Erin opened her eyes. She couldn’t believe she had lost consciousness while monsters still remained, leaving Ferdin behind. She tried to rise quickly, but some unknown force held her down. Erin realized it was magic restraining her.

‘Who used magic on me?’

As her dulled senses gradually returned, she detected someone’s presence. Erin turned her head toward the source.

“You’ve awakened earlier than expected.”

She frowned at the man addressing her. It was the same man who had come to the palace underground with Ferdin. She remembered seeing Lilia scolding him.

“Who are you?”

“My name is Alexis.”

Alexis introduced himself with an exaggerated bow.

“The Tower Master…?”

Alexis responded dismissively. “Well, it’s nothing special, but that’s one of my roles.”

Erin regarded him with cautious eyes. The Empire’s Tower Master Alexis was rumored to rarely leave the Magic Tower unless commanded by the Emperor.

‘Why was he with Prince Ferdin?’

Erin tried to rise again, wanting to find Ferdin.

“Please don’t get up. It would be better for you to rest a while longer.”

Despite his reassuring words, Erin’s eyes darted around anxiously.

“Is Prince Ferdin alright? Since I collapsed before eliminating all the monsters…”

“Such modesty is unnecessary. Thanks to you dispatching most of the monsters, we were able to handle the rest quickly. No one was injured in the process, so please don’t worry.”

Alexis observed Erin quietly. He had already decided in his heart that Ferdin would be the next Emperor. Though his alliance with the Second Prince was recent, Alexis could tell that Ferdin seemed to care deeply for Erin. Years of magical training had honed his perceptiveness beyond that of ordinary people.

Inwardly, Alexis was relieved that she was on their side. She had single-handedly devastated the underground palace area teeming with high-grade monsters. Recalling the scene sent chills down his spine.

‘The number of monsters was terrifying… and she faced them alone.’

Taking on a horde of high-grade monsters solo would be impossible even for someone like him who had awakened to the world’s truths. Alexis realized that Erin was fundamentally different from others.

‘Strange. Her fate… seems twisted.’

He had an odd certainty that Erin had lived far longer than her appearance suggested.

‘That would explain her extraordinary strength.’

With this thought, Alexis smiled at Erin—a smile so gentle it would have shocked Lilia. Like a true mage who could perceive essences, he vaguely understood what kind of destiny this knight before him had weathered.

“What happened to Ditrion?”

“Don’t worry. We’ve confined him where he belongs.”

Erin sighed with relief at Alexis’s words. Fortunately, it seemed Ditrion hadn’t escaped. But her face hardened at what came next.

“The Emperor and Corelia were nowhere to be found—they’ve already fled. It’s unfortunate, but no matter. Once the temple acknowledges that black magic was used in the imperial palace, capturing them will be just a matter of time.”

“…”

“Ah, Prince Ferdin is coming.”

Saying this, Alexis smiled mischievously. “He hasn’t left your bedside all day while you were resting.”

Erin’s face reddened at Alexis’s sudden remark.

“I’m glad to see you two get along so well. Quite contrary to what people have been saying. You’ll be getting married soon, I presume?”

“…?”

“Aren’t you planning to marry?”

“Marriage?”

Erin had never even imagined it. Marriage with Ferdin? Of course, she liked him, and he had confessed his feelings for her, but she had been so focused on immediate concerns that she hadn’t thought about that future.

Her surprise was momentary. Erin quickly regained her composure and considered what lay ahead.

‘There are still matters to resolve. The Emperor and Corelia, the central figures behind everything, have escaped.’

Erin clutched the blanket. Just then, as Alexis had said, Ferdin opened the door and entered. He looked surprised when he saw Erin.

“Lady Erin? You’re awake… Are you in pain somewhere?”

Her face still bore traces of redness from Alexis’s question. Erin shook her head slightly.

Ferdin turned toward Alexis, who merely shrugged his shoulders in feigned ignorance. Ferdin quickly approached Erin and placed his hand on her forehead to check her condition. He exhaled in relief.

“Thank goodness. I was worried when you didn’t wake for so long.”

Ferdin carefully took her hand while speaking. Even during his conversation with Ditrion, he had been anxious about Erin, finding it difficult to remain calm.

Alexis pretended not to notice and looked away. He would have preferred to leave them alone, but he had matters to discuss with Ferdin.

‘Well now, I seem to have become the tactless one.’

Alexis carefully approached Ferdin and said, “I just finished communicating with the temple. They plan to announce that the Emperor and First Prince used black magic once the temple’s certification is complete.”

“Yes, that seems best. But before that… just a moment.”

Ferdin fell into thought at Alexis’s words. There was much to do before revealing everything to the public.

‘The nobles will come to the palace. Some will side with Father.’

It was difficult to believe the Emperor had orchestrated everything alone. They needed to identify everyone involved in this affair. The Empire without its Emperor would fall into great confusion. Such a leadership vacuum couldn’t be allowed to persist.

They would need to identify nobles loyal to the Emperor, and with approval from the temple, Magic Tower, and the Council of Elder Nobles, prepare for Ferdin’s ascension to the throne.

‘We must widely announce that Lady Erin is a Sword Master and expose the Emperor and Corelia’s atrocities. Though revealing the complete truth immediately might be impossible…’

Ferdin looked at Erin.

‘Duke Asili and Marquis Liserth will surely provide great support.’

He continued his train of thought. What choice would the Emperor make in this situation? Would he step down willingly? No, why hadn’t they found the Emperor in the palace to begin with?

Ferdin’s face contorted. Struck by a sudden thought, he looked at Alexis.

“Marquis Liserth is in danger. My father isn’t one to leave those who defy him unscathed.”

“…”

“From the moment Corelia’s identity was exposed, he would have planned to eliminate House Liserth.”

“…”

“Alexis, please prepare spatial teleportation magic.”

“You think the Emperor will go to the Liserth mansion?”

“Yes, I’m certain.”

“Eliminating the marquis’s house that defied him first… That sounds just like him.”

The Emperor might have anticipated even this thought of his. Perhaps he hadn’t gone to the marquis’s mansion at all. But Ferdin didn’t want to leave even the slightest dangerous possibility for Erin’s sake.

Alexis nodded grimly at Ferdin’s words.

* * *

Just as Corelia had predicted, she met the Emperor at a mansion near the Liserth estate.

‘He’s the type who must return any slight he suffers…’

He would have planned to create his knights while simultaneously destroying Marquis Liserth. But surprisingly, the Emperor’s expression seemed calm.

‘He must know everything that’s happened, being mentally connected to the monsters…’

Sure enough, the Emperor asked Corelia, “Report in detail what happened at the palace, Corelia.”

Corelia began reporting everything that had transpired—how Duke Asili and Erin had dispatched all the monsters in the palace, and how Ditrion had been taken hostage.

The Emperor’s face twisted demonically upon hearing her words.

“Erin Liserth… I should have killed that child long ago. The same goes for Duke Asili. I knew he would bare his teeth against me someday.”

“…”

“I won’t let any of them be.”

“But Your Majesty, Prince Ditrion has been taken hostage. If we move rashly in this situation…”

The Emperor’s face hardened at Corelia’s words.

“Forget Ditrion.”

“Then…”

“If he stands in my way, there’s nothing to be done. I can always create another child someday.”

Truly an Emperor-like thought, Corelia mused. He was someone who could discard even his beloved son for his own safety.

“Will you go to the Liserth mansion?”

“That was my original plan.”

“…”

“But what would Ferdin think? He’s a cunning one. He might have read my intentions.”

The Emperor fell into contemplation with those words. He had always been prepared to face Duke Asili. But for all plans to succeed, the attack needed to come from a position of perfect strength. He needed even stronger monsters.

“We’re going to Atenz Academy.”

“Your Majesty?”

“There are plenty of excellent sacrifices there. It’s where the most talented individuals in the Empire gather.”

“…”

“Go there ahead of me, Corelia.”

With a few experiments after raiding the academy, they could create even stronger monsters. The Emperor looked at Corelia, his gleaming eyes swirling with intense bloodlust. Though Corelia knew the bloodlust wasn’t directed at her, she still felt chills run down her spine.

The Emperor handed Corelia a mana stone.

“Take this in case of emergency.”

“…”

“If you encounter a Sword Master, consume this and face them. With your level of skill, it should be sufficient.”

Corelia silently accepted the mana stone he offered and stared at it intently.