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Chapter 25
Kai?! Why are you here?!
To meet a man she had thought she would never see again—inside the Imperial Palace, of all places.
And just like her, Kaiserten’s eyes widened as well.
I’ve never seen this face before… so why does she feel so similar to Hena?
Roabellin and Lily, seeing him dressed casually with a sword at his side and no escort, did not realize he was the Emperor. Still, sensing that he was someone of high rank due to his unusual gaze and overwhelming presence—and the fact that he was not wearing a uniform—they bowed their heads first.
Kaiserten quickly composed his expression and asked in a low, growling voice,
“You. Where did you hear such nonsense?”
But Roabellin could not even think of answering and bowed her head even deeper. Though her face had been altered, she was afraid he might recognize her.
Kaiserten reached out, gripping her chin and lifting her face. Startled, Roabellin met his eyes for a split second before hastily averting her gaze and replying,
“I—I just… heard it as a rumor going around. I’m sorry. I won’t ever speak so carelessly again.”
Yet Kaiserten did not release her chin. He stared at her intently before speaking.
“That is completely false.”
“Ah—yes, a false rumor… Huh? You mean His Majesty isn’t a eunuch? Gasp—!”
Realizing what had just come out of her mouth, Roabellin panicked and clamped her lips shut. Kaiserten frowned slightly and finally released her face.
“What—don’t you believe me?”
“N-no! I believe you!! I’ll never say anything like that anywhere again!!”
Only then did Kaiserten realize what he was doing—explaining such a thing to a mere palace worker—and a sigh escaped him naturally.
“Hah… You may go.”
“Yes, thank you!”
Roabellin and Lily answered hurriedly, bowing deeply before quickly leaving the area. Kaiserten stared after them for a moment with an incredulous expression, then muttered with a sigh,
“If kids are already spreading nonsense like that inside the palace… maybe that’s how it reached Hena’s ears too.”
Saying Hena’s name out loud only made him miss her more. Then suddenly, something bothered him.
That girl just now… she felt familiar. I’m sure I’ve seen her somewhere before.
***
On a drizzly evening, Estina—cloaked in a black robe—knocked on the door of a modest townhouse. A young woman’s voice came from inside.
“Who is it?”
Estina replied in a near-whisper,
“I’m someone who made an appointment with the Baroness.”
After a moment, the door opened quietly.
“Welcome, miss. It’s raining—you must have had a hard time coming all this way.”
The maid spoke softly as well, ushering her inside. As Estina removed her robe and handed it over, a noblewoman emerged to greet her. Her expression was bright, but her voice remained low.
“Estina! Come in.”
Estina’s face lit up as she turned toward her.
“Aunt!”
“I’m so glad to see you again, looking healthy. I was overjoyed when I heard you were coming.”
At the time of the family’s annihilation, Estina had been classified as a collateral relative, and her mother had already passed away long before. Thanks to that, her maternal family had been spared from the attacks that extended even to the collateral branches of the Hertenes family.
Even so, unsure of when they might incur the king’s displeasure, the Hilfer baronial family no longer played an active role in the capital and instead lived quietly on their estate.
Over dinner, Estina spoke with her aunt and uncle.
“How is the royal palace these days?”
“Much the same as ever. His Highness the Prince has come of age and married, so he’s handling more state affairs. His Majesty the King seems… somewhat drained.”
“And how do the nobles view Prince Skark?”
“You know his temperament. It hasn’t changed much since childhood.”
The incident where Roabellin had nearly come to harm at Skark’s hands was known to every noble in Aventador—though no one dared speak of it openly.
“…Does he abuse those beneath him? And even Her Highness the Princess Consort?”
“I’ve heard such rumors. It’s outrageous—but given his nature, it’s hardly surprising.”
Estina let out a quiet sigh. She even felt relieved that Roabellin had not ended up in such a position.
“Oh—has there been any news of the Princess Consort’s pregnancy?”
At Estina’s casual question, the Baroness sighed.
“Not yet. And in truth… there are rumors that His Highness has taken his way with every beautiful palace woman, and that he rarely even shares a bed with the Princess Consort.”
“How obscene…”
“They say the Princess Consort, raised so delicately in a noble household, cries every day.”
It seemed there was nothing particularly unusual happening in the Aventador royal palace. Estina shifted to the real reason she had come.
“Aunt. About that day… all signs point to the royal family’s involvement. But we need undeniable proof. That’s why I’m here.”
Baron Hilfer asked,
“Beyond the duchy being absorbed as royal property, and the lack of a proper investigation—have you noticed anything else?”
Estina nodded lightly at her uncle’s question.
“The mages I saw that day may not have been mages at all—but priests. They only used binding magic to obstruct our knights. Perhaps they couldn’t use killing magic because they were priests. If so, it’s possible the Queen Consort, head of the Central Temple, intervened and mobilized them.”
“That’s a plausible theory. Using divine power to aid murder—how is that any different from killing magic? If priests truly did that, Domina Dor would surely punish them severely.”
The baron sighed.
“Yes. It’s not certain yet. That’s why I want to go to the Central Temple and the archives to see if there are any records from that day.”
“Then how do you plan to enter the royal palace?”
At that, Estina looked toward the Baroness.
“I want to enter as a maid using my aunt’s letter of recommendation. Of course, I’ll use an alias and a false identity. I prepared one back when I entered the magic academy.”
The Baroness’s eyes widened.
“Still—wouldn’t it be too dangerous for you to go in alone? With my recommendation, you wouldn’t even be assigned to a comfortable post…”
The current Hilfer baronial family held little influence. Any maid entering with their recommendation would be sent to an insignificant post to do menial labor. Estina, with her different purpose, didn’t mind at all.
“That’s fine. And my divine power is enough to protect myself. Please don’t worry too much.”
“Estina…”
The Baroness clasped Estina’s hand warmly, her expression a mix of worry and pride.
Two days later, Estina arrived at the Aventador royal palace with her face altered. As she stepped through the palace gates, her heart pounded with half excitement, half fear.
Entering the royal palace again… this is the first time since that day, when I was seven.
The last time Estina had visited the palace was several months before Roabellin was born. Still a direct daughter of the Hoo family, she had entered with her parents to pay respects to the royal family.
At the time, the Queen had passed away from illness years earlier, and no new queen or concubine had been taken. Only the King and the Prince resided in the palace. King Ieric warmly welcomed the ducal family and introduced Estina to his son.
“Iskal, this is the daughter of the Hoo family—destined to become your future partner. You met as infants, so you likely don’t remember.”
Though Iskal had heard much about Estina, meeting her in person still took his breath away.
Even before we were born… she was my destiny.
Silky platinum-blond hair, jewel-like violet eyes, fair skin, and rosy cheeks like apples. Iskal fell for Estina at first sight.
Prompted by his father, Iskal and Estina walked through the garden together. Iskal was a refined, handsome boy with light ash-brown hair and blue eyes—though his earlobes were inexplicably red. Estina greeted him with a lovely smile.
“Nice to meet you, Your Highness.”
With cheeks slightly flushed, Iskal replied,
“Hi, Estina. You don’t have to call me ‘Your Highness.’ You can just call me Kal.”
His casual tone made Estina’s eyes widen.
“What? But I was taught to call a prince ‘Your Highness,’ not by name.”
Blushing further, Iskal chose his words carefully.
“Uh… normally, yes. But, um… we’re supposed to get married when we grow up. S-so it’s fine. You can call me Kal. Or, if that feels awkward, Kal—Your Highness…”
Though he was only stating a predetermined future, the word marriage felt embarrassingly heavy coming from an eight-year-old’s mouth. Iskal’s ears turned bright red.
At his words, Estina stared at him with curious, wide eyes. Then, as if something suddenly occurred to her, she murmured,
“Uh… to get married… you need to get engaged first.”
Unlike commoners, she had been taught that engagement was a natural and necessary step. Iskal immediately replied,
“But we’re already decided to get married.”
Estina’s expression turned serious.
“They said you can’t get married unless you’re engaged.”
Afraid she might say Then I can’t marry you! and turn away, Iskal panicked. He quickly grabbed her wrist.
“We’re going to marry when we’re grown up, right? So before that, I’ll propose and we’ll get engaged! I’ll grow a bit more—no, next time you enter the palace, I’ll propose then!!”
At that, Estina smiled shyly, while Iskal, embarrassed by his own words, stared off in another direction for a long time.
But for them, there was no “next time.”
