“Now, what…?”

The eerie words that made one doubt their ears instantly sharpened the fading consciousness.

“Oh my, what will you do if you don’t come to your senses.”

Annoyingly dealing with an unnecessary adversary twice, the man with a cold tongue pressed the bottle under Cloe’s nose. It was a short moment, but the effect it produced was remarkable.

Her eye color, as blue as the clear sky, had faded. Even the pupils that were always frosty had become blurred without focus.

Realizing that the effects of the drug had worked properly, the man took a step back. Though this place is sparsely populated, it is still within the palace, a place with many watching eyes, and a place that takes unnecessary interest in this woman.

In the unknown world where someone might pop out at any moment, there was nothing good about delaying time.

“No, Empress! You’re planning to go out now. Are you sure you’re well?”

“……”

“Understood, I’ll quickly arrange for a carriage. Please trust only me and follow me.”

With a gentle face, he shouted next to Cloe. If he played the role like this, there would be no suspicion from others. Moreover, since he was wearing the knight’s armor, there was no room for doubt.

Utilizing a part not visible to other people, the man bound Cloe’s arms. Then, at his pace, he dragged her away.

They only needed to go as far as the station where the carriage was waiting.

“Empress?”

A maid approached the two people walking side by side. Sensing something suspicious about Cloe, she approached briskly.

“Even if you’re feeling better, where are you going? Are you planning to go out?”

“……”

“You shouldn’t go out already. You’ve been sick for a few days and have just recovered. Don’t you need a few more days of rest?”

Then, the man poked her, urging her. Reacting to the collision, Cloe responded promptly.

“It’s okay; I’ll be back soon, so don’t worry.”

“Does the Emperor know about this?”

The maid asked suspiciously.

At the mention of the Emperor, Kun, Cloe flinched. The man, who had been bothered by the subtle change in the opponent, finally intercepted.

“He is aware of it. So, please don’t worry too much.”

“…I’ve never seen a face like this in the Knights. Who are you? Surely, a probationary knight wouldn’t accompany the Empress!”

However, the appearance seemed quite suspicious, so the maid was wary of the man.

“Calling me a probationary knight is an insult to my dignity. Please look at the brooch on my armor; I’m a senior knight, aren’t I?”

Then, the man proudly pointed to his armor. However, there was not a single brooch on his armor to prove his identity.

“What’s happening now…?”

The maid, who took the man’s rude actions as a joke, was about to get angry. As she breathed in, a different scent invaded her nose. Soon, her head tingled, and her thoughts became hazy.
The maid’s determination to suspect the man or be cautious about the situation crumbled in an instant.

“Empress desires it, and moreover, the Emperor has granted permission, so there shouldn’t be any problem now. Can we go now? The carriage is waiting.”

“…If you both agree…”

The woman’s faded eyes blinked. She repeatedly nodded her head at a slow pace.

As soon as the man’s feet were released, he immediately pulled Cloe outside. Fortunately, there were no knights encountered on the way to the main gate. It was timed to visit during the knights’ training hours.

The guards in front of the main gate were also dealt with using the drug. Although the situation was precarious due to the depleted drug, they managed to avoid encountering anyone else.

The man hastily ran to the carriage parked in front of the agreed-upon location.

“Quickly, get in!”

After pushing Cloe into the carriage as if urging her, he closed the door. Soon after, he signaled to depart by banging the wall.

Not long after the carriage started moving, the man breathed a sigh of relief. Despite having good weapons, he was still tense, and his forehead was covered in sweat.

“Did you bring her well?”

It was when he wiped away the sweat with a loosely hanging handkerchief.

From across the carriage, a person sitting arrogantly with crossed legs appeared.

Cedric Theodor.

Not only his accomplice but also someone else had seen that man.

Cloe, who had been quietly sitting like a doll under the influence of the drug, suddenly stood up. The survival instinct she felt upon confirming Cedric’s presence had overcome the effects of the drug.

“You…!”

Shouting towards Cedric, she then looked around.

An old carriage, windows painted black to prevent seeing the outside situation.

The man who made her smell the mysterious drug and Cedric, who looked quite familiar.

It was a situation that required no deep thought.

Understanding her situation, Cloe took out a concealed dagger from her dress. Without a moment to spare, she quickly stabbed the hand of the person beside her.

“Ah!”

As the attack hit, the man groaned in pain. Due to the man inside the carriage holding onto the bleeding hand, the interior became chaotic.