Chapter 97

“Minuelle!”

It was Theodore’s voice.

‘He’s not someone who would just show up like this after sunset.’

Just the urgent pounding on the door already felt ominous.

‘…Don’t tell me.’

Could something have happened at the Imperial Palace?

It seemed Esadien had the same thought. We stared at each other for a brief moment, frozen, then stood up at the same time.

“Please stay behind me.”

“It’s Theodore, not just anyone…”

I wondered why he was being so dramatic, but Esadien, with his longer limbs, simply said that and quickly moved to open the door. On the other side stood Theodore with a grim expression.

“Sorry to intrude.”

After apologizing to Esadien, Theodore glanced at me standing behind him and quickly relayed the situation.

“Minuelle, after a group entered the Imperial Palace, all the gates were locked.”

At that moment, a chill ran down my spine.

‘He really did it.’

I had hoped that Austin might suddenly change for the better or be possessed by someone else, but of course, no such miracle happened.

Just like how, when a deadline approaches, you wish the day had 48 hours, but it ends up feeling even shorter—

And the things you wish would never happen, always happen at the worst possible moment.

‘Right when Mom and my sister are stuck because of the monsters…’

Then a thought hit me.

‘Wait—what if the monster incident in the North was also part of his plan?’

That cunning bastard wouldn’t have missed the chance to get my mother out of the way.

Once that idea entered my head, everything started falling into place like pieces of a puzzle.

“It’s a kind of magic once used by a long-lost school. Their specialty was illusions, hallucinations, and curses.”

The carriage that tried to enchant me. The nature of the magic Brassidas had told me about.

The mages who appeared in the northern village.

“Why have you been calling knights to Roquate so frequently? Shouldn’t House Karnian be focusing all its efforts on subduing monsters at this time?”

The Ministry of Military Affairs’ personnel management team watching the movements of the Karnian knights.

If their detainment of knights was meant to provoke us and draw attention away—

If the attack on the magic gate was a plan that would work if successful and still serve to deceive us even if it failed—

If they had already sent mages in advance and provoked the monsters while we were letting our guard down after thinking we’d passed a crisis—

‘Do you think I’m just being paranoid?’

When I thought of Gabbie and asked inwardly, a warm energy brushed close, followed by a bored voice.

— You’re already basically convinced. Why are you asking?

Still, it’s human instinct to want someone else’s confirmation.

Embarrassed, I cleared my throat, and Esadien asked, “Will you allow me to go with you?”

“Of cour—”

If I hadn’t caught a glimpse of Theodore’s expression, I would’ve flatly refused.

But Theodore, seeing Esadien using honorifics, looked utterly shocked—like his eyes might pop out.

Which reminded me: yeah, Esadien was kind of unstable right now.

He did say he was on the verge of losing his mind.

Then my brain ran through a worst-case scenario like sausages linked together.

Dark Esadien breaks out, joins forces with Austin → they conquer the continent → I get locked up in a golden cage?!

“No, that can’t happen!”

No tragic endings!

Of all the probabilities, I happened to be born a golden spoon, and now I can’t even live comfortably?

Seeing my pale face, Esadien looked touched for some reason.

“You were worried about me, weren’t you, My— mmph!”

The moment I sensed he was about to say “My lady,” I slapped my hand over his mouth.

But alas, mouths are not limited to one location.

“So you were worried about His Highness, Minuelle.”

W-What are you saying?

Why do you look like ‘Well, now I can rest easy’?

“Otherwise, there’s no way you’d agree with His Highness so readily.”

I meant that going together was “of course” out of the question!

Besides, it was Austin we were dealing with, who’d been itching to tear Esadien apart.

So far, the only thing holding him back was the Emperor and the Crown Princess. But now that restraint was gone.

Still, letting Esadien truly go off the rails would be a disaster.

‘What do I do…’

As I hesitated, Esadien gently took my hand and placed it against his cheek.

“Please trust me. I promise I’ll return. I am your El.”

“T-To say you’d willingly return to such an uncomfortable, cramped place. How can you…”

“I prefer waiting for you in a cozy place I know, rather than some vast, empty space I can’t see the end of.”

It sounded like he’d been waiting for me all this time since entering here.

That thought made my chest ache.

This feeling never got any easier. I pulled my hand away and forced my tone to be stiff.

“As long as His Majesty is alive, there won’t be a need for you to return here.”

If we resolved this, everyone could go back to their rightful place:

The Emperor to his throne, Esadien to the prince’s palace, Gabbie to his spirit stone, which was practically his home.

As if reading my thoughts, Esadien tried to persuade me.

“My rightful place is by your side, My—”

“Aaack!”

I nearly shrieked as I slapped his mouth again.

I didn’t need to make anyone a traitor!

But he didn’t even flinch—he calmly kissed my palm.

“Ew!!”

What is wrong with this man?!

I quickly hid both hands behind my back, but Esadien just chuckled low.

“To be able to kiss you… I now understand one of the benefits of having a human body.”

Aaaaaagh. Where on earth did he learn to say things like that?

When our eyes met, Theodore looked like he’d seen a ghost.

I might have suspected he brought some strange book into the house, but that thought evaporated instantly.

Sigh.

I let out a deep breath and stared straight at Esadien.

We couldn’t waste any more time.

When the Emperor dies in Preseria, they send up a signal of purple smoke.

Theodore hadn’t mentioned it, so the Emperor must still be alive for now—

But there’s no telling when that madman Austin might snap.

“Fine, then.”

At my answer, Esadien’s face lit up.

“You’re accepting me?”

“I’m just bringing you because you act so confident, I thought maybe you know a shortcut.”

Even with my curt reply, the smile didn’t leave Esadien’s face.

Seeing him so happy for no reason made me want to knock him down a peg. Maybe I really was the villain here.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I haven’t forgiven you yet!”

“I know. I’ll make sure I earn it this time.”

“Good. When this is over, you’re going to stand before His Majesty and receive your punishment. If you run, I’ll use every coin in my private treasury to hunt you down to the ends of the continent.”

At my rough tone, Esadien looked slightly surprised, then returned a cotton-candy-soft smile.

“So you’d keep pursuing me even if I ran? That means you’d still care.”

“Your Highness, have you truly gone mad?”

But Esadien was as formidable as ever.

No matter how nasty I acted, not a single crack appeared in his smiling face.

“Heh. Just a joke.”

Where on earth does he find the composure to say things like that?

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.

Was this how Esadien felt when I used to relentlessly chase after him?

That mix of fluster, reluctant admiration for someone who keeps breaking down your walls,

And that strange ticklish feeling inside.

And on the other hand—

Understanding all the effort behind those steps toward you,

And knowing how disheartened it felt to be rejected.

“I’ll stay by your side even if you say you hate me now.”

As he said this, Esadien extended his little finger toward me.

Almost involuntarily, I hooked my pinky with his.

***

Taking Esadien with us, we went downstairs with Theodore.

Waiting for us was my sister, Juela.

“Minuelle.”

“Sis, you heard, right? His Highness offered to help us find a way into the Imperial Palace.”

Though she kept a calm face, her aide—who hadn’t known that Esadien was staying at our house—looked visibly startled.

Even Ramande, who was the last to come down, narrowed his eyes at the sight of Esadien standing beside me.

In the slightly awkward air, I grabbed my sister’s hand and smiled lightly as if I were just going out shopping.

“I’ll be back.”

“…Go with Ramande. Don’t stray from Sir Olce’s side.”

Maybe because of the talk we had previously, my sister accepted me heading to the Imperial Palace without resistance, even though her voice caught slightly.

“I will.”

This was everyone’s chance to return to their rightful place.

As I gripped her hand tighter from the tension, she whispered, “Do you trust him?”

It was a short question, but full of concern.

Strangely, that simple question melted away some of the tension inside me.

In thanks, I gently hugged her.

“Just one more time, I’m going to try.”

“If that’s what you choose.”

Even though she didn’t like Esadien, my sister was always on my side.

Her unwavering support steadied the nerves in my heart.

This—this was what family was.

Becoming each other’s pillars.

As I stepped away from her and headed outside, Esadien quickly fell into step beside me, speaking in a quiet voice.

“To be able to stand by your side and walk together—it feels like a dream. This must be happiness.”

“…”

Ugh. I don’t think even I was this bad back then.

It didn’t feel like time was stopping—it felt more like my entire being was curling inward.

Even the knights and aides, who had been all serious and tense a moment ago, were now glancing at Esadien like he’d eaten something weird.

I could feel my face heating up bright red, even without needing a mirror.

Unable to take it anymore, I couldn’t even yell—I just hissed softly between my teeth.

“Ugh, could you not! Just tone it down a little!”

“You wound me. Are you… embarrassed by me?”

Yes. Because you’re acting like a complete idiot!

I didn’t say it out loud, but judging by how Esadien looked at my eyes, he must’ve understood at least part of it.

After the carriage set off, he stayed completely silent, his energy visibly deflated.

Ugh, seriously…

I clicked my tongue hard in my mind.

Whether Esadien was sulking or heartbroken—at least he was quiet for now, so I tried not to let it bother me.

But my eyes kept drifting toward him.

His downcast profile looked too much like El from his darker days.