Iver had originally planned to stop appearing in public before Isabel returned—or, more precisely, before Isabel presided over the Round Table Conference and announced the decision to replace the ministers.
He didn't want to cause Isabel any trouble, so it would be best to distance himself from these matters a little.
After all, he wasn't really here to usurp power and seize the throne. If he truly wanted to do that, he wouldn't need to put on this false show of sincerity... Queen Sophia had practically told him outright, "You may take it for yourself."
Even if Isabel's increasingly resilient spirit could ignore the gossip, Iver couldn't allow it to exist.
His shepherding of the night demon Viennes had ended. Now, Iver was preparing to slowly shepherd the Paradox Flame Butterfly in turn, striving to raise her to the same level as the night demon as soon as possible.
For something to pass the time, Iver picked out several monographs from Yulia's bookshelf. They were all books about the geography, customs, and culture of the Empire period.
Iver planned to devote the next few days to reading and studying.
But just as Iver was quietly reading in the Queen's study, someone suddenly knocked and entered.
Lily, who had originally been standing silently behind Iver, seemed to emerge from the wall. Her outline took shape from the void, revealing her body.
She walked to the door and whispered with the person outside for a while. Then she brought Iver the documents contained in a briefcase.
"So early?"
Iver was somewhat surprised.
It was only seven in the morning. He had just finished his morning exercises and Morning Prayer, and had eaten breakfast.
What major matter could there be at this hour? The Round Table Conference probably hadn't even begun yet.
Puzzled,