But the scene he kept seeing in his dreams, the voice he heard in that moment, continued to weigh on him. The Eternal Flame drawn from the divine beast’s power was clearly caused by her, yet why did his heart feel so unsettled?

“Well, if you prove useful, even more than that would be acceptable.”

A resolute light entered Roelia’s eyes as she heard Carlisle’s answer.

“Take me to the Astrux Empire.”

Roelia was certain. More than anything else, the knowledge she possessed was real, and she could be of help to the Emperor of the Astrux Empire.

“…….”

Under Carlisle’s steady gaze, Roelia curled her fingertips inward so he would not notice how tense they became. She spoke with conviction, yet Carlisle’s eyes did not waver.

“Hmm.”

Carlisle thought for a moment, then glanced around. He caught sight of Kuz shaking his head vigorously as if to say no, but that very reaction only served to strengthen Carlisle’s resolve.

He at least confirmed the Eternal Flame held by the Wintergrass Empire’s divine beast, so the decision was easier to make.

“All right, let’s do that.”

The words sounded casual, but their content was anything but. Not only Kuz but even Maili’s eyes went wide. Unable to raise his voice in front of Roelia, Kuz clenched his jaw and tried to dissuade Carlisle.

“But crossing the border with that person will be difficult.”

“Who said anything about crossing the border? We’re crossing the sea.”

“Pardon?”

“We’ll head west through Wintergrass and board a ship.”

His words were firm and clean, leaving Kuz with nothing more to say. The final authority rested with Carlisle. Whatever he wanted, he could do. Even if it meant putting the Astrux Empire in danger, following his will was exactly what Kuz and Maili were there to do.

“Understood.”

“Have everything ready within the day. I need us on a ship tonight without fail.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

The two went outside to carry out their orders, leaving Roelia alone with Carlisle. Carlisle was staring out the window and turned to ask Roelia a question.

“What will you do now?”

“What do you…….”

“We burned the execution grounds like that, so someone is bound to find this place.”

“Ah.”

It was burned by the divine beast’s power, so no trace of magical energy remained. Even so, there were sure to have been a few people who saw the flames shooting up from this location. If they questioned the capital’s citizens, this place would naturally come to light.

Blocking the windows with magic was only a temporary measure. Roelia’s face flushed with embarrassment. It was the first time she ever lost her reason to anger, and she pressed her lips tightly together. A wave of shame washed over her.

“It seems we need to get out of here as quickly as possible.”

Carlisle reached his conclusion without even looking at Roelia. The moment he glanced down, he realized how close he was to her. He only now noticed that he never let go of the hand he took to calm her earlier.

An inexplicable tension seized them both in an instant.

Not only Carlisle but even Roelia could not draw a full breath. Through the thin fabric of her clothing, the slender lines of her figure were felt plainly against him. The warmth coming from where their hands touched made Carlisle feel a thirst.

“I think you can let go now.”

Roelia’s fractured voice was no help at all. If anything, that voice, lowered by tension, only provoked him further. He bit down slowly on his lip and moved at a measured pace.

Carlisle’s hand drew away, yet the sensation seemed to linger, and Roelia turned her gaze aside. She cast her eyes downward, and Carlisle noticed the flush spreading across her cheeks, prompting him to clear his throat.

“It looks like we’ll need to move right away, so go ahead and change your clothes first.”

With those words, Carlisle left the room, and Roelia swayed on her feet. The warmth that rose through her left her blinking blankly. From where Carlisle’s hand touched her, a chill spread outward as her magical energy surged and swirled.

Noticing that some of her magical energy recovered, Roelia opened and closed her fist and looked down at her own hand. She regained a fair amount, but it was not yet whole.

‘I must not use magic carelessly.’

It was because of the drug Silena gave her.

To stop Silena, who fed her a drug that sent her magical energy into a runaway state in order to make her surrender it, Roelia deliberately sealed her own power. If her magical energy ran out of control, the Wintergrass capital could be in danger.

Though she was cast aside, Roelia still loved the Wintergrass Empire.

Knock knock.

After the knock, someone gently opened the door and stepped inside, and Roelia’s eyes flew wide in surprise.

“Cecil.”

“Surely not…….”

She could not believe it.

The person she thought must be dead, having not been seen in the imperial palace, was standing right before her eyes.

At first, Cecil studied Roelia’s face with an uncertain expression. So that Cecil could see for herself, Roelia called up a red flame in the palm of her hand. The moment Cecil confirmed that flame, her face filled with emotion, looking as though she might burst into tears at any second, and she stepped toward Roelia.

“My lady.”

She was a close attendant since childhood. Cecil raised her hand and wiped the reddened corners of her eyes, then dried the tears that ran down her cheeks as well.

Seeing her walk in carrying a change of clothes, Roelia went rigid. She forced apart her lips, which would not move, and barely managed to speak.

“How did you get here?”

She was more glad to see her than words could say, yet Roelia could not simply rejoice. She had to question whether this Cecil who came to her was an ally or a spy.

The door closed without a sound and they were left alone, and Cecil, noticing Roelia’s unease, whispered through her tears.

“I fled before Her Highness was captured.”

“How?”

“The young lord of House Carpes helped me.”

She had to be wary of everyone who approached her. Even with Cecil’s answer, she could not yet set aside her suspicion, but Roelia smiled with her eyes.

“You mean Maziel Carpes?”

“Yes.”

Roelia’s eyes grew still and deep.

‘He helped not only me but even my attendants to escape?’

If this fact were ever exposed to anyone, Maziel would not survive.

‘Why on earth…….’

Would he go this far? She could not understand it. What pulled Roelia out of her thoughts was Cecil’s next words.

“Your Highness, Princess Silena is connected to the late Emperor’s death.”

“I know.”

Answering Cecil, Roelia struggled to hide the desolation within her. Unable to show weakness to a subordinate who came to find her, she continued in a composed voice.

“There is nothing I can do about it right now, but since Silena has not received the divine beast’s blessing, the situation will change before long.”

“That’s right!”

Clap! Cecil brought her hands together with a sharp sound, and her voice rose a little.

“You must not let those who betrayed you go free. They killed Lena.”

Cecil stared at Roelia with wide, fierce eyes.

“Didn’t she escape with you?”

“She died at Russell Carpes’s hands.”

Moisture gathered at the corners of Cecil’s eyes. But she did not shed tears. She clenched her jaw, drew a long breath, and spoke each word clearly.

“He swung a blade at Lena to draw me out of hiding.”

Cecil explained quietly that if Maziel had not been holding her back, she too would have met her end at Russell’s blade, and sparks flew in her eyes as she spoke. Calmly helping Roelia change her clothes, Cecil whispered in a soft, steady voice.

“I trust that Your Highness will avenge her.”

But to Cecil’s words, Roelia could give no answer. Not wanting to pour the anger inside her into a few words, Roelia only smiled, cold and sharp.

“Make him suffer worse than anything I have endured.”

Cecil smiled gently, understanding what was in Roelia’s heart.

* * *

“She is certainly a reliable ally, but I am not sure whether she is good for us.”

Kuz added this to Carlisle, who was reading a report.

“When did she arrive?”

He told Kuz to bring in anyone who came looking for Roelia, but this was too late. Carlisle was suspicious of that point.

The investigation of the visitor was completed, and after a thorough identity check, she was allowed to meet Roelia. The report contained Cecil’s movements and the secretive affairs that took place within House Carpes.

“She came right after the flame appeared.”

“Then our location is certainly exposed.”

“Yes.”

Kuz added that they ought to depart at once, and Carlisle asked him a question.

“Was she followed?”

“No.”

“And House Carpes?”

“There were no signs of anyone searching for the maid.”

Kuz looked around, realized everyone was busy preparing for departure, and drew a little closer to Carlisle.

“The young lord of House Carpes has been making moves. Maziel Carpes.”

“……I see.”

Kuz stepped back a pace so as not to disturb Carlisle as he fell into thought.

‘House Carpes…….’

It was the family of Russell Carpes, who was the former Crown Prince’s betrothed. And yet someone from that family was apparently trying to help a different member of the imperial family rather than the new emperor.

“There is an internal rift within House Carpes.”

Whether it was deliberate or whether there was a conflict between the duke and the young lord, that had to be determined.

“Can you find out what is going on inside House Carpes?”

“I will look into it.”

“Good.”

Carlisle kept his eyes on the room where Roelia was. Seeing no sign of the door opening, he relaxed slightly.

“Hmm.”

Cecil was thoroughly vetted, so she could not be a spy. There was no evading Carlisle’s informants. But it did not matter. All they had to do was get out of here and board the ship.

That ship belonged to the Astrux Empire, so even the knights of the Wintergrass Empire could not search it without cause.

“One person alone cannot cause much trouble.”

Unless more than ten spies were to board the ship, perhaps.

Carlisle trusted his knights. And he trusted his own abilities. Just then, Roelia opened the door and stepped out, with Cecil following behind her. Roelia, having changed her clothes, was wearing a plain shirt and trousers.