“Have you heard the story about the Guardian’s Sword?”

“I was so shocked I couldn’t say a word for a while.”

“They say it would’ve been a real disaster if it weren’t for Lady Camilla.”

“I heard Lady Camilla even caught the ones who tried to set the estate on fire.”

Detailed talk about what happened had already spread everywhere, so there was no way she wouldn’t end up at the center of it. Even if only two people gathered, all they talked about was her.

“Look at that necklace.”

“It’s truly beautiful.”

“It looks like a newly released design, too....”

Next, everyone’s attention shifted to the necklace hanging at Camilla’s throat. The necklace Angsois had newly cut and set was more than enough to seize noblewomen’s eyes.

That’s definitely publicity secured.

Even while watching the Duke of Sorpel, Ludville, and Ravi get led away by people they knew and leave her side, Camilla stayed focused on promoting the jewelry.

She moved so the jewels showed better and smiled brightly. They were all customers, after all. This much service was nothing.

“Everywhere you go these days, it’s nothing but talk about you.”

“GASP!”

That scared me!

Before she even knew he’d arrived, Crown Prince Edsen’s voice sounded right by her ear.

“It’s been a while, Lady Sorpel.”

“It has.”

When she turned her head, he was standing there in a crisp white suit, smiling mildly. Camilla exchanged a light greeting with him.

“I heard you cried your eyes out in front of the Guardian’s Tower.”

“Th-that....”

Seriously, he really knows how to rub salt in a wound. Of all things he could say, why bring up that!

Do you have nothing else to say?

Ah... right. You don’t. Yeah, what would you and I even talk about? Go on, then. Keep rubbing it in.

“Your brother has it good.”

“Excuse me?”

“Having a younger sister like you.”

What is he even saying? If Ravi heard that, he’d lose his mind.

When Camilla stared at him with a dumbfounded look, Crown Prince Edsen let out a small laugh.

“Having someone who cries like that for you... I think it would feel steadier than you’d expect.”

Crown Prince Edsen grinned again.

That smile looked oddly bitter, and Camilla furrowed her brow. What’s with him? This isn’t like him.

“And I’m curious.”

Curious?

“Even with only half the bloodline connected, is it still that affectionate?”

What?

“Half...?”

Does he know that Ravi and I don’t share the same father?

“What is this reaction?”

At Camilla’s face stiffening, Crown Prince Edsen’s eyes widened slightly—then he laughed as if it were absurd.

“Did you really think nobody would know? Aren’t you underestimating my intelligence network?”

“...I guess so.”

Did I eat something wrong? Why didn’t that occur to me?

In the Gracia Empire, it was already something anyone who mattered knew. That Duke Kais Escra had gained a new child.

So why did I think it wouldn’t be known on the Fable Empire’s side? Because Count Alton said he’d block information leaks as much as possible? Did I blindly believe that?

“I’m asking just in case, but.”

Crown Prince Edsen’s expression turned even more pleased.

It was because this was the first time she’d ever looked this utterly stunned in front of him.

“You haven’t forgotten that the Sorpel family’s intelligence network is no less than the Imperial Family’s, have you?”

I forgot. Completely!

Is my head seriously broken? Why didn’t I think of that at all!

If Crown Prince Edsen knew, that meant there was no real difference from saying everyone knew her biological father had appeared.

“Dear heavens.”

Only now did it click.

Camilla started tracing, one by one, the strange behaviors the Duke of Sorpel, Ludville, and Ravi had shown in front of her.

So that’s why they were like that.

The three of them, who kept trying not to even meet her eyes properly whenever the Gracia Empire came up.

“Ha.”

A hollow laugh slipped out. She had nothing to say, because she felt too stupid.

Why hadn’t she thought of that at all?

No, okay. Fine. Say I’m like that.

Why didn’t they say anything? I kept quiet because I didn’t want to stir up pointless trouble, but those people—why?

...No.

Wasn’t it the same reason for them? Because they didn’t want to stir up pointless trouble.

The Duke of Sorpel, and Ludville too—both were people who hated commotion.

Or else....

Did they think it wasn’t worth mentioning?

That the appearance of the biological father of a child who wasn’t even a real daughter didn’t mean much?

“Haa.”

She didn’t know. With the fact hitting her all at once, Camilla’s head spun.

Where was she even supposed to start untangling this?

“His Majesty the Emperor enters.”

Just then, from the entrance, a voice announced the arrival of the Emperor, today’s party’s main figure.

She let out a short sigh inwardly, stopped thinking, and lifted her head.

Yeah. I’ll worry about it later.

At a party attended by the Emperor himself, it would be a problem if she spaced out and made a mistake. Especially when it wasn’t like there were only one or two people watching for her missteps.

STEP.

A moment later, one man slowly entered the hall. The instant a man in his early fifties appeared, everyone bowed their heads.

Camilla was about to do the same. She meant to bend her waist more politely than anyone, to show proper courtesy.

Holy shit.

But the moment she saw the Emperor, she froze on the spot. Her mind turned blank, and for a moment she couldn’t do anything at all.

“Lady?”

Crown Prince Edsen called to her quietly. Only then did Camilla snap back to herself and hurriedly bow her head, but her complexion stayed pale.

What is that?

She’d seen all kinds of bizarre things in her life. But she could swear she’d never seen anything like that before.

“I hope you all enjoy yourselves.”

The Emperor of Fable, wearing a benevolent smile as he received greetings from countless people. But Camilla’s gaze was fixed behind him.

It’s crawling.

What is?

Ghosts.

And they were ghosts that had lost all reason.

More than dozens of ghosts stood lined up behind the Emperor in a long row, like part of the background.

*****

“What are you thinking about so hard?”

“Just... a bit of this and that.”

“Do you have something you want to say to Father? Then I can take you to him.”

“No!”

Have you lost your mind!

At Crown Prince Edsen’s question, Camilla ended up yelping without meaning to.

Oh no—she hurriedly forced a smile, but Crown Prince Edsen kept looking at her with puzzlement.

Camilla wore an awkward smile and subtly avoided his gaze.

[Those bastards, like with Rania, have no reason left.]

Zeno’s voice came just in time.

At Camilla’s glance a moment ago, he’d gone over to speak to the ghosts attached to the Emperor of Fable, and he’d just returned.

[What the hell are all of those?]

That’s what I want to say.

What were they?

All the ghosts were young men, late teens to early twenties. Like the ones she’d met with Rania, every one of them had their head bowed low.

Even when Zeno approached and spoke to them, they showed no reaction at all.

How does that make sense?

If it had been one person, she could’ve understood it.

The fact that the Emperor was involved with a group like that would’ve been shocking enough, but she wouldn’t have been as horrified as she was now.

But how was she supposed to understand the fact that so many people were bound to a single person?

Does that mean one person stole and used that many bodies?

Even after she reached the conclusion, it was hard to accept. What kind of life did someone live to become like that?

Don’t tell me....

A chill crept up her spine at the thought that kept pressing in.

Her gaze drifted toward Crown Prince Edsen without her meaning to.

“What is it? That look.”

“I hope you live a long time.”

“Ha-ha!”

At Camilla’s out-of-the-blue words, Crown Prince Edsen laughed loudly for a long while. What kind of sudden well-wishing was that supposed to be?

This isn’t funny.

Camilla looked back to the Emperor. She desperately hoped she was wrong, but ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ the more she stared at those countless ghosts, the more certain she became.

“Uh...!”

At that moment, her eyes met the Emperor’s.

Camilla averted her gaze as naturally as she could, but something even more flustering followed.

STEP.

The Emperor was walking straight toward her. No, why? Why is he coming this way?!

“So you are that child.”

“I greet the Empire’s eternal sun.”

Camilla bowed her head more respectfully than she ever had. But while she bowed, she kept sighing to herself.

Why did the word eternal feel so horrifying today?

“I hear you awakened the Guardian’s Sword.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Ho... how astonishing.”

“Is it not all thanks to Your Majesty’s grace?”

When Camilla lifted her head, she wore a radiant smile, completely erasing the look of shock she’d had just moments ago.

Watching from the side, Crown Prince Edsen’s face took on an odd expression. What scheme was she running now, putting on a mask like that?

“There is much I wish to hear from you about that day. I would like us to set aside time soon, separately.”

...Separately?

Are you insane?

I should be running away, not meeting you alone—why would I meet you separately?!

But it wasn’t something she could refuse, not when it was the Emperor’s order that wasn’t quite an order.

This is driving me crazy.

Unable to do anything about it, Camilla could only keep forcing an awkward smile.

The Emperor of Fable didn’t seem to be saying it casually—he waited to the very end for her answer.

“The Gracia Empire delegation has arrived.”

Just then, from the entrance, an attendant’s voice sounded again.

When the Emperor’s gaze slid away at those words, Camilla let out a short sigh of relief.

Now she could subtly slip out of the party hall and run—

Wait.

Where did he just say?

Her relief lasted only a moment. Camilla quickly raised her head, replaying what the attendant had said.

The Gracia Empire delegation had arrived?

She looked to the entrance of the hall, and as she watched the group walking in, her eyes grew wider and wider.

Because the person at the very front was far too familiar.

A man walking in with an audacity that made it look like this place was his own front yard.

A gaze and expression so indifferent it bordered on arrogance.

Not a single thing about him differed from the last time Camilla had seen him.

Why is he here?!

It was Duke Kais Escra.