After not seeing him for a few days, Raytan still had a tired face today. At the same time, the cold and sharp atmosphere around him felt more intense than usual. And for some reason, it felt strange.

Red and blue eyes caught each other as they stared. Raytan looked at Sezh silently and then shifted his gaze to Carolyn, who stood next to her.

“I greet Prince Raytan,” Carolyn greeted him with courtesy.

Raytan looked down at Carolyn without saying anything.

“I was on my way home after having a tea time with Princess Sezh.”

“…”

“I lamented that it would have been nice if the Prince had also been there, but I am even more glad that I can see you like this,” Carolyn said with a smile.

Sezh thought Carolyn was incredible. Not only did she openly show affection just now, but she also never looked subdued in front of Raytan.

But instead of answering Carolyn’s greeting, Raytan said something to Sezh, “… You go back first.”

“What?”

“I’ll escort the Lady, so go back to your palace.”

His tone was bone-chilling. It was to the point that it made Sezh feel disappointed. Did he know how long she had been looking for him? Did he know how worried she was?

Still, Sezh was more worried than disappointed. She didn’t even know what happened to Raytan…

Sezh tilted her head slightly towards the direction of Raytan’s palace and said, “Brother, then in the evening-”

But Raytan cut her off with an expressionless face, “Go back.”

“…”

“To your palace.”

Those words felt so cold. Sezh pouted her lips and turned around.

‘Brother is an idiot. I will not worry about you again in the future.’

Sezh started to walk back at a brisk pace, leaving the scene. The figure of her back as she walked away reflected in Raytan’s red eyes. Raytan didn’t say anything and just stood there staring at her.

“…”

Silence fell on the pathway where only Raytan and Carolyn remained, and Raytan’s gaze was still fixed on Sezh. After her small figure gradually moved away and completely disappeared into the palace, Raytan turned to Carolyn.

“…Lady.”

“Yes, Prince.”

“If there is something you need in the future, how about coming to me directly? You don’t need to go to Princess Sezh.”

“It’s nice to hear that because I also don’t like to walk in vain.”

Raytan’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Carolyn. He already felt it at the debutante ball, but Carolyn Regent was completely different from the other noble girls.

She didn’t look scared and never said flattery she didn’t mean. Looking at the smiling Carolyn, Raytan suddenly remembered the Duke Regent. She is just like him.

“But you’re not just saying that you’re afraid I might go to the wrong place, are you?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that the Prince really cares for Princess Sezh. More than I thought.”

Raytan didn’t reply. Carolyn looked at him and spoke again.

“Isn’t this because Princess Sezh might get involved in useless things?”

“… Not sure.”

“Oddly enough, when it comes to matters related to Princess Sezh, you always give vague answers,” Carolyn smiled softly.

Raytan continued walking without saying a word. Carolyn followed him and then parted her lips again.

“It has been very windy these last few days.”

It was a low and calm voice.

“The nobles His Majesty the Emperor strongly trusts and those who are trying to push Prince Bern as the next emperor… They were all found dead.”

“…”

“Isn’t the timing questionable? It’s when His Majesty the Emperor is so ill.”

“What do you want to say?”

“Well, I’m not sure.”

“…”

“I was just curious. Will the legend that passed down from generation to generation come true?”

“Last time, I thought you said you don’t believe in such a legend.”

“But things are different now. Isn’t that right?”

A smirk appeared on Raytan’s lips. He undoubtedly already knew about that. The fact that the catastrophe where the nobles continued to die was his handiwork. But there was no evidence. Since he always moved alone, there was no way for the story to leak out. Carolyn, of course, didn’t know about that either.

Nevertheless, it was difficult to determine whether it was just her personal curiosity to bring up such dangerous topics or if it was because of Duke Regent.

Raytan stared at her.

“I don’t know if the Prince knows, but my father is a man with big guts.”

Carolyn continued talking. It was like she had looked into his mind.

“From the child of a disrespected concubine to the Duke of Regent, he became the owner of the most powerful family in Denhelder. And the Prince…”

“… And?”

“You look like my father.”

“Sounds like a very misleading statement, Lady.”

“You look like you have lots of guts. It even seems beyond my imagination.” Carolyn smiled innocently, “And I like that kind of person.”

“The one filled with madness?”

“Is that so?”

Raytan’s blood-red eyes stared down at Carolyn. Despite his cold gaze, Carolyn didn’t seem to have cold feet at all. She just continued talking with a composed expression.

“My father is the undisputed owner of the Regent family, but there are still some people who look at him with a bad eye.”

“It must be so. No one is unaware of the rumors about Duke Regent.”

It was an open secret. The rumors of Duke Regent killing his half-brother, the eldest son, who according to tradition should have been the head of the family. He probably didn’t open his mouth for fear of the consequences, but everyone already knew.

“Most of them are royalty and nobles. But, as I said before, my father is a person with big guts. To the extent that he’s not satisfied with his current position.”

“… Lady.”

Raytan slowly stopped walking. A heavy silence again fell on that empty pathway. Raytan leaned his torso down and looked at Carolyn at eye level.

“You seem to like to talk round and round, but I’m sorry, I’m not in the mood to do that.”

“…”

“What do you and your father want from me?”

Despite his blunt words, Carolyn’s expression didn’t shake.

“To make the rights of the Prince more secure… And that can be a keyword for sure.”

“I asked you what you want.”

“Don’t worry. It shouldn’t be that difficult.”

Carolyn’s red-painted lips curled in an arc.

“You will need a military. Perhaps as soon as possible.”

“And?”

“I will lend you my family’s soldiers. So that the Prince can get what you want.”

“And what do you want?”

“Empress.”

“…”

“Isn’t it simple?”

“You will be the Empress, and Duke Regent will be one of the Imperial governors?”

“It’s like that.”

Raytan smirked.

Anyway, it was all going back to the game plan his mother had already drawn. The process seemed a little messed up, but the result is the same, so it shouldn’t matter.

“It will be a good deal for everyone. My father will again hold a power that no one can ignore, and the Prince will become the Emperor of Denhelder. And I…”

Carolyn reached out her hand to him slowly. Following that, she gently stroked Raytan’s pointed chin.

“You’ll get a future prince,” A small smile crept across Carolyn’s lips.

Raytan didn’t answer.

***

The sun was just about to descend. Raytan, who was returning to the palace, looked up at the sky. The color of the sunset embroidered on the cloudless sky was the same as his irises: bloody red.

It’s not only the sky that will be dyed red.

Soon the wind will carry the smell of blood, and no one in the Imperial palace will survive. Raytan smiled scornfully and started walking again.

Many things were slowly but surely being prepared. Now, it won’t be long until that day comes. With that thought in mind, Raytan clenched his fists. The shaking in his hands didn’t stop completely, but it will get better soon.

Even if no one knew about it, it would stop.

Even if someday that unknown voice is discovered by someone else… It will be fine.

It will be fine.

His dark hair like night fluttered in the wind. It was just like the wind that blew on the hill that day. When he laid down on Sezh’s lap, it tickled his forehead.

‘There’s a smell. The smell of blood.’

Raytan closed his eyes tightly as he recalled what he had said that day. It was still the same today. The strange voices had stopped, but the bloody smell continued to reek. If the wind continues to blow, will it be okay? Could this smell of blood fade a little?

However, he knew best himself that it was a useless thought. He will also be covered in red blood today, and the horrible smell of blood will feel like it is digging into his skin, and he can’t remove it.

And he… Is he gradually going crazy?

“…”

Raytan stood still with a blank expression on his face. He was standing in front of Sezh’s palace now. The windows were closed, and he couldn’t see anything, but he just stood there for a long time.

Neither smiling nor crying, Raytan kept a straight face. He recalled how Sezh walked away alone with her mouth pouted. He remembered the hand that stroked his cheek when his eyes were closed back then.

Her painful consolation passed through his mind, ‘I want to be with you, Brother. I’m alone so I feel lonely.’

“Even if you feel lonely…” Raytan muttered lowly. “Even if you feel lonely… This is a better choice.”

But for whom is it a better choice?

Raytan couldn’t be sure. Is it a better choice for him, or a better choice for Sezh, or both?

Raytan turned his back. He then started walking away quickly, trying not to look back.