Instead of answering, Varkas merely stared at the man's face.
Unable to bear even that brief silence, the old knight rushed on.
“There are rumors that, because of Your Grace's marriage, the East may return to neutrality or incline toward the Empress's faction. Meanwhile, His Highness the Crown Prince has recently begun cultivating close ties with the North. Some fear the Empire itself may be heading toward division.”
Varkas let out a faint laugh.
Only a few months had passed since his broken engagement and his marriage.
Everyone has certainly been busy.
Leaning back against his chair, Varkas lifted the parchment and held it above the candle on the table. The yellowed document curled instantly, black smoke rising from it.
Watching it for a moment, he turned back toward the old knight and spoke firmly.
“Nothing has changed. The East supports Gareth Roem Gwirta.”
“Then why has His Highness the Crown Prince reached out to the North...?”
“He is merely trying to restore the dignity of the sister whom a disloyal servant cast to the ground. How many houses in this Empire can rival House Siorcan?”
Yet even after receiving such certainty, doubt did not vanish from the knight's face.
Varkas released a weary sigh.
“I understand your concerns, given that you govern lands adjacent to the North, but you are being overly sensitive. At most, these are merely rumors.”
“Then Your Grace still stands with His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Yes. House Siorcan will never stand in opposition to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Only then did relief appear on the old knight's face.
“Thank you for answering so readily. Thanks to Your Grace's consideration, I believe I can finally lay my worries to rest.”
“I am glad I could be of help.”
After giving the formal response, Varkas rose with disciplined movements.
The old knight stood as well. Stopping him with a casual wave of his hand, Varkas strode out of the audience chamber.
By now, dusk had settled over the corridors.
Following the deepening shadows, he quickly organized his thoughts.
Gareth's impatient actions were hardly surprising. Being suspicious by nature, he must still have been uneasy despite Varkas's assurances. Reaching out to the North to establish his own influence was well within expectations.
However, the speed with which the rumors had spread was alarming.
‘...It seems the Empress's influence has finally begun to reach the East.’
Otherwise, news of the Crown Prince's movements could never have spread so quickly.
That woman had not abandoned her scheme to drive a wedge between himself and Gareth.
Rubbing his chin, Varkas looked out the window.
Gray clouds had gathered overhead, as though rain would soon fall, and dusk had settled over the weed-filled flowerbeds and pathways.
He was absentmindedly sweeping his gaze over the bleak scenery when he suddenly stopped.
The woman whom he himself had laid upon the bed earlier was wandering through the garden alone—
without a single attendant by her side.