“Argh!”

A death cry similar to that of a beast came from deep within the forest.

Mixed with the sound of thunder, it was impossible to tell whether it was Parnes’ scream or someone else’s.

Kasallin threw open the door to go to the adjacent room to look out the window.

At that moment, what filled her vision was not the cool corridor, but an unidentified man wearing a robe soaked by rain.

“Uh…”

Her first thought was that he didn’t seem to be another of His Majesty’s guard knights.

Then who was this man?

A warning light called crisis lit up in her head, and Kasallin instinctively took a short breath and stepped backwards.

Sir Antonio, who discovered the intruder a beat too late, widened his eyes and immediately drew his sword as he rushed forward.

“Miss!”

As soon as Sir Antonio moved, the mysterious intruder roughly grabbed Kasallin’s arm.

Soon a sharply honed blade came to her nape.

Sir Antonio had no choice but to hesitate and stop his actions.

“Taking a helpless woman as hostage – what a cowardly and base man you are. Remove your hat and show your face proudly!”

Though Sir Antonio spoke breathlessly, the unidentified man let out a small snort as if it were preposterous.

However, as if he didn’t want to reveal who he was, he didn’t let his voice out to the end.

Kasallin calmly looked for an opening without trembling.

But the man was no ordinary observer.

As soon as Kasallin prepared to counterattack, he noticed like a ghost and restrained her body with even more force.

“……”

The intruder gestured toward Antonio with his chin while rattling the blade that flashed like lightning.

If he didn’t immediately drop his weapon and step back, this woman’s life could not be guaranteed.

At least no one present failed to notice the meaning of such a threat.

“Sir Antonio. I’m fine, so please go outside to His Majesty. Something must have happened.”

“Don’t say such nonsense, Miss!”

“It’s fine. This man won’t harm me. He wants something else from me.”

Isn’t that right, Lord Aster?

Kasallin raised her head while calling his name with a confident voice.

Some strength entered his hand pressing on Kasallin’s shoulder.

From within the deep shadows cast beneath his deeply pressed hat, a smile of unknown meaning leaked out.

“As expected, I can’t beat Miss Kasallin.”

The moment she heard his cheerful voice, it all felt like a mischievous show and prank, but Aster still held Kasallin tightly as if he had no intention of letting her go.

Aster asked as if surprised.

“How did you know it was me?”

“Last time when I was swaying and about to collapse on the balcony, you supported me. The sensation was exactly the same as then – it would be strange if I didn’t notice.”

“Ah… Oh dear. I shouldn’t have displayed my chivalrous spirit then. Anyway, I’m troubled by being too righteous.”

“You came to capture me under Shallen Riche’s orders.”

It was an obvious story.

Baron Aster was a servant trusted by Rose, so it wasn’t particularly surprising that Shallen would entrust him with a mission.

Moreover, an emperor from a neighboring country who had entered this quiet neutral territory with only one or two guard knights and no watching eyes.

They must have judged this to be the first and last opportunity to assassinate Parnes without anyone knowing.

It was so pathetic that it was astounding.

From the moment a blade came to her neck, Shallen had already made an irreversible mistake.

“This is why I said I don’t accept kindness from people I can’t trust. Lord Aster. I’m glad I didn’t drink the wine you offered. What would have happened if it had been poisoned?”

“It’s regrettable that I can’t become friends with Miss Kasallin. But everyone has priorities, don’t they? Advancement is just more important to me than loyalty to Miss Kasallin. There are no personal feelings involved.”

Aster spoke while meticulously tracing Kasallin’s nape with his fingertips as if searching for a specific point.

She let out a small snort.

“Advancement? I suppose the small rewards you get from wagging your tail to Rose and showing loyalty to Shallen are that important to you.”

“I want high titles and social status, and I want to earn a lot of money too. Things that Miss Kasallin naturally enjoyed and possessed from birth. Not being picky about means and methods for ambition – I don’t think that’s bad at all.”

“But the wealth and honor you’ll gain in the end will be meaningless. No one will remain around you, and your heart will become endlessly empty.”

“I see. Thank you for the advice. But now it’s time to sleep quietly. I’m in a bit of a hurry, you see…”

As soon as Aster finished speaking, a short but intense shock struck her nape.

Like a mechanical device stopping operation in an instant, her consciousness was cut off without even feeling pain.

‘I’m sorry.’

It seemed like she heard such words at the end.

When she came to her senses, she was in some unfamiliar room where bright sunlight was cheerfully streaming in through a window overlooking a clear sky.

Kasallin looked around drowsily as if she had taken cold medicine.

“Where on earth is this…!”

Kasallin came down from the bed as if rolling off.

When she opened the window, cool air wafted in, and she could see the dizzingly high outer wall of a tower.

Then she could see the familiar sight of Khan Royal Palace far across the lake on the other side, and only then could Kasallin somewhat recognize the situation she was in.

“I was worried because you weren’t waking up for quite a while.”

Someone entered with the sound of a locking mechanism opening with a dry metallic click.

It was a distinctively lazy and arrogant footstep that she had heard hundreds and thousands of times, so she could recognize who it was without having to lift her head to check.

“I decorated the room beautifully so you could wake up in a good mood – do you like it?”

“I overestimated you all this time.”

Kasallin continued speaking with a face still shocked.

“No matter what, I didn’t know you were such a lowly human being.”

“It’s useless to try to provoke my anger with such harsh words now. Kasallin. I’ve decided to be a generous person, at least in front of you.”

“A generous person?”

Kasallin was dumbfounded and pressed her forehead where heat was rising hotly.

“It’s not like I’m a bird in a cage – how can you say such shameless words after locking a person in a tower?”

“Locking up? There seems to be some misunderstanding. Look around you.”

Shallen spread both hands with a face that didn’t understand.

“A bedroom decorated without any inconvenience. Fresh air comes in through the wide-open window, hearty meals are prepared three times a day, and soldiers are diligently standing guard to protect you. If not princess treatment, how is this confinement?”

“Enough, let me out of here right now. Otherwise, you’ll really regret it.”

“Why? Will Emperor Parnes lead his knights and attack Khan Royal Palace? How frightening.”

Shallen took something out from his chest and threw it.

Clang – with a sharp metallic sound, a broken sword spun around on the floor before stopping.

A familiar handle pattern.

And something with someone’s blood dried hideously on it – she could tell what it was without having to ask.

Kasallin moved her lips while unable to take her eyes off the blade.

She barely squeezed out her voice.

“What… is this?”

“What else would it be? It belongs to the man who fled to his home country leaving you behind.”

“His Majesty went to the Renel Empire leaving me behind?”

Nonsense.

“My subordinates came and reported so. Of course, in the end the emperor valued his own life more than yours. I told you a hundred times. To Emperor Parnes, you are nothing.”

An inscrutable smile appeared at the corner of Shallen’s mouth.

“Finally, we’ve found our rightful place. Kasallin.”

Shallen let out a satisfied sigh and took Kasallin’s hand.

Extreme disgust surged in Kasallin’s eyes, which had become visibly sickly in the past few days.

“In this quiet tower where no one comes looking, let’s start our love again, just the two of us.”

“Did you have a good vacation, Aster?”

As if trying to erase several worries that had cast shadows in her heart, Rose deliberately spoke cheerfully as she entered the reception room.

Aster, who had been standing quietly by the window with his hands behind his back, turned around and smiled back.

“Yes, Your Majesty the Queen. I had a very rewarding ‘vacation.'”

“Don’t speak so vaguely – tell me in detail. As you can see, I haven’t been able to go out much since entering the palace, so I’m curious about what’s happening in the outside world.”

“Well… nothing special. I took walks in the cypress forest, did some sword training unintentionally, and did something like a courage test.”

Rose’s eyebrows curved.

“What are you talking about? Did you really go on vacation? I thought you’d been sunbathing on the beaches of the warm Ram Kingdom. How boring.”

“Unfortunately, I didn’t have time for sunbathing, but I did spend dangerous time with a beautiful young lady.”

“This man, really.”

“Of course! Compared to our noble Queen, she was like a pebble rolling on the roadside. You know my heart, don’t you?”

Aster returned to his original self and acted charmingly and cheekily.

Rose let out a light chuckle as if she’d let it slide this once, but she carefully observed Aster’s complexion from the corner of her eye.

A strange shadow that couldn’t be described was gloomily covering his entire face.

The day when he, who had always been busy following behind her, suddenly said he wanted to go on vacation.

A servant had said they glimpsed him having a long conversation with His Majesty Shallen at Jasmine Palace.

There would be no reason to have such a long conversation with his wife’s servant.

And that too at Sister Kasallin’s quarters.

“By the way, His Majesty Shallen hasn’t been visible lately. Where on earth does he spend all day?”

“He must be busy. In various ways.”

Aster answered with a meaningful tone.

Strangely, his voice carried slight irritation, hesitation, and subtle disgust.

Rose slowly moved her eyes.

“I should go and help him with something. You know where His Majesty Shallen is right now, don’t you, Aster?”

“I do know, but are you sure you’ll be alright?”

“What do you mean?”

To Rose tilting her head, Aster added as if talking to himself.

“Sometimes it’s better not to know uncomfortable truths.”

“Uncomfortable truths…?”

“But if you’re still curious, I’ll tell you. Where His Majesty the King has been lately.”