Two days have passed since Minister Linke’s departure, with five days left until the electors’ vote. The minister has been sending real-time updates on Celeste and Valerie’s condition, as well as plans for their return and movement routes via a transmitter.
Considering the possibility that messages might be intercepted or diverted, the telegram contained only minimal information.
Valerie’s condition has been confirmed, and a rough cause has been inferred; to find a definite solution, a return to the capital is necessary. This was the extent of the information Karl had received regarding the Grand Duke’s orders.
Though Karl was very curious about why Valerie was in that state, he decided to respect the minister’s intention to discuss it upon returning to the capital. Sending a message would likely be futile, as nothing could be done in the Otaka Grand Duchy. Otherwise, the report would not have been so vague.
“Auntie, did you sleep well last night?”
The royal family gathering was underway. With five days until the elector vote, Lady Pulcheria and the royal family had been meeting almost daily.
Karl, who usually avoided the meetings to evade any talk of fairness, made the effort to attend today due to a special directive from Pulcheria.
As he entered, his sharp and swift gaze scanned the room. Familiar faces welcomed him alongside Pulcheria. As always, Laila Tooper stood by Pulcheria’s side.
With a slight flush on her cheeks, Laila nodded respectfully at Karl. Though she should have properly greeted him, she likely sensed that Duke Albrecht was too busy to stop for formalities.
Barely blinking, Karl acknowledged Laila’s greeting and moved toward the designated seat next to Pulcheria.
“You look worn out. Are you tired?”
“I’m fine. But how about you, Auntie? I heard you haven’t been sleeping well lately.”
“I’m mostly the same, but you should take better care of yourself. You’ll soon be ascending the throne.”
“Auntie.”
That was still too premature to say. While they could speak freely in private, there were other ears present now. Karl lightly grasped Pulcheria’s hand.
“Everyone here believes wholeheartedly in your future as the heir. It’s alright.”
Is that truly the case? As Karl leaned back in his chair, he scrutinized the faces of those present.
“I’m here because of…”
While he had received a special call from his aunt, he had another purpose in mind. As Karl’s gaze sharpened, some members of the royal family coughed lightly and shifted their gazes away. Not meeting eyes suggested some discomfort.
Finally, his gaze landed on one individual.
“Count Edward.”
It was Count Edward from the royal family.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Not expecting to be called, Edward was startled and jumped to his feet.
“Why are you so surprised?”
Although it was called the Imperial Family Association, Count Edward’s position was quite weak. Thanks to his wife, who was of royal blood, he could attend the association, but that was the extent of it. He had no standing to voice any opinions or make claims. Just being invited to the association’s meetings was something to be thankful for.
However, Karl noticed that lately, Count Edward seemed to be forgetting his place and was increasingly trying to assert himself.
“I’ve heard you’ve been quite busy,” Karl said.
“Ah, yes…”
What should he say? Edward was at a loss for words, unsure how to respond to the Grand Duke’s remark about his busyness.
As Edward looked around nervously, beads of sweat began to form on his forehead. Had his hair always looked this sparse, or was it just his imagination today?
The other members of the association glanced at Edward with anxious eyes, unable to gauge the Grand Duke’s intentions.
“Where have you been roaming around?”
“Excuse me?”
Why was he asking this? Edward’s heart raced. Thump, thump. He felt as if Karl’s gaze was piercing right through him.
“I’ve been fortunate to have many invitations, so I’ve been going here and there.”
“Invitations, you say?”
Karl’s eyes narrowed further, resembling the look he had when interrogating suspects as head of the imperial investigation team. The sweat on Edward’s forehead began to trickle down.
“Count, does it matter who invites you? Do you simply rush to anyone who calls?”
“W-What do you mean…?”
“I heard you’ve been frequently seen around Kellever Square lately.”
“Ah, yes. I’ve begun a business targeting commoners, so I’ve been conducting market research…”
“You’re doing market research among commoners, yet you’re meeting with royalty.”
Edward’s body froze, his breath caught in his throat at the uneasy revelation. His face turned pale, as he seemed to forget how to breathe, realizing only two people knew who Karl was referring to.
“I… I don’t understand what you mean.”
Breaking the suffocating silence, Edward finally spoke.
“You can’t possibly not know.”
Karl’s chilling voice sank low. Some quick-witted members of the association began to murmur, realizing who Karl referred to. Edward, now visibly pale, trembled.
After the discovery of a similar magical stone in Emperor Maximilian’s bedroom and the Duke of Schwaben’s mansion, as well as Celeste’s cabin, Karl had launched a major investigation into the imperial family.
He scrutinized every attendant who entered the emperor’s bedroom, all palace staff, their families, and even distant relatives, extending the investigation to anyone connected to the royal family.
It was a monumental probe capable of turning the palace upside down, but aside from the knights in the investigation unit, no one else knew about it. Karl had ordered silence in his operations.
As a result, the Imperial Investigation Unit was able to locate and arrest an attendant with suspicious behavior who had frequently visited Emperor Maximilian’s bedroom. After investigating the attendant’s relatives and scrutinizing all the palace workers, the investigation team confirmed that a member of the Imperial Family Association was engaged in dubious dealings.
That member was Count Edward. Thanks to Pulcheria’s hatred for Count Edward, who sought to inflate his business at the cost of his wife’s life, the imperial assets that belonged to the Countess did not get transferred to him.
However, where did the funds for this venture come from? Clovis immediately sensed something suspicious and reported to Karl. If it’s suspicious, it should be verified.
Under Karl’s orders, Clovis assigned someone to follow Count Edward. Unaware he was being tailed, Edward went about his activities until he was ultimately caught—linked to the Toskur Duke.
“The Emperor passed away, and it was only natural to start searching the entire palace. There was no illness, and the Emperor was young; there should be no reason for his sudden death.”
“What are you saying?”
Noticing the bizarre turn of events, Pulcheria’s voice was agitated.
“Why are we suddenly talking about Maximilian?”
“I suspect foul play behind the Emperor’s death.”
“What…?”
Pulcheria had vaguely suspected this already. Upon hearing that Karl was conducting a major investigation, her doubts crystallized into certainty, and she bit her lip in despair.
“We’ve investigated everyone related to the royal family, including members of the Family Association. During this, we learned that Count Edward was meeting someone.”
“O, you must be mistaken, Your Highness!”
Edward collapsed to the floor. Perhaps sensing there was no way out, he knelt down, trembling as if having a seizure.
“This is not a situation that can be dismissed as a misunderstanding, Count.”
The sight of the old man bowing his white-haired head was pitiful. One could feel compassion, but Karl’s gaze and voice were devoid of mercy.
“What is this all about? Count Edward, answer me. Is it true what Duke Albrecht said?”
Pulcheria had firmly believed in everyone associated with the Family Association. While she doubted everyone else, she thought she could trust her own blood relatives.
Initially, she opposed Count Edward’s entrance into the Family Association but accepted him for the sake of his sons, who carried some royal blood. She conditioned his acceptance on an oath of absolute loyalty and faithfulness, which he had sworn in his children’s and wife’s names.
To think such a Count would betray her. A blend of shock, sorrow, and possibly anger ignited within Pulcheria.
“Answer me! What does this mean?”
Pulcheria’s shout echoed through the room. Edward simply banged his head against the floor, shedding tears.
