“The Duke, I apologize, but I must take my leave now.”

“Ah, yes. I’ll be going as well.”

Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Duke Roze excused himself and stepped aside.

I moved to the office with Minister Dia and requested a detailed report.

“It seems that during the initial meeting between the envoy and the King of Daman,

individuals from Edelvine were also present. The King of Daman was being

manipulated by someone who introduced himself as Loderon Edelvine. Duke Fael beheaded him on the spot, and that act signaled the start of the battle.”

Loderon Edelvine.

So that’s the bastard’s name.

“As the battle began, Duke Fael charged at Loderon Edelvine. Loderon drew him into a barrier and engaged him directly.”

“Meanwhile, outside the barrier, Fael’s forces clashed with a coalition of Edelvine’s and Giore’s armies.”

“Giore?”

“Yes. It appears that one of the knights who fled with the Grand Prince of Giore was a Master.”

A Master? I had assumed they were mere Experts.

“So, what was the enemy’s strength like?”

“They had three Masters and one Mage.”

“Three Masters and one Mage…”

That’s enough force to rival an entire kingdom.

Considering that I can personally mobilize only Giel and Frio as Masters, their strength was outrageous.

“If not for Lieutenant Ron Fael taking down one of Edelvine’s Masters early in the battle, total annihilation would have been unavoidable.”

“He’s done a great service.”

“During the ongoing battle outside the barrier, the barrier was broken, and Duke Fael, wounded, managed to escape. At that moment, he ordered a retreat. Of the remaining forces, only fifteen survived. During the withdrawal from Daman, seven more were lost. By the time they reached the Holy State, only eight remained, including Duke Fael and Ron Fael.”

“Eight… Out of the 201 members of the envoy, only eight survived.”

The swordsmen from the Fael family, dispatched as part of the envoy, were all Elite Experts.

Given that they faced three Masters and a Mage, it’s fortunate any survived at all. But the losses were devastating.

“Who would have thought they’d launch a full-scale assault… This is my failure.”

Based on the enemy’s previous methods, I had assumed they’d manipulate the King of Daman to spark a diplomatic dispute or attack the envoy using only Daman’s forces.

It wasn’t mere complacency.

After all, I had sent Duke Fael himself.

Excluding extraordinary figures like heroes or Grand Dukes, Duke Fael is one of the strongest Masters on the continent. Who could have predicted he’d suffer near-total defeat?

“Duke Fael was injured, you say. Does that mean Loderon Edelvine was that strong?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Duke Fael has stated that he would personally report to Your Majesty about Loderon Edelvine, so I lack any further information. I apologize.”

At those words, my expression hardened.

“He insists on reporting to me directly?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It seems Duke Fael has discovered some connection between Loderon Edelvine and the Imperial Family.”

How did he figure that out?

The most likely explanation is that the bastard bragged about it himself.

“Minister, do you think Duke Fael resents me?”

“Well… that’s…”

If I thought about it rationally, the likelihood of Duke Fael  resenting me or harboring hostility over this matter wasn’t high.

Arhan sparing that bastard happened long before “Rios Arhan” was even born, and the bond between Duke Fael and me wasn’t fragile enough to break over something like this.

But could Duke Fael make rational judgments after losing nearly all of his family’s elite forces?

Together with Sien, Duke Fael was the one who had provided the greatest support in getting me to where I am today.

The potential political fallout of falling out with Duke Fael was concerning, but the thought of our relationship becoming distant was far more frightening.

“Chamberlain, come in.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Dia seemed startled by my sudden call for the chamberlain, but I paid it no mind.

“Go to Vigo immediately and bring back the finest wine. Five bottles—no, make it ten.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As the chamberlain left, Dia stared at me with a puzzled look.

“Your Majesty, surely you’re not…”

“Minister, you said the Duke is in the Holy State, correct?”

“Your Majesty, please reconsider. For Your Majesty to visit the Holy State…”

“Minister.”

Lowering my voice, I cut him off, and Dia fell silent.

“Inform the Pope that I will be visiting the Holy State to see the Duke. This is an imperial decree.”

“Your Majesty…”

Dia’s tone suggested he wanted me to reconsider, but I had no intention of changing my mind.

“…Understood, Your Majesty. When shall I inform them you plan to arrive?”

Before I could answer, the chamberlain knocked on the door.

“Now.”

After storing the wine in a dimensional space, I prepared to cast spatial magic.

The magic circle surrounding the capital was designed to suppress spatial magic, but…

“Do not obstruct me.”

The barrier protecting the capital yielded to its master’s command.

With a snap, I appeared in the heart of the Holy State.

The suddenness of my arrival drew the attention of everyone nearby. At the same time, I felt a majestic yet warm, slightly worried gaze from the heavens.

“I have come to see my vassal. I mean no harm to the Holy State, so rest assured.”

Though I spoke softly, Kiriya seemed to understand, and the gaze withdrew.

Shortly after, paladins clad in pure white armor rushed toward me.

“Identify yourself, intruder…!”

One of the younger, less experienced knights drew his sword and shouted, but he was quickly stopped by a senior knight.

“Where do you hail from?”

Even in the Holy State, which disregards worldly titles, it would be impossible for them not to sense something from my attire.

“I am from Arhan.”

A young man from Arhan.

Black hair with amethyst eyes.

An opulent ceremonial uniform accentuated with black.

“…I greet His Imperial Majesty.”

As the paladin lowered his head, I spoke again.

“Take me to Duke Fael.”

“…Understood.”

Led by the paladins, I was guided to the building where Duke Fael was being treated.

“How is the Duke’s condition?”

“I only know that he is gravely injured.”

“I see.”

Leading the group of paladins, who seemed more like an escort than a response force, I proceeded toward the Duke’s location.

One of the paladins ran off, presumably to report my presence, but I paid no attention to the gazes fixed on me.

Eventually, we arrived at a white temple.

The entire Holy State exuded holiness, but this place was particularly imbued with divine energy.

‘No wonder the Demon King never dared to attack the Holy State directly.’

Even the Demon King would struggle to wield their power here.

Even without Kiriya intervening directly, the Holy Maiden could likely fend off the Demon King within this sanctuary.

The Holy State, which existed even before the Empire and had never fallen, lived up to its reputation.

“This is the place.”

I gave a small nod and stepped into the temple.

“Whom are you here to see?”

A priest in ceremonial robes greeted me as if accustomed to receiving visitors for the injured.

“I’m here to see Ron Fael.”

“Ron Fael… Ron Fael…? I beg your pardon, but may I know your identity…?”

The priest’s hesitant tone, coupled with his hiccup, suggested he had an inkling of who I was but wanted to confirm.

“Emperor.”

“Your Majesty…!”

On the way to the Duke’s room, several familiar faces struggled to their feet to bow despite their injuries.

“Do not rise.”

Some were individuals I had known for a long time, while others were swordsmen of the Fael family I had only met during the envoy’s send-off ceremony.

One of them, however, insisted on kneeling before me despite his injuries.

“Your servant, Han Fael, greets the rightful and legitimate ruler of the Empire. We have failed to fulfill Your Majesty’s command, and…”

“That’s enough.”

This wasn’t their fault.

It was my failure for not anticipating Edelvine’s move.

I should have sent more Masters.

Though there was much I wanted to say, this wasn’t the time or place, with so many eyes watching. Silently, I helped Ron Fael rise.

“I have not come to reprimand you. I wish to see the Duke. Where is he?”

“The head of the family is in the innermost room.”

“I see. Then rest here while I go to see the Duke.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Following Han Fael’s directions, I headed to the innermost room.

Along the way, I passed priests and paladins who neither stopped me nor objected.

At last, I reached the room, where I found Duke Fael, his body covered in burns and bloodstains.