Theus himself was startled by this speculation.
There were indeed many suspicious aspects to the prince's identity. Theus had once wondered whether there were other hidden circumstances.
After all, everyone's accounts mentioned that the prince's personality had changed before and after, leading Theus to speculate that this "prince" had likely been replaced.
Yet even in his boldest conjectures, he had never imagined that the prince might be connected to the Empress.
"The prince went to assassinate the Empress, and the current prince may be the Empress in disguise?"
"But... why? Such a vast Empire, and she just threw it away?"
"Ahem, my lord, everything is merely speculation at present—and speculation without any evidence."
Alexei's expression was equally remarkable. He had always been decisive and forceful, but now even he spoke with a lack of confidence.
"But if we follow this line of thought, many things can be explained. For example, the Empress's death was far too sudden; the entire Empire fell into the Church's hands almost instantly; and the 'prince' escaped with unusual ease..."
Alexei rapidly listed a long series of suspicious points. Clearly, this matter had troubled him for some time, and he had turned it over in his mind many times in private.
"Indeed... indeed..." Theus paced rapidly around the room.
"For some reason, she decided to break away from the Empire and assume another identity. Thus, she deliberately indulged the Church. The 'prince's' assassination attempt and escape were also secretly orchestrated by her. She must have made sufficient preparations, perhaps even bringing her own Knight with her."
Theus drew a deep breath, trying to suppress his surging emotions.
"But that only explains her actions, not her motives—what could have forced the most powerful Empress on the continent to resort to a scheme like faking her death in