Subaru Natsuki, who returned from the new Three Kingdoms

Sudden.

Another white figure entered her field of vision.

That's... another candidate for the royal election?... Emilia?

Anna looked up.

A silver-haired half-elf was standing outside the guild hall, with a small silver-gray cat floating beside her, looking displeased.

She didn't go into the Chamber of Commerce; instead, her eyes lit up when she saw Friguel sweeping at the entrance, and she walked straight over to him.

Anna frowned slightly. What was going on?

Could it be that Emilia came to see Flügel?

The white-haired youth on the street also noticed the silver figure approaching him.

He seemed startled.

The broom in his hand stopped in mid-air, and he seemed to be frozen in place. After a few moments, he slowly put down the broom and raised his hand to rub his forehead.

Anna's brow furrowed even deeper.

This unexpected turn of events caught her completely off guard, even though she had just been feeling smug.

Do these two people know each other?

Emilia stood in front of him and said something.

Anna couldn't hear their conversation, but she saw Flügel look toward the Chamber of Commerce several times, seemingly hesitant. However, after Emilia's earnest gaze and her taking his hand, he gradually lost his ability to resist.

In the end, Emilia led him away from the guild's entrance by the hand.

Seeing this, Anna's fingers, which were resting on the windowsill, slowly tightened.

She suddenly realized how little she knew about this white-haired man named Freugel.

All she knew was that this man had no family, no official documents, no surname, and even the name Freuger was one he had chosen himself.

As for where he used to live, who he associated with, and how he met Emilia, she had absolutely no idea.

This made Anna, who had just felt adored, a little jealous.

The feeling was like she had just added a person she liked to her own account book, only to find that the person had already left their name in someone else's account.

Emilia is clearly very familiar with Flügel at the moment.

They knew him so well that they could find the entrance to the Chamber of Commerce themselves, and they knew him so well that they could hold his hand and lead him away.

Anna's expression grew increasingly displeased.

Yesterday he was so confident that he would help our family solve our problems, but today when he met another candidate for the election, he didn't even do his chores?

What's wrong with this man?

What exactly is his relationship with Emilia?

Anna wanted to ask her secretary to investigate, but she swallowed the words back.

Why did I need to look these things up?

Freugel was just a new accountant at the Chamber of Commerce.

Who he knows, who he's willing to leave with, and what does that have to do with our family?

Asking about this would make it seem like our family really cares.

Anna turned her head away; she didn't chase after them.

He simply sat back down at the table, opened the ledger, but his gaze lingered on the same page.

"Never mind, I'll ask anyway."

She picked up the teacup on the table, but just as the rim touched her lips, she put it back down heavily.

"This is just the chairman showing concern for his own accountant. After all, accounting is of great importance, and it is only natural to know the full background of the accountant."

Moreover, that man had neither money nor status.

After leaving the Hexin Merchant Guild, he couldn't even decide what to eat for lunch. Even if Emilia bewitched him and took him away, he would eventually return once he realized he had nowhere to stay.

When the time comes, when we ask him what his relationship with Emilia is and what his past experiences were, he will have to answer honestly.

Anna raised her chin, regaining the composure befitting a chamber of commerce president.

She decided not to chase after them for the time being.

Once Freuger returns on his own, she can subtly inquire about his plans. With her negotiating skills honed at the negotiating table, getting information out of a young man shouldn't be difficult.

The thought had barely crossed his mind when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

The door opened.

It was by Rius.

The purple-haired knight stood outside the door, followed by an elderly man with white hair, dressed in a suit and with an impeccable appearance.

The moment Anna saw Julius, the irritation she had just suppressed resurfaced.

His clothes were still neat and his hair was perfectly combed, but his face no longer had any of its usual radiance.

The shadows were heavy, and his hand, hanging by the hilt of his sword, was stiffer than usual.

Anna also knew the old man behind him.

It's Wilhelm van Astraea from Crusch's camp!

They are clearly competitors, so why is he hanging out with Julius?

Anna's brow, which she had just smoothed out, furrowed again.

A premonition similar to the one she had when she saw Emilia take Natsuki Subaru away came to her mind.

Wilhelm bowed slightly in response to Anastasia's gaze, without saying anything more.

He was there to take Julius to the palace for identity verification, as arranged by Lord Crusch last night.

He didn't understand why Julius had looked relieved after hearing his message.

But as long as Julius doesn't resist or run away, that's fine.

Under this premise, it would be acceptable for him to suggest going to the Hexin Merchant Guild to say goodbye to Lady Anastasia before going to the palace with him.

As for what Julius said to Anastasia? Wilhelm didn't have the time or inclination to interfere with who Julius wanted to see.

Wilhelm stopped outside, while Julius walked into the office with a strange expression on his face.

Looking at the lovely girl in the white dress in front of him, Julius's face showed relief, reluctance, and some worry.

These thoughts overwhelmed him, leaving him momentarily at a loss for words.

Until he subconsciously recalled what the white-haired man had said to him in the tavern the night before.

If you avoid drinking a single drop of alcohol because you're afraid of dying, you'll be missing out on a whole new life.

Julius finally made up his mind.

If he can't say it now, he may never have the chance again.

Anna's gaze swept over the two of them, her voice turning cold:

"Julius, what are you doing...?"

"Lady Anna."

Julius bowed to her.

His movements were impeccable, and his voice remained steady.

"I have come here today to bid you farewell."

Anna's finger stopped at the edge of the ledger.

"Saying goodbye?"

"Yes."

Julius raised his head and looked directly at her.

"Please give up your choice."

Upon hearing this, Anna's gaze sharpened, and she stared intently at him without speaking immediately.

However, her hands, hanging by her sides, were slightly white from the excessive force, and she didn't even notice that her nails were digging into her flesh. This revealed that she was not as calm as she appeared.

What do you mean by that?

Julius took a deep breath and continued:

"Lady Anna, given the current situation, the Hexin Merchant Guild is no match for Lord Crusch, who has already entered the palace. If you continue to insist, you will only drag yourself and the entire camp into danger."

"so what?"

Anna's voice gradually turned cold.

"So you're planning to make me give up the election? Didn't you say I was qualified and that's why you actively supported me to participate in the election?"

"Julius, how dare you say such a thing now?"

Julius paused for a moment.

Seeing his silence, Anna's face darkened completely, and she asked coldly:

"So you mean you're planning to go to Crusch's place?"

Julius did not answer, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded.

He lowered his eyes, his fingers resting on the hilt of his sword, as if he had already accepted all the consequences to come.

"As long as Lady Anna is willing to leave the capital, at least her life can be saved."

"Save their lives?"

Anna chuckled softly.

"So you think that with the Iron Fang, our family doesn't even have the right to resist?"

"That's not what I meant."

"So what do you mean?"

Anna stood up, her knee hitting the corner of the table with a soft thud.

"Yesterday you were here telling me about the difference between master and servant, and today you're here trying to persuade me to give up the throne. Julius, what do you take me for?"

"Lady Anna..."

Julius remained silent.

Anna then questioned:

"Or has Crusch offered you better terms?"

Julius's lips moved slightly; he finally realized that Anna had misunderstood.

They thought he wanted to switch allegiance to Crusch.

He could have denied it.

He only needs to say "no" to clear up the misunderstanding.

But then she thought that Anna would likely continue to press her for answers.

But that would only make her more reluctant to leave the capital.

If she considers herself as having already sided with Crusch, she might finally give up completely.

So in the end, Rius lowered his head and did not refute.

Anna's anger paused for a moment, then her face became as calm as still water.

"it is good."

Her voice became very soft.

"We understand."