The room fell silent.

“…What do you mean by unfair?”

Luna’s voice sharpened immediately.

Visible anger flashed across her face.

“The duel was unfair from the very beginning.”

She stepped forward protectively.

“Az was already about to lose, and then he awakened a hidden power and won fairly.”

“Yes, we know, Luna,”  Kael replied calmly.

His expression darkened slightly.

“But the nobles do not care about fairness.”

“They lost face during the duel.”

“They’re trying to use this situation against him.”

Kael let out a tired sigh.

“And Gregor is the most irritating among them.”

Beside him, Ren folded her arms casually.

“Those old nobles are just throwing a tantrum because their precious prodigy got beaten by a servant.”

She spoke with complete disregard for noble etiquette.

Strangely, neither Kael nor Luna reacted to her disrespectful tone.

It was almost as though they were already used to it.

I lowered my gaze slightly.

“…So what will happen to me?”

Kael’s expression grew serious.

“The king—my brother—is in a difficult position.”

He leaned back slightly in his chair.

“Your power is completely unknown.”

“Other than Ren, nobody understands what happened during that duel.”

“Even if His Majesty wishes to protect you, openly supporting a commoner without proof will create division among the nobility.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“And if the neutral factions turn against him, it could destabilize the court.”

The atmosphere inside the room grew heavy.

Then Ren stepped forward again.

“Which is why this trial matters.”

Her emerald eyes locked onto mine.

“If we can gain the support of the neutral noble factions during the hearing, we can suppress this matter before it grows worse.”

A faint smirk appeared on her lips.

“And honestly?”

“The king is already furious at Gregor.”

“His household insulted the crown princess and nearly killed you during a formal royal duel.”

The situation suddenly felt far more serious than I originally imagined.

A royal judgment could not be based on emotion.

Only proof.

Only law.

And if things turned for the worse…

Exile was a very real possibility.

Then—

Knock. Knock.

A soft sound came from the doorway.

Everyone turned.

Reginald stood quietly outside the room.

His usual composed expression remained unchanged, though something heavy lingered in his eyes.

“Commander Kael. Lady Ren.”

He bowed respectfully.

“May I have permission to speak with Azrael alone?”

Kael immediately stood from his chair.

“Yes, Reginald.”

Ren stretched lazily before turning toward the door.

“Well then, kid…”

She flashed me a small grin.

“We’ll be waiting outside.”

After they left, Reginald slowly entered the room.

Luna quietly returned to sit beside me on the bed.

Reginald stopped near the window before finally speaking.

“How are you feeling?”

His voice was calm and smooth as always.

“I am feeling much better, Father.”

For several seconds, silence filled the room.

Then Reginald quietly asked—

“…Are you angry that I slapped you?”

His voice trembled slightly near the end.

I lowered my gaze briefly before shaking my head.

“I know you did it for my sake, Father.”

“You were trying to protect me from them.”

Reginald’s shoulders stiffened slightly.

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then he slowly nodded.

“…I see.”

He turned toward the door again.

“The audience will begin soon.”

“Get changed and come afterward.”

As he turned away, I noticed it.

Tears silently falling from his eyes.

He kept his face turned so I would not see them clearly.

But I understood.

Reginald was not crying because of shame.

Nor regret alone.

He was crying from relief.

Relief that I was alive.

Relief that the child he had raised had returned safely.

And perhaps…

Relief that despite everything, I still understood him.

Something warm suddenly stung my own eyes.

Tears slowly rolled down my cheeks before I even realized it.

I didn’t understand why.

But Luna did.

Without saying anything, she gently wiped away my tears.

Then she looked directly into my eyes.

Her expression was calm.

Resolute.

“Let’s go to the trial.”

A faint coldness entered her blue eyes.

“We need to show them that what they did is unforgivable.”