Pernoa arrived at the room less than five minutes after Seymour had gone to fetch him.
It was clear he had dropped everything and come immediately.
The moment the door swung open, he strode straight to the bedside in long, purposeful steps. He looked Riersha over carefully, examining her from head to toe, then spoke.
“Anything seriously wrong?”
“Nothing beyond the need for rest, for the time being.”
“Then there is something wrong, Doctor.”
“…”
When Pernoa’s crimson eyes settled into a calm, cold stillness, the attending physician flinched and folded his hands meekly in front of him.
Four years old — an age when a child ought to be running around all day without a care in the world — and yet Riersha needed extended bed rest. It was difficult to sit with.
Pernoa stood over her with his arms crossed, then gave the order.
“Everyone out.”
“But Father, we’d like to stay with Riersha a little lon—”
“Riscal. I hear you’ve been practically living in this room for the past three days.”
“…”
“The rest of you are no different.”
Since there was no arguing with that, the room fell quiet.
Riersha waved her little hand awkwardly.
“Brothers, come back and vi—!”
Flinch.
Her eyes met Pernoa’s, and she quietly lowered her hand.
“Right, Riersha. We’ll see you later. Focus on getting better.”
“Mm-hm.”
Once everyone had filed out, only Pernoa remained in the room.
He took a moment to review everything that had unfolded while Riersha lay unconscious.
The Charlotte Count’s household — the source of all this — was currently under occupation by the Arachrene investigative team. When the duchy’s agents had arrived without warning, the household had scrambled to destroy something in a hurry, but—
“The underground chamber was filled with documents that appeared to be magical formulae. Why would Count Charlotte possess something like this?”
Milia, who had led the Arachrene investigation, had expressed deep suspicion about the significant materials retrieved from the Charlotte estate. Those documents had since been quietly commissioned to the Mage Tower for analysis.
As for the Charlotte household itself—
『The House of Count Charlotte — Ruined Overnight?』
The Declair capital newspapers were already buzzing with news of their downfall.
Up until now, the Arachrene family had been shielding them from behind the scenes. But that protection was no longer necessary — or extended. Soon they would lose their footing, crumble, and forfeit the standing they had so carefully cultivated.
It was, in one sense, a loss — the disappearance of a family known for producing brilliant strategists. But if paying for the sin of laying hands on Riersha required nothing less, then so be it.
All of that had been handled by Pernoa while Riersha slept.
Riersha watched him in cautious silence before finally calling out.
“Papa…?”
“Lie down.”
“…Yes, sir.”
She immediately lay back down.
Then she gripped the edge of her blanket with both small hands and drew a long, steadying breath.
So this was it. Now it was her turn to be scolded.
First her brothers, and now Papa.
While Riersha trembled with anticipation, bracing herself stiff as a board and staring up at the ceiling—
Pernoa looked at that tiny, rigid face and let out a quiet laugh.
The hard line of his mouth softened, and when it did, Riersha cautiously smiled back.
“Hehe…”
“Looks like your brothers already gave you quite a talking-to.”
“Yes…”
Riersha nodded, a little forlorn.
“And did you reflect on your actions?”
“I did.”
“Well then. I’m not sure I see much left to scold.”
To be fair, compared to his grown sons, Riersha was still so very young. There wasn’t much to reprimand — she had simply survived and pulled through, which was already something to be grateful for. But he couldn’t let it pass in complete silence either, so Pernoa considered for a moment before breaking into a gentle smile.
“Then I trust you’re ready to accept your punishment with grace?”
“…P-punishment?”
“For the time being, you’re banned from entering the palace where the prince resides, Riersha.”
“Th-that one’s not okay!”
Riersha’s eyes went wide with alarm.
Any other punishment, she could bear. But not that.
Because she had made a promise to Isierd in exchange for receiving his sacred power.
“I promised to visit him twice!”
“…How many times?”
“Twice! Twice a week!”
Two small fingers spread out plaintively before her.
She had already failed to keep her promise by losing consciousness. For all she knew, Isierd was sitting somewhere right now thinking she was a shameless girl who had snatched his sacred power and vanished without a word.
At Riersha’s confession, the corner of Pernoa’s mouth curved upward sharply.
So a deal had been struck — without his knowledge?
“Who proposed it first?”
“Isierd did…”
“Ha.”
Pernoa let out a short, humorless laugh at the audacity of the boy who had moved faster than him.
The nerve of that child.
⁂
『The House of Count Charlotte — Ruined Overnight?』
The news that swept across the entire Declair Empire was nothing short of shocking.
It reached the imperial palace in under half a day.
Duke Willias sipped his tea and clicked his tongue several times.
“What a shame. Such a promising young count — to meet such an unfortunate end.”
“Indeed.”
Karla replied without much feeling.
She found it deeply irritating that Duke Willias had sought her out in the middle of such turbulent circumstances.
Duke Willias set down his teacup and studied her carefully — she seemed distracted, her mind clearly elsewhere. He exhaled a deliberate sigh.
Karla glanced at him with a puzzled look.
Duke Willias seized the opening and spoke.
“I’ve been troubled lately. It seems the discipline of the Empire is coming undone.”
“…Discipline? Whatever do you mean by that, Duke?”
“Surely you’ve heard by now? The Kadimo Theater Company has been performing The Throne of Lybunessia openly across every corner of the Empire.”
“What does that have to do with anything…?”
Karla’s brow furrowed.
That matter should have been resolved by Duke Kineart long ago. She had assumed it was handled — Duke Kineart would never tolerate a blow to his own reputation.
So she doesn’t know that Duke Kineart still hasn’t taken any action.
Duke Willias studied the startled confusion on Karla’s face and found it curious. That affair had begun more than a month ago.
Then for at least a month, the Empress and Duke Kineart have had no contact at all?
How had it come to this?
What, then… is the Empress actually occupied with?
If not the Kadimo Theater Company, what on earth was demanding the Empress’s attention?
Duke Willias was quietly working to understand her state of mind when—
“Duke Willias. I think we should conclude our meeting here. Something urgent has come up, and I’m afraid I must excuse myself.”
“Something urgent? Has something happened within the palace?”
Duke Willias rose deliberately slowly, letting a look of genuine bewilderment cross his face. Karla’s irritation flared, her eyes narrowing sharply.
“Duke Willias.”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress. Please, speak.”
“Regardless of Olivia’s status as the intended future Crown Princess, you would do well to remember your place. Is it not a little premature for you to be involving yourself in palace matters?”
“…I shall keep that in mind.”
Duke Willias bowed his head with all due deference — but his eyes gleamed cold and sharp beneath the courteous gesture.
The Empress was hiding something. Even from him, who should have been an ally.
⁂
Late in the night. The young duke’s estate — a private bedchamber.
Pernoa stood in his room, watching Riersha sleep.
He had, in the end, rescinded the ban on her visiting the prince — for her sake.
Instead, he had decided to keep her close, bringing her along with him on his schedule for the foreseeable future.
“Papa, you’re so mean!”
Riersha seemed to think it was simply Pernoa being difficult out of spite.
Perhaps it was better that she misunderstood it that way.
Pernoa stepped out and closed the bedroom door behind him. Rosinante, who had been stealing glances into the room, asked quietly:
“Are you worried about what the Empress might do to the young lady next?”
“There’s no knowing who else in the ducal estate might be receiving orders besides Ian Charlotte.”
“…But there’s Sona, isn’t there?”
…If he was being honest, part of it really was him being difficult with his daughter. Pernoa chose to pretend he hadn’t heard Rosinante’s remark at all.
“What did you come to tell me?”
