In response to the worried duke, Violet laughed like a girl, put her arms around the duke’s arm, and disappeared from here.

I stood up from the bushes and stared blankly at Violet and the duke’s retreating figures.

“Check it.”

Hertian supported me as I staggered, lifted my weak wrist, and raised it. A bracelet on my wrist. He turned it for me instead.

Though sparse, since the Grand Duchess might not be the prophet yet, it was a suggestion to check.

As he turned the enchantment embedded in the bracelet, a familiar map came to mind. The mark on the map moved in the direction Violet disappeared, like her vanishing footsteps.

“…It was the Grand Duchess.”

A dry, parched voice came out.

Unlike me, who was swaying, Hertian calmly turned the enchantment again.

The prophet’s mark stayed within.

It was a natural result since she had taken off the robe.

“Let’s go check.”

He removed the leaf mask and mine, then helped me up.

“What is it…?”

Was there a need for further verification?

In response to my weak question, he pointed with his finger to the door where Violet came out.

“Since we found the Grand Duchess together, now it’s time to check where the prophet is.”

“But…”

The identity of the prophet has already been revealed.

I shook my head. Even though I was convinced it wasn’t Violet, that trust fell to the ground.

But Hertian grabbed my hand.

“If the prophet is not there, then we’ll think again at that time.”

He wanted to make sure.

And that was also a word for me.

I hoped I hadn’t been fooled by the prophet.

“Okay. Let’s go check.”

Holding his hand, just as we were about to leave the bushes.

“…Smoke is coming from over there.”

Black smoke rose between the doors Violet came out of.

Hertian, looking at the direction I pointed to, wrinkled his face and quickly rushed in that direction. As I followed him to the door, a pungent smoke rose.

“It seems like there’s a fire inside.”

At my words, Hertian grabbed the doorknob hotly. Through the open crack, red flames, along with black smoke, were devouring the inside like a monster.

No one was visible inside.

Only the black robe going inside was clearly confirmed.

‘Did she intentionally set fire?’
The robe that had hidden the prophet’s appearance like someone erasing their traces and leaving, engulfed in flames, entered and burned.

As I momentarily lost my breath due to the intense heat, Hertian asked me.

“You mentioned that the children were there, didn’t you?”

I gasped audibly.

There were children in the adjacent room.

“We need to rescue them quickly!”

Hertian’s face became serious.

“I will go in that direction, so please call someone to put out the fire.”

“Yes, I will do that.”

I ran in the opposite direction with Hertian, towards a place where there might be knights. The fire was intensifying behind us.

“But the knights are not in the places they should be.”

Unfortunately, as the banquet hall was far from the location, it would take a long time to reach there.

‘At this rate, everyone could be in danger.’

I scanned the surroundings and changed direction to the laundry room I discovered.

Fortunately, there were maids arranging the laundry.

The maids looked surprised and bowed when they saw me.

“There’s a fire in the palace over there, so inform the knights and servants of this fact. Bring water and salt to extinguish the fire. Hurry.”

I quickly gave orders and took a large jug of water back to the burning area. The uncomfortable shoes had been thrown away a long time ago.

However, the door where the children should be was broken.

It seemed the door didn’t open. Hertian undoubtedly broke it down and entered.

“Leave this here, and go get water or salt to put out the fire. If there are people nearby, be sure to ask for help.”

“Yes, yes!”

The maids ran off.

I couldn’t bring maids who knew nothing into the fire.

Instead, I took the water bottle I brought, placed it on my head, and tore the cumbersome dress hem with a broken piece of the bottle.

If there were several children, Hertian alone might not be enough.

Before the fire spread further, we had to save at least one more person.

Covering my mouth with a soaked handkerchief, I entered the smoky room.

I saw a door connected to the room where Violet came out. The fire seemed to have started from there, as the door was blackened, losing its original color.

“Hertian!”

I called him and cautiously explored the room.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, there was no sight or sound of the children. The sparks from the spreading fire in the next room were not significant.

“Who’s there?”

I carefully entered deeper into the room, covering my mouth with a wet handkerchief. The door connected to the room where Violet came out was visible. The fire seemed to have started from there, as the door was blackened, losing its original color.

“Hertian!”

I called him and cautiously explored the room.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, there was no sight or sound of the children. The sparks from the spreading fire in the next room were not significant.

“Who’s there?”

I heard a murmuring sound under the table.