Episode 128

“Someone’s targeting Sierra…”

Ludwig also frowned, his expression turning serious.

“I’m curious why things like this keep happening to you lately.”

“Hmm, I’m not sure either.”

I shrugged as I answered.

In truth, a name kept surfacing in my mind.

‘Jenna Selber.’

Jenna had certainly been with Duke Selber during the incident, and she had several solid alibis that made it hard to suspect her.

Still, the lingering unease I felt toward her refused to go away — it was pure instinct.

‘If it really is Jenna…’

Why would she keep threatening me?

And it wasn’t just recent events.

It was a long and twisted connection that had begun back when we were only five years old.

I felt a throbbing pain at my temples.

[I really like you, Sierra. You’re my only friend. Let’s keep playing together forever!]

Somewhere, I heard a young child’s voice whisper past me like a breeze.

And I knew exactly whose voice it was.

In the distant, fragmented memories that sometimes surfaced, there was a young Jenna running around with me.

When had that pure and kind voice started to change?

The hazy memories of the past swirled like a thick fog inside my head.

Just then, Theodore entered the hall and approached us.

“There you are, Sierra.”

“Were you looking for me, Your Highness?”

He had been absent, overseeing the secret investigation ordered by the Imperial Family.

In a somewhat serious voice, he said,

“I came to tell you about something new we discovered during the investigation. It’s related to you.”

“If it’s related to me…”

Theodore pulled out a white cloth tied into a neat knot and showed it to me.

“What is this?”

I asked as I untied the cloth he handed me.

Inside, what appeared were a few strands of golden hair.

“This is…”

No matter how I looked at it, it seemed like my hair.

It was rare to find such a pure golden color anywhere else.

Blond hair was common, but next to mine, most looked like a pale brown.

That’s how distinct the hair I inherited from Father was.

Which meant the hair inside this cloth could only belong to either Father or me…

“Since it’s long, it must be mine.”

At my words, Theodore nodded in agreement.

“Anyone can tell it’s Sierra’s.”

“But why is this here…?”

I murmured, fiddling with my hair.

‘If it was cut enough to leave strands like that, shouldn’t it be really obvious?’

And sure enough, I found that the tips of my long, wavy hair had been slightly snipped off.

“We found it while disposing of the monster’s remains. It seems the monster’s hostility toward Sierra was due to this.”

Listening quietly beside us, Ludwig frowned and said,

“They used a curse.”

“The Grand Duke is right. Hair is a common medium for curses. The monster was brainwashed into targeting Sierra.”

Theodore spoke darkly.

“The dark mage is dead, and the investigation isn’t going smoothly. This hair is basically the only evidence we have. All I can really tell you is this: be careful. Whoever did this won’t give up after just one failure.”

“……”

“One thing’s for sure — the enemy has considerable power. Not only did they open a monster gate, they even managed to control the monster. The Imperial Family is treating this as a very serious matter.”

Even though there had been no casualties this time and it could be brushed off as an incident, there was no denying the gravity of the situation.

The opening of the Demon Realm’s gates and the outbreak of a war against monsters — that was something that belonged only to ancient history.

But after witnessing what had just happened, there was now a real possibility that bloody history could repeat itself.

“You believe a monster war could break out again.”

“The enemy has enough power to make it happen.”

Theodore met my eyes and spoke.

“We haven’t reported to His Majesty that your hair was found on the monster’s body, or that the enemy specifically targeted Sierra.”

“Why not?”

“If His Majesty were to find out, there’s no doubt he would use you as bait to catch the enemy. The Imperial Family might station a legion of shadow knights around you.”

At those words, Ludwig’s gaze turned sharp.

“I will not allow that to happen.”

At Ludwig’s cold voice, Theodore raised both hands as if to show he was on our side.

“That’s exactly why I didn’t report it. Making enemies of both the Grand Duke and the Duke of Drenihan would be no different from splitting the Empire in half. That’s why I stopped it at my level.”

Theodore smiled harmlessly.

“I’ve conveyed everything I needed to. The enemy failed to harm Sierra, and they left traces behind — so they probably won’t make a move again right away… but still, be careful.”

At his words, I nodded and replied.

“Thank you for letting me know, Your Highness. And for looking out for me.”

“If His Majesty finds out, I’ll get a proper scolding, but what can I do? It’s Sierra we’re talking about.”

At Theodore’s words, Ludwig’s eyebrow twitched upward slightly.

“The investigation will continue on my end. I don’t expect much progress, but if I find anything new, I’ll let you know.”

“Yes.”

“Speaking of which, since both of you belong to founding noble families, tomorrow’s banquet is mandatory.”

The Founding Festival lasted for two days. Unlike the first day, when most nobles from across the country gathered, the second day was only for the high nobility.

Especially the direct descendants of the founding noble families — they were required to attend to reaffirm their loyalty to the Imperial Family.

‘Come to think of it, the late Duke Millane even showed up while barely able to walk, just to maintain his ties with the Imperial Family.’

Someone perfectly healthy like me couldn’t exactly run away from it.

“It’s truly a bad custom. They force attendance without caring about each person’s circumstances.”

Theodore let out a dry sigh.

The nobles attending both days would have to spend one night inside the Imperial City.

Which meant I would also have to stay the night in this unfamiliar place, never knowing when or where another threat to my life might appear.

“If you feel uneasy about staying here, I can assign a few trustworthy knights from the Imperial Guard to protect you.”

At his suggestion, I thought for a moment and then said,

“I don’t need several. Can I choose just one knight myself?”

At my words, Theodore tilted his head and asked,

“Whom do you want?”

I spotted a knight training with loud shouts in the Imperial training grounds from a distance.

Besides that knight, there wasn’t a single soul in sight.

Since it was the Founding Festival, it seemed all the knights had been given leave — yet here he was, training voluntarily.

Despite all that effort, the knight let out a heavy, frustrated sigh, as if resenting his uncooperative arm.

Standing beside me, Theodore looked at the knight and said,

“Are you sure you want him? His skills are decent, but he has physical issues.”

He clicked his tongue when the knight stumbled and collapsed to the ground.

“Peter. Thanks to him, I once made an astronomical fortune in bets.”

“Back then, he was a genius knight with unprecedented skills — one even His Majesty coveted. But now, as you can see, he can barely control his own body. It’s a pity.”

Peter was suffering from Lisbeth’s disease.

Compared to the last time I had seen him, his condition seemed to have worsened; even simple movements looked difficult for him now.

I had brought the medicine with me from the estate today — to keep the promise I made to give it to him once the Lisbeth cure was completed.

“Sir Peter will be more valuable than a bunch of knights combined.”

“But his days of glory are over.”

“I’m going to help him find his glory again.”

At my words, Theodore gave me a puzzled look.

I walked over to Peter, who was still sitting on the ground.

As soon as he sensed my presence, Peter turned his head.

When our eyes met, his eyes grew wider and wider.

“…My lady?”

“I’m pretty late, huh?”

I smiled and pulled out a small vial from my coat.

“I came to keep my promise.”

And along with keeping my promise, it seemed like a good idea to make the Empire’s finest knight my personal guard.