Chapter 16
She didn’t know what exactly was going on, but something was clearly very wrong.
Seeing her reaction, the head attendant realized that Mera truly knew nothing. He changed his approach and asked again in an intentionally gentle tone.
“Do you know of any place Her Majesty might have gone? Somewhere she’s been wanting to visit, perhaps.”
At those words, a place suddenly came to Mera’s mind. The Queen had definitely wanted to see the capital’s famous landmarks.
Among them, she had shown particular interest when the topic of theater came up. But…
“Mera, do you have any guesses?”
Noticing the look on Mera’s face—like she knew something—the head attendant asked again softly. After hesitating, Mera answered.
“I’m not certain, but…”
She seemed interested in Krovích’s theater.
The head attendant nodded at Mera’s response, asked her a few more questions, and then dismissed her.
Back in her room, Mera bit her nails as she waited anxiously.
Even if a law was unjust, it was always the subordinate who was punished when the master was at fault.
And the person Mera served wasn’t just any noble—she was the Queen of an entire nation.
Mera prayed fervently.
That Her Majesty had merely gone out briefly and would return safely.
That she hadn’t been caught up in a disappearance or some dangerous incident.
But the gods ignored Mera’s prayers, and she felt like she might faint.
Some time later, the Queen returned to the castle—covered in blood.
The castle, which should have been quiet, was now as frantic as a kicked beehive.
The Queen had returned injured, and royalty from another country had arrived without notice.
Princess Esmerelda, who had gone to bed early, was awakened by news of the emergency. She moved quickly, organizing the situation.
She immediately increased the number of guards in the castle and assembled a team to investigate who was behind the attempt on Daniela’s life.
While receiving intermittent reports from the physician about Daniela’s condition, the princess finally let out a sigh of relief when she was told that Daniela had stabilized.
But the moment relief appeared on her face, a sharp voice cut in.
“The Queen was attacked by unidentified assailants in the capital, and you look relieved?”
Damian snapped at her. He had heard the same report about Daniela’s condition.
Though they had known each other since childhood, Esmerelda had never gotten along with Damian and constantly bickered with him. She almost fired back—
Then of course I’d be relieved if Daniela’s fine—should I just stay angry like you?
—but stopped herself.
Even if he was an uninvited guest, he was still a guest of the royal family. More importantly, after hearing the report from Jed, it was clear that Daniela had survived because Damian was there.
They were the ones who owed him. She decided to tolerate his bad temper.
Letting his outburst slide, Esmerelda asked what she’d wanted to ask for a while but hadn’t had time for.
“What are you doing here, Damian Kaehler?”
“You invited me. You said you’d be welcoming distinguished guests from allied nations for the king’s return ceremony.”
“The return ceremony that’s still a month away? Since when do you show up a month early when someone invites you?”
Esmerelda mocked him, knowing full well how often he was late.
She let out a scoff, already aware of the real reason he had arrived so early.
But Damian’s next words shut her up, frustrating as they were.
“So? Are you unhappy? What do you think would’ve happened if I hadn’t been here?”
Unable to refute the painful truth, Esmerelda lowered her head.
But only briefly. She raised it again and said what needed to be said.
It was embarrassing that their weakness had been exposed, and annoying that he pointed it out so freely.
Still, none of that mattered. There was only one thing to say to someone they owed their lives to.
“Thank you for saving Lady Daniela. …I apologize for not welcoming you properly sooner. Welcome, Grand Duke of Darën. I hope you enjoy a comfortable stay until your departure.”
The next morning, Daniela awoke recovered enough to receive visitors.
She braced herself for the barrage of scolding she expected from her adjutant—but surprisingly, Jed said nothing of the sort.
He simply kept his mouth shut for a while before asking if she was feeling all right.
When she explained that the wound looked worse than it was and that all vital organs had been missed, Jed nodded and replied,
“Well, you did throw yourself in front of the blade.”
Here it comes, Daniela thought.
But instead of continuing, Jed simply told her she still needed rest and left.
“Why…?”
Daniela was confused, unaware of how deeply Jed was blaming himself.
Seeing his liege nearly die after throwing herself into danger for him—it was only natural for him to feel responsible.
But Daniela thought differently.
Jed had seen her injured and on the brink of death countless times before. And every time, he’d scolded her endlessly.
So she assumed this time would be no different.
Well, I didn’t get scolded. That’s a win.
Taking it lightly, Daniela welcomed her next visitor.
It was Damian—the man who had fought alongside her on the battlefield, become her friend, and saved both her and her adjutant the night before.
Seeing that he looked oddly irritated, Daniela thanked him and then asked what she’d been wondering.
“Why are you here?”
Worried she might realize the real reason, Damian grew unnecessarily snappy.
“Why does everyone keep asking that? It’s like I came somewhere I’m not allowed.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
Feeling guilty for upsetting her lifesaver, Daniela explained.
“I’m sorry if it sounded that way. I didn’t mean it like that at all… Aren’t you busy? With affairs of your country or something.”
“…I’m not busy.”
“I see. I thought you’d be busy since you’re in such a high position. But I guess people like you just dump the hard work on subordinates and live comfortably. The Frost royal family did that too. Krovích royalty always seemed busy, so I assumed allied nations were similar—but maybe it’s just you.”
Satisfied with her conclusion, Daniela said cheerfully,
“So you’re the type who lets subordinates handle important matters while you relax. Must be nice!”
She meant it as praise—I envy your carefree life!—but for some reason, Damian didn’t look pleased at all.
Flustered, he protested loudly.
“Relaxing—! No!”
“No?”
“I handle important matters myself. I’m a busy person…”
A question surfaced on Daniela’s face.
Didn’t you just say you weren’t busy?
As if he noticed her confusion, Damian hurriedly corrected himself.
“I mean, I’m usually busy. But not right now. So I came because I was invited.”
“Invited?”
“To the king’s return ceremony.”
“Oh, that. But isn’t that happening in about a month?”
“…When I receive an important invitation, I like to arrive early and wait.”
I see.
Damian personally handles important matters, is usually busy, but isn’t busy now despite every kingdom scrambling to rebuild after the war. He’s often late, but shows up early for important invitations.
It felt odd, but Daniela shrugged it off and smiled.
“Thanks for coming early. I hope you enjoy your stay.”
After stammering awkwardly, his face turning red, Damian left. Soon after, the final visitor of the day arrived.
It was Esmerelda, her expression dark.
Seeing her, Daniela felt like a child who’d caused trouble. Before Esmerelda could speak, Daniela blurted out an apology.
“I’m sorry for sneaking out without telling anyone.”
Esmerelda shook her head.
“No. You don’t need to report your every move to me, Lady Daniela. Besides… it was actually fortunate that you went out without telling anyone last night.”
Fortunate—after going out and returning injured? Daniela tilted her head in confusion.
The princess explained somberly.
“After you left your room last night, we found signs that assassins had infiltrated.”
“Ah…”
“If you had been in your chambers, it might have been far more dangerous. Sir Jed and Damian wouldn’t have been nearby.”
Daniela gave a bitter smile. Once again, she was painfully aware of how unable she was to protect herself.
Esmerelda continued, her expression apologetic.
“I thought this place was the safest in the world. A place only those loyal to the royal family could enter.”
And since Daniela disliked excessive guards, Esmerelda had deliberately kept security around her looser.
“It seems I was careless. While my brother and I were away at war, something significant must have changed within the castle.”
