That single word.

A single word that seemed to explain everyone's gloomy expression weighed heavily on the room.

"......Frondier, if Manggot really comes, the Imperial Palace will handle it on its own. Even if you don't make a 'deal'. It's not a matter that you need to stake everything on and tell me."

Philly said. Manggot is the enemy of the empire. It's a well-known fact. It's not an item that Frondier can trade. Just as Frondier wants, the empire will move.

However, Frondier shook his head.

"When Manggot attacks, the empire will recruit knights and troops to prepare. I know that. What I'm dealing with is what comes after that."

"What comes after?"

"I think the troops that the Imperial Palace will prepare are not sufficient at all."

"......Can you assert that without knowing how much to prepare?"

"Yes."

Frondier nodded.

Of course, he doesn't know the exact number of troops the empire will prepare.

However, what Frondier wants to say is not such a concept.

"After the empire has prepared its forces, please consider that the additional forces I want from there are worth everything I have now."

"......"

Philly looked at Frondier with a low gaze at those words.

Frondier's worth. The Dragon Heart and rewards that Philly had promised.

Rewards are not important. Especially if it's limited to what Philly can give. Besides, it's meaningless unless they decide what compensation to give in the first place.

What's important is the Dragon Heart. Even if it's only valued in terms of price, it's not that high.

Of course, they can sell it for a considerable amount, but it's too much to mention the entire force that Frondier is talking about.

That's right.

What Frondier has put up for trade now is not the Dragon Heart.

"......I see. Frondier."

Indeed, it's truly a reckless statement.

From Philly's perspective, the Dragon Heart she needs 'right now'.

She doesn't know how Bartello's weakness will develop or what further risks it will create. It's at this very moment that Frondier shows the Dragon Heart.

His intention is clear.

"You've weighed my husband's life on a scale."

"......"

Frondier remains silent at her words.

Frondier knows that Bartello's weakness will not lead him to death.

He will just step down from the throne, and his second daughter, Sale, will become the emperor.

However, there is no way to convince Philly of this. And because Philly is considering Bartello's death, the value of this Dragon Heart shines.

...Yes. That's why it's a more compelling deal.

Frondier did weigh Bartello's life on a scale.

"Move all the troops instead of saving the emperor's life. There's no reason for the balance to be off."

Philly's voice was cold.

Frondier spoke with steady eyes.

"......Manggot is the greatest threat to the empire."

"Is that so? What about the man in front of me right now? I think he's the biggest threat right now."

The temperature in the room drops, and Philly's magic swells.

"Having beaten most of the guards so they can't hear the conversation, only you, me, and Aten are in this reception room. With your skills, it would be difficult to win even if Aten and I attacked at the same time. Especially at this distance, it's the worst for a wizard."

The words of Philly, murmuring like a whisper, are shot at Frondier.

"Additional troops worth the value of the emperor's life after the forces prepared for the Manggot's attack? There's no such thing in the empire. So what you want to say is this. 'Total forces' means not all the forces currently in the empire, but mobilizing all the forces that can be gathered with the power of the empire, right? Pros, mercenaries, police, and even Constel. It's literally the total forces of the entire empire. That's what the emperor's life is worth."

If what Frondier is after is really Bartello's life, then 'total forces' should mean just that.

"Whether it's money or power, just gathering forces like that will cause the empire to shed a lot of blood. But if the power of Manggot is not that much, no, if your words about Manggot's attack itself are false. If you have another trick up your sleeve in gathering the total forces."

Pa-a-at!

Ice flowers blooming around Philly in an instant. The sharp thorns that stretch out from the center of the flower. They aim at Frondier as if they will shoot at any moment.

"......What should I do with you, Frondier?"

The words of Philly now and the ice thorns blooming around her.

All of it is threatening, but in fact, she has no intention to kill.

'......As expected, it doesn't work.'

Philly was still facing Frondier, who was looking straight at her.

Most people can be shaken by such a threat, but it doesn't work on Frondier.

'Did Frondier really make that judgment?'

The principle of action that exists in Philly's foundation, always doubting everything.

Philly has done many things with Frondier, and by receiving his help, she has built trust in Frondier.

However, because of this, Philly is in trouble now.

The situation now where she has to doubt again the person she trusts, who is not much.

Does Frondier really have another secret? Was all the sincerity he has shown so far groundwork for this deal? What is that Dragonheart? Where is it from? Did Frondier have the Dragonheart from the beginning? Is he offering this when Philly needs it the most, while possessing it?

...However, to do that, he had to save Aten, save himself from her first daughter Elysia, and even protect the life of Emperor Bartello. Was all of that groundwork for realizing this deal now?

'...No. That's impossible.'

It's impossible.

Frondier is not that kind of person. No, it's something that no one can do.

Frondier was never safe in any situation. He risked his life.

That's why Philly trusted him, and that's why Philly is confused now.

'To stop Manggot, be prepared for the empire to collapse.'

But Frondier's words are too unrealistic to believe.

Manggot is a clear threat, but it doesn't seem like something the entire empire should stop at all costs.

If Manggot's power had grown to that extent, they would have attacked the empire long ago.

However, if Manggot was waiting for that moment to completely destroy the empire.

The spark of Manggot will not go out.

The day that flame goes out, everything in the empire will turn to ashes, and Manggot itself will perish in the flame.

The words of the past echoed in Philly's ears.

Little by little, her head began to ache.

"Mr. Frondier."

A clear voice came then.

The pure white eyes that seemed to wash away the awkward emotions between Frondier and Philly.

"If we combine all the power of the empire, can we stop Manggot?"

Aten asked.

It was like a fairy tale. A line that would come out of a story that children would love.

Frondier, who was momentarily stunned by the question, eventually answered.

"I think it's the most likely."

"Then."

This time, Aten looked at Philly.

"The empire needs to unite its power. Mom."

"......Aten. It's not that simple. If the palace tries to gather all the troops with its money and power, the empire will surely tilt, and whether Frondier's words are true in the first place......"

"Is it a lie?"

Aten asked Frondier.

"......No."

Frondier answered, wondering if there was any meaning in this response.

Conversations with Aten were always like this.

Even though it seemed like they were communicating, they always missed the point.

Why was that?

"No, Mom."

Was it because Aten was a princess, ignorant of society, or immature?

"......Aten, of course, Frondier would answer like that. How can you believe that?"

Or,

"Then who does Mom want to believe?"

"......Aten."

"Faith is what you reach by building a foundation of doubt. Mom told me. Politically, and in reality, in a world where enemies lurk, in a world of the palace where no one can be trusted, who do you want to believe?"

"......"

Or was it only she who knew the answer from the beginning?

"The royal family stands above to protect the citizens."

Aten said. In her expression, which did not feel heavy, only the white color remained.

Pure white is easy to tarnish.

Aten's pure white always washes itself pure.

"We have to save them."

Aten, as if all the conversations between Frondier and Philly were meaningless.

As if to ask why they are dragging out such an obvious answer.

She speaks so bluntly.

"That's what we have to do."