The imperial princess could not shake off a hint of anxiety.
Even though she had entered the secret escape route known only to the royal family, accompanied by her escort knights, that feeling lingered.
The underground cave located beneath the Verlata Palace had endured for hundreds of years. Luminescent objects emitted a faint crimson glow, scattering pale light.
There were hundreds of lights lining the seemingly endless path.
It was a clear indication of how diligent the Imperial Court had been in creating and maintaining this cave. Even Shi-en, a member of the court, could only speculate about the reasons.
After all, it was just a cave.
If they wanted to create a secret space, it would have been more reasonable to engage in more substantial construction. Yet, it was anything but a hastily created area; traces of meticulous effort were evident everywhere.
However, on the surface, hundreds of monsters were currently wreaking havoc around the academy.
There was no time to ponder such trivial thoughts. Nevertheless, the princess found herself habitually invoking her anxiety.
Something felt off.
It was strange that over a hundred monsters were stationed around the academy without anyone noticing it.
Moreover, the monsters that had ambushed the returning procession seemed different from ordinary ones.
At first, they pretended to be stray cats, then suddenly self-destructed or grew in size to overwhelm people.
Although the princess had encountered countless pieces of information, she had never heard of such monsters.
Above all, she could not sense any emotions from those creatures.
To be precise, she felt emotions, but there was no indication of hostility or malice. No matter how proficient one was in emotional control, it was normal for aggression to surface just before an attack.
Yet, the monsters that attacked the academy did not exhibit that behavior.
Not only did they show no signs before the ambush, but even during the combat, no emotional ripples were discernible. It felt more like watching a stray cat leisurely enjoying a stroll.
Even while baring their teeth and swiping with their claws, their hearts seemed as relaxed as if basking in the sun.
The princess found that particularly frightening.
After all, sight was power.
The history of humanity began with observation.
What can be seen can be controlled, and what can be controlled can be owned. Thus, Shi-en hated her eyes fiercely, yet she loved them.
It was because they allowed her to manipulate the emotions of others.
But now, the limits of that ability had just been exposed.
That was why the princess could not maintain her composure amidst the sudden ambush. The confident woman could not shake off her anxiety.
Suddenly, Shi-en’s gray eyes surveyed the surroundings.
With each glance, she felt the waves of emotions surrounding her.
Tension, nervousness, and a strange inner conflict toward the princess were all vaguely captured in her vision.
This was normal.
At least among them, no one displayed hostility toward the princess. She tried to reassure herself that these were merely unfounded worries.
Yes, these were individuals she had meticulously chosen to trust.
There was no concern that anyone would betray the princess.
As though sensing Shi-en’s anxiety, a stunning lady knight with blue hair cautiously spoke up.
“Your Highness, is there something that concerns you?”
Her question served as a signal, redirecting everyone’s gaze toward the princess.
They, too, were keenly observing her. After all, she was their charge and the most noble-blooded woman present.
The princess wore a bitter smile at the hint of anxiety seeping from her.
As someone in a position of authority, she felt she was causing unnecessary worry.
Determined to show no signs of concern, Shi-en shook her head and spoke.
“Um, no… I’m just a little surprised. More importantly, how much longer do you think it will take?”
Airen, who had been serving the princess for a long time, looked slightly skeptical.
But since the princess had said so, the escort knights had no grounds to argue. She quickly closed her eyes to estimate the distance traveled.
It didn’t take long for Airen to reply.
“We’ve arrived at about a third of the distance. If you want, we can continue as we are, or take a break. There may still be monster remnants outside the cave.”
The princess paused to contemplate Airen’s words.
After all, the location of this cave was a secret. Even if they knew, it would likely be only the heirs of the five noble families who had been tipped off about its existence.
Monsters surely wouldn’t have any information regarding this place.
If that were the case, it might be better to rest just in case.
Leaving the cave too early could mean getting swept up in the chaos outside. Although there were numerous monsters, the academy’s capabilities were formidable.
With some time, they judged that the situation would surely calm down.
The princess, having made her decision, spoke in a steady voice.
“…Then let’s rest here. Not for too long, just a quick breather before we depart.”
At those words, the escort knights sighed in relief.
At that moment, the tension in their exhalation was palpable. They had not only rapidly reached the academy but had also cut down numerous monsters.
No matter how skilled they were, even experts would inevitably tire.
Once an intelligence agent for the Imperial Court, the retired head maid was no exception.
With a sigh, she trudged forward, her weary expression evident.
She headed toward Airen.
The two often gathered their opinions and reported to the princess since they shared the common bond of being closest to her.
This was also part of clarifying the hierarchy.
The subordinates discuss and set the agenda, and the princess merely decides on the approval or disapproval.
Familiar with the routine, the princess soon tuned out the two.
Indeed.
Thus, Shi-en’s awareness drifted away from reality for a time.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of blood gushing out.
For a moment, the princess could not respond to that auditory stimulus. She merely cast a sluggish glance toward the source, wondering what had happened.
No, it wasn’t just her.
Everyone gathered around was paralyzed, unable to respond.
Even Airen, with a dagger embedded in her shoulder, seemed to stare blankly at the woman in front of her, as if she couldn’t even feel pain.
A woman with black hair and a tired face.
There was no sign of malice or hostility in her eyes. Such dissonance was stripping the princess and her companions of their sense of reality.
In the hand that moved with a creaking sound, a thread made of magical power was entwined.
“Si, Head Maid…?”
With her shoulder gripped, Airen stumbled through the words.
Her connection with her was quite old now, likely spanning several years.
Airen knew how much the head maid cherished and was loyal to the princess.
The head maid merely tilted her head as if asking what was wrong.
“Yes, Lady Airen? What’s the matter?”
There was no hesitation in her calm demeanor.
Airen glanced at the blood dripping from her shoulder and then back at the head maid. The head maid’s face exhibited no signs of realization.
That was why it felt odd. Airen felt a sudden chill.
Her instincts sounded an alarm.
Airen immediately brought her remaining hand to the hilt of her sword. Turning to the still-dazed escort knights, she commanded:
“Subdue her immediately! Protect the princess!”
“W-What do you mean…?”
The head maid still looked like she had no idea what Airen was talking about.
Regardless, Airen swiftly drew her sword.
The blue aura resembling her hair traced a trajectory in the air. The head maid dodged the attack like a water lily floating on the surface.
Then came the gracefully following dance of threads.
As the head maid’s body spun twice, the threads of magical power gathered in her hands exhibited complex movements. A white thread sprung up with a snake-like motion, piercing into Airen’s shoulder.
Although it was an unfamiliar technique, Airen could roughly guess its origin.
The intelligence department of the empire dealt with all sorts of intricate weaponry. She had heard of agents who were proficient in combat even without any weapons.
This must have been the head maid’s skill from her days in active duty.
However, Airen, who had reached her peak physical capabilities several years ago, was not at a level where she would be outmatched by a retired agent.
Yes, it should definitely have been that way.
But the moment the magical thread coiled around her sword, Airen sensed something was wrong.
The flow of magical power that should have coursed through her veins was stagnant.
Before she even had the thought of why, the magical thread that had coiled around her sword traveled up her arm.
With a cracking sound, the sensation of her bones shattering clouded her mind completely.
“Ugh, urrghhh!”
“Lady Airen!”
As Airen grit her teeth and stifled her scream, the escort knights, having regained their formation, charged forward.
The charge of the trained knights was like cannonballs.
Especially if multiple knights rushed in while forming a complex web of swords, there were very few who could withstand such a onslaught.
Yet the head maid succeeded.
The method was simple.
One wiry thread of magical power darted out and snagged one of the knight’s ankles.
That was the end of it.
Based around the ankle, the knight’s body began to swell grotesquely. The knight showed no sign of realizing the change occurring in his own body.
It was merely a fleeting moment.
Before the knights could even reach the head maid, the cave was engulfed in a storm of light and heat.
A loud explosion shook their ear drums only afterward.
With a scream, the escort knights fell to the ground. The knight who had become the conduit for the bomb collapsed to the ground as a handful of blood.
Still, the head maid’s expression remained utterly unshaken.
As if she did not comprehend what had just transpired, her hand sent forth several poisoned needles.
The needles embedded themselves in the bloodied knights’ bodies with a soft thud.
“Ugh, ughh….”
Even after taking a direct hit from the explosion, it should have been normal to at least rise, but the knights who were hit by the poisoned needles merely twitched, unable to move at all.
Airen’s consciousness began to fade.
It felt as though her magical power had solidified, and she ultimately could not hold on, finally kneeling.
Her breaths were ragged.
Through her blurring vision, she locked eyes with the head maid and asked fiercely.
“Wh-what have you… done…?”
Yet the head maid merely tilted her head a few times in confusion.
“Lady Airen, why are you like this? Why is everyone lying down… Your Highness?”
The head maid’s gaze flitted toward the princess.
The princess was hesitating, taking a few steps back with eyes filled with fear.
It was as if the head maid’s mentality remained unchanged, despite her distorted pupils. Instead, concern seemed to seep through.
It was as if the person moving her body and the personality inside her were entirely separate beings.
It was reflected in the same way as the monsters that had attacked the academy.
Realizing that fact sent a chilling shiver down the princess’s spine.
The monsters’ target was not the returning procession or the academy.
It was precisely her.
And the head maid slowly continued to walk toward her, maintaining an expression of utter confusion.
As if she understood nothing at all.
That dissonance felt unbearably terrifying to Shi-en.
