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Chapter 61
Lucius scowled sharply, interrupted mid-conversation.
“How dare—”
“Your Highness.”
Tanessia stopped Lucius firmly but gently.
The knight was an informant she had placed inside the imperial palace. His urgent arrival meant something important had occurred.
“My lord, what is it?”
The knight took a deep breath before speaking.
“Calliope Verdi is requesting an audience with His Majesty!”
A little earlier…
The servant, who had been carrying Count Verdi’s letter, had run into the empress and fled the palace in a panic.
Dragging his trembling legs, he wandered aimlessly and eventually reached the palace’s outer garden.
It was a place where weary palace staff sometimes rested. Now, probably due to the bustle of work, no one was around.
He collapsed onto a shaded bench nearby.
“I survived…”
Recalling what had just happened, he shivered.
The Empress was, as expected, graceful and dignified. Every glance, movement of her hands, and tilt of her chin radiated elegance.
‘Yet… there was something chilling about her.’
Beneath that gentle smile, he sensed a hidden pit of venom he could not see.
Perhaps it was because of the rumors he had secretly heard.
‘I almost thought I’d be dead without anyone knowing…’
“Ah, so you know.”
A voice behind him made the servant startle and jump to his feet.
Recognizing the familiar face, his eyes widened.
‘The Empress’s palace knight!’
The man who had stood beside Empress Tanessia.
‘Why is he here?’
The answer came instantly.
The servant’s face turned pale as a sheet of paper.
‘He… he’s going to kill me to silence me!’
He frantically looked around, but there was no one else. Even if he screamed, no one would hear.
A chilling metallic sound of a sword being drawn echoed through the air, and in an instant, the blade pressed against his neck.
Panic-stricken, the servant flailed like a fish out of water.
“P-please… spare me!”
“I bear no personal grudge. Blame your own misfortune.”
“Eek!”
The moment the knight raised his sword high, the servant squeezed his eyes shut.
But the pain he expected didn’t come.
Clang—something dropped to the ground.
The servant swallowed hard and cautiously opened his eyes.
‘…Huh?’
He was astonished to see an unexpected figure.
“What is the meaning of this in the sacred imperial palace? Do you have nothing better to do?”
“Seventh Prince…! Ugh!”
“Such short manners?”
Seventh Prince Lerazie Dion Arenfrit smiled and tightened his grip.
The knight’s mouth opened in a painful groan as his arm was bent backward.
“Address me properly as Your Highness, the Seventh Prince. Do you think you can strut around the palace stiff-necked, calling yourself a palace knight without knowing that?”
Lerazie’s large hand mercilessly gripped the back of the knight’s head and slammed him into the ground with tremendous force.
“You… you wretch…”
The knight ground his teeth and spat insults as his face was smeared with dirt, but Lerazie ignored him.
“Yes, that’s how you bow properly. Thank me. I’m teaching you etiquette for free, aren’t I?”
He then grabbed the knight’s hair firmly, pulled him upright, and whispered in his ear:
“Listen carefully. That servant dies by your hand. Report it that way to the Empress.”
“What nonsense… ugh!”
The knight passed out from the blow to the back of his neck.
Lerazie dragged the limp knight out of sight to a hidden spot.
‘If he wants to live, he’ll invent some story.’
Reporting that he had lost the servant to the Empress would only bring trouble, so the knight would ensure his own survival.
After handling the matter cleanly, Lerazie dusted off his hands as if nothing had happened and walked away.
The servant stared at him, dumbfounded. He was young and likely new to the palace.
Such inexperienced people rarely lasted long inside the palace.
‘Better to be expelled than…’
Many disappeared without a trace. Most likely, they were dead.
Lerazie tossed out a casual remark.
“Why are you sitting there with that vacant expression? Follow me.”
“Y-your Highness?”
The servant pointed at himself, asking for confirmation.
“Is there anyone else here besides you?”
Lerazie snorted.
“If you want to die, stay here.”
“N-no!”
The servant quickly recovered and trailed after Lerazie.
“Your name.”
“R-Rodion, Your Highness!”
“Good. Rodion, you’ll work under me from now on. Your life is already forfeit, anyway.”
“Eh?”
Rodion gaped in shock. Lerazie wasn’t one for explanations.
He tersely stated:
“You’ll die anyway if you leave the palace. Follow my orders if you want to live.”
“Y-yes! Yes, Your Highness!”
Rodion was quick-witted for his age and immediately realized an important fact from Lerazie’s words.
‘So that’s why the palace staff feared the Empress so much.’
He also recognized just how lucky he had been.
Rodion swallowed hard and looked up at Lerazie.
‘Should I speak or not?’
His hesitation was brief. No matter what, the Seventh Prince had saved his life. Rodion spoke carefully.
“Y-your Highness… I have something to report. Actually, Her Majesty the Empress…”
“Intercepted the letter from Count Verdi?”
Rodion’s eyes widened in shock.
“How did you know?”
“How could I not know?”
Lerazie chuckled, recalling Calliope’s confident expression when explaining her plan.
“My… girlfriend’s rather clever.”
Before Rodion could process that, someone came running toward them.
“Your Highness!”
“Excellent timing, Aegis. Perfect as always.”
“What’s the matter now? Another incident?”
“Been a bit bored lately? Your attitude grows ever more insolent.”
Lerazie cracked his wrist with a smile, silencing Aegis instantly.
Finally, Lerazie introduced Rodion.
“This is Rodion, joining our side today. Rodion, meet my aide, Aegis.”
“P-pleased to meet you, Aegis!”
Rodion bowed politely while Aegis stared at his superior in disbelief.
“Are you really going to abduct even palace servants now?”
“Abduct? This is a legitimate recruitment.”
“Right?” Lerazie prompted Rodion.
Rodion nodded, still dazed.
Aegis rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. Lerazie said casually:
“Help me smuggle him out this time too.”
“Not everyone’s a fisherman to keep catching people like this!”
“Oh, so should I just let him die?”
This left Aegis speechless. Feeling a little aggrieved, he muttered quietly:
“You should check your own nose first…”
“I heard that.”
Finally, Aegis fell silent. Lerazie, having successfully passed Rodion off to him, turned around, looking more refreshed than before.
Waving lightly over his shoulder, he answered Aegis’s question.
“Where to now?”
“The imperial palace.”
