Seeing her demeanor devoid of any trace of tension, Xenon pressed his fingers to his forehead.
“This is merely my speculation to begin with. It might not be the work of a monster.”
It was the conclusion he had reached after considering various possibilities. After all, a dark shadow *had* descended upon them.
Everyone saw the same thing, so it couldn’t have been a simple illusion, and since it wasn’t an illusion spell, his thoughts turned toward monsters.
“But you said it wasn’t magic. If it were poison, the imperial physicians would have detected it, so that’s not it either. There were ducks present at the time, so gathering testimonies should provide some answers.”
“However……”
“In any case, you left Nadav there too. I must go myself, if only to retrieve Nadav.”
At the mention of Nadav’s name, Xenon flinched and fell silent.
With a deflated expression, Xenon averted his gaze and muttered in a tone of excuse.
“……It’s not that I left him behind. That fellow ran off on his own.”
His voice trailing off as he protested, he added with a droop of his eyebrows.
“Still, I am sorry for not keeping a proper eye on him.”
Xenon’s eyes, which had been wandering aimlessly to avoid Anelli, met Samuel’s. From Samuel, he received a look of pity along with a faint sneer.
*Someday, that arrogant paladin will get kicked by Nadav’s hind legs. Starting tonight, I’ll pray fervently every night!*
Gnashing his teeth as he glared at himself, Samuel, acting as if he had no interest, urged Anelli.
“We’ve grasped the situation, so it would be best to leave now. Staying longer won’t do any good.”
“I know. But before that……”
After staring at Xenon for a moment with a troubled gaze, Anelli calmly explained.
“Xenon. Sir Samuel came in to hear your testimony regarding this attack. I intend to acknowledge, upon leaving, that this incident was an attack caused by monsters.”
“Is that acceptable?”
Catching some emotion in Xenon’s expression, Anelli twisted her lips into a wry smile.
“Are you worried it might disadvantage me if we call it a monster attack?”
Frankly, Xenon thought it might.
Even without knowing the full details, everyone believed Anelli was connected to monsters.
Hadn’t that woman, the Crown Prince’s fiancée, tried to incite the crowd at the banquet by labeling Anelli as undead?
Who’s to say they wouldn’t drag out that absurd logic again this time?
Seeing Xenon’s expression, Anelli let out a faint, derisive laugh.
“It would be a problem if Her Majesty the Empress were unable to awaken, but if there is a way to rouse her, then it’s no problem at all.”
“But the atmosphere is bad, and they were threatening fiercely. That…… Prince Heinri also seems to have been put at some disadvantage.”
So, if he knew anything, it would be better to spill it—the watchers outside had subtly pressured Xenon.
Of course, Xenon hadn’t paid the slightest heed to their words.
Despite Xenon’s concerns, Anelli wore an unconcerned face. After a moment of contemplation, Xenon cautiously added,
“That mad former fiancé of yours was also spouting nonsense. Saying the Resurrected One failed to perform her role properly.”
“……Xenon. I won’t be by your side for a while, so let me advise you: if you are caught insulting any member of the imperial family, regardless of rank, you could face severe punishment.”
“I didn’t say whose former fiancé he was.”
When he retorted with an innocent air, Anelli made a face as if she found it absurd. Then, letting out a deflated laugh, she shook her head.
Seeing this, Xenon secretly suppressed a swell of pride within.
Seeing her relax and laugh, even if briefly, put his mind at ease. *Seeing that I have such foolish thoughts, I must truly be blind.*
“Actually, I was the one who first mentioned the presence of a sinister aura attracting monsters to the imperial palace. If they dredge up that story again, it would be like stepping into a quagmire with my own feet.”
Anelli said with a voice tinged with laughter, shrugging her shoulders.
“This incident might actually be an opportunity to elevate the status of the Resurrected One a bit more.”
A low murmur from Anelli was heard: *‘Just as Phrygian unnie said.’*
“It seems I can tidy up some troublesome matters on this occasion, so it’s rather fortunate.”
She seemed to have something in mind. In truth, in such conflicts, Anelli was undoubtedly a hundred times more adept than he was, so Xenon decided to set aside his worries.
*‘She’ll handle it well.’*
However, setting aside his worries didn’t mean he could optimistically view her immediate safety.
After checking the firmly closed door once more, Xenon spoke with a serious expression.
“Once you leave this room, the appearance-altering magic will take effect immediately. But I cannot show you the transformation process, so please keep your head bowed as much as possible when leaving. Fortunately, your robe has a hood, so you can pull it down deeply. That paladin’s frame is ridiculously large, so he should cover you completely.”
Samuel frowned as if displeased by Xenon’s words but didn’t add anything.
That was somewhat fortunate. He, too, was equally concerned for Anelli’s safety.
In other words, it meant Xenon and Samuel regarded Anelli with the same feelings……
Xenon cut off the unpleasant train of thought. *That fellow is a cleric who has taken a vow of chastity, and I am a mage bound by no such restrictions. Objectively speaking, I have the advantage.*
*Though it’s laughable to weigh pros and cons over such feelings in the first place.*
Meanwhile, Anelli, having no way of knowing what Xenon was thinking to himself, pondered alone for a moment before speaking softly to him.
“You will be released soon as well. Heinri-nim said he would sort things out to ensure no problems arise for you.”
She seemed to want to reassure Xenon.
She undoubtedly had no idea why Xenon was so worried, or what was troubling him.
*It’s not where one stays that matters, but whose side one is on.*
In the past, that might have been a bit hurtful, but having experienced Anelli enough, Xenon decided to grumble openly instead of hoping she would understand his inner feelings.
“When do they plan to let me out? Treating a person with such disregard, I can’t stay here any longer.”
As he spoke with a sigh, a hint of apology flickered across Anelli’s face.
“Even if you leave when you leave, you shouldn’t go as if fleeing. Wait a little longer.”
Xenon was slightly surprised, having expected a rebuke to simply endure a bit longer.
He knew she was soft on him, but seeing that emotion directly filled him with such satisfaction he desired nothing more.
*I must be insane without a doubt. To be this happy and want to help with anything, seeing this degree of joy.*
“Please be careful on your way back, Lady Anelli, and if you must do anything dangerous…… please do so safely.”
Since she was likely to do something dangerous anyway, Xenon changed what he was about to say from ‘don’t do it’ altogether.
At Xenon’s words, Anelli smiled faintly and pulled up her hood.
“If you do a dangerous thing safely, is it still a dangerous thing?”
“You’re not saying you won’t do it, are you.”
*I knew it.* Scratching the back of his head and pondering for a moment, Xenon cautiously opened his mouth.
“If, by chance, the Emperor doesn’t believe the story about monster involvement… I could also obtain a guarantee from the Magic Tower.”
“A guarantee from the Magic Tower?”
Anelli, who was heading for the door, paused and looked back at Xenon.
“Yes. However, this cannot be falsified or fabricated. It involves a Pact of Trust, so it must guarantee the truth.”
If a cleric breaks an oath sworn upon their god, they lose their divine power, or so it’s said.
Mages had something similar. A guarantee made under a Pact was such a thing; primarily, the maker’s seal placed on official magical artifacts operated on this principle.
The Pact was sworn upon one’s own magical power. Moreover, if it wasn’t the truth from the start, the Pact itself could not be established.
“If the culprit behind this attack is magic and not a monster, a Magic Tower guarantee likely won’t garner much credibility.”
However, Xenon still believed it highly probable this attack was the work of a monster.
So perhaps a Magic Tower guarantee would also…… be quite helpful to Anelli. If she intends to definitively frame this incident as a monster attack, that is.
“In any case, Lady Anelli will likely verify whether it’s the work of a monster, and the decision to obtain a Magic Tower guarantee can be made afterward. I’m merely informing you that this option exists.”
Listening to Xenon’s explanation, Anelli narrowed her eyes.
“You’re not just saying that?”
“Of course not!”
“Then I can obtain it immediately when I wish? I probably will receive it.”
There was a strange certainty in her voice, forcing Xenon to make a puzzled expression. Seeing his look, Anelli paused briefly before explaining in a nonchalant tone.
“Actually, Minte and Zigore have already gone to check the attack site. If it is the work of a monster as you said, those two couldn’t possibly miss it. I personally was leaning toward the magic side…… Well, I had also considered how to proceed if it were a monster.”
The latter part was almost a mutter to herself, but it was clear enough for Xenon to understand.
“Lady Anelli has everything planned out.”
Without realizing it, Xenon’s mouth fell open as he muttered unconsciously. Anelli looked at him as if he were amusing before turning away.
Samuel, who had been silently listening to their conversation, stepped forward as if he had been waiting.
Unlike when he first entered this room, Xenon gazed intently at her relaxed and confident retreating figure and suddenly thought:
*When Anelli said she would disappear and went on the run, shouldn’t the imperial family and Roam have let her go without pursuit?*
*Perhaps they…… are bringing upon their own ruin by summoning an opponent they cannot handle with their own hands.*