The rumor that the Empress had incurred divine wrath was nothing good.
Especially since Heinri was backed by the Empress's support. Amidst this, my Phrygian sister clung to Father, and Lilia was busy whispering intimately to Mother...
I wasn't particularly worried about the moves of my Phrygian sister or Lilia. Frankly, their desperate struggles seemed almost pitiful.
If Lilia managed to persuade Mother again, well. That wouldn't be bad either. If that happened, I would be spared the trouble of having to tie Roam and Lilia together.
No matter where Lilia met with whom or how secretly they conversed, no matter how covertly my Phrygian sister worked, I could track all their movements. This alone meant I held a significant advantage over them.
So, the important thing now was the imperial palace. The imperial palace, from which no news had come late into the night.
[Shall I go and check?]
As I was blankly staring at the sky that had turned pitch black, Zigore subtly posed a question.
"No."
The crow that brought me the news said it had been crossing over the imperial palace to gauge the atmosphere and had almost been hit by an arrow.
It seemed the atmosphere of wariness towards animals would continue for the foreseeable future, so sending the Dullahan transformed into an animal was dangerous.
'It would also be risky to shift into an illusion state.'
Without knowing Xenon's situation, hastily connecting communication via an illusion state and risking exposure to someone would be a disaster.
Was waiting the only answer, then?
"Or perhaps persuading Father to just..."
Muttering to myself, I suddenly raised my head.
"The most effective power against monsters is divine power."
So, wouldn't it be likely that the Temple, startled by this unexpected accident, would send someone?
...For instance, a holy knight.
* * *
The Empress lay breathing evenly.
The imperial physicians' diagnosis was consistent. There were no external injuries; she was merely asleep.
But if it were a normal state, why would she remain deeply asleep for days without waking?
Heinri, looking down at the Empress with a somber face, slowly turned his body. Managing his expression was difficult under the encroaching fatigue.
'A monster attack.'
He had never imagined it.
Frankly, Heinri had been at ease until he departed the imperial palace with the Empress.
Of course, that didn't mean he had been careless. It was more accurate to say he had been thoroughly prepared and thus confident.
It wasn't their first journey; it was a familiar route they had traveled for years, and for safety, they had conducted inspections days in advance.
So, how could he have imagined a scene like a monster suddenly leaping out from among peacefully flying ducks while crossing the river?
'If only Anelli had been by my side, it would have been easier.'
Anelli possessed the ability to converse with beasts, so if she had been there, she would have grasped the situation much more clearly. Perhaps she could have even attempted to communicate directly with the ducks flying up at that moment.
He wanted to contact her immediately, but sadly, he couldn't. The communication magical artifact they shared had been damaged in that day's commotion.
'I need to make contact as soon as possible.'
Should I persuade Duke Roam to reveal Anelli's existence sooner than planned? It hasn't even been days since she went to Roam; has Anelli achieved all her goals yet?
'It's almost embarrassing how I vowed not to seek her help again.'
As Heinri walked, lost in thought with a troubled expression, an attendant approached.
"Your Highness, the Temple is requesting an investigation."
"An investigation?"
"It seems related to the recent announcement."
At the attendant's low report, Heinri frowned.
"Damn that announcement."
Spitting out the irritable mutter, Heinri reluctantly moved his steps.
That Dullahans were a plague of evil.
He didn't know how much that announcement was stirring public sentiment.
The imperial citizens were hoping the Resurrected One would step forward and say even a word, and even the nobles wanted to meet the Resurrected One known to be in the imperial palace.
As if the Resurrected One were the sole savior against the rampant evil.
The imperial palace was not publicly disclosing the Resurrected One's disappearance under various pretexts, but they probably couldn't stall for much longer.
The Emperor, who had even opened the ancestral tombs claiming to drive out the evil energy, was now pressuring to capture the Resurrected One immediately, saying the situation had worsened.
"They have been guided to the reception room for now."
"And His Majesty?"
"Since you were in charge of the Resurrected One, dealing with the Temple should also be your responsibility..."
The attendant cautiously spoke while watching Heinri's expression. Heinri, forcing down his weary look, nodded.
"...Lead the way."
The Emperor was now utterly disgusted by talk of divine wrath and monsters. It was obvious he would have taken even the Temple's visit unpleasantly.
Normally, when the Emperor didn't step forward, reports would have gone to Crown Prince Maxel. But now, the person to whom the Emperor delegated external affairs was Heinri.
To greet the Temple visitors, Heinri hurriedly moved. Behind him, several subordinates discreetly followed.
"Your Highness, we've received a report of an anomaly in the imperial palace barrier."
"The barrier?"
At Heinri's sharp question, the subordinate floundered and explained.
"The message is that it will take about half a day to restore."
"Just when His Majesty's temper is already frayed, nothing goes smoothly."
Muttering in dismay, Heinri glanced back at the Empress's palace he had just left.
"Tell them to strictly verify anyone entering or leaving. Except for those attending to Her Majesty, no one is to pass the guards without authorization."
"Yes, understood."
"And Maxel?"
"He is insisting that all this happened because divine will was misinterpreted."
"Tsk, uselessly good at learning."
Heinri clicked his tongue briefly and muttered.
Maxel was undoubtedly trying to use this opportunity to reverse his reputation. It seemed he was even trying to play the part of a devout believer for that.
"Tell them to support him carefully, as he still seems mentally unstable. The imperial atmosphere is already ominous; if the Crown Prince does anything that could be criticized, it would be a disaster."
Heinri spoke bluntly, as if disregarding the surrounding attendants. Perhaps one of them might run to Maxel and relay Heinri's words from moments ago.
But Heinri wasn't worried. Wouldn't Maxel, upon hearing his words, rage and try to do something even more?
If that happened, the Emperor, whose nerves were already on edge, wouldn't tolerate a Crown Prince who couldn't grasp the situation for long.
Thanks to moving busily while giving orders to his subordinates, Heinri soon arrived at the reception room.
Attendants waiting at the door bowed their heads toward Heinri, then opened the door with all their might.
Beyond the doors swinging wide open on both sides, the splendid scenery of the reception room came into view.
"His Highness the First Prince has arrived."
Upon the attendant's announcement, the visitor rose from the sofa.
The spotless white armor covering his massive frame flawlessly revealed his identity as a holy knight.
"Sir Samuel."
And beside him, someone was seen with hands clasped respectfully and head bowed, as if to indicate they were his squire.
Neatly tied brown hair, brown eyes cast downward. A woman with a common appearance.
"...Everyone, leave us. I must have a confidential conversation with our guest."
At Heinri's words, the attendants scurried out of the reception room. Heinri also gestured with his eyes for his close aides, who were watching from behind, to leave.
Only after emptying the reception room did he let out a sigh of relief.
'Could I ever be this glad?'
Merely facing her made him feel as if peace had been restored.
It was a change of mood that made his past mockery of those who eagerly sought the Resurrected One, believing it would save their lives, seem utterly hollow.
'Anelli.'
Even though her appearance was altered by a transformation spell, he could recognize her at a glance.
Smiling brightly toward Anelli, Heinri strode over.
Seeing that the first thing he felt upon seeing Anelli, who had risked danger to enter the imperial palace, was relief, he thought that he, too, must believe her to be a savior.
"So, you were the cause of the barrier problem."
"You recognized me at a glance."
"How could I not?"
At Heinri's words filled with certainty, Anelli made a wry expression.
"What happened? How did you tamper with the imperial palace barrier?"
"I received Roam's help."
"Ah, that agent planted in the imperial magic department."
That agent, who had played a brilliant role when Anelli escaped this imperial palace, was still working in the imperial magic department.
'We left him there intentionally to capture him when exposing Duke Roam's arrogant behavior later, but who knew he'd be helpful again like this.'
Heinri wasn't the least bit worried or tense, even at the news that an agent was blatantly active under the Emperor's nose.
What worry?
Rather, he felt an illusion that all the accumulated fatigue had vanished because of just one person.
"We have no time. I must return home early, so let's hurry."
Ah, if only this burly holy knight weren't here, it would have been perfect.
Suppressing a rising sigh, Heinri looked at Anelli. As Samuel had said, Anelli's face seemed somewhat urgent.
"I came out without Father's knowledge, so the situation is pressing."
"Today's meeting will likely last late into the night."
Duke Roam was probably in the central conference hall of the main palace with other nobles now. He heard they were discussing the issue of mobilizing private troops to subdue the monsters that might be lurking near the capital.
Maxel was not attending the meeting on the grounds that he had incurred divine wrath and should exercise restraint for now, and Heinri was not attending as he had to handle external affairs in place of the absent Crown Prince.
Thanks to that, it was fortunate he could meet Anelli like this.
At Heinri's explanation, Anelli replied with a sigh in her voice.
"Of course. That's why I chose today. But it doesn't seem like a situation where we can afford to be leisurely."
Her words were true. Heinri, who had momentarily relaxed his mind, tightened it again and nodded with a serious face.
"I couldn't reach you; did something happen to the magical artifact?"