After they left as if their business was done, Reid and I both glanced at the invitation in my hand.

Reid narrowed his eyes as he looked at the queen’s seal stamped clearly.

“This doesn’t look good.”

I completely agreed.

Suddenly, I checked the system window.

[ ‘Genre Change Ticket Trial Version’ remaining time: 7 days 20 hours 29 minutes.]

The drama-filled family regret plot was only halfway through.

I just hoped Prince Rigares and Queen Raviosa would behave moderately.

✠

Reid and I were summoned to the royal palace at the same time. We dressed in modest attire appropriate for entering the palace.

[‘The Scale that Judges Souls’ is dissatisfied with your simple appearance.]

We wore clothes matching our undercover identities. Though the Scale calls it plain, I think it was at least as neat as a maid or servant of a noble house.

“Let’s go, Reid.”

“Yeah.”

I grabbed Reid’s sleeve and smashed the spatial teleportation stone. Light and wind carried us across time and space.

We arrived in front of the main gate of the royal palace.

Since we could enter officially with the invitation, there was no need to ride the royal carriage like before.

Before passing through the heavily guarded gate, I quietly looked at Reid.

“Hey, Reid. I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Even if I’m being summoned by Queen Raviosa, don’t you think you don’t have to go to Rigares?”

“......”

“You’ve ignored Prince Hadeil’s summons so far.”

I thought it would be fine to ignore it like with Hadeil. Still, it was strange that Reid responded to Rigares’ call.

Reid calmly replied.

“The timing matched.”

“Timing?”

“They called me at the same time you were summoned. I was already thinking about sneaking into the palace, so I thought this was convenient.”

“So you’re meeting him incidentally because of me?”

“I can’t send only you into a den of conspiracies.”

“......And you hate Rigares so much.”

I thought he didn’t have to do that, but secretly I was a little touched by his kindness.

Before I knew it, we passed the gate and walked side by side down the central avenue. Once we passed the courtyard and entered the palace, we would part ways.

Since now was the only chance to give him a worried warning, I spoke immediately.

“If Rigares gets on your nerves, don’t hold back. Holding it in will make you sick.”

<Right. A disease that wants to destroy the world!>

“......”

We had reached the palace and were about to go separate ways. Reid muttered quietly.

“I hope the queen treats you kindly.”

A modest wish for the final mastermind.

“Well then, Ayleth. Shall we meet at the promised place after this?”

“Yeah. See you later, Reid.”

We were each guided by our attendants in different directions.

After passing through hallways and stairs covered with all kinds of splendid decorations and artworks, I arrived at the queen’s quarters. The archway that signified her authority slowly split open sideways.

I couldn’t guess why the queen had summoned me. Therefore, I didn’t know what attitude she would show. I took a deep breath and looked straight ahead.

“Welcome, Lady Ayleth!”

“We’ve been waiting for you, Lady Ayleth!”

“Hm?”

A group of maids greeted me in sweet, melodious voices like singing nightingales.

I was stunned by their unexpectedly kind reception, but then the maids swarmed me and led me away.

“This way, please. Hurry up.”

“Hurry, hurry, Her Majesty the Queen will arrive soon, so there’s no time.”

“Good. From now on, you entrust everything to us!”

“Wait? Hey? What... agh!”

I was surrounded and disarmed in an instant. The maids who seemed like nightingales suddenly looked like piranhas.

✠

When Reid arrived at the third prince’s quarters, he saw the maids and servants lined up nervously in the reception room.

Those who should have notified the visitor were busy exchanging uneasy glances, neglecting their duties.

Thanks to experience gained over the years, Reid quickly understood the situation.

“It seems the prince has been acting terribly to his subordinates.”

“Ah! Please refrain from disrespectful remarks...”

“So when will someone come to escort me inside?”

“Just a moment ago, we went to fetch Sir Prinz. His Highness’s temperament softens in front of him, so accompanying you would be beneficial...”

“I’ll go in alone.”

“That’s nonsense! How can we trust someone of unclear identity like you...!”

The earnest words were cut off.

“...I will trust you. Please enter, Lord Reid.”

The servant politely opened the door, and the others nearby did not resist. Their eyes were all glazed over.

They had been affected by low-level verbal magic. Unfortunately, there were no awakened powers strong enough here to resist Reid.

Just as Reid stepped inside the open door, a glass bottle flew toward his face.

Crash!

The bottle’s trajectory was distorted by violated physical laws and it crashed somewhere else. The shattered shards scattered across the floor with a strong volatile smell.

This kind of malice was frequent; the floor was littered with glass fragments.

Reid didn’t care and took a step forward. The sharp shards vanished like dust before his foot touched them.

The prince, slumped deeply into the sofa, growled as he picked up a new bottle of liquor.

“What’s this? I told you not to come in.”

“Pathetic.”

“...!”

A cold, scornful voice awakened Rigares’s spirit.

“You... Ah, right. I called you.”

Rigares staggered up, kicked the debris aside, and gestured to the opposite sofa.

“Sit, guest.”

“......”

It would have been better if I had collapsed on the sofa again, but Rigares, as if wanting to show more of his broken self, moved unsteadily toward the shelf.

“I left some liquor to entertain you... Ah, here it is.”

After fumbling several times, he opened the bottle and personally poured Reid’s glass.

The dark red liquid was top-grade wine, good enough to savor with the eyes. Despite the effort to serve properly, Reid did not raise the glass.

“......”

“......”

Time passed in silence. A heavy, tense atmosphere flowed between the two people facing each other across the low table.

Rigares scowled, clenching his interlaced hands tightly, while Reid stared expressionlessly.

Reid was the first to break the stalemate, but not in a friendly way.

“If you have no business, shall I leave?”

“Wait!”

Rigares was the one who regretted it.

He hurriedly grabbed Reid but then wasted time for a while. Uncharacteristically, he moved only his lips several times but did not speak.

He seemed thirsty, nervously swallowing dry saliva. Reid watched carefully, even though there was a tempting drink in front of him.

Reid finally lifted the glass, as if willing to wait a bit more, but only smelled the color and scent without drinking.

At last, the matter was not political.

“Let me see my brother.”

“......”

“My brother, Reminic.”

“......”

His deep blue eyes were completely sober. They held a mixture of emotions.

Burning anger, desperate pleading, and terrible guilt...

Before labeling them further, Reid lowered his gaze and looked away. He felt if he looked any longer, Rigares might dredge up some painful memory.

—Brother. Reminic.

He never wanted to glorify him.

Impatient Rigares could not keep silent for long.

“You can do it, right? You can.”

“......”

“No, say you can!”

The centerpiece crashed noisily to the floor. Rigares growled as if ready to stomp across the table to grab Reid by the collar.

Of course, he posed no real threat.

“I’ll at least deliver the message.”

“Not that. Where is my brother? Wherever he is, I’ll go find him now...!”

“Your brother doesn’t want to see you.”

“...!”

Rigares suddenly stopped breathing for a moment.

It was a clearly wounded reaction. The mere words swayed him completely; his brother’s existence was that important.

Those with a weakness tend to react sensitively. Rigares glared at Reid through clenched teeth.

“Shut up. You’re not even my brother, so what do you know.”

“Do you know about Reminic?”

“Of course. No one knows my brother better than me. Our brother...”

“Did he save you or die?”

“......”

“Even while receiving resentment from his younger brother.”

“...!”

Rigares’s eyes trembled.

“How do you know that...?”

“Well.”

“Could it be you... met him? Our brother?”

“......”

“I’m asking! Did you meet him?”

Eventually, Rigares stomped on the table and knocked it over. He didn’t grab Reid by the collar but grabbed the backrest tightly, threateningly.