Chapter 84
“Who are you?”
Despite Daisy’s attempt to stop him, Everett stepped closer to the front door and asked quietly.
“I need to ask you something. Open the door.”
“You can ask from there. I can hear you just fine without opening it.”
At that moment, silence as heavy as death fell, followed by a short curse seeping through the crack in the door.
Bang—!
The man suddenly started kicking the door.
Startled, Everett retreated with Daisy, and after several loud crashes, the worn-out door gave way without resistance.
A rough-looking man strode inside.
“Well now, if you’d opened the door when I asked, I wouldn’t have had to break it.”
He brushed wood splinters from his trousers and muttered.
Everett’s gaze swiftly scanned the man’s appearance.
He wore ordinary clothes, but his posture revealed the training of a swordsman.
A knight.
She tilted her head slightly, peering into the darkness beyond the doorway to check if anyone else was outside.
Daisy, however, couldn’t understand Everett’s composure.
A strange man had broken in at night, shattering their door, yet Everett remained calm.
Her own body trembled uncontrollably; her legs felt weak, and she just wanted to collapse.
The man raised his head and looked at Everett.
“Come with me, Lady Gronji.”
“Visiting a noble at this hour without protocol is already rude enough, yet you went so far as to break down the door.”
“You should’ve opened it, then.”
From his calm reaction, Everett was now certain the man was a knight from the imperial palace.
Fear began to crawl up inside her, but she clenched her teeth so he wouldn’t notice.
Then she stepped closer to him.
“Judging by you… you’re a knight from the palace, aren’t you?”
The man’s eyebrow twitched.
“To which order should I report the knight who dared to break into a noble’s home at such an hour?”
To him, Everett looked barely over twenty—still a young lady.
He thought he could intimidate her and take her away easily.
But her resolute gaze and tightly closed lips told him she was no pushover.
She wasn’t armed, nor did she wear any knightly insignia. Yet she identified him instantly.
His eyes flickered nervously.
So the palace has come for me. Just as Arcana warned.
“Sir Knight, why don’t you tell me—where are you from?”
Her bold question made him abandon intimidation and switch to persuasion.
He straightened quickly and offered a slight bow.
“My apologies for the offense. I am from the Imperial Order of Knights, sent by His Majesty’s command.”
At the word Emperor, Daisy gasped.
“So His Majesty ordered you to seize me.”
“That is correct. If you claim the procedure was improper, I cannot deny it. But refusal may cause greater trouble.”
His eyes were sharp with intelligence.
The knight thought it easier to persuade Everett than to bluff clumsily.
Daisy’s eyes shook with fear as she looked between them.
Everett let out a faint sigh.
“If it is His Majesty’s order, then I must go. Please wait a moment. I’ll fetch my coat.”
She turned on the stairs and added:
“That door. Since you broke it, fix it.”
“…Heh.”
Does this young lady think she’s going on a pleasant visit to the palace?
Her demand drew a short, incredulous laugh.
Nevertheless, he picked up the creaking door and jammed it back into place.
Moments later, Everett came down with Daisy—who looked on the verge of tears.
“Let’s go.”
“My lady…”
Daisy wrung her hands helplessly.
“Daisy, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
She acted composed, but there was nothing fine about being taken to the palace in the dead of night.
Everett’s insides churned; she felt she might gag at any moment.
Outside, a shabby carriage the knight had brought was waiting.
As it departed, Daisy sprinted straight toward Alfred’s mansion.
Her lungs burned, her chest pounded as though her heart would burst.
“I need to see Lord Kiyor!”
She pounded the baron’s door even harder than the knight had earlier.
A sleepy servant opened the door, rubbing his eyes.
“Who pounds on another’s door at this hour—”
“Lord Kiyor, is he here? I must see him!”
When Daisy tried to push inside, the startled servant quickly blocked her.
“Hey! What are you doing? Who are you?”
“Tell him Everett Gronji—that name, he’ll know it. Please! It’s urgent.”
The servant told her to wait and slammed the door. Soon, it opened again—this time, Alfred stood there.
“Did you say Everett Gronji?”
“Are you Lord Kiyor? I’m Daisy, from House Gronji.”
“What brings you here?”
“Lady Everett has been taken!”
At Daisy’s near-scream, Alfred quickly ushered her inside and shut the door.
“What are you talking about? Speak slowly.”
As Daisy explained, Alfred’s face grew more grave.
“So… they said they were Imperial Knights?”
“Yes. They said His Majesty ordered it. Please, Lord Kiyor, save Lady Everett.”
As Everett had been dragged into the carriage, Daisy had thought first of Kyle.
The only way to reach him was through Alfred Kiyor.
“I’ll look into it. Don’t worry, go home for now.”
Alfred turned to his servant.
“It’s late. Escort her back safely.”
Then he hurried upstairs to prepare for the palace.
“Ventus, why are you here at this hour?”
On his way to Kyle’s quarters, Alfred ran into Ventus standing in the corridor.
“Don’t tell me Lord Kyle is still in the library?”
“Yes, he hasn’t come out yet.”
“The underground archives?”
When Alfred had left the palace earlier in the afternoon, Kyle had been there.
“No. He’s on the first floor now.”
“You should’ve escorted him back.”
Ventus scratched his head.
“I tried several times, but he said he had matters to think on… But Lord Alfred, why are you here at this hour?”
Without answering, Alfred headed straight for the library.
“What could trouble him so much that he stays in the library all day…”
Opening the door, cold air that had settled there all day washed over him.
Kyle sat motionless at the very front row of long benches.
Is he asleep sitting up?
Alfred approached quietly, suppressing his footsteps.
Up close, he heard Kyle’s breathing.
“Lord Kyle, why stay here instead of going to your chambers?”
Kyle only gave a faint laugh.
“And you, Alf? Why have you returned so late? It can’t be because of me.”
Alfred spoke with concern.
“Lady Everett has been taken.”
Kyle’s head snapped around.
“What do you mean, taken? By whom?”
“They said… the Imperial Knights.”
Kyle’s mouth suddenly went dry.
“Why would the Imperial Knights… Was it by the Emperor’s order?”
“Who else could it be?”
Listening, Kyle felt his blood surge backward through his veins.
“I’ve already sent word to our contact within the Imperial Knights. We’ll soon know which prison she’s in.”
Kyle wanted nothing more than to storm out and search every prison in the palace.
But he knew better than anyone that reckless action would only backfire.
“What excuse did they use to arrest her…?”
“In such cases, whatever the excuse, they’ll be condemned. This ignores imperial law and procedure entirely—”
Kyle let out a bitter laugh.
“Since when has His Majesty cared about such things?”
How terrified must Everett be right now…
The thought of her trembling in fear made his anxiety unbearable.
Suddenly, he yanked at his tightly buttoned shirt until several buttons popped off and clattered to the floor.
At that moment, Ventus burst through the library doors.
“Sir! She’s being held in the underground prison beneath the East Tower.”
“What prisoners are usually kept there?”
“It’s not in use anymore. It’s remote, and few even know it exists.”
Alfred frowned and nodded.
“Seems His Majesty doesn’t want anyone to know he’s detained Lady Gronji.”
“What scheme is he plotting…”
Kyle shot to his feet.
“Ventus, find out who’s on guard at the East Tower tonight.”
“Yes, sir.”
The fury and worry in Kyle’s eyes made Alfred uneasy.
“When will you go?”
“Too many eyes are watching now. I’ll go at dawn.”
Kyle, who had intended to remain in the library all night, strode out quickly instead.
The bulging vein on his forehead revealed just how hard he was struggling to contain his rage.
The sight unsettled Alfred so much that he found himself clenching his teeth.
