Snow Moon Territory.
"Franz, you did well on this trip to the imperial capital. With the situation unclear, preserving yourselves should come first. That is the wisest course!
"As for His Majesty's condition, he was most likely set up. There are only three people capable of plotting against him within the palace.
"The Empress would never strike at His Majesty. That means the only ones who could evade the guards and secretly act against him are Alpha I and Princess Madelaine.
"This is the price of insufficient strength!
"If Caesar IV were also a Holy Domain expert, these little tricks would be nothing but a joke.
"You must all take this as a warning. No matter how high one's status or authority, it is all empty. This world is ultimately a world ruled by the strong."
Using the Emperor as a negative example, Hudson had truly gone all out to forge his sons' hearts as strong men.
As long as the Coslo Family did not foolishly stir up trouble, it was already one of the continent's foremost noble houses.
The royal family was much the same, except its foundations were far more substantial. Unfortunately, it had too many internal dangers, and Caesar IV lacked the means to hold the situation under control.
After Alpha I revealed his ambition to usurp the throne, Caesar IV should have acted immediately and killed him outright.
Even if he had missed the first opportunity, there had been several more chances afterward. Yet Caesar IV had let every one of them slip away.
Dealing with Princess Madelaine would have been even simpler. He only needed to grant her a fief and send her away, and the matter would have been settled.
For example, he could have placed her beside the Coslo Family, giving her a