When there was no response, the prince soon frowned and said to Wesley.

‘…What is this? Don’t tell me you’ve threatened the Oathkeeper beforehand? To ensure they can’t escape the duke’s influence even in the capital?’

‘What are you saying? His Grace isn’t that kind of person.’

‘Then why does no one step forward or answer! Surely they would prefer staying in the Imperial Palace over the duke’s residence!’

‘The Oathkeeper has expressed their wish not to.’

‘What?! Nonsense!’

‘The Oathkeeper said they would stay outside the Imperial Capital.’

‘Do you expect me to believe that?! Has the duke detained the Oathkeeper’s family and threatened them?!’

‘Do not insult His Grace!’

‘Such insolence… How dare you, to me, a prince…!’

Finally, the prince shouted angrily and ordered the Imperial Guards.

‘Those impudent ones must be detaining the Oathkeeper! Rescue the Oathkeeper immediately!’

‘Yes!’

The Imperial Guards who received the prince’s order approached the Kramer group.

‘His Grace will come up soon! Please listen to the explanation and decide!’

‘Ha. The Kramer house’s knights are as arrogant as their master.’

The prince, seeming more heated, urged the Imperial Guards.

‘Rescue the Oathkeeper right now!’

‘Your Highness! You cannot do this! —Block them!’

‘Are you daring to defy an imperial command?! Arrest all these insolent ones!’

The Imperial Guards approached casually at first. They thought dealing with the outnumbered Kramer knights wouldn’t be difficult.

But they were soon taken aback.

The Kramer knights’ resistance was stronger than expected. Though they couldn’t draw their swords against the unarmed knights and tried to subdue them somehow, the Kramer knights, who usually dealt with demonic beasts, were quite skilled in martial arts and couldn’t be easily suppressed.

‘You useless lot!’

Seeing this, the prince burst out in anger and drew his spirit.

No matter how good their martial arts were, they were helpless against a Guardian Spirit’s power. The Kramer knights quickly shifted their focus from resistance to protecting their charges and concentrated on evasion.

Though the situation had suddenly turned into a melee, the prince soon realized he had miscalculated, thinking he could easily control the situation with his spirit’s power.

With five hooded figures, it was difficult to identify exactly who the Oathkeeper was, and because of the knights’ surprisingly skillful evasive movements, he soon lost patience.

‘You damned…!’

He wanted to order them all killed immediately, but he still had enough awareness to know he couldn’t do that.

Barely suppressing his rising anger, the prince examined the hooded figures. And soon he shouted toward Darielle.

‘That woman!’

If Prince Gillian had been an Oathkeeper, he could have clearly distinguished the energy, but unfortunately for him, as a borrower of spirits, he couldn’t make a definite distinction. But feeling some Guardian Spirit energy somewhere (Constantine had embedded Caligo’s power in the shadows for protection) and seeing Sir Wesley, the Kramer Knights’ commander, staying close by, he seemed convinced it was Darielle.

The prince launched a full attack toward Darielle.

And that’s when Constantine arrived.

“My goodness. Come this way.”

Though Darielle tried to appear composed while explaining the situation to Saena, her slightly trembling fingertips showed she was also shocked.

Saena hid her behind herself while moving as far as possible from the prince’s domain.

“I’m trying to free the Oathkeeper who is being unjustly detained! Duke! Stop restraining the Oathkeeper and release them!”

“Detained? What are you talking about?”

“Isn’t it obvious! If you haven’t captured the Oathkeeper’s weakness and threatened them, why do they remain silent? Do you think it makes sense that they wouldn’t want to be treated as an honored guest in the Imperial Capital?”

“Even if it’s the Imperial Capital, they might not want to if they dislike it. The Oathkeeper told me beforehand they wanted to stay outside the capital.”

“Ridiculous! I’ll hear directly from the Oathkeeper.”

“The Oathkeeper said they don’t want to reveal their identity until the official introduction day. This applies to you as well, Your Highness.”

“You keep spouting nonsense! Ah, surely you haven’t disobeyed the imperial command to bring the Oathkeeper?”

The prince’s eyes bulged, perhaps thinking this evasion might be because they hadn’t fulfilled the order yet.

“Ha, is that really it?!”

Constantine sighed softly and answered.

“You need not worry about that. The imperial command has been fully carried out.”

“Then why are you detaining the Oathkeeper?”

“Detention is what Your Highness is trying to do now.”

“What?! How dare you slander me!”

“It will be proven at the certification ceremony anyway, and they will be introduced at the official banquet, so I don’t understand why you’re trying so hard to make them stay in the Imperial Capital.”

“……”

“Do you have another reason?”

“…Not content with slander, now you’re trying to pin false accusations on me, Duke.”

“If not, please clear the way. The Oathkeeper will be revealed through the proper process.”

Constantine expressed his opinion to the prince in a toneless voice.

“No! I cannot trust you, Duke. You must be forcing the Oathkeeper!”

But the prince seemed unwilling to back down. He shouted aggressively.

“This is the first new Oathkeeper in 500 years. Naturally, the imperial family should protect them. Refusing this is defying the imperial command!”

The prince glared at Constantine while grinding his teeth.

“Imperial Guards! Stop this duke who defies imperial orders and bring that Oathkeeper to me immediately!”

Clang– Clang–! Though the Imperial Guards seemed to hesitate slightly, they eventually drew their swords.

‘…Constantine!’

Saena drew in her breath as the sight of dozens of knights surrounding Constantine alone looked very dangerous.

“……”

But he merely looked around slowly with a cold attitude, without any particular response. The Imperial Guard knights flinched just from meeting his gaze.

And as soon as his moving gaze stopped, a wavering form began to materialize behind the duke.

Morev had been summoned.

“You, you dare not only defy imperial orders but also draw out your Guardian Spirit?!”

Constantine didn’t answer.

Instead, Morev’s body began to grow larger.

Slowly, endlessly.

As large as a carriage, as a mansion, as high as the Imperial Palace tower.

The scene of the massive black lion’s form with its mane fluttering looking down at the knights… created an atmosphere difficult to describe in words.

“Ugh–!”

Though distant observers might find it majestic, the Imperial Guards who had to endure that gaze directly below felt the full pressure as if their bodies might be crushed in an instant.

“Clear the way.”

His low voice was extremely cold.

“Do you dare defy His Majesty the Emperor’s command!”

“Me?”

“Aren’t you now ignoring the summons bearing His Majesty’s seal?!”

“Well, I arrived in the capital within the deadline according to that command.”

“The content of the summons includes handing over the Oathkeeper to the imperial family!”

“It said ‘guide,’ not ‘hand over.’ Surely, you don’t want to arrest the Oathkeeper?”

“……”

“Or is Your Highness trying to say your command is equivalent to an imperial command?”

“……”

“While His Majesty the Emperor is clearly present.”

“……”

“Your Highness is not yet the Crown Prince.”

Constantine merely stated facts, but the prince glared at him with a chilling expression as if he had been insulted.

“The Oathkeeper has the right to decide their whereabouts according to their free will. I am merely conveying their opinion as their representative. If this proves false, I will accept punishment later.”

Though the prince ground his teeth, he couldn’t refute anymore. Though his expression suggested he wanted to tear Constantine apart right then.

“The Oathkeeper is a supreme being.”

Constantine continued slowly while reducing Morev’s size again.

“The Oathkeeper told me beforehand they don’t want to stay in the Imperial Capital, and if that’s the case, even Your Highness cannot force their movements.”

Dismissing the prince’s demon-like gaze as insignificant, Constantine cleared the surroundings.

While the Kramer house’s group completely withdrew, the prince and Imperial Guards could only watch blankly.

* * *

Since most people didn’t know about the warp gate’s existence, they were watching the Kramer house’s townhouse rather than the Imperial Palace. Then dozens of knights and several carriages entered that townhouse.

People who saw that procession scattered to spread the news.

Though the surrounding atmosphere was unusually unsettled, Saena, who had escaped from an even more chaotic situation, let out a sigh of relief as soon as she crossed the Kramer house’s townhouse main gate.

“Were you perhaps scared?”

Seeing her like that, Constantine asked with a worried expression.

“I was a bit tense but I’m fine.”

“I didn’t expect the prince to act this blatantly. It was my oversight.”

“No. Though I was surprised, I wasn’t too worried because you were there.”

I’m more wary now though, Saena added.

“Yes. It would be best not to go anywhere alone in any situation. Your security in the capital will be at the highest level. Though it may be frustrating, I hope you can bear with it.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“But you don’t need to be too anxious.”

Constantine looked directly into her eyes with a determined expression and said,

“I will use all means at my disposal to ensure not even a finger is harmed.”

How strange.

“So, don’t worry.”

Looking at his firm eyes, even the slight worry that had definitely existed seemed to melt away.

“Yes.”

Saena answered and fell into his embrace at the same time. He wrapped around her firmly. His embrace, solid to the point of being stubborn, always enveloped her with a sense of safety.

Like now.

The two who had stayed attached like that only separated when they felt the carriage stop. The carriage seemed to have arrived at the porte-cochère.

“Welcome back to the townhouse.”

As Saena alighted from the carriage with Constantine’s escort, Butler Royter greeted them formally.

“Ah, Royter. Good to see you.”

“It is an honor to serve you again, Madam.”

Not just the butler, but all the employees seemed to have come out to join the welcoming procession. Feeling slightly embarrassed by the excessive welcome, Saena stepped inside.

“Saya, go up and rest first. I’ll check on the knights’ matters first.”

“Yes.”

Constantine gathered the knights to recheck and reorganize the mansion’s security and escort system. And as soon as they arrived at the townhouse, the Kramer knights each received necessary weapons and armed themselves.

Rupert also returned to Saena’s side after selecting and strapping on a sword that fit his hand. He planned to use it temporarily until he could retrieve his weapon in Delvon.

Including Darielle, those brought for disguise were all shocked by the prince’s unexpected attack. They were assigned rooms in safe locations and each given escorts as well.

“Darielle, are you alright?”

Saena asked Darielle who had followed into the main building, still insisting on serving.

“I was a bit surprised but I’m fine. I knew His Grace would help.”

“I feel bad for bringing you here and making you see such rough things.”

“Don’t say that. It’s not like I came without knowing. I volunteered to be the decoy.”

“Still, you must have been scared. Go rest.”