Translator: Nox

Chapter: 20

“This is a gift from His Majesty.”
I stared blankly at what Dante was handing me.

It was something that shimmered in silver and looked like a dress made out of chains. Gold chains were woven along the neckline to create a decorative pattern that would easily catch attention from a hundred meters away.

“It’s armor made of mithril. As light as a feather and strong enough that no arrow could pierce it.”

I raised my hand to stop Dante as he explained the armor.

“Sir Dante, is His Majesty expecting me to wear this and head into battle?”

Dante looked flustered at my implication that the Emperor was sending me into a duel.

“Of course not. His Majesty sent this purely out of concern for your safety.”

“Really?”

When I looked unconvinced, Dante quickly brought out additional gifts.

A cream-colored teddy bear with an adorably black nose, a bouquet of pink roses, a picture book with animals, and cookies wrapped in ribbon.

All clearly picked out by Dante himself.

The only gift that had come directly from the Emperor was that suit of armor.

‘And I’m supposed to believe he’s not sending me into a fight?’

Taking a deep breath to calm my emotions, I smiled sweetly.

“Thank you so much for delivering the gift. Please tell His Majesty that I deeply felt his generosity.”

Regardless, it was free. No reason to reject it.

Relieved, Dante finally let out a subtle expression of ease.

“There’s also something I need to report to you, Lady.”

I awkwardly smiled when he told me about the vampires who had lost their abilities and were protesting.

“I have something to show you as well.”

I quickly brought out the glass jars filled with fruits.

Dante’s eyes widened in disbelief as he saw them.

“These are Fruits of Inheritance. I’ve never seen so many at once.”

“Fruits of Inheritance?”

Dante nodded and explained that these rare treasures were occasionally found in the bodies of deceased vampires.

Realizing I had unknowingly harvested them from living bodies, I cleared my throat awkwardly.

“I, uh, just happened to find these in front of the New Moon Palace. I’d like to return them to their owners.”

I showed Dante a notice I had written in advance.

<Notice of Items Found in the New Moon Palace>
The New Moon Palace is currently holding 37 lost items (vampire abilities).
If you believe one of these belongs to you, please submit an application detailing the ability and your identification.
Deadline: One month from the posting date (unclaimed items will be discarded after the deadline).

Though I had written it with great care, the handwriting was still uneven. But at least there were no spelling mistakes.

“I plan to post this where everyone can see.”

Dante read the notice and looked at me in amazement.

“You wrote this yourself?”

“No, I copied it from somewhere else.”

More specifically, I mimicked a lost-and-found notice from a subway.

Still, Dante was clearly impressed.

“You’re remarkably intelligent, Lady.”

I felt a bit embarrassed. After all, I wasn’t an innocent child—I had the memories of my past life.

Clearing my throat awkwardly, I quickly changed the subject.

“I’ve labeled the fruits according to their abilities.”

I pointed at the name tags attached to the fruit stems—everything I’d observed through Insight.

“When someone applies, I’ll match their claim to the labeled fruit and return it.”

“How did you know what powers each fruit holds?”

“I can just tell by looking.”

I wanted to say it confidently like Xion, but my face turned red on its own. I guess not everyone could do this.

Dante, who had been deep in thought, spoke.

“Lady, may I take responsibility for this task?”

“Huh?”

“I’d like to return the fruits to the rightful owners on your behalf.”

I was slightly taken aback by the unexpected offer.

“That would be a lot of trouble for you, Sir Dante.”

“It’s no trouble at all. His Majesty has also commanded me to assist you.”

He pleaded for the task.

In the end, I handed him the glass jars and the return forms.

“If anyone gives you a hard time, just send them to me. You don’t have to take the blame on my behalf.”

There might not be anyone foolish enough to pick a fight with the Empire’s strongest knight, but you never know—troublemakers exist everywhere.

Dante smiled faintly and promised he would.

“Please wait just a little longer, Lady. His Majesty will surely restore your rightful position.”

I wasn’t so sure. That man didn’t seem very willing.

Dante left after offering a polite farewell. I watched him from the window until he disappeared from sight.

“You shouldn’t get too attached to Dante. He’s someone who will vanish soon.”

Startled, I turned around. Xion was standing there, having appeared without a sound. He was smiling cheerfully, but something about him felt off.

“Xion, what do you mean by that?”

“You did well to leave the fruits to him. No matter how they’re returned, there will be a commotion.”

Ignoring the topic, he was trying to change the subject. I grabbed his sleeve.

“What do you mean Dante will vanish?”

Xion looked at me and answered.

“Dante is probably planning to die in the Emperor’s place.”

My heart sank instantly.

Dante didn’t appear in the original story. Even though he was the strongest knight of the Empire and the Emperor’s only blood knight.

But I hadn’t thought much of it. After all, not every character can appear in a story.

Claude, D’s friend, and even Luna from the palace weren’t in the original either.

‘But what if it wasn’t an omission? What if they all died before the story began?’

Seeing my pale face, Xion frowned.

“If you make that face, I might really get jealous.”

“Why would Dante die in the Emperor’s place?”

Xion looked displeased as he answered.

“The Emperor is currently suffering from a deadly poison.”

“…What?”

“I realized it when I met him in the garden. He’s in such bad condition that he could die any moment.”

I had thought he looked unusually pale in the garden, but I never imagined it was because of poison.

“Can a blood knight really die in their master’s place?”

“No. But Dante is a special case.”

Xion, as if doing calculations in his head, continued.

“If Dante sacrifices himself and his subordinates, he could eliminate about half of the Emperor’s poison.”

Suddenly, the word ‘penalty’ came to mind.

A well-crafted setup that left only half the Emperor’s poison for the protagonist to resolve later—Dante dying was part of that.

“I have to stop him.”

As I rushed to leave, Xion grabbed me.

“How will you stop him? Are you going to tell him to let the Emperor die?”

His question choked me.

“But I can’t just sit and watch Dante die.”

If there was a way, I wanted to save him.

“Then how about killing the Emperor before Dante dies?”

“…What?”

I thought he was joking, but Xion looked dead serious.

“Do you remember the pink stone you shattered when you first came to the palace?”

I nodded blankly.

Xion grinned like a fox and whispered.

“That was a tool to destroy the Emperor’s Field. I was planning to kill him the moment it broke.”

“…Why?”

“Because negotiating for the regency after the Emperor’s death was the fastest way for you to be acknowledged as a princess.”

I asked, still stunned.

“Then why didn’t you kill him?”

“Hmm. Maybe because you cried and said you wanted to change your goal?”

I felt my face flush with heat.

“When did I cry?!”

“Maybe I remembered it wrong, then.”

I glared at Xion, who only shrugged.

“Xion, do you still want the Emperor dead?”

“If he disappears on his own, that would be convenient.”

My cheeks grew hotter as I asked,

“And if I cry again and beg you to save both the Emperor and Dante?”

Xion looked straight into my eyes.