RTT-05

Chapter 5

“Are we really allowed to do this?”

“Do what?”

The servant who had been working to wedge the carriage containing Winston even more firmly into the ground—no, Pell—looked up at the question from his youthful companion, who was also disguised as a servant.

As he did, the knight’s uniform concealed beneath his black cloak briefly came into view.

A deep navy uniform symbolizing the night sky of the North, embroidered with a silver wolf.

It was the uniform of the Silvano Knights, the order led by Killian.

“I mean Winston Hilton. Isn’t he on the Dowager Empress’s side? Is it really all right to treat him like this? What if this causes trouble later…?”

“Hmph. Who cares? The Dowager Empress’s side started it first. Besides, they’ll never imagine His Grace would enter the palace looking like that.”

Pell snorted at the young squire’s concern.

Explaining exactly why his lord, the Grand Duke of Heberus, was currently wearing Winston’s appearance would require quite a long story.

Where should he begin?

Right.

As everyone knew, tonight’s banquet had been organized by the Imperial Family in honor of the Grand Duke.

Officially, it was meant to celebrate his triumphant return after defeating Kashar, one of the Empire’s oldest and most troublesome enemies.

But that was merely the excuse presented to the public.

The truth was somewhat different.

The Dowager Empress’s faction had secretly issued orders to prevent Killian from entering the Imperial Palace.

“But, sir… why does Her Majesty the Dowager Empress want to stop His Grace from entering the palace? Wasn’t she the one who pushed for this banquet in the first place?”

“Well, Pay…”

Pell casually draped an arm over Pay’s shoulder as the boy followed closely behind him.

He glanced around once before lowering his voice.

“Because the Dowager Empress intends to put a bell around our lord’s neck tonight.”

“A bell?”

“Surveillance. I mean surveillance. She’s planning to tie His Grace down. My guess is that tonight, while all the nobles are gathered together, they’re going to announce his marriage to a young lady from one of the families belonging to the Dowager Empress’s faction.”

“Whaaat?!”

“Shh! Keep your voice down, you idiot.”

Afraid that Isis and Litricia up ahead might overhear them, Pell quickly covered Pay’s mouth.

“Every spy she sends to the North ends up coming back dead, so I suppose the Dowager Empress came up with a new approach.”

“Then what are we going to do? If someone loyal to the Dowager Empress really becomes the Grand Duchess…”

“What are you worried about? Preventing exactly that is why we’re doing all this.”

“But what if they discover His Grace’s identity at the palace gates?”

“Come on. You don’t need to worry about that either. We have the vice commander.”

Pell gestured ahead with his chin.

There were two men in the direction he indicated.

One was Killian.

The other, wearing a robe pulled low over his head just like Killian, was the vice commander of the Silvano Knights, Mark Davis.

A passing gust of wind briefly lifted Mark’s hood, revealing a flash of brilliant silver hair before it disappeared again.

Mark had disguised himself as Killian in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances.

“Once we reach the palace gates, the vice commander will act as bait and draw everyone’s attention.”

Once that happened, every eye at the Imperial Palace would be fixed on Mark.

Killian could use the distraction to pass through the checkpoint with Winston’s invitation.

And since Winston belonged to the Dowager Empress’s faction, the inspection would be lax.

It wasn’t an especially difficult plan to execute.

“Then what happens after he gets inside the palace?”

“After that? …I don’t know. I only know the plan up to that point. His Grace must have something in mind.”

“What?”

Pay’s face darkened at Pell’s utterly confident yet completely irresponsible answer.

Then he raised a finger toward Killian.

“Then what about—”

More precisely, toward Litricia, who was sharing Killian’s saddle and sitting in front of him.

But before Pay could finish, Isis’s grumbling voice filled the forest.

“Do we really have to ride like this? Two grown men sharing a single horse feels rather… inappropriate.”

“I seem to recall you were the one who insisted on riding that way.”

“Well, I didn’t realize it would be this cramped…”

“If you dislike it, you may take the side road even now. I won’t stop you.”

“Ahem. Now that I think about it, it’s not actually that uncomfortable.”

At Killian’s indifferent response, Isis immediately fell silent.

Watching the ridiculous exchange, Pay shook his round, youthful face from side to side.

Then he remembered what he had been about to ask.

“That lady sitting in front of His Grace… judging by the crest on the carriage, she must be Lady Estha. Was she part of His Grace’s plan too?”

“Hm?”

“Otherwise, why would His Grace deliberately share a horse with her? He doesn’t even take an interest in people unless they’re his own subjects.”

“Hmm. Well… I suppose you could say that…?”

Faced with Pay’s bright, inquisitive stare, Pell subtly trailed off.

At the same time, he recalled the conversation he had shared with Killian shortly before coming here.

“But, Your Grace, why did you choose Winston Hilton? There are other young nobles who would’ve been easier to deal with. Cleaning things up afterward is going to be troublesome too.”

“He was scheduled to pass along the road leading from the Estha estate to the Imperial Palace.”

“What? What does that have to do with any of this…?”

“There’s a reason.”

“Pardon?”

“…And he never did answer me after that.”

“What? What did you say? I didn’t hear you.”

“Huh? Me? I didn’t say anything.”

“…You did. Do you think I’m stupid?”

“Come on, I told you I didn’t. Pay, you’re still young. What are you going to do if your hearing is already failing?”

Ah, whatever.

This must all be part of His Grace’s plan too.

After shamelessly teasing Pay, Pell vigorously shook his head from side to side, making his sack-like hood flap noisily.

“Anyway. Have you ever seen one of His Grace’s strategies fail on the battlefield?”

“No, sir.”

“Exactly. This time will be no different. So our adorable little squire can stop worrying about pointless things.”

The uncertainty from moments ago had already vanished from Pell’s face.

Spotting the Imperial Palace, now much closer than before, he stretched his lips into a mischievous grin.

“Instead, get ready to enjoy the show at tonight’s banquet. All right?”

“We’re here.”

With the Imperial Palace now close at hand, Winston—

No.

Killian loosened his grip on the reins.

In the meantime, heavy storm clouds had gathered across the gloomy sky.

Although the sun had yet to set completely, the surroundings were already dark.

Apparently, theirs hadn’t been the only carriage to get stuck in the mud.

Nobles who had hastily switched to horseback were now crowded chaotically in front of the palace gates.

With so many people gathered together, it was difficult to make out individual faces, so each soldier carried a torch while checking the arriving guests.

One of them approached, bringing with him the smell of burning wood.

Like a wooden doll, he mechanically recited words he had clearly repeated countless times already.

“May I see your invitation and palace entry pass?”

“Here.”

“Yes… confirmed—Ah! You’re from House Hilton?”

The soldier, who had been working with his eyes half-lidded from boredom, suddenly became wide awake when he saw the invitation Killian handed him.

Without conducting any further inspection, he hurriedly removed the wooden barricade blocking a separate passage.

“You may enter through here.”

The passage the soldier had opened was none other than a private entrance reserved exclusively for members of the Dowager Empress’s faction.

But just before the horse carrying Killian and Litricia entered, another soldier appeared, apparently arriving to change shifts.

“Hm? Why are you back already? It hasn’t been long since your last shift.”

“You haven’t heard yet?”

“Heard what?”

“We’ve been ordered to prevent His Grace the Grand Duke from attending the banquet.”

“What? Are you serious? How are low-ranking soldiers like us supposed to stop someone like him?”

“That’s not what they literally mean. If the Grand Duke appears, we’re supposed to guide him toward the western palace and stall him for as long as possible. Just make sure he doesn’t reach the banquet on time.”

“Well, if that’s all… understood.”

“Here. Take the portrait too.”

The soldier who received Killian’s portrait narrowed his eyes.

The image he had been handed wasn’t of an adult man.

It depicted a young imperial prince.

A child who looked no older than six or seven.

“Are you joking with me? How am I supposed to recognize him from this? You need to give me a portrait of what he looks like now.”

“Where would we get one? The Grand Duke never even removes his helmet on the battlefield. Who besides the Northerners would know what his face looks like?”

Besides, he added, the Grand Duke was the only person in the entire Empire with silver hair and blue eyes, so he shouldn’t be particularly difficult to recognize.

With that, the soldier hurried off to deliver the same instructions to someone else.

Never once imagining that the very Grand Duke he was warning everyone about was standing directly behind him.

“Hmm.”

Killian watched the entire exchange without expression, his eyes narrowing.

When was that portrait even painted?

Was it just before I was driven out of the Imperial Palace?

As memories from the distant past resurfaced, the corner of Killian’s alluring mouth twisted.

Seeing how innocent and carefree his younger self looked in the portrait made his stomach turn.

Once today’s business is finished, the first thing I’ll do is get rid of that portrait.

Withdrawing his murderous glare from the painting, Killian glanced downward.

The round crown of Litricia’s head was visible within the circle of his arms.

After confirming that the pale rose-colored eyes set in her small face weren’t looking at him, he tilted his head ever so slightly.

Then, careful not to let Litricia notice, he gave a subtle nod toward Mark behind them.

Mark understood the signal and reached for the hood covering his head.

Before long, the soldiers caught sight of him and immediately erupted into commotion.

Everything was proceeding exactly according to plan.

This may end sooner than I expected.

Watching the situation unfold, Killian calmly guided his horse away from the chaotic palace entrance.

But his composure lasted only a little longer.

“Uh…?”

At the sound of Litricia’s dazed voice, Killian’s jaw instantly tightened.

Drip.

Something wet landed on the back of his hand.

Killian looked down.

A bright red drop of blood had fallen onto his skin.