Entering the imperial palace wasn’t difficult. The knights guarding the entrance naturally opened the gates upon the appearance of Duke Asili.

Erin concealed herself behind the Duke, her entire body hidden beneath a robe.

One of the imperial knights approached her as she stood there looking undeniably suspicious.

He assumed the Duke’s sudden visit at this late hour was due to news that the Marquis’s private soldiers had mobilized.

“Your Grace, Marquis Liserth’s troops have reportedly arrived in the capital.”

“…”

“If you give the order…”

“They haven’t come to fight us.”

“Pardon?”

“Take no action until I command otherwise.”

The knight wore a bewildered expression at Duke Asili’s words.

Word had spread throughout the palace that Erin Liserth was a Sword Master. The Marquis’s innocence meant he had nearly died because of false accusations.

If such a man had mobilized his troops, their objective seemed obvious.

Yet the Duke ordered them to do nothing? Nevertheless, in the Emperor’s absence, the word of Duke Asili, a Sword Master, was absolute.

Duke Asili walked past the dumbfounded knights.

Then he proceeded directly into the palace.

“You’re surely aware that the underground entrance to the palace isn’t the only one.”

“…”

“You and I will act separately. The First Knight Order moves with a minimum of five members.”

The Duke said this while looking at Erin.

“I assume you’re already familiar with the special magic protecting the palace?”

“I am.”

Protective magic shields the imperial family within the palace.

Ancient spells activate against anyone attempting to harm the imperial family.

The magic is powerful enough to restrict the movements of those who would harm the imperial family, or in serious cases, cause death.

“Though unlikely, if you encounter the Emperor or Ditrion, avoid confronting them. I’m concerned for your safety.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

Duke Asili placed his hand on Erin’s shoulder at her response.

Whenever he looked at Erin, he was reminded of the Princess. The Duke spoke to Erin with sincere feeling.

“Be careful, Lady Erin.”

With those words, Duke Asili disappeared. The First Knight Order likewise bowed to Erin before dispersing.

Erin, who had been walking quickly, stopped. She removed her robe and slowly raised her head. The palace spire came into view.

At that moment, her eyes met someone else’s.

‘So that’s where you are.’

Erin’s eyes narrowed. She deliberately suppressed her desire to head straight for the spire.

There were more important matters at hand right now.

* * *

Corelia awoke from her sleep. Beads of cold sweat had formed on her forehead.

Despite moving from the palace underground to the spire through Ditrion’s consideration, her sleep had been troubled. She approached the window with a shawl draped over her shoulders.

From the spire, she gazed down at the palace grounds. She had been feeling a strange sense of discomfort.

Her eyes caught sight of someone wearing a suspicious robe.

‘Who is that?’

Corelia frowned. Just then, an urgent voice of a knight came from outside.

“Lady Corelia! I have urgent news!”

“Enter.”

The person who opened the door was one of the Emperor’s personal knights.

He was also one of the few who knew Corelia’s true identity.

“The Marquis’s private soldiers have surrounded the palace. They’re stationed at every entrance.”

“Has Marquis Liserth finally gone mad? Is he committing treason?”

It was utterly unbelievable.

Corelia knew Marquis Liserth well. Hadn’t she observed him closely for over a decade?

The Marquis Liserth she knew wasn’t the type to commit treason.

“Strangely, they aren’t attacking. They’re simply positioned in formation before the palace.”

“What about His Highness Ditrion? What orders has he given?”

“He merely said he would check on the monsters’ condition and went underground.”

Corelia clutched her head at those words.

“Of all times for His Majesty to be away…”

The Emperor had left the palace days ago, leaving behind a puppet of himself.

He enjoyed personally finding knights to serve him and subjugating them with black magic.

“What should we do?”

“Leave them be. Prince Ditrion will likely handle the situation.”

The knight looked perplexed at Corelia’s response.

“His Highness?”

It wouldn’t be easy for a prince with no experience in such matters to resolve this alone. But Corelia nodded dismissively.

“This might actually be fortunate.”

Ditrion regularly visited the palace underground to experiment on monsters.

Though not as skilled as the Emperor, he knew how to use black magic.

The Marquis’s soldiers would make excellent test subjects for trying out newly created monsters.

Corelia muttered with a furrowed brow.

“Foolish to the end.”

She turned her gaze back to the window. The robed figure had stopped in place.

Corelia suddenly thought this situation felt familiar.

Long ago… though in a different place, she had dreamed of a similar situation.

‘Was it when Erin returned from the monster subjugation?’

A dream where Erin, wielding her sword, looked up and met her eyes.

‘It was an unpleasant dream.’

Just as she thought this.

She saw the robed figure remove their hood. Gripped by inexplicable tension, she clutched the windowsill tightly with both hands.

Corelia froze at the sight of the familiar face.

“Erin…?”

Her eyes met Erin’s. Corelia felt her heart begin to pound heavily.

But when she blinked, Erin’s figure instantly vanished.

Corelia’s pupils began to tremble uncontrollably.

She turned to the bewildered knight watching her and asked.

“Did you see any strangers around while coming here?”

The knight tilted his head and answered.

“No, I didn’t see anyone. Was someone there?”

Corelia released her grip on the windowsill and clutched her shawl.

‘Did I see something that wasn’t there?’

Since returning to the palace, she had been having frequent nightmares for no reason.

Perhaps her weakened state was causing her to see things.

Corelia couldn’t tear her eyes away from where Erin had disappeared.

* * *

Erin made her way to the palace corridor she had seen through the power of the necklace.

She noticed several knights guarding the door leading underground.

With her robe pulled over her, Erin approached them.

“Who—”

Her hand struck the knights’ napes. After easily rendering them unconscious, Erin opened the door to the underground.

The space leading to the stairway emanated an unsettling aura just by looking at it. Despite the instinctive discomfort rising within her, Erin moved without hesitation.

Erin ran along the path she had seen when drawn by that strange power. Before long, she discovered someone. And beside him, monsters.

The monsters were docile, seemingly obeying the commands of the person before them.

“Ditrion.”

At Erin’s call, Ditrion slowly turned his head. He was genuinely surprised by her sudden appearance behind him.

Ditrion stared at Erin with narrowed eyes.

Without hesitation, Erin removed her hood.

“How did you…”

Ditrion laughed mirthlessly. He couldn’t believe she was standing before him.

“How did you know to find this place?”

Erin responded only with a cold stare at Ditrion.

When she didn’t answer, Ditrion’s face crumpled with displeasure.

“Why aren’t you answering? I asked how you knew to come here.”

Erin tilted her head to the side and asked Ditrion.

“Why are you here yourself?”

Ditrion remained silent.

He looked at Erin standing before him. A sword was in her hand.

“Right, you became a Sword Master.”

Ditrion recalled what Erin had once said to him.

‘Did you say you’d be waiting?’

He had thought then that she was putting on airs that amounted to nothing.

Her threatening him while trapped in a prison made of mana control stones had seemed merely amusing.

But now that he knew her abilities, he could no longer dismiss her words so lightly.

‘But this is the imperial palace.’

Ditrion coolly assessed the situation. Given that they were in the palace, Erin couldn’t easily attack him.

“Erin, my offer still stands.”

“…”

“We’re creating a new world. A world filled with strong, useful people. There, you can have anything you desire. So put down your sword and don’t do anything foolish. I don’t want to fight you.”

Ditrion was confident.

He looked behind him. He wasn’t the only one there. Countless monsters filled the palace underground.

The palace location and the monsters gave him confidence.

“I don’t want to hurt you either.”

Erin stared into Ditrion’s eyes at his words.

“You don’t want to hurt me?”

“That’s right.”

“Why?”

At Erin’s question, Ditrion moved closer to her. He recalled the emotions he felt after learning she was a Sword Master.

“I told you before. Choose me, not Ferdin. Why do you think I said that? I like you, Erin.”

Ditrion said this with a smile. He continued.

“I’ve thought about my feelings, and it seems I’ve fallen for you.”

Erin’s face contorted mercilessly at his words.

“No, you’re wrong. That’s not love.”

“…”

“I don’t particularly want to continue this conversation, so just answer my question, Ditrion.”

Ditrion took a step back. Erin’s sword was right at his throat.

The blue blade moved close enough to sever Ditrion’s neck at any moment.

“What were you planning to do with these monsters?”