When Zanac Valleo Igna Lyle Vansef was summoned, he was in his study reading a report on this year's grain harvest.
It wasn't because he was diligent in his duties, but because he couldn't sleep.
Ever since news of the black-haired man's entry into the Royal Capital spread, he hadn't had a single peaceful night's sleep.
It wasn't fear, but a deeper unease.
Gazef was waiting for him at the entrance of the Francia Palace.
"Warrior Captain."
Zanac stopped and looked at the tall man.
"What does Father want with me?"
Gazef was silent for a moment.
His Majesty will tell you.
Zanac looked into his eyes.
Those dark eyes lacked their usual sharpness, only a weary emptiness, as if they had just survived a major battle.
He didn't ask any further questions, but simply nodded, pushed open the door, and went inside.
The king sat in a high-backed chair.
Instead of her usual upright posture, she leaned back in her chair, eyes closed, as if asleep.
But Zanac knew he wasn't asleep.
His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, the rhythm sometimes fast, sometimes slow—a habit he had when he was thinking.
"Father."
Zanac walked up to him and stopped.
The king opened his eyes, his cloudy eyes staring at him for a long time.
"Zanac."
"Exist."
Do you hate me?
Zanac was stunned.
"Father--"
Do you hate me?
The king repeated it, his voice hoarse.
"For so many years, I've always favored your brother. I gave him the best teachers, the most resources, and the highest expectations. As for you, I could only give you scraps. Do you hate me?"
Zanac remained silent for a long time.
"... I don't hate."
"Why?"
Because you are my father.
The king looked at him, a complex light flashing in his cloudy eyes.
"Just because of this?"
"Just because of this."
Zanac's voice was calm.
"You are my father. No matter what you do, you are my father. I cannot hate you. Nor do I want to hate you."
The king's finger stopped.
He lowered his head, looking at his withered, wooden hands, and remained silent for a long time.
"Zanac."
"Exist."
"From this day forward, you are the Crown Prince."
Zanac's body stiffened.
His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but nothing came out.
He simply stood there, looking at the king, at those cloudy, bloodshot eyes that still held a trace of kindness.
"Father... what did you say?"
"I say, from this day forward, you are the Crown Prince."
The king's voice was calm.
"Barbro's right to succession has been revoked. He will be Judgment by the Re-Estize Kingdom court."
Zanac's mind went blank at that moment.
He stood there, mouth slightly open, eyes wide open, like a statue struck by lightning.
"Barbro... what crime did he commit?"
The king did not answer.
He took the roll of parchment from his knees and handed it to Zanac.
"See for yourself."
Zanac took the parchment and unfolded it. His gaze swept over the densely packed names, over the horrifying crimes.
His face grew paler and paler, and his fingers trembled slightly.
Then, he saw that name.
Barbro Andreen Yerud Lyle Vansef.
He had a long-standing financial relationship with Hilma Sygnas, the head of the drug trafficking department, accepting bribes and providing her with protection.
Zanac's hand fell to his sides.
The parchment slipped from his hand and fluttered to the ground with a soft rustling sound.
"Father..."
His voice was hoarse.
Are you sure?
"Sure."
"Has it been verified?"
"It's been verified."
Zanac remained silent.
He lowered his head, looking at the parchment on the ground, at the scattered writing.
His lips were trembling slightly, and his fingers were clenched into fists at his sides.
"Zanac."
The king's voice came from above.
Are you scared?
Zanac raised his head and looked at the king.
What are you afraid of?
"I'm afraid of this mess, afraid of those nobles, afraid of those enemies, afraid that I'm not good enough."
Zanac remained silent for a long time.
"... Afraid."
"So, are you still going to answer it?"
Zanac looked into the king's eyes—those cloudy, bloodshot eyes, yet still holding a glimmer of expectation.
"Catch."
He did not hesitate.
The corners of the king's mouth turned up slightly.
That wasn't a smile, it was just a sense of relief.
"Good."
He picked up the scepter, propped himself up to his feet, walked over to Zanac, and reached out to pat him on the shoulder.
"Go. Go do what you're supposed to do. The Warrior Captain will tell you the details of what happened."
Zanac knelt on one knee and bowed his head.
"Yes, sir."
He stood up, turned around, and walked out of the palace. After a few steps, he stopped without looking back.
"Father."
"Um."
"Barbro... Big Brother... Will he die?"
The king remained silent for a long time.
"I don't know, but he committed a crime."
Zanac remained silent.
He stepped out of the palace, the door closing behind him, where the Warrior Captain had been waiting for a long time.
"Your Highness, let me explain the details to you—"
The Warrior Captain recounted the entire incident to the crown prince, especially the black-haired, black-eyed Higashino, and the one-month deadline.
Sunlight streamed in through the windows of the corridor, casting his shadow on the stone slabs, solitary and slender.
He stood in the corridor listening for a long time, looking at his own shadow, and remained silent for a long time.
Then he stepped forward and headed towards his sister's room.
Renner Thiel Shardon Lyle Vansef's room is located at the very back of the palace.
It wasn't because she liked quiet, but because she didn't like being disturbed.
Her room was large, but simply furnished.
At this moment, Renner sat on the windowsill, her long golden hair cascading over her shoulders, shimmering softly in the sunlight.
Blue eyes gaze out the window, the clouds in the sky reflected in their pupils.
A faint smile graced her lips, gentle and sweet, like a spring breeze.
She was holding a book in her hands, but her eyes weren't on the pages.
She was looking at the person outside the window.
Climb.
A young man dressed in silver armor was practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard.
His movements were clumsy, but he was very serious, giving his all with every strike.
Renner stared at the figure, a certain light gleaming in her blue eyes—
It wasn't tenderness, nor was it love; rather, it was a deeper kind of radiance, like the glow a collector gives when looking at their most prized possession.
However, her interest in it has greatly diminished.
Last night, a woman with a black cat approached her and showed her what strength and talent truly meant!
Talent that is on par with hers, or even surpasses it.
Turn out to be--
I am not alone.
Turn out to be--
I have people like me!
Thinking of the conditions the other party had proposed, the corners of her mouth turned up, and her beautiful face became even more radiant.
Knock knock knock.
There was a knock on the door.
Renner's smile remained unchanged.
"Please come in."
The door was pushed open, Zanac walked in.
His face was pale, with dark circles under his eyes, and his lips were chapped.
He looked like he hadn't slept all night, or like he had just recovered from a serious illness.