Episode 156
The Imperial Princess’s Palace, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun.
Sarah paced anxiously, unable to focus on her work. The reason, Marquis Fortrun, was obvious.
‘I wasn’t trying to avoid responsibility.’
But she hadn’t wanted to inherit the title just yet.
Elonia wasn’t fully grown, and an experienced, albeit aging, ruler was better than an inexperienced one, especially now.
The nation had remained relatively calm after the potion of luck incident, thanks to the nobles’ skill in covering things up.
‘I can’t do that.’
She wished Alisa was here.
Alisa was the only one among Elonia’s maids who held a title. But she was busy dealing with the aftermath of the potion incident in her own estate. Sarah didn’t want to burden her further.
“Haah.”
Just as Sarah sighed deeply,
“Her Highness has returned!”
A knight announced. Sarah quickly stood up and went to greet Elonia.
“Your Highness!”
“Sarah, I’m back.”
It was her second return today.
She had returned to the Imperial Palace after the funeral at the Luneus estate, but she hadn’t visited the Imperial Princess’s Palace before leaving again.
Sarah gasped, seeing Elonia’s torn and tattered clothes.
“Your Highness! Are you hurt?!”
She had heard Elonia had gone to subdue the monster, but Elonia was a genius Sword Mage, praised even by Caroline.
How could she return in such a state?
Elonia, sensing her worry, quickly reassured her.
“I’m fine. It’s just my clothes.”
She waved her arms to prove she was unharmed. Sarah reluctantly lowered her hands, but the worry in her eyes remained.
‘Sorry, but I need to use some shock therapy.’
This wasn’t her original intention, but… Elonia spoke,
“I brought someone with me.”
“Someone?”
Wasn’t this the first time Elonia had brought someone to the Imperial Princess’s Palace? Well, Olivia and Simon had been here before, but they had been dragged here, not brought.
‘Could it be that she dragged someone here again?’
Sarah’s eyes filled with apprehension, the same look she gave Elonia when she was being mischievous.
Unfortunately, she was right.
The identity of Elonia’s guest was soon revealed, and chaos erupted not only in the Imperial Princess’s Palace but also in the Main Palace.
Lucius felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.
He had cried with relief upon seeing Elonia safe, then drifted off to sleep, only to wake up in a carriage, arriving at the Imperial Palace. He had been washed, dressed, and now found himself facing Artius, who was glaring at him murderously.
‘Your Highness, when are you coming…?’
He had negotiated with Artius before, but that had been seven years ago, fueled by youthful bravado.
“…When.”
Artius finally spoke, and Lucius tensed.
“When did you return?”
“…Three years ago.”
“I see.”
Artius paused, then murmured,
“You look terrible, but you’re alive.”
His tone was surprisingly calm. Lucius had expected him to be furious about the delayed report.
“You’re not angry that I didn’t report sooner?”
“Elonia told me you only recently recovered enough to move. I’m not that heartless.”
The nobles would be outraged if they heard that.
Lucius was momentarily speechless. Artius resembled Elonia in that moment.
They were related by blood, of course, but Elonia also carried Chelon’s consciousness. It didn’t make sense for them to have similar personalities. And yet, he had almost mistaken Artius’s unexpected kindness for Elonia’s.
Lucius bowed his head.
“I apologize for returning from Heilan without any significant results.”
“Not significant? You learned a lot.”
Elonia defended him. She had also returned, changed into clean clothes, and joined them in the reception room.
She sat down beside Lucius, ignoring his flinch.
“Actually, I should have reported sooner, but things have been chaotic.”
That was true. Marquis Hellington’s escape and death, the chimera attacks…
Artius nodded, accepting her explanation, then asked,
“But why did you bring Lucius here?”
“Well…”
Elonia recounted the events at the Luneus estate.
Artius, his eyes widening in disbelief, asked,
“Chelon appeared?”
“A phantom, to be precise. The culprit who freed Marquis Hellington was also a phantom Olivia. Noah is the witness.”
“…They can’t create phantoms of just anyone, can they?”
“Probably not. Otherwise, they would have created phantoms of me or Dad.”
That was a relief. But their expressions remained grim. Elonia continued,
“Even if their forms are limited, the phantoms can appear anytime, and Tristan is still targeting Lucius. That’s why I brought him here. To protect him.”
The Imperial Palace wasn’t entirely safe, of course.
The phantom Olivia had already infiltrated the dungeons. But that was before they knew the truth.
Now that they knew the culprit, they could take precautions. It was safer than the Luneus estate.
Artius, though reluctant, nodded in agreement. Lucius cautiously raised his hand.
“Your Highness, may I ask something?”
“What is it?”
“Did you… inform Duchess Luneus before bringing me here?”
“Ah.”
Her guilty silence was answer enough.
Elonia had become a kidnapper, and Artius, the father of a kidnapper, placed a hand on his forehead.
[You should have told me beforehand… Do you know how worried I was?]
“Sorry…”
Elonia was being scolded by Duchess Luneus. She had no excuse.
[Is Cielun important for the future?]
“Yes.”
She couldn’t reveal the details, but Duchess Luneus, wise beyond her years, understood.
[Please take good care of Cielun.]
“Yes, don’t worry.”
After ending the communication with Duchess Luneus, Elonia was about to return to Artius and Lucius when Ethan knocked on the door.
“Your Highness?”
“Ah, come in.”
“Excuse me.”
Ethan entered the room, her expression unusually grim. Elonia, her own expression hardening, asked,
“What is it?”
“We’ve compiled a list of the hostages who died in the Peace Treaty Zone. But some bodies are missing.”
“Missing? Not buried under the rubble?”
“We checked thoroughly with Ricardo’s help. They’re gone.”
“Damn it.”
Elonia ran a hand through her hair. Why now?
“How many are missing?”
“Well…”
Elonia’s face turned ashen as she listened to Ethan’s report.
“Where’s Lucius?”
Elonia, having cleared her name as a kidnapper, returned to find Lucius gone. Artius, setting aside the documents he had been reviewing, replied,
“He went to rest. It’s late.”
“Right, he’s been through a lot today.”
Stabbing himself to identify the holy relic, almost being kidnapped… It had been a chaotic day for everyone.
Artius asked,
“Aren’t you going to sleep, Elonia? You won’t grow taller if you don’t sleep.”
Elonia bristled at the mention of her height, and Artius, sensing her annoyance, quickly offered her a cup of warm, sweet milk tea. The warmth spreading through her hands and stomach soothed her, and she replied,
“I still have something to report.”
“What is it?”
“…About the chimeras. It seems they can appear anywhere, as long as there’s a core.”
Elonia set down her teacup.
Artius’s expression, which had been relaxed just moments ago, turned grim.
“If the core is in the Peace Treaty Zone… it means the supplies sent from the Imperial Palace might be compromised.”
He had reached the same conclusion as Elonia. But she shook her head.
“It’s not the supplies. I just received a report from Ethan.”
Artius’s face turned ashen as he listened to Ethan’s report.
“…Heilan really knows how to cause trouble.”
Agreed. Artius ran a hand through his hair and said,
“I’ll investigate this.”
“Okay.”
Elonia nodded. It was reassuring to know she wasn’t alone.
She took another sip of milk tea, then asked the question that had been bothering her the most.
“Caroline and the others were injured. Are you okay, Dad?”
Artius’s eyes widened.
Why was she asking? Had she found out?
But his worry was unnecessary. Elonia, afraid she might have bruised his pride as a Sword Master, quickly added,
“The chimera in the arena collapsed as soon as I removed the sword. But this one didn’t even have a sword. And it felt stronger. I know you wouldn’t get hurt, but I was just wondering.”
A sharp pain shot through Artius’s right arm, a phantom echo of the chimera’s attack.
He ignored it and smiled gently.
“I’m fine. So don’t worry.”
Fortunately, Artius was a skilled liar, much better than Elonia.
Elonia, deceived by his calm demeanor, relaxed.
“That’s good.”
“It’s late. You should go to sleep.”
“Okay. Good night.”
“You too, Elonia.”
Elonia left the reception room, relieved.
But complacency was a dangerous enemy.
The next day, Artius collapsed.