“It’d be better to be woken up by someone banging on the window than this……”

Lailo was shocked by the scene unfolding before his eyes. Not just him, but all the mercenary unit members had to come out in their pajamas.

Suddenly in the middle of the night, the Imperial Guard barged in and started searching the entire lodging, saying they needed to conduct a search.

Apparently Her Majesty the Empress had disappeared. Why were they searching this irrelevant place when it was their own wife who had gone missing? They grumbled quietly, unable to voice their complaints out loud.

“Search thoroughly.”

Cledius was standing in front. His demeanor was so menacing that there was no room for jokes.

Despite the late hour, his appearance was impeccable. Does His Majesty the Emperor always come dressed so perfectly even when woken from sleep? How annoying. Eddie barely pouted his lips, almost imperceptibly.

The opponent was the Emperor. Someone who, if they made a wrong move, would have to accept being shot or beheaded on the spot without question. Given the vast difference in status from the unit members, they had no choice but to keep their eyes fixed on the ground and their ears closed.

“Where is the commander?”

Come to think of it, the commander was nowhere to be seen despite this commotion. Eddie looked anxiously towards the inner part of the lodging. Normally, he would have rushed out to try to defuse the situation before any disturbance could arise.

‘Could he have gone to the Empress’s palace?’

But if Lebel had gone to the Empress’s palace, the Emperor wouldn’t have come all the way to the unit’s quarters. Or was he deliberately causing a scene to find fault, knowing in advance?

“Well, we’re not sure where he is……”

“I greet Your Majesty the Emperor.”

“……There he is.”

Lebel walked out from inside the lodging. He was dressed comfortably, as if he had just woken up. Even his slightly disheveled hair was perfect.

Lebel approached Cledius without hesitation and knelt on one knee. His disciplined posture seemed to exude an indescribable loyalty.

“I judge this to be an urgent matter, given Your Majesty’s sudden visit in the middle of the night. What is the matter?”

“The Empress has disappeared.”

“……Is that so.”

“You don’t seem surprised.”

“How could a mere mercenary dare comment on Her Majesty’s nighttime activities?”

No sooner had Lebel finished speaking than Cledius’s boot flew at him. He barely managed to block the impact, inhaling sharply, but the pain that struck his abdomen did not subside easily.

At the sudden kick, the unit members’ faces hardened as they stepped forward. Even if he was the Emperor, to kick a subordinate so carelessly in front of everyone.

“……Everyone, stand back.”

But Lebel extended his hand to stop them. If they made a wrong move here, the entire mercenary unit could suffer. His staggering body returned to an upright posture. A sardonic smile played on Cledius’s lips as he watched Lebel’s actions.

“It seems you understand your place, which is fortunate. Stand up.”

As Lebel barely managed to get to his feet, a fist flew without hesitation. Lebel clenched his mouth shut, preparing to receive the Emperor’s blow.

But the next event did not unfold.

Cledius’s fist was blocked by none other than Kailem’s hand.

“Kailem Western, how dare you……”

“I deserve death for daring to block Your Majesty the Emperor. However, there are many eyes watching right now. Please consider this.”

Not only the mercenary unit, but also the Imperial Guard were witnessing this scene in its entirety. Even for an Emperor standing at the pinnacle of power, this kind of violence would clearly have a major impact on his reputation.

And also because of a very slight sense of guilt.

Cledius tried to shake off the captain of the Imperial Guard, but Kailem did not loosen his grip. Surprisingly, his strength was enough to not be overpowered by the Emperor in his prime.

“……I will discipline you for your insolent behavior later.”

He barely managed to pull his hand free and whispered lowly to Kailem. Then he directly commanded the Imperial Guard to search the entire quarters.

“Why don’t you bring shovels and plows while you’re at it? At this rate, it looks like they’re going to dig up the ground too.”

“Shh, they’ll hear you.”

Some officers entered the lodging. Lebel’s gaze narrowed instantly as he watched their movements.

There were quite a few suspicious items inside. No problem with the gray hawk, since everything related to it had been incinerated. Limless’s letter was also hidden so it couldn’t be easily found.

The only unique problem today was, would it be well hidden?

The search took quite a long time. But there were no results.

The Imperial Guard officers combed through the quarters and mercenary lodgings meticulously, but couldn’t find even a strand of the Empress’s hair.

Unit members who had been dozing off while standing grumbled here and there.

“See that? Why wake up innocent people……”

“Quiet. His Majesty the Emperor is enraged right now.”

They had hoped to find even the slightest suspicious item to pick a fight, but all that came out of the lodging were a few books, weapons, medicines, and clothing. Even thoroughly searching personal belongings revealed nothing suspicious.

Cledius glared at his rival, who maintained his composure. The nonchalance that made him seem like he knew something made Cledius uneasy.

If by any chance he had caught the falling Ilarid and brought her here, it would roughly fit the story.

But Ilarid, who could be evidence, was nowhere to be seen. It was the moment when Cledius’s speculation completely missed the mark.

“Being of humble status, my vision was narrow. I deeply regret not realizing Your Majesty’s concern.”

Lebel still looked at the ground. The only subservient part of him was his mouth. The counterattack hidden within the fluently flowing submission was painful.

Cledius curled his fingers inward, cracking his joints audibly. He had to barely restrain the urge to grab Lebel’s hair and force him to kneel.

“If Your Majesty needs it, we will also assemble search personnel from the mercenary unit.”

“Not necessary. We’re leaving now.”

There was no point in staying at the quarters any longer, as the person they were looking for wouldn’t appear. As Cledius left, he ordered to further increase the Imperial Guard’s search force. The Imperial Guard officers, including Kailem, gradually moved away from the quarters.

As the last person faded into a distant speck, the unit members let out the stifled sighs they had been holding back.

“To all members of the mercenary unit, good work everyone.”

“Phew, I thought I was going to suffocate. What was all this commotion so suddenly?”

“By the way…… Nothing happened inside, right? Looks like those guys who went in to search came up empty-handed.”

Lailo craned his neck, glancing towards the inside of the lodging. After confirming that the Imperial Guard had completely left, Lebel went inside.

“Luth.”

A human figure wriggled and popped out from the darkness. It was a scene that would have startled an ordinary person.

“……Her Majesty the Empress is in the commander’s room. I just escorted her there.”

“Thank you in many ways.”

Luth bowed his head and slipped outside. Having gone through one big commotion, it seemed proper to leave a moment of time just for the two of them.

Inside the private room, Ilarid sat still on Lebel’s bed.

“The room’s owner is here. I took the chance to look around a bit.”

Under the lamplight, her bare shoulders were fully exposed. The outer garment she had picked up when with Lebel was nowhere to be seen. It must have fallen somewhere while trying to escape from Cledius.

And there were faint red marks pressed into her shoulders. Lebel didn’t ask what had happened to Ilarid. He had no intention of doing so. He was only worried that it must have hurt, and if left alone, it would likely swell up.

Ilarid felt Lebel’s gaze and looked at the handprints on her own shoulder.

“Ah, this……”

“You don’t need to say anything. But it would be better to apply some medicine.”

“For just this much?”

“It would be better to forbid that phrase from now on.”

Where is there a degree to injuries? The pain accumulated bit by bit was too great to be dismissed with words like “just this much”.

Lebel opened a drawer and took out some ointment. Being in a profession prone to injuries, he kept all the basic first aid supplies on hand.

He disinfected his hands with practiced ease and took out clean bandages, starting to cut them to the appropriate size. It was an exceptionally attentive hand movement.

It was closer to gentle caressing than applying medicine to a wound. Ilarid kept her mouth shut the entire time Lebel was applying the ointment. She felt that if she made even the slightest mistake, she would be caught trembling.

Her gaze naturally drifted away and fell to the ground, but the other person seemed unaffected. He just seemed to be focusing solely on applying a thin layer of ointment, not noticing anything else.

“……It’s done. Be careful, as the bandage may come off.”

“My body is being pampered.”

“I’ll prepare separate outer clothing for you.”

“It’s fine, there’s no need for……”

A short groan of “ugh” escaped Lebel’s lips. Ilarid immediately noticed something was wrong with him and urgently grabbed him.

“You’re hurt. Right?”

“I’m fine.”

“Let me see.”

Ilarid lifted Lebel’s top. Judging by how severely swollen the abdominal area was, it was clearly Cledius’s doing. Her molars clenched tightly, making a light grinding sound.

“……Should I kill him right now?”

“Please restrain yourself.”

“That medicine from earlier, it’s for reducing swelling, right? Give it here.”

“For just this much……”

“Didn’t we say that phrase was forbidden?”

In fact, when it came to stubbornness, Ilarid was one step ahead. Lebel smiled faintly and handed over the ointment. Then, just like in the hospital room before, he naturally took off his top in front of Ilarid.

“I hoped you wouldn’t get hurt, but I couldn’t protect you this time either.”

“But if Your Majesty the Empress had remained in the Empress’s palace……”

The aftermath was too burdensome to imagine. Rather, it was better to end up getting kicked once like this. The pain Ilarid would have endured would have been greater and more painful than this.

Once the ointment seemed to be roughly applied, Lebel picked up the top he had taken off beside him.

“It’s done now.”

“You put all that care into my wounds, why are you so careless with your own?”

“Time is of the essence. We have matters to resolve by tonight.”

Lebel smiled as he moved closer to Ilarid’s face. His eyes sparkled like a boy planning an interesting prank.

He quietly extended his hand. A bare hand full of scars and calluses. Now his hand was familiar and comfortable to Ilarid. Without hesitation, she took Lebel’s hand and ran out towards the night.

**

Surprisingly, Luth accompanied them all the way to near the palace where ghosts were said to appear.

“Search personnel are currently spread throughout the imperial palace. It seemed too risky for the commander alone.”

“……Please.”

Eddie pushed Luth’s back, and Luth also nodded quietly, seeking permission. From Lebel’s perspective, it was rather reassuring. It was a point when his abilities had become somewhat unstable, so there was a need to make sure.

“Then I’ll leave it to you. There’s no harm in being careful.”

Once they left the quarters, the search force filled the imperial palace. Although expected, Luth and Lebel had to rack their brains over the considerable number of soldiers.

By the time they managed to shake them off, they were already in front of the palace where ghosts frequently appeared.

A place no different from being half-abandoned. Just in case, when they searched the records, it said that one of the Emperor’s concubines in the past had lived in this palace.

But time passed, favor waned, and hearts grew numb. Now it had fallen to become an unwanted palace, just a part of the vast palace complex.

“……I’ll guard the front.”

Luth said he would watch if the search party came this way, and let only the two of them enter. Inside was excessively dark. They had to refrain from lighting lamps as it might seem suspicious from outside, so they had to cautiously advance, barely able to see where they were stepping.

A chilly air swirled inside the empty palace. When Lebel ran his hand over the windowsill, gray dust that hadn’t been cleaned off clung to it.

Although the maids did basic cleaning, it seemed they didn’t pay attention to detailed areas since there were no occupants.

“Could it really be my brother?”

“If Your Majesty the Empress feels that way, it must be so.”

“But why appear so suddenly now?”

He should have appeared at least once in a dream before. A slight feeling of disappointment rose up.

“They say ghosts are the embodiment of longing. I’ve been longing enough. If I’m told to express it more desperately…… Shouldn’t I burn myself?”

Lebel’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt. He seemed quite shocked by Ilarid’s words. Ilarid had to hurriedly grab his hand and offer an explanation that wasn’t really an explanation.

“Hey, Lebel. It’s just a metaphor.”

Only after Ilarid held Lebel’s hand and soothed him for a while were they able to walk together again. It seemed like something Ilarid would naturally do. If she could escape from Cledius, she would be more than willing to burn herself.

Just looking at the incident in the Empress’s palace earlier, there was no hesitation to be found in her figure as she jumped down.

Rather, it felt like a sense of liberation. Like the first flap of wings of a white bird preparing to glide in order to soar. Lebel gripped Ilarid’s hand again, overcome by a sudden feeling of fear.

How wonderful it would be if you could feel freedom in this small moment. Death could never bring you liberation.

It was then. Ilarid, who had been walking quietly, stopped and tightened her grip on Lebel’s hand.

“Did you…… just see that?”