The emperor’s blurred eyes were uncomfortable and hazy, like melted candy.

“Let’s go to bed and rest together.”

At the empress’s gentle suggestion, the emperor slowly nodded. She smiled softly and led him into the small bedroom located behind the office.

Soon, the emperor was laid down on the bed.

“Now, please hold me.”

A human-sized pillow was pressed into the emperor’s arms.

“Let’s share a passionate love, and then take a short nap. It’ll clear your head and wash away all your fatigue.”

With that whisper, Consort Usia gradually stepped back and exited into the office, closing the bedroom door behind her.

Moments later, a strange noise echoed from beyond the bedroom.

It sounded like the gasping cry of a crazed beast, but the empress didn’t pay it any attention and sat down at the emperor’s desk.

“Let’s see...”

Rummaging through the piles of documents, she soon broke into a wide smile.

“Here it is!”

What she found was a report related to Princess Scandia’s upcoming overseas travel.

The contents contained a bold petition from a loyal subject suggesting that the princess’s meeting with a foreign king prior to marriage be postponed.

“Should I remember this person’s name?”

Feeling much better, the empress began to hum.

Between her cheerful humming, the emperor’s ragged breathing could be heard faintly.

But Consort Usia, now ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) used to it, paid it no mind.

“Still... the reaction was a bit slow, wasn’t it?”

Recalling the emperor’s earlier response, she tilted her head.

“Has he built up a tolerance to Alucina...?”

Murmuring to herself that she’d need to increase the dosage for the hypnosis, there wasn’t even a speck of worry on her face.

Tolerance or side effects—none of that mattered to her.

“Well then, Your Highness, Princess...”

The paper was torn in half.

“Farewell.”

***

At last, Princess Scandia’s marriage had been decided.

Her intended husband was the king of a kingdom that had maintained long-standing friendly relations with the Bellius Empire.

While his age wasn’t officially known, the fact that he had a crown prince older than the princess said enough.

Naturally, people were unhappy about it.

“What’s our empire lacking that we have to send Her Highness to some old geezer?”

“Does no one remember the case with Olor’s son?”

“Poor Her Highness...”

“I heard she’s not even in good health.”

“The emperor’s just selling off his daughter for politics.”

“He’s no different from Olor. No different at all.”

“One’s a pedophile, the other’s a daughter-selling merchant...”

As the plaza filled with criticism and contempt, a carriage from the palace steadily approached.

The purpose of the princess’s trip was to meet her intended before the wedding and build rapport.

But what would happen there—no one could predict.

“Oh dear, oh my...”

“She’s so beautiful and delicate...”

“She’s too pitiful...”

Visible through the slowly moving carriage window, Princess Scandia looked melancholic yet elegantly beautiful.

People thought the departing princess looked just like a lamb being led to slaughter.

With a farewell full of pity and sympathy, the carriage passed through the Gate and headed south.

The princess was to transfer to a ship at a southern port. The small procession of carriages entered the forest.

Though this made for a longer detour, it was chosen to avoid public eyes.

“It’s hot...”

One of the knights at the front muttered, loosening his collar.

“Why the hell are we suffering like this on such a hot day?”

Another knight grumbled.

“Poor princess. Still a kid and already getting married.”

“And to a geezer, no less.”

“Well, at least she’ll inherit all his wealth if he dies.”

Their hushed conversation carried more snark than sympathy. Though they pitied the princess’s situation, they didn’t seem genuinely concerned.

To them, it was just another topic to pass the time during a long journey.

“Watch your tongue.”

The lead knight gave a light warning. He was the escort captain.

But his warning wasn’t taken seriously, and he didn’t bother pressing further. That’s how lax the discipline of the imperial knights had become.

Then, a young knight approached the captain.

“Her Highness says she would like to rest for a bit.”

“Tch. We still have a long way to go...”

The knight, grumbling openly, turned and walked toward the carriage. Though the windows were covered with curtains, the vague silhouette of the princess could be seen.

“Shall we stop the carriage, Your Highness?”

The shadow of the princess nodded.

“Everyone, halt!”

The carriage procession paused in the middle of the forest.

The knights dismounted and sat under the shade of the trees, quenching their thirst.

The horses tied to nearby trees grazed on weeds or drank water from the knights.

Meanwhile, the coachmen inspected the carriages—a task they were supposed to do right after using the Gate.

But since the knights had insisted on moving without rest, they were only now getting to it.

The princess rested inside the tent set up around her carriage by her maid.

“Hey, by the way...”

One knight, blankly staring at the tent, muttered with curiosity.

“They say the princess is really beautiful.”

“She takes after the empress.”

Someone answered in a dull voice, mouth still full of jerky.

“That old king’s pretty lucky before he kicks the bucket.”

“You think?”

“I saw the empress once from afar, you know?”

The knight’s description of that moment was vivid.

“I’ve never seen silver hair shine like that. She was so beautiful you’d forget her age. Honestly, if I were the emperor, just having her would’ve been enough for me...”

“What a pathetic bastard.”

His fellow knight scoffed.

“The emperor could have a woman that beautiful and still keep others too. That’s what being emperor means.”

“So that girl in the carriage must be quite the beauty too?”

What a delightful surprise.

Someone laughed in a twisted, mocking voice.

“......”

“......”

The knights’ napes turned cold.

“Kyaaah!”

At that moment, the maid inside the tent let out a scream.

Only then did the knights reach for their swords—but they were struck down from behind and staggered as they collapsed.

“Wh-Who are you...!”

“Ugh!”

“Have you ever seen bandits go around announcing themselves?”

The subdued knights were quickly tied up. Leaving a few behind to guard them, the rest of the bandits assaulted the carriage.

All the bandits had their faces covered. They moved in perfect coordination, wasting no time.

They subdued everyone—knights, staff, even the horses—by covering their eyes and calming them.

The knights, stunned by how quickly everything happened, could do nothing. A few tried to resist belatedly, but it changed nothing.

“We’ve got the girl here!”

Someone shouted from beyond the tent, followed by a sharp scream.

The knights reflexively tried to rise, only to be stomped back down by the bandits watching them.

“You bastards! What do you think you’re doing!”

“Do you even know who she is?!”

“Of course we do.”

One of the bandits, face wrapped in bandages except for his eyes, spoke mockingly.

“You’re the ones who wouldn’t shut up about the princess.”

“How dare you...!”

“And what are you gonna do about it?”

The bandit smirked and lectured them on the value of silence.

“A knight should never chatter idly during a mission.”

Then, acting helpful, he personally covered their mouths and noses with cloth soaked in sedative. The knights quickly lost consciousness.

“Withdraw!”

“Take the supplies and the princess!”

“Yeehaw! Today’s our win!”

“What kind of bandit yells like that?”

“Dad, why are you picking a fight again?!”

With that bizarre father-daughter bickering, the bandits disappeared.

All that remained at the noisy scene were an overturned carriage, a ripped tent, and unconscious knights, maids, and coachmen tied to trees...

...and the princess’s discarded dress.

***

The bandits moved stealthily out of the forest.

Once they reached the coastal road, they mounted prepared horses and carriages. Their masks and bandages were tucked away under their clothes.

Soon, a carriage bearing the crest of a wealthy merchant family appeared on the coastal road.

“...We plan to enter Rinne territory from here.”

Marquis of Hesperi spoke as he looked out the window.

The blazing summer sun was clear above, and the sea sparkled with breaking waves, even deeper in color than the sky.

“There, we’ll switch carriages once more.”

“To one from the Urbespe Guild.”

“Leo, back off a bit.”

Ferio firmly pressed his daughter’s forehead, but Leonia stiffened her neck and held her ground.

“I’m the one who kidnapped her! So I should be responsible!”

“And why would you be responsible?”

Ferio looked at her sharply.

“You just happened to help a crossdressing man. Don’t go getting tangled up with some random pervert.”

“Duke, are you calling my grandson that random crossdressing pervert...?”

Marquis of Hesperi asked in disbelief.

“I’m fine with it.”

Princess Scandia, now branded the crossdressing pervert, smiled faintly.

“Lady Voreoti.”

The princess, now wearing only a shirt and pants, wasn’t even wearing shoes.

“Thank you for your help.”

“Aww, it’s nothing.”

Leonia waved her hand dismissively.

“Thank you for the side effect antidote, too.”

Thanks to that, she said, even though the spell had worn off, she didn’t have any fever or pain.

“...Side effect antidote?”

Ferio blinked in confusion.

“I borrowed it for a bit.”

“From where? From who?”

“...From you.”

Leonia averted her eyes.

“...I’ve raised a thief.”

“I borrowed it! I’m not a thief!”

“If you took it without asking, that’s stealing.”

“I only didn’t say it out loud, so it’s borrowing!”

Leonia said she would later ask Marquis Ortio to make another antidote for her.

“But it’s a bit disappointing, honestly.”

Ignoring her father’s sharp glare boring into her temple, Leonia looked at the princess.

The princess and Marquis of Hesperi looked slightly dazed, having just witnessed the beastly father-daughter quarrel moments ago.

Only Leonia remained perfectly calm.

“To be honest, I really wanted to see it.”

When she flung the carriage door open earlier, she’d been secretly hoping to see the princess in her dress.

Not getting to see it made the little beast pout and push her lips out.

“That’s why I came all the way here even though I was busy.”

“It wasn’t a very pleasant sight.”

Princess Scandia shook her head. But Leonia, clearly still disappointed, stared intently at her face.

Even after the spell wore off, the makeup from when she’d turned into a woman still lingered—Princess Scandia looked truly beautiful.

“...Maybe crossdressing men are my type.”

Click. A lock snapped open inside Leonia’s rotted childhood heart. A new world had opened at last.

“You little pervert...”

Ferio muttered in disgust.

“Dad, what’s with the language?”

“Am I wrong?”

“You should say ‘my little pervert’ or ‘our little pervert’! Where’s the possessive form?!”