The carriage was rushing in haste.

“……”

Inside the cramped carriage.

Elaina, who was sitting in front of the window, had an anxious face as if she was being chased by someone.

…… It was said that Sinclair’s private soldiers were already waiting at the Empress’s villa.

As if that wasn’t enough to put his mind at ease, Sinclair not only assigned Schuler, his right-hand man, to Elaina, but also dispersed a considerable number of private soldiers to depart together.

That nothing would happen to Elaina once she arrived at the villa.

That she just needed to stay there safely and watch the situation unfold. That he would continue to stay by her side, so she shouldn’t worry about anything, Schuler said.

But what was on her mind right now was not her own safety.

‘Sinclair……’

Is he really safe?

He must have thought of a way to escape Hister’s scheme in advance, right?

However, Hister was also in a situation where he had no choice but to pull out his last card. So he won’t just sit still and take it like he has been doing so far.

‘If something happens……’

So, for example.

If Sinclair ends up being framed as the Emperor’s assassin and sentenced to death……

Elaina closed her eyes tightly.

…… She couldn’t even understand herself.

Even at this very moment, why was she more worried about Sinclair than her own well-being?

When she wanted to hurt him so much.

When she couldn’t forgive him.

‘At least his face……’

Should I have gone to see him?

No, when Sinclair came to see me, I should have looked at him a little more. I shouldn’t have coldly avoided his gaze.

If I had known that it could be the last time, I wouldn’t have done that.

‘No. The last time?’

Elaina shook her head alone as if insisting that her thoughts were wrong. Then, slowly opening her eyes, she let out a very heavy sigh.

“Ha……”

Soon, Elaina slowly fumbled through her bosom. And she took out something small.

…… Even in the midst of having to leave the Imperial Palace in such a hurry, this was the only thing Elaina took with her.

It was the ring that Ren had given her some time ago.

The former Empress’s keepsake.

“……”

Elaina’s eyes darkened as she looked down at the ring. She just quietly bit her lip without saying a word.

Why did I take this?

In that urgent situation.

Of all things.

[Even if I end up the way you say. Even if I stay by your side until the end…… Ren. You will continue to be anxious and in pain.]

Perhaps my words that I spat out to Sinclair were not just limited to him.

[You should have abandoned me forever. Then I wouldn’t have lost Ren too……]

Even though I thought I had lost you, why do I keep reaching out like this every time, unable to properly erase a single trace of you?

What was so enjoyable about those memories?

What was so precious and happy about those memories……

[Still, I can dare to say. The true first day of my life was not the day I let out my first cry, nor the day I was crowned as the Crown Prince…… It was from the moment I first met you.]

“……”

[I won’t ask for forgiveness. I will just wait by your side.]

Elaina’s fingertips trembled subtly as she ruminated on the words that Sinclair had pleadingly uttered.

[I’ll give you my windpipe and my neck. Whenever you want. They were yours anyway. They were what you gave me.]

Perhaps that’s why.

Because you’re the person who can give up everything so easily.

[If I were told to go through everything I’ve been through again just to meet you…… I would do it. Losing my mother before my eyes, being abandoned and cast out by my father. I can repeat such things as many times as needed.]

Because it’s you who says that you can even repeat those endlessly crumbling days.

So that’s why I can’t completely abandon or cast you away so thoroughly, even while suffering like this.

[Even if you really never loved me, even if you say you don’t love me, it doesn’t matter. If you want me to believe that, I will believe it and suffer.]

How can you even say such things?

In front of me who tried to escape from you by any means necessary, while throwing away everything every time.

[I love you. There was never a moment when I didn’t.]

Sinclair’s sincere voice was still ringing clearly in Elaina’s ears. As if he was saying those words right in front of her at this very moment.

…… Sinclair begged for forgiveness.

And with Elaina’s words spat out like a dagger, he readily exposed his heart that was torn to shreds and burst unsightly.

Still, this is yours.

There was only one owner from the beginning.

I didn’t know what to do.

But there were things that were certain.

That this kind of farewell was absolutely not it.

That this should not be the end.

“……”

In that way, filled with confusion and worry, Elaina simply prayed with all her heart.

May nothing happen to Sinclair.

May he be safe.

Very earnestly, even though she hadn’t been able to sort out her feelings for him properly.

But her prayer did not last long.

“Ambush, it’s an ambush!”

Because of someone’s scream that suddenly rang out……

“Gasp……”

And the carriage that abruptly stopped.

“Lady Elaina!”

The closed carriage window suddenly opened wide. When she turned her head, she saw Schuler with a stiff face.

“It seems they were indeed waiting on Hister’s side. We will block them somehow, so please never get out of the carriage!”

Elaina quickly nodded, and Schuler bit his lip with all his might and turned around.

“We must break through no matter what it takes!”

And then, he began to shout in a very loud voice.

“A large number of private soldiers are on standby at the villa! So make sure to protect the carriage!”

* * *

“The sinner who assassinated the Emperor of the shining Eden Bell Empire! Capture the traitor Sinclair Butler!”

Ringing through the empty Imperial Palace, Hister kicked the closed bedroom door with all his might.

At the same time, the soldiers and private soldiers following Hister all rushed in and filled the bedroom…… but it was a futile act.

No one was to be seen in Sinclair and Elaina’s bedroom.

For a moment, Hister’s face hardened.

“……”

What the hell is going on? He was sure he kept getting reports. That Sinclair was holed up in the bedroom of the Imperial Palace. As if blatantly telling him to come and get him.

“Wait a minute.”

Blatantly, as if telling him to come and get him?

…… It’s a trap.

Staying put was just bait. To somehow buy time and escape the Imperial Palace. Cowardly and disgraceful to the extreme.

“Damn it……”

An unpleasant curse flowed out between Hister’s tightly clenched lips. Unable to control his anger, Hister kicked a fancy chair studded with jewels for no reason with all his might.

Then he suddenly flinched.

‘No, no. Rather, this can be used to our advantage even more.’

Escaping like this is no different from admitting that he is the Emperor’s assassin.

If Sinclair had stayed in the Imperial Palace with the intention of engaging in a head-on battle, it would have been more of a headache, but if they come out like this, it would be easier for Hister to handle the situation.

Moreover, Chaz was already in his hands, and that cripple Elaina would soon suffer the same fate.

Having finished his thought process, Hister smiled a smug smile and turned to look at everyone as he parted his lips again.

“It’s an escape.”

Then he continued.

“He dared to assassinate the Emperor, and it seems he couldn’t handle the aftermath, so he ran away like this. What more proof do we need?”

Liam silently looked at Hister without a word. Is what Hister saying really true? Is this man named Sinclair Butler such a worthless person to make such a deflating choice?

He found it hard to believe.

“From this very moment, I strip the Emperor’s assassin Sinclair Butler of all his titles and issue a warrant for his arrest. Quickly inform the people of the Eden Bell Empire of this fact and begin the manhunt!”

“Yes!”

“And the same goes for those who were close to Sinclair Butler! The Heswin, Fredrick Duchy, and Walter County. Anelli Haworth, the Grand Duke who was close to the Crown Princess, must also be arrested!”

“We will do as you command!”

It’s over for you now, Sinclair.

Hister smiled as if he was very pleased with the current situation, and the Lundberry Grand Duke and Rockford, who were moving with him, also had the same expression.

But unfortunately for them, that smile could not last long.

“Your, Your Imperial Highness the Crown Prince!”

Because of a soldier who came running with a pale face, panting for breath.

“What is it?”

Hister slightly frowned and looked at the soldier, and the soldier carefully parted his lips after catching his breath with difficulty.

“Prince, Prince Sinclair is in the Emperor’s Palace.”

“……What?”

“That’s not all. The Heswin, Fredrick, Walter, and even some of the nobles, including Anelli Haworth, are also there.”

…… In the Emperor’s Palace?

At the soldier’s words that he had not expected at all, Hister’s face was badly distorted.

He felt an indescribably unpleasant feeling. Why the Emperor’s Palace of all places?

Of course, the Emperor’s body had already been moved. Moreover, Hister did not leave any evidence at the scene that he was the Emperor’s assassin. Very thoroughly.

‘Was this the reason for the unease.’

Liam, who was quietly observing the situation, silently let out a sigh and clenched his fists tightly with his large hands.

“That traitorous criminal seems to have lost his mind.”

Yes, nothing will happen. At best, it will just be a futile struggle.

Only the location has changed.

Hister suppressed the ominous feeling that kept welling up and commanded everyone again.

“We’re going to the Emperor’s Palace now!”

…… Without any expectation of what would happen there.