Chapter 78: Isolation

The imperial palace appeared no different from usual.  

Attendants moved gracefully, performing their duties, while the knights maintained order with a disciplined demeanor.  

In the meticulously tended gardens, flowers of various kinds bloomed in full glory regardless of the season, and their gentle fragrance wafted through the air on a soft breeze.  

As they passed through the hallways with high ceilings and glittering chandeliers, no one cast their gaze upon the dazzling decorations.  

Those who worked in the imperial palace were already accustomed to its splendor and knew all too well that this place was brimming with intrigue and secrets.  

However, today, beneath the usual calm, an invisible tension seemed to subtly spread.  

“Did you hear about this? I heard from a friend at the Inspection Bureau…”  

“The timing is curious, isn’t it? Isn’t His Highness the Crown Prince unwell right now?”  

“What is it about?”  

“Hah, it’s a bit delicate to say outright… Just look at the atmosphere.”  

“Why? Is there talk of a rebellion?”  

“Hey, watch your words!”  

“…Is it true?”  

A disturbing rumor was circulating among those working in the palace.  

[The Crown Prince is plotting treason.] 

This rumor spread widely, sparing neither knights nor attendants. Yet, because it was not confirmed, people spoke of it cautiously.  

“Come on… That doesn’t make sense. It’s just a baseless rumor.”  

“Exactly. He has no reason to do such a thing.”  

At first, no one believed it. Crown Prince Fedelian Rogino plotting treason? It was an absurd notion.  

After all, Crown Prince Fedelian was considered nearly perfect.  

He was a masterful knight with unparalleled combat skills and an exceptional leader as the head of the Second Bureau of Public Affairs.  

Not once had the reconnaissance missions he led in the demon-infested regions failed.  

That wasn’t all. He managed state affairs with precision and was adept at diplomacy.  

His ascension to the throne was widely regarded as inevitable, and he enjoyed strong support from both nobles and commoners alike.  

Treason? A plot to overthrow the throne? The idea was dismissed as laughable.  

But.  

“His Highness has not been seen for days.”  

“He is said to be unwell, but the timing of these rumors is rather suspicious…”  

“It’s true. I heard it directly from a friend who works at the Inspection Bureau.”  

The Crown Prince’s prolonged absence lent credibility to the doubts.  

─And, naturally.  

The emperor was also well aware of the rumors circulating.  

“Who, exactly, leaked confidential information?”  

The atmosphere in the ceremonial chamber was as cold as ice. The emperor’s voice reverberated heavily, as though the weight of his anger were binding their necks in chains.  

“…..”  

“…..”  

“…..”  

The ministers and officials remained silent. None dared to speak. The palpable wrath of the emperor stifled their courage.  

“…To make matters worse, even Grand Duke Renokhonan, who was confined to the Tower of Confinement, has escaped.”  

The emperor closed his eyes, pressing his temple with his fingertips.  

“The disappearance of the Crown Prince and the escape of Grand Duke Renokhonan cannot be unrelated. It’s likely the Crown Prince aided his escape.”  

One of the ministers offered his opinion.  

“Yes, Your Majesty. The timing of Grand Duke Renokhonan’s escape aligns perfectly with the Crown Prince’s disappearance.”  

A shadow fell over the emperor’s face. Anyone with sense could piece together what Fedelian might be planning.  

“…So, he really does intend to commit treason.”  

The emperor closed his eyes again. His head throbbed, and a deep sigh clawed its way up his throat. His stomach began to churn in discomfort.  

“There is no choice now. Although the truth is not yet fully confirmed, enough evidence has surfaced.”  

The chief official seated at the center of the ceremonial chamber stood and proclaimed:  

“We hereby recognize Fedelian Rogino’s act of treason.”  

*        *       *

The Bismarck Residence in the Imperial Capital. 

Although the Bismarck Marquessate had its own domain, the marquess always resided at his capital mansion.  

It served to showcase the Bismarck family’s influence to other nobles and to emphasize the power of the families supporting the Crown Prince.  

This way, petty families with delusions of grandeur wouldn’t dare to provoke them.  

It could be seen as a way of establishing dominance.  

Everything had been going smoothly. The Crown Prince was steadily preparing to ascend the throne, and Rudella’s wedding was fast approaching.  

But—  

“I wish to annul the engagement.”  

That smooth progression came to an abrupt halt today.  

Rudella, who had appeared unannounced, uttered words she would never normally say.  

“…What nonsense are you speaking, Rudella? This joke has gone too far.”  

The marquess’s voice sank low. His expression was stern, his face grim.  

“I said I wish to annul my engagement to His Highness the Crown Prince. This is no joke.”  

However, Rudella was undeterred by his tone. Her voice became even clearer.  

The marquess was stunned. Until now, Rudella had never once disobeyed his orders.  

“I’ve heard some strange rumors recently, but it seems you’ve truly gone mad, Rudella.”  

“Yes, you’re right. I’ve gone mad.”  

“What did you say…?”  

“I’ve fallen in love with a man. I’ve gone mad for him.”  

“What nonsense are you spouting?!”  

Bang!  

The marquess’s chair scraped sharply against the floor as it was pushed back. His fingers trembled, his face flushing red before turning deathly pale.  

“Rudella! Do you even realize what you’re saying?! You are engaged to the Crown Prince, yet you claim you’ve fallen in love with someone else?!”  

He roared in anger.  

“For the first time, I’ve discovered desire, something I’ve never wanted before. This man made me yearn, something I’ve never done.”  

Rudella’s words continued as her eyes burned with determination. Her voice did not falter. She was not cowed by the marquess’s fury.  

“I have come to love him with all my heart. Therefore, I can no longer continue my engagement to His Highness. I formally request to break it off.”  

“Th-this is utterly…!”  

The marquess, dumbfounded, stood there with his mouth agape, repeating the same words over and over.  

His mind reeled. This was insanity. Rudella was destined to become the Crown Princess, and eventually, the Empress—the mother of the empire.  

And now, she wanted to abandon all that power and go to some man she claimed to love?  

It was utterly unthinkable.  

“Rudella, love is nothing more than a fleeting impulse, an ephemeral emotion,” the marquess began, striving to maintain composure and speak calmly.  

“Many lives have been ruined by such momentary lapses in judgment. I don’t want yours to be among them. I’ll forgive you if you retract your decision now.”  

Rudella’s delicate eyebrows knitted together slightly.  

“What are you even saying, Father? Is this truly about my life, or is it about protecting the Bismarck family’s interests?”  

A vein bulged on the marquess’s neck as his frustration mounted.  

“What nonsense are you spouting now? As Empress, you would—”  

“I have never,” Rudella interrupted before he could finish.  

“I have never wished to be Empress, nor have I ever wanted to be engaged to His Highness the Crown Prince. I have never desired to wield power as the empire’s exalted moon.”  

The truth was, Rudella had silently endured immense pain throughout her preparation to become Empress.  

She suffered while studying subjects she had no interest in. She sacrificed sleep to keep up with the grueling expectations. She was forced into an engagement with a man she didn’t merely dislike but loathed.  

Every single moment was a living hell.  

“I only did it because it was the will of our family. Can you really call power obtained in such a way something that belongs to me?”  

A heavy silence fell over the room.  

The marquess quietly stared at Rudella. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes burned with rising fury.  

“…Rudella, if you break off this engagement, don’t even think about setting foot in the Bismarck estate again.”  

His voice was cold and sharp as he continued.  

“When you abandon your responsibilities, you forfeit your rights as well. Rudella, if this is truly your decision, I will strip you of all the privileges and comforts you’ve enjoyed under this family’s name.”  

It was a threat.  

The Bismarck family carried many burdens, but financial hardship was not among them. They were wealthy beyond imagination, respected everywhere they went, and feared by many.  

More fundamentally, belonging to the Bismarck name ensured you never went hungry, never froze in the cold, and never knew the struggles of poverty.  

What noble could give up such a life?  

“I’ll do that.”  

“What…?”  

But Rudella nodded as if she had been waiting for those words.  

“I will sever all ties with this family.”  

“This is ridiculous—”  

“It’s not a joke.”  

Rudella bowed deeply, her posture composed and deliberate.  

“From this moment on, I renounce the name of Bismarck. I am no longer a puppet of this family. From now on, I am simply Rudella, living by my own will.”  

Her voice was resolute, and her eyes reflected unwavering freedom and an unshakable determination.

“Wait…!”  

The Marquis urgently stretched his hand toward Rudella, who was leaving in a hurry. She turned back to him with a sly smile.  

“Come to think of it, I forgot to share some important news. His Highness the Crown Prince is currently under suspicion of treason, and a royal warrant has been issued for his arrest.”  

“A warrant? Treason? His Highness? That’s absurd… What do you mean all of a sudden…”  

Just then—  

“Marquis! There’s trouble!”  

The butler frantically knocked on the door.  

“It seems the news has arrived just in time.”  

When Rudella opened the door, the butler, panting heavily, blurted out,  

“A-a warrant has been issued for His Highness the Crown Prince on charges of treason!”  

“What in the world is this nonsense!”  

The Marquis’s voice thundered, echoing throughout the mansion.  

“Rudella, don’t tell me this was your doing!”  

“That depends on how you see it. I’ll be on my way now.”  

“Rudella!!”  

With the brightest smile she had ever worn, she left the mansion.  

Her face looked utterly relieved.

*        *        *

In front of the mansion, Yohan was waiting and naturally draped a coat over Rudella’s shoulders. Rudella smiled faintly and pulled the lapel of the coat against her cheek.  

“Thank you.”  

“This is nothing,” Yohan replied.  

“Did your conversation go well?”  

“It did. I’ve cut ties with my family.”  

“I’m not sure if that counts as ‘going well’…”  

“If I’m happy, doesn’t that mean it went well?”  

Rudella lifted the corners of her lips and gently intertwined her fingers with Yohan’s.  

“From now on, I won’t be Rudella Bismarck, but your lover Rudella, living a happy life.”  

She had confidence in her decision. Living as a puppet under someone else’s orders would never compare to savoring the freedom of a humble life.  

“Then I’ll have to do my best to ensure that happiness lasts.”  

“Oh, no need to worry about that.”  

She brought Yohan’s hand to her lips and smiled brightly.  

“Just being with you already makes me happy.”  

“…”  

Another bold move. Yohan’s heart skipped a beat, and he flinched, hastily changing the subject.  

“Uh… have you found a place to live?”  

“I’ve secured a small house in the capital. For now, I plan to live there with Vera.”  

Despite the high cost of land, finding a house in the capital was no problem for Rudella….thanks to the secret funds she had carefully saved over time.  

“Still, I need to work to avoid idleness. I plan to open a modest café with Vera. I’ll invite you and Lady Ferbache to visit someday.”  

She’s already planned everything out. Yohan couldn’t help but be a bit impressed….Rudella had left nothing to chance.  

“Wouldn’t it be better to come to my territory, the Countdom of Rahardt, instead…?”  

“Then I wouldn’t be able to see you, would I? That’s simply not an option.”  

Even Rudella knew moving to Yohan’s estate would be a better choice. However, the distance between Rahardt and the capital was significant, making it difficult for them to meet frequently. Letters would be all they had…..and that was something Rudella absolutely could not endure.  

“Ahem… By the way, is this a good time for you?”  

“It is. Please, go ahead.”  

Rudella fidgeted, her face gradually reddening. She covered her flushed cheeks with her hands before cautiously speaking.  

“…Would you like to come to my place?”  

Her voice trembled slightly.  

“Just the two of us.”