No matter how you looked at it, he hadn’t expected him to be so assertive.

‘No, I won’t harbor any affection for the Empress… I just want to treat her as the owner of the aura… Wait a moment.’

Suddenly, a thought came to mind.

“Do auras have different colors depending on the material, like sacred power?”

Ryan casually threw out the question, and Rescal didn’t miss it.

“There was a difference. There weren’t many cases where the colors were so distinct as to be noticeable. … What did you see?”
Ryan’s expression became uncomfortable for a different reason.

“It’s about Prince Delarta, he was purple.”

“…….”

Rescal’s expression became similar to Ryan’s.

“For some reason, I want to tidy up here quickly and go to Empress. It’s suspicious that Prince Delarta hasn’t shown himself until now.”

Kyawook!

“Empress! Take cover!”

“Beep!”

Wrong. There was no other way.

The demons didn’t disappear, and the flames caused by the phoenix had limitations. Rescal’s teasing about him being short wasn’t groundless.

When Serben carved the demons, Pippi burned each small piece one by one. But that method took too long.

The shattered demons grew back to their original size faster.

A demon that managed to avoid the eyes of the Imperial Guard and flew into the main hall made him realize his limits.

“Beep! Squeak!”

Pippi whimpered.

It seemed like there was no other choice, so he told Lascellia to take cover in the next room.

“I and the phoenix will guard the rear. When I give the signal, run to the other side and lock the door.”

“What about Pippi?”

“I don’t think he’ll die.”

“Beep!”

“I can’t escape alone.”

Serben said firmly to Lascellia, who nodded.

“No, you have to. If Empress makes a mistake, it means the Empire could be in danger.”

“Should we all run away?”

“There’s no gap. Now that those bastards have become four… Huh!”

“Beep!”

Demons that had been looking around for opportunities all rushed in.

“Empress!”

With urgency in his voice, Serben covered Lascellia with his body, intending to save her.

“Beep!”

Pippi spewed flames that had become much weaker than before.

It was at that moment.

“Don’t move.”

Pssss!

A chilly aura that came from somewhere made them freeze.

“Ah… Thank you.”

Serben wiped his sweat-soaked forehead with a tired hand.

The fear that Lascellia might be harmed was greater than dealing with the demons.

After Prince Delarta dealt with all the demons, he still had a strong purple aura around his sword.

The same was true for his two subordinates. Unlike Prince Esellion, it wasn’t a vivid and strong aura, but it was visible.

Interestingly, the colors were diverse. One of them had an almost invisible transparent color, and another had a light green color.

What was even more interesting was that the one with a transparent aura was covering his eyes with white fabric. Serben had never seen a knight not looking ahead while fighting.

“Are there more of them in the main hall?”

If all three were pulling out those auras, it meant there were more demons to this point.

“No.”

However, the answer that came was like this.

“No… there weren’t any? But why,”
“Lascellia, ma’am.”

Esellion, who interrupted Serben’s words, called Lascellia.

“Yes, Prince Esellion. I must express my gratitude for saving me and Sir Sigres’s lives earlier. I am in your debt.”

“Beep, beep!”

Even though Pippi was panting from exhaustion, he still guarded against Esellion. He told her not to listen to what he said.

“There are no demons in the main hall right now, but they will be swarming shortly. The Empire’s military force won’t be able to stop them.”

“Oh no. Are more demons coming? Are they close enough to be seen with the naked eye?”

“No.”

It was a very firm answer. There was no denying the sense of something being off.

“That’s why you should avoid it before that happens.”

“Is avoiding it the solution? If the Empire can’t block them,”

“That’s the Empire’s job to handle. It’s what happens when demons are emperors.”

“Prince Esellion.”

Esellion still treated himself as Delarta’s prophet. Lascellia pointed that out.

“You’re the Empress of the Empire. The affairs of the Empire and the Imperial Family cannot be separate from me.”

“You don’t need to think like that anymore.”

Esellion reached out his hand.

“Please take my hand, Lascellia. You don’t have to endure the Empire’s reckless demands anymore.”

“Remove your hand.”

Before Lascellia could answer, Serben blocked Esellion with his sword.

“The Prince’s statement sounds like declaring the Empire as an enemy. If he takes one step closer to Empress, we will consider him an enemy.”

Esellion glanced at Serben and opened his lips.

“…if you wish.”

At the same time, a purple aura surged violently and covered Serben.

“Sir Sigres!”

“Beep!”

Lascellia and Pippi screamed. Hurriedly reaching out her hand toward him, Esellion approached and seized it.

“Don’t touch him, Lascellia.”

“Beep!”

Pippi spewed flames toward Esellion. The purple aura seemed to block Pippi’s flames, but then it engulfed Pippi.

“Pippi! No! …Prince Esellion! Please retract your power! Quickly!”

“This is for you, Lascellia. Please forgive me for my rudeness.”

Esellion embraced Lascellia.

“Let go!”

Pressing down on the struggling Lascellia with his strength, he called his subordinate.

“Yenion.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Yenion approached Lascellia. He untied the cloth covering his eyes.

His pupils were as bright as eyes.

“…”

The moment their eyes met, consciousness melted away like snow in spring.