Since it was decided that she would stay in Caries, Ibnel decided to go over the details.

“Where will Lia and I be staying from now on?”

“You’ll stay where you stayed yesterday. I’ll tell the head maid to have your maid work there too.”

“Isn’t that Your Majesty’s palace?”

“Is there a problem with that?”

‘Isn’t there obviously a problem?’

Although she didn’t know much about this world, she felt it was quite inappropriate for her, who had no connection, to stay in the Emperor’s palace.

“It will be convenient for you to be there in many ways. We can quickly discuss future matters, and it’s also the safest place.”

“Then I’ll do as you say.”

However, after Shuher’s explanation, Ibnel nodded obediently, thinking his suggestion didn’t have as much meaning as she had thought.

If she had known what it meant for a woman to stay in the Emperor’s palace, she would have strongly refused.

“Is there anything else you need for your stay?”

“Not particul…”

She was about to say no, but then remembered what she needed most urgently right now.

“I would like to have a gun to use. And also a space where I can practice shooting.”

She needed practice because it was a different firearm from what she had used before.

It was the only thing she could rely on to face demons in the future, and to protect herself.

“It will be much more helpful than just watching with my eyes without doing anything.”

Since it wasn’t such a difficult request, and it wasn’t particularly wrong, Shuher said:

“I’ll prepare a gun and ammunition for you. There are several training grounds in the imperial palace where you can practice shooting, so feel free to use whichever you want.”

‘I’m still just an extra character anyway.’

Ibnel had no intention of blocking the flow of this novel. She had even less intention of changing it.

But if they were to put her and Lia in danger again, she was determined to overturn this situation.

Just as she, who should have already died, had decided to survive.

“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll be going now.”

“Demil will take you to the palace.”

“No need. I’ve memorized the way back at least.”

As she left the office with a bow, Demil finally asked the question he had been holding back:

“Do you really trust that lady?”

“No.”

Unlike when persuading Ibnel, Shuher’s reply was a cold, curt denial.

“Then why did you allow her to stay even in Your Majesty’s palace? She might have other intentions.

While using her is one thing, Demil couldn’t understand why he wanted to keep her close. Especially when he knew best what kind of people the Aodin were.

“That’s why I’m having her stay in my palace. So I can immediately know if she shows any suspicious movements. It will be more convenient in many ways to keep her in my grasp.”

“But just now, you spoke as if you were protecting the lady.”

Finding something funny about his words, Shuher suddenly burst into laughter. Then he got up from his seat, walked to the window, and said while taking in the view of the imperial palace:

“The only thing I’m protecting is that woman’s life. Ah, to be precise, her right eye.”

“You mean…”

“Whatever happens to her here, whatever she hears, it’s none of my business.”

Demil got goosebumps at his meticulousness. He had spoken as if he would be a fence for her, but in reality, he planned to neglect her.

No, to be exact, it was revenge.

Let her experience the misery Caries has felt so far. And eventually, make her kneel before everyone.

After all, there wasn’t a single person on Ibnel’s side here.

“But why didn’t the lady mention anything about that part? She could have demanded that there be no threats to her.”

“She must be under a serious misunderstanding. Thinking that because she awakened her ability, such things won’t happen.”

Shuher mocked Ibnel’s foolishness.

No matter how much help she provided, it wouldn’t undo the tragedies of the past.

Moreover, wasn’t she a person from the Estella duchy that had led the way in disgracing Caries until now?

Shuher could have easily subdued her with force.

But he didn’t because he knew she wasn’t someone who would move according to his will if treated that way.

‘It was unexpected, but that’s as far as it goes.’

His anger towards Aodin was that deep and great. He intended to thoroughly use Ibnel to later crush them for certain.

“No matter how much she struggles, nothing will change. She’ll soon realize that too.”

Stories about Ibnel were already circulating among people. Naturally, in a negative direction.

Shuher hoped she would painfully realize how powerless she was here.

And that she would regret taking his hand with a heart-wrenching feeling.

“I confidently said I had memorized the way back, but…”

Ibnel found herself lost, looking around with a troubled face. To her eyes, all the buildings looked similar, making it difficult to get her bearings.

For a 21st-century person who could easily find their way in unfamiliar places with just a smartphone, the current situation felt utterly strange.

So she tried to ask for directions from passersby, but as soon as they made eye contact, everyone was quick to avoid her.

Or they blatantly ignored her.

“Come on, I’m just asking for directions.”

From Ibnel’s perspective, she just wanted them to tell her where the imperial palace was, regardless of what else they might say.

Having no choice but to walk aimlessly wherever her feet took her, she ended up deep inside the imperial palace. Soon, there were no more people around to ask for directions.

‘It seems I’ve completely become a lost child.’

Just as she was at a loss for what to do, voices of people could be heard from afar.

Ibnel, happy that beings she could ask for directions had appeared, moved towards where the voices were coming from.

Soon the commotion grew closer, and as soon as she saw the silhouettes of people, she spoke first before they could avoid her.

“Excuse me. By any chance, is His Majesty’s…”

But her words didn’t continue to the end. More eyes than she expected focused on her in an instant.

In the wide open space, there were about twenty people, all wearing the same attire and holding swords in one hand.

Ibnel could tell immediately that they were the knights of the imperial palace.

Silence descended upon the space where they were now looking at each other.

“Um…”

As Ibnel broke the silence and opened her mouth, a knight with short dark brown hair approached her.

“This is where our knight order trains. What brings you here?”

‘Ah, so this is the training ground His Majesty mentioned.’

She finally understood why the knights were gathered like this. It seemed she had suddenly intruded on their training.

“I’m sorry for interrupting. I…”

“Huh?”

At that moment, a knight with light brown hair pointed at Ibnel with a surprised expression.

“Why, Shan?”

“It’s that person from yesterday. The one from Aodin.”

At Shan’s words, the knights, noticeably surprised, belatedly examined her face closely. They realized it really was that noble lady they had seen at the arena yesterday.

“You’re right, it’s definitely her.”

As soon as they realized this fact, their eyes instantly filled with hostility. Ibnel could clearly see the change as well.

‘So they were there yesterday.’

That meant they had heard everything she had said.

They were already desperate to kill her, and she had even insulted Shuher by comparing him to Aodin, so this reaction was perhaps natural.

“This is not a place for a lady to come. Please leave immediately.”

To Ibnel, those words sounded like this: Not just this training ground, but they couldn’t tolerate her setting foot in Caries at all.

“I need to go to His Majesty’s palace, but I got lost. That’s how I ended up here.”

Despite her explanation, the knights’ eyes remained cold.

Ibnel noticed a familiar emblem decorating their shoulders and cautiously asked:

“Are you perhaps in the same knight order as Sir Demil?”

“That’s correct. We are members of the knight order led by His Majesty the Emperor. I am Raul, the vice-captain.”

Raul, who had stepped forward first, introduced the knight order with a sullen expression.

He had heard the general story through the captain, Demil. That she would be staying in the imperial palace from now on. Still, he didn’t expect to encounter her this quickly.

Ibnel felt the same way. She was flustered to encounter the knight order without any warning.

But these were the people fighting demons on the front lines with Shuher, so they were a hurdle she would have to cross at some point.

Since she would be encountering them often in the future.

However, it felt like things had gone completely wrong from the start. It felt like facing numerous enemies alone.

‘Still, if I’m going to train, this place might be better.’

Ibnel judged that it would be good to use this training ground for future work.

Other places would probably have the same reaction anyway, and she liked that it was in a secluded place where she could focus solely on training.

“Is there also a shooting range here where I can practice?”

“There is, but… Why are you suddenly asking that?”

“Because I think I’ll be using it often from now on.”

At her nonchalant words, the knights’ expressions all hardened. Some faces even seemed to doubt if they had heard correctly.

At that moment, Shan stepped forward, raising his voice as if he could no longer hold back:

“This is strictly a space that only our knight order can use. What qualification do you have, my lady?”

“Shan.”

Raul tried to calm him down, but Shan coldly brushed off his hand. Just being in the same space as Ibnel was unpleasant.

“Raul, honestly, we need to say what needs to be said too.”

Shan came forward and made direct eye contact with her.

“Here, no, nowhere in Caries is there anyone who welcomes you, my lady. If you think you’ve become something just because you gained an ability, that’s a huge mistake. We don’t need your power to face demons. Even if we die, we won’t accept your help.”

‘As expected.’

Ibnel didn’t expect that gaining an ability would make the animosity towards her disappear. If it could disappear so easily, she wouldn’t have come here in the first place.

“Leave. Before we forcibly drag you out.”

“Did you say your name was Sir Shan?”

Shan, who thought she would have been intimidated or felt shame by now, couldn’t help but be confused when Ibnel showed a relaxed smile.