“There’s no time. The trial will start soon. There will be no way out then.”

Ternadan spoke hastily, giving Rasilia no chance to be surprised.

“Run now. Take my hand, sister.”

With that, he tried to abruptly grasp Rasilia’s hand.

Rasilia narrowly avoided Ternadan’s hand.

“Why should I run?”

“The Duke has been compromised.”

“…What? By whom? How?”

“Listen…, ah, damn it. There’s no time.”

Ternadan anxiously looked at the closed door while speaking hurriedly.

“The Duke told me. About what you’re planning to do. You decided to confess your guilt and abdicate. That’s true, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“The Duke didn’t seem to want that. He told me to bring back the sorcerer. Probably to ask about reviving the mark. But I know we can’t use the same spell on the same person twice. It’s impossible. So, the Duke gave up and decided to deal with the temple, as you wanted.”

So far, there was nothing wrong.

But then, Ternadan wouldn’t look so anxious and desperate.

“Then? Did the deal go wrong?”

“No.”

Ternadan shook his head. Then said something completely unexpected.

“The Duke has been acting strange since visiting the temple.”

“Strange how?”

“I don’t know. But the sorcerer said that he had part of the ritual taken away.”

“What does that mean?”

That statement felt ominous.

For a moment, thoughts of the royal foundationer crossed her mind. Though nothing seemed out of the ordinary, all thoughts and actions were linked to a single purpose.

“As I said, I don’t know. But it’s not normal. To restore the taken ritual, the person who took it has to achieve what they want. Sorcerers can’t intervene because it’s not a spell. Do you understand?”

Ternadan gripped Rasilia’s shoulder.

“Someone in the temple is targeting you, sister. Someone with a power that’s neither a spell nor magic! The trial will be nothing but a sham. No one can guarantee the outcome. We have to run.”

“I know the temple is plotting something against the royal family, and now I’m the target. But there’s a trial. I have to at least pretend to follow the law. According to imperial law, the royal family cannot be executed for murder.”

“You think that’s the issue now?”

Ternadan spat out in a cutting tone.

“They’re digging into the mark. They’re going to question whether you’re worthy to be Lescar’s companion.”

“Yes. With the mark gone, I’ll be abdicating…”

“Who can know if the mark disappeared or if it was never there?”

“What?”

“Disappearing marks are unprecedented. They’ll naturally scrutinize that. If they determine the mark was never there, then the Pielion family is guilty of treason. You, the Duke, and I could all end up on the gallows.”

“…”

Rasilia froze.

“You’re not wearing these clothes for no reason. You’ll reveal the mark in public. In front of all the nobles of the capital. Including the Emperor, of course.”

“That means…”

The deal was gone. The Duke, who should have ensured the deal, was compromised by the temple. What they had done to the Duke was unknown, but it was likely something even the royal foundationer couldn’t achieve.

The safety measures for the trial were gone.

What the temple wanted was a more horrifying ending than abdication.

Of course, the Emperor would try to prevent that.

But then, it would be over. She would never get another chance to leave the Emperor.

“So, let’s run, sister. There’s no other way. The Duke is no longer trustworthy. Only I can be trusted, sister.”

“…”

Rasilia bit her lip and stared at the hand Ternadan was offering.

“The sorcerer will help us get out of the country. It’ll be hard at first, but we’ll think about the rest later. I know you won’t be satisfied with just me, but… you can’t stay here and face the trial.”

“So…”
“Please, sister. How much more do I have to beg? Just believe me this once. You know that the person who cherishes you most in this world is me.”

It was then.

Ternadan’s true feelings resonated vividly.

It wasn’t heard through the ears. It was more like something seen with the eyes.

Ternadan was telling the truth.

“……If that’s the case.”

Why she was hearing his true feelings now, she didn’t know. Maybe she didn’t want to think about it. Because if not now, she would never be able to escape.

“How, where will we go?”

“Ah, thank goodness.”

When Rasilia extended her hand, Ternadan grasped it and pressed it to his forehead. He was genuinely relieved.

“Where I came from. A spell that can bring you along. If you had said no, that door would have disappeared.”

“……? What about you?”

“I would have stayed here as well. There’s nowhere to run in this room.”

“Ah……”

There was a man here who loved the empress enough to stake his entire life on it.

‘I need to tell him that I am not the empress.’

But not now. Now they needed to flee from here.

“Let’s go.”

Ternadan led Rasilia through the passage created by the spell.

Hoping to break free.

Wishing to forget it all.