By the time the sun had climbed high into the sky, Larinne was standing outside the conference chamber of the Eastern Palace, where the Imperial State Council was meeting.

Ultimately, she had found no trace of Horus.

Although unsettled, she could not allow her judgement to waver.

The ‘dam opening schedule’, which was to be discussed at this council meeting, was critical information — important enough to determine whether her escape plan would succeed or fail.

Fortunately, she had arrived before the meeting began, so the doors to the chamber were still open.

Relieved by this stroke of luck, Larinne stepped forward, only to have the gatekeeper’s shadow fall across her path.

“Lady Larinne… what brings you here?”

The gatekeeper of the Eastern Palace conference chamber asked cautiously, glancing around at the others.

Several attendants from prestigious noble houses had paused where they stood, stealing sideways glances.

They seemed eager to find something juicy to report back to their masters.

“I believe the meeting has not yet begun. Am I mistaken?”

“You are not mistaken. There are still five minutes remaining.”

“Then why are you blocking my way?”

The reason the gatekeeper was now stubbornly blocking Larinne’s path, despite having bowed deeply to other nobles without hesitation, was simple.

‘The gatekeepers of the Eastern Palace chamber were appointed by the House of Dius, if I recall.’

What a ridiculous power play!

Larinne wasn’t interested in indulging such childish antics. But if there was a quick and simple way to achieve her goal, why avoid it?

Larinne was not entirely naïve.

For the sake of her comrades, she knew how to use her abilities as a weapon.

“It seems you do not realize who stands before you.”

The gatekeeper flinched under the piercing gaze of her cold blue eyes.

Despite her slender frame, the strange aura she carried pressed heavily upon his shoulders.

“N-no, that isn’t it. It’s simply that you do not usually attend these meetings, and you suddenly arrived—”

“I heard there was an important matter to be discussed today. The head of the Lirmen delegation will also be present to discuss the opening of the dam on the Pactio River.”

State Council meetings were usually held exclusively between the Empire’s most senior nobles.

This occasion was an exception.

As the dam upstream of the Pactio River was technically owned by the Kingdom of Lirmen, the Emperor could not decide to open it unilaterally.

“To keep a lady standing here this long… it seems the men of the Eastern Empire are not very gentlemanly.”

At that moment, a familiar voice joined the conversation.

Libehi Winterd had just arrived at the doors to the chamber and was now striding towards Larinne with a relaxed expression.

“Did you rest well last night?”

“Duke Libehi Winterd.”

Without hesitation, he reached out toward Larinne’s pale hair.

His touch was careful and precise, as though he were handling a precious jewel.

“I hope your night was comfortable.”

Just as he had done before, his lips brushed lightly against her silver hair.

As always, it happened in an instant.

“Oh—!”

Several attendants watching nearby flushed bright red.

Teasing people like this—so unpredictable.

It suited him perfectly.

“I will escort you into the chamber.”

After leaving several people utterly stunned, he remained shamelessly calm.

A small laugh escaped Larinne.

“You look well today.”

“I will take that to mean you were worried about me.”

“I had no way of knowing whether your words were merely the bold boasting of a spirited man… or the truth.”

“And? Did my proof satisfy you?”

Does this man truly feel no embarrassment?

Larinne cleared her throat and turned back towards the gatekeeper.

She had the distinct feeling that if she continued speaking to him, the conversation would take an odd turn.

“Open the way. Representatives of a foreign kingdom are present.”

The dull-witted gatekeeper seemed unable to grasp her meaning.

“You are always the ones telling me that I will soon become empress, and that I must conduct myself with the dignity and authority befitting that role. Is this not precisely such a moment?”

“But—”

Larinne cut off his attempted excuse with ease.

“There is nothing that would disgrace the imperial family more than making me stand here before a foreign envoy. That is enough discourtesy. Step aside.”

“D-disgrace the imperial family? Of course not. Please, go in.”

He was certainly loyal to his master.

But it would ultimately be his downfall.

One day, he would be the person who brought down the House of Dius.

As she stepped into the chamber, Larinne inwardly clicked her tongue at Duke Dius’s poor judgement.

The moment she and Libehi Winterd entered, all eyes turned towards them.

The first to react was none other than her fiancé, Emperor Seidon.

“Larinne Ontuevi.”

Even at a glance, his mood looked thoroughly soured.

‘It seems the sight of me standing beside the envoy of the Kingdom of Lirmen displeased you greatly.’

After giving a light bow, Larinne walked to the empty seat beside Seidon and sat down.

It was the seat traditionally reserved for the empress.

“What are you plotting?”

A slanted gaze fixed itself on her. Sitting upright, Larinne looked straight ahead and answered calmly.

“Although this is a State Council meeting, a delegation from another nation is present. I was taught that, in such a case, it is proper according to court etiquette for me to accompany Your Majesty.”

“That can’t be right.”

The sound of fingers tapping lightly on the table followed. He clearly did not believe her.

“I was the one who requested her attendance.”

Of all the empty seats available, Libehi Winterd chose the one closest to Larinne and sat down.

Naturally, Seidon’s gaze turned cold.

“I thought that if I could keep Lady Larinne within sight, I might be able to think more positively during negotiations with the Eastern Empire.”

What on earth was this man thinking?

He spoke with such confidence that Larinne almost found herself nodding along.

She parted her lips and silently mouthed something to Libehi Winterd, who met her gaze without hesitation.

‘When did we ever discuss that?’

He simply shrugged.

One of the great nobles who had been silently observing them finally spoke.

“It seems that since you are both of the Lirmen people, you must have found much in common with Lady Larinne.”

“Indeed, we did. Our compatibility was remarkable. You probably cannot even imagine how well we matched.”

Although someone else had asked the question, Libehi Winterd turned his head towards Larinne as he answered.

‘That man.’

As if putting on a deliberate show, he slowly opened and closed his mouth.

They were visibly swollen.

Before she could stop herself, Larinne was reminded of the night before. They must have swollen like that from all the biting and sucking.

Disorderly memories invaded her mind without permission.

‘I’ve truly lost my mind.’

It almost felt as though the curse of the Water’s Blessing had befallen her rather than him.

That must be why his otherwise simple answer sounded so improper.

To hide the redness spreading to the tips of her ears, Larinne idly ran her fingers through her hair and changed the subject.

“The time has come. It would be best to begin the meeting as scheduled, Your Majesty.”

“I agree with Lady Larinne.”

Libehi Winterd’s quiet laughter spread across the chamber.

“Perhaps I enjoyed last night’s banquet a little too much. I would like to finish quickly and return to rest.”

***

After a long meeting, the council finally adjourned. The sun was high in the sky but had already begun to lose some of its intensity.

Throughout the meeting, Larinne had been caught between the piercing gaze of an envoy from an enemy nation and that of her fiancé, leaving her drenched in cold sweat.

As she stepped outside the Eastern Palace, she took a deep breath.

‘I’ll have to move sooner than expected.’

Larinne quickened her pace, leaving Libehi Winterd behind. He had been stopped by several great nobles just as he tried to follow her.

The stiffness in her body was the least of her concerns. She had to deliver today’s information as quickly as possible.

Avoiding the watchful eyes of others, she safely reached a secluded back path within the imperial palace.

As the foreign delegation was staying there, most of the soldiers had been stationed around the western part of the palace. Consequently, it was easier than usual for her to slip past the surveillance.

Unlike the palace grounds, however, this area had no magic stones to keep the desert sand at bay.

Larinne pulled out a thin veil and lifted it to cover her nose and mouth.

Then she sensed movement nearby.

‘Someone’s there.’

Judging from the sound of voices, it did not seem to be just one person.

‘No… is it only one?’

Listening more carefully, most of it sounded like someone talking to themselves.

She focused her attention.

Then she heard the frantic flapping of a bird’s wings.

‘A bird?’

Already worried about her missing messenger bird, Larinne moved towards the sound as though guided by instinct.

A familiar figure came into view, with a sand dune behind him.

The short man, who had slightly hunched shoulders, was struggling with something.

“William?”

“Ah!”

Startled out of his wits, William stumbled backward and kicked over the wide basin on the ground.

Perhaps he had struck his toe badly, because a string of rough curses followed.

“D*mn it—! You scared the h*ll out of me! Larinne! I thought my heart was going to stop.”

“What were you doing here? And what’s with that bucket?”

As Larinne approached him with concern, she finally noticed what he had been wrestling with.

“Horus!”

Having been freed from William’s grasp, the desert hawk flew straight to Larinne’s shoulder.

Its crimson tail feathers were damp.

“Why do you have Horus?”

“Huh? N-no, that bird was wandering around here, looking lost.”

William crouched down and grabbed his toe, offering the excuse with suspicious casualness.

“Horus got lost in the imperial palace?”

It was an absurd claim. Horus was an exceptionally well-trained messenger bird.

“I don’t know. Maybe the heat got to him. You wouldn’t understand, Larinne—you’re a delicate lady who only lives comfortably inside the palace. But the d*mn desert heat can drive anyone mad.”

“……”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

William’s thick, curly eyebrows twitched.

There were a lot of suspicious things going on, but Larinne decided not to ask any more questions.

Horus, perched on her shoulder, was trembling.

It seemed more important to calm the bird for now.

“I’ll take Horus.”

“Make sure you keep your windows closed. Good thing I found him first.”

She had no desire to argue with William, who acted as if nothing had happened.

As she prepared to leave with Horus and head toward Pellet’s hideout, he casually asked another question.

His gaze traveled slowly up and down her figure—more than rude enough.

“So where were you headed? The base, maybe?”

“What?”

It was impossible to know if anyone was listening nearby.

How could he speak so openly?

Larinne’s brows furrowed.

That single remark could expose Pellet’s secret base.

Even if she might avoid the worst outcome because Seidon still needed her, her other companions would certainly be killed.

“You should watch your mouth, William.”

“What?”

“I mean exactly what I said.”

“……”

“……”

During the silence that followed, Larinne did not avert her gaze.

After a moment, William’s thick lips twisted.

“…Ha. Larinne, you always look down on people like that, don’t you?”

Without even waiting for an answer, William turned and left.

Left alone, Larinne kept her eyes on the place where he had been standing.

The basin lying on the ground had been bothering her since earlier.

Her gaze drifted to the water pooled beneath it.

Mixed into the water—half absorbed into the sand—were white, partially dissolved fragments, like impurities.

‘What were you doing here, William?’

The question she could not bring herself to ask lingered on the tip of her tongue.