There is a secret cavern in the Count’s estate.
I do not know where that passage leads, but if there is a connecting underground path, it was definitely worth checking. Karl and Clovis seemed to understand my reasoning and nodded.
However, there were one, no, two significant issues to consider before exploring the secret cavern.
The first was that a trap was installed, allowing only those who carry the blood of the Luizette family to enter. The second was that, as an Empress, it would be difficult for me to move secretly to the Count’s estate without attracting attention.
“I need to take action myself.”
“That poses a great risk. Those are dangerous criminals who have escaped from the underground prison. We don’t know when, where, or how they might launch an attack. If you go outside the palace, you could be defenseless against their ambush.”
Karl insisted that my and Valerie’s safety be prioritized above all else. Given that I had been attacked by Franz multiple times, his concerns were perhaps justified.
“How about disguising ourselves and moving about?”
I was not certain if there truly was an underground passage that connected to the Grand Duke from the Count’s estate, but if there was even the slightest possibility that it could lead to Franz, it was essential to check.
“If we mix in with the second gift procession being sent back to my family…”
“That also carries risks. The news that people sent by the Empress already visited the Count’s estate has likely spread widely in the capital. Sending a second procession could turn you into a target instead.”
Neither option seemed viable. What should we do then? With a serious expression, Karl, who had consistently opposed my opinions, called Clovis over closer.
***
It has been a week since I set foot in the south, and now the next destination is Urentum. Franz felt a thrill as the distant spark of hope he thought was far away began to grow larger and closer.
Once he arrives at Urentum, he would have no further worries.
Given that every place he arrived had stored a significantly larger amount of magic stones than expected, Urentum, which he suspected must have concealed the most magic stones in the south, felt like a dreamland where all his wishes could come true.
“By morning, we can move to Urentum. Finally…!”
“Yes, Master Franz. We need to move at dawn, so please rest your eyes today. You haven’t had any proper rest lately.”
“Sleep comes only if I can. I can’t relax until I’m completely safe.”
Though he made excuses for his inability to relax, Franz had been afraid of going to bed for some time. Whenever he closed his eyes, he was plunged into a hallucination where Marina would appear and unleash her grievances upon him.
The souls of countless people sacrificed by him would also appear in droves, charging at him to kill.
After waking from such nightmares, instead of feeling rested, his body felt more exhausted and strained.
Not being able to sleep much, he had started to experience a piercing headache, as if someone were stabbing a knife in his head.
In this situation, where he couldn’t sleep but also couldn’t endure it, Franz began to harbor a vague expectation that everything would improve once he arrived in Urentum.
Without even a semblance of hope, his condition had deteriorated to the point of no return.
Noticing his lord’s state, Stilikov discreetly observed Franz. His once radiant face, which had always captivated the hearts of countless women, had long lost its luster and was now drawn and weary.
The fatigue etched across his face dulled the spirits of those who saw him, and a deep sigh that naturally followed his every word made listeners feel a shared despair.
Both he and everyone had been pushed to the brink of their limits.
Stilikov realized that this time they truly had one last chance in front of them. If they failed this escape, there would be no next time.
For them, the only paths left were death and despair. No matter what it took, they had to reach Urentum safely, find the hidden mines there, and move to another country.
Even after moving to a foreign land, the next problem would arise, but for now, they could at least buy some time to escape the eyes of the imperial investigation team for a few months.
As long as they remained alive, the future could be planned. For now, surviving was the most pressing challenge.
“Franz, you must stay healthy so that I can diligently plan for the future. Please take some
rest.”
I gently urged the reluctant Franz inside. They slept in a cramped room next to the warehouse every time they relocated their shelter.
Going outside to find a decent lodging was possible, but moving far from where the magic stones were stored was too dangerous.
If, by chance, they were discovered by the royal investigation team, they needed to be able to move immediately to another location.
The temporary room, dug out beneath the mine, quickly filled with dust at the slightest movement, making for a very poor sleeping situation.
There was nothing but a couple of thin bedding spread on the floor; there wasn’t even a single piece of furniture. It was closer to a warehouse than a room.
Still, Stilikov found a slightly better blanket and handed it to Franz, neglecting his own condition.
If Franz was restless due to nightmares, Stilikov stayed awake, on guard and planning their next escape route. Perhaps his own body was suffering even more than Franz’s.
“…… No reply.”
After sending Franz in, Stilikov muttered quietly to himself while inspecting the transmitter.
For some reason, he couldn’t get in touch with the knights he had left at the far western end. A creeping anxiety started to spread through his body.
He recalled the moment he chose Chetara as the only knight to move south with him, and the looks of the remaining knights directed at him made Stilikov swallow hard.
Their eyes were filled not with loyalty and devotion, but with resentment and anger.
They felt abandoned by their lord, who had left them behind after risking their lives for him, angered by unreciprocated loyalty. That image remained vivid in his mind.
He understood their despair. However, ensuring Franz’s safety was more important to him.
He planned to secure a sufficient supply of magic stones in Urentum first before sending Chetara to bring them back.
That was only if he could secure a sufficient amount of magic stones, yet Stilikov did not completely abandon them. At least, that’s how he perceived it.
He convinced himself that he hadn’t forsaken his men; he had simply chosen the option with a slightly higher chance of survival rather than risking being captured together and facing execution.
He tried to reassure himself, but Stilikov’s anxiety did not subside. Click, crackle. He fiddled with the transmitter and sent another message, but still, there was no reply.
Could silence return as good news? Wouldn’t betrayal and death come back like a boomerang at the end of this silence?
A deep sense of fatigue weighed heavily on Stilikov’s shoulders. It would have been better if this feeling pressing on his body was just fatigue.
Sadly, Stilikov was gradually being overtaken by a greater sense of guilt, and an even larger, overwhelming anxiety.
***
After much contemplation, Karl concluded whether it would be safer to make an official visit accompanied by a grand escort while proudly revealing his identity, or to secretly go incognito with minimal escort.
There are risks associated with either choice.
Ideally, he would want to hide Celeste and Valerie in the palace and protect them from any darkness that might come near, but given the circumstances, he had to make an undesirable choice.
Neither option was appealing. Within this, Karl decided to eliminate the less favorable choice.
“Assuming we are attacked, I believe the former option is safer.”
While moving incognito reduces the risk of an attack, it also diminishes the chance of a counterattack.
An official outing that reveals one’s identity allows for significant defense through the escort that has been arranged in advance, even if an attack occurs.
Considering Franz’s situation over the past few months, it seemed unlikely that anyone would have the strength to ambush an official outing of the imperial family.
“It would be best to visit the Count as an official outing of the empress who wishes to rest at her family home, since it has been nearly a year since she gave birth.”
It was common for women of the imperial family who had given birth to recuperate at their family homes. Celeste, who had once sent Valerie away, generally tried to avoid being separated from her daughter.
To send both her and Valerie out of the palace, it would be much better to have as much escort as possible.
Now that a decision had been made, it was time to put it into action quickly. Karl began preparing Celeste for her outing. This was the first outing of the empress since the coronation.
