Should I just take it outright.

But those bastards might cling to me over this.

Offer to teach me how to use it.

Tell me they have something better.

“Ah, I absolutely hate that.”

While I hesitated, the guardians grew more desperate.

“We have no other motive.”

“Yes. We do not seek forgiveness for the great crimes of our past.”

“Messiah, please....”

Still, without my answer, the guardians’ expressions darkened.

Duke Jermo sighed deeply.

“Tell me whenever you need anything—”

I snatched the pendant from Duke Jermo’s hand in one swift motion.

The guardians’ eyes widened in surprise.

I narrowed my eyes and glared at them.

“I really hate this, okay? I don’t want it, and if you come again using the pendant as an excuse—”

“....”

“....”

“Just try coming back again!”

I snorted and vanished in an instant.

Only after rounding the corner did I stop walking.

I glanced back at the guardians; all of them stared in astonishment.

I let out an exasperated sigh and examined the pendant in my hand.

Judging by how I held it, no protective aura appeared.

‘Like an incense burner, you have to burn incense to see it? But there’s nowhere to burn anything on this... Ah, what an idiot.’

Most relics activate with sacred energy.

Luckily, I have just the thing.

‘A holy stone!’

A mineral imbued with divine power.

I discovered it when I nearly got kidnapped by Klipto’s troops.

They must have scattered it beforehand to prevent me from summoning monsters.

It’s an incredibly expensive mineral, so I brought some along just in case.

‘Alright, let’s test it.’

I fiddled with the pendant until I found its clasp—rocket-shaped, it split open when I applied force, cracking with a sharp snap.

I inserted the small holy stone and heard the necklace emit a strange hum.

Whirrrrrrrr....

‘What is this? Has it activated?’

Just then, a voice called out.

“Your Highness.”

“Ah.... Hello.”

A maid from the Empress Dowager’s palace approached with a gentle smile.

“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager requested that, if it suits Your Highness’s schedule, you join her for tea.”

“Of course, that would be fine... but—”

“Your Highness?”

A man suddenly shoved his face forward from behind the maid.

[Instead of delivering the old woman’s orders, she needs to go to the infirmary! Damn it, if she dies, I’ll be trapped in darkness for another few hundred years...!]

I cast a quick glance at the maid.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“Huh? Ah, I have been dizzy lately, perhaps from overwork. Oh my, can you sense such things, Saintess?”

I forced an awkward smile.

“No. You simply looked unwell.”

“I appreciate your concern. Shall we go see the Empress Dowager?”

“Yes.”

As I followed the maid, I thought:

‘That man is a guardian aura.’

Clearly he can activate relics with divine power.

When I inserted the holy stone, the aura became visible.

‘Amazing.’

Though it’s mortifying to think of the guardians, I’ve gained something incredible.

I grinned, tugging at the corners of my mouth.

At the Empress Dowager’s palace.

I was about to enter the garden.

“Consort!”

The Empress Dowager’s sharp voice rang out.

I jumped in surprise.

She never raised her voice like that.

The garden gate was open, letting me see the scene inside.

Consort Hwang smiled blandly, facing the Empress Dowager.

“Mother, why do you speak with such anger? Was I not merely stating what’s proper?”

“How is it proper to say you’ll take the Empress’s seal without consultation?”

“When Her Majesty the Empress lies ill, it is by law that I, as Consort, assume her duties.”

“You, who’ve driven the people’s hearts into the dirt, cannot stand in for the Empress.”

Consort Hwang’s expression finally turned icy.

“Voices of discontent rise against your unfair judgment, Mother.”

“Those are surely rumors spread by your faction.”

The Empress Dowager continued coldly.

“If you, known as the mastermind behind the Crumatous Incident, manage state affairs, the people will rebel.”

“But the true mastermind of Crumatous was—!”

“Did you not admit it yourself? You said you were the mastermind of the Crumatous Incident.”

“That was....”

“To cover up what you did to Alexis and Annamaria!”

“....”

The Empress Dowager fixed her gaze on Consort Hwang.

“I cannot {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} grant you the Empress’s seal.”

At the Empress Dowager’s resolute words, Consort Hwang ground her teeth, then forced a smile.

“My mother’s intentions matter little.”

“What?”

“As the Prince Regent decided, you will comply.”

“You—!”

Consort Hwang shouted.

“Bring it!”

The maids of Consort Hwang’s palace carried in a box containing the seal.

Consort Hwang chuckled, then said to the Empress Dowager, trembling with rage:

“Please consider the situation wisely. After the Imperial Palace, the Empress Dowager’s palace must not lose its master as well.”

“Ocelia—!!”

The Empress Dowager’s face paled as she shouted.

At that moment, I stepped into the garden.

“May glory shine upon the Emperor’s House. I greet Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and Consort Hwang.”

Both the Empress Dowager and Consort Hwang turned their gazes on me.

Seeing me, Consort Hwang curled her lips in a self-satisfied smile.

“You still come and go through the Empress Dowager’s palace as if it’s your own home.”

“It is my pleasure to converse with Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, Consort Hwang.”

“Didn’t your family tell you to keep that pleasure at a distance?”

They meant: now Salvatore was regent, you should ally with Consort Hwang.

I smiled broadly.

“No such instructions were given. My father knows that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and I are good friends.”

“One would hope your father’s judgment grows keener, since you are heir of the Asto legacy.”

“Please don’t worry!”

My cheerful tone made Consort Hwang’s scowl deepen. She must have been seething.

I continued grinning.

“My father is my best advisor. I rely on his excellent judgment at every turn. So, I was thinking....”

“....?”

“Perhaps I should ask his counsel on this matter as well.”

“What....”

“Whether it’s right for Consort Hwang, who caused the Crumatous devastation across the continent, to take the Empress’s duties.”

“...!”

“And since the state guests are staying here, we might even ask their opinions.”

“Do you dare blackmail me?”

“Of course not!”

I gave Consort Hwang a face that said, “I know nothing—why are you mad at me?”

I’d learned from Dalia that this infuriates people the most.

“It’s just that, in my humble view, I don’t understand why someone who did those things would take the Empress’s seal....”

“You—!”

“Ah, did I offend you? Oh dear....”

The Empress Dowager chuckled at me.

Consort Hwang, meanwhile, clenched her skirts and glared murderous daggers at me.

Her palace maids exchanged nervous glances, unsure whether to take the seal box or leave it.

Consort Hwang ground her teeth and shouted:

“Return to the palace!”

“Yes, m-my lady!”

She led her maids away—leaving the seal behind.

Once she’d gone, I shrugged and looked at the Empress Dowager.

“She came to fetch the seal without consulting Prince Salvatore. She wouldn’t have left it behind otherwise.”

“That’s right. You threatened her by invoking Astra, so she got scared.”

“Afraid of being scolded by her precious son?”

The Empress Dowager and I exchanged giggles.

“Please, have a seat.”

“Yes. But, Your Majesty—”

“Yes?”

“You will end up losing the Empress’s seal.”

“...I suppose so. Salvatore will want to empower his mother—to keep me in check.”

“You must gather support.”

“It won’t be easy. The nobles on Salvatore’s side are united, all concerned about what Grimie’s Astra did—”

Suddenly—

Thud!

A muffled sound, and the maids rushed forward.

The Empress Dowager rose and asked:

“What’s the matter?”

“Mary has collapsed.”

“My goodness, call the palace physician at once.”

I watched from behind the Empress Dowager as the maids fussed over the fallen maid.

‘That maid is the one who brought me here.’

The one grumbling about her guardian’s concern.

[Damn it!]

The fallen maid’s guardian aura stamped angrily around her feet.

But something was odd.

‘What’s that line?’

A faint beam of light connected maid and guardian.

As time passed, the line flickered and frayed.

“Why has her condition deteriorated so?”

“Perhaps her household faced financial trouble and she had to take on extra work after leaving the palace.”

“A frail girl should have told someone!”

The Empress Dowager’s palace was in uproar.

“My child.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I’m sorry, but you must return home today. I will contact you separately.”

“Yes. Please don’t worry about me.”

As I left the room, that beam of light lingered in my mind.

Late into the night, I did not return to my manor.

I went back to check on the maid’s condition.

Fortunately, she had opened her eyes.

Thanks to the skillful palace doctors.

Feigning hesitation at the infirmary, I studied her condition.

‘The line has become whole again.’

So it breaks when close to death.

If so....

I inhaled sharply.

‘If it happens just before death, could I draw the guardian aura out? As the soul’s bond weakens.’

Perhaps Grimie’s people collect blessings that way too.

I covered my mouth with both hands.

‘Amazing, amazing!’

By seeing the guardian aura, one gains incredible advantages!

Not only can you steal blessings, but you can learn the subject’s lifespan.

Wait....

‘I can even discern a collapsed person’s condition!’

The Imperial Palace is too well guarded by Salvatore.

So....

I sneered wickedly.

‘I’ll check on the Empress’s condition.’

With the Emperor fallen and no Crown Prince appointed, the Empress would act as Regent by right.

If she awakens, she could assume the regency.

Alternatively, she might empower Alexis.

Either way, I could tighten the noose on Salvatore.

I hurried to the Empress Dowager’s palace.

To reach it from the infirmary, one must pass the Third Palace, where state guests stayed.

I hurried down the corridor when a familiar voice reached me.

“So it’s so upsetting... Prince Alexis is the one who should help me, but Erilot only serves her own greed.”

It was Dalia.

Striding beside her was the Princess of Veloster.

We halted in the hallway.

Dalia pouted and asked:

“What are you doing here?”

“Do I have to explain?”

“It’s late, it’s odd for you to still be in the palace!”

“Mind your own business. I’m here with permission.”

“Why must you speak so rudely?”

I ignored Dalia and walked past.

Her lady-in-waiting glared at me disdainfully.

[She’s truly horrible. Yes, I think so too. Won’t the Princess reprimand her? Shall we ask?]

The maid chattered to herself, amused.

The Princess of Veloster addressed me.

“You haven’t changed your manners, have you?”

“My apologies. I feared even asking after your health would displease you.”

“You would do better to seek permission than judge on your own.”

“May I greet you?”

The Princess turned to look at me.

I slowly turned back and regarded her.

Then....

“Very well.”

“....”

“Do my words not reach you?”

“....”

“Your stubbornness... whom did you inherit it from?”

“....”

I could not reply, for I saw her guardian aura shimmering in the darkness.

“Were you at the gambling house again?”

“I told you not to run! Look, your knee is ruined. Damn it, it was thrilling though....”

“In any case, you—”

He looked at me with a grim profile.

One of the thirteen Apostles who formed the ancient me.

Now presumed my mother’s guardian aura... Bakira.

“....”

“....”

I slowly turned back to face the Princess of Veloster.

She, too, stared silently into my eyes.

After a moment, she spoke.

“Let us go.”

“Yes, Princess!”

Dalia clicked her tongue and snorted, then followed the Princess of Veloster.

I called after the Princess walking away from me.

“Mother?”

“...!”

The Princess froze in her tracks.

“You... are my mother?”

“....”

The Princess of Veloster said nothing.

She stood there in still silence.

Dalia frowned, alternating her glance between the two of us.

“What do you mean by that...?”

“....”

“Princess?”

“...Let us go.”

The Princess of Veloster resumed walking without a word.

I gripped my skirts with both hands and shouted:

“You are my mother....”

“....”

Dalia, perplexed, asked:

“Um, Princess?”

“Let us go.”

“But....”

“I said let us go!”

Startled, Dalia fell silent and trailed after the Princess of Veloster.

The Princess of Veloster’s chamber.

Mercedes, waiting inside, sensed our approach and rose.

“How long do you intend to keep me waiting?”

The Princess closed the door behind her, having entered without Dalia.

Mercedes cried out:

“If I reveal this to the Emperor, he will not— Ugh, what are you—!”

With a slam, the Princess of Veloster seized Mercedes by the throat and pinned her to the wall.

“I told you.

“If you lay a finger on Erilot Astra, I’ll kill you!”