The incident began, coincidentally, with a slice of cake.

Late into the night, a banquet was held at Lata Palace to celebrate the king’s return after conquering the three northern countries. Everyone was busy eating, drinking, and dancing. However, Irina Russ, a court physician, sat in the infirmary on duty, prepared for any emergencies.

“I want to have fun too!”

Violetta, a senior court physician, exclaimed as she slumped over the desk.

“I’d rather someone get injured and call us to the party than stay here any longer.”

She revealed her honest desire and glanced at Irina. Unlike herself, Irina was reading a medical book with a serene expression.

“Don’t you want to have fun too, Irina?”

“Not particularly.”

“Why are you so unenthusiastic about parties at your young age?”

Violetta started nagging, saying she wouldn’t find a husband with that attitude.

“Don’t assume you’ll meet a man just because there are plenty of single men around. All women are thinking the same thing.”

As the conversation dragged on, Irina regretted not giving a vague answer instead of being honest.

“It’s always the same. Just when you think you’ve found a good man, he’s already married or engaged. Everyone else somehow snatches them up quickly.”

“Yes…”

Irina belatedly tried to agree, but it was too late. Violetta continued complaining with a frown.

“If you don’t stay alert, before you know it, you’ll find yourself thinking, ‘Huh? Am I the only one not married?’ That’s how it happens.”

Violetta grabbed Irina’s book as she smiled awkwardly.

“Working hard is good, but you work too hard. You always switch shifts when someone asks. How many times have you done it this month?”

“I haven’t counted, so I don’t really… I haven’t done it that much.”

As Irina tried to brush it off, Violetta stood up and checked the duty roster on the wall.

“I thought you were working a lot, but you’ve only had THREE days off this month!”

She counted one, two, and gaped in surprise.

“At this rate, you’ll collapse before you even get married.”

“I don’t have much to do at home anyway. It gets boring.”

Irina replied sheepishly. In truth, her reason for working so much wasn’t because she couldn’t handle free time. She had a dream that might seem trivial to others but was quite grand to her.

She wanted to save money to buy a small house in the capital and move out of the home that would soon belong to her younger brother.

Irina had been working day and night for this dream.

“That’s all because you’re lonely. When you meet someone, you’ll be desperate for days off.”

But Violetta had no way of knowing about this plan. Irina wasn’t the type to share her personal matters with others. Her secret plan was unknown to both her colleagues and family.

“By the way, didn’t you say your younger brother returned too? Someone mentioned he’s a knight.”

When the conversation suddenly shifted to her brother, Irina’s eyebrows twitched.

“He’ll probably pick out a good man from among his colleagues and introduce him to his sister. That’s why you’re so relaxed.”

Violetta clicked her tongue, saying she shouldn’t have worried.

Irina mulled over the words “good man.” In her opinion, her younger brother Bill was definitely not the type to care about his sister’s welfare.

She was planning to save money and leave home as soon as possible because their relationship was so bad. The idea of him finding her a good man was laughable.

“Haha.”

But she didn’t want to explain all that in detail. So Irina neither confirmed nor denied it, just laughed awkwardly.

“The most urgent case is me, without any knight for a brother.”

“Senior, you’re beautiful and have a good personality, so you’ll find someone good soon.”

“I need to meet people first, but I’m stuck here working. Tonight’s party is the perfect opportunity!”

Violetta pounded her chest with her fist in frustration.

“If someone gets injured at the party, at least I could go. Then I might have a wonderful chance encounter…”

After complaining for a while, Violetta closed her eyes dreamily. She talked about a fantasy where a handsome knight would fall for her at first sight, ask her to dance, fall in love, and propose.

Inwardly, Irina thought the probability of such a thing happening was extremely slim. And even if it did happen, it would be troubling.

Wouldn’t a man who proposes to a woman he barely knows be somewhat lacking or have ulterior motives?

“That would be wonderful.”

But since her senior had finally quieted down, she simply agreed and moved on. Violetta continued to mumble, perhaps imagining a handsome knight in more detail.

“You never know. Sir Maverick might fall for me at first sight.”

Irina was a bit exasperated by her senior’s comment after her long daze.

Maverick Pride was the king’s close friend, the queen’s brother, and heir to a ducal family. A man who had nowhere higher to climb once he inherited his title.

Yet he had earned the titles of greatest contributor to the unification of the three northern countries and Ashin’s strongest knight through his own efforts.

“Duchess Pride. Such a sweet name.”

Why would a man with too many accomplishments to list fall for her senior? Irina thought it was completely implausible.

Of course, Maverick was still unmarried. But as the heir to a ducal family, he surely had a predetermined match.

Even if there wasn’t someone specific at the moment, it was obvious he would eventually marry a lady from a suitable family.

“What’s the use of thinking like this?”

Violetta, who had been momentarily lost in the sweet dream of becoming a duchess, waved her hand dismissively.

“Whether it’s Sir Maverick or someone else, I need to get to the party first. Oh, please let there be a patient! Even someone with a burst wart would be fine!”

Violetta shouted toward the heavens. As if her desperation had been heard, a messenger arrived to inform them that there was a patient at the banquet hall.

“I’ll go!”

Before Irina could respond, Violetta quickly grabbed her bag and rushed out. With her departure, the infirmary finally became quiet, and Irina sighed as she looked around.

“At last, the usual peace has returned.”

She was accustomed to working night shifts alone peacefully. Today had been tiring with three court physicians on duty because of the banquet.

Incidentally, one had left to see a patient two hours ago and hadn’t returned. Surely Violetta would also slack off for a while before coming back.

Irina expected to be alone until the banquet ended. Contrary to her hopes, a messenger came calling for a court physician. Someone had twisted their ankle at the banquet hall.

“Aren’t there other court physicians at the banquet… Never mind. Let’s go quickly.”

There should have been two court physicians at the banquet hall. But it was obvious. The two were either very busy treating patients or had run off somewhere.

Most likely the latter, but what could she do? Arguing with the messenger wouldn’t yield any answers.

On the bright side, she might get some party food since she was feeling hungry. Irina decided to think positively.

“It seems she wore heels that were too high. She stumbled while dancing and twisted her ankle. But it doesn’t look too serious.”

Irina received information from the messenger as they headed toward the patient. Upon arriving at the banquet hall, she spotted Violetta before the patient.

Violetta had abandoned her bag somewhere and was dancing joyfully. When their eyes met, she widened her eyes in surprise.

‘Please pretend you didn’t see me.’

Violetta mouthed with a pitiful expression.

‘You owe me one.’

Irina gave Violetta a meaningful look before returning to her task.

Fortunately, the young lady’s twisted ankle wasn’t serious. Irina applied ointment, splinted it, wrapped it with bandages, and completed the treatment.

“Are you going straight back to the infirmary?” the messenger asked as Irina prepared to leave.

The implication was clear—the other court physicians were enjoying themselves.

Irina had no desire to stay and socialize. Her younger brother was surely somewhere here.

“Yes, I have a lot of work to do.”

Bill would never acknowledge her in public, but it would be awkward if they ran into each other, so she didn’t want to meet him.

“You’re working hard. At least take a slice of cake with you.”

Irina accepted his kindness and received a rich chocolate cake slice. She also carefully took a tea fork and quickly returned to the infirmary. Her steps were light at the thought of replenishing her energy.

“I’ll take the shortcut.”

She took a different route from the one she had taken with the messenger, going behind the building after leaving the banquet hall. This path led to the side of the maze garden created by the queen, and following along the maze would quickly lead back to the infirmary.

It was a bit scary as a deserted path where people rarely went, but it was about ten minutes faster.

Besides, tonight the sky was cloudless, and the moonlight was bright, so it wasn’t too frightening. Irina moved along, admiring the sky.

“They said there would be fireworks at night, but I haven’t heard any explosions. Maybe it’s not time yet.”

If it wasn’t time yet, she could return to the infirmary and comfortably watch from the window. She was having these peaceful thoughts when—

“Ugh!”

A strange sound came from somewhere. Startled, Irina almost dropped the cake she was holding. She managed to save the cake, but the tea fork that had been placed on the plate fell to the ground with a clatter.

Irina blinked and looked around. There was no human shadow in sight.

“Urgh!”

The sound came again. It definitely came from inside the maze.

Did someone enter the maze at night and fall?

“……”

Irina stared at the maze for a moment. No more sounds followed. Thinking it was just her imagination, she felt relieved and bent down to pick up the dropped tea fork.

At that exact moment, the side of a maze garden hedge was sliced, and a large sword cut through the air above her head. If Irina hadn’t bent down, she would have been struck by the blade and died.

Huh? Why is a chunk of the maze hedge rolling on the ground?

Straightening up, Irina blinked in confusion, not understanding what had just happened.

“You’re quick to dodge.”

At the cold male voice, Irina’s eyes widened. She had no time to turn and look at the man. He roughly grabbed her by the collar. His grip was so strong that she could barely breathe.

“Were you planning to stab me from behind with that?”

The man’s eyes fixed on the tea fork in Irina’s hand.

Planning to stab? With a tea fork?

Irina stared at the man with wide eyes. She wanted to ask what he was talking about, but she was too shocked to speak.

The man’s face, illuminated by moonlight, was terrifying. One corner of his mouth was twisted upward in a crooked smile, while his blue eyes swirled with murderous intent.

“Speak.”

“…Pardon?”

Her frozen lips finally parted, but it didn’t help much.

“Tell me the name of the person who ordered you to do this.”

The man bared his teeth and threatened Irina.

What did he mean by “ordered”? She was becoming more confused. Irina had simply treated a young lady who twisted her ankle while dancing and was on her way back to the infirmary.

If she had to name someone who “ordered” her to do this, it would be the messenger who called for a court physician because someone was injured. Or perhaps the colleague who asked her to cover the night shift.

Neither seemed like something that warranted being grabbed by the collar and threatened with a sword.

“Wha—”

Just as she was about to speak, Irina saw people lying on the ground, bleeding. Judging by their attire, they were palace servants.

Could this man have killed them all?

“They’re all dead. It would be best not to hope for help.”

So he did kill them all! A murderer roaming the palace!

‘Unlike usual, there might be suspicious individuals mixed in with the increased number of visitors today, so be careful.’

The words of the chief physician belatedly came to mind.

“Speak. Or would you prefer to lose an arm first?”

Irina’s spine tingled at the man’s threat. Her head was spinning with fear to the point of dizziness.

“What… what do you want me to say…?”

She mustered her courage as best she could.

“Are there more of your comrades?”

Could he be referring to the court physicians slacking off at the party? Irina tilted her head with a stiff face. While neglecting duties was wrong, it wasn’t a crime punishable by death.

“So you’re willing to sacrifice an arm. Very well.”

When Irina didn’t answer, the man moved to place his sword between her right arm and armpit.

He’s really going to cut off my arm!

“W-wait!”

“Too late. If you were going to confess, you should have spoken sooner.”

How late could it be!

Irina inwardly cursed at this impatient man.

“Whatever it is, I’m a court physician working at the palace…!”

I should have avoided the deserted path. Then I wouldn’t have encountered this murderer.

As she was regretting her decision, fireworks exploded behind the man’s head with a bang. His already shadowy and frightening face looked even more dramatic in the backlighting. Like an evil spirit.

I might really die here. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die!

Sensing the man momentarily hesitate, Irina gathered all her strength in her legs. Then she struck him in his center.

“Ugh…!”

Unable to withstand the pain, the man released his grip and dropped to one knee. Irina immediately hit him on the head with her wooden medical case and fled.

“Help, help me!”

Guards approached in response to Irina’s cries. She was so out of breath that she bent over, panting heavily as she shouted.

“There, there’s a murderer over there!”

Irina pointed toward the maze garden. Upon hearing that he had killed three people and tried to kill her too, all but one of the guards rushed toward the maze garden.

The remaining guard ran to the banquet hall to report this to the commander of the royal guards.

No one imagined that Commander Maverick Pride would be kneeling on the ground after being kicked in the groin by a woman.