Monsters appear in the Codran Forest. All they needed to do was announce that Cedric and the knights wouldn’t be able to hunt monsters for a while. 

 People feared the existence of monsters, so just spreading the rumor would be enough to make them turn away. 

 When he heard my plan, Cedric wore a troubled expression. He seemed reluctant to stop the monster subjugation since the safety of his territory’s people was at stake. 

 “We’re just spreading the rumor. We’re not actually stopping the subjugation—just spreading the word that way.” 

 “People tend to be more defiant than expected. They might not believe that we’re stopping what we’ve been doing all this time.” 

 “That could be true. That’s why I’m planning to get some help from my friends.” 

 Instead of real monsters, we could just pretend to be monsters and scare people away. 

 “Leave that part to me! We need to keep Isabelle from going to the forest too, so this is the only way.” 

 Even with her ability, dealing with monsters would be difficult. She hadn’t received any sword training either. 

 “Well then, shall we begin?” 

 I flung open the window and called out to the birds floating in the sky. 

 Now it’s time for the real performance to begin. 

 ❖ ❖ ❖ 

 “Your Majesty, the snow has stopped falling.” 

 Bellado said as he placed documents on the table. He wanted to know what kind of deal Claire had made that caused things to become so quiet. 

 He took a few steps back and clasped his hands after carefully gauging the Emperor’s mood. 

 The Emperor looked up from scanning the documents and gazed out the window as he spoke. Time kept flowing, but there was no progress. 

 Nothing was satisfactory. By now, Isabelle should have been kneeling before him. 

 “…… It stopped in less than a week.” 

 The gradually subsiding snowstorm must have been Isabelle’s doing. That meant Isabelle had learned that her marriage had been called off. 

 ‘How? How did they deliver the news?’ 

 Though Claire said she would handle it, he couldn’t understand. 

 Unless they knew where Isabelle was. How did they deliver the message without knowing her location? 

 The Emperor frowned while tapping the armrest of his chair with his hand. 

 “Have you found the engineers?” 

 “We’re inquiring as much as possible. However, everyone is struggling because it’s an unfamiliar technology.” 

 Though they had obtained the sailing ship’s blueprints, implementing them was proving difficult. 

 “Tell the engineers their compensation will be doubled from the initial offer.” 

 “Understood. We’ve managed to build the frame since that was easier to obtain, but there is one issue.” 

 The Emperor tilted his head sideways and stared at Bellado. 

 “It’s not a major problem. We seem to need more magic stones than expected. Though we still have sufficient quantities…… the supply has become more difficult recently.” 

 “Pay double for the magic stones if needed.” 

 “I’ll relay that message.” 

 Even with the abundant imperial treasury, offering to pay double for expensive magic stones…… 

 Bellado couldn’t understand what the Emperor was thinking. But he stopped trying to figure it out. 

 He quickly erased his thoughts when he felt the chill from those golden eyes watching him. 

 “Keep a close eye on Narankas’s movements too. That old man won’t just let this slide.” 

 Bellado nodded. The Emperor finished reviewing the sailing ship documents and handed them to him. 

 “The completion timeline is too long. Reduce it to half a year.” 

 “I’ll do my best.” 

 “Haven’t I always said? Doing your best isn’t important. Bring results.” 

 The Emperor clicked his tongue and glared at Bellado. He bowed his head deeply at the Emperor’s gaze and composed his emotions. 

 “When do you plan to bring Isabelle before me? Bring Knight Commander Depheron.” 

 Bellado quickly left the office. The Emperor frowned at Bellado’s swift movements, which only showed at times like this. 

 ‘Recently, there’s nothing satisfactory about any of them.’ 

 The palace seemed to have grown quite lax while he focused on Isabelle and the divine beasts. The Emperor turned his head toward Clarira sitting on the sofa and asked. 

 “Your daughter seems to have grown quite a bit.” 

 “…… She has nothing to do with me, so whatever you say won’t get you anything.” 

 “How cold of you to treat your own flesh and blood this way.” 

 Clarira glared at the Emperor while biting her lip. 

 Clank. 

 When she rose from the sofa as if to charge at the Emperor, the chains binding her ankles made a loud noise. 

 “I told you to stay still. If you keep moving, it will cut into your flesh. Your body needs to be intact for when I have words with Claire.” 

 To make a deal, the payment needed to be whole. 

 “I hope I won’t have to hurt you.” 

 “…… Are you telling me to act like a mother to a child who doesn’t even feel like my daughter?” 

 “Yes, go ahead. If you’re obedient, I’ll send you right out of the imperial palace.” 

 Though whether you’ll leave alive is another matter. The Emperor added with a sneer. 

 Clarira’s expression hardened at his vicious smile. 

 “Your Majesty, Knight Commander Depheron has arrived as summoned.” 

 “Let him in.” 

 The Emperor stood up and pressed down firmly on Clarira’s shoulders. She collapsed weakly onto the sofa and lowered her eyes while turning her head away. 

 “It seems you still haven’t found Isabelle.” 

 “My deepest apologies. We’re searching our hardest but there’s no trace. We’re also looking for signs outside the Empire.” 

 “Ha!” 

 The Emperor burst out laughing. Isabelle, who had never left the Empire, going somewhere else? 

 “Nonsense.” 

 If she wasn’t in the capital, they needed to search the outskirts. Or perhaps Claire and Isabelle were working together to deceive him. 

 “Depheron. What do you think are the chances Isabelle is in the North?” 

 “…… Given how poorly things went last time she was there, I don’t think she would have gone to the North.” 

 “There are no exceptions, search the North as well.” 

 “But Your Majesty, the Grand Duke won’t stay quiet about this.” 

 The knights lost their nerve at the mere mention of Cedric’s name. Not only were they cautious, but they were also trembling inside. 

 It was pathetic beyond words. 

 “Three days. It would be best to bring her within that time. Search the entire Empire if you must.” 

 “…… I understand!” 

 Depheron tried to hide his anxious expression. 

 “Whatever the King of Narankas says, we won’t listen, so reinforce troops at the border.” 

 “Should we release the divine beasts?” 

 “If knights can’t even protect one border, they would be useless in an Empire with me.” 

 “I will ensure there are absolutely no problems!” 

 Depheron nodded vigorously with a disciplined expression. 

 ❖ ❖ ❖ 

 I pondered with my heads together with Zeno. 

 “We need to collect the holy power trees in the forest first.” 

 “Even the Emperor can’t just barge into the Grand Duke’s territory, right?” 

 “Father would do that and more.” 

 “This country is hopeless.” 

 Zeno shook his head with a sigh. 

 “Since the knights hunt monsters at night, all that’s left is for us to join forces.” 

 “I think it would be faster if I search alone.” 

 “The more people we have, the faster we can find them, right?” 

 I couldn’t agree with Zeno’s words. I thought I’d feel better if we found and hid them quickly. 

 “You mean animals, not people.” 

 “Same difference.” 

 “Master, I think I made the wrong choice in that moment.” 

 Judging by Zeno’s expression, he seemed to regret making a contract with me. 

 “We haven’t fully contracted yet, so you can back out if you want.” 

 “See? You’re always so quick to throw me away.” 

 He slumped his shoulders. When he was a wolf, I had to guess his expressions, but as a human his emotions were clearly visible. 

 “That expression won’t work on me.” 

 “Such a cold master.” 

 We glared at each other with our foreheads pressed together. As a wolf he was at least cute, but Zeno in human form wasn’t cute at all. 

 “Hey! Stop making that face!” 

 “…… Ah, are you weak to this expression? Ugh!” 

 Our touching foreheads were separated by a large hand. When Zeno and I lifted our heads simultaneously, we saw blue eyes. 

 “We’ll have to fix this animal mocking humans first.” 

 “Grand Duke.” 

 Cedric sat beside me while glaring at Zeno. Even my hair stood on end at the murderous aura rolling off him. 

 “Since my wife is so busy, I had no choice but to come find her.” 

 “I came out for a bit since you seemed tired. I was trying to coordinate with Zeno……” 

 “Coordinate?” 

 I nervously swallowed. Somehow the way he was looking at me with folded arms seemed ominous. 

 “I haven’t heard from my friend in the capital, but Father being so quiet makes me uneasy.” 

 “You think the Emperor will make a move?” 

 “Most likely. The snow has stopped, hasn’t it? Father will definitely send people to the North.” 

 If Father had cards he could play against me as Isabelle said, he wouldn’t just sit back and watch. 

 “Are you angry, Your Highness?” 

 “…… I’m not angry.” 

 Hmm. Anyone could see he was angry. The way he was firmly pressing down on Zeno’s face—wouldn’t anyone think he was angry? 

 “You are angry! You are! Why are you only like this with me!” 

 Zeno got angry at Cedric but transformed back into a wolf. 

 “Woof!” (That crazy bastard, I’ll leave claw marks on him one of these days.) 

 ‘Be patient. You’ll get kicked out of the Grand Duke’s residence first.’ 

 “Wooooo!” (How can a homeless wolf live with such sorrow!) 

 ‘That’s just how homelessness feels.’ 

 Zeno and I continued our conversation through eye contact. If we spoke out loud, that large hand would grab his muzzle. 

 Seeing his drooping tail and ears made me feel bad. I found myself feeling sympathetic and slowly nodded. 

 Suddenly everything went dark and a low voice whispered in my ear.