Ken quickly bowed his head to my words, but Ron seemed unable to do even that.

‘Did the emperor order this…? Why is he making that face?’

“Ron. Won’t you answer?”

“No… I will keep it in mind.”

The atmosphere was no better than before. But Shasha’s reaction was unexpected. I worried she might be scared or surprised by the stale situation, but surprisingly, Shasha didn’t look emotional at all.

As if she was familiar with the situation.

As if she didn’t know fear or terror.

“Shasha.”

“Yes!”

“Are you okay?”

“…I’m a little worried about going to the tower, but I think it’s okay.”

Shasha, who smiled bashfully, sparkled her eyes.

“That’s a relief, then.”

“Is it okay to open the carriage door?”

“Open it.”

Only then did the door slowly open. Shasha tightly held my hand and got out of the carriage. What we saw was a dark, damp building.

A black building soaring to the sky, surrounded by barren land without a single blade of grass.

Except for a person in a black hood guarding the building, there was no sense that people lived there at all.

As I got off the carriage, the person in the hood, who seemed to be dozing off, quickly raised his head.

Seeing the knights behind the carriage, he was startled and stepped back.

“Uhoh…”

I thought it was an adult, but as he got out of the carriage, it was a child. About sixteen, maybe. Looking closely, his face seemed very young.

“H… h… how did you come here?”

“I was scheduled to meet the tower master today.”

“An appointment with the tower master…”

Then, Shasha waved her hand at the child in front.

“Ah. Shasha!”

“I came with my sister today.”

“I heard Shasha was coming… So you are Shasha’s sister. You can go in right away. The tower master will be waiting.”

“Yes! Sister, let’s go!”

Shasha led me, as if familiar.

“Um… What about the others…”

The child in front stopped Ron and Ken as we tried to enter.

“Don’t these other people enter?”

“Yes… Only those permitted by the tower master… can enter.”

“That’s not acceptable. It’s not someone else but the Empress…”

“No. Don’t make the child uncomfortable. This is the tower, after all. What could possibly happen at the tower?”

Again, I quickly stopped Ron, who was about to say I was the Empress.

“Yes? But it’s not somewhere else, and the safety risk is…”

“If I disappear or get hurt here, they know whose responsibility it will be. Who would attack me? It’s the tower. So don’t worry.”

“Understood.”

“Isn’t even one person allowed?”
Ron seemed like someone who didn’t know how to give up. Ken backed away immediately, but Ron acted excessively, as if he wanted to somehow catch my eye.

“Bu… but… then I…”

The child, who had been unusually feeble, made a troubled expression and waved his hand.

From what I’ve heard so far, I could predict how the magician behaved towards other children. If even a child growing up here is afraid to such an extent…

‘Maybe the magician is the least humane of all.’

I felt momentarily what kind of treatment Shasha had been receiving and was suddenly infuriated.

“Stop it, Ron. How much more do you want to trouble me?”

“Ah… sor, sorry. I am just worried…”

“If you are worried, stay here well. There won’t be anything happening at the magician’s place since I’ve even brought the knights along. If anything dangerous seems likely, I will send my knights, so don’t worry.”

“You have knights?”

Only after blurting it out in irritation did I come to my senses.

Where would I have knights? Other than the pigeon knights. The pigeon knights who were so embarrassed that they never showed themselves in front of me even once.

The knights that are even said to dance.

“What… yes, I have.”

“Oh… where are they?”

“Do I have to tell you that?”

“Not that, but I am worried…”

“Don’t worry. They are more capable than anyone. So stay here.”