Hiding in the bushes with Karha, Cheshire’s eyes widened.
What on earth could have happened for such an impudent imperial order to be issued?
To depart for the capital immediately in the middle of the night?
And to make matters worse, Cheshire was included as well.
As she wore a grave expression, she heard Karha mutter.
“This is a hassle…”
Kieren’s expression was much the same.
His face, completely devoid of tension, was covered with nothing but annoyance.
Still, he nodded obediently in response.
“I will obey the imperial order. We’ll prepare now and depart at first light.”
“There is a command to escort the Count personally.”
The noble showed no signs of backing down.
It was now clear why he had brought the entire order of knights like a cloud.
If there was refusal, they intended to drag him by force.
“Ah, I see. Then wait over there. Waiting under the dawn dew sounds rather poetic, doesn’t it?”
Regardless of what the noble thought, Kieren left the knights as they were and slipped back into the castle.
Karha whispered to Cheshire.
“He’s definitely going back to sleep.”
Cheshire was thinking the exact same thing.
As Kieren disappeared inside, the knights left behind dismounted their horses.
Their sharp eyes showed no signs of letting down their guard.
Karha, avoiding the gaze of the knights, circled around and headed toward the back gate.
But something felt odd.
There was a commotion inside the castle.
And it wasn’t the kind of unrest caused by the arrival of the Emperor’s knights.
All the servants were running about in a frenzy, their faces pale.
“Young Lady!”
“Lady Cheshire!”
Voices calling for her came from every direction.
The urgency in their voices was almost desperate.
Lights illuminated the castle so brightly it seemed like midday.
Karha blinked blankly and looked at Cheshire.
“Kid, did you do something wrong?”
She wasn’t sure, but for now, she shook her head vigorously in denial.
Karha pursed his lips into a triangle and hummed thoughtfully, then started striding quickly.
He crossed the brightly lit castle interior and headed straight for the main hall.
There, the knights of House Basilian were gathered.
Kieren stood among them, clad in a black uniform.
The man who had earlier seemed more than relaxed—nearly lethargic—even as he received the Emperor’s order, was nowhere to be seen.
His face was expressionless as he drew his sword.
The blade, deep black as if absorbing light, devoured the chandelier’s glow entirely.
Cheshire spotted Belzeon and Ishuel standing beside Kieren.
They too wore such expressionless faces that Cheshire was startled.
Just like Kieren, a cold, cutting aura swirled around them.
The men of House Basilian each had distinct personalities.
So much so, that she had never once thought they resembled one another.
But for some reason…
In this very moment, the three of them looked as if they had been painted with the same brush and pigment.
Like black snakes…
Kieren slowly parted his lips.
“Find her.”
The voice that carried his order had a strange resonance.
“She shouldn’t have made it out of the Black Forest yet. Release the hounds. Search…”
“What’s everyone doing?”
Karha said loudly.
Then, still holding Cheshire in his arms, he dashed forward with quick steps.
Three pairs of red eyes simultaneously turned to Cheshire.
The moment they recognized her, Kieren slowly lifted the corner of his mouth.
“…Ah, well.”
He slid the sword he had just drawn back into its sheath.
A black shadow swooped around Cheshire’s waist and yanked her toward Kieren.
A large hand immediately caught her.
His broad chest swelled and then sank as he took a deep breath.
Kieren spoke softly.
“So you were playing with Karha, Cheshire.”
He quietly pressed his forehead against hers.
The red eyes that filled her vision glowed ominously like shattered jewels.
“I went to the bedroom and was surprised when you weren’t there.”
—
A whisper as low as a snake slithered through the air.
“I thought someone had taken Cheshire away.”
Goosebumps rose on her forearm. This felt like…
‘Is this what happens if I run away?’
It was like catching a glimpse of the future.
Even if she were to escape, she absolutely had to do so without anyone discovering that she was the witch, Lichesia.
Otherwise, things would get incredibly and unbearably annoying.
A strong intuition slammed into her mind—that someone as persistent as Hailon would cling to her.
Cheshire quickly grabbed Kierne’s cheeks with both hands.
She slapped them hard enough to make a light smacking sound.
She really wanted to give him a proper slap to bring him to his senses, but she held back.
Thankfully, even that much seemed to bring some clarity back to Kierne’s eyes.
Meeting his gaze, Cheshire spoke.
“I just got bored and went outside.”
“I see.”
Even with that clumsy excuse—that she went out because she was bored—Kierne slowly nodded.
He didn’t ask how she managed to get out on her own.
Instead, he just made an excuse for why he’d left Cheshire alone.
“After returning from the Black Forest, I have nightmares. I didn’t want to scare you, so I slept separately.”
Now that she thought about it, they usually slept together, but today was an exception.
Recalling how strangely Kierne had been acting lately, it all made sense.
Thanks to that, Cheshire had been able to sneak out unnoticed, which worked out well for her.
“The flower is pretty.”
“Brother gave it to me.”
Long fingers gently brushed over the gerbera flower petals still in Cheshire’s hand.
As if the petals would crumble if handled carelessly, his touch was delicate.
“Wow.”
From behind, Karha spoke with his hands clasped behind his head.
“You’re acting seriously sappy, Father.”
The boy threw out his words carelessly, yet with a sharp edge.
“Just like you did with Mother. Is it because she looks like her?”
“……”
For a moment, the hall filled with dozens of people fell into a frozen silence.
And at that moment, Cheshire finally realized who Kierne had been seeing in her all along.
‘He thinks I resemble the late Countess?’
What a ridiculous notion.
The idea that someone like her—an unparalleled beauty—looked like the Countess was absolutely impossible.
Cheshire was a fairy.
A mere human could never hope to match the beauty of a fairy shaped by fantasy.
‘At most, maybe our eye color or hair color is a little similar.’
Clicking her tongue inwardly, Cheshire pretended not to know and quietly leaned against him.
Kierne, who had briefly widened his eyes, let out a faint laugh.
“What’s your problem, Karha?”
He asked with a sly smile in his eyes.
“What, should I treat you affectionately too?”
“No, thanks.”
Karha replied with a look of pure disgust. Kierne also laughed as if nothing had happened, dissolving the frozen atmosphere.
“Now that we’ve found Cheshire, everyone prepare to depart.”
Kierne tilted his head arrogantly and gave the order.
“To the Imperial Palace.”
At the master’s command, the vassals of House Basilian responded in unison.
“Yes, my lord.”
As she looked down on those bowing their heads, Cheshire thought,
She would go with them only as far as the Imperial Palace.
‘Just because I’m curious. I want to know why the Emperor is calling.’
Besides, it would be much easier to escape from the capital than from the Snake’s Fortress.
It wasn’t like she was worried that Kierne might become a traitor.
It was extremely rare for House Basilian to visit the capital.
The snake hibernating in the Black Forest didn’t usually care to awaken.
So when news spread that the Count of Basilian was suddenly heading to the capital, the Imperial social circles were abuzz.
The rumors became even wilder when it was said that the Count was bringing all his sons—and even a newly adopted daughter.
Those who argued over whether the rumors were true didn’t have to wait long to find out.
The Basilian townhouse in the capital began a flurry of preparations to receive its master.
House Basilian didn’t even try to hide their movements.
They boldly raised their black banner bearing the snake emblem and marched into the capital.
On the day House Basilian arrived in the Imperial Capital,
Kierne and Cheshire had to head straight to the Imperial Palace without even having time to rest.
“Didn’t I tell you this is urgent! His Majesty said it’s a matter of great urgency!”
Count Rudin, who had delivered the royal command, became increasingly agitated the closer they got to the capital,
and once they arrived, he was practically foaming at the mouth.
Kierne, who had planned to unpack and relax at the townhouse, entered the palace with Cheshire, his face full of displeasure.
The three Basilian brothers, however, looked pleased as they watched Kierne being dragged along.
“The Imperial Palace hasn’t changed,”
Kierne muttered in a tone of boredom.
Count Rudin, walking ahead, glared back at him with sharp eyes.
But Kierne was too busy pointing at this and that, eager to show Cheshire around.
“That over there is a tapestry made from the crests of every noble house in the Empire.
When a new house is founded, its emblem is added. If a house disappears, it’s removed.”
It was Cheshire’s first time at the Imperial Palace, and she eagerly looked around from Kierne’s arms.
Whether Count Rudin’s insides were burning or not, they strolled along at a leisurely pace until they reached the Emperor’s audience chamber.
‘The palace is actually pretty nice.’
Cheshire smiled, satisfied.
But the moment she stepped into the chamber, she changed her mind.
‘Never mind, it’s not nice…’
Kierne furrowed his brow.
Count Rudin wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and said,
“Please greet him. This is the Holy Knight of the Hilderd Holy Empire—Sir Hailon.”
─── ･ ｡ﾟ✧: *. ꕥ .* :✧ﾟ. ───
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