Chapter 126
Andrew asked the Emperor,
“Have you heard the news?”
“If you mean about the Second Knights, I have,” the Emperor replied. “…Don’t tell me that was your doing?”
The air around the Emperor turned dangerous.
Though he had lost his wisdom and stopped caring for the country, the Emperor was not oblivious.
Andrew held out a newspaper.
“It was just published.”
“…”
The Emperor narrowed his eyes and had a servant bring it to him. When he saw the front page, his crimson eyes shook violently.
“…!”
He quickly read everything.
The paper was filled with reports about what was happening in Daisy Palace, that the witch Reina wasn’t dead and was the Emperor’s mistress, and that the Emperor and his close houses had committed outrageous acts.
“Ha. How bold.”
So the fool who always acted clumsy had been preparing this behind his back.
“I’ve been too lax with my surveillance. But Andrew—”
With a relaxed expression, the Emperor tapped the huge headline on the front page: “The Emperor’s soul has been taken by a demon through a witch.”
“Do you think everyone will believe this ridiculous claim?”
If the paper had only tied the three houses to the witch, maybe. But without a major trigger, such a wild story wouldn’t easily gain people’s trust.
“You’re still a child, Andrew. Your rashness will bring a bloodbath. I can already hear the voices of those who follow you—dying and cursing your name.”
At the Emperor’s signal, First Knights drew their swords toward Andrew. The Emperor clicked his tongue at his son, who had come alone.
But Andrew showed no fear. As the Emperor frowned, Andrew spoke another line from the paper.
“There’s one more unbelievable story in that paper, isn’t there?”
The Emperor mentally ran through the contents, then hurriedly opened it again.
As he remembered—there was an article saying Duke Harold, believed dead, was alive and imprisoned in Daisy Palace.
“…Surely not.”
If Harold was alive, as printed, and that fact supported the claim that the Emperor was a demon, it could be enough to sway the masses.
But Deputy Commander Nathan had said Harold was killed and his body burned… Before the Emperor could finish the thought, a servant burst in.
“Your Majesty! Terrible news! Duke Harold is leading his private soldiers and rapidly approaching the palace!”
Another servant rushed in.
“Your Majesty! The First Knights’ deputy commander has opened the palace gates for Duke Harold!”
The Emperor listened, then turned back to Andrew.
By now, the knights who had pointed their blades at Andrew were aiming their sword tips at the Emperor. The servants gasped in panic.
Andrew drew the sword at his waist and shouted,
“Demon! I will slay you here today so you cannot defile His Majesty’s body any longer!”
Realizing he was cornered, the Emperor rose from the throne and shouted to the servants,
“Give your bodies to protect me! Bring troops to crush these rebels!”
The palace erupted into chaos.
Soldiers and knights rushed about. Arthur knocked out the three attendants assigned to watch them and moved to Diana.
“Duchess, are you ready?”
“Yes, I’m ready.”
While Arthur handled the watchers, Diana hid her hair under a prepared brown wig and changed into a maid’s uniform.
“We’ll move through the secret passage connected to Prince Andrew’s residence. Before that, I’ll also change into a servant’s outfit.”
While Arthur went to change, Diana looked at the ring and bracelet on her left hand. Evan had retrieved them from Kaiden and returned them to her.
‘It’s best if I never have to use the bracelet’s magic.’
She stared at the gem on the bracelet and took a deep breath.
Dressed as a servant, Arthur returned, and Diana followed him.
Even when they occasionally passed palace staff, no one recognized her. The disguise helped, but the urgent situation left no one with time to scrutinize faces.
As Diana hurried along behind Arthur, she glanced toward the distant source of the commotion.
‘That’s the Sun Palace. Harold should be there, right?’
She’d heard he was at the front. Showing that the “dead and buried” Harold was alive would help people believe the newspaper.
“You must be eager to see the Duke,” Arthur said.
“Yes, very. I’m also worried—he mustn’t get hurt.”
She especially hoped he wasn’t even slightly injured—she couldn’t heal him now.
“The Duke will be fine. First, let’s get you out safely.”
Encouraged by Arthur’s steady tone, Diana nodded.
He was right. They wouldn’t let her escape easily.
Getting out quickly was the top priority.
“We’re almost at the prince’s palace, Duchess.”
The Star Palace, where the prince lived, was now close. As Diana rushed after Arthur, she suddenly froze at a familiar pair of golden eyes.
Ella.
Ella, who seemed to have slipped away from Jaina amid the chaos, was staring right at her. Diana quickly lowered her head.
‘Surely she didn’t recognize me…?’
Ella had never met Arthur, and Diana was in disguise—but the fine hairs on Diana’s arms stood on end.
Anxious, Diana lifted her head.
At that moment, she met Ella’s wide, beaming smile.
“Duchess Diana is here! Duchess Diana is disguised as a maid and trying to escape!”
Ella shouted at the top of her lungs, as if to tear down the sky. Arthur sprinted toward her, but other footsteps were closing in faster.
“Find the Duchess! I heard she’s nearby!”
“She’s here!”
Seeing the people closing in, Arthur stopped going after Ella and returned to Diana.
He searched for a gap to escape through, but in that time, the crowd surrounded them both.
“…Damn it.”
Arthur cursed and drew his sword.
Diana swallowed and gripped her bracelet.
“Kee-hee! What a sight, Diana!”
Ella clutched her stomach and laughed brightly at the scene of Diana being encircled.
“The commotion is great for escaping, sure—but I don’t want you living happily ever after, Diana.”
“You’re insane. Why are you going this far?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Just thinking about what I went through because of you—of course you deserve to be miserable. And because of you, my whole life fell apart, Diana.”
“That’s because you… Never mind. There’s no point talking to you.”
Diana gave up arguing with Ella’s absurd logic that ignored her own wrongs.
“Well then, Diana—stay unhappy forever.”
Smirking, Ella admired the palace workers and knights surrounding Diana, then turned to leave.
But after only a few steps, she stopped cold, like she’d hit a stone. A rich, low, alluring voice sounded above her head, turning her face pale.
“I heard Diana was here, so I came—and it’s true.”
“Why…?”
Ella’s twisted face trembled; before she could finish, the back of her neck was struck, and she collapsed.
“Diana.”
“…!”
Diana’s blue eyes flew wide open.
Faces around them split between joy and shock as everyone looked the same way.
“How many times have you used that bracelet?”
“Not even once yet.”
“Then trigger it—close your eyes and wait.”
“I will.”
Smiling with relief, Diana activated the magic in the bracelet. Then, full of joy, longing, trust, and worry, she whispered,
“Don’t you dare get hurt, Harold.”
They finally reunited ❤️