131. We Truly Know Nothing

From the Empress Dowager’s palace parlor came the sound of restrained laughter.

“Surely His Majesty the Emperor has not already awakened and is merely feigning unconsciousness to identify the enemy, has he?”

Duke Anderman narrowed his eyes as he spoke, prompting the Empress Dowager to burst out laughing.

“He is not such a man. Our emperor is…”

The Empress Dowager recalled the haggard face of Larael, sitting helplessly at Edward’s side. She herself had not been free of such suspicions, but whenever she looked at Larael’s face, even she felt her own heart ache unbearably. Watching the tears rolling down Larael’s cheeks, she felt she might weep as well.

Edward, who adored Larael so dearly, could never bring himself to inflict such suffering on her.

“How do you think the Kingdom of Hashiya will respond?”

When Duke Anderman asked, the Empress Dowager answered with a calm smile.

“Our Grand Duke Vellaus will surely resolve everything well, with the appropriate compensation.”

“Your Majesty truly knows nothing of this?”

Duke Anderman lowered his voice, his narrow eyes glinting sharply. At his insinuation, the Empress Dowager suddenly struck her fan against the table.

“Mind your words. Such remarks can only invite unnecessary suspicion.”

At her cutting rebuke, Duke Anderman gave an awkward laugh and cleared his throat.

The Empress Dowager bit her lip, recalling that night.

She had witnessed Edward’s *ssault with her very own eyes. Though she had wished for his disappearance, it was one thing not to be present—and quite another to see assassins brandishing blades before her in person. There was no joy in it.

As screams rang out and chaos filled the hall, the Empress Dowager frantically searched for Herwen. She had a duty to protect her son. But unable to find him, she cowered in terror, hiding among the crowd.

At last, the imperial knights appeared, cutting down the assassins one by one. When two remaining assassins abducted Larael and vanished, she finally caught sight of Herwen, moving restlessly with unease.

[Herwen, are you hurt anywhere?]

It was as though her words never reached him. He looked nearly senseless. She shook him by the shoulders, but in the end had to hold him close, leading him out of the banquet hall and into a carriage bound for her palace.

[Herwen!!]

[…Why did they take Larael!! Those damned fools…]

At those words, the Empress Dowager felt her heart plummet into a dark abyss. Her breath caught in her throat, and she began to tremble even more violently than when the assassins had first appeared.

Inside the carriage, Herwen muttered incoherently, and the Empress Dowager’s face grew ever more pale. She brought him to his chambers. Soon after, a servant from the main palace arrived, reporting that Edward had been gravely injured and was undergoing treatment by physicians and high priests in the imperial bedchamber, while Larael’s whereabouts remained unknown.

When the servant left, Herwen furrowed his brow and covered his face.

[Herwen… was this your doing?]

[Why didn’t he die!!]

Unable to contain his fury, Herwen clawed at his own hair. Veins bulged in his eyes as he stomped the floor with furious force.

[Herwen!!!]

He turned his head, meeting the Empress Dowager’s gaze.

[What do you mean, my doing, Mother? Since His Majesty has been injured, shouldn’t you be at the main palace? As for me, I have people I must meet. I’ll take my leave.]

That was the last memory she had—Herwen’s terrifyingly expressionless face as he left the palace.

The Empress Dowager pressed her lips together. Whatever she knew, she had no choice now but to feign ignorance.

“I assisted you wholeheartedly in securing the regency, so be sure I receive my due share of magic stones.”

“Of course.”

“With this incident, it seems Duke Nox has completely turned his back on His Majesty.”

“Our Ariella is soon to become Grand Duchess Vellaus. As her father, was it not natural? That was the very reason we allied ourselves with the House of Nox.”

“That old man ranted that he would retreat to his fief and never set foot in the capital again—said this would be the last time.”

Duke Anderman’s lips curved in a crooked smile. All the better for him.

“Until His Majesty awakens, we must govern the empire well… and to do so, we must first address the matter of taxes. If the nobility are at ease, so too will the common folk be.”

At this, Duke Anderman smiled in satisfaction and nodded.

***

Kali Layton returned to the empire in haste.

Upon arriving in the capital, she headed straight for the palace.

“What on earth has happened??”

Kali rubbed her eyes at the sight of Joy in his knight’s armor and asked, blinking. Joy, instead of answering, lifted his chin proudly. When she’d read in the paper that Joy had won the swordsmanship tournament, she’d felt indifferent — but seeing him in person made it real, and an emotion she could not accept welled up inside her.

Having read that the Emperor was attacked and the Empress Consort had been kidnapped but returned safely, Kali had dropped all her engagements and hurried back to the Kazel Empire.

“Your Highness, I greet you.”

Larael received Kali not in Abella Palace but at the main palace—at Edward’s bedchamber. As Kali stepped in, she instinctively saw a figure on the bed that she assumed to be the Emperor.

Larael met Kali with a haggard face. She had allowed Kali to return when Kali asked—she needed at least one ally.

“Kali, thank you for coming.”

“Your Highness, of course. If you need me, I will come wherever you are.”

That was Kali’s honest feeling. Though Larael had vowed not to give her heart to anyone, Kali’s words oddly eased something in Larael.

“You must be tired from the journey. Go to Abella Palace and rest for now.”

Kali was about to protest and say she could start work immediately, but seeing Larael’s pitiable expression, she fell silent and agreed.

“Joy, since I was away from the Kazel Empire, I don’t know the full details.”

“So?”

“So, as one of Your Highness’s close attendants, would you explain exactly what happened?”

“You are one of Her Highness’s attendants, yes, but now that I am her sworn knight, should you not show me proper respect? Start by changing your tone.”

Kali straightened and shot him a stunned look.

“Why are you giving me that scary look?”

As Joy and Kali bickered and left the main palace, Handelson came running, out of breath — he’d rushed over as soon as he heard she’d returned after finishing knight training.

“I hadn’t heard you were back.”

Kali blushed and turned away at the sight of him.

“What’s with this atmosphere?”

Joy scowled as he looked between Kali and Handelson.

“I will escort you to Abella Palace.”

“No, Sir Handelson, I’ll take her. Kali asked me to—”

“Asked you?”

Handelson frowned at Joy. Kali quickly grabbed Handelson’s arm.

“I was to… hear from him exactly what happened.”

“Ah… then indeed it might be better coming from Joy. Could you spare some time?”

“…I don’t have anything special planned today, but…”

Joy cocked his head questioningly.

“I’m right here — you didn’t forget I exist, did you? What are you two up to?”

At his words, both turned to look at him.

The day before Kali left, Handelson had confessed to her, and Kali had promised to see him when she returned to the capital.

“I’ll come by later, then.”

“Yes…”

Kali hurried on ahead to hide the flush on her face. Joy watched her go, unaccustomed to the sight, then followed after her.

The next day, Larael returned to Abella Palace to change into a dress. Having changed, she called Kali into her chamber.

“Do you know how things stand?”

“I heard the gist from Joy yesterday.”

“Investigate and compile a list of all buildings in the capital owned by the House of Anderman, Grand Duke Vellaus, and their retainers. Also check for any recent unusual incidents at their properties—fires, closures, anything.”

“Yes.”

“I intend to stand against the House of Anderman.”