A foreboding silence hung heavily in the air. After Elsen’s departure, Ruth was swept up in the chaotic preparations for Ail’s coming-of-age ceremony. It was a welcome distraction, leaving him little time to dwell on other matters. Though his relationship with Ail remained strained, Ail no longer sought to provoke him, and Ruth responded with steadfast indifference.

Things seemed to be proceeding uneventfully—at least until Ruth received the news.

“What are you talking about?” Ruth, seated in his office, turned pale as he listened to Kaelen’s breathless report.

“It’s true. The palace is in complete turmoil over it.”

On a scorching day when the summer heat was at its peak, Kaelen delivered shocking news—so unexpected that Ruth was left reeling.

“Wait… Elsen ran away with Erita? Who even said that?” Ruth demanded, disbelief etched across his face.

Kaelen carefully explained the details again. The report had come from the military post in the capital. Erita, traveling under the escort of the Jenin family knights to attend Ail’s ceremony, had been en route from the Jenin estate in Clodell to the Kaizel family’s lands in Virel. While spending the night there, it was said that Elsen had fled with Erita.

Ruth slumped his shoulders, incredulous. “That’s absurd. Elsen isn’t the kind of person to do something like that.” Deep down, Ruth had wished that Elsen had the audacity to whisk Erita away. Unfortunately, Elsen wasn’t bold enough for such actions. There was no need for an investigation—something else must have happened.

“What were the escort knights doing?” Ruth pressed.

“The knights of the Jenin family were guarding Erita from within the residence while the Second Order knights were stationed outside. According to the reports, Erita’s nanny and maids heard a commotion and summoned the knights inside. By the time they arrived, the guards stationed outside Erita’s room had been incapacitated, and she was already gone. Elsen, too, had disappeared,” Kaelen explained.

While they would need to wait for the envoy to relay the full details, even this initial account made Ruth suspicious. His best guess was that Elsen and Erita had been attacked by an external group. The fact that the Jenin knights had been rendered unconscious ruled out the possibility of Elsen being responsible. However, even if it had been a sudden assault, it didn’t explain why only Erita had been taken. They should have sounded the alarm and regrouped for protection, not fled with just her.

Leaning on his desk, fists clenched and lips pressed tight, Ruth tried to piece it together. Nothing about this made sense. It defied logic, especially with Ail’s ceremony so close. Why had such an incident occurred now?

Seeing Ruth’s growing agitation, Kaelen spoke cautiously. “A meeting is currently underway in the council chambers. His Majesty has entrusted full authority over the matter to the Crown Prince, given that it involves his fiancée. The Grand Commander is also attending.”

Ruth, who had little political acumen or connections within the palace, seemed to have only just learned of the situation.

“And Elsen and Erita?” Ruth asked.

“The capital’s forces are still searching for them. The Kaizel family has also dispatched knights to comb through the Virel region.”

At the mention of the Kaizel family, Ruth covered his mouth, looking troubled.

“We can’t leave this to my father.”

“What?”

“If Father sent men after them in the first place, Elsen and Erita might have run because of it. If he finds them first, he’ll kill them both. The capital’s soldiers or the Second Order need to handle this instead.”

Ruth’s words were a jumbled, panicked mess, betraying his state of mind. The implications of his statements were dangerous, but he was too distressed to realize it. Kaelen, however, went pale at the suggestion and quickly interrupted.

“Commander, you need to be careful with your words right now.”

“Does Kamiel know about this?” Ruth asked, abruptly changing the subject.

“Deputy Commander Kamiel is attending the meeting. He should bring us news soon.”

Kaelen, observing Ruth’s distressed state, continued to glance at him anxiously. He was genuinely worried about Ruth, whose deep connection with Elsen was well known within the knightly order. But now wasn’t the time to let panic take over.

“Commander, you need to calm down,” Kaelen urged.

But Ruth, unable to suppress his restlessness, shot to his feet. “… I need to go to the council.”

“It’s better to wait. Going there won’t—”

“I can’t just wait.”

Disregarding Kaelen’s advice, Ruth strode out of the room and headed for the central administrative hall where the council chambers were located. Kaelen hurried after him, still trying to dissuade him.

“Commander, it would be better to stay and wait for updates.”

“I’ll wait outside the council hall. I can’t just sit around,” Ruth said firmly.

Ever since hearing the news, one thought had tormented Ruth: this might all be his fault. He couldn’t shake the idea that everything—the situation with Erita and Elsen, and the events leading to Elsen escorting Erita in the first place—was due to his own choices. Most of all, he regretted not acting on the ominous feeling he’d had the day Elsen left. He should have gone himself. Begging Ail for permission would’ve been a small price to pay.

Overwhelmed by guilt, Ruth’s steps felt heavy as he crossed the palace grounds. The possibility that his father might have orchestrated the attack weighed on his conscience, adding to his growing self-reproach. If it turned out to be true, Ruth knew he could never forgive his father—or himself.

The oppressive heat bore down on him as he finally reached the central administrative hall. The knights guarding the entrance stepped forward to block his way.

“Apologies, Commander, but no one is allowed inside the hall,” one of them said.

“… Is the meeting still ongoing?” Ruth asked.

“Yes, it is.”

Ruth nodded to the knight’s polite reply and stepped back from the main entrance of the central administrative hall.

“Commander, it would be better to wait in your office,” Kaelen suggested.

“No. I’ll wait right here,” Ruth replied, his voice void of energy.

Kaelen, unsettled by Ruth’s vacant expression, couldn’t help but murmur his name under his breath. “Ruth…”

Just as Kaelen reached out to gently grab Ruth’s arm and convince him to return, the sound of footsteps echoed from inside the central hall. Both of them froze, turning toward the sound. Ruth, his eyes darting about nervously, fixed his gaze on the hall’s entrance as a group of men emerged.

At the forefront were Chancellor Lyman Kaizel and his aide Eilen Kaizel, followed by various officials and the head commander of the Ardyn Knights. Among them was also Kamiel, his face etched with a grave expression.

The guards at the doorway quickly stepped aside and bowed as the group passed, and Ruth and Kaelen also moved aside, bowing slightly in respect. Lyman and Eilen glanced briefly at Ruth but said nothing, brushing past him without a word.

Ruth followed their retreating figures with his eyes. He knew better than to expect any kind of explanation or courtesy from them, but a small part of him still yearned for at least one word—a simple acknowledgment. Not about the incident, but about Elsen, someone they both knew was a close friend to him. Wasn’t it only human to offer a word of comfort or concern in such circumstances?

His heart weighed heavy as he bitterly realized they likely didn’t see him as family—or even as a person. The wounds they inflicted over the years had turned his heart into a bruise so deep it was almost numb, yet each new slight found a way to hurt just as much as the last.

While Ruth stood lost in thought, Kamiel approached and placed a hand on his arm.

“Ruth, we need to talk,” he said, his tone serious.

Kamiel’s presence was unsettling. As the deputy head of the knights, his inclusion in the meeting wasn’t unusual, but Ruth suspected his participation was less about his position and more about his role as a son-in-law to the royal family. This incident wasn’t just about a missing noblewoman—it had the potential to be labeled treason against the royal family itself.

“…I’ve been waiting for you,” Ruth murmured weakly.

“Follow me,” Kamiel ordered, his voice brisk.

He led Ruth away with a firm grip on his arm, his determination leaving no room for argument. Sensing it wasn’t his place to interfere, Kaelen excused himself, promising to attend to unfinished tasks back at the Gold Palace.

Kamiel didn’t take Ruth to any of the usual locations like the knights’ quarters or the royal palace. Instead, they headed to the Crystal Palace—a quiet, vacant building once used by the princess before her marriage. It was a place he and his wife occasionally used for private matters, ideal for sensitive conversations.

After arriving, Kamiel instructed the steward to ensure no one came near the study. Once inside, he closed all the windows, drew the curtains, and locked the door, his overly cautious behavior amplifying Ruth’s anxiety.

“What’s going on?” Ruth asked, unable to contain his unease.

Kamiel gestured for him to sit. “First, sit down. Let’s talk properly.”

Ruth hesitantly took a seat opposite Kamiel at the table. Watching him exhale deeply, he knew his next words wouldn’t bring relief.

“The situation is more serious than you think. You’ve heard some details already, right?”

“Yes, but you know Elsen isn’t the kind of person to do something like this,” Ruth replied.

“We know that, but not everyone else does,” Kamiel said grimly.

The foreboding tone of his voice made Ruth feel like he was sinking further into despair.

“Just tell me what’s going on,” he pressed.

Kamiel leaned forward, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “The crown prince doesn’t believe this is just an elopement. His Majesty suspects foul play but can’t openly challenge Chancellor Kaizel without evidence. For now, he’s playing along, but he’s wary.”

“Then why aren’t they investigating him already?” Ruth demanded.

“This isn’t a simple issue, Ruth. His Majesty doesn’t have the power to confront the chancellor right now. If he makes a wrong move, it could backfire. Without proof, our only option is to find Elsen and Erita first.”

“Then that’s what we should focus on—finding them and proving their innocence!” Ruth exclaimed.

Kamiel shook his head. “Even if we find them, the fact that they fled together could be seen as treason, regardless of their intentions.”

The word treason struck Ruth like a physical blow. He had suspected the gravity of the situation but hearing it spoken aloud by Kamiel made it unbearably real.

“If this is my father’s doing—if he sent assassins after Erita—how can they blame Elsen?”

“It doesn’t matter. And Ruth, if your father is behind this, you won’t be safe either,” Kamiel warned.

“I don’t care about that,” Ruth snapped.

“You should care! This situation is already affecting your family. Your sister’s engagement has been postponed indefinitely,” Kamiel revealed.

“What? Why? Leia has nothing to do with this!” Ruth cried.

“She’s innocent, but the royal family won’t proceed with any marriage alliances under these circumstances. And that’s not the worst of it.”

Kamiel hesitated, his ominous tone making Ruth’s heart pound with dread.

“Just say it. Don’t make this worse,” he urged.

Kamiel exhaled heavily. “His Majesty has ordered Elsen to be treated as a traitor. The command was just given to the head commander—to mobilize the outer defense forces and the capital guards to search the region. If Elsen is spotted, they are to execute him on sight.”

Ruth felt the world tilt around him. The words hung in the air like a death sentence, suffocating him with their weight.

“Ruth, you need to speak with His Majesty. If anyone can change his mind, it’s you,” Kamiel said, his voice laced with desperation.

Ruth shook his head weakly. “It won’t work. He’ll just push back harder if it’s me.”