If it’s for the one you love

“This… Could it be that the Marquis has his own concerns?”

Morick could only analyze it this way,

“If the Marquis doesn’t want to be forced into a rebellion, then he must be avoiding conflict with Your Highness and the Imperial Family.

At the very least, he should be biding his time and keeping a low profile!”
Morick trailed off as he spoke.

Everyone knew that the Marquis’s rise was as dazzling and brilliant as a meteor.

At only twelve years old, he had carved a path through a desperate situation, striking deep behind enemy lines to defeat the barbarians and making a name for himself throughout the world.

In the years of war against the barbarians that followed, he was ever-victorious, conquering all before him.

Two years ago, he annihilated nearly a hundred thousand barbarians in a single stroke, pushed all the way into the Wolf Holy Mountain in the heart of their territory, built an altar to offer sacrifices to the heavens, and utterly shattered the might of the northern barbarians who had ravaged the border for nearly a hundred years!

And at that time, Marquis Champion was only eighteen years old!

An age of soaring spirits, of youthful arrogance.

Biding his time?

Was that possible?

Perhaps he had already grown so arrogant and conceited that he saw no one but himself, believing he was peerless under the heavens.

“No, you’re right, that is the most likely scenario.”

Ryan, however, agreed with the idea of him biding his time.

The world saw only the brilliant achievements of Marquis Champion.

But what Ryan saw was the ever-heavier burden on the man’s shoulders, the growing number of soldiers under his command, and the increasingly astonishing number of allied forces.

Yet, the man’s methods of warfare, while not losing their boldness and flexibility, were becoming more and more mature and steady.

In his early years, the man had been quite fond of deep solo incursions and was even a bit reckless in his pursuit of glory.

But ever since Marquis Champion began to favor coordinating with other units, it made Ryan feel that no matter how much coordination there was, only an absolute fool would end up with nothing to show for it…

Thinking of this, Ryan had to admit that he didn’t like how the Marquis’s family interfered in the affairs of others, but the Marquis’s personal growth was plain to see.

“Go and investigate first. Stop letting your imagination run wild.”

Ryan said to Morick, “This matter must be handled with caution. A single misstep… you know the consequences, don’t you?”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Considering the gravity of the situation, Morick couldn’t help but give a military salute that was currently being tested in the army, even though he was merely a civil official.

After briefly settling the details and direction of the intelligence gathering, Morick departed.

Ryan, however, did not immediately return to his chambers, but continued to ponder the matter.

Honestly, although he had reconciled with Stella Rose, even without considering the recent secret meeting, he still didn’t have a very good impression of this young lady from the Blue Lion family.

The main reason was that the blue-haired girl currently displayed a personality that lacked its own convictions; she changed herself based on whatever others said…

It was fine if she was around good people and her family, but what if it was a malicious person with ulterior motives?

Considering that the Marquis most likely did have feelings for this blue-haired girl, if he had the chance, Ryan wanted to tell the man that he himself had little interest in the engagement.

But whether that damned old man would listen to him was another matter entirely.

Forcing the issue wouldn’t work… and the blue-haired girl was clearly unwilling.

Even if he didn’t like her, he was well aware that this relationship served as a form of protection for the Blue Lion family.

“So…”

To be honest, Ryan had never had any real contact with the man.

Although many in the world referred to them as the “Twin Jades of the Empire,” he was merely one who admired and emulated the other.

While both had quelled rebellions, Ryan had relied on the authority of an Imperial Marshal and, more importantly, on the sheer numbers and veteran generals from other armies.

He didn’t have many true close friends of his own… those desperate soldiers from his past didn’t count, did they?

As for following the main army on the northern expedition four years ago… he was just a child then.

He could only gaze at the man’s back from a distance.

And whenever they met at the imperial court, the man was either surrounded by a crowd of people offering congratulations and trying to curry favor, or he was whisked away directly by that old man.

So, just as Morick said, he was indeed viewing the man through the lens of his own imagination.

Moreover, Morick had deliberately omitted another possibility—that the man might be using this matter to declare his allegiance.

No, that wasn’t quite right; his allegiance was already common knowledge.

After all, it was a situation orchestrated by his own dear old father.

“Or perhaps, he’s trying to suppress me, or to obstruct me from building a close relationship with the Blue Lion family…

That really doesn’t seem like his style.”

In Ryan’s imagination, that man was supposed to remain neutral.

At least, that was how it should be in practice.

Of course, this was still his own wishful thinking and conjecture, without any real basis.

“Let’s wait and see.”

Ryan had a feeling that the current situation would not last long.

Because he had achieved merit, the Black Dragon Knights had been expanded, breaking a certain balance.

Flora spent the night in relatively comfortable sleep.

This wasn’t to say she was without worries, but a great deal of work awaited her early the next morning, and it was essential to rest and conserve her energy.

Stella, on the other hand, clearly hadn’t rested well last night, which was obvious from the moment she woke up.

It was understandable.

On the surface, Stella and the Crown Prince had repaired their relationship, but it was inevitable that Ryan still held some reservations in his heart.

It was only natural for Stella to feel uneasy about this.

“Good morning, Miss Rose!”

Flora promptly greeted her with a cheerful spirit, then led her to the dining hall.

“Good morning, Your Highness Ryan.”

Upon seeing Ryan, Stella wore a guilty expression, even speaking with some timidity, “I’m truly sorry about last night… I will work hard from now on, please don’t worry.”

Ryan gave her a deep look but offered no response.

‘What’s going on? Did something else happen between them after I left?’

Flora sensed that something wasn’t quite right.

But Stella didn’t dwell on it, and the two quickly took their seats.

Flora temporarily pushed the question to the back of her mind and began to busy herself along with the old butler.

After breakfast, Flora started showing Stella around the residence.

The latter gradually cheered up during the tour.

Of course, besides introducing the places, Flora continued to speak well of Ryan as she had the day before, but this time, whenever it was her own suggestion, she would mention it briefly to avoid any misunderstanding from Stella.

“It’s truly admirable that His Highness has such a good subordinate like you.”

Stella had clearly noticed and, with this sentence, began to think that Flora wasn’t just a servant, but rather a member of a specialized think tank that provided counsel.

It was quite normal for members of a think tank to have no fame, title, or official position before the person they served rose to power.

But to compensate, the promotions and rewards these members received in the future would be far greater and more secure than those of ordinary followers.

Flora didn’t intend to correct Stella’s misunderstanding, merely offering a faint smile and asking, “This is all thanks to His Highness’s discerning eye for talent and his patronage.”

“There are many people by His Highness’s side who are more capable and talented than I am. They just lack a little opportunity…”

“In any case, His Highness is truly good to you. It makes me envious just watching.”

“Actually, His Highness values every one of his subordinates…”

Flora took the opportunity to tell the story of how Ryan had taken someone to get treatment for Morick’s son, but she concealed the fact that she possessed a Patronus—she wasn’t worried that Ryan would take the credit; everyone involved had agreed to keep it a secret, and if asked, the story was that he was cured by an exclusive healer.

Upon hearing this, Stella grew even happier.

“I see. To go to such lengths for a subordinate, His Highness Ryan is truly a man who deeply values loyalty and friendship.”

Hearing these words, Flora’s heart couldn’t help but skip a beat.

That’s right, even for a mere subordinate, His Highness Ryan treated them like family.

If his beloved were to suddenly disappear, would Ryan…

Flora dared not think further.

Coincidentally, Stella was thinking of something similar.

But the difference was, she was thinking—

‘If it were for the woman he loved… then he would not hesitate to go to war, even against the most famous knight order in the world, would he?’

A glint of ruthless intent, almost imperceptible, flashed through the blue-haired girl’s eyes.