This path out of the Princess Palace after sending her niece into the trap.
"They still haven't entered the castle? Have they been eating slugs?!"
Upon receiving the report from his subordinate, the Regent Duke burst into a fit of rage.
"The defense of the walls is stronger than expected, so they say they simply cannot find a breakthrough. Marquis Giliphos has joined in to block their entry..."
The subordinate could not hide his worry.
"Your Grace, what shall we do? If the pace slows down any further..."
By now, the Rebels should have been flooding over the walls and into the Royal Capital like a tidal wave.
However, hearing that the counterattack from the guards and Giliphos had left them merely encamped in front of the walls, the Regent Duke could not believe it.
"After taking so much money and acting so confident!"
The Regent Duke swallowed his surging fury. Now was a time when a cold head was needed more than a hot heart.
With the throne right before his eyes, he could not let himself be buried in mere emotion and ruin everything.
"Ha, it's fine. Since I've diverted Medeia, the most important part of the grand plan is complete."
There was a slight slip-up, but he finally succeeded in regaining his composure.
Regardless of such small variables, he had to proceed as planned.
"Tell them to come as close to the walls as possible. That way, we can show everyone that the girl we've captured is Medeia."
Furthermore, there was one more thing that made him confident.
"The Royal Capital won't hold out for long. The Castulo Grand Duke’s forces, the Facade, have agreed to support us from beneath the surface."
"The Facade?"
The subordinate tilted his head as if he had never heard of them.
"I don't know the details either, but according to the Grand Duke, they are a reclusive guard unit left to him by the late Emperor. Since they are a secret force unknown even to the Kazen Emperor, they will be a great strength to us."
When the Rebels cross the walls and threaten the Royal Capital, the terrified people will scream.
And soon, seeing Medeia captured while trying to flee, they will fall into grief and despair.
What hope would there be in a country that even the royalty abandons?
When even the Queen Dowager and the nobles are at a loss, the Regent Duke will appear like a savior and defeat the Rebels.
Then, to save a Baldina in crisis, he would have the kingship abdicated to him.
While the Castulo Grand Duke rescues Medeia from the Rebels, the Regent Duke’s private soldiers will purge the Rebels.
Every last one of them, including the leader Horols and his mercenaries.
'I cannot leave anyone alive who knows of my grand plan.'
Once those who plotted his usurpation of the throne are dead and gone, he can ascend to the throne with perfect flawlessness.
"Where is Mother—the Queen Dowager?"
The subordinate scratched his head with a troubled face.
"That is... she has headed for the walls. She said she cannot sit idly by while the country is in jeopardy due to the Rebels' invasion."
"Ha, Mother really is..."
The Regent Duke started to let out an annoyed sigh but swallowed it.
"Fine. It doesn't matter if there's one more spectator. It wouldn't be bad for her to see it with her own eyes."
The true nature and downfall of her eldest granddaughter, that is.
"Quickly, let's go!"
Regent Duke Hoakin Claudio spurred his horse.
Believing without a doubt that before the sun set today, this country, this sky, and this space would all be his.
* * *
The secret passage of the Baldina Royal Palace.
After parting with Birna, Medeia moved her feet.
The path back through the pitch-black darkness did not frighten her in the least.
Finally, the door creaked open, and Medeia emerged alone from the same door she had entered with Birna.
"Your Highness."
Neril and Saya, who had been waiting, approached Medeia.
"The Claudio Princess has indeed not returned. And she naturally took the knight with her."
Neril spoke upon seeing Medeia appear alone.
She had expected as much, but seeing it with her own eyes was different.
Neril felt another wave of disillusionment at Birna’s selfishness in sending Medeia back empty-handed, despite knowing the Rebels invading the palace would target Medeia first.
"Don't be so harsh. At least Birna shared her torch and said she'd send a rescue party to the palace later."
"Ha! Yes, of course. After Your Highness has been captured and killed?"
Saya snorted.
"Birna did her best. Therefore, I also intend to 'save' her accordingly."
Medeia gazed at the walls beyond the palace.
"The Queen Dowager has already departed for the walls. Lady Pinatelli and Sir Siseo tried to escort Her Highness to safety first, but she would not listen."
If it were the Queen Dowager, she was not of a character to step back and seek safety when a crisis struck.
Since she was the type of person who would only be satisfied by watching with her own eyes even if the country were collapsing, Medeia could imagine the sound of her scolding.
"Grandmother must have looked for me."
"Yes. After Your Highness left and the remaining children were sent out and the palace was cleared, people from the Queen Dowager’s palace came. As Your Highness commanded, we hid ourselves. In the end, they only confirmed the palace was empty and left."
"Good."
Medeia nodded with satisfaction. She looked toward the walls.
"By now, my uncle must be in the middle of explaining my absence over there, so we should depart as well."
"Yes, I will bring the horses and armor."
While the servants stepped away for a moment to prepare for the trip to the walls, Medeia looked at the sky.
Black smoke was billowing from various parts of the palace.
Terrified palace staff could be seen moving urgently, as if consumed by the fear the Regent Duke had incited.
Most had already left the palace for the walls or fled, and those remaining were milling about in confusion, not knowing what to do.
Ashen smoke and trampled grass. The ruined palace, which looked as though people had fled in haste, created an ominous atmosphere.
Medeia, who had been watching the scene indifferently, stiffened her back at the sound of a rustle—the sound of someone treading on grass.
'Is someone still left in the palace?'
Just as Medeia was about to reach for the dagger in her coat, a firm hand grabbed her and turned her around.
"Ha... ha..."
A breath that escaped unintentionally and was then suppressed.
Medeia recognized the sturdy shadow falling over her head.
"Akares?"
The mercenary of the Facade was before her.
His complexion was more haggard and dark than she remembered, but the sculpted jawline and mouth visible beneath the white half-mask were the same.
It seemed nothing else had happened to him.
An unintentional sense of relief washed over her.
Then, the mercenary spoke.
"Princess, the Rebels will soon breach the Royal Capital. This place is not safe."
He was still holding Medeia’s arm.
Medeia shifted her sleeve slightly, but he seemed to have no intention of letting go.
As if waiting for her to ask where the safe place was.
After looking surprised for a moment, she soon lifted the corners of her mouth slightly. A faint look of welcome touched her lips.
"You're right, the timing isn't great. Since the Rebels might swarm the Royal Capital soon, you and the Facade should also flee."
"..."
Silence fell.
Time that was neither a lie nor the truth passed. Suddenly, Cezare’s eyes widened.
He was not deceived by the Princess’s kind voice, which sounded sweet as if she were considering the other person.
Cezare stared at the weapon held in Medeia’s hand and the small side door visible behind her.
Soon, he whispered as if he had realized.
"You're the one who called them."
The Rebels, who had suddenly grown in size and appeared at the Royal Capital.
Did they, and the Regent Duke, know? That even those actions were seen through and induced by this Princess.
"I thought it was strange how Giliphos suddenly pulled back and gave up his advantage... Was that also to gather the Rebels in front of the walls?"
Cezare let go of her hand with a hollow laugh.
"..."
Medeia did not answer. The other party likely didn't need her confirmation anyway.
Ha. A hollow laugh spread from the mercenary’s well-shaped lips as his grip on her hand loosened.
"I suppose there's no need to tell you to be careful?"
"..."
"Or for the strength of the Facade?"
He held out his hand toward Medeia.
Upon his hand lay a platinum dagger.
It was the very dagger he had once sent to Medeia as a gift, only for it to be returned.
