Not missing that opportunity, Claes pressed coldly.

“Elysia returning to her original world has always been something that could happen at any time, hasn’t it? She’ll appear again when she wants to come back. Of course, since she must have suffered mentally because of the contradictory oracle, we should eliminate that oracle so she can feel attracted to us again.”

“…Do you still want to welcome that Elysia as your one and only consort, brother? A woman who’s nothing more than a Breeding Vessel?”

Claes looked at Karad ruthlessly. However, without answering him, he released his grip on Karad’s collar.

“We should tell His Majesty the Emperor to prepare for when Elysia returns again. Lars, let’s go together.”

“That…”

Just when Karad was moving his lips, clap clap, clap clap clap. Applause sounded and someone walked forward.

Claes’s eyes narrowed sharply. The person reflected in his blue pupils was none other than Duke Serow.

“Hahaha… What truly excellent acting skills, Prince Lars.”

Duke Serow raised the corners of his mouth to a chilling degree. The sight appeared mocking, so Claes watched him coldly.

But even facing the blade-like gaze of a Grand Sword Master, Duke Serow remained unshaken. Rather, smiling as he stood before Lars, he held up a list with the names of magic scrolls written on it.

“If not for the informant at the mage tower, I would have been completely fooled.”

Lars bit his lips. Cold sweat ran down Claes’s back, but maintaining a composed expression, he asked.

“What do you mean?”

Then Duke Serow curved his eyes like a demon.

“According to what Tower Master Gilliam’s disciple conveyed, Gilliam received a request from Prince Lars and created magic scrolls usable within the Imperial Palace, then handed them over.”

“…”

Lars’s expression darkened. In contrast, Karad’s face slowly began to brighten.

“All the details of those scrolls Prince Lars took are written here. Please reveal where you used them, right here and now. Otherwise, I’ll assume you used them to help Elysia escape.”

“Duke Serow.”

Claes asked coldly.

“Elysia simply returned to her own world. And wherever Lars used his scrolls, wouldn’t that be related to his private life? If you’re not in charge of palace security, I’d like you to withdraw from here.”

At the voice continuously dripping with displeasure, Duke Serow laughed clearly, “Hahaha.” But it was a malicious voice as unpleasant to hear as metal scraping a chalkboard.

“Crown Prince Claes, Your Highness. I formally request to investigate this incident. Helping Elysia escape is a grave crime that could cut off this empire’s royal bloodline. Therefore, this major incident cannot be handled with just a perfunctory investigation.”

“…”

Claes’s face became completely emotionless. He looked back at Lars once, then asked.

“Lars. Did you help Elysia escape?”

Lars slowly shook his head and said, “I provided no cooperation whatsoever in Elysia’s escape. I only collected the magic scrolls for my own use – I never gave any of them to Elysia.”

“…So you say.”

Duke Serow quietly stared at Claes. But Claes, who seemed like steel, showed no gaps – not even a needle could penetrate. Duke Serow inwardly lamented anew.

If this perfect Crown Prince had been on their side, taking the entire empire into their hands would have been possible.

“Stop arguing about Elysia returning to her original world any further. This is an order as the emperor’s representative handling state affairs.”

The place instantly became quiet. However, Claes didn’t stop there and continued speaking.

“If anyone makes idle talk or spreads petty rumors regarding this incident, I will certainly…”

But Duke Serow interrupted.

“As long as there’s circumstantial evidence that Prince Lars gave Elysia a subspace pouch, you must first resolve the suspicion that Prince Lars might have helped Lady Elysia escape.”

“…Duke Serow. I am now speaking as His Majesty the Emperor’s representative.”

“I know. However, I think I also know where Elysia headed. I’ll pursue that location and withdraw if she’s not there. And since helping Elysia escape is a grave crime, Prince Lars, who is under suspicion, must remain confined to the Third Prince’s palace until the investigation is complete.”

Claes frowned at the feeling of his solar plexus being completely blocked. Even that was handsome, but Duke Serow only continued speaking.

“And earlier, Your Highness the Crown Prince said you were His Majesty the Emperor’s representative.”

He grinned annoyingly.

“I have received His Majesty the Emperor’s direct orders… to not view this incident like before, thinking Elysia returned to that other world, but to consider it an escape from the Imperial Palace and search for her.”

* * *

Chohee raised her stiff body. Being on a stagecoach for the third day made her feel restless, but thinking she’d arrive at Saraum Village that much earlier made it bearable.

“Haah…”

She opened the carriage window to let cool air flow inside. Commoner clothes had no magic cast on them, making her keenly feel the hot summer, but the breeze coming through the window at least cooled the sweat beads on her neck and back.

“We’ll arrive at Saraum Village soon.”

The coachman shouted energetically.

“Saraum Village, located at the border closest to the capital, was a place that traded goods with Heritail Kingdom until barbed wire was erected.”

“…”

“But when Dark Mages started rampaging, there were tremendous casualties. So Crown Prince Claes himself led the subjugation, methodically shooting the Dark Mages to death. The knights mobilized there also executed countless minions of the Dark Mages.”

Listening quietly to those words, Chohee turned her head to look forward. Then she saw countless barbed wire fences spread across the barren land, with small houses clustered together in front of them.

‘That place is Saraum Village…’

“Thanks to that, we can now live safely, but crossing over to Heritail Kingdom requires the help of a High Circle Mage. Therefore, trade has been completely suspended. Without at least a 3rd Circle mage or scrolls, you can’t cross over to Heritail Kingdom.”

‘Come to think of it, Lars sent me this way because this place is safe from Dark Mages. And also because it’s the border closest to the capital, so I could arrive quickly.’

She was impressed by Lars’s meticulous preparation.

‘But… I’m so tired.’

According to his advice, it would be safest to cross the barbed wire into Heritail Kingdom immediately upon arrival. But Chohee had accumulated several times more fatigue from being trapped in the stagecoach for three days, so she wondered if she could even walk properly after getting off the carriage.

‘I slept enough, but… it doesn’t feel like proper sleep, and my body aches…’

She felt like she needed to lie down and sleep properly, even on a shabby bed, for her body to move properly somehow. Chohee hesitated briefly, but since there had been no pursuers following her so far, she thought it might be okay to rest in Saraum Village for about a day.

Actually, that was a dangerous idea. But Chohee was too exhausted to think it was dangerous.

‘Let’s rest…’

Chohee was confident there would be no pursuers chasing her since she had perfectly created a locked room. So as soon as she got off the carriage, she immediately went looking for an inn.

Actually, that locked room was nothing more than a simple technique of raising the lock on the terrace with a ribbon, then lowering it to lock while winding the ribbon around her hand so nothing remained.

“Welcome!”

“I’d like to stay for one night.”

Then the innkeeper cheerfully shouted.

“Staying one night costs 10 silver!”

“Yes.”

Chohee took out 10 silver from the pouch Lars had given her and handed it over. Then the innkeeper gave her a towel.

“Should I bring dinner to your room? Or will you eat in the dining room?”

“I’ll eat in the dining room.”

“Understood!”

The innkeeper wrote it on his list and smiled broadly. Saraum Village used to be frequented mainly by merchants and travelers, but after the barbed wire was erected, foot traffic completely stopped. Therefore, Chohee, a customer after so long, was very welcome.

“Then have a comfortable time.”

Listening absently to the innkeeper’s words, Chohee entered her room.

As soon as she entered and collapsed on the bed, sleep came. Chohee fell straight into slumber.

Several hours later.

The sun set and the moon rose. At the time when pursuers from the Imperial Palace had almost arrived here, Chohee opened her eyes.

“Mmm…”

To get from the Imperial Palace to here would take only one day if riding horses at full speed. Though it took three days by slow stagecoach… Chohee, completely unaware of this fact, went into the bathroom and took a clean shower with warm water.

“I feel alive again.”

‘Should I have dinner first, then try crossing the barbed wire?’

A gentle smile bloomed on Chohee’s face. Chohee put her clothes back on and went down to the first floor.

But seeing armored knights entering the dining room, her face hardened. Could it be that they discovered Lars gave me magic scrolls and helped me escape?

“…”

And that ominous premonition immediately proved correct. The knights began checking the faces of everyone in the dining room one by one. Chohee returned to her room and took out rope from her subspace pouch, hanging it by the window.

‘It’s the second floor but not very high, so I should be able to climb down this rope!’

Anxiety mixed with unease swirled greatly. Chohee climbed down the rope and landed on the first floor. But as soon as she retrieved the rope, she made eye contact with a knight patrolling around the inn.

“Hey. Come here.”

He was holding a drawing with someone’s portrait. Chohee backed away with an ominous feeling, then started running.

“Catch her! She’s suspicious!”

“It might be Elysia. Catch her quickly!”

‘As expected… pursuers came!’

‘I should have crossed the barbed wire immediately instead of sleeping!’

Chohee regretted and regretted again, but there was nothing she could do about what had already passed. Just before her slow steps were about to be caught by the knights, Chohee took out a scroll from her subspace pouch and tore it.

‘Wind magic. Make me fast!’

Then wind magic filled her feet, allowing her to outrun the knights. Watching Chohee quickly distance herself, the knights gritted their teeth.

Seeing Chohee disappear from their sight in an instant, the knights lamented. But there was no way to catch Chohee who had already left.

Only until Chohee herself revealed her presence.