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Chapter 13
Inside the detached palace.
Lilia, now officially a lady-in-waiting, delivered the news that had arrived from the main palace to Evelyn.
“…And so, an order has come down to prepare everything with special care. But, Your Highness, what exactly is a Prey Competition?”
Her face was filled with confusion.
“Isn’t four days from now supposed to be the day of the execution? I heard they were going to punish the captured rebels…”
“That’s right.”
At that moment, the door opened and Morian returned from an errand.
“Your Highness, I brought some desserts.”
“Perfect timing. Both of you, sit down.”
Normally, Evelyn kept Mori at arm’s length.
But this time, she wanted to explain the same thing to both women.
She still didn’t fully trust Mori, but she wanted her to know the kind of person she was serving.
“I only happened to overhear this at the main palace recently.”
In truth, she had seen it in her previous life.
But that hardly mattered.
“It’s confidential, so don’t speak of it until the day of the event.”
The two women nodded.
“The Prey Competition is an execution event the Head Attendant created for Her Majesty.”
“An… event?”
Execution.
Event.
The two words did not belong together.
Curiosity shone in both their eyes.
Yet as Evelyn continued speaking, their expressions slowly transformed into horror.
“They make people do something like that?”
“That’s even possible?”
“Yes. They use aura-based brainwashing.”
“The Head Attendant can use aura too? And brainwashing? I’ve never heard of anything like that!”
At Mori’s shocked voice, Evelyn let out a mocking laugh.
“That’s the power of the Emperor.”
“People who receive a Blessing can forcibly push their aura to its absolute limit.”
“In the Head Attendant’s case, he originally couldn’t awaken aura at all, so his ability developed in a rather unusual direction.”
“…”
Neither woman could find any words to respond.
Evelyn continued calmly.
“At first, everyone will be horrified by how cruel the event is.”
“But the moment they hear the prize money, their eyes will light up.”
“I won’t stop either of you if you decide to place bets.”
“However…”
Her green eyes darkened as she gazed through the window toward the arena still undergoing its final preparations.
“At least while you’re still capable of rational thought, I wanted you to understand exactly what kind of ‘event’ it is.”
* * *
Four days later.
The gates of the Imperial Palace, which had remained tightly shut since the coronation, were finally opened.
Word spread that anyone could attend the event.
As a result, not only nobles but commoners from throughout the capital poured into the palace.
“They’re even allowing commoners inside… What could Her Majesty be thinking?”
“I heard this event was entirely planned by Baron Hopnagen, the Head Attendant.”
“Oh my. Then was it also his idea to transform the Grand Banquet Hall like this?”
“That’s right. They say he personally supervised everything.”
“Oh my…”
The Grand Banquet Hall, usually reserved for debutante balls and victory celebrations, had been completely transformed into a massive arena.
The nobles seated in the stands looked around in admiration.
The spectator area consisted of two levels.
The first floor, closest to the arena, was reserved for invited nobles.
The second floor housed the fortunate commoners who had secured seats first.
Though status still determined seating arrangements, everyone shared the same expression:
Excitement.
“I heard there was supposed to be an execution.”
“So they say. Maybe the new Emperor is actually generous if she’s even letting people like us attend.”
“I heard she even allowed her half-sister to live in the detached palace.”
The commoners could barely contain their excitement.
True, the entire palace hadn’t been opened to them.
But even this much felt incredible.
For a moment, they felt like special people.
Smiles spread across countless faces.
Yet unlike the noisy surroundings, the area in the center of the first floor remained shrouded in silence.
“…”
Princess Evelyn.
Her attendants Morian and Lilia.
Dark shadows lingered across all three faces.
Not a single word passed between them.
Sitting upright, Evelyn was breathtakingly beautiful.
The fitted green silk dress emphasized her slender waist.
Blue flowers embroidered along the hem evoked the arrival of spring.
The square neckline highlighted her elegant collarbones and graceful shoulders.
Seated closest to the royal viewing area was Robert.
Leaning toward her, he spoke.
“Your Highness, you look absolutely beautiful today.”
“…”
“Even this lovely spring weather pales in comparison.”
His lips curved.
“Did you dress up like this just for me?”
“As if.”
Evelyn finally turned her gaze away from the empty arena and looked at him.
Robert lounged casually with one leg crossed over the other.
“I’m concerned you may have developed delusions.”
“Perhaps you should ask Her Majesty to grant you some rest.”
“Pfft.”
Robert shrugged.
“Well, that’s fine.”
“There’s plenty of time ahead of us.”
Ever since revealing his true nature, Robert had stopped hiding his shameless behavior.
I only wanted to peel away that fake mask of his.
If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve left it alone.
Evelyn silently sighed at her own poor judgment.
“Wouldn’t you agree, Your Highness?”
“…”
Robert’s eyes slowly traveled up and down her figure.
The sticky sensation of his gaze made her skin crawl.
Disgust twisted her stomach.
She decided to ignore him completely.
“Your Highness? Can’t hear me?”
“…”
“Haha… I see.”
A soft laugh escaped him.
Covering part of his mouth, he muttered:
“You really are entertaining.”
Even more entertaining than I imagined.
He leaned in until he was almost in front of her.
Evelyn’s brows immediately furrowed.
“The more you act like this, the more interested I become.”
“Are you deliberately trying to lure me in?”
“Do you lack the ability to learn?”
“Or is your head made of stone?”
“Ha!”
Robert finally burst into loud laughter.
Covering his eyes with his long fingers, he chuckled for several moments before speaking again.
“We’ll see.”
Once Evelyn stopped responding, Robert quietly leaned back into his own seat.
At that moment, a massive drum sounded throughout the arena.
Boom!
“Everyone, show proper respect!”
The noisy crowd instantly fell silent.
A voice echoed through the stadium.
“May endless glory shine upon the Empire!”
“Her Imperial Majesty, Emperor Mary Ares Strovana, now enters!”
Cheers erupted.
Mary appeared through the previously sealed entrance.
A crown shining like the sun.
A crimson cape trailing across the floor.
The bored expression that only a ruler could wear.
Everything about her suited the highest seat in the Empire.
“My goodness! That’s the Emperor!”
“They say she awakened the Strovana Blessing!”
“She even treats people like us as human beings. She’ll surely become a great ruler!”
Because Mary had never appeared in the square during her coronation, using portraits of the late Emperor and Empress Blair as an excuse, this was the first time most commoners had ever seen her.
The effect was overwhelming.
Praise for Mary echoed from every direction.
Soon the conversation shifted to Wilcock.
“Wasn’t Baron Hopnagen the one who exposed House Epister?”
“I heard they tried to seize the throne immediately after the late Emperor died.”
“Then doesn’t that make him one of Her Majesty’s greatest supporters?”
“That’s probably why she keeps him so close.”
“You’re right! He’s going to become one of the most powerful people in the Empire.”
“Tch.”
A click of the tongue came from Robert.
Unlike before, he now sat properly upright.
His expression was noticeably sour.
After making a full circuit of the arena, Mary finally arrived behind Evelyn.
The gilded imperial throne stood out from every angle.
“I greet Your Majesty.”
Before she sat down, everyone nearby rose and bowed.
The nobles moved first.
The commoners hurriedly followed.
More than a hundred people bowed toward a single figure.
The sight was magnificent.
For the first time, a change appeared on Mary’s indifferent face.
Her scarlet lips curved into a satisfied smile.
She surveyed the crowd before taking her seat.
Only then did everyone sit back down.
“Your Majesty, we will begin the event.”
Mary gave a small nod.
The Head Attendant stepped forward to the railing.
His amplified voice rang throughout the circular arena.
“From this moment onward, the Prey Competition shall begin.”
The mystery of the event was finally about to be revealed.
Eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“First, let us offer our gratitude to the Sun of the Empire, Her Imperial Majesty Mary Ares Strovana.”
“All events today will be interactive and involve audience participation.”
“As you entered, each of you received a sheet of paper, did you not?”
Evelyn lowered her gaze.
On the white paper were five numbered boxes.
Behind her, the faces of Morian and Lilia were filled with unease.
