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chapter 47
A bundle of documents flew out of the window of the imperial council chamber.
Even before the Emperor and Empress arrived, the ministers’ opinions were sharply divided.
“This is an unmistakable act of treason! Does it make any sense that a kidnapping occurred inside the sacred palace in broad daylight?”
“According to the First Princess Consort’s report about the appearance of a black hole, it would be more accurate to call it a disappearance rather than a kidnapping. Please refrain from reckless statements that could cause confusion.”
“And who is it that spreads confusion by speaking as if the unverified claims of a young princess consort are true? If uncertain facts leak out, the authority of the royal family will collapse.”
“Have you not even considered the thoughts of the princesses trembling in fear?”
“Appealing to emotions is the easiest form of persuasion. Honestly, aren’t you just scared of who will be held accountable?”
“How dare you speak such insolence!”
As the chaos turned into a battle over responsibility, voices clashed.
The shouts criticizing the guards’ mistakes, the warnings against leaking information, and the attempts to avoid responsibility all blended together, causing the situation to spiral out of control.
And then.
“Eve did nothing wrong. She didn’t even have her staff at the time. Someone had to survive to report what happened, and also…”
Alone in an empty room, Eve Maria trembled with extreme anxiety, curling up in fear.
After the princesses and Levieta were dragged into the rift,
Eve Maria, without even a moment to savor the fortune of having survived, was caught by a patrolling guard.
Even a little investigation into the princesses’ schedules would reveal that she had been with them, so any clumsy lie would be worse than the truth.
But she couldn’t tell the whole truth.
Eve Maria reported only the facts about the rift, leaving out any testimony that would incriminate her.
“Don’t come back. You mustn’t come back…”
If only the princesses had disappeared, she might not have felt this anxious.
It was Levieta’s presence that shook Eve Maria’s heart.
A deep shadow fell over Eve Maria’s eyes.
Temporary commander Gilbert gave instructions to the members of the hastily assembled search party.
“Search everywhere.”
His voice was unusually sharp for Gilbert.
The palace garden was trampled underfoot, furniture was overturned or split in two.
The soldiers searched the royal garden as if digging it up entirely.
Yet they couldn’t find a single strand of the princess’s hair, and the search party was on the verge of turning from disciplined soldiers into rioters.
Looking over the ruined garden, Gilbert let out a deep sigh.
“Hah.”
“Sir Gilbert.”
Although she had to repeat what she had said before, she reported faithfully.
“We haven’t found any clues yet.”
“…”
Rosinante, head bowed, clenched his fists. A restrained sorrow flickered in his deep blue eyes.
“…Thank you for letting me know. I’ll look elsewhere.”
Every place Levieta might be, every trace of her presence—they might, just maybe, lead to her appearance.
He wished she would suddenly appear like magic and tease him as if it were a joke, and he would forgive her.
As Rosinante walked away from Gilbert, passing the corridor he had walked with her, an overwhelming sense of anxiety suddenly hit him.
“What if she never comes back?”
The depths of his emotions deepened endlessly. The gentle breeze of affection had turned into a storm of obsession.
Rosinante feared losing Levieta. No despair in the world could surpass this.
The one who had always worried about gaining now worried about losing. Levieta was the first happiness granted to the lowly youngest prince who had nothing.
Was it because he had been intoxicated by the sweet happiness he had tasted for the first time? He had even forgotten the misery of being at the bottom of the hierarchy.
“Even though the world would never allow me such happiness…”
A flash of crimson caught Rosinante’s eyes as he brooded.
Red eyes. A sign of a royal awakening their power.
Darker and more vivid than Diego’s red, it was the power of “absolute dominion” the Emperor had longed for.
The dangerous red glow sought an opportunity to strike from the shadows of the darkened corridor.
Rosinante clenched his fists over his chest.
“I should have hidden you so no one could take you away.”
If he had controlled a room, it would be in the room.
If he had controlled the palace, it would be in the palace.
If he had controlled the world, she would have been locked away in it.
“Shadow.”
Rosinante stopped abruptly and turned his head.
Where his gaze landed, the Empire’s spy, Shadow, stood.
Leaning against a pillar without making a sound, Shadow looked noble, like a shadow that had lost its owner.
“Where is Levieta?”
“…”
“Answer me. You know everything.”
“She went into the rift in time and space to save the princesses. We cannot meet her from this side, so praying to God for her return is all we can do.”
“I don’t believe in God.”
“Then believe in her.”
Rosinante glared at Shadow. His eyes were fierce enough to tear the other apart, yet no curse escaped his lips. Royal etiquette instilled over many years restrained him.
“Believe in her?”
Ridiculous. There hasn’t been a moment I haven’t believed!
Unable to contain his boiling anger, Rosinante struck the wall with his fist. He felt as though he could endure any sacrifice, as long as Levieta returned safely.
“Please believe in me!”
Lyla held the left, Iris and Adeline held the right, trying to lift the rock blocking the entrance to the cave.
Rather than strength, their bony arms were most noticeable, making the decision to roll up their sleeves a poor choice.
We were standing in front of the cave’s opening.
With only a small rock in the way, the final boss battle could start immediately, and the princesses excitedly placed their hands on the stone.
“Is the final boss really in here?”
ZeroDines had informed us that a strong aura in the cave belonged to the area’s master.
He had said they could move the rock easily, but the princesses seemed determined to try it themselves.
Please…
I exhaled deeply.
“You’ll ruin your delicate hands. Step back and I’ll use magic to move it—”
“You must conserve your strength, princess, to defeat the enemies inside.”
Even using magic alongside their strength would leave them with extra power.
I gave up trying to reason with them and waited for the refined princesses to tire.
But born as princesses and raised like royal weeds, they were resilient even if lacking in strength.
“This reminds me of childhood.”
“It’s been so long since the three of us worked together.”
I hadn’t known of their shared memories, yet laughter bloomed among them.
“Ready, sisters? One, two!”
They exerted all their strength, and something amazing happened.
“The rock moved…?”
Finally, they succeeded in moving it, raising their arms and cheering with joy.
“We did it! We did it with our own strength…!”
But suddenly, the three princesses collapsed to the ground.
“Princesses?”
I panicked and checked their condition.
Fortunately, they were alive, having simply fallen asleep from exhaustion.
“Make it easier to move. ZeroDin.”
—Easier to move? That’s it.
Using ZeroDines’ magic, the princesses became adorable dolls.
“Soft…”
I squished the tiny doll hands, and ZeroDines chuckled.
—Surprisingly childish taste?
“Better than a cruel hobby of teasing others.”
—I don’t worry about that. I won’t play pranks on just anyone.
Pouting instead of replying, I hugged the dolls close.
“Excuse me for a moment, princesses.”
Though small, three of them filled my arms. Curling up, I entered the cave through the opening the princesses had cleared.
Inside was a straight path—no risk of getting lost.
Following it, I reached a hall reminiscent of a castle lobby.
“Huh?”
Why is there a child here?
I approached cautiously, seeing a boy asleep against the wall.
His black hair and handsome face came into view up close.
He seemed my age, and his fine clothes suggested a noble. Yet no attendants were around.
I shook his shoulder gently.
“Hey. Now’s not the time to sleep. Wake up quickly.”
