And now, a day had passed.

Kiole had not even returned home but instead spent the night receiving extensive treatment at the Solar Palace, and now he stood here.

He wanted desperately to understand what in the world had happened, but it was impossible with his own ability. He tried expressing his doubts to the priest who had treated him, saying that something didn’t feel right, but the man simply laughed and said he was being too humble. The others were no different. If only he could meet with the Cavalry's Deputy Commander or the Empress again, he might be able to ask what was really going on—but they never showed themselves.

‘I only came to give a brief greeting before going home... so why the hell am I still here...!’

As Kiole stood there, half out of his mind, the Empress approached him.

“Sir Kiole la Diarca. I’m glad to see you’re in good health. I truly thank you for yesterday.”

Up close, the Empress was indeed identical in build and stride to the noblewoman he had seen the day before. The fact that he hadn’t realized she was the Empress, just because of a single veil, made Kiole feel like he had been tricked. He opened his mouth just slightly, feeling deceived.

“I’m sorry, but I truly have no idea what is going on.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was just passing by when I helped a noblewoman in service... and then, when those attackers appeared, I fought them... What am I supposed to make of all this?”

“Think of it positively.”

The Empress smiled and answered kindly and brightly.

“As you said, yesterday I left under disguise with my ladies-in-waiting to perform charity. It was an anonymous activity, so such precautions were natural. Then, unexpectedly, my condition worsened slightly, and I rested in the carriage. That’s when the assassins appeared. You blocked the carriage and bravely fought them. Fortunately, aside from the attackers, no one else was harmed. That is a blessing indeed.”

“......”

“—Or at least, that’s how people will remember what happened yesterday.”

“...Pardon?”

“I imagine you know... who those beasts were actually targeting yesterday.”

A cold chill ran down Kiole’s spine.

‘—Right. That’s why we found you. You little rat.’

The assassin’s mocking voice echoed once again in his mind. Kiole’s shoulders trembled as he opened and closed his mouth several times before barely squeezing out his voice.

“S-So... those guys... were really after me...?”

“......”

“You’re... lying, right?”

“What do you think?”

The Empress merely smiled serenely. Never had that fair face looked so terrifying.

‘Is... is she really Her Majesty the Empress?’

Empress Rosa Faria la Orr of the current Orr Empire had been born the daughter of a fallen noble family, little different from commoners. She was adopted into House Hern—who, at the time, had no daughters of marriageable age—by sheer luck, and then, against all odds, won the final selection for Crown Princess. That might make her sound like an ambitious woman, but in reality, most nobles perceived her as nothing more than a pitiable doll silently keeping the throne warm in the Emperor’s absence.

She attended every meeting and gathering the royal family was expected to join but had never shown any ability to command attention or sway decisions.

Passive, incompetent, clinging only to the status quo—such was the Empress.

A woman without children, without a husband by her side.

One who supposedly spent her days digging in the dirt like a commoner, growing grass instead of flowers—unbefitting of a royal.

Kiole, too, had always remembered the Empress as a colorless, flavorless woman—until now.

Had the Empress always possessed such dignity, such conviction in her eyes?

To take the lead, even before the Emperor, and seize control of the moment?

It wasn’t just the Empress who terrified him. Behind her stood the Emperor, watching with a cold smile through his glasses. Everything felt off. Everything was terrifying. It was as though overnight, the world Kiole la Diarca knew had been completely overturned.

‘What is this... What the hell is going on.’

He wanted to deny reality. But he couldn’t. Not when the assassins’ words from yesterday were burned so clearly into his memory.

Pretending not to know would not make it go away. Just like pretending not to see the monstrous Yuder Aile had done nothing to stop him from being dragged off by that creature’s hand.

Kiole squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again. He clenched his fists and forced strength into his trembling knees so he could stand straight.

“But if those bastards were really after me... who the hell is trying to kill me? I... I can’t think of anyone. And I still don’t understand why Your Majesty the Empress and the Cavalry saved me... It’s like...”

“It felt as though everyone already knew what would happen and acted accordingly, didn’t it?”

“Eek.”

Kiole was even more frightened now that the Empress had spoken aloud the very thought he hadn’t dared to finish. Seeing his eyes shake uncontrollably, the Empress raised her fan and let out a quiet laugh behind it.

“To a certain extent, that’s true.”

“...What?!”

“If not for myself and the Cavalry, you would have died yesterday. That much is certain. And we... suspected that much beforehand.”

“H-How...?”

The Empress didn’t answer that question. Instead, she smiled and dropped a cryptic remark.

“It seems you really... don’t realize just how dangerous a position you’re in right now.”

“...Pardon?”

“The blades aimed at you will only increase from now on. So do not let your guard down. You’ve become far too valuable a person to simply disappear. Thanks to Baron Aile, that is.”

“...What?”

The unexpected name brought Kiole’s mind to a screeching halt.

“It was not I, but His Majesty the Emperor who sensed the danger approaching you. Please remember that. And when you return home, I hope you think carefully about who tried to kill you—and why.”

The answer is closer than you think.

With those parting words, the Empress stepped away. To anyone watching, it would have looked like nothing more than a brief, trivial conversation.

Kiole stared in a daze at the Empress and Emperor, his mouth hanging open in shock. The Emperor, having glanced briefly at the returning Empress with a gentle gaze, now looked around and spoke.

“Well then. We’ve thanked and congratulated yesterday’s hero. Now it’s time to inform everyone about the beast who dared target the Empress. This will soon be announced publicly, but you here today deserve to hear it first.”

The soft atmosphere shifted instantly. The Emperor’s nobles didn’t take their eyes off him ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) for a second as he began to speak.

“The Cavalry spent the night interrogating the beast. As a result, it was revealed that they had gathered in Diacalion before heading to the capital.”

“Your Majesty... Diacalion, you say...”

Someone murmured the name in a pained whisper. A cold shadow passed over Emperor Keillusa’s face.

“Yes. The place where House Diarca’s private military training camp is located. There is nothing else of note there.”

“......”

Kiole felt as if the blood was draining from his entire body. If the Emperor was right, the assassins hadn’t been waiting in the capital to kill him.

They had followed him from the training camp in Diacalion.

And there was only one person who would have known that Kiole la Diarca was planning to visit the Diarca training camp yesterday.

‘Elder Brother... why...!’

Only Kiorne la Diarca.

He recalled the smile on his older brother’s face as he’d asked Kiole to visit the camp in his stead. The voice that had said it would be their little secret, so Father wouldn’t find out.

“A curious thing indeed. Why would they have gathered there? That will be the subject of continued investigation. Naturally, we intend to ask House Diarca to cooperate, as they should know that area better than anyone.”

As he said this, Emperor Keillusa turned his gaze toward Kiole. Their eyes met, and the Emperor’s expression was unreadable.

“I trust that House Diarca, home of the man who saved the Empress, is not involved in this incident. But all matters must be clarified. Don’t you agree, Lord Diarca?”

“...Y-Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I would like you to serve as the liaison between House Diarca and myself in the investigation.”

“......” 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

“Just as you bravely fought the beast yesterday, like a hero from legend—I expect more such valor from you going forward.”

This terrifying feeling, like being caught in a trap... What was it? Kiole stood frozen, unable to say no.

***

“...And so, Sir Kiole la Diarca is now leading the investigation into who ordered the attack on Her Majesty the Empress. I don’t know how much of that is true, but that’s what everyone in the capital believes.”

The report ended.

Yuder had heard many absurd things about Kiole before, but today’s news might have topped them all.

He slowly turned his head and glanced over Kishiar’s face. Unlike Yuder, who couldn’t hide his expression the entire time, Kishiar was smiling as if he were deeply moved.

“How fascinating and amusing. At least I’m glad Her Majesty was unharmed.”

“I’ve told those who remain in the capital to dig up more information. Once I hear back, I’ll report again—”

“No. There’s no need.”

Kishiar firmly shook his head.

“His Majesty will handle that. There’s no need to worry further. Focus on the other matters.”

Clearly, Kishiar hadn’t believed a single word of that report either.

‘Anyone with eyes wouldn’t.’