"Come on in."

　　Before Konrad could announce himself, Adelar's voice came from behind the door. Without delay, Konrad stepped in.

　　Adelar sat before a table with a wine gla.s.s within his hand and motioned for Konrad to sit before him.

　　"Are you here to discuss father's move?"

　　He asked while Konrad settled within the chair.

　　"Actually, I have many questions. First, I can't understand why he is so adamant on making that eunuch boy his adoptive son? Even he should know that it can only bring harm and no good.

　　Second, why were you so aggressive in your words? This is not your style. Weren't you afraid that he would kill you in a fit of fury?"

　　Those indeed were Laurens' questions. Konrad merely used them to set the stage for his information gathering.

　　Adelar lowered his wine gla.s.s onto the table to lift his gaze onto Laurens'.

　　"Father is no fool. If he does that knowing full well the damage it will yield, he must have profound reasons. But I'm not sure those are favorable to us.

　　It also doesn't change the fact that the boy is now a stain to the imperial family's prestige. Needless to say, I will have him killed in the following days."

　　Inwardly, Konrad sneered.

　　"As for your second question, I was testing theories."

　　"Testing theories with your life?"

　　"Indeed. Us older princes know that Yvonne Voight is father's first taboo. Anyone that gets too close doesn't have a good end. If someone tells me that's why Wenzel died, I can believe.

　　But what is his second taboo?"

　　"His imperial power."

　　Konrad replied through Laurens' memories.

　　"Right. His imperial power is, without a shred of doubt, his most valuable possession. Nothing compares to it and anything that threatens it is put to death.

　　That being the case, why am I still alive? This question has been troubling me for many years. At first, I believed it was due to a mixture between personal bias and the fact I never challenged him in the open.