan was imprisoned.
“Cassis Renokhonan.”
The man, who had been as silent as a corpse, raised his head. His once-vivid amethyst eyes had turned dull, now flickering only with hostility.
“There’s something you need to do. The reward is your freedom. And the death of Yohan Rahardt.”