His bedroom was truly ‘Derek Noert’ itself.

Gray furniture, a plain white blanket, and pillow with no patterns.

A dull table without even a single decorative item.

Carefully examining the bedroom where only essential items existed, I could easily discern that Derek was not particularly happy.

He had always been ready to relinquish his position as the vice-captain and return to the side of the Empress.

In front of me, who was wandering around, Derek knelt down on one knee.

“Your Majesty.”

“Speak.”

“Now… do you not need me anymore?”

I could estimate how agonizing it must have been for Derek to utter that single sentence.

I looked down at my knight, like a snowflake, and gently lifted his rough chin.

“I desire loyalty from my knights. Nothing more.”

“I have given my loyalty. My life belongs to Your Majesty. If possible, I want to offer even my soul.”

“If you wanted to give it, you should be happy. Why do you look so troubled?”

“……That is.”

For a moment, Derek seemed to be at a loss for words.

Without prolonging the silence, I answered immediately.

“It must be because you wished for it. To receive what you have given.”

“…….”

“Even though you may not realize it, Derek, you have received much from me in the past. You did not take possession of me in return for your dedication.”

Derek was undoubtedly needed as a refuge to return to for Leonaerda. Always there as the last bastion.

But Leonaerda was no more now.

Derek also had to live his own life.

“I apologize.”

After remaining silent for a long time, Derek suddenly apologized.

I waited silently, wondering what else Derek would say.

“If Your Majesty does not intend to keep me close, please keep me at a distance.”

“…….”

“If you need a vice-captain, Chevalier Geoff or Chevalier Giovanni can easily replace me. I… am suffering too much.”

Derek’s expression was so desperate.

It was as if he was struggling not to fall into corruption.

Struggling not to cross the line, trying to somehow organize his feelings. It seemed like a lonely battle.

“…Then, will you investigate Quan’s movements?”

This was the maximum I could do for him.

Setting a target for him to pursue as a knight and sending him on a long journey.

Derek slowly lowered his head at my suggestion.

Somehow, it felt like we would only meet again after a very long time.

After the Empress left.

Derek, who still knelt with one knee down and did not move, breathed deeply. It resembled a sigh.

Cool sweat flowed down his tense spine. Instinctive vigilance surged through his veins.

‘What’s that?’

The apple left by the Empress was unfortunately red.

Staring at it, Derek raised his fist and struck it down.

Squish.

From the inside of the deformed apple, a partially dead caterpillar wriggled its severed body.
It might have been a coincidence that the apple turned out to be infested with worms, but even this seemed like a sign to Derek now.

‘This is not the Empress I knew. That… creature with the Empress’s face turned upside down.’

Who could it be?

Derek did not smell any magic. Ordinary people do not have organs to perceive magic.

Those with a sacred power opposing magic, those closely related to demons by birth, or those with pure magic – only such special individuals can smell magic.

However, among the knights, very few, those with sensitive senses, would feel a strange sensation when facing someone with magic.

It’s like feeling a sacred mood in front of someone with divine power, or feeling fear and dread in the presence of someone with a certain amount of magic power.

That’s why Shailo Silvers, in his lifetime of loneliness, had to endure it, and demons became terrifying beings to humans.

Due to Derek’s exceptionally keen senses, he could feel the magic contained in the Siren’s core.

In other words, Derek now perceived the Empress as a monster.

‘Has no one noticed this fact?’

From the other end of the corridor, sounds of laughter and chatter could be heard.

Even if the knights there were told, ‘The real Empress is gone. That is fake,’ no one would believe it for sure.

‘Mermem would probably feel what I’m feeling.’

Staring blankly into space, Derek gradually realized.

Perhaps Mermem already knew.

It might have been a very, very long time since the Empress was replaced.

What he had considered strange until now suddenly turned into certainty in a moment.

The trigger was Tezeph’s words.

‘The Empress who does as she pleases.’

Empress. No, Miss Leonaerda was not such a person.

She was a delicate lady who could not do anything alone, did not want to do anything alone.

‘Immediately leave the palace. After that, hide your body and go find Duke Ahillo.’

The only person who would listen to his words at this point was Duke Ahillo, Miss Leonaerda’s father.

“Charlotte. I have something to ask you.”

“Please tell me anything!”

At the same time.

Returning to the dining room, I called Charlotte and whispered something to her.

After that, I casually returned to my bedroom.