57. Where Did It Come From? (2)

It was definitely related to Herwen. The thought that this was Herwen’s doing made Larael feel as if her heart was being squeezed. Her breathing grew shallow.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

The high priest, who had been pouring divine power into her, briefly stopped the treatment out of concern for Larael’s condition.

He could feel the murderous aura radiating from behind him. Unconsciously, cold sweat formed on his brow, and he asked in a trembling voice. If anything happened to Larael, he felt he might die on the spot.

His fingertips began to tremble. All his nerves focused on Larael’s lips, silently praying that she would say she was alright.

“I’m fine. I just shuddered because a frightening memory suddenly came to mind.”

The high priest let out a sigh of relief.

“In that case, I’ll continue the treatment.”

Larael nodded and forced a smile as she looked up at Edward.

Edward, as if to reassure her, gave her a slight smile in return, but at the same time he ran a rough hand through his blond hair, which had fallen over his forehead. He was deeply displeased that something had happened that could become a trauma for her.

After Larael’s treatment was finished, Edward sat on the sofa to have his own minor wounds treated. Larael hugged her knees, watching Edward’s treatment with unfocused eyes.

‘How did a monster get in?’

It was impossible to enter this place by ordinary means. The area was protected by a magical barrier. Especially before the Emperor’s visit, the wizards personally inspected the summer palace.

‘There was a wizard who helped the Duke of Anderman, wasn’t there? Which organization was he from?’

Larael recalled a wizard associated with the Duke of Anderman before her regression. If that wizard belonged to the Magic Tower and was one of those who inspected the palace before the Emperor’s arrival, then he was likely the one who hid the monster in the forest.

“Your Majesty, the Tower Master has arrived.”

Trix entered the bedroom again. Edward ordered his treatment to be stopped. His wounds weren’t serious, and meeting the Tower Master was more urgent right now.

“Your Majesty, may I accompany you?”

“No, Larael. Rest.”

Edward didn’t want Larael to see him working, especially when he was angry. He knew well what others called him and didn’t intend to deny it, but he didn’t want to show that side to Larael.

“I really am alright. And I want to be by your side. I’ll only feel at ease if I’m with you.”

Edward hesitated for a moment. Larael said she could only feel at ease with him, and he couldn’t ignore the earnest look in her eyes. In the end, he nodded.

Tower Master Ferma was anxiously waiting for the Emperor in the drawing room.

She had received a brief report on the situation from Trix through the communication stone. As soon as she heard the news, she dropped everything and rushed to the summer palace. Nora was with her. Ferma’s face was pale as she wrung her hands.

When Edward entered the drawing room with Larael, Ferma let out a small sigh of relief. With Larael present, she hoped she wouldn’t have to witness the Emperor’s true nature. Larael greeted Ferma and Nora with a nod.

“Your Majesty the Emperor…”

“Ferma. Explain this situation immediately.”

Edward walked past Ferma and Nora, who were bowing, and sat down on the sofa in the drawing room. From the moment he entered, the atmosphere in the room became oppressively heavy.

“During the final inspection, the forest was definitely clean.”

“This could have cost both the Empress and me our lives. You know how grave the crime of regicide is.”

At those words, Nora, who had been bowing her head, looked up at Larael. Larael sat beside Edward, listening quietly with an expressionless face.

“Submit the full list of wizards who came for the inspection and those who know the location of this place. I will question them myself after returning to the imperial palace.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ferma answered obediently. She had no complaints about Edward’s orders. This was clearly their fault. If such a massive Fenrir had been hiding in the forest, there was no way they would have missed it. She didn’t want to suspect her own people, but it was so clearly the Tower’s fault that she couldn’t pretend not to see it. Ultimately, it was her own negligence as the one in charge.

“Your Majesty, are you hurt anywhere?”

At Ferma’s inquiry, Edward shot her a cold glare. Sensing his dangerous look, Larael gripped Edward’s hand tightly.

Edward turned to look at Larael. The gaze he gave her was completely different from the sharp look he’d just given Ferma—gentle and affectionate.

Ferma felt as if there was an invisible wall between the Emperor and Empress Consort and herself. The atmosphere between them and the others was completely different.

Edward, who had been smiling softly at Larael, suddenly changed his expression and looked at Ferma, nodding in response to her question about his well-being.

“Is Her Highness the Empress Consort alright?”

“Yes. I was treated by the high priest… His Majesty came out in the middle of his treatment.”

“Then shouldn’t His Majesty go back and finish his treatment?”

When Ferma met Edward’s eyes, she quickly avoided his gaze. Edward snorted, knowing exactly why she said that. She was taking advantage of Larael’s presence to avoid being scolded as usual.

“We’ll be leaving the summer palace immediately. Submit the complete list and conduct your own internal investigation if you have any suspicions. Whether the monster was deliberately released or entered due to the Tower’s negligence, you will not escape responsibility.”

Edward spoke slowly, barely containing his anger.

Ferma swallowed hard. She knew him well, having watched him since his first battle.

She was deeply grateful that Larael was present. She looked at Larael with eyes full of gratitude. Sensing Ferma’s gaze, Larael looked back at her, about to say something, but then closed her mouth and turned away.

“Edward, shouldn’t you finish your treatment before leaving?”

Hearing Larael call his name, Edward’s expression changed dramatically. The murderous look in his eyes softened into something mild and gentle, like a puppy. He couldn’t take his eyes off Larael, as if waiting for her command.

“Trix, please escort His Majesty upstairs.”

“Yes…”

Trix, still dazed from hearing Larael call the Emperor by name, answered in a dazed voice, surprised by the force in Larael’s command. It was the first time Larael had ever given him a direct order.

“Your Majesty, I’ll speak with Nora for a moment before I go. It won’t take long.”

Edward looked between Larael and Nora, then nodded and left the drawing room with Trix. He remembered having eaten the meat pie Nora had given Larael. Since he knew about Larael’s relationship with Nora, he accepted her words without question.

As soon as Edward left the drawing room, Larael’s smiling face immediately went blank.

Larael turned her head and gazed at the sunlight streaming through the large window for a while.

“Your Highness, is there something you want to say to us?”

“For such a bad thing to happen, isn’t it ironically such a beautiful day?”

“Yes, it is.”

“I actually never liked sunny days like this. My feelings show too clearly on my face.”

“Your Highness, are you really alright?”

Thinking Larael was rambling, Nora asked with a worried expression, wondering if Larael had perhaps hurt her head.

In truth, from the moment she saw Larael in the drawing room, Nora hadn’t even noticed Edward. She was only concerned about Larael.

“Yes, I really am fine. Thanks to the high priest, my wounds have all healed. Only the mental shock still torments me…”

Larael smiled lightly, as if joking. But Nora, who had asked the question, couldn’t bring herself to smile in return.

“When the Tower investigates this incident… could you look into whether any of the wizards have even the slightest connection to the Duke of Anderman? Even the smallest interaction is fine. And since this is my personal request, could you be sure to let me know?”