Chapter 10
Deep within the Imperial Palace.
If one enters the artificial forest created to the west of the central garden and crosses the narrow path that runs through it, an old castle with an air of antiquity reveals itself.
Even with the passage of time, it has never lost its pristine white brilliance, earning it the name “White Castle.” It was once built by the founding emperor of the Empire, Zeians Kashvalt, for his beloved companion.
Now, by long-standing tradition, it serves as the residence of the Emperor’s consort. And the one who resides there at present is the consort of the 27th Emperor, Elisa Rose von Kashvalt—
The Imperial Consort, Hadelraiden Riatri Kashvalt.
“…Mm.”
He opened his eyes to the sharp scent of medicine.
Through his blurred vision, the first thing he saw was a ceiling tinted red.
When he turned his head, a single candle burning by his bedside and the dim interior of the room came into view.
“Are you regaining consciousness?”
Noticing that he had awakened, someone approached the bed.
It was Marchioness Renner, her appearance haggard from tending to him through the night.
“…Aunt. How long have I been lying here?”
“You were bedridden for three full days.”
“I see.”
After arriving at the Imperial Palace following the hunting competition, he had been treated by the imperial physicians and priests.
His life had not been in danger, but the wounds were far from minor—he had spent three days and nights suffering from pain and fever.
“I am deeply sorry, Your Highness the Imperial Consort. I failed to properly protect you, and thus—”
“It was my own decision. Please do not trouble yourself over it, Aunt.”
“But still…”
“I truly am fine.”
Without even attempting to steady his cracked voice, Hadelraiden stared back up at the ceiling.
Each time the candle flickered, it seemed as though the ceiling itself wavered.
Having become the Empire’s Imperial Consort at the young age of eight, the ceiling of this place was more familiar to him than that of the estate where he was born.
Even with his eyes closed, he could vividly recall the intricately carved repeating patterns and the famous paintings that filled the ceiling.
“Her Majesty…”
At his much quieter voice, Marchioness Renner lowered her head.
His voice had become so faint it was barely audible.
“Have you seen Her Majesty?”
At his question, the marchioness lowered her gaze.
To her ears, the question carried a deeper meaning.
The boy’s eyes, faintly tinged with expectation, wandered across the room—there was no mistaking it.
“She did not come. Her Majesty the Emperor did not.”
“…”
At her words, the boy withdrew his gaze as though a candle had been snuffed out by the wind.
The expectation he had shown moments ago vanished just as quickly.
‘Even if he didn’t throw a tantrum, it would have eased my worry if he showed even a little disappointment befitting his age…’
Her nephew, who had thrown himself without a moment’s hesitation to protect the Emperor, was more noble than she—an adult—could ever be.
That fact pained her deeply.
He had been forced to grow up too quickly, unable to live as a child due to the circumstances of adults. That made him all the more pitiful—and heartbreaking.
“She did not come, but she did send someone.”
“…”
Suppressing the sigh that threatened to escape at Hadelraiden’s indifferent expression, Marchioness Renner gently brushed his forehead.
“She was very worried. She sent people several times to inquire after your condition.”
“…Is that so.”
“Yes.”
Only then did Hadelraiden’s expression soften, if only slightly.
The marchioness looked at her nephew with affection.
“Her Majesty is more kind than I had expected.”
“…I did not expect to hear such words from you, Aunt.”
Hadelraiden’s eyes widened in genuine surprise.
Marchioness Renner herself seemed taken aback by her own words, giving a small shrug.
But she meant them sincerely.
During the time Hadelraiden was being treated, she had gone to see the Emperor.
She had knelt before her to confess her failure in fulfilling the duty entrusted to her by Sir Sheraz—to protect the consort.
After asking a few questions about Hadelraiden’s injuries, Elisa spoke to the kneeling marchioness without preamble.
“Marchioness Renner, you upheld my command to protect the consort. Therefore, you have fulfilled your duty.”
At those words, the marchioness firmly shook her head.
“It was a personal judgment.”
The Emperor’s command—to protect the consort instead of herself—was not one that should have been obeyed.
Even in defiance, a noble’s duty was to protect the Emperor above all else.
And yet, she had chosen to retreat with Hadelraiden.
She had chosen to protect her nephew, not the Emperor.
“Then consider it a debt.”
“A debt, Your Majesty?”
At a moment when she deserved execution, the Emperor offered something wholly unexpected.
“When danger comes for me later, protect me just once. What do you say?”
The marchioness tried to discern the Emperor’s intent.
But there was no hidden motive in the Emperor’s eyes.
Only the gaze of one person looking at another.
And with a faint trace of goodwill, the Emperor looked at her.
In that moment, Marchioness Renner realized that she had never truly faced the Emperor before.
“…Understood.”
She grew curious.
Setting aside political positions and personal dislikes—what kind of person was the Emperor?
Who was the one standing before her now?
“On the honor of House Renner, I, Diana Renner, swear that should danger befall Your Majesty, I will protect you—once—no matter what.”
“She said you resemble each other.”
At the knight’s vow to her liege, the Emperor let out a sigh and remarked,
‘Aunt and nephew—both equally rigid.’
At that, a faint smile touched Hadelraiden’s lips.
“You should rest more. That way, you’ll recover quickly and be able to go see Her Majesty.”
Hadelraiden nodded, and his eyes slowly closed.
Before long, he was fully asleep, breathing evenly.
“May you have pleasant dreams.”
At least in his dreams, she hoped he could lay down all his burdens and rest.
She prayed so sincerely.
“This is heaven itself…!”
A soldier who had just finished his dinner from the treatment center patted his full stomach in satisfaction.
Originally stationed at the city walls, he had volunteered for security at the hunting competition hoping to gain some extra benefit—only to encounter monsters: a Red Wolf and a Bell Bear.
Of course, the moment the monsters appeared, he had immediately hidden himself. But while fleeing with the crowd, he had ended up straining the ligaments in his right leg.
“To think things would turn out like this… You really never know what life will bring.”
Another soldier assigned to the bed beside him chimed in, lying back lazily.
In his case, his injury was nothing more than a minor scratch—but since it had been caused by a monster’s attack, he had been advised to stay at the center to prevent secondary infection.
“What’s there to be so happy about? Lying around eating and sleeping all day is boring as hell!”
“That’s the best part! You get to lie around doing nothing, and still get paid—and even receive compensation. What’s not to like?”
As another soldier from across the room cut in, the first one argued back.
Most of the soldiers in the ward nodded in agreement.
And so, a rather pointless debate filled the room—
“Excuse me for the interruption.”
The ward door opened, and someone stepped inside.
“W-Who are you?”
A knight—clearly of high status—stood there, with dark green hair tied neatly to one side and light green eyes, a fine sword hanging at her waist.
Knights stood at a far higher rank than ordinary soldiers.
Unlike the mostly common-born soldiers, knights were nobles—beings of an entirely different status.
Aside from Sir Dorix, who commanded them, the soldiers rarely interacted with knights at such proximity. Instinctively, they straightened their posture and stared at her.
Then the knight, Sir Oliana Sheraz, spoke.
“I am Oliana Sheraz, a guard of Her Majesty the Emperor. I have come to ask a few questions regarding this incident. Would you spare me some time?”
There was no way an ordinary soldier could refuse a knight—let alone one who served as the Emperor’s guard.
The soldiers, who had been leisurely enjoying their hospital stay, rose at what felt like a polite yet undeniable pressure.
“Y-Yes, of course, Sir Knight! What would you have us do?”
“…Ah.”
As one soldier stepped forward to ask, Sir Sheraz’s eyes curved gently.
“It seems I misspoke.”
She walked into the group and stopped before a single soldier seated in the far corner.
Among them, he stood out immediately—a large, imposing man with black hair.
He lowered his gaze toward her.
“The one I need is not all of you… but this one person.”
“…”
“Will you come with me?”
