Episode 446
Enemies and enemies. And enemies.

There was no better way to describe the conference room. Clifford, Burgos, and Luswena—once allies planning a coalition, now completely divided by the massive wall that was Bariel.

Whispers filled the air as each faction quietly discussed strategy in their native tongues, careful not to be overheard by foreign ears. King Clifford, Damon of Burgos, and Eriphoni of Luswena—their gazes flickered through the empty space, crossing and retreating repeatedly.

Though they sat at a considerable distance from one another, their sharp eyes showed no sign of dulling. Whether consciously or not, they skillfully read the shifting currents of tension.

How long had they been waiting? One by one, the envoys reached for their pocket watches.

Creak!

Bariel’s officials entered in a straight line, clad in their formal robes.

Each was an elderly man, chin held high with unyielding pride. Though they represented Bariel, they were mere bureaucrats. It was unheard of for officials to arrive before the king, especially when the monarchs of great nations—who had shared centuries of history—were already waiting.

But war has a way of making the impossible happen, doesn’t it? Elderet whispered over Eriphoni’s shoulder.

“Your Highness.”

“Damn it.”

At Elderet’s urging, Eriphoni swallowed her sigh and was the first to rise.

In this room, the only one who could bow to the officials was Eriphoni of Luswena. Clifford’s stance was friendly enough to set aside, and Burgos was already too broken to bow—any diplomatic niceties were long past. They had crossed a line that couldn’t be undone with mere flattery.

With a smooth motion, Eriphoni stood, followed by the Luswena delegation. Then the Burgos envoys rose, and finally Clifford’s, all greeting with the formal etiquette of the royal court.

King Clifford and Damon sat heavily, casting disdainful glances at Eriphoni. But she had no choice. The fate of Luswena hinged on the outcome of this negotiation. She had to cling to the gray area between black and white, no matter what.

Eriphoni bowed her head just slightly, forcing herself to ignore the officials’ piercing stares.

Haah.

Still, she couldn’t help but notice Ian entering alongside the last of the magicians. His expression was unreadable, but a faint, cold smile flickered across his lips—a clear mockery of the king’s fallen dignity.

She bit her lip, struggling to steady the trembling fist hidden beneath her sleeve.

“Your Majesty, thank you for honoring Bariel with your presence. Please, be seated.”

The prime minister, seated beside the throne, adjusted his glasses and nodded. Though grateful the king had set aside pride to welcome the officials, his gesture was a subtle signal to end the formalities.

As Eriphoni took her seat, the envoys followed suit. The prime minister glanced over the thick stack of documents, then confirmed that all three nations were present.

“Hmm. It seems not all parties involved in the Clifford-Burgos war are here. But it should not hinder the negotiations. Let us bring in the Crown Prince.”

He signaled to a servant, who went to fetch the Crown Prince. A tense silence filled the room, stretching until the young prince entered.

Creak.

A deep scar ran across his face, silver hair and pale eyes. Those seeing the true Crown Prince for the first time found the descriptions accurate, yet the aura he exuded was entirely different.

Who could believe this boy was only ten years old? Rumors that he had barely survived within the palace seemed absurd. Every step, every glance carried the weight of authority. It was as if he had been steeped in royal education since birth.

At his arrival, King Clifford was the first to rise. The entire room followed suit, bowing their heads until the prince took his seat.

“Everyone, be seated.”

With a sharp glance at the prime minister, Jin gave the order to begin. The prime minister cleared his throat, then struck his gavel down.

Bang! Bang!

“We will now commence the ceasefire negotiations between Clifford and Burgos. Given the gravity of this matter, discussions will span several days to ensure all positions are fully expressed. No one is to comment on the agreed terms outside this room. All decisions are to be executed under the authority of the Great Empire of Bariel. Those who disagree may leave—but must bear full responsibility for their choice.”

The prime minister paused, as if daring anyone to storm out. After a moment, he struck the gavel down firmly.

Bang!

“Let us begin. Burgos: we have already confirmed certain facts through King Damon’s interrogation. Please respond carefully. Any contradictory statements will prolong these talks unnecessarily. Does Burgos admit to invading Clifford?”

A woman seated beside Damon rose. Everyone except the Burgos envoys cast curious glances her way.

Her identity was unclear, and she seemed far too young to lead a delegation. Age alone doesn’t guarantee authority, but one would expect Bariel to have intelligence on anyone appointed as chief envoy. She was no star fallen from the sky.

“State your identity.”

The prime minister’s question was deliberate, forcing her to confirm her identity publicly. Though she had done so upon entering, repeating it in this official setting carried a different weight. The scribes focused intently, ready to record her words.

“I am Vania, chief envoy of the Burgos delegation.”

“What position do you hold in Burgos?”

The prime minister pressed, but Vania deftly dodged.

“I already said—I am the chief envoy.”

“Very well, Representative Vania. Does Burgos admit to invading Clifford?”

She seemed unwilling to answer. The officials turned their attention to their documents, scribbling notes—until she spoke unexpectedly.

“No.”

“…?”

“At first, it was a request to enter the country. Burgos sought entry to verify the safety of its envoys, which Clifford refused. Given the frequent disputes along our border, misunderstandings occurred. While war did break out and Burgos was defeated, I want to make clear there was no intent to invade at the start.”

“Are you kidding me? Starting off with this nonsense?”

“Everyone saw, heard, and experienced it! Burgos isn’t even trying to cover it up—they just close their eyes!”

“King Damon already admitted this in the first interrogation. Why deny it now? Ha.”

Clifford’s side was the first to erupt in protest. They jumped to their feet, voices raised in outrage. To deny the intent to invade at the very outset!

The envoys’ outbursts were quickly quelled by a subtle hand gesture from King Clifford and the prime minister’s gavel demanding silence. With Crown Prince Jin watching, such disrespect was intolerable.

Of course, the same applied to Burgos.

“Damn, they’re causing trouble right from the start.”

“Shh, Beric. Keep your voice down.”

Beric muttered under his breath, lips barely moving as if ventriloquizing. The magicians nudged him, but he felt compelled to speak.

“Seriously. That’s not talk—it’s hot air.”

“Looks like nonsense, but it’s still talk.”

Luswena reacted just as sharply as Clifford. They were thrown off by Burgos’s unexpected stance. No matter how much the sky splits, the facts don’t change—so why make such reckless statements?

And they were the defeated party. If Bariel and Clifford wished, they could swallow the entire country whole. Few things are as chaotic and tempting as a leaderless nation.

“What’s their angle?”

“Not sure yet. The envoys seem silent, so it might be a coordinated statement…”

“Isn’t that dangerously reckless?”

“Indeed. I wonder how Bariel will respond…”

Eriphoni whispered to Elderet beside her, never taking her eyes off Vania. The young envoy stared back resolutely, though her hand trembled slightly as it rested on the table.

Eriphoni frowned, then caught the subtle movements of the Bariel officials. They whispered among themselves, some apparently welcoming Vania’s brazen attitude as a pretext for a hardline stance, while the moderates seemed troubled, debating how to handle the situation.

…And Ian?

“…I’ll handle it…”

He covered his mouth with his hand, quietly instructing a magician. The messenger promptly left the room, while Ian composed himself calmly.

The prime minister lightly struck his gavel to restore order.

Bang!

“Everyone, be silent. Representative Vania of Burgos, you have contradicted King Damon’s prior statements despite advance notice. How do you explain this?”

“If the chief envoy and King Damon disagree, can we truly say these words represent Burgos? There’s no need to respect the royal family—kneel immediately.”

“Now, now, please calm down. We’re just getting started, and everyone’s already too worked up.”

“Is this really the consensus of the entire Burgos delegation? King Damon, you speak up. Your testimony during the interrogation differs from what the delegation is saying now. It’s only right to hear your side again.”

Damon, who had been quietly observing the situation, raised an eyebrow and smirked when his name was mentioned. Then, as if to show off, he shrugged and revealed his severed tongue once more. He might have wanted to add more, but with his tongue cut out, what could he do?

One of the officials suddenly stood up, furious.

“Th-this is outrageous! How dare you speak like that in front of His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince! Even if your tongue is cut out, are your hands also severed? Communicate your position through writing if you must!”

Screeeech.

At that moment, the mage who had stepped outside quietly reentered the chamber. The room was so noisy that no one really noticed him coming and going—except for the Burgos side.

Damon’s previously relaxed expression instantly hardened when he saw who was following the mage.

“Have you arrived, Timothy?”

“Yes, Ian.”

“Over there, that way.”

Timothy knelt down and took a position diagonally behind Ian, then slowly scanned Bania with a nod. He whispered softly.

“She’s King Damon’s half-sister.”

“Are you sure?”

“I can’t say with absolute certainty, but it’s almost certain. A few years ago, we ‘secured’ a child who looked very much like her and sent her to Rutherford.”

“I see.”

Ian stroked his chin thoughtfully, as if piecing things together. Damon must have recognized Bania the moment he saw her. His half-blood relative, the one he had sent to Rutherford. So even without any signals, he could guess the meaning behind her presence.

“The one sent to Rutherford has become the Burgos delegation’s representative? This suggests that the internal coordination among Burgos nobles is under Rutherford’s influence. Sending her as a representative despite the risks of drawing attention must have been unavoidable for the sake of this meeting. Hmm.”

Ian’s eyes narrowed. Rutherford, Damon, and Bania. From the very start of the negotiations to the awkward remarks.

“Is this an attempt to stall the talks?”

But why? What could they possibly gain from delay?

“…Is Rutherford making a move on this side?”