"By the way, about that state commission."

"Ah, right. The clock tower mission?"

"Yes. Should we revise the participant list? Add the names of the new members who came from Tregava."

Ornel, who had been thinking, raised his hand as if asking her to wait.

"Hold on, hold on a second?"

He hurried to his desk, rummaged through a drawer, and found something.

After staring at it for a while, he ran back to Remi.

"For now, let’s put it on hold."

"Why? Wouldn’t it be better to do it now? The workload is already piling up......."

Ornel looked around, then leaned closer to Remi.

And, as if revealing a crucial secret, whispered meaningfully:

"Looks like Osinil wants to push someone into this mission."

Remi’s eyes widened.

She, who rarely showed emotion, pulled her hand back from the document in clear surprise.

"Osinil?"

Osinil.

That was what officials called the “invisible hand” among themselves.

And there was only one such invisible hand in the Empire.

The empress favored by the emperor, and her son Pides.

Ordinary citizens of the Empire did not know this, but officials working for the palace did.

Recently, Ardiana’s position had been gradually weakening.

As the crown princess lost ground, power was being seized by Pides.

"I don’t know yet who it will be. But they told us to free up a slot—they want to squeeze one person into the joint squad."

Remi swallowed.

If the order came from Pides or the empress, even the smallest mistake could cost one’s head.

Lately, the influence of “Osinil” had been exactly like that.

"I-understood."

Remi placed the documents back into the envelope.

Then, with a tense expression, she put it into the farthest corner of the drawer.

At the same time, the imperial palace.

"And so, I would like you to personally take charge of this mission."

A low, authoritative voice came from the high throne.

The back of the woman kneeling at the foot of the stairs trembled ever so slightly.

It was Ardiana.

Standing beside the throne, Empress Lavenia narrowed her eyes and smiled.

"What an honor this will be, Ardiana. To personally investigate a new type of magic crystal no one has encountered before. It’s a pity our Pides cannot take on this task."

She lowered her brows with feigned regret.

"But as you know, Pides is very busy these days. State affairs have piled up, he hardly even sleeps. It pains me to see it."

Ardiana raised her head.

And, trying to conceal her expression, smiled.

"It’s nothing. I know very well that my brother is busy."

"Oh, how understanding you are."

The emperor smiled, looking at the empress speaking with such tenderness.

Then he turned his gaze back to Ardiana.

"As you know, the territory of the old palace holds immense significance for our imperial family of Tallocium."

"......."

"The fact that the clock tower of the old palace has been consumed by a magic crystal means that this imperial palace, too, is not free from the threat of magic crystals."

The emperor slowly stroked his beard.

"It seems you understand this well. Therefore, considering the importance of the mission, the right to carry it out has been entrusted to the most capable mercenary squad of recent days. I also intend to involve the Luminel family, who are dear to me."

"Yes."

"Good. If excellent hunting hounds and holy knights have gathered there, then naturally a representative of the imperial family must personally oversee the process."

Ardiana drew a short breath.

She tried to maintain her composure, but the corners of her lips still trembled into a strained smile.

"I do wish I had more children, like the neighboring kings. But since I have only you and Pides, I must send you alone."

The emperor spoke as if participating in the clock tower mission was a great honor.

But Ardiana knew

what lay behind those words.

"And yet, does the thought not occur to you? Valentis and his sons are one thing, but is it truly wise to expose you openly before those hunting hounds......."

"Your Majesty. That could undermine the authority of the imperial family. Perhaps it would be better to send Ardiana as an observer, but conceal that she is a princess?"

Lavenia’s voice rang through the hall.

The emperor nodded, as if that was exactly the answer he had been waiting for.

"Indeed. Very well said."

The emperor rose from his seat.

"Then she will go not as a princess, but as the head of the association. I will assign her guards recommended by Pides."

Having finished speaking, the emperor turned his back without hesitation.

The empress followed him.

Their footsteps gradually faded, and soon the door closed with a dull thud.

When no one remained in the audience hall, Ardiana swayed.

The maid standing nearby rushed to her.

"Your Highness......!"

Supporting her, she whispered:

"Are you alright? Your face......!"

Ardiana waved her off.

And replied quietly:

"I’m fine. It’s from the poison I drank this morning."

The maid bit her lip.

That morning, someone had tried to poison Ardiana again.

Such attempts were no longer rare.

But that did not mean one could grow accustomed to them.

"Perhaps you should still take an antidote......."

"You know. Most poisons barely affect me anymore. I’ve built resistance. The same goes for antidotes."

"But still......."

"Enough. Let’s go to Cheonggung."

The maid looked at Ardiana in confusion as she walked out of the hall.

They left the labyrinth of the main palace and stepped into the garden.

In the distance, Cheonggung—Ardiana’s palace—could be seen.

Sensing someone’s presence nearby, the maid moved closer to her.

"It seems Prince Pides is truly serious this time."

Ardiana did not respond.

"Who even sends a member of the imperial family on such a dangerous mission? If royal blood is needed, then why hire mercenaries and the Holy Knight Order? Doesn’t it anger you at all?"

Ardiana stopped.

Turning around, she looked at the maid with tired eyes.

"......What would change if it did?"

The maid had no answer.

"Nothing would change. Time in this palace stopped long ago. My brother and the empress will not stop until I stop breathing."

The maid pressed her lips together.

Ardiana gently touched her shoulder.

"But even so, I must remain in Tallocium. The people of the Empire are suffering. The debt to the mercenaries grows with each passing day......."

A deep, dark sorrow reflected in Ardiana’s eyes.

"At the very least, I must take care of them. As a member of the imperial family of Tallocium, it is my duty to protect them."

She began walking again.

The maid wiped away the tears that had formed and hurried after her.

"I will go with you. The guards assigned by Prince Pides are unreliable. Who knows if they might try to harm you?"

But Ardiana shook her head.

"No. You will remain in the palace."

"What?"

"If something happens to me—you must handle the affairs of the association."

"Your Highness......!"

"Other than me, no one understands the association as well as you do. If I disappear, the emperor will undoubtedly neglect it. He likely won’t dissolve it entirely—without it, hiring mercenaries would become far less efficient. But after that, he will most likely pass the authority of the association’s head to you."

"......."

"So you must preserve yourself—for the sake of what may come."

The maid, who was also the manager of the Frost Mercenary Association, Cadia, reluctantly nodded.

"Who could possibly stop you anyway."

Ardiana looked at her.

"I told you to run. I gave you that chance more than once. But you’re the only one who stayed by my side." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Cadia gave a bitter smile.

"......Adeline and Deylanna wanted to stay with you too. They just couldn’t win against your stubbornness."

Both of them smiled and entered Cheonggung.

The palace, maintained by only nine people, greeted them with cold silence.