I shook my whole body violently.

“If you keep treating me like this, I’ll have to take drastic measures—!”

As I shouted, Mashitavba’s elder brother thrust something right under my nose.

“Drastic measures would be troublesome, forgive me.”

It was a small vial, and before I could react the guardians slapped my mouth and nose shut.

‘Oh no... could this be—’

I never got to finish the thought; I lost consciousness.

When I woke, I was on some kind of bed. I squeezed my eyes shut and ground my teeth—I knew exactly where I was.

‘The Chronot Council headquarters. Or is it the main hall?’

Having faced high nobles behind its “Veil,” the headquarters smelled distinctly of wealth: white walls carved with delicate patterns, a chandelier hung with dove-shaped glass pieces holding rosebuds, and a floor as smooth and pure as ivory. The light shone as brightly as daylight—yet there were no windows. It was a room so beautiful one might want to admire it—if I weren’t tied up.

I clenched my teeth and squeezed my eyes tighter.

“Untie this now.”

No sooner had I spoken than a voice answered from the unseen.

“That won’t do. You must promise not to harm yourself.”

It was Duke Germo’s voice.

“Why would I harm myself!”

“You know how dearly we guard the Messiah’s health and safety. If you threatened to cut yourself with glass shards, such a threat would be all too effective, would it not?”

How did he know? I ground my teeth in thought. Of course I had no intention of hurting myself—I only meant to scare them with a glass shard.

“Will you promise?”

“Fine! I promise! But why won’t you show yourself and just speak through some speaker?”

“Because I thought you might not wish to see our faces.”

“I’d rather die than be dragged here—and now you ask if you’ll release me?”

I huffed and struggled. At once, figures materialized around me.

‘So that’s the barrier—they only hid their appearances.’

Truly, these guardian boons are a complete fraud. The woman closest to me appeared to be about the Empress Dowager’s age.

“Oh my, your tiny hands are bound so tightly,” she cooed.

“If I left her loose, she’d bolt at once.”

Mashitavba’s brother muttered.

The old woman slowly reached out to me. “Come here, child. Grandma will untie you.”

“...”

When I went still, she chuckled and smoothed my hair with her wrinkled hand.

“Whatever shall we do, to bind such a good little one?”

“....”

When I said nothing, Hera snorted with laughter.

“You behave like an angel before Abshin. How vicious you grow with the rest of us!”

“Damn you...!”

I glared at Hera.

Abshin—so that was her name—patted my back and said to the guardians, “Everyone understands human nature. Do you think such a grave crime deserves immediate forgiveness?”

Mashitavba’s brother clicked his tongue. “We know that.”

“If you know, why drag her here so?”

“Well, we have our reasons.”

Meanwhile, Mashitavba’s elder brother returned with a tray of food. It was a thick soup. The old woman picked up a spoon and placed it in my hand.

“Have just a spoonful. You’re so thin you’ll snap if you stay tied up much longer.”

“....”

“Now, think of it as soothing your spirit, yes?”

“....”

I picked up the spoon and glared at all the guardians except Abshin.

‘They deliberately paired me with this grandmother to pacify me!’

I couldn’t bring myself to be angry at her—she was even smaller than the Empress Dowager. Her trembling, wrinkled hands looked barely able to hold the spoon. And yet....

“Oh dear, sweetie! Oh my, oh my!”

“Don’t come near me, Abshin! I’m just going to the gambling den!”

“Come down now! The walls are high—you’d break your neck!”

She truly could have been ancient Abshin herself. Whenever my father took me to the gambling den and I got caught, Abshin would always intervene. She’d cling to me in her frail arms, and Father would sigh and back away.

My entire world had been that wet nurse. Abshin’s resemblance to her was uncanny.

I grudgingly tasted the soup. Abshin clapped happily.

“There, such a good child.”

“...”

The guardians chuckled.

“You’re an angel for Abshin.”

A burly man with a bandy beard guffawed. “I am Urgula, Messiah. I am your sword and shield.”

“I never asked for introductions.”

“Heh, heh—would that be a problem? I-I’d like to... reintroduce myself properly....”

Girtaab stammered. I slammed the spoon down.

“You fools...!”

“Please finish your meal, yes?”

“...”

But when Abshin pressed the trembling spoon into my hand again, I had no choice but to remain silent.

After I ate half the soup, I pushed the tray away. Only then did Abshin step back, smiling.

“What a well-behaved one.”

At last, the guardians approached.

‘One, two, three, four... twelve? But you’re the Thirteenth Guardian—there should be thirteen.’

Just then, a shaggy-haired man spoke.

“Kumal is not present.”

I flinched. ‘How did they know I was thinking that?’

The shaggy man stroked his throat and said, “I am Jibaan. My boon is Future Sight—Messiah saw the future in which she counted us.”

“Future Sight?”

“Indeed. Now, if you’ll excuse me—”

He stepped forward and snatched the framed picture that had hung above my head.

“It will fall in a few seconds.”

Until then his bangs had obscured his face, but now he swept them aside in one swift motion, revealing keen eyes the color of midnight sea.

‘He’s handsome.’

I understood why Dalia insisted on keeping these guardians close—a beautiful, devoted, powerful circle. Just as Yusaeun had always wished.

I clicked my tongue. “All right, just step back, will you?”

Jibaan tore the frame loose and retreated. Then someone else appeared.

“You are...!”

“Should I say it’s a pleasure ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ to meet you, or regret that we haven’t before?”

She giggled and drew near. “I am Isabella Chateaubriand, Current Western Warden. My boon's name is Doube.”

She had been the cousin of Cylin, who served as the Central Warden back when I did.

Mashitavba’s brother sputtered. “I told you that name isn’t allowed!”

“They always do this. She was very close to the first Doube, they say. She took in the young guardians who were once farm slaves and became their mentor.”

“Farm?”

“Do you not know our line was once overthrown and persecuted?”

“...I see.”

It was then that Grimie acquired the Chronot Council’s vast archives. Isabella shrugged.

“Many guardians died back then, so there was a generational shift.”

“Ah....”

“Originally the spirit passed from parent to child, but there was no time to transfer it. So a guardian’s spirit hastily attached to a child with no boon.”

“You still have your parents alive. Why did Doube pick you as a guardian?”

“What do you think?”

“Surely not Duke Chateaubriand or Cylin—”

Isabella giggled. When I frowned, she tapped my cheek. “Don’t worry—they weren’t it. A distant relative was Doube.”

“Is that so....”

“Before Doube died, he sought me out. He said he might not return from slaying the dragon. With no heir, he asked me to be the vessel of his soul.”

“....”

“I agreed. It was an incredible boon. Want to see?”

Isabella waved her hand at the air.

KRAAASH—!

A tremendous roar rang out, and the room cracked and splintered.

“Isabella Chateaubriand!”

“Do you intend to destroy the headquarters?!”

“How dare you show such power before the Messiah—!”

The guardians shouted, but Isabella merely laughed.

“This is a mighty boon. Among guardian boons, it’s one of the few offensive types—and the second strongest.”

“...”

“There was no reason not to accept it... though perhaps I shouldn’t have.”

“...Why?”

“Doube’s spirit whispers to me every day.”

“...”

“Of how adorable you are, how fiercely I wish to protect you....”

“...”

“I feel I’ll go mad—perhaps I already am.”

Isabella perched on the foot of the bed and leaned close to my neck.

“Can you hear my heartbeat?”

“...”

“Since the moment I sensed you, I could see nothing but you.”

“Could you move away?”

“Like a child, or a sister, or a dearest friend—or perhaps unrequited love.”

She draped her arms over my shoulders. “Love me. I love you more than anyone in the world.”

“You’re insane.”

Those weren’t my words.

Mashitavba’s brother grabbed Isabella by the nape and yanked her back.

“What are you doing!”

“Shut up and go away. I don’t want your stench of perfume near my Messiah’s head.”

“You dare call her your Messiah?!”

“Why should some lucky farm slave get a guardian and then approach a noble—”

“Do you want to die?”

“Before your vulgar scent taints my Messiah, get out!”

“Brother!”

Mashitavba’s brother—as if to activate his boon—called to his elder. I could bear it no longer and blurted out,

“Enough of this—!!”

My shout rang out through the chamber. The guardians fell silent and stared at me.

“If you want to fight, untie me and fight!”

“That is impossible, Messiah.”

Duke Germo laughed softly. “Our role is to protect you.”

“Protect?”

“Your rebellion plan is in motion.”

“...What?”

“While you slept, the Empress Dowager made her decision.”

At last!

My heart began to pound. I gripped the sheet and stared at Duke Germo, who spoke gently:

“And Abshin visited the Empress. Her power is healing. Now, shall we view it?”

He traced a line in the air and an image appeared: the front hall of the Imperial Palace. The imperial family and nobles, including the Dowager, were gathered. Seated on the throne was...

‘Not Salvatore?’

The Empress!

She sat gaunt, pressing a weary hand to her forehead.

[We congratulate Your Majesty on your recovery! Glory to the House of Kalsoye!]

[Glory to the imperial house!]

As the nobles cried out, Salvatore and Consort Oselia burst in, their faces ashen.

The Consort stammered, [B-B-But how—]

Behind them rushed Grimie and his nobles. Grimie spoke:

“You have truly awakened... Divine blessing, Your Majesty.”

“I appreciate everyone’s congratulations. Yet so much has changed while I slept.”

Oselia forced a smile: “Y-Yes, indeed. Time is time. Allow me to explain past events.”

“No. I have already heard them from my mother. What I demand now is that man’s name.”

Grimie bowed. “I am Grimie Astra, Your Majesty—the firstborn of the House of Astra—”

“What title shall I call you by?”

He hesitated. Salvatore interjected, his face grim:

“The ceremony to grant his title is scheduled next month at the Meritorious Service Investiture.”

“So currently?”

“....”

“How can one without title oversee state affairs, Prince?”

“By my command—”

“A foolish choice indeed!”

The Empress’s voice rang out. The nobles fell silent.

“What sort of inequitable appointment is this? I will not have it. With no Crown Prince, the Regency by law belongs to me.”

“Your Majesty!”

Oselia screamed as though torn apart. “I have lain in wait for over ten years! How can You, knowing nothing of state affairs—!”

“Who made this so?”

The Empress Dowager spoke. Oselia flinched.

“What do you mean—?”

“Bring them in!”

At the Dowager’s command, knights dragged in Ebron and the consort’s maid. Bloodied, they stammered out the truth.

Grimie and Salvatore’s faces drained of color.

“You murdered Anna Maria, aided the Crown Prince’s escape, sent endless assassins, and even dared to seize the Empress’s seal, Oselia.”

“I—I—!”

“Surely Salvatore helped your wicked deeds.”

“He acted at my mother’s sole decree! I never—!”

“Who would believe you? Where is your proof you did not aid her?”

“You have none to prove you did help.”

“Then we require evidence.”

At that moment, armored Alexis stormed in, pulling white knights behind him. He knelt before the Empress.

“This is the Regent’s command. Search both Oselia’s and Salvatore’s palaces from top to bottom to uncover the truth.”

“As you command.”

Those loyal to Salvatore turned pale.

Uncover the truth?

‘No—they intend to incriminate Salvatore.’

I punched the air in triumph. “How delightful!”

Duke Germo said, “This occurred three days ago.”

“...What?”

Three days ago, not now?

“Wait—then—!”

“Salvatore and Oselia have fled.”

“That was expected. Now the war begins. But why three days?!”

The guardians answered cheerfully. “Because she slept for a week.”

“What?!”

“We’ve been at war for some time. Both factions scour the land for the Messiah. They intend to deploy dragons.”

“A week... are you mad?”

“Do not worry. We have already notified your family.”

At that, Hera opened the door. Our armed family stood there.

“I truly do not understand what has happened,” Balzac said, incredulous.

“What do you mean?”

“They won’t let me go home!”

The guardians answered again, cheerfully. “We feared Your family’s injury would sadden you, so we brought them here. And we have your grandfather and father as well.”

These mad fools....

I pressed my palms to my temples. “Joshua, explain the situation.”

“Your Majesty: the Empress and Dowager’s forces clashed with Salvatore’s before the palace.”

“Mm-hm.”

“We planned to aid the Empress, but you were abducted—so Grandfather and Father and my siblings came to Headquarters at my brother’s summons.”

“And?”

“We were captured on arrival. We couldn’t move with you as hostage—then—”

“Then?”

Unable to hold back, Balzac shouted, “They sent a letter in Father’s name to Salvatore!”

“What did it say?”

“That if he abandoned Grimie, he’d gain the Astra heir!”

“Did he reply?”

Duke Germo held up a letter. “Prince Salvatore’s reply. He will abandon Grimie.”

“...We never planned to aid Salvatore.”

Then Pavil, the strategist, laughed. “What folly. Of course he won’t aid Salvatore. The moment he forsakes Grimie, we join the Empress Dowager to strike Salvatore.”

...They say such grim tasks need experts. I must admit: as enemies they are maddening, but as allies they are a tremendous comfort.

‘Damn it.’