Whatever it was, I couldn’t just look ahead and move on. It is also considering the fact that he might die immediately.
If I just jump in front of fire with my arms open, I will only become a fire moth. Just as there is time to deliberately adjust speed and pace in a marathon, we also need preparation. Of course, I can’t have it for a long time, but it was a necessary process for us who had been separated for a while.
“I checked with Pudding again.”
It was a simple meeting, and the members of the meeting were Francia and Lenag’s assistants and subordinates, including Ricdorian, Francia, and Lenag. In particular, there were familiar faces among Lenag’s subordinates, and it was only obvious because they were prison guards.
They also seemed to recognize my face, and politely bowed their heads perhaps they had been informed beforehand.
“The only time left for Ricdorian is today, to be exact, one day. So after tonight, tomorrow night.”
Francia and Lenag had already gathered only those they could trust.
“Tomorrow night is the end.”
Ricdorian, the party involved, looked quite casual. I heard from Pudding that he knew that death was imminent, but he wouldn’t have known when exactly. I held back the words boiling inside and looked back at the crowd.
“We have to get to this basement somehow.”
The magic patterns related to roses I saw in the Domulit mansion. Pudding was sealed there, and what is believed to be the original was located underground here.
Not only this, but the senses in my body instinctively shouted that I had to go there. Maybe it’s the whispering of the guardian deity of the Blue Rose that dwells within me. If the destination has already been decided like this, it would be better to leave immediately, but we had two variables.
The Empress and the Black Rose.
“For now, the Empress is monitoring by placing the knights thoroughly.”
Lenag, who was handed the baton, explained the situation.
“Currently, all knights and guards have been ordered to report to their superiors as soon as Miss Iana appears.”
He glanced at the ceiling.
“I am acting with the existing guards.”
“What if, for example, I appeared in front of them?”
“Then you will have to listen to the Imperial Knights’ orders. If you don’t listen, it will be treason.”
The Empress gave each knight great authority. This means that she must have been all about catching me.
“As Miss Iana said, if the Imperial palace is messed up, of course she should return. But she didn’t return but left it to the Imperial Knight’s commanders.”
“You say that this is not normal.”
“Yes, it is.”
I patted my lips. I already know that the Empress has gone completely crazy. And her obsession with the Blue Rose is also great. She must be aware that I am coming here because I had escaped from where I was imprisoned. She must be quite nervous because she does not know when I will appear.
‘Conversely, can’t we use this?’
I stopped beating myself and fell into anguish. Then I raised my eyes.
“Lenag, how is the Black Rose’s position?”
“It’s the same.”
Lenag shook his head slightly.
“He was not moving from the position I told him.”
Lenag said that he could know the details of the inside of the prison, but that it would be impossible to find out Chaser’s location. However, Chaser was quietly hiding in one place without any effort. It’s like he was keeping the promise he made to me.
“Please keep an eye on him. I don’t know when he will move.”
“Yes.”
I narrowed my eyes. Even if Chaser acts like this, it was just dubious and abominable.
“I’m not quite sure how to hit the back of his head. He is a cunning man.”
“Why do you call him ‘man’? Just call him that punk. Ah! It would be better to call him that bastard. ”
Francia crossed her hands and clenched her chin, smiling.
“All his words sound like a dog barking. It perfectly suits him that he eats people’s backs.”
It was a cruel word that didn’t match her smile at all. For a brief moment, Lenag looked exhausted.
“I feel sorry for the dog instead.”
Lenag shook his head sullenly.
“It’s not something to meddle with, but have you completely removed your innocence now?”
“Oh my, when did you say I showed my innocence?”
Francia smiled and waved her hand gracefully.
“I’ve always been like this.”
Of course, what Francia said was a lie. As I can see, I felt that Francia had become violent as she took off her mask. Before, she was even pretending to be careful with her words.
“And she will love me no matter what I look like.”
What had happened inside her? Eyes of different colors looking at me were twinkling with a certainty that I had never seen before. Of course, there was nothing wrong with that.
“That’s right.”
But the moment I said this, I felt a different bitterness than before. It was because I couldn’t accept it as purely as before.
“Look, we’re going to live happily together for so long.”
I feel nauseous.
I forcibly pushed away the memories of the previous world that once again hit my head. Thanks to the air created by the urgent situation, a drowsy feeling appeared quickly.
“Iana, are you okay?”
However, there were three people in this space who reacted sensitively to me. Ricdorian who grabbed my shoulder. I burst out laughing.
The man, who had never been shaken by the fact that he had only one day left to live, had a worried face as if he was about to cry just because of me.
“It’s okay. I must have used a lot of energy while moving.”
“Are you tired?”
“It is not. Just, mild vertigo?”
As I answered Lenag’s subsequent question, I buried my head on Ricdorian’s shoulder. Ricdorian’s shoulders stiffened for a moment, then I felt a hand patting my back. It wasn’t too bad that it was awkward. Like someone who’s never done it before.
I smiled once more at Ricdorian’s clumsiness. Even if there was a sudden agitation, the habit acquired in the body did not go anywhere, so it seemed that my anxiety was not revealed.
“…… Rather, I have an idea.”
I leaned on Ricdorian’s shoulder and muttered a little. The voice was small, but it must have been heard enough by those present here.
“I can see how much the Empress is paying attention to me now. So…… How about using this to shift her attention elsewhere?”
“Are you talking about using bait?”
Lenag noticed promptly and asked. I nodded.
“Yes. I mean, to show up elsewhere. For example, this is the center, so either in the west or east.”
One of them was a place with a great heinous criminal, and the other was a place where Jaire had been secretly infiltrating. Lenag affirmed that if the latter was the case, there would be a way to infiltrate.
“But who will be the bait?”
Francia, who was listening, asked a question.
“Sister can’t go. You have to break the curse.”
“Right.”
It’s difficult for me to leave because I need my strength to release the spell. Above all else, it’s useless if I go and be the bait.
“Then shall one of us go? Is it me or the Yellow Rose?”
It sounded reasonable, but I shook my head resolutely.
“No. It will be of no use.”
I remembered the Empress’ last appearance.
“The Empress is not in a normal state, but it does not mean that her head can’t be used anymore. Rather, she should be seen as rationally insane. Because she threatened me.”
She decided that she could kidnap me easily, and she casually tried to burn the village. This was the result of her understanding my actions and minute expressions before that, and making a quick judgment. The Empress said that when the spirit resides, she makes wise judgments for the Empire, but only becomes obsessive about the Blue Rose.
“If either of you shows up as bait, she’ll know it’s a trap.”
The only way was to stall time.
“It’s better for the two of you to move with us.”
I never know when Ricdorian will collapse again. I swallowed these words and looked at the two of them alternately.
“Then Miss Iana, who do you prefer? Or, what about my right hand-man or a paladin of the White Rose?”
“No. The same goes for Lenag and Francia’s closest aides.”
I lifted my head from Ricdorian’s shoulder. Then I touched my lips with my finger.
“It would be better for a general guard to be here……. The problem is, the person who will act here must be able to speak properly in front of the Empress, aside from loyalty.”
“You mean they should not be afraid and not to tremble?”
“No. It doesn’t matter if you’re scared or trembling. It’s okay because it’s rather natural. I mean, clever enough to deceive the Empress…… Able to stall time…….”
I spoke and came to a conclusion.
“Yes. Scam.”
I clicked my fingers.
“I need someone to cheat.”
As much as possible, the more unrelated to us, the better. Lenag’s face, who had listened to all the explanations, had a troubled look.
“Is there such a person…….”
The moment I heard Lenag’s words, an idea flashed through me like a lightning bolt.
“Lenag!”
“Yes?”
“Did you say you moved all the prisoners to one place?”
When the Empress came, all of the noble prisoners originally imprisoned here were moved.
“Can you find someone I mentioned? Last name is Palladis, a Baron.”
This is Kambrakam, the prison in which I was imprisoned. That being said, maybe he is still in prison now.
My prison friend who prided himself on being the best when it comes to scams.
***
The situation was settled as Lenag quickly decided to find the person I was talking to.
Squeak. The door closes.
The time that Lenag suggested was one hour. There was no time, so it seemed that he was going to move as quickly as possible. In other words, we were given a short break and grace period of 1 hour. And I asked everyone for their understanding and was left here.
With Ricdorian.
Fortunately, there were several rooms in this space, and the noise was fairly well isolated. Because it was originally a space that Lenag had created to handle secret affairs without the imperial family’s knowledge.
“…… Iana?”
As soon as the door closed, Ricdorian looked at me innocently. No, the eyes only looked at me before the door closed.
“Stay there for a moment.”
I grabbed the doorknob. I checked the door, opened and closed it again. Click. Put the lock back, then I turned around and stared at Ricdorian.
“Ah, I want to see if the door is properly locked.”
Without further ado, I walked towards him. And now I couldn’t stand it anymore and grabbed him by the neck.
“Are you sure you are ready?”
“What? What resolution do you have…….”
“You didn’t tell me properly. You did something wrong right?”
Ricdorian shut his mouth tightly.
“I should punish you.”
“Please don’t leave…….”
“Additional punishment for nonsense.”
I bowed my head, ignoring his words. I swallowed his lips. I glanced at the quickly flushed face, then moved my hand slowly. My fingers ran through the cracks in the torn clothes and pulled the tattered buttons off.
I had no intention of blaming him anyway. Now I have to blame the past. The day is urgent and we don’t know what will happen. Of course I wouldn’t let him die, but I didn’t want to waste my precious time in a fuss. Especially with a meaningless quarrel. I gently parted my lips and whispered with a sigh.
“An hour is short, right?”
“…… Uh.”
The fingers that had been stroking his chest were caught. Ricdorian grabbed my index finger and brought it directly to his lips.
“…… Will you not regret it?”
Ricdorian wanted to stare at the door for a moment, then he whispered softly with a sun-red flushed face.
“You may not be able to walk.”
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