Episode 28

Lothania, who had been looking around, spotted me and stopped, her face crumpling with worry. She barely held back her tears and ran to me, hugging me tightly.

Melbrid and Vitrain were with her, but Henry was nowhere to be seen.

“Mother! Are you okay? You disappeared so suddenly; I was so worried.”

“You’re the one who disappeared so suddenly, Lotti. Do you know how scared I was?”

“I’m sorry…”

“If you wanted to talk to Young Lord Senwood, you could have arranged a separate meeting. Did you not think it could be dangerous?”

“I was wrong…”

Lothania looked up at me with her big, tear-filled eyes, then hung her head low.

She must have left my side to spare me from hearing something distressing about Bonita. Still, her actions were wrong. What if the assassins had targeted Lothania instead of me?

Seeing that I hadn’t softened my stern expression, tears began to fall from Lothania’s eyes.

“I’m so sorry, Mother. Because of me, you were in danger. It’s all my fault. I’m so sorry…”

Seeing my little girl clutching my skirt and crying broke my heart.

Lothania thought I had simply gotten separated from the group while chasing after her. Despite this, she had turned pale and called out for me desperately.

I knelt down to hug my frightened daughter and said,

“It’s not because of you that I was in danger, and I’m not angry because of that. You could have been in danger. Nothing should come before your safety, understand?”

“Yes, Mother.”

She answered, swallowing her sobs in my embrace.

I patted her back until she stopped crying and then stood up.

Lothania, with her reddened nose, glanced at me and smiled when I did. Then she gasped and shouted,

“Ah! The elephants!”

She stood on tiptoe, looking towards the parade, but unfortunately, the elephants had already passed by.

I patted her head and said,

“We can see them next year.”

“Really? Will you come to the festival with me next year too?”

“Of course. We’ll come every year.”

“Wow!”

Lothania clapped her hands in delight, and Aiden emerged from the alley, having finished cleaning up.

Vitrain frowned when he saw Aiden, and Lothania whispered, asking why the dog was there.

Indeed, how did it come to this? The dog, the eagle, and the serpent’s brother all gathered in one place.

What should have been a joyful Festival of the Lake Spirit had turned into a veritable kingdom of animals.

Melbrid, who was only guilty of having the wrong brother, stayed by Lothania’s side with a bright smile, while Vitrain and Aiden exchanged fiery glares.

“Your Majesty, my condition was that no other beasts be involved.”

In response to his polite complaint, Aiden’s sword, almost out of its sheath, answered instead.

He pointed his sword directly at Vitrain’s throat, who stared back without flinching.

“I particularly despise dogs that show their teeth anywhere.”

Vitrain pushed down the tip of Aiden’s sword with his finger as he spoke.

Aiden adjusted his grip and aimed his sword back at Vitrain’s neck, his voice and eyes filled with murderous intent.

“Was it you?”

“I’ve tolerated enough, Duke Tilender. Stop this nonsense and put away your sword.”

“I’m asking if you’re the one who spread those rumors in the alley. Answer me.”

I had hoped to calm the mad dog and enjoy the rest of the festival, but that seemed out of reach now.

Aiden’s question was one that couldn’t be ignored.

Rumors had spread among the Lingrove thugs, specifically describing me, and we had just encountered some of those who had heard and acted on them.

Though nothing serious had happened thanks to Aiden, meeting those thugs alone while separated from my knights could have been just as threatening as an encounter with assassins.

And the one who spread those rumors was none other than Vitrain?

“I need to hear that answer as well. Speak, Vitrain.”

With Aiden’s sword and my cold gaze upon him, Vitrain stepped back out of the sword’s reach and remained silent for a moment.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Vitrain, you know I detest liars.”

“No matter what Your Majesty says, my answer remains the same. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Vitrain’s face remained expressionless, but the heart is a strange thing. Once someone is caught lying, it’s easier to catch them again.

Once again, I saw Vitrain’s blue eyes waver.

To me, a few village thugs would have been nothing more than a minor nuisance at a summer festival, especially with the royal guards and the Empire’s supreme commander by my side.

If I considered who among those aware of my dog mask might orchestrate such an event, only one person came to mind.

Assassins aiming to kill me wouldn’t have spread rumors to gather thugs, making it all the more likely to be him.

Aiden growled at Vitrain, his gaze as dangerous as his drawn sword.

“Stop lying. Do you know what just happened to Her Maj—”

“Aiden!”

I called his name loudly to stop him.

The festival was still in full swing, with crowds gathering around us.

More importantly, Lothania was watching with a frightened expression.

I shook my head at Aiden.

The fierce but obedient dog lowered his sword, and I turned away from Vitrain to speak to Lothania.

“Lotti, shall we go back for today?”

Lothania, not fully understanding what was happening, tightly held my hand and nodded.

On the way back to the summer palace, I rode alone in the carriage with Lothania.

It was hard to leave Melbrid behind with his sad eyes, but I needed to ask Lothania something.

Once the carriage started moving, Lothania fidgeted with her small hands and asked nervously,

“Mother, did something happen? Why did Duke Tilender come?”

Should I tell a twelve-year-old about encountering both assassins and thugs, and a nearly mad dog?

For her emotional well-being, I definitely shouldn’t, but she needs to understand the danger of assassination.

If I tell her that this happened during a simple festival outing, she might blame herself.

But knowing it happened during a simple outing might also emphasize the risk…

As I wavered, unable to reach a conclusion, Lothania seemed to catch on and asked,

“It must have been dangerous if Duke Tilender had to step in, right? Isn’t that so?”

Unable to lie convincingly, I reluctantly nodded.

“An assassin appeared.”

“An assassin??”

Lothania jumped from her seat and shouted.

Her crimson eyes trembled as she anxiously checked me over.

“Are you okay, Mother? Oh my, are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Thanks to Aiden, I wasn’t hurt.”

“Duke Tilender saved you?”

“Yes, he did. He protected me from the assassins.”

Lothania’s eyes filled with a mix of fear and relief.

“Thank goodness… I was so scared when I couldn’t find you.”

“It’s okay, Lotti. I’m safe now, and that’s what matters.”

I pulled her into a comforting hug, stroking her back gently.

“Mother, will it always be this dangerous?”

“It’s not always like this. But we have to be careful.”

“I’ll be more careful from now on. I promise.”

“I know you will, my dear. And remember, I’ll always protect you too.”

Lothania nodded, snuggling closer. We remained like that for the rest of the ride, finding solace in each other’s presence.

“Lotti, calm down. I’m perfectly fine.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Duke Aiden appeared just in time.”

“Thank goodness, Mother.”

Lothania, with tears in her eyes, threw herself into my arms.

As expected, she began to apologize for insisting on coming to the festival and blamed herself for everything.

No matter how much I assured her that I wanted to see the festival too and that this vacation was planned by Vitrain, it didn’t help.

She even began to cry, saying it was because she hadn’t awakened her powers yet.

Then, suddenly, Lothania lifted her head.

“Was it the eagle? Is that why the dog acted that way?”

“Huh?”

“The assassin. Did the eagle send them? Did he suggest this vacation to target you?”

Just seconds ago, Lothania had been crying pitifully, but now her crimson eyes held something that looked like a murderous intent.

No, that can’t be. It’s impossible for a twelve-year-old to have such a look in their eyes.

I rubbed my eyes and looked again, but the intent was still there, clearly present.

Maybe it takes this kind of spirit to become the master of beasts. After all, Lothania is destined to be the Emperor of the Empire someday.

I was almost admiring her strong charisma when I had to stop Lothania from jumping out of the moving carriage to go twist the eagle’s neck.

“No, Lotti. I don’t think it’s him.”

“But I’m sure it’s him, Mother. How dare he send an assassin after you. I’ll take care of him.”

“I understand how you feel, but please calm down and close the carriage door. It’s dangerous, Lotti.”

Lothania, my spirited yet obedient stepdaughter, closed the carriage door at my request.

She’s definitely got a fiery temper, never one to hold back.

TL/N: Do you know who I think is assassin. I rhino its Tito the Chamberlian its a gut feeling