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In front of the Imperial Palace.

A carriage marked with the Blue Tower Master's crest arrived.

As guests from the Tower arrived, maids hurried over, and a dedicated guide came to greet them.

Two individuals stepped down from the carriage.

One was Idella Howl, a direct disciple of the Blue Tower Master.

The other was me.

The Blue Tower had informed the Imperial Palace that they had reports for both the First Prince and the Third Princess regarding the recent movements of the ancient dragon.

Though it’s suspected that Celestial Grace orchestrated the dragon’s rampage, revealing that openly wasn't an option.

Gaining an audience with the Third Princess wasn’t too difficult.

When the Blue Tower Master moves personally, it draws too much attention.

Delivering a report is something a direct disciple can handle well enough.

So, Idella moved in his stead.

And I was her escort.

By now, the Blue Tower Master is probably already deep into researching the dragon’s magic with Sharin.

Judging by the desire burning in his eyes, it won’t be long before he completes it.

“Phew, why do I have to deal with this hassle when I’ve got mountains of magic I want to research?”

Idella, standing next to me, grumbled.

She sighed heavily, glanced at me, then sighed again.

She must be quite displeased about having her research time taken away.

“I apologize. It was urgent.”

At the time, she was the only one present at the Blue Tower, so there was no other option.

We couldn’t send just anyone to meet with the First Prince and Third Princess.

As such, the responsibility fell on her, the direct disciple.

With freckles dotting her nose, she glanced at me through her glasses and then turned away as if to say, “Whatever.”

“I can’t really help with anything, so I’ll just sit quietly and listen.”

“Yes, that will be more than enough.”

This audience was solely to meet the First Prince and Third Princess without Celestial Grace’s awareness.

She didn’t need to do anything else.

“The Third Princess is waiting for you first,” said the guide.

So, the first person we were meeting was Iris.

The First Prince was occupied with pressing matters.

Thus, we decided to meet with Iris first, since she had more flexibility.

That was just as well.

I was more concerned about Iris anyway.

This would be a good chance to find out why she hadn’t responded to Hania’s letter.

We followed the guide to a reception room prepared in the Imperial Palace.

‘The atmosphere here is heavy.’

Rumors were spreading across the empire that the Emperor was on his deathbed.

Perhaps because of that, the overall atmosphere of the Imperial Palace was somber and tense.

It might even be the reason Iris couldn’t casually correspond with Hania.

As we arrived, the maid who had been waiting knocked on the door twice.

“Lady Iris, guests from the Blue Tower have arrived.”

She then respectfully sought Iris’s permission.

“Let them in.”

Hearing her reply, the maid opened the door with care.

Idella and I entered, and after a long time, I saw Iris again.

Hair as black as spilled ink.

Eyes resembling red rubies.

Skin white as jade, her slender figure radiated a decadent beauty that stirred desire in anyone who looked.

Iris was still as captivating as ever.

But I noticed something had changed.

Dark shadows were once again visible under her eyes.

My eyes widened.

As hard as palace life must be, this meant Iris had fallen back into insomnia.

“Greetings to Her Highness, the Third Princess Iris,”

Idella said first.

Iris’s gaze then turned to me.

At that moment, the door behind us closed.

I looked at Iris and opened my mouth.

“Iris, are you losing sleep again?”

Next to me, Idella's eyes widened in shock.

Speaking so casually to a princess—it was only natural to be surprised.

She’d heard some things about me from the Blue Tower Master, but this she hadn’t expected.

Iris stared at me blankly for a moment after my words.

Then her lips slowly parted.

“…Vikamon oppa?”

I smiled faintly at her question.

“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

Idella silently stepped back.

She realized our relationship was deeper than she had assumed.

“I’ll block out my hearing,”

She said quickly.

She cast a sound-dampening spell on herself.

The fact that the Blue Tower Master had sent her meant she could be trusted to stay quiet.

She wasn’t the type to gossip.

'More accurately, she’s just too obsessed with magic.'

And to continue doing research in the Blue Tower, she wouldn’t risk talking recklessly.

Iris was about to speak but then closed her mouth again.

The flicker of joy that had briefly crossed her eyes vanished.

Before I could question it, Iris spoke.

“I heard you died in the civil war.”

“I figured it was better to let go of the name ‘Vikamon’.”

“That’s just like you.”

Judging from her response, she must have already suspected the truth long ago.

She may have worried, but she still trusted me.

“You’re not replying to Hania’s letters, are you? Is it because you’re holding back so the imperial affairs don’t leak outside?”

Hania is very worried.

And Iris, who has built a long relationship with Hania, would surely be aware of this.

“…It’s not that I can’t. I’m choosing not to.”

A look of doubt crossed my eyes.

There was no reason not to contact even Hania.

“Vikamon oppa.”

Iris’s red eyes looked straight into mine.

“I’m going to become the Emperor.”

Emperor.

The moment I heard those words, my eyes began to widen.

Because I realized what she meant by “Emperor.”

“…Is that your decision alone, Iris?”

If Iris becomes Emperor, it means becoming a puppet of the Celestial Grace.

I knew Iris never placed much value on the position of Emperor.

It wasn’t her own will, but the Duke’s coercion.

She only did it because it had to be done.

To Iris, the Emperor's position held little meaning.

She’s a responsible person.

If the First Prince had been lacking, she would have willingly become Emperor.

But even in Iris’s eyes, the First Prince was capable of leading the Empire.

So there was even less reason for Iris to obsess over the throne.

Yet, she suddenly declared she would become Emperor.

I couldn’t help but question that.

“It’s my will.”

Iris looked straight at me.

I could see sincerity in her eyes.

“…Iris, I’ve always respected your decisions.”

If she truly wanted to be Emperor, I was willing to support her.

But if it was the Celestial Grace’s will, I could never support it.

“Is it really your will?”

So I asked one last time.

As her close friend, I didn’t want her to make a misguided choice.

Iris was silent for a moment.

Emotions flickered across her face in that silence.

“…Yes, it’s really mine.”

I received the same answer again.

The emotion on her face—

If I could understand it, maybe I could hold onto Iris a little longer.

But faint anger alone wasn’t enough to fully grasp her feelings.

A short silence fell between us.

“Alright.”

Iris said it was her will.

Then I wouldn’t oppose her becoming Emperor.

“But I still believe the Celestial Grace is someone who should never hold imperial power.”

He’s a man who will surely lead the world to ruin.

“The Celestial Grace is my grandfather.”

A faint, ambiguous smile appeared on Iris’s lips.

That smile seemed to carry a hint of tears.

“That’s a fact that won’t change. Maybe that’s why I’m being so greedy.”

Her gaze met mine.

Like a moth drawn to flame, she longed for warmth.

But she didn’t come any closer.

This was the responsibility of a choice she had made herself.

Iris had made up her mind.

And I didn’t believe I could change that decision now.

“What about the academy?”

“I’m planning to quit.”

She was set to become the student council president next year.

But the Emperor’s passing had been moved up, and the situation changed.

Iris could no longer remain at Zerion Academy.

The imperial throne was now more important than school life.

“Alright.”

Instead of saying more, I turned around.

Iris’s gaze followed me, but I didn’t stop walking.

I gestured to Idella, who had been standing back.

Idella silently followed after lifting her magic.

The atmosphere was heavy, so she was unusually quiet compared to earlier.

“Iris, just remember this.”

I said, standing at the door.

“If you ever ask for help, no matter what it is—I’ll gladly help you.”

The day I became friends with Iris,

I made it clear that family wasn't all there is to human relationships.

“So please—act not out of coercion, but by your own will.”

Don’t be swayed by the Celestial Grace.

Iris lowered her head with trembling eyes.

That was the end.

I turned away.

“See you again.”

Iris had chosen to become Emperor.

But so what?

I never intended to leave her alone anyway.

She might think I’m stepping away, but that’s not the case.

Whatever happens, if I’m to protect this damned world, I must protect Iris too.

The final villainess.

I have no intention of letting her meet a bad ending.

Celestial Grace.

Grrrk—

My teeth ground softly.

I don’t know what offer he made to Iris to change her mind.

But I could never forgive a man who would so cruelly use his own granddaughter’s pain.

I’m grateful to Seron for sparking even the faintest bit of anger.

Because now, I finally know how to be truly angry.

The circumstances entangled with Iris—

To uncover them, I need more information.

And so, I took my steps to meet the next person.

First Prince, Lukraizen Hysrion.

He must hold the key.