“I am Hesse Herrmann of the Herrmann ducal family.”

“I offer my greetings to Young Duchess Herrmann. I am Eloa Rumania, daughter of Count Rumania.”

“We have something urgent to discuss, so if you will excuse us.”

As though waiting for the greetings to end, no sooner had the brief exchange concluded than Eden took my hand and left.

“Dias will be waiting in the room.”

“Dame Dias?”

“Get ready.”

I knew what the ‘getting ready’ he was referring to meant.

“And you?”

“I will stall for a little more time here and then move. We will meet there.”

I left the main palace where the banquet was being held and moved without hesitation toward the detached palace. Eden had long legs and was wearing trousers so his movements were comfortable, but I was not, dressed in a heavy and cumbersome gown.

My fingertips hovered in the air, deliberating over whether to call out to him or grab his arm. Contrary to my intention to call out to him slowly, his pace quickened further, and before I knew it I had grabbed his sleeve.

“Eden, I am sorry, but could you slow down just a little.”

Before my voice had fully reached his ears, he turned to look back.

“Pardon me for a moment.”

He lifted me into his arms in the brief moment before I could say anything. I found myself in a princess carry before I knew what had happened, but having done it a few times now, it did not feel unfamiliar.

He was certainly faster walking alone than walking alongside me. His long legs moved without hesitation toward their destination, and the detached palace, which I had thought would take quite a while at my own pace, was right before us.

“Go inside.”

Eden, who had stopped in front of the room where we would be staying, opened the door for me and returned to the main palace without hesitation. Just as I was about to step inside, a familiar figure appeared in my right field of vision.

Princess Resilla?

I had only caught a glimpse, but I was certain it was the princess.

What business does the princess have in the detached palace? And without any guards at that…

I knew I needed to quickly meet Dias and go to the appointed place, but my feet would not easily move. In the end, I called out loudly for Dias and moved toward where the princess had disappeared.

“Dame Dias!”

Dias, having heard my loud voice, came running out of the room. Unable to wait for her to come out, I had already run ahead, but she quickly caught up to my running pace.

“My lady!”

“I know we need to go there now. I just need to confirm whether it is the princess!”

Turning the corner in the direction where Princess Resilla had disappeared, I caught sight of the princess’s hair. The person beside the princess was clearly wearing imperial lady-in-waiting attire, but something felt off. It was the kind of wrongness that suggested a life might be in danger.

I hurried my steps, and it was the very moment before a transparent glass bottle was about to be handed over.

“Princess Resilla!”

Throwing myself toward the princess with all my strength, the glass bottle that had failed to reach its intended recipient hung in the air for a moment before plummeting to the floor.

The fallen glass bottle shattered loudly and uselessly on the floor of the detached palace. The liquid, which had been transparent, produced a suspicious gas the moment it touched the floor and promptly turned blue.

I knew something like this would happen.

The blue gas began to emit a hazy smoke as well. Only after hiding Princess Resilla behind my arms was I able to seize the lady-in-waiting who had been with the princess.

“How dare you attempt to harm the princess within the imperial palace!”

Raising one’s voice above that of the imperial household members inside the imperial palace was not proper conduct, but there was no helping it now.

Surely a person’s life comes first.

A small hand gripping my skirt was trembling.

The princess is frightened…

It was dangerous to leave the princess alone, but if I left things as they were, the lady-in-waiting seemed likely to flee. However, staying here meant keeping Eden waiting.

As pressing as the decision that needed to be made in a short time was, my hand gripping the lady-in-waiting tightened naturally.

“My lady.”

Dias, who had noticed the imperial palace knights coming after sensing the commotion, called out urgently.

“Knock her out.”

At the long-awaited order, she did not hesitate and struck the back of the lady-in-waiting’s neck with the flat of her blade. The upper body that had been standing firm collapsed without resistance, and soon the sound of fabric rustling as she was carefully laid down followed.

I crouched down to meet the eyes of the princess who had been hiding behind my dress and gently took her hands in mine.

“Princess Resilla, the knights will be here soon. Run to them right now without hesitation.”

The princess’s hands were still trembling, but there was nothing to be done. If we encountered the knights, explaining the situation would take more time, so we had to go now.

“Do not be afraid. Every part of this imperial palace is the princess’s palace.”

I pushed Princess Resilla with all my strength. Please, may that small child not suffer too greatly.

“Dias!”

Leaving the running princess behind, I clasped Dias’s hand.

Before I could say a word, the marble Dias had produced shone with a bright light, and we arrived at the place where we had arranged to meet Eden.

Perhaps because I had not had the chance to change my clothes, I lost my balance and crumpled.

“Ah…”

Just before my bottom made acquaintance with the dirt ground, my arms were lifted by two different forces.

“Loa.”

Eden was on the right.

“Are you alright?”

And Siobhan was on the left.

“Thank you both. I am alright.”

Thanks to their support, I was able to regain my balance without falling. Eden’s gaze as he stared at me seemed to ask why I was still in the same clothes.

He had not asked, but that was how it felt.

“There were circumstances.”

“Let us go for now.”

Without releasing the hand that had been supporting me, Eden moved his steps quickly. Ordinarily I would have been the first to pull my hand away, but right now the clothes were uncomfortable, and being supported was easier.

“Where are we?”

“Valhamir.”

And where on earth is Valhamir. It is my own fault for asking.

“North, about four hours from the imperial palace.”

“Ah…”

So that is why it was cold.

“And Marquis Ter Giuo?”

“Over there.”

Before his words had even finished, the face of Ter Giuo, already looking as though he were half dead, came into view. Ter Giuo, recognizing my face, opened his mouth urgently.

“La, Lady Rumania!”

Without drawing any closer to Ter Giuo, I looked at him from a slight distance.

Ter Giuo dies today.

I was the one who had asked for him to be killed, and Eden had granted that request. Even if I could not do it myself, Eden would certainly kill him.

‘Murder.’

It was a clear and unmistakable murder.

A feeling that had not registered until moments ago wrapped itself around my entire body. The guilt of an act I had never committed before rose naturally to the tip of my chin. A nausea welled up as though my body were reacting against a feeling it had never experienced before.

The composure I was barely holding onto felt as though it would slip away the moment any tension eased. It was something I had wanted, and something I had chosen.

A cold wind blew against my cheek. The small breath I exhaled could not withstand the cold air and became a puff of vapor, disappearing almost instantly.

I will not waver.

“Marquis Ter Giuo, to think I would see you in a place like this. I am still not glad to see you.”

“I will explain everything, so please untie this.”

I drew close to Ter Giuo and lowered my head. The tone was gentle, but the content was cold.

“What is it you intend to explain? If it does not satisfy me, I will kill you without mercy.”

“It was all ordered by Marchioness Shaga!”

Shaga? Does he mean Aibel Shaga?

When I looked at Eden at Ter Giuo’s words, he gave a small nod. It meant it was true.

“Would you die if Marchioness Shaga told you to?”

“That is…”

“You tried to kill me because you did not want to die at Marchioness Shaga’s hands.”

Ter Giuo, there will be no leniency for you.

“What did Marchioness Shaga say. Did she tell you to kill me? Or the duke?”

“…Both. Both of them.”

“Why did you try to marry me?”

“That is because the young lady proposed it first!”

“Not that answer.”

I needed to hear an answer I did not already know. The true intentions of the real Eloa, which I knew nothing of.

Ter Giuo did not open his mouth as easily as I had expected.

“Dias.”

At the sound of her name, Dias drew her blade without hesitation and leveled it at Ter Giuo’s throat. Even with the blade at his neck, Ter Giuo did not open his mouth.

I had not intended to kill him just yet.

“Dame.”

At my quiet voice, she raised her sword without the slightest change in expression. The cold sound of steel rang out, and the arm holding the sword rose high.

“A, a sorcerer!”