The emperor was surrounded by Moon Pierce even in the last moment.

‘Even though it wasn’t a flower native to the imperial palace.’

There must be a reason why the flowers were not blooming.

Unless the former empress knew she was a possessed person.

The emperor was unnecessarily concerned.

‘Feeling guilty while longing.’

The guilt of abandoning the woman he loved.

It must have led to the act of binding Kashar.

‘If I save Moon Pierce… will Kashar keep his promise?’

Even if not, there might be a chance to change the course of the conversation.

‘First, I need to check the condition of the garden.’

I hid behind a tree, keeping an eye on the entrance of the imperial palace.

Naturally, the security was strict.

‘It would be strange to ask the emperor to show me the garden just like that.’

There was no way but to sneak in.

I took out the dress pocket.

When I untied it, there was a duck inside.

A voice full of complaints echoed in my head.

I had to carry it around, but since I couldn’t strap a teddy bear to my side while wearing a party dress, I put it here.

‘Sorry, but if you keep talking, the conversations around me will get mixed up.’

I’ll have to loosen its stiff attitude later.

Anyway, entering the imperial palace was more urgent.

‘Let me take out the sticker.’

I took out the duck sticker, considering the item that hides traces.

When attached to the caster’s body, it completely conceals traces from that moment.

The size of the sticker was as small as a five-hundred-won coin.

‘Roughly, should I stick it here?’

The duck sticker was attached to the back of my hand.

‘… Hmm, I can’t feel anything changed.’

Magical girl transformation!

… I didn’t wish for the same effect, but there should be some change.

Anyway, since I had already attached it, I cautiously left behind the tree.

The knights were crowding the entrance of the imperial palace.

‘The expressions look severe.’

If I make a wrong move, it seems like they might look at me as if they can’t spare my bones.

Before I approached there, a carriage passed by me at a slow speed.

‘Huh?’

The brilliantly polished black carriage illuminated even the surroundings.

But I wasn’t there.

‘Did I really disappear?’

I wanted to check more, but the sticker had a time limit.

’30 minutes.’

It could be short or long.

The duck sticker gradually faded as time passed and eventually disappeared.

I had to finish everything in the meantime.

‘For now… let’s go.’

If the knights stopped me, I would have to say I found the wrong palace.

I closed my eyes and started walking between the escort soldiers.

‘I hope they don’t draw their swords.’

They should be people with whom communication is possible.

I was in a very tense state.

But no one stopped me.

‘I guess they really can’t see me!’

Amazing!
I waltzed among the expressionless knights.

From now on, I had to find the place where Moon Pierce was.

‘It’s too vast.’

As the palace was massive, the garden was also extensive.

‘First garden, second garden, 3, 4, 5… plus a greenhouse in the back.’

I didn’t have the luxury to explore all of that.

It would have been easier to check if it were nighttime.

Moon Pierce was a flower that shone in the darkness.

In that case, I had to check the most probable place first.

‘Surely, it could be the greenhouse.’

For gardeners, it must have been a very delicate flower, continuously dying even when planted.

It was the moment to determine the destination.

‘Oh, it’s the fertilizer pallet!’

The fertilizer pallet that the workers were carrying earlier was stacked in front of the second garden.

People who seemed to be gardeners were lifting it again and heading somewhere.

‘I should follow them.’

It was valuable fertilizer that the court painter personally inspected.

Since they wouldn’t use it recklessly on other plants, their destination was already determined.

‘Sure enough, they’re entering the greenhouse.’

It was shortly after I followed them.

I entered through the door opened by the gardener.

“If it dies again this time, I’ll be in trouble.”

“We have to do something. It’s a direct order from Her Majesty.”

The conversation was filled with gloom.

However, it seemed like they wouldn’t spread the fertilizer right away.

‘They’re going out again.’

I was relieved that they only guided me.

‘Good.’

The sticker only concealed the appearance; it couldn’t pass through objects.

‘If I accidentally bump into someone else, it would be a big problem.’

Now, I thought I only needed to find Moon Pierce, but looking around, there was no need for that.

All the plants here were Moon Pierce.

‘Even though it’s daytime, the flowers haven’t bloomed…’

Interestingly, Moon Pierce had red patterns mixed on its leaves.

With golden yellow buds attached, it was easy to distinguish.

But it was doubtful whether the plants planted here could bloom.

‘They all look withered.’

From dried leaves to those that seemed overly moist or sickly.

The reasons for dying varied.

At this point, it seemed impossible to find the cause.