Those who came were few, and, of course, you couldn’t spot Bern and Lillian’s shadows. Although a few concubines such as Yerena and Yulia showed their appearance, they came only to show courtesy or avoid suspicion.

No one mourned her death. Perhaps the Emperor did, but the truth was unknown. Sezh heard from Kaen that the Emperor had come with his weak body earlier in the morning.

“…”

Sezh crouched down alone behind Lize’s palace. Drops of falling winter rain splashed on the hem of her dress, but Sezh remained motionless, staring absently at the ground.

‘Did you… Did you drink it? You didn’t, did you?’

‘No, I didn’t drink it.’

“She clearly said that… and her expression was the same as usual too…”

If so, the answer was obvious: Lize drank the poison after Sezh left.

However…

‘The drink my mother gave you… Where, where is it? I have to take it with me. So… ‘

Lize gave her the bottle. The blue bottle with a tart aroma and swirling red wine inside it that Sezh distinctly remembered.

She couldn’t understand.

‘Princess, I… will tell you a secret.’

‘A… secret?’

‘Yes. If the Princess allows it.’

…And the last words Lize told her.

Sezh shook her head, and she looked up at the sky obscured with dark clouds pouring rain.

“In the end, I… couldn’t change anything.”

She had no idea why things turned like this, but one thing was clear: the future didn’t change. Sezh had no choice but to accept that fact. The process was a little different, but the result was unaltered. Luna was eventually hit by a wagon then died, and Lize was also killed by Yerena.

And now, all that’s left is…

“Sezh.”

Sezh looked back at the sudden voice.

“Here… What are you doing here?”

Raytan walked closer and covered her back with the cloak he was wearing. It was the cloak she had given as a gift some time ago. Sezh fiddled with it, then stared at Raytan.

He had the same expression as ever.

He didn’t look sad like she did when Luna died, nor did he shed any tears. It’s just… his face looked colder than usual.

“Don’t be like this. Go back to your palace. It’s going to be a problem if you catch a cold.”

“…Brother.”

“What?”

Raytan was staring at her, but Sezh, who couldn’t gather the courage to say her words, bit her bottom lip.

That night, at his palace… Sezh tried to warn him to stop everything he was doing because Yerena would kill Lize. But Raytan cut her off and instead told her to close her eyes and ears. He told her, ‘don’t see anything and don’t hear anything.’

And didn’t she have a tiny suspicion too? Perhaps all of this… was a plan made by Lize. A motive needed to stage Raytan’s coup.

What should she say now? Should she say she was sorry that she knew Yerena was planning to kill Lize yet couldn’t stop it?

Should she say this was all her fault?

Sezh hesitated for a while but eventually hesitatingly opened her lips.

“Are you…okay…?”

Even if this day was already decided from the beginning…

She was still absurdly worried about him.

Raytan was silent for a moment. Above those crimson eyes staring at her, his drooping eyebrows looked particularly pitiful today.

Sezh quietly waited for his answer.

“You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Brother?”

“As much as you’re concerned… I …”

“…”

“ I’m not sad.”

‘I never taught that child how to grieve.’

Suddenly, Lize’s voice rang in her head.

‘As a child who only listens to me, there is no way he can feel emotions that I haven’t taught him.’

“Something like permission to feel sorrowful… I never got it.”

‘I don’t need such a weak son. Raytan must know that too.’

After saying those words, Raytan bowed his head. It seemed like… he already knew everything about Lize. He looked more like a person who couldn’t be sad, but not because he didn’t feel anguished by the event at all.

“Brother, honestly… I don’t know. Life is full of unknown things.”

He raised his head and looked at her. She caught his red eyes shaking briefly.

“I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what I can do. However…”

“…”

“The fact that you can’t feel bereaved… I hate it.”

It was true. Sezh had no idea what was going on, but she didn’t want him to make that kind of face. As she said in the past, it hurt for her to see him put on a broken expression without being able to cry freely or be sad.

“If you can only grieve with permission… I will give it to you.”

“…What?”

“I said I will give the permission.”

Sezh stood up straight on her feet. She hugged him, whose body had always been a lot taller than hers.

A small, white hand began to pat his broad back gently. Raytan was slightly startled but didn’t push her away.

“…”

His hand, which paused in the air, moved to wrap around her back. Before Sezh realized it, strength entered his hands as Raytan embraced Sezh without leaving a single gap between them.

“Sezh,” he stammered. “Even if a lot of things change in the future… You won’t change, will you?”

[Even if many things change in the future, I won’t change.]

Sezh recalled the contents of the letter she had written in the past.

“Answer me… Sezh,” Raytan said while resting his head on her shoulder, sounding like he was desperate for her answer.

…Will Sezh truly not change? What if the things she knows will come to pass turn out to be the same? Instead of answering, Sezh pondered by herself.

The answer had already been decided.

“…Okay.”

She would never forget his kindness, consideration, and warm heart. Even if the future she knew repeats itself, it wouldn’t discolor the gratitude she felt for him.

…Even if she had to leave him.

“I won’t change.”

Just like Raytan, Sezh hugged him tightly as she thought to herself.

‘Now, the only choice I have is…

to leave the Palace.’

***

It was late at night when the guest visited.

“My condolences, Prince Raytan.”

Inside Lize’s palace, which had lost its owner, a man’s voice softly sounded in the small reception room.

Raytan didn’t answer him. He just stared at the cunning snake-like eyes exposed by the light of the fireplace.

“I knew the Lady’s health wasn’t good, but I didn’t know she would leave so suddenly. It’s quite heartwrenching, isn’t it?”

“Thank you for telling me that,” Raytan answered with a leer.

It was silly. If this man wanted to express his sincere condolences, he should have come during the day rather than this late at night.

“But it’s rather unfortunate. For a person who received such favor, isn’t this funeral frugal? If she had endured a little longer, she would have enjoyed many things.”

Raytan didn’t respond.

“Unless… that isn’t the right order of events?”

“…”

“Perhaps the Lady’s departure itself was to provide the Prince justification in doing many things. Right?”

“…I was curious who Lady Carolyn resembled so much that she could say such things. I see it’s because she took after you,” Raytan spoke with a cold face. “What do you want to say, Duke Regent?”

There were no other people besides them in that room. Red eyes staring at the Duke shone piercingly and exuded an unbelievably frigid atmosphere.

Duke Regent liked this type of human: a person similar to himself.

“It’s nothing special. But… shouldn’t we talk more about the deal?”

“The deal,” Raytan smirked.

“I will give you as many soldiers as you need. If you want an excess, I will provide it. If you want a specific amount, I will give you the right amount. Hence, any scenario the Prince enacts will not be too difficult.”

“So?”

“Please confirm it. If you succeed—”

“I should welcome Carolyn Regent as Empress and raise you to a position in the national government?”

“Yes,” Duke Regent smiled contentedly.

“It’s not that I don’t trust the Prince. One—”

“You’re too impatient, Duke.”

There was a sneer in Riftan’s low voice.

“Before making a deal, shouldn’t you be certain of the priorities first?”

“…”

“Becoming an Emperor comes first,” Raytan said in a low, subdued voice. “Do you think I don’t know you are preparing a contingency plan without me?”

Duke Regent kept his lips sealed.

There was only one reason why the Duke wanted to help Raytan. If the coup succeeded, Raytan could give him more than Bern could. However, what if the coup fails?

In preparation for such a possibility, the Duke already arranged a plausible plan B. The first mission of the coup is to assassinate the Emperor. Regardless of success or failure, the Emperor must die. Then, Duke Regent could falsify a decree from the Emperor, saying that the Duke should keep an eye on Prince Raytan since his movements were unusual. So, if the coup failed, the decree would be the Duke’s only lifeline. He would testify that he knew Raytan’s plan for the coup, so under the Emperor’s order, he planned to accuse him of borrowing enlisted soldiers and digging up information to take down his Majesty. If the operation went even a little bit wrong, the enlisted men who supported him would point their swords at Raytan without hesitation. After that, he would pretend he was on Bern’s side.

“Duke Regent, you’re not the only one with a brain.”

“…”

“If you want to hear me confirm, you should make me completely trust you first. Isn’t that right?”

“…Prince.”

“Such a shameless and insolent request. While talking about both sides walking on a tightrope, you want assurance that your daughter will become the Empress?”

A pair of blood-red eyes stared at the Duke, looking like they were eager to consume him. If it were anyone else, they would be paralyzed in fear.

If it were anyone else…

“I had wondered why Carolyn, who had never been interested in men, was so keen on the Prince, but now I understand.”

…But Duke Regent, of course.

“I’m not wishing for a definite answer right now. The Prince knows everything, so I’ll also be honest with you.”

Raytan’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“I am not going to do anything. I will be just lending you some private soldiers. Do you understand what I’m saying?

It meant that both of them were going to walk on that tightrope until the end.

“Your honesty is not so surprising,” Raytan scoffed. “I don’t need your direct help. It’s enough if you give me the promised soldiers.”

Duke Regent smirked. Prince Raytan was more reckless and exceptional than he had imagined. However, he would be better than the princes who try to become Emperor but can’t do anything themselves.

And Duke Regent had nothing to lose.

“Excellent. I will do what the Prince wants,” said the Duke while raising a corner of his lips.

Raytan just looked down at him with a cold, expressionless face.