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CHAPTER 54
Hearing the commotion from the Imperial Palace, I returned immediately, abandoning my so-called “vacation” (really just a fake excuse), accompanied by Illia and Mullin. I smiled brightly.
“P-Princess Lilien…!”
“I noticed the palace seems quite chaotic. That’s because the mistress of this place, Yevgenia, is currently in a precarious condition, right?”
“Th-That’s not something you just casually say…!”
The woman tried to raise her voice indignantly, but Illia and Mullin shot her sharp glares from both sides. Overwhelmed, she closed her mouth.
Lilien, still smiling innocently, slowly approached Rania.
And then, I saw him.
‘Who is that…?’
A man I hadn’t seen before stood behind Lilien. He had deep navy hair and dark brown eyes—something about him felt familiar. When our eyes met, he smiled gently.
‘Who…?’
Noticing I was looking behind her, Lilien gave a faint chuckle and introduced him.
“Oh, you wouldn’t know him, Rania. He’s the one who’s going to treat Yevgenia from now on. Isn’t that wonderful?”
“W-What…?”
“I already received permission from Prince Dmitri, so there’s no need to worry. This is Orca Sorcier. The Sorcier family has served as royal physicians for generations. He’s just as talented and came with me after developing a cure for Yevgenia’s illness—’Magic Insensitivity Syndrome.’”
“A c-cure…? That means Princess Yevgenia can be saved?”
“Yes. She won’t suffer from high fevers or collapse anymore. Isn’t that better than you expected?”
“Oh my goodness… Princess Lilien! Thank you…! You didn’t abandon Princess Yevgenia after all!”
At Rania’s emotional response, Lilien nodded with a practiced, composed smile.
“Of course.”
After all, I am her sister.
The kind of sister who can offer both hope and torment.
“I’m happy to think Yevgenia will soon be running around healthy.”
Now, no one in high society would pity her for having “Magic Insensitivity Syndrome.”
“Please take good care of Yevgenia, Lord Sorcier. If you have any updates to share, it might be better to contact us through the communication stone rather than letters.”
“You fear the information may leak. Very well, Your Highness.”
After the first dose of the cure, Yevgenia began to stabilize rapidly.
Watching Rania hold her hand and cry, I turned my attention back to Orca Sorcier.
Our eyes met, and he gave a slight nod as if to say not to worry, then walked over to where Yevgenia and Rania were.
‘Even in my past life, she woke up the day after receiving the first dose.’
When she awakens, confused by the changed environment, she will likely lash out in anger.
‘I hope Grandfather sends someone to Mother’s palace before then.’
Iolde is currently detained with Baron Riverdley. Even if someone goes to Mother’s palace, they won’t see her.
Thinking deeply, I suddenly tilted my head.
‘I feel like I forgot something…’
Something about Riverdley… I was supposed to do something—
‘Are we just supposed to stand by while the people in the domain suffer…?!’
…The Hamtmek Mountains…!
“That’s right! I completely forgot about those mountains!”
Startled by my own realization, I shouted aloud, causing Illia, Mullin, and Cecil to look at me in surprise. I hurriedly broke into a run back toward the main palace.
The three, chasing after me, asked:
“Your Highness, what’s the matter?!”
“Did you forget something?!”
“You’ll trip if you run like that!”
Ignoring their voices, I rushed inside, demanding paper and a pen from Illia and Mullin.
Though puzzled, they handed me what I asked for while tilting their heads.
“What could be so urgent…?”
“Are you writing to someone important? Oh my, is it to His Majesty the Emperor?”
“Yes.”
Watching me unusually focused, Illia and Mullin exchanged glances and then sighed in resignation.
“Whenever Her Highness gets this serious, it means trouble…”
“Looks like we’ll have to keep this one from Sir Cecil too.”
They sighed, already looking weary.
I handed the finished letter to Mullin, who promptly rushed out with it.
‘Mullin’s speed is such a blessing. I’m so glad I brought him to my side early.’
With that, I asked Illia to bring me something to drink and sat alone in my room, basking in the sunlight filtering through the window.
“It’s time to start growing my personal funds.”
After all, the most basic weapon to confront the Empress… is money.
“They’re still refusing my request in Alea?”
At the Empress Dolores’s question, her shadow aide, Misha, nodded.
“Yes. The guild leader, Zed, sent word three days ago declining your request. Since then, we’ve heard nothing.”
“Why—?!”
Dolores slammed the tea table, gritting her teeth.
“Alea has always been the go-to guild for royal assassinations! And now they refuse me? Just because the target is a fledgling gaining a bit of power?!”
“I’ll try my best to get a more favorable response.”
“Not try. Make it happen!”
Scolded harshly, Misha bowed her head in shame.
‘Damn it, if only I knew which family ran the Alea Guild… I could’ve blackmailed them.’
Alea was an elusive guild known for secrecy, making it near-impossible to uncover information.
Other guilds would leave traces behind.
‘Entrusting it to Baron Riverdley was a good decision.’
Even if evidence surfaced, she could pin it all on him and stay clear of suspicion.
And even if she didn’t… who would dare accuse the Empress?
Dolores suddenly stood.
“Prepare for an outing.”
“Are you heading to the gardens?”
“No. I’m going to meet the head of Alea myself.”
“That’s dangerous. If His Majesty finds out—”
“And if he does? What, is he going to do something to me?”
Dolores sneered.
“It’s fine. That man can never lay a finger on me. Not as long as he remembers whose lives are in my hands.”
Donning a red cloak, she strode out of the Empress’s palace—
Unaware that the leader of the Alea Guild was already watching.
“Shouldn’t we take the Empress’s request, Commander?”
Zed, no—Jeron—replied with a cold smile.
“Why should I?”
“If she had asked us to protect the First Princess, I’d have accepted. But she wants her dead.”
He shrugged.
“It’s better to shut down the guild for a while. No requests, complete seclusion.”
“There’ll be backlash—from the ones relying on our name, not nobles. Didn’t you say you’d give them the legal right to kill?”
“Then let them. Shift their assignments to other branches for now.”
Most underground guilds were under Jeron’s control anyway. Alea wasn’t essential.
He vanished from the palace, moving quickly through the trees. His subordinate, Shadren, followed.
“Do you… really have feelings for the First Princess?”
“What do you think?”
“Hmm… You zone out sometimes…”
“Because of her?”
“And sometimes smile so weirdly it gives me goosebumps…”
“What can I say? I get happy just thinking of her.”
“You punch walls too. Broke guild furniture.”
“You haven’t seen it. That time she coldly rejected some guy from the… Lote? Lokt? family—it was glorious. I’ll never forget her face.”
Shadren gave him a long, exhausted look.
“You’re creepy.”
“Call it pure love.”
Jeron laughed.
Soon, he arrived near the East Palace where the First Princess was unexpectedly out for a stroll. Jeron hid quickly.
So did Shadren, who grumbled when Jeron kicked his shin.
“Get lost. You’re wearing her out.”
“She’s not a glass ornament…”
“She is. I can’t take my eyes off her.”
“Then fine. I’ll go deal with the Empress matter. Don’t overstay. If you get caught, the royal family’s mad dog will finish you off.”
And with that, Shadren fled, exhausted.
Jeron, a master of concealment, shrank back further as he saw Lilien smiling in the sunlight.
One maid handed her a flower.
“This suits you perfectly, Princess.”
“I think it would look lovely on you too, Illia.”
“Oh, I’m not very flowery…”
“Nonsense. You’re lovely too, right, Mullin?”
The violet-haired maid nodded.
“Well, I suppose it would suit her.”
“See? I told you.”
“A-Anyway, the color fits Your Highness’s hair better.”
“Hm…”
Lilien looked at her own hair, and the maids continued their lighthearted flower contest.
“I don’t think I’m that special, though.”
At that small murmur, Jeron frowned.
She looked thinner than before. Her cheeks pale.
‘One of her maids reportedly died… Is that why?’
Her right cheek seemed flushed. …Wait, just one?
‘When you have a fever, don’t both cheeks get red?’
But only one was reddened—almost like she’d been slapped.
Jeron’s thoughts turned to the Empress.
Judging by how her maids treated her, they would never harm her.
That left only one person with motive and power: the Empress.
‘She’s abusing a child now? That repulsive witch…’
Jeron’s expression twisted as he stared at Lilien’s cheek, then turned away.
‘I wanted to surprise her today… I’ll postpone it.’
He had to evacuate all guild members and dispose of the building—since the Empress was coming.
He glanced back at Lilien and murmured:
“Next time, I hope you’ll say something sweet to me too.”
And just like that, he vanished—leaving nothing but the wind behind.
“What’s wrong, Your Highness?”
“…Nothing.”
I thought I saw someone over there.
‘It sounded like Jeron’s voice, didn’t it…?’
“Cecil, did you hear anything?”
“Hear? Just the wind, Your Highness.”
“No voices?”
“No. I didn’t sense anyone either.”
“…?”
Maybe I imagined it.
As if Jeron could sneak into the heart of the Imperial Palace… I must be overworked.
I tapped my stiff shoulders and returned to the palace with Cecil, leaving Illia and Mullin behind to continue flower-hunting.
I collapsed into a chair and asked:
“How’s the Empress’s movement?”
“Word is she went out on a scouting mission.”
“No one knows where?”
“No, just that she had ‘a place to visit.’”
She’s gone to find Alea.
Royalty have always hated threats from within their own bloodlines. They tried to kill them. Make them disappear.
Alea was their weapon of choice—an assassination guild so stealthy, even most knights couldn’t detect them.
‘Even Cecil might not…’
Still, just in case… Should I stockpile magical tools and artifacts?
Groaning at the thought, Cecil approached, sensing my dilemma.
“Are you concerned about the Empress seeking out Alea?”
“Yes.”
“Then I may know someone who possesses excellent weapons.”
“Who?”
“His Highness, Prince Dmitri.”
“…Prince Dmitri…?”
“Yes. Since he’s constantly under threat, he’s collected powerful tools and artifacts.”
…Right…
But would he, a man who only cares for Yevgenia, really give them to me…?
“Take as many as you like.”
He would.
And every single one was top-of-the-line.
I stared at Dmitri with more fear than confusion.
‘Something’s wrong with Prince Dmitri…’
Just like the Emperor, has his mind snapped too?
