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To understand the reason behind Edgar’s determination, we must go back to that day when all the evidence aligned perfectly.

“What do you mean you’re going to see the Emperor?”

At a gathering with others, Ariel was the first to respond, astonished by Edgar’s sudden topic.

It was only natural; his words were so unbelievable that she questioned if her ears were deceiving her.

“I’m serious. Before we go after Albrecht, I need to meet with His Majesty.”

“Have you forgotten what you said? That guy is likely in cahoots with Albrecht.”

“I know. That’s exactly why I need to meet him.”

Ariel was left even more confused by Edgar’s calm response as she tilted her head in bewilderment.

Helene, who interjected in support of Ariel, voiced her concerns.

“Ed, I don’t understand either. Is there really a reason to see His Majesty at this point?”

Having already concluded that the two were likely in the same league, Ariel had started referring to Bartheus as ‘that guy’ or ‘that man,’ while Helene still used formal titles.

Whether this was due to a sliver of hope or simply her awareness of being part of the Empire, only she knew.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Is it possible that you’re thinking His Majesty might not be our true enemy?”

“Absolutely not. Frankly, I’m convinced that His Majesty is backing Albrecht.”

This only made things more incomprehensible.

If his assumption turned out true, then the Emperor might be an even greater threat than Albrecht in the current situation.

But still, the goal was to meet him, not to kill him?

“In fact, since I’ve come up with this hypothesis, one question has lingered. Even if I can understand everything else, there’s one thing I just can’t wrap my head around.”

“What is it?”

Yulken, who had been quietly listening, asked.

Edgar’s deductions largely made sense to him, but there was something else that caught his attention.

“It’s the purpose. If His Majesty truly sided with Albrecht, there must be a reason for that, right?”

“Hmm, that’s something I found odd as well. But isn’t it the prevailing notion that uncovering those inner workings is difficult?”

Common sense suggested that the Emperor would gain a lot by supporting Albrecht, while on the flip side, there didn’t seem to be many benefits.

However, Minette countered that since the other party was the Empire’s top mage, they might be presenting some advantages that couldn’t be obtained through wealth or power.

She was passionate that if this man wanted to create an elixir of immortality, he very well could.

Thus, they concluded there was no point in delving deeper until they had a solid lead, prioritizing action first.

Still, Edgar held doubts about that aspect.

“Actually, I got these questions from a conversation I had with my father and the Empress.”

“Are you talking about that time when the three of us had a discussion?”

“That’s right. When I think of that conversation in conjunction with what my father told me, there are many strange points.”

The Emperor referred to himself as a sinner.

And Beatria had expressed that while the Emperor still loved her, he simultaneously kept his distance.

In that contradictory relationship, Edgar arrived at a single conclusion.

This hypothesis might not have come so easily without the curse that was cast upon Kelrag.

“This is my theory. What if His Majesty was once ensnared in Albrecht’s scheme for some reason when he was younger and, based on that, had his family members taken hostage?”

“Isn’t that a bit far-fetched? The Imperial Family isn’t powerless; how could mere coercion affect them?”

The power of the Helbenior Empire was actually pretty decentralized rather than being solely concentrated at the center.

A representative example being the Robeheim Family.

But even then, a single mage couldn’t wield enough power to manipulate the Imperial Family.

In fact, considering that prestigious families like the Robeheim maintained their influence, it was far from a situation to be dismissed.

Thus, Ariel was the first to express significant skepticism regarding Edgar’s hypothesis, yet she was rendered speechless by his next words.

“You know this well from your own experience. No matter how powerful a family might be in the Empire, when emotions are involved, they can easily be swayed by their loved ones.”

“What are you… Ah.”

Ariel was about to ask when she had encountered such an experience until she realized the implication behind his words.

She indeed had felt this emotion more acutely than anyone else present, right during the incident in Whitewood.

“I can’t refute that. After all, back then, I thought about giving the Symbol of Dominion, not knowing what would happen to my father.”

Considering it from a different perspective illuminated things that had been obscured.

Recalling that day, Ariel projected her feelings onto Bartheus.

If she thought of her entire family as being taken hostage, she would likely succumb.

“I see what you’re trying to say. But isn’t it difficult to request a conversation based solely on that belief and embrace their entire story?”

“That’s true. To be frank, it might be considered a gamble. Had it been the old me, I might have just given up. But…”

Edgar surprisingly weighed efficiency and practicality quite heavily.

When Yulken was caught by Kelrag, he sought to rescue him because he thought it was more efficient than just sacrificing the Symbol of Dominion. Of course, the fact that Kelrag was his beloved’s father also played a role.

In any case, from that perspective, this choice could be seen as unusual for him.

Instead, burying that speculation deep in his heart and turning the entire Imperial Family and the Bertus Family into enemies would have felt more comfortable.

Yet, this thought was stirred up by something Ariel shared with him recently.

“…Ariel said that if everyone gives up because it seems impossible, what happens to those whom reality discards?”

“……”

That discussion happened after Ariel had resolved matters with Kelrag when they discussed how the relations would evolve between the Carvita Tribe and the Robeheim Family, and even further along, the Carvita Tribe and the Helbenior Empire.

Frankly, she acknowledged that it would be a tough journey.

The karma that the Carvita Tribe accumulated by tormenting the northern residents and, if going back in history, the initial Robeheim Lord suppressed them under the pretext of conquest.

Given those two factors, wishing for a day when both sides could coexist peacefully might be a futile hope.

But that dream belonged to Ariel.

She didn’t require a grand reason; she simply wished for the northern residents under her rule to find true peace.

Those residents might even include the Carvita Tribe.

“And on the other hand, I also thought this. If we point our blades at them just because they are our enemies without uncovering the entire truth of this incident, what will remain at the end?”

“War is always brutal. You can’t assign meaning to everything and live.”

Yulken had experienced countless battlefields far beyond Edgar, yet the outcome was always the same.

Not everything could be saved, and not everyone’s circumstances could be understood, nor did dramatic peace come as he naively hoped.

Some might have called him a hero, but Yulken never considered himself one.

Even just picturing the faces of those he couldn’t save overwhelmed him with helplessness; what was the meaning of being a hero?

“No, perhaps he never even thought of it that way.”

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Yulken shook his head and chuckled at himself.

He was never close to being a hero. If there were people he could not save, he simply turned his back on them.

But conversely, he might also be the fool who hadn’t even considered saving anyone.

“This man is different, isn’t he?”

Yulken shifted his gaze to the two sitting across from him.

A daughter trying to grasp a reality she had given up on and her lover reaching out to his friend who had also been forsaken.

Seeing them sitting side by side made something in his throat swell up, almost to the point of bursting.

“…Is there a way?”

Edgar’s face brightened at what was practically a permission-laden question.

The “way” he referred to was likely a means to request a conversation with Bartheus without crossing Albrecht’s boundaries.

Since he had already considered this possibility, he nodded eagerly.

“I have some ideas in mind.”

“Well… you’re quite impressive.”

Yulken laughed lightly as if he had thrown up his hands in surrender.

He must have troubled himself significantly with this incident, yet he also explored alternative paths.

The more he observed him, the more he realized what an astonishing individual Edgar truly was.

“The operation will likely take place at night. I’ll infiltrate the Imperial Palace and meet with His Majesty.”

“You’re preparing for any eventualities, I see.”

“Yes.”

Though he didn’t know why Albrecht focused solely on him, he certainly understood that showing his face at the Imperial Palace officially was very risky now.

Even if there was no immediate danger to him, the mere news of his visit would raise the security level considerably.

If that happened, it would become extremely difficult to find out Bartheus’s true intentions.

“Are you planning on doing something dangerous again, like last time? That’s not acceptable.”

However, as expected, Ariel fully opposed this plan.

Understanding the Imperial Family’s situation was one thing, but sneaking into the Imperial Palace alone at night?

Even if he had ten lives, it would be a risky endeavor. The security there was bound to be even sturdier than Robeheim Castle.

But Edgar flashed his characteristic playful smile, showing confidence.

“It’s not particularly dangerous. I’m not going to kill anyone; I’m just going to have a discreet conversation and leave.”

“Do you think I’m an idiot? You really think I’d fall for that?”

“Really, it’ll be fine. No one knows this field better than me.”

He jested so much that he asked Ariel to remember how he had snuck into her chamber even at the age of fifteen, evading the strict security and barriers of the Robeheim Family.

In fact, he had done it not just once, but repeatedly whenever she felt lonely, showcasing skills that were unmatched.

“Plus, last time, failure meant disaster, but this time, even if I do mess up, you can save me, right? The power of the Robeheim Family should be able to manage that.”

While it might indeed not lead to him being captured for attempting to kill the Emperor, infiltrating the Imperial Palace without permission was quite a serious crime.

Even Ariel might find it tough to advocate for him without hesitation.

Even so, Edgar casually requested her assistance with a charming, “You’ll help, right?”

“…You idiot. If you mess up and come back, you might as well be dead.”

“I feel like I’ve heard that before, but you still saved me when I came back… Gah!?”

With a rough tug on his tie intended as a playful threat, Ariel leaned forward, perilously close to his lips, issuing her warning.

“This time, I mean it, so make sure to pull it off without any mistakes. If you get caught, I’ll save you, then tie you up in the castle and make sure you can’t go anywhere.”

He wanted to throw out a joke, implying that in the end, she wouldn’t really kill him, but upon seeing the fiery glint in her eyes for the first time, he panicked and quickly waved his hands.

It appeared there was now another reason not to make a blunder.

“Alright. This time, I also agree with Ariel. If anything goes wrong, how am I supposed to face Katria?”

“Don’t worry, Mother. One mistake is plenty for me. I’ll return safely.”

Edgar genuinely believed that.

To achieve that, he had sought Minette’s advice, and he planned to memorize the layout of the Imperial Palace until the day of his operation.

The only variable was the guards, but he had already come up with some countermeasures for them.

“…Make sure to come back safely. And though it seems a bit cheeky to ask, if there are hidden truths concerning my friend, please listen well and report back to me.”

“Yes, Father.”

This was just a few days before Edgar’s departure to Hildak.

 

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