'What did I just see?'
It was a very fleeting moment, but Presepe saw it clearly. The corners of Fenrir's mouth twisted as he looked at Dietrich, forming a subtle arc.
"Grand Duke Fenrir, just as you have done until now, you will do your utmost to protect Ateloia this time as well."
Dietrich looked at Fenrir and said.
"If you are a citizen of my empire, then naturally."
"That damn bastard..."
Presepe cursed to herself.
He probably had all of this in mind from the start. If she didn't return to the Imperial Palace, he intended to get rid of Grand Duke Fenrir under the pretext of going to war.
Furthermore, Ivan said that the frequency of monster appearances in the Forbidden Forest had drastically decreased. In the end, what the Dietrich family was doing was fraud itself. To think they were doing it right in front of everyone. It was absurd.
'Grand Duke Fenrir has come to be hated by Dietrich.'
Even though the settings were broken, a madman was still a madman. Treating the person who helped him become Emperor from the closest proximity like that...
'Or maybe that bastard said something.'
Presepe gnashed her teeth, glaring at the grinning Ivan.
If things were going to be like this, would it have been better to just accept Dietrich's advice to return to the Imperial Palace? If she had done that, she wouldn't have caused any harm to the Grand Duke.
"If anyone disobeys the Emperor's command even when the Empire is in crisis, they cannot be called a citizen of the Empire of Ateloia and will receive punishment befitting their status."
Fenrir probably won't be able to disobey Dietrich either. He must be acting that way because he knows that.
'Grand Duke Fenrir ended up in a difficult situation for no reason because of me...'
It was around the time she was having such thoughts.
"As Your Majesty said, I will certainly do so."
Fenrir slowly parted his lips.
"I obey your command and will march into the Forbidden Forest."
Yeah, I guess it can't be helped. It left a bitter taste in her mouth for no reason.
If the Grand Duke goes out to battle like that, she will be returning to this Imperial Palace once again. To that dreadful, cage-like tower.
But the Forbidden Forest was a place I really needed to check out, too...
However, Presepe was a sensible woman. She wasn't shameless enough to throw a tantrum in a situation like this. She knew that doing so would only put Fenrir in an even more difficult predicament. Besides, even if she had made such a request in the first place, there was absolutely no chance that Dietrich would have readily agreed.
Countless emotions were evident in Presepe's eyes as she gazed at Fenrir again.
And not long after, Presepe paused slightly.
There was not even a trace of embarrassment to be found on Fenrir's face as he stared straight at Dietrich.
He looked as if he had anticipated all of this.
"However, if the Knights and I march into the Forbidden Forest together, who will protect Your Majesty's safety?"
"That is not something the Grand Duke needs to worry about."
Dietrich answered with a cold, expressionless face.
"As I mentioned earlier, the Magic Tower is also a citizen of my Empire. While you are away, Archmage Ivan will take the lead and ensure my safety."
"Then, Your Majesty, your words are..."
Fenrir continued in a low voice.
"So you mean Archmage Ivan will continue to remain at the Imperial Palace?"
"Ivan's responsibility will become immense as a result, but it is unavoidable if he is to protect the Empire."
"Since you have stated that the Archmage will definitely remain at the Imperial Palace, those leaving can set aside their worries, at least a little. Those remaining will also be able to rest assured."
Fenrir looked at the nobles and spoke, as if to say, "Please listen."
Presepe wore a slightly puzzled expression at Fenrir's remark, whose true intentions were difficult to discern, wondering why he was saying such things.
"As Your Majesty instructed, the knights and I have set sail immediately."
Siegfried, kneeling on one knee, gazed at Dietrich and spoke, and Dietrich nodded.
"It will take quite a while to reach the Forbidden Forest, so Grand Duke Fenrir, you must set off with us."
"I will leave separately as soon as day breaks."
Fenrir answered in a normal tone.
"I am deeply apologetic for not having prepared adequately for this sudden order to sortie, but I believe you will be able to show this much magnanimity, Your Majesty."
This time, Dietrich's expression stiffened slightly.
It was exactly as Fenrir had said. At least Siegfried gave a heads-up. Besides, it would be different if there weren't people around. Anyone could see that it looked like he was being pushed from behind.
However, it was already night, and even if Fenrir were given that much time, it would be less than half a day at most.
“Yeah, let’s do that."
Dietrich looked at Fenrir as if he understood and spoke.
"I am fully capable of showing that much generosity to my Grand Duke."
As he watched the situation, a bitter smile formed on Ivan's face.
Dietrich was not the only one who wanted Presepe to return to the imperial palace.
'First of all, I have to get that bastard away from you.'
After she returned safely, he intended to use all sorts of tricks to bring Presepe to his side when the time was right.
A weak-willed Emperor like that—he could manipulate him to his liking at any time. Very easily, too.
Ivan thought so.
'Grand Duke...'
Presepe's expression grew sorrowful as she gazed longingly at Fenrir without being able to say a single word.
Presepe had no idea what to say to Fenrir, who had gone through every kind of suffering imaginable because of her and even earned Dietrich's hatred.
Since the expedition into the Forbidden Forest itself was a false excuse, who knows when he might return? That meant today was the last day.
“Greetings..."
Presepe, standing a few steps away from Fenrir, grabbed Dietrich's escort knight, who had approached him before he knew it, and whispered.
"Tell them to give me time to say goodbye."
"..."
"Since everything went according to Your Majesty's will anyway, you can at least do that much for me, can't you?"
Dietrich's bodyguard remained silent for a moment, then nodded as if he understood and replied.
"Yes, I will convey the message. If Your Majesty grants permission, I will go to escort you before dawn. To Grand Duke Fenrir's residence."
***
Siegfried and the Knights set off straight from the banquet hall. To the Forbidden Forest.
Dietrich surprisingly readily granted Presepe's request. Of course, he did add that he would send an escort knight just before dawn, when Fenrir was scheduled to depart.
However, that did not mean her feelings would improve.
Presepe's thoughts were as follows.
Regardless of how it happened, the result was that he threatened her to return to the Imperial Palace, so he was either pretending to be generous to secretly wash away his own guilt, or he was using it as an excuse to feign generosity—it must surely be one of the two. Or perhaps both.
With a heavy heart, Presepe headed to the mansion with Fenrir.
And the dark dawn before sunrise.
An extravagant carriage stopped in front of Fenrir's townhouse.
"..."
The one who got out of the carriage was none other than Dietrich's escort knight.
Actually, he didn't really like riding in a carriage that attracted so much attention.
If he were traveling alone, he wouldn't have needed to take a carriage, but since he had to return to the Imperial Palace with Presepe, he had no choice. Moreover, the Emperor himself had gone out of his way to assign one, so there was nothing more to say.
"Stay here. I will escort Lady Presepe out."
"Yes."
Hearing the coachman's brief reply, the guard knight began to walk slowly toward the town house. Then, he fell into his own thoughts for a brief moment.
'Anyway, since it seemed like Lady Presepe wanted to return to the Imperial Palace, she should be able to muster up a little more strength.'
It was not that he was unaware of Presepe's plight as a bodyguard, but Dietrich's stability was of the utmost importance to him.
It’s a pity for Lafy Presepe, but it can’t be helped.
The escort knight, having arrived in front of the townhouse with such thoughts, stopped for a moment, feeling a strange sensation.
But why is it so quiet?
Grand Duke Fenrir must still be getting ready to go out.
Even if the enlisted soldiers were assembled elsewhere, to this extent?
"..."
In an instant, the guard's face hardened. There was no time to think any further. He knocked very urgently on the townhouse door.
Then, a little girl came out, opened her eyes wide, and welcomed him.
"Ah. You have arrived! You are the knight sent by His Majesty, aren't you?"
"That's right. Where is Lady Presepe?"
"It is truly a great pleasure to meet you! My name is Hannah. I am a maid who has served the Grand Duke for a long time."
"Right, so Lady Presepe..."
"By the way, you arrived a little later than I expected! Did you come in that carriage? It is very fancy."
"Where is Lady Presepe?!"
The angry guard cut Hannah off abruptly and shouted loudly.
But Hannah didn't even blink.
Instead, she answered with a bright smile.
"Our Lady Presepe left with Grand Duke Fenrir, didn't she?"
“What?”
"What on earth is that? You're talking nonsense!" The bodyguard's mouth dropped open.
"I was waiting because I heard you would be coming, Sir! The Grand Duke asked me to deliver something absolutely necessary."
Hannah didn't care at all whether the escort knight was shocked or not.
"Please take good care of it! I don't know exactly what it is myself, but the Grand Duke is certainly not the type to go to unnecessary trouble! Since you serve His Majesty, I am sure you know that well, Sir! By the way, are those jewels embedded in the carriage real? They are so beautiful!"
Instead, she simply handed him the package Fenrir had asked her to deliver, continuing to speak incessantly while smiling brightly.
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