Aries found himself once again within the grounds of the Imperial Palace.

The sight before him was strangely familiar.

The same grand walls.

The same towering architecture.

And beyond them, the palace gardens stretched beneath the morning sky, every pathway carefully maintained and every flower arranged with almost excessive precision.

Despite having seen it only a few times, Aries still found himself quietly impressed.

For someone who had spent most of his previous life surrounded by concrete buildings, sterile hospital rooms, and the cold landscapes of Russia, a garden of this scale was something he could never grow completely accustomed to.

His attention wandered toward the flowers.

Then toward the fountains.

Then toward the distant trees.

He almost forgot why he was there.

Almost.

The carriage suddenly came to a stop.

Aries raised an eyebrow.

“What now?”

Across from him, Kaius had already noticed the Duke stepping out of the carriage.

“Stay here,” Kaius said.

He immediately followed their father.

Aries watched the two of them disappear from view.

“…And there goes my company.”

He leaned back against the seat.

The guards remained outside, standing beside the carriage.

Aries sighed.

If only Lotte were here.

Naturally, he knew that was impossible.

Servants weren’t permitted to accompany their masters into Imperial Council meetings unless specifically authorized.

Still…

He had become accustomed to having her around.

At least she was useful company.

Aries glanced outside.

Staying inside the carriage alone would only bore him.

And boredom was something he had never tolerated particularly well.

He opened the carriage door and stepped down.

The guards immediately noticed.

“My Lord?”

“I’m only taking a walk.”

“Should we accompany you?”

Aries looked at them.

“…I’ll be fine.”

The guards exchanged uncertain glances.

But they ultimately allowed him to leave.

Aries wandered away from the carriage, following one of the garden paths.

The further he walked, the quieter the surroundings became.

The distant sounds of servants and guards slowly faded.

Soon, there was nothing but the rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping of birds.

Then—

A familiar fragrance reached him.

Aries stopped.

“…This unusual scent never fails to amaze me.”

He looked around.

The garden was even more impressive during the day.

Flowers of different colors bloomed beside the pathways, while carefully trimmed shrubs surrounded small fountains and statues.

It was almost excessive.

But then again…

Perhaps that was the point.

The Imperial Palace wasn’t merely a residence.

It was a statement.

Power made visible.

Aries continued walking.

Eventually, the garden opened into a quieter area.

A river flowed gently through it.

The sunlight reflected across its surface, creating countless shimmering fragments beneath the clear sky.

Aries approached the riverbank.

He stared at the water.

The river moved continuously, never remaining still.

For some reason, he found that oddly calming.

“Enjoying the view, are we?”

Aries immediately turned around.

A middle-aged man stood several steps away.

He wore an elaborate robe decorated with intricate embroidery, its design far more magnificent than anything Aries had seen ordinary nobles wear.

There was nothing particularly threatening about him.

Yet something about his presence made Aries instinctively pay attention.

“Did I disturb your peace?”

The man asked with a pleasant smile.

“Ah…”

Aries glanced toward the river.

“Not really.”

A genuine smile appeared on his face.

The stranger’s gaze shifted toward the emblem on Aries’ clothing.

“You are from House Lelouche.”

Aries looked down at the emblem.

The proud alicorn was embroidered prominently upon his formal attire.

“You knew?”

“Of course.”

The man smiled.

“Every ducal house possesses its own emblem, does it not?”

“I suppose.”

“The alicorn of Lelouche.”

The man gestured lightly toward Aries’ chest.

“A fitting symbol for a house entrusted with governance and administration.”

Aries raised an eyebrow.

“You seem rather knowledgeable.”

“I take an interest in such things.”

The man turned toward the river.

“Every ducal household represents a legendary creature from the old age.”

“House Vesperis bears the symbol of the Chimera.”

“House Sylvaris, the Roc.”

“House Morvain, the Fenrir.”

“House Astralis, the White Stag.”

“And House Ignivar…”

He paused briefly.

“…the Phoenix.”

Aries listened quietly.

“And Lelouche?”

“The Alicorn.”

The man smiled.

“A creature said to represent wisdom, authority, and order.”

Aries looked down at the emblem again.

“That’s quite a burden for a symbol.”

“Perhaps.”

The man answered.

“But symbols often carry burdens whether they wish to or not.”

Aries didn’t respond.

A comfortable silence settled between them.

The river continued flowing.

Neither of them spoke for several seconds.

Then the stranger suddenly asked:

“Ahem…”

“Why would anyone dam a river?”

Aries looked toward him.

The question seemed strangely specific.

He glanced back at the flowing water.

“You don’t have to answer that—”

The man stopped.

Aries’ expression changed slightly.

He looked at the river once more.

“One does not stop a river merely to watch it cease flowing.”

The stranger remained silent.

Aries continued.

“If someone goes to the trouble of stopping its course…”

His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

“…there must be something in its current worth possessing.”

The stranger’s smile widened slightly.

“I see.”

Aries glanced at him.

“That’s simply how I see it.”

“An interesting answer.”

The man’s expression remained pleasant.

Almost amused.

Aries studied him for a moment.

There was something strange about this conversation.

The question.

The timing.

The man’s interest in the ducal houses.

But Aries couldn’t determine what exactly bothered him.

Perhaps it was nothing.

Perhaps he was simply overthinking it.

The stranger looked toward the palace.

“I believe I should return.”

Aries nodded.

“It was brief, but it was an interesting conversation.”

The man smiled.

“I hope we’ll speak again someday.”

“I suppose.”

The stranger gave a polite nod before turning away.

Aries watched him walk down the garden path.

Within moments, he disappeared behind the trees.

Aries remained where he was.

“…What was that?”

He looked back at the river.

The water continued flowing as though nothing had happened.

There was no answer.

Only the sound of the current.

“My Lord!”

Aries suddenly turned.

Several palace guards were hurrying toward him.

“We finally found you!”

Aries blinked.

“…You were looking for me?”

“We were told to inform you that the Imperial Council will begin shortly.”

“His Grace requested that you enter the palace immediately.”

Aries sighed.

“I see.”

He took one last glance toward the river before following the guards.

The conversation continued to linger in the back of his mind.

Why would anyone dam a river?

He still couldn’t understand why the stranger had asked.

Perhaps it had been nothing more than an odd question.

Or perhaps…

There had been another meaning behind it.

Aries dismissed the thought.

There was no point speculating without evidence.

He followed the guards into the palace.

This time, however, they took a different corridor.

The hallway was quieter than the ones he had previously visited.

Servants moved silently through the corridors, carrying documents and refreshments.

The atmosphere itself felt different.

More serious.

More restrained.

As Aries walked deeper into the palace, the number of guards increased.

Eventually, they stopped before a massive set of double doors.

The doors were beautifully decorated with intricate carvings and golden patterns.

Aries looked at them for a moment.

Behind those doors were the people who governed the Empire.

The Imperial Council.

He knew from the fragmented memories of this body that the council meeting would primarily consist of the Empire’s most influential families.

The Imperial Family of Nocthar stood at the center.

Beneath them were the six great ducal houses.

House Lelouche.

Governance and administration.

House Vesperis.

The Imperial military.

House Sylvaris.

Intelligence, exploration, and border defense.

House Morvain.

The knightly orders and homeland security.

House Astralis.

Magic, education, and the Imperial Archives.

And House Ignivar.

Commerce, diplomacy, and the treasury.

Six houses.

Six responsibilities.

All serving beneath the Imperial Family.

Their authority was not merely a privilege.

It was an obligation.

Failure could affect the stability of the entire Empire.

Aries stopped before the doors.

So this is where the real powers of the Empire gather.

The guards opened the doors.

The moment Aries stepped inside—

The room fell strangely quiet.

Then came the stares.

Countless eyes turned toward him.

Some curious.

Some suspicious.

Some openly surprised.

Aries understood immediately.

Of course.

The once-infamous heir of House Lelouche had just walked into one of the most important political gatherings in the Empire.

A person who had once been regarded as unstable…

Was now standing among the people who controlled the Empire itself.

Aries paid them little attention.

His eyes wandered across the chamber instead.

A massive table dominated the center of the room.

Elegant chairs surrounded it, most already occupied by representatives of the great houses.

Each wore attire bearing the colors and symbols of their respective families.

Aries recognized some of them from the fragmented memories he possessed.

Others were complete strangers.

He found his assigned seat beside Kaius.

He walked toward it and sat down.

Immediately, several gazes sharpened.

Aries ignored them.

Kaius leaned slightly toward him.

“Where have you been?”

“I was getting some fresh air.”

Aries calmly answered.

Kaius stared at him.

“You disappeared.”

“I was still within the palace grounds.”

Kaius sighed.

“At least tell someone next time.”

Aries gave a faint smile.

“Worry not.”

“I didn’t cause any trouble like I did yesterday…”

He paused.

“…night.”

The final word was whispered.

Kaius looked at him for a moment.

Then simply turned back toward the table.

Aries followed his gaze.

Before he could study the other representatives further—

A voice came from beside him.

“Whoa.”

Aries turned.

A young man around his age was sitting nearby.

He wore an elegant formal uniform bearing the emblem of one of the great ducal houses.

He looked at Aries with unmistakable curiosity.

“I never thought I’d see you again.”

Aries stared at him.

The young man smiled.

“What?”

He leaned closer.

“Cat got your tongue?”

Aries’ expression remained blank.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean…”

The young man paused.

Aries calmly looked at him.

“I don’t think you’re worthy of my attention.”

The young man’s eyes widened.

“Whoa!”

He laughed.

“So the rumors really were true.”

Aries raised an eyebrow.

“Rumors?”

Before the young man could answer—

The doors opened.

The entire room fell silent.

An announcer stepped forward.

“His Majesty has arrived!”

Every person in the chamber immediately stood.

Aries followed automatically.

Two men entered the council chamber.

The first was the Duke of Lelouche.

The second—

Aries froze.

His eyes widened ever so slightly.

He knew that face.

The elaborate robe.

The calm smile.

The middle-aged man by the river.

The stranger who had asked him about the river.

The stranger who had spoken to him as though they were nothing more than two ordinary men sharing a quiet conversation.

Aries’ expression stiffened.

…No.

The man walked calmly toward the head of the table.

The Emperor of Nocthar.

The man Aries had unknowingly spoken to in the garden.

The same man he had claimed he had already greeted at the banquet.

The Emperor’s gaze swept across the council chamber.

Then—

His eyes stopped on Aries.

For a brief moment, their gazes met.

The Emperor smiled.

Not broadly.

Not suspiciously.

Just enough to make Aries realize that he had been recognized.

Aries felt a chill run through him.

Goddamn it.

The only thought that crossed his mind was—

This council is going to be troublesome.

TO BE CONTINUED…