The noble banquet finally came to an end.
One by one—
The aristocrats of Citadel departed beneath the cold midnight skies while elegant carriages lined the enormous marble courtyard outside the celebration estate. Noble servants opened carriage doors respectfully while distant orchestral music slowly faded behind closing ballroom windows.
Yet despite the beautiful ending atmosphere—
No one discussed the anniversary celebration anymore.
Instead—
Every conversation revolved around scandal.
The viscount.
His wife.
The knight.
Moonlit betrayal beneath noble gardens.
Soft laughter and hidden mockery followed the departing nobles like shadows.
Some pitied the viscount.
Most enjoyed the humiliation.
Because noble society loved nothing more than watching another noble family collapse publicly.
Meanwhile—
The Asheville carriage slowly departed from the estate grounds afterward.
The cold autumn winds brushed softly against the carriage exterior while moonlight illuminated the empty Citadel roads stretching endlessly ahead beneath silver skies.
Inside the carriage—
Silence lingered quietly.
The interior glowed softly beneath warm mana lamps while velvet seats and silver curtains insulated them from the cold night outside.
Reina quietly sat near the window.
Kel rested opposite her calmly.
And for several minutes—
Neither spoke.
The atmosphere felt thoughtful now.
Heavy.
Because tonight revealed far uglier parts of noble society once again.
Eventually—
Reina softly broke the silence.
"…Where did you disappear to earlier?"
Kel calmly looked toward her.
"When everyone started discussing the viscount scandal."
The carriage wheels echoed softly against the stone roads outside afterward.
Kel answered naturally:
"I was advising the viscount."
Reina blinked once.
"…Advising?"
A faint disbelief entered her expression.
"What kind of advice exactly?"
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly muttered:
"This should be interesting."
Meanwhile—
Kel calmly leaned slightly against the carriage seat afterward.
"At first…"
A faint almost amused look appeared within his eyes.
"…I told him he shouldn't be angry."
Reina immediately frowned.
"She merely cheated on him?"
Her silver eyes narrowed slightly.
"You actually said that?"
Kel quietly shook his head afterward.
"No."
Another pause followed.
"I told him…"
The carriage lantern light reflected faintly across his dark eyes.
"…that she chained herself."
Silence filled the carriage briefly afterward.
Reina quietly stared at him.
"…How?"
Kel calmly folded one hand over the other while speaking.
"I told the viscount that anger would destroy him more than her."
The carriage continued moving through the cold moonlit roads.
"If he acted emotionally…"
Kel's voice remained calm.
"…he would choose one of two foolish paths."
Reina quietly listened.
"Either exile her…"
Another pause.
"…or execute her."
The silver-haired matriarch slowly lowered her gaze thoughtfully.
Kel continued.
"If he exiled her…"
"She would simply return to her family estate eventually."
Another pause.
"Meanwhile his public image would remain shattered permanently."
The carriage atmosphere deepened further.
"And if he executed her…"
Kel's expression became colder.
"…her father would eventually retaliate against him."
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly sighed.
"You really reduced an emotional tragedy into strategic pathways."
Kel calmly ignored the comment internally.
Meanwhile—
Reina quietly asked:
"So what did you tell him afterward?"
Kel's gaze shifted briefly toward the moonlit window beside her.
"I told him…"
Another pause.
"…to profit from the situation instead."
Silence.
Then softly—
Kel continued.
"Slow revenge has its own value."
The carriage lanterns flickered quietly.
"He'll likely treat his wife as a political tool now."
Another pause followed.
"Remind her constantly of her guilt."
"Exploit her shame."
"Use her family connections."
"Take everything possible back with interest."
Reina remained silent afterward.
The carriage wheels echoed steadily beneath the cold night roads outside.
Then eventually—
She softly asked:
"…Doesn't that cross morality?"
Inside his mind—
Sairen quietly listened now too.
Meanwhile—
Kel slowly looked toward Reina afterward.
And for several moments—
He remained silent.
Then finally—
He answered calmly.
"Where was morality earlier tonight?"
The carriage atmosphere sharpened slightly.
"When nobles watched the viscount's wife betray him publicly…"
Another pause.
"…and laughed."
Reina's silver eyes slightly widened.
Kel continued quietly.
"There is no morality inside noble society."
His voice carried no anger.
Only realism.
"There are only personal motives."
"Benefits."
"Desires."
The cold moonlight illuminated portions of his face softly afterward.
"And people protecting their own interests."
Silence followed.
Heavy silence.
Because unfortunately—
Reina understood he wasn't entirely wrong.
Eventually—
She quietly asked one final question.
"…Then what was your motive?"
The carriage became silent again afterward.
Outside—
Citadel's distant lights slowly passed beyond the windows while cold winds whispered softly through the sleeping city.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly muttered:
"Now that's the real question."
Meanwhile—
Kel calmly looked toward the carriage ceiling briefly.
Then finally—
He answered honestly.
"The viscount likely won't support our enemies anymore."
Reina blinked once.
Kel continued calmly.
"I handed him a legal method to slowly reclaim wealth from his wife's family."
Another pause.
"People become cooperative when they believe you helped them survive humiliation."
The silver-haired matriarch quietly observed him afterward.
Then suddenly—
Kel's expression changed slightly.
Only slightly.
But enough for Reina to notice.
His gaze lowered afterward.
And for the first time tonight—
His voice softened.
"…And honestly…"
The carriage grew quieter somehow.
"I cannot stand seeing someone betray their husband or wife like that."
Reina froze slightly.
Kel calmly continued looking downward.
"It feels…"
Another pause followed.
"…disgusting."
The mana lamps flickered softly.
"You marry someone for trust."
"For partnership."
"For shared life."
His dark eyes slowly narrowed afterward.
"And then…"
Another cold breath escaped him.
"…you secretly become intimate behind their back for personal pleasure or gain."
Silence consumed the carriage entirely afterward.
Kel's voice lowered almost into a whisper now.
"That kind of betrayal…"
The moonlight reflected faintly across his eyes.
"…feels soul-shattering to me."
Inside his mind—
Even Sairen became quiet afterward.
Because for a brief moment—
Kel no longer sounded like a strategist.
Or noble advisor.
Or Dragon Emperor.
He sounded like someone who genuinely feared betrayal itself.
Meanwhile—
Reina quietly stared at him across the carriage.
And slowly—
Something warm yet painful spread inside her chest again.
Because once more—
She realized something important.
Despite all his monstrous intelligence…
Despite all his cold calculations…
Kel still viewed trust as something sacred.
And perhaps—
That was exactly why betrayal disgusted him so deeply