Maxwin Gordon explained the current situation in the Mariette Kingdom.

“…And so the kingdom is now driven to the edge of a cliff.”

After about 10 minutes of explanation.

“…”

Abelson couldn’t say anything, keeping her head down.

It was the first time she had heard about the kingdom’s mismanagement since she left.

The kingdom was far more broken than she had expected.

Her heart felt heavy, feeling as if it was all her fault.

‘If I hadn’t come to the kingdom…’

If she hadn’t headed to the Mariette Kingdom then, perhaps this worst-case scenario could have been avoided.

‘If I had at least not killed Reis, would something have been different?’

Although he was a traitor who killed his family, his abilities were outstanding.

If she hadn’t smashed Reis Mariette’s head in that final moment.

Then, at least, could the kingdom have been safe?

All sorts of thoughts swirled in her head.

“Are you alright?”

Choi Hyun-seok looked at Abelson with a worried expression.

“It’s not your fault, Abelson. It’s all those Holy Empire bastards’ fault.”

“Yes…”

“Don’t be troubled. We just need to think about how to crush those bastards!”

“That’s right! Woo-hoo!”

Rachel cheered in response to Choi Hyun-seok’s energetic shout.

Only then did a faint smile appear on Abelson’s face.

“So, Lord Gordon. What should we do from now on?”

“Hmm…”

Maxwin Gordon furrowed his brow in thought.

A sudden situation, followed by a sudden question.

Though it would have been natural to be flustered, having lived in the jungle-like political world for a long time, he quickly found an answer.

“First, we need to clear up the treason charges against the princess.”

“Treason charges?”

“Yes. That day… The princess became a traitor charged with killing the royal family and attempting a coup. In that process, she was also accused of colluding with the demon race, making it an especially serious crime.”

Treason was such a serious crime that even slight involvement could result in the execution of the person and their entire family.

And in this case, she had allegedly joined hands with the demon race.

If she went through a normal trial, even ten lives wouldn’t be enough to save Abelson.

“If we can only reveal the truth of that day, all legitimacy will come to our side.”

Reis Mariette had staged the coup, and the Holy Empire Gatren had been involved in the process.

If they could prove this, the situation in the palace would completely turn around.

“Since we have the legitimate heir, the princess, here, it might be possible to reclaim the throne without bloodshed.”

It was a hopeful story.

Clear Abelson’s false charges.

At the same time, puts the opponent in trouble.

Everything could be returned to normal without bloodshed.

However, Choi Hyun-seok’s expression looked somewhat uncomfortable.

“Hmm…”

Stroking his chin in thought, he opened his mouth.

“But how do we prove that fact? Well, there’s no way any evidence would remain.”

Many witnesses had seen Abelson kill her brother Reis.

To overturn public opinion in this situation, equally decisive evidence would be needed.

“Lord Gordon.”

Suddenly, Abelson called out to Maxwin Gordon.

“Yes, Princess.”

“Lord Gordon, do you perhaps know about the palace’s secret storage?”

“Secret storage… I’ve heard about it from the late king. There’s a space that only those of royal blood can enter. Is that what you mean?”

Abelson nodded.

“That’s right. I think there might be evidence there.”

“Why is that?”

“Reis was a meticulous child. He must have kept records of his dealings with Gatren.”

Maxwin Gordon nodded.

“I agree with that. However, it seems a bit strange that such records would be in the royal family’s secret storage…”

Such important records should be hidden in a place nobody knows about.

Keeping them in the royal storage where any family member might enter.

For Maxwin Gordon, it was hard to understand.

However, Choi Hyun-seok seemed to think differently after hearing the same story.

“Actually, that would make it safely stored.”

As Choi Hyun-seok nodded, Maxwin Gordon’s doubts deepened.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand.”

“It’s simple. That bastard was planning to kill all his family from the start.”

“What do you mean…”

Choi Hyun-seok twisted his lips as he continued his explanation.

“If everyone with royal blood dies, that secret storage becomes the best vault that only he can enter.”

When all royalty dies, the royal secret storage becomes the safest place in the world.

A place only he, who would become king, could enter.

Reis must have stored important things there right before the incident.

After the coup, it would be difficult to freely come and go with all eyes on him.

And anyway, the next day there would be no one else left who could enter there.

“Indeed… That’s right.”

Only then did Maxwin Gordon nod as well.

Though it was still strange to think Reis had such a cruel nature.

If what they said was true, it was entirely possible.

“Though our prediction could be wrong, I think it’s worth trying.”

“I think so too.”

“I agree.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

If so, it would be best to move immediately without wasting time.

“Abelson. Where is this secret storage?”

“The secret storage is…”

Abelson hesitated for a moment, unable to speak.

“What’s wrong?”

“The, the place where the storage is…”

“Where is it?”

“It’s in the bathroom.”

“Ah, the bathroom.”

For a moment, Choi Hyun-seok’s eyes widened.

“The bathroom?”

“Yes. Specifically, the royal family’s private bathroom…”

Abelson, with slightly reddened cheeks, continued her explanation.

“There’s a reason why the storage entrance is in the bathroom.”

The secret storage, true to its name, was secret in its very existence.

To hide the existence of such a place, two prerequisites were needed.

First, royalty must be able to enter and exit naturally.

If royalty visited an unusual place when they always had eyes and ears watching them, it would arouse suspicion.

So it had to be a place where it wouldn’t be strange for royalty to visit.

Second, it must be a place where one could safely have time alone.

Obviously, it couldn’t be a secret storage if attendants came and went together.

“The royal private bathroom in the palace perfectly fulfills these two conditions.”

“Hmm, that’s certainly true.”

Choi Hyun-seok nodded with a somewhat disgruntled face.

Though it seemed undignified for the royal secret storage to be in a bathroom, from a practical standpoint, it made perfect sense.

“If you touch the mirror in the first-floor royal private bathroom in the main building in a certain pattern, a door to the secret storage opens.”

“Good. Then first…”

Choi Hyun-seok looked far toward Scolbon.

“Getting back into the capital is our primary issue.”

“After what happened earlier, the city’s checkpoints must have been strengthened.”

“It certainly looks busy. The number of guards has increased significantly.”

“You can see that from this distance?”

Choi Hyun-seok looked surprised at Sara Dunphy’s words.

Though he could see fairly well at a distance, it was impossible to even distinguish human figures from this far.

Yet Sara Dunphy seemed able to observe the situation in relative detail.

“It won’t be as easy as before. Especially you, Choi Hyun-seok. You’re too tall and stand out.”

“Can’t we enter using different appearances like before?”

“We’d still arouse suspicion. Besides, if we do that, this man here wouldn’t be able to enter the city?”

Currently, the group has a total of 3 fake identity tokens.

Though Maxwin Gordon had an identity token, his couldn’t be used.

In other words, even if they changed appearance, only three people could enter the city.

“We can’t leave Lord Gordon here.”

“I think the same. His combat ability is practically nonexistent, so it would be dangerous.”

Enemy pursuit teams were still actively moving outside the city.

It would be too risky for an elderly man alone to avoid pursuit.

If Maxwin Gordon were caught, there was a possibility their plan would be exposed.

“Hmm, what should we do about this…”

While everyone was lost in thought,

Suddenly, Sara Dunphy grinned.

“I have a good plan, would you like to hear it?”

***

Knight Toddy.

He was in charge of the East Gate, one of the four entrances into Scolbon.

“Everyone maintain strict vigilance! Don’t let anyone in unless their identity and purpose of visit are certain!”

Toddy shouted in a sharp voice.

Just earlier.

An incident occurred during the execution of a major criminal.

Unknown assailants had escaped outside the capital with the condemned prisoner.

The higher-ups had ordered thorough inspections, not knowing when the assailants might return.

“No. Go back.”

“B-but I was able to enter yesterday, why are you suddenly doing this!?”

“If I say no, it means no!”

As a result, many citizens couldn’t enter the city.

The gate entrance became chaos.

“If I can’t sell this meat now, it will spoil!”

“Then bring proper identity tokens. Why does a serf from Seril territory have meat to sell?”

“That’s because times are hard and I had no choice…”

“This guy must be an illegal immigrant! Arrest him!”

“N-no! I received proper permission from the lord… Aagh!”

Normally, even with strengthened inspections, such chaos wouldn’t occur.

That’s because they only accepted those with certain identities from the start.

However, recently things were different.

There had been secret orders from above to let beautiful women from various regions enter easily.

Because inspections had been relaxed due to this, citizens were even more confused when they suddenly became strict.

‘Tch. They should just take bribes and let people in.’

Knight Toddy sneered as he watched soldiers subduing citizens with clubs.

In truth, he felt skeptical about these inspections.

‘How are we supposed to catch those assailants with inspections like this?’

Toddy had briefly seen the assailants escaping the city.

Their speed was too fast to follow with the eye.

“Could someone with such skills possibly be caught by such sloppy inspections?”

Toddy was content just to receive some hefty bribes that he hadn’t been able to get for a while.

Just then, he saw what appeared to be a father and two daughters approaching.

‘Oho, quite beautiful.’

Two women on horseback and a middle-aged man leading the horses.

Especially the woman with long hair was so beautiful it made his eyes flash.

Toddy approached them directly.

“Stop.”

After stopping them, Toddy approached the middle-aged man.

“I’ll check your identity tokens.”

“Here they are.”

“Hmm, you’re from Dola territory. What brings you to the capital?”

“Well…”

The middle-aged man whispered with a reddened face.

“Those behind me are my daughters…”

“And?”

“If we go to the capital, that…”

He didn’t need to hear the rest.

Toddy had anticipated this before even asking.

“I’ll need to check their identity tokens as well.”

“Of course!”

After checking the three tokens, Toddy twisted his lips.

“Verified. However, I’ll have to think about letting you enter the capital.”

At the words that they couldn’t enter the capital, the middle-aged man’s eyes widened.

“W-why…!?”

“Your purpose of the visit isn’t clear. We have strict orders from above not to let just anyone into the capital.”

“Oh, Sir knight… We walked ten days to reach the capital. Please make an exception just this once!”

“Hmm~ what should I do?”

As Toddy dragged out his words, he gave them a meaningful look.

Then the long-haired woman dismounted and approached him.

“Sir Knight. Please take pity on our family.”

The woman pressed herself against Toddy and buried her face.

‘W-what…’

His mind grew hazy from the woman’s scent that struck his nose.

Toddy desperately tried to maintain his composure.

“T-this isn’t right…”

“Sir Knight. We’re just lowly beings dreaming of striking it rich.”

Suddenly the woman’s hand slipped into Toddy’s waistband.

Toddy’s heart began pounding wildly.

“If you show us mercy… Something good might happen inside the capital.”

Just as Toddy’s eyes were about to glaze over.

Suddenly the woman moved away as if she had never been close.

At the same time, Toddy came back to his senses.

‘This is… Silver coins.’

There were three silver coins in his pocket.

Fingering them, Toddy nodded.

“Pass.”

“Thank you!”

The woman kissed Toddy’s cheek and entered the capital.

Toddy barely managed to suppress the feeling that his legs might give out.

“Whew, was she really human?”

Though he’d received a bribe, that wasn’t what was important.

He had been completely entranced as if under a spell.

“Striking it rich shouldn’t be a problem…”

He thought that with such beauty, it wouldn’t be difficult for that woman to receive the king’s selection and wealth.

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