Somehow, Esellion found himself in the same room with Lasillia. Lasillia was engrossed in a conversation with the Imperial Shadow Knight without realizing his presence.

[Dash] The Emperor will kill me.

[Dash] What? What on earth are you talking about?

[Dash] I had a dream as a prophet.

Lasillia looked extremely fearful. Lasillia raised her pale hand, holding the Shadow Knight.

[Dash] I entrust my life to you. Protect me from the Emperor.

[Dash] Empress.

However, the Shadow Knight remained cold. Rejecting Lasillia’s hand with a chill, the knight stood up and spoke to the frightened Lasillia.

[Dash] The Empress has a duty. It is to subjugate the demonic blood flowing in the imperial family. The known method is as widely known—consummation.

Lasillia’s face turned pale.

My face, listening to the conversation, would have been the same.

[Dash] Instead of being scared of useless prophecies, fulfill the Empress’s duty. If the Empress fulfills her duty, Your Majesty won’t have to take her life again.

[Dash] I know my duty. That’s why, even after revealing my identity as a prophet from another country, I’m still alive.

[Dash] Fortunately, you understand. But why are you neglecting your duty?

[Dash] I… …won’t.

The Shadow Knight made an impression.

[Dash] What did you say?

[Dash] … Because I don’t love the Emperor.

The Shadow Knight laughed in disbelief.

[Dash] Does that make sense? Someone born as a companion of demons?

Sadness cast a shadow on Lasillia’s beautiful face.

For the first time, Lasillia looked at me with eyes full of resignation and pain.

[Dash] I know who I love.

For a moment, it felt like my heart would burst.

[Dash] Lady Lasillia, please tell me who that is.

If Lasillia loves him, can I save Lasillia from the fate of this insane, unprecedented companion?

[Dash] I will bring him to you, Lady Lasillia.

A single tear rolled down from Lasillia’s violet eyes.

[Dash] Why don’t you say it?

[Dash] Lady Lasillia.

[Dash] Why are you just standing there?

[Dash] …!

The strange dream ended there.

No, it wasn’t clear whether it was a dream or not. Maybe I stayed in the study of the Duke with Lasillia until I heard the news that the Emperor had arrived.

If not, it wouldn’t make sense for it to be so vivid.

Can it be a memory, not a dream?

Even now, Lasillia’s face, crying, was vivid. It was too vivid, almost insane.

Lasillia did not want the fate of being a companion of demons. So, perhaps the gods showed Lasillia the death of a prophet.

No prophet has ever predicted their own fate. The gods were not such biased beings.
That meant the gods did not want the Delarta Prophet to become a companion of demons.

“Tion, how were the Imperial knights?”

Still looking worriedly at Esellion’s pale face, Tion moved his lips slightly.

“Surprisingly excellent. I thought the rumors might be exaggerated. The movements of the Imperial Guard were all well-organized. The amount of training is formidable.”

“No, it’s not that…”

“If it’s not that, what are you asking about, Your Highness?”

Recalling the harsh tone of the Shadow Knight heard in the dream, Esellion frowned.

“Did it seem like they were loyal to Lady Lasillia?”

“Hmm? Wouldn’t it be like that? It seemed that way to my eyes… but if you ask me to guarantee it, that’s a bit.”

Tion’s words trailed off.

In fact, there was no memorable attitude towards Lasillia from the Shadow Knight’s swordsmanship.

But if there was a problem with the knight’s attitude, it would have been different. Not remembering meant there was no particular anomaly.

Still, with Esellion sweating so much and asking, it felt like something needed to be squeezed out forcibly.

“Well… was the tone a bit informal?”

Rather than being informal, it was strangely casual. It felt comfortable and seemed informal.

Seeing that Lasillia didn’t mind, it was probably her natural personality.

“And then?”

It was just about that, but Esellion looked at him as if it were a very serious matter.

“Since it was a place where foreign royalty was present, if the Chief Imperial Guard Knight, it would have hidden his usual tone. Still, the casual tone seems to remain.”

“Uh… is that so?”

“Lady Lasillia said I was your guest, so she told me not to be rude. Does that mean it’s common for Shadow Knights to rudely demand things from Lady Lasillia?”

“Well, that… I’m doing well up to there…”

“Think about it. Was there such an incident with the Delarta royal guard? There wasn’t even a case of casually opening one’s mouth in front of royal guests.”

Actually, Tion had never been a royal guard, so he couldn’t compare.

“If Your Highness says so, it must be true.”

“The name Shadow Knight was coined as the Emperor’s shadow. But I alternately guarded Lady Lasillia. …Probably monitored her under the pretext of guarding.”

“Ah…? Why would they monitor the Empress? The Empire already knows your original name, as you mentioned.”

“Because Lady Lasillia does not want to become a companion of demons.”