Hearing those words come from Clara hurt Edmund deeply.

Together with Oleander, she joined the highborn student registration line, leaving Edmund standing there face-to-face with Lara.

"You’ve made a huge mistake, Edmund!" Lara declared firmly.

"Just wait and watch the downfall of the Aschwin Family by your own hands."

Lara entered her carriage. The Siegfried carriage moved away and parked in the academy courtyard parking area.

Edmund remained standing with his head lowered, his fists tightly clenched as he tried to suppress his anger and disappointment.

He never expected Clara and Oleander to turn against him, and his mother had clearly poisoned Clara’s mind so she would continue hating Edmund.

He actually could have used the Graceful Accord skill.

However, for some reason, he felt reluctant to force something upon them.

In Edmund’s eyes, if he kept forcing them, then their hatred might never disappear.

That possibility deeply worried him.

He lifted his head again, his face cold and firm. If they truly had made that decision, then Edmund had no choice but to respect it.

After all, Oleander and Clara clearly had the right to their own opinions.

He glanced to the side and saw the lowborn registration line still stretching endlessly.

It would only waste time if Edmund forced them to wait inside the Aschwin carriage.

The man walked forward past the academy gates, turning his head and seeing Sera and Leonor still standing in line together.

When Edmund approached, Leonor smiled and waved at him.

Edmund walked toward them. Sera looked at him carefully, noticing the expression on Edmund’s face.

She had also seen the Siegfried carriage procession arrive earlier.

From those two things alone, Sera could guess Edmund had already met Oleander and Clara in the courtyard.

"Are you alright?" Sera asked.

"Yes. I’m fine," Edmund replied with a forced smile.

"There’s some work I need to handle back in Archester. So I probably won’t be able to return together with all of you," Edmund explained.

Leonor looked shocked and immediately turned toward Sera.

The blonde-haired woman quietly cleared her throat and nodded, allowing Edmund to leave.

"Go to my house and take my mount. I’ll return from Archester using it later," Sera said.

"Thank you."

Edmund turned his face away as he walked off, leaving the place to head toward Sera’s residence.

Leonor was not an innocent little girl anymore. She could sense something different about Edmund’s behavior.

However, she did not know what it was or why.

Sera smiled faintly, unwilling to explain Edmund’s difficult situation to Leonor.

The woman did not want Leonor to feel guilty or lose focus on her studies at the academy.

Elsewhere, Edmund arrived at Sera’s residence and informed the guards there.

They knew exactly who Edmund was and how close he was to Sera.

Without hesitation, they brought out the white horse Sera usually rode.

Edmund mounted it and immediately sped away from Ulrich City.

He rode along the city’s main road. Leonor could sense Edmund passing by in front of Livden Academy, the crimson energy between them allowing them to detect each other.

Leonor slightly turned and looked back, clearly staring toward the main road in front of Livden Academy.

Sera noticed the girl turning around.

"What is it?" Sera asked.

Leonor shook her head with a faint smile. "It’s nothing."

Elsewhere, Edmund continued pushing his horse through the city’s main road, passing through the city gates and accelerating even faster along the intercity road.

His thoughts were chaotic. His heart felt shattered. His eyes remained fixed sharply ahead.

He never expected the situation to become this complicated. Oleander and Clara had truly turned against him now.

Yet what Edmund did was right. He did not regret it, although part of his heart still could not accept the fact that his family was falling apart like this.

Even so, everything Edmund had done was solely to protect them, both now and in the future.

If Edmund did not side with Leonor, the Archie Territory would eventually be destroyed by her hands, and no one would be able to stop it.

Ahead of him, the gates of Archester City became visible. Edmund slowed his horse and noticed that activity throughout the city had recovered.

Many people were shopping and trading again.

Edmund was pleased by the sight.

The economy was functioning well, the situation was gradually recovering, and the public trust level was increasing.

Looks like I’ll truly become overwhelmed with city government affairs.

Several city residents waved and greeted Edmund warmly with smiles.

Rumors about the fractures within the Aschwin Family still spread wildly among the people, but they were slowly fading because of Edmund’s leadership over the city.

They believed Edmund would never do such things. They believed the rumors were nothing more than baseless gossip.

That was because they were satisfied with Edmund’s leadership in Archester City.

Edmund’s white horse stopped in front of the Aschwin Mansion.

Sebastian had already noticed Edmund’s arrival and hurried downstairs to meet him in the front yard.

"How did things go there?" Sebastian asked as he accepted the reins from Edmund.

"They’re registering. I already spoke with Headmaster Nolan. They’ll accept Sera and the others," Edmund replied.

Sebastian handed the white horse over to one of the guards before walking beside Edmund.

Edmund removed the white gloves he had been wearing and handed them to a servant who approached him.

Right before climbing upstairs, his steps suddenly stopped when he realized how quiet the mansion had become.

There was no Leonor’s voice, no cheerful laughter from Clara, and not even Oleander’s presence could be felt anymore.

Sebastian turned toward Edmund, "What is it?"

Edmund shook his head and resumed walking upstairs. "Nothing."

"So, what are you going to do next?" Sebastian asked.

They arrived in Edmund’s office. Sebastian opened the wine cabinet and poured wine into a glass on the desk for Edmund.

Edmund accepted it and slowly drank.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?" Sebastian repeated.

"What about the assassin team?" Edmund asked.

"They’ve already been selected and are currently undergoing training. They’ll be ready for missions next month," Sebastian replied.

Edmund nodded obediently. No matter what, they were important for helping Edmund carry out his dirty missions in the future.

To maintain the city and territory’s stability, dirty actions were necessary to ensure plans proceeded smoothly.

One dirty action Edmund had previously carried out was finding a replacement scapegoat to take Leonor’s place as a suspect.

With an assassin team, it would become much easier for Edmund to perform such missions again in the future.

Sebastian understood Edmund’s intentions and would explain everything to the assassin team himself.

"I’m going to meet Annie. I remember she planned to send this month’s city financial report to you," Sebastian said.

Edmund nodded with a cold and indifferent expression, allowing Sebastian to leave.

Edmund walked to the back of the room and stood before the glass wall overlooking the front yard of the Aschwin Mansion.

Leonor would now stay in the Livden Academy dormitory. Oleander and Clara no longer lived there.

This mansion... feels so cold and empty.