It was the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager fixed rare fury in her eyes as she glared at Ebron.

“How could the Chief Lady-in-Waiting abandon her post while the Empress lay at death’s door?”

“I-I will explain—”

“No.”

At that curt dismissal, Ebron’s shoulders trembled and she fell silent.

The Empress Dowager’s voice turned icily low. “There is someone besides you who can explain this situation.”

The knights behind her seized someone and dragged her forward: one of the ladies of the consort’s palace, meant to meet with us at Oselia’s quarters.

Ebron turned ashen and cried out, “Your Majesty, whatever misunderstanding there may be, first hear my side—!”

“If you wish to speak, do so in the prison. Arrest her!”

Before her roar had even faded, the knights sprang on Ebron and pinned her.

The next day.

I arrived early at the Empress Dowager’s palace. Since she was away on an inspection, one of her ladies-in-waiting recounted the events of the previous night.

“As the Young Lady said, there was a secret passage behind the Empress’s chambers.”

Indeed.

‘I saw it marked in the archives.’

That passage was meant as an escape route in emergencies, whispered only to the chief ladies who served closest to the Empress. Ebron, as a former chief herself, must have learned of it from her predecessor.

‘To use such a passage to harm Her Majesty?’

The women shuddered. “This is an insult to every lady-in-waiting! What of the oath of loyalty sworn before entering the palace? How dare she—!”

“We cannot forgive this!”

They trembled as they continued. “Ebron and the consort’s maid have both been confined to the underground prison.”

“Have they confessed?”

Just then, a chamber door opened and the Empress Dowager entered, fatigue etched across her face.

I rose to bow, and the ladies followed suit.

“I knew people were wicked, but this... this is beyond all measure.”

“Your Majesty...”

“To covet money and power so much as to keep someone unconscious all these years—”

“So the late Empress was merely kept asleep?”

“She was.”

Because of shifting politics, Consort Oselia could never become Empress. Once a new Empress arrived, Oselia would have lost her seal—so they kept her unconscious instead.

‘What a monstrous woman.’

The Empress Dowager and I exchanged glances.

“That is settled, then.”

“Yes. Now that Oselia’s crimes before the foreign dignitaries have been revealed, even Salvatore cannot protect her.”

The Dowager sighed. “But the real problem is Salvatore.”

“Yes?”

“As long as Prince Salvatore lives, the consort could be reinstated at any moment.”

“Then we must remove Prince Salvatore.”

“...What?”

The Empress Dowager’s features hardened. The ladies glanced at me in alarm.

Narrowing her eyes, the Dowager said, “He is the Regent, the Emperor’s proxy. To strike him is to commit treason.”

“Now that Oselia’s betrayal of Your Majesty is exposed, both the Empress Dowager and the Regent Prince have crossed an irrevocable line.”

“...”

“One of them must die. The only question now is who strikes first.”

Pressing her knuckles to her chin, she frowned in thought. “I need time. Once I’ve decided, I will send the edict.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Of course the Empress Dowager will move against Salvatore.

‘And if she tips off Grimie—’

The chief lady she appointed herself was in league with Duke Grimie. Could there be no spies left in the Dowager’s palace?

‘No... there must be.’

So after unmasking Ebron, I consulted the archives and watched the ladies closely.

There—I learned that the blonde maid was Grimie’s agent.

‘If that news reaches Grimie, it will start a war.’

I could not help but smile to myself.

In the reception chamber.

Grimie’s expression stiffened as he found Viscount Beloster.

The Viscount rubbed his earlobe and asked, “What is it?”

“I received a message from the Empress Dowager’s palace,” Grimie replied.

“If it darkens your face so, you must need my help. Tell me everything.”

“...Erilot is inciting the Empress Dowager to rebellion.”

Viscount Beloster clenched his skirts beneath the table.

‘That child...!’

What on earth was she doing? If she failed, not even the imperial bloodline of our Empire could save her.

His heart pounded. A child chosen by the gods, wielding the dragon’s power. If she dared treason and lost, a fate worse than death awaited her.

‘Daimond... how did you raise her so!’

She’d always loved battle, even as a child, yet to lead her own daughter to such... no, he could not blame Daimond alone—he, too, was warlike.

‘Why must she take after that trait? She should live in peace.’

Beloster bit the inside of his cheek. Now that the news had reached Grimie, there was no turning back.

‘I mustn’t lose this fight.’

He looked grave as he asked, “The land of Kalsoye will be stained with blood, then?”

“Aren’t you worried for your daughter?”

“If I were maternal, would I entrust her to a snake like you?”

“...”

“My purpose has always been one: the throne of Laontra.”

“Of course.”

“I’ve endured hard years for that. I risked everything—must I not risk even my own child’s life?”

Grimie smiled thinly. “Such wisdom; it makes me even more envious. Tell me, have you no interest in marrying me? We’d make fine partners.”

“I cannot have a partner whose motives I cannot discern.”

“How disappointing. Yet I deceive no one.”

“You did not say how you’ve won over Kalsoye’s nobles.”

Grimie’s smile turned cold. “Why do you ask that?”

“I thought you might aid me in winning the nobles of Laontra.”

At that, Grimie laughed. “Could I withhold such aid from my future wife?”

“And what exactly is this aid?”

“I granted them a boon.”

“...”

“There is no wealth like a blessing.”

A single boon could change one’s destiny: a combat boon to pulverize a hundred soldiers at once; a transmutation boon to turn stone into gold; a divine boon to cure a dying child. No one resisted the promise of power.

“Some would take the boon and leave,” said the Viscount sternly.

Grimie’s smile returned. “So I gave them ‘false roots’ as well.”

“...!!”

The Land of Blessing was, in truth, a gateway to another world: split between the realm of the gods and the realm of darkness. The divine lands slept beneath celestial guardians; the storms that felled the ancient empire raged in the darkness. A fake Land of Blessing led only to darkness, and its power warped humans into monsters. Grimie had been using that power to create artificial beast-folk.

“Those who receive the false blessing gradually deform and lose their will—becoming my killing puppets.”

“...For what purpose?”

“To place everything beneath me.”

A chilling smile crossed Grimie’s lips. “Now, I shall take my leave. I await your affirmative answer on marriage.”

Rising, he departed. Once his presence had wholly faded, the Viscount donned a hood and hurried away.

Where she went next...

“Haha, what a notion,” said someone quietly.

“When lords dine at your restaurant, scandals always follow. Be honest—did you plant it to glean their gossip?”

“My, what conspiracies you have!”

“Well, one could use a restaurant that way.”

Duke Germo was leaving the palace, conversing with nobles.

Startled, he turned. “Your Grace?”

“I must be going—I just remembered an urgent appointment.”

After greeting them, he rounded a corner. Once far enough away, Germo said, “What is it? You must not come to me unless it is grave.”

Stepping from the shadows, the Viscount said, “How can we cleanse the false blessing’s influence?”

“There is a false Land of Blessing?”

The Viscount seized Germo by the lapels. “I know you are the High Elder of the Chronot Council.”

“...”

“I know your guardians watched me, and fed Erilot hints.”

“...”

“And I know how you aided Grimie’s scheme against my daughter!”

“...”

Germo’s face darkened. “There are times I wish I could tear you apart.”

“I know I have sinned beyond forgiveness—but # Nоvеlight # once we bring her to our side—”

“Do you know the Messiah’s role?”

“To liberate the guardians and end discrimination in this land—”

“No!”

Viscount Beloster whispered hoarsely, “She is the sacrificial lamb for the coming storm.”

“...Pardon? The ancient storm?”

“Yes—the horde of monsters wielding divine power!”

“...!”

“Because those fools who know nothing of the false blessing opened the gate, the divine barrier weakened!”

“...”

“The vile god foresaw this and spared the priestess’s daughter who dispersed half the storm.”

“...”

“Thus she was reborn human—to stop the next storm!”

Germo’s face went pale. “Impossible... that cannot be. The chronicles of the previous guardians—”

“They spoke not of it! Such lore only survives among the Kumal.”

Germo shook his head in disbelief. “No... no...”

“I am of the royal line of the second Kumal kingdom. Grimie suppressed the Chronot Council while possessing the guardian diary.”

“...”

“So it is true—she was born to quell the storm!”

“...”

“That is why you keep Erilot alive—as the sacrifice when the storm returns!”

Germo pressed his palm to his brow, drained. “I... we have...”

What have we done...

Viscount Beloster wept tears of blood. “Did you know the child struggling to survive would end in sacrifice?”

“It was never about finding a Messiah to do that.”

“Then protect her.”

“...”

“With every ounce of strength, protect her!”

“...”

“Please... protect her...”

He sobbed.

That dagger Dalia threw at Erilot struck Beloster.

“See? When you were Yuhye-min you were so forward your parents hated you; when you became Erilot you even abandoned your mother.”

“Let’s be honest: you’ve never known unconditional love.”

“Well, your mother did abandon you, so I suppose it’s understandable—but it is pathetic.”

Live happily, I told you.

Because I was in such pain, I thought thousands of deaths might be peace.

You told me not to live like that.

That life’s purpose should be your happiness, not some petty power.

‘I never knew that would become the chain that bound you...’

I should have raised you myself.

I should have abandoned my titles, my people, everything, and lived with you in the mountains.

I thought you would hate a life of hunger as I did.

I hated the memory of crying from hunger; I never wanted that for you.

When the powerful came to sacrifice you, I abandoned you, fearing I could not protect you.

My life’s mission was to build a foundation to protect you.

I did not abandon you for lack of love.

Duke Germo asked, “What must I... we do?”

“Erilot prepares rebellion. Use any means to ensure its success.”

“And if her rebellion fails and the storm descends, she will not be chosen as the sacrifice.”

“Yes.”

Their eyes flickered with bright determination.

That night.

After I disclosed my plan to Alexis, I headed to the carriage station.

‘I must hurry to persuade Grandfather.’

Betty and Heidi waited for me in the distance. At that moment, I felt myself lifted off the ground.

“What—!”

“Good evening, Lady Erilot.”

It was Mashitavba’s younger brother, hoisting me onto his shoulder.

“You’re insane! Put me down!”

“Is the princess’s preferred posture the cradle hold?”

“I said set me down!”

“That’s impossible. And with the warding barrier, no one will hear you even if you scream.”

“Let go! I said let me down!”

“My, she is strong.”

“Do you wish to die?!”

I screamed, but no one seemed to notice. They were completely invisible.

‘Guardian boons are a scam!’

Mashitavba strode toward other guardians. “I told you not to appear before me!”

“L-L-Lady Erilot, no matter how much you shout, we... hear nothing. You might strain your throat—”

“Well, perhaps you could use me differently.”

Her brother, confused, murmured, “W-What do we do?”

“Shall I summon Abshin to heal you? You may scream all you like!”

“Still, it will hurt.”

Hera chuckled. “In the palace? You’d be arrested for treason before you could even begin one.”

“These fools are mad! Shall I unleash monsters?”

Hera shrugged. “And be charged with treason? No thanks.”

Mashitavba’s brother loomed before my face. “We shall escort you to the Hall of Justice.”

“I’m not going.”

“You must come. For a rebellion you require experts, do you not?”

Surrounded by guardians, I was carried away as I shrieked, “How do you even know that?! Let me go! Ugh! Father! Alexis! I’m right here!”

“If you keep calling another man’s name, I have other methods.”

Mashitavba’s brother glanced at me. I gave him a baffled look and said, “Oh? And what methods?”

“I shall confess to Your Majesty.”

“You’re truly mad...?!”