Was it in this sense that I had always referred to Levanfell as “rotten”? I thought I had expressed it lightly so far.

Chills ran down my spine.

“Your Majesty?”

Iana, who was muttering to herself, looked at me sharply when she received no response. I quickly masked my expression before Iana could notice anything amiss.

“It must have looked that way because the light was reflecting. I’ve been there before, and sometimes the window over there looks white due to the reflection.”

“Ah! That must be it!”

“It’s better not to speak of what the royal guest said. How upset would the royal family of Eteria be if they heard this?”

“……! I’m sorry, Your Majesty! I didn’t think about it!”

“Yes. That’s like throwing garbage at my face, so from now on, Iana, be careful, and make sure your maids and their friends watch their mouths. Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to send all the maids working in the residence elsewhere.”

I felt sorry for Iana, but I had to respond firmly to this issue.

That way, no more rumors about Lisa would spread.

“I’ll deliver the message! I won’t talk to anyone else either! I’m sorry! I often hear that I’m thoughtless, but… please believe that I didn’t say it with any ill intention! If I’ve made you angry, I’ll apologize!”

Iana vehemently denied, stretching out her hand. From her expression, tone, and voice, it was clear that she hadn’t intended to belittle the Eteria royal family.

But since I had spoken so firmly, neither Iana nor the maids in the residence would spread the word anymore.

There would be no more talk of Eteria’s Queen, Lisa, looking suspicious or having white hair.

‘…Lisa.’

I turned my head and looked at the distant residence where Lisa was.

‘What on earth happened, Lisa?’

There was no sign of anything like that until I visited.

No, even when Elihu visited to bless her, there was nothing. Because Elihu always poured energy into Lisa, regardless of day or night, when his divine power was full.

If any such symptoms had appeared, he would have warned me in advance.

I didn’t check for any sealing spells near Lisa’s chest, of course. Besides, the glimpse of white hair the maid saw could have been a momentary misperception.

The sudden increase in irritation could just be due to not feeling well. But my heart was unsettlingly pounding.

‘If my thoughts are correct… where from?’

Generva, the continent’s wanted alchemist, and his Ferdia experiment.

Lisa hadn’t been outside the palace recently due to her worsening health. Neither had Eteria’s Emperor, who was with her.

So it’s not like they went out and contacted Generva.

‘Then where…’

Suddenly, I remembered what the remnants caught during the last incident said.

‘Alchemist Generva tried to enter the capital.’

They failed then, but what if Generva had entered the capital afterward? No, not the capital.

‘If he has come into the palace?’

If Generva had secretly infiltrated the palace and approached Lisa?

As my thoughts reached that point, I suddenly felt uneasy about all the gazes around me. I hastily hugged the smiling Iana in front of me and scanned the surroundings.

I don’t know what alchemist Generva looks like. There may be a portrait on the wanted poster, but I don’t remember it since I saw it at a very young age.

Not just me. How many on this continent would remember Generva’s face?

“Your Majesty?”

I quickly scanned the passing servants, maids, and knights.

But does this mean anything? Those working in the palace all went through two interviews, including precise identity checks.

And they are strictly checked for their ID badges and faces when coming and going. It was not a structure that Generva could enter.

Unless he completely changed his face and eye color.

“……Is your business finished, Iana?”
“Huh? Ah, yes! Mother said she had something to tell Reim, so that’s why I came! Everything’s done!”

Iana, nestled in his arms, sparkled her eyes with an expectant look.

“Do you have time now? I’m free! Would you like to have some delicious cake together? Drink tea? Or would you like to take a walk together?”

As if confessing to someone she liked, Iana turned her expectant face a bright red. Her fists clenched and her feet thumping; she looked like a rabbit, and it was adorable.

I looked at Iana with an affectionate smile and spoke firmly.

“If everything’s done, it would be best to return to the mansion instead of lingering elsewhere.”

Just in case it might be dangerous.

At my stern words, Iana puckered her face and stuck her lips out like a duck’s beak. Then, she grumbled, as if she wanted me to hear, “Her Majesty said the same thing as Reim…”

But she couldn’t complain to me too, and eventually she nodded sulkily.

“……Yeeeess……”

Her dejected look was also cute.

‘Cute.’

I somewhat understood why Reim always told Iana to go back quickly.

‘I must find Levanfell after sending Iana back.’

I had to share the situation with Levanfell first. Generba might be in the palace, and if something happened to Empress Eteria, a guest of the royal family, it would be a big deal.