Chapter 79

The saintess with the book—and her warning.

She had cast a great ripple into Edelis’s heart.

And yet, the saintess and her attendants continued to keep their guard up against Edelis and the knights, gradually drifting farther away. The passageways connected to several exits, so it was impossible to know which one she would take.

“Do not trouble yourself too much, Your Majesty.”

“……”

“Are you not the Empress of the Empire? Nothing untoward will happen.”

“……I suppose so?”

“And even if something did, His Majesty the Emperor would shield you.”

What on earth was the saintess trying to do?

Could it be—as Lehan once told her about the people in the prison—that she intended to kill her with poison?

But every bit of food she ate was thoroughly tested before it reached her.

Then could it be assassination, like before?

That seemed unlikely too, with the ironclad guard around Edelis.

Besides, if the saintess truly meant to kill her, doing it right here and now would have been much simpler.

‘Just what is she planning……?’

Edelis hated to admit it, but the thought still rose in her—perhaps she should have killed the saintess when the chance was there. She had been too soft, clinging to the idea that she alone would remain at Lehan’s side. But the saintess might again use someone like Berman Pasis to threaten her life. And if that happened, Edelis would be forced to live in constant unease.

‘Did she leave me alive precisely so that I would feel this dread?’

But how could that possibly count as a reason to “look forward to tomorrow”?

Lost in thought, her steps slowed. At once, Sir Ferrin urged her on.

“Your Majesty, we are falling behind. You must keep moving.”

“……Yes, I understand.”

Edelis followed Ferrin, flanked by the remaining knight.

At the front was Ferrin; behind, another knight—Edelis at the center of their protective formation. Footsteps echoed from afar, and they moved in anticipation of possible battle.

At each fork in the passage, their pursuers split up, sweeping through every route. Their numbers gradually thinned, but Edelis’s own party was small to begin with. And they could not afford any losses—no one knew how long they would need to keep fleeing. Even if they managed to slip away, the sound of pursuit was never far behind.

‘Will it feel like this for the rest of my life, unless the saintess is caught?’

At last, light could be seen shining from ahead. But from that direction too, people were entering.

“Your Majesty, I don’t think we can avoid combat.”

“Wait. Can’t you hear the clashing of armor?”

Ferrin’s nerves were taut, and he snapped irritably at the knight’s hasty speculation.

“Believers wouldn’t be wearing armor. Unless they’re holy knights.”

“……What if they are holy knights?”

“Holy knights? In the Imperial Capital? Unlikely.”

“Still—it’s not impossible.”

“Fine. If you’re right, then this will be our last conversation, so pray you’re wrong.”

“Sir Ferrin, is there no other path to another exit?”

“Unfortunately, this is a single road now. Unless—we could take advantage of the smaller group pursuing us from behind. Defeat them quickly and pass through.”

Even as they tried to form a plan, the enemy pressed closer, as though intent on encircling them. There was no time left to think. Before they could run into the large group of knights entering from ahead, they needed to flee deeper inside and open some distance.

“There may be more waiting outside. We should head inward.”

“I agree.”

Ferrin immediately extinguished his lantern.

The light had been faint, but without it, they were plunged into near-total darkness. He charged quietly forward, sword flashing toward the enemy.

“Ugh! We’re under attack!”

“Damn it, shallow strike!”

Ferrin’s sudden blow had been blocked. He raised his sword again, but just then, knights from the exit rushed in, raising lanterns high. Their light fell full upon Ferrin’s face—

“Traitor! How dare you betray His Majesty the Emperor?”

“Sir Ferrin?! Weren’t you with Her Majesty the Empress?”

“Why do you even ask that!”

Ferrin swung his blade in fury, nearly killing the man.

From behind, a commanding voice rang out.

“Her Majesty the Empress! Sir Ferrin, stay your hand!”

“Ferrin!”

It was Sir Frache’s desperate cry that snapped Edelis into awareness. She shouted Ferrin’s name, but he had already swung. By the time he tried to halt his strike, it was too late.

“Ferrin!!!!”

Edelis squeezed her eyes shut—then, hesitantly cracked one open.

At the last moment, a knight had blocked Ferrin’s sword with his sheathed blade, stopping it just short of cutting flesh.

“Haa… haa…”

“I truly thought Sir Ferrin meant to kill me.”

The knight’s voice quavered with tears. He confessed he had thought his life was over. Edelis let out a deep sigh of relief from the bottom of her heart.

“We thought you were believers chasing us.”

“The palace has been secured—we came to escort you, Your Majesty.”

“I really thought it was the end this time…”

“It’s all right now, Your Majesty.”

Edelis praised Ferrin and the knight who had stood by her.

It had been a short but grueling ordeal, and they had protected her.

To her praise, Ferrin, patting the knight he had nearly killed, smirked as usual.

“If Your Majesty means to praise us, perhaps a bonus, a promotion, or even some leave would be better.”

So soon after nearly cutting down an ally, Ferrin had returned to his irreverent manner. Edelis almost burst out laughing. Yes—that was just like him.

“Then let’s say this: in celebration of your promotion and your special allowance, I’ll grant you a holiday.”

“As expected of Your Majesty! My loyalty is yours alone.”

His exaggerated bow of gratitude nearly made her laugh aloud.

Suppressing it, she mounted her horse with Sir Frache’s assistance. It was time to return to the palace. Surely Lehan was worried sick by now.

Once Edelis was on horseback, her escort mounted as well, and they rode swiftly for the palace. On the way, she asked Frache what had happened.

“You said the situation was resolved—how?”

“The saintess has vanished. The believers are scattered.”

“The saintess—I saw her, in the underground passage.”

“…Were you harmed at all? Any injury, anything at all…?”

Frache’s anxious question made Edelis sigh.

“Sir Frache, I am unhurt. Nothing happened to me.”

“……”

“You are Lehan’s friend, and Captain of the Imperial Guard. I expect you to remember your station.”

“…Forgive me.”

“This is the second time. There won’t be a third.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

With a grim face, Frache answered. They rode the rest of the way in silence.

By the time they reached the palace, Lehan was already waiting.

Edelis leapt into his arms the moment she dismounted.

“Lehan!”

“Were you injured?”

He checked her face, her body, searching for wounds, but she only clung tighter.

“I’m not hurt. Just… hold me. For a while.”

“…Yes.”

“You’re not hurt either? I heard the enemy withdrew safely.”

“I am unhurt. Only my heart burned with worry for you.”

“It’s all right now. Truly.”

Though it had been only a brief separation, they rejoiced in their reunion. Frache watched them with a complicated expression.

Soon after, Lehan sent Frache to lead the saintess’s pursuit and returned with Edelis to the palace.

Both were exhausted; they ate an early supper and retired to bed.

Yet Edelis felt strongly that she must speak of what had happened, before morning came. Lying with her head pillowed on Lehan’s arm, she whispered: “I saw the saintess in the underground passage.”

“She was there?”

“Yes. I didn’t even know such a passage existed. But she did. That shocked me.”

“…That is a state secret.”

Lehan too was shaken. He had only learned of those passages after ascending the throne, from the former captain of the guard.

For the saintess, who had been in the capital for less than half a year, to know of them—unthinkable.

“We’ll need to build some new exits, and seal a few old ones.”

“Yes. Just in case.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, and—she told me to look forward to tomorrow. What do you suppose she meant?”

“Tomorrow…?”

“Yes. She said I should look forward to when I wake.”

At the memory of those words, Edelis’s heart pounded violently. Her stomach churned, and she nearly gagged.

“Edelis. It will be fine. Do not worry.”

“……You think so?”

“Yes. Still, I will order tighter vigilance.”

“Thank you.”

Restlessness gnawed at her. She pressed closer into Lehan’s arms.

“I know I shouldn’t, but my mind keeps wandering.”

“Edelis.”

“I said I shouldn’t, didn’t I? I don’t want to burden you with my fears.”

“Tomorrow. It will settle tomorrow.”

Yes—the tomorrow the saintess spoke of. If she could just pass that one day, this formless dread would fade.

“Once you sleep and wake, it will be all right. Pay no mind to the saintess’s words.”

“Yes.”

“The saintess has shown little of what she can do. What can she possibly accomplish?”

“You’re the only one who would dismiss her like that.”

“And she’s the only one who would dismiss my wife.”

Edelis giggled. Lehan stroked her back, urging her to sleep.

“Today was hard. Perhaps your mind is troubled from exhaustion.”

“I’ll be fine once I rest.”

“Yes. That’s wise.”

Before closing her eyes, Edelis wanted to say one more thing—perhaps because of the unease clawing at her.

“Lehan.”

“Weren’t you supposed to be resting?”

“I love you.”

“…And I love you, more than words can say.”

“I love you so much that words aren’t enough.”

Lehan’s embrace tightened. It was almost suffocating, but strangely, it steadied her heart. She listened to the fierce beat of his heart, and her fear ebbed away.

“Edelis, there’s a good way to banish such stray thoughts.”

“I’ll hear it.”

She already had a feeling what he meant.

“It’s… that thing you must be ready in your heart for.”

“Didn’t you just say you wouldn’t take advantage of my anxious state?”

“W-well, yes, but! It really does drive out every other thought!”

“How do you know that so well? Don’t tell me—”

“Don’t tell you what! What are you suspecting me of, Edelis?!”

His flustered tone was suspicious in itself.

‘Well, he is the Emperor. Once a Grand Duke’s son. Perhaps, before I became Empress, he had been with another woman.’

She could imagine it, but that didn’t mean she accepted it. If there was such a woman, perhaps she should remind him just what power an Empress truly held.

“I only know you, Edelis. I want no one else.”

“What about the ones you already knew—”

“No one! I’ve only ever loved you, you know that!”

“…Really?”

Edelis eyed him skeptically.

But in truth, part of her already trusted him. She only wanted to tease him, to see his flustered face.

“And I am—pure, untouched!”

“……”

“……”

“…Yes, I know.”

She had suspected as much, but hearing it aloud still unsettled her.

“Do you really know? If you doubt, you can check for yourself.”

“I said I know!”

“But if you check, you’ll know even better.”

“…You’re teasing me now, aren’t you?”

Lehan abruptly turned the tables, cornering her instead. Revenge, perhaps?

“Was it that obvious?”

“Painfully.”

“I thought I hid it well.”

Fine. Two could play this game.

“Lehan.”

“Yes?”

He smiled smugly, daring her to counter.

But Edelis already knew the words that would erase that confidence in an instant—words she had long prepared to say.

“Let’s check tomorrow. Whether you’re pure or not.”

“…Tomorrow?”

“Yes. I think I’ll be ready then.”

As she expected, Lehan’s face turned crimson—then his eyes changed.

She had seen that look many times. It made her swallow hard. But she had no intention of taking her words back. She had been preparing herself for this moment for a long time.