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Chapter : 04
After the scrolls deflected the poisoned arrows, additional knights immediately rushed in.
“Pursue them! There aren’t many of them!”
As the knights charged forward, the attackers disappeared into the crowd.
But the scene remained chaotic. It had to be.
This was the first attack targeting the Crown Prince—everyone was naturally shaken.
“No way… are they insane? Attacking His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Who’s behind this? Do they not fear the retaliation of the Dragon People…?”
Voices of shock and confusion spread everywhere.
Most people assumed it was the reckless act of a mad group. After all, Kiaros was completely unharmed.
Because of me…
I swayed slightly as I thought.
The magic stored in the scrolls had been completely exhausted, and blank sheets that had lost their magic circles fluttered down around me like snow.
It was difficult to stop this attack originally.
In the original story, the Crown Prince—who was supposed to be so powerful—dies here due to an unexpected second Dark Period.
After that, the Empress also passes away, and the Emperor—who had been away from the capital—returns to power, only to die within a year.
It’s classified, but the Emperor’s illness makes his death anytime plausible.
Left alone, the youngest prince—the child protagonist—is only eight years old.
Thus, the Polaris Imperial Family collapses, and the continent is plunged into war.
And now, I had changed the original story by saving the Crown Prince.
“I told you to stay at your post!”
While I was feeling quietly satisfied with myself, the White Knight commander shouted at the three knights who had left their positions.
“What happens if you all rush out the moment enemies appear? Showing yourselves like that is an obvious decoy!”
The root cause of this situation was simple: the escort knights had no real combat experience.
How could knights who had never truly fought properly be expected to protect a Dragon-blooded Crown Prince?
“If Lady Namia from the Magic Department hadn’t been here, we would have been in serious trouble!”
“…It’s Namia…”
Casting scroll magic also required mana. I had already pushed my mana to its limit.
Even while swaying unsteadily, I corrected him weakly.
“…It’s the Scroll Management Department, not the Magic Department…”
Before me, a pair of sharp crimson eyes suddenly appeared.
It was Crown Prince Kiaros.
Even after facing an unexpected second Dark Period, which must have shocked him more than anyone, his expression remained unchanged. The aura of a cold, absolute ruler still surrounded him.
“Defensive scrolls… I was told there were six yesterday.”
He must have seen the report last night.
And he remembered even the number of scrolls no one else cared about.
Wow… that’s the level of detail we don’t have in our department.
Truly meticulous.
His gaze swept over the snow-like pile of scroll remnants around me, then returned to me.
“How many were there exactly?”
Even while answering, my vision blurred and my mind grew hazy.
I didn’t sleep at all last night making these, and I exhausted every drop of my mana.
Honestly, fainting was the only thing left to do.
But I still needed to make my contribution while I was conscious.
“…172 scrolls.”
That was all I managed to say before collapsing.
I expected to hit the ground—but instead, it was warm.
“…Huh?”
Blinking slowly, I saw his face.
Wow.
Am I… being held by the Crown Prince right now?
He’s quite well-built.
I could hear him speaking, but it was faint and unclear.
Still, he looked unharmed. That was enough.
I barely moved my lips and whispered:
“I’m really… glad you’re safe…”
Then, with a faint, almost manic smile, I added:
“I really… truly… desperately wanted to protect you.”
And then I lost consciousness completely.
Meanwhile
After returning to the imperial palace, Kiaros immediately began investigating the attackers.
There was no doubt—they had been targeting him specifically.
They know internal imperial matters… this is more serious than expected.
Planning an attack against a Dragon-blooded royal was no ordinary matter.
The timing with the Dark Period is suspicious as well.
If not for the sudden Dark Period, he would have eliminated them before they even fired the arrows.
If they predicted even my second Dark Period… then they are not ordinary. But is that even possible? It’s as if they knew the future…
He immediately began researching the so-called “second Dark Period.”
There had only been one case in history—founding Emperor of Polaris—and no one since then.
We never prepared for it because it was considered impossible.
Just in case, he decided to keep his Dark Period confidential.
He showed no outward reaction, but even breathing felt suffocating.
Records say the second Dark Period is identical to the first.
If so, he would regain his power in six months.
While he was deep in thought, the White Knight commander approached and bowed.
“We deeply apologize. Here is the disciplinary list.”
The list included the three knights who had rushed out against orders, as well as the commander himself for failing to maintain formation.
“Hmm.”
Kiaros muttered darkly.
“I was also careless. There is nothing more to say.”
“And regarding the Scroll—no, the Scroll Planning—no… I apologize. Regarding the Scroll Management Department Inventory Team member Namia…”
“Give it to me.”
At the mention of her name, Kiaros took the report from the stammering commander.
Second daughter of Baron House Roapi, age 23.
Member of the Imperial Knights’ Scroll Management Department Inventory Team for 3 years and 7 months.
Her twin brother, Juan Roapi, also works in the imperial civil service in the Finance Department.
One line caught his attention.
Top scorer of the 54th Imperial Academy entrance exam?
But:
- Average grades during academy years: low
- Graduation exam: low rank
- Civil service exam: low rank
- Assigned to the lowest-tier Scroll Management Department
“Hm.”
Among the fluttering scrolls like falling snow, her blue eyes had looked clear and bright.
He had thought they were dull—empty, unfocused.
But still…
[Ah, yes.]
That flat, lifeless voice was still vivid in his memory.
Was that really the same person who cast 172 scrolls and recited laws flawlessly?
[Because I really wanted to protect you.]
Why did that voice sound so sincere?
She was a strange woman.
[Really… truly… desperately.]
At that moment, it had even felt a little unsettling.
Kiaros lowered his gaze and asked quietly:
“Is Namia Roapi still unconscious?”
“Yes. According to the medical department, she will likely wake up tomorrow.”
After she collapsed, Luca from the Medical Department immediately treated her.
[She overused her mana. Severe fatigue as well. She will recover after rest.]
[She is my benefactor. Take care of her until she wakes.]
[Her nutrition seems poor… should we administer IV fluids?]
[Use all the IV fluids in the palace if needed.]
Kiaros fell into thought.
Poor nutrition? Her salary shouldn’t be low… why?
Her twin brother even worked in the Finance Department, one of the most important divisions.
“Baron House Roapi… where is that?”
“Just a minor noble house, nothing noteworthy.”
“Is that so? Are they struggling financially?”
“I’m not sure, but it doesn’t seem like it. They have a decent estate in the capital, and both twins are imperial officials…”
The empire was a prosperous place. It was rare—even among commoners—for a woman to be malnourished.
Kiaros frowned.
