Libel, left alone in the Emperor’s office, tilted his head back slightly. He wanted to push down the heat that suddenly rose up, but it wasn’t easy.

For a moment, a hollow laugh formed and disappeared on Libel’s lips as he stood still. He slowly left the imperial palace. It wasn’t a place he needed to linger in for long.

The Emperor’s attitude in giving orders was excessively relaxed, but he seemed rushed, as if being chased by someone. His eyes were somehow different from their usual languid gaze.

‘He saw.’

He must have witnessed Ilarid crying while leaning on him at the cemetery, and Libel embracing her.

Libel’s feet stopped abruptly as he was walking towards the garrison. Perhaps it was for the best. Cledius would now openly try to drive him to his death. But Libel had no intention of meekly accepting death that had come to his solar plexus.

The problem was Ilarid, who would be left alone for a while. If Cledius used this incident as an excuse, there was a possibility he might mistreat her or confine her.

His shaken heart came back as poison. It was a feeling he thought he had gotten under control, that he had let go of, but when Ilarid leaned on him, it crumbled helplessly.

If he hadn’t embraced Ilarid at that time and had used his hiding ability as usual, would he not have been dispatched to Rosen?

But there was no time to stand still and just regret. Libel hurried his steps towards the garrison first. After preparing to depart for Rosen, he had to meet Ilarid, even if briefly.

**

The Rosen resistance, having recaptured the city center, was bustling even in the darkness.

The resistance’s makeshift war room, hastily converted from a warehouse, was crowded with people. There were hardly any in military uniforms. Most were common people who had been living day to day in Rosen, now part of a hastily formed militia.

Their occupations were diverse. Most were engaged in fishing or belonged to merchant guilds.

Those who had handled guns in the past were given firearms reclaimed from the armory. But the majority had never properly handled weapons, let alone guns.

They fought holding harpoons and blocking the Imperial army’s attacks with handcarts. Their victory and recapture of the center was nothing short of a miracle.

A map of Rosen was spread out on the table in the war room. They had succeeded in driving the Imperial army to the outskirts, but the problem was what came next. The Emperor was not one to stand by and watch the resistance in Rosen.

The Grand Duke of Rosen checked the current situation with a stern face. What would it be this time? Would he send mercenaries again to threaten the lives of Rosen’s people? A knock on the door echoed his heavy heart.

“Your Grace, it’s Paulo Lanford.”

“Come in.”

A man who seemed to be nearing the end of middle age entered the war room. There were some gray hairs visible among his navy blue hair, but they didn’t look out of place. Like other resistance members, he held a gun in his hand.

“Thanks to the support of the Lanford merchant group, we’ve been able to come this far. I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”

“It’s an honor. As someone living in Rosen, I should do at least this much. And… as you said, we’ve evacuated all the women, elderly, and children outside Rosen’s borders. Those remaining in Rosen are all determined to fight to the death.”

A heavy silence fell in the war room. In fact, it was a miracle they had come this far.

How would they be remembered outside of Rosen? As brave ones who fought to the end against the Empire’s rule and oppression, or as foolish ones who put up a futile resistance?

The Grand Duke of Rosen firmly grasped Paulo’s shoulder in front of him. The Duke’s eyes held the firmness of one prepared for death.

“I’m counting on you until the very end.”

Paulo quietly accepted the Duke’s resolve. Now it was time for him to steel his own heart.

One of the merchant guild members who had been watching nervously approached Paulo. Even in a situation overshadowed by death, his face showed more concern than tension.

“Paulo, what about… your daughter?”

“Cecilia will manage well. She’s a strong child.”

“But this situation must be quite shocking for her.”

“It’s been years since we’ve met, she might have forgotten her father’s face by now.”

She wasn’t just any ordinary daughter. From a young age, she had shown exceptional intelligence, growing up known as a genius around the port.

From when Cecilia was about ten years old, they would board ships together and go to trading places together. Although she didn’t know much about business, the hope was that her perspective would broaden by seeing and experiencing things firsthand.

The peace between father and daughter was shattered when Paulo’s ex-wife, Liwena, returned.

She had left home when their daughter was about three years old, then suddenly returned years later insisting that she would raise Cecilia.

Paulo raised his voice, telling her not to say such nonsense, but now Liwena had become the ‘Duchess of Icastel’. The family name and corresponding wealth were enough to overwhelm Paulo.

‘You’re going to raise Cecilia in this backwater? In this small port city with no proper education or environment? What could she do growing up here, do you think a woman from Rosen could marry a proper man?’

Liwena insisted on Cecilia’s future.

A child’s future is both the greatest hope and weakness for a parent. In the end, Paulo had no choice but to send Cecilia to his ex-wife.

Cecilia was no longer Paulo Lanford’s daughter. Now with the prestige of the Icastel family behind her, she would fly even further.

She had even been admitted to the Imperial Military Academy. He had no desire to make her suffer by being implicated through guilt by association when it was obvious her birth father would be branded as a ‘rebel’.

Paulo steeled his heart. Even if he were captured by the Imperial army and endured all sorts of hardships, he resolved never to utter the name Cecilia Lanford.

**

Ilarid lay on the bed in her nightgown, with a cool towel placed over her eyes.

As soon as she entered the Empress’s palace after sending Libel off and faced her maids, a flurry of fuss erupted.

Had the Empress ever cried like this before? All the maids and servants were visibly flustered at a sight they hadn’t seen in years.

But it was right after returning from the child’s grave. There was only one reason to cry, so they didn’t comment and quietly prepared cold water towels.

Ilarid touched the towel placed over her eyes. The cold sensation had mostly dissipated, leaving only a faint lukewarm temperature.

She was about to remove the towel and dim the lamp on the bedside table when it happened.

Tok.

At first, she thought she had misheard. A small sound like a grain of sand carried by the wind hitting the window. She shook her head and was about to try to sleep again when:

Tok, tok.

It was certain now. Someone was outside the balcony. Ilarid immediately thought of Libel. At this hour, in this manner, it could only be Libel.

She hurriedly drew back the curtains and opened the window. The now somewhat lukewarm night air crept inside her nightgown.

Grasping the balcony railing and looking down, she saw the familiar face she had met in the afternoon.

“Libel.”

“I greet Your Majesty the Empress.”

He left a short, gruff greeting. It was a quiet night, and even small voices could be faintly heard.

Libel spoke in a low voice from just below the balcony.

“I apologize, but may I come up to speak with you?”

“You want to come up here?”

Not just the fact that he wanted to come up, but how did he intend to jump this height? Ilarid quickly surveyed the surroundings.

Fortunately, the guards hadn’t patrolled this area yet. If Libel was going to climb up to the balcony, now was the perfect time.

“…Alright.”

Ilarid nodded, albeit skeptically. As soon as her permission was given, Libel immediately climbed up the wall.

Ilarid’s mouth opened slightly at the astonishing sight. His movements were so light that there wasn’t even a sound when he landed. Was he really human? It was truly monstrous movement.

Facing Ilarid, Libel opened his mouth in a dry voice. His tone sounded quite urgent.

“Your Majesty. The situation in Rosen is developing rapidly.”

He went straight to the point. Soon, words like rebellion and suppression poured out of Libel’s mouth. The leader of the rebellion would be beheaded on the spot. And the owner of the merchant group that aided the rebels would be transported to the capital.

‘They intend to hand them over to Tamiel.’

There was no intention of finding out who the mastermind was from the start. They were determined to use any means necessary to show the world what happens when you raise a flag against the Empire.

But Tamiel was someone who didn’t treat people as people. Even if they were rebels, she didn’t want to hand them over to Tamiel.

Ilarid’s mind became complicated. Libel was in a position where he had to follow Cledius’s orders immediately. That was how he could extend his contract and stay in the imperial palace longer to make his mark on Ilarid’s plan.

How nice it would be if the Empress could step in at a moment like this.

If she could exercise the three rights of royal command like the previous empresses, Ilarid would have immediately pulled one out to stop the transport procession.

Perhaps reading her complex expression, Libel hesitantly brought up the one thing that bothered him the most.

“And… I think you should know. It seems His Majesty the Emperor witnessed Your Majesty and me.”

“Ah.”

Despite the gravity of the statement, Ilarid didn’t waver. She let out a faint sigh, but showed no signs of being flustered.

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Ilarid’s complex expression suddenly became clear. Wasn’t that one issue progressing steadily?

‘After all, I was planning to propose ‘shadow’ to Libel.’

Perhaps Cledius’s witnessing could serve as proper groundwork.

It was much better to show signs than to suddenly declare bringing in Libel as a shadow. She had shown once during the swordsmanship tournament to provoke Cledius, so what he saw at the cemetery would be the definitive wedge.

Ilarid gave Libel a faint smile. His face, which had been tense until now, relaxed at once.

“There won’t be any problems with my safety. However… I’m worried about Captain Libel.”

Just seeing how they were sending the entire Rikas mercenary group to Rosen, it was clear that Cledius was properly upset. There would be an abundance of things that could harm Libel’s life in the future, so Ilarid had to protect him by any means necessary.

It wasn’t just because she wanted to use him for revenge.

The emotion that had been engraved in Ilarid without her knowing was clearly more than that.

The feeling that arose from a small fondness met the warmth of affection and slowly blossomed, and her frozen heart began to melt slowly.

She thought she hoped he would be safe, that he wouldn’t get hurt. She wished he could live feeling even a small happiness without pain.

As if sensing Ilarid’s thoughts, Libel pulled her hand towards his lips. Soon she felt his hot breath on the tip of her nails.

“Don’t worry about me.”

He had lived with the sole determination to meet her. He would survive by any means necessary and remain by Ilarid’s side. And that feeling was still valid.

“Your Majesty. Do you have any separate orders?”

“…Yes.”

There was only one thing Ilarid wanted.

“Come back safely.”

Libel’s hand holding the tip of her finger trembled slightly. He hesitated for a moment, then this time brought her hand to his lips.

Quite a long time passed for what should have been a respectful greeting. When the hot heat finally left Ilarid’s hand, Libel barely managed to collect his shaken heart and opened his mouth.

“I’ll be back.”

The night air that had only felt lukewarm suddenly became hot. It was an ordinary farewell greeting, but that one phrase saying he would return strangely stuck in her heart and wouldn’t leave.

As always, Libel disappeared in an instant. He was a man accustomed to moving in the darkness and hiding within it.

Now Ilarid was naturally thinking of Libel when she saw shadows and the dark night.

“Please, without any incident…”

She sought out the god she had forgotten for a long time. You always said you answer prayers in different ways. But just this once, I pray that Libel will be safe, literally.

There was still no answer. Only the night wind blew slightly, pushing the balcony window open a little.