Chapter 19

When the knights burst inside, the surroundings instantly became chaotic. The knights quickly surrounded the group so they couldn’t escape, and Diana was appalled.

“We heard there was suspicious activity, and of course, here you are. It’s best not to resist and just stay quiet.”

The situation Diana had feared finally happened. Someone had reported her group as suspicious to the knights. A crowd gathering in a dilapidated building in the middle of the night—anyone would find it odd.

But she hadn’t expected to be discovered so quickly…!

Even though the street patrol period had ended, the level of vigilance was still this high. In the meantime, the knights began to approach one by one. Of course, Diana’s subordinates looked lost, not knowing what to do after the knights barged in.

What to do, what to do?

If things continued like this, they would be arrested and thrown behind bars. If only jail was the worst—if their rebellion was discovered, they’d all lose their heads.

“……!”

As Diana quickly scanned the area, her eyes landed on a box. She immediately grabbed a mask from the box. The knights, mistaking it for a weapon, all drew their swords at Diana.

“You! I told you not to resist!”

“Wait, wait! It’s not like that! We’re—”

“Not like that? Why else would you all gather here at night with those masks… Masks?”

Seeing the mask in her hand, the knights looked perplexed. Diana quickly explained.

“No, really, we’re not like that… Yes. We’re mask makers!”

“Mask makers?”

“Yes. We were about to start work here and were having a meeting with the staff. I’m the owner.”

“The owner? Why are you wearing a mask then?”

“For promotion, of course. I wear it to advertise our mask workshop.”

At Diana’s words, the knights murmured among themselves. Seizing the moment, Diana quickly handed over the document.

“Here! This is the deed showing we bought this building! It’s all legal!”

One knight took the document and handed it to his superior. The man stroked his chin as he looked it over.

“…It’s real, this document.”

“Yes, it seems so.”

Meanwhile, the knights searching the building approached and spoke.

“We checked, and there’s nothing but masks.”

“Nothing? Not even weapons?”

“No. We searched everyone, and nothing suspicious was found.”

“…….”

Hearing this, the superior handled one of the masks. Of course, it was just a regular mask, nothing hidden inside. He looked over at Diana and her group.

“Well… It seems to check out, so we’ll leave. Let’s go.”

“…….”

“I never thought anyone would be foolish enough to buy this place, ahem. It’s so deserted, I never imagined anyone would make something here. Anyway, hope your business does well. Goodbye.”

Finally, he ordered the knights to withdraw. The knights gradually left the building. Even after they were all gone, Diana and her subordinates were speechless for a while. Only after some time did Diana clutch her pounding heart.

We survived, we survived!

It had been a dangerously close call. Had things gone wrong, they would have been dragged away and lost everything. Diana steadied her trembling legs.

“You see, all of you! Do you realize now how dangerous what we’re doing is?”

Diana wanted to use this opportunity to make them realize the risk. If she could scare them enough to disperse the group, it would be ideal.

“Yes, Leader. We really understand how dangerous this is.”

“Right? So now—”

“That’s why we need to be more careful and disguise this place as a mask workshop!”

“Huh, what?”

“As expected of our Leader! We only thought about wearing masks, but you were planning to make and sell them!”

But things didn’t go as Diana expected. Instead, her subordinates’ morale soared.

“That way, we can earn money like you said!”

“And we’ll have a reason to gather here without suspicion!”

“…….”

As their voices grew louder, Diana gradually gave up.

“Should we start calling you ‘Boss’ now?”

“No, Leader is still Leader, right?”

“Yeah, we can call you both!”

Her excited subordinates cheered.

“Leader! Leader!”

“Boss! Boss!”

“…….”

Ah, she didn’t care anymore.

Whether she was Leader or Boss, Diana just wanted to quit everything.

*   *   *

“I’d like to take a few days off.”

Diana handed in her vacation request, and Evan accepted it.

“I’ve already arranged for everything to be handled while I’m away. Neil will take care of things.”

Evan checked the request as she spoke.

“You’re going home?”

“Yes. I got a letter from home. They said they wanted to see me. It’s been ages since I visited the our mansion, so I thought I’d go.”

Honestly, Diana would have welcomed any chance to escape the capital, where trouble always seemed to erupt. She desperately needed a break.

“If you approve, I’m ready to leave immediately.”

She had already packed her things to go. As soon as Evan agreed, Diana planned to leave.

“And just to be clear… You know you can’t come with me, right?”

She preempted Evan, worried he might suggest coming along.

“Why?”

“Why? I’m going home, and Your Majesty, your home is here, the Imperial Palace.”

She’d expected this. If he really came along, it would be a business trip, not a vacation.

“And there’s no reason for you to visit my family, is there, Your Majesty?”

“There is.”

“What do you mean…?”

Ah.

After hesitating, Diana carefully asked,

“Is it because of Her Highness?”

Evan’s mother, Cecile, had gone into hiding after the Prince’s Rebellion. The place she hid was none other than the Amber Viscountcy. Only a handful of people besides Diana’s family and Evan knew about it.

Cecile, who had always been frail, eventually passed away at the Amber mansion. Only after Evan became Emperor was her body quietly brought to the capital.

“I told you before. Both my parents and I know. Your Majesty, you have already repaid our family more than enough, so there’s no need for you to come in person.”

Especially now that Evan was Emperor. Any movement he made would attract countless eyes. Last time he visited the Marquis’s mansion, it caused such a commotion—if he went to the outskirts this time, it would draw even more attention.

“I’ll pass on your message to my parents. It’s better for you and my family if you work hard here while I’m away. Or you can meet them when they come to the capital later.”

“…….”

“Anyway, I’ll take your approval as granted and leave today. Please don’t be too hard on Neil. It’d be nice if you two got closer.”

She remembered Neil desperately begging her not to go when he heard about her vacation. Maybe she should bring him a gift when she returned.

“So you’ll be back on the last day?”

“Probably. I want to spend more time with my parents since I’m taking time off.”

And find that useless brother of mine, too. 

Diana kept that thought to herself.

“Alright, have a good trip.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Oh, do you need anything? I thought I’d bring you a gift since I’m going.”

“No, nothing.”

“Still… Didn’t you like the candy from the shop near our house when you visited as a child? Should I bring some—”

“No. Just come back quickly.”

“…….”

“That’s enough.”

Hearing that all he wanted was for her to return quickly, Diana stared blankly. Was he just eager to put her back to work?

She hadn’t even left the palace yet, and he was already telling her to hurry back. Diana, feeling stubborn, asked,

“What if something unexpected delays me?”

“Then the Imperial Palace will have to deal with unexpected situations without its Emperor, won’t it?”

“I’ll make sure to return quickly so that doesn’t happen.”

Of course. Diana swallowed her tears and bowed dutifully, leaving his office.