Chapter 22
(22) I Will Protect Your Majesty (14)
Crack-!
The rift, which had been swelling and about to release a monster, stopped moving.
The monster, just about to step out, also froze in place, caught in the rift and unable to emerge any further. Eleanor’s frost-laden wind didn’t stop at wrapping around the rift; it howled viciously, slashing at the extended leg of the trapped monster.
“Grrrrraaagh—!”
A shriek burst forth from beyond the rift.
“What a tremendous wind.”
Heraith said, his black hair fluttering from the wind’s force. He pressed down firmly on Eleanor’s hat, which had nearly flown off.
“You did an excellent job preventing the rift from completely tearing open.”
It was true that Heraith’s ice had helped. But without the wind pressing inward around the rift, it would have continued to widen.
“We’ve only delayed it briefly. Eventually, the rift will break open.”
As if unconcerned, Heraith pulled out a rod-like object from his cloak. He pointed the end to the sky and tapped the bottom, releasing smoke that rose straight into the air before blossoming into brilliant colors.
“My knights will arrive soon.”
“I’ll help.”
“No. You should return to the Imperial Palace now.”
“But…!”
Heraith quickly scanned the surroundings.
“The people have already moved far enough from the rift, and they’ll keep moving. You’ve done your part.”
His grip on Eleanor’s hat grew heavier.
“It’s probably not a good idea to lose your hat here.”
Eleanor reached for her hat. Her hand brushed against Heraith’s still-pressing hand.
“I didn’t know the Snow family’s young lady had such power. I think it’s best if only I know that for now. You feel the same, don’t you?”
He was right. While those in the know were aware that Eleanor could wield a sword and a little magic, only her family knew that ‘a little’ actually meant ‘a lot.’
Eleanor turned back to the rift.
“Will you be all right? I can fight with just a sword.”
Heraith, after confirming Eleanor had a firm grip on her hat, withdrew his hand and drew the sword from his waist. In an instant, it was enveloped in white light. Unlike his dark and mysterious appearance, the aura surrounding his sword was noble and radiant.
With a swift motion, his elegant blade severed a monster’s leg protruding from the rift.
“Gaaaahhhh!”
Standing right by the rift without fear, Heraith looked back at Eleanor and shouted,
“Go!”
Eleanor gave a short nod and turned to run. As she raced toward the Imperial Palace, she spotted knights galloping toward her—the Black, White, and Red Knight Orders. It seemed the Blue Knights had remained behind to guard the palace.
She focused on the one riding a white horse at the front. The knight with light brown hair and green eyes revealed no openings, even while riding at full speed.
‘That must be the Azure Knight.’
Adrian Teris, the Azure Knight.
As the rift came into view, Heraith’s personal knight drew his sword while still mounted. A bluish aura shimmered along its blade.
That was all Eleanor needed to see. She focused on sprinting toward the Imperial Palace.
She had never heard of Herais failing to subdue a monster before.
“Everyone fall back!”
“If you can walk, help the injured move!”
“Get away from the rift!”
“This way!”
Soldiers following the knights guided the crowd to safety. Though the wind had pushed people away from the rift, many had still been confused and panicked, unsure of what to do. Thanks to the soldiers, they were now being evacuated to safe areas.
Knights and soldiers also stood watch throughout the streets, prepared for additional attacks.
‘They’re handling it thoroughly.’
If so, there was no need for her to worry further.
Eleanor hailed a passing carriage and headed to the palace. As she rode, she removed her hat and let her hair down.
***
The Imperial Palace was quiet, untouched by the chaos in the city.
“What do you think that was in the sky earlier?”
“All the knights left. Maybe something happened downtown?”
“His Majesty is still at the training grounds, right?”
“Yes, I heard the Elders went to the training grounds too.”
“Oh dear. It must be about the next empress. I wonder which poor lady will be sacrificed this time.”
“Surely it’s that Miss Snow staying in the Tulip Palace. Bringing her here at a time like this… it must be her.”
As Eleanor walked quickly and stealthily through the corridor, she heard whispers from the palace staff.
‘The Emperor is at the training grounds? What’s going on?’
Puzzled, she recalled Eyo Bastid.
‘Did Eyo Bastid transform into His Majesty? That must be it. That’s how they lured the enemies into thinking the Emperor was in the palace.’
The downtown crowd had been enormous, especially around the theater plaza, where people packed the square so tightly it was hard to move. If the rift had opened fully and monsters had poured out, even a delayed response with knights would have resulted in catastrophic casualties.
‘Hundreds dead, thousands injured.’
And Heraith would’ve been blamed for failing to act in time.
In other cities, people would understand if he was too far to respond quickly. But this was the capital, where the Emperor himself resided. It had to be the safest place in the empire.
Thanks to keeping the capital safe, Heraith had held the throne despite all his notoriety.
‘To risk so many lives just to replace the Emperor…’
She now understood how little his enemies cared for the people.
‘But their plan failed. After this, they won’t be able to hatch another plot anytime soon. The Emperor who protected the capital from a surprise rift amidst a packed city—his fame will soar.’
Their failure would only bolster Heraith’s prestige.
Eleanor arrived at the Tulip Palace and confirmed that Eyo Bastid was still not back.
She entered the room. Caron remained hidden in the corner.
“Has anyone come by?”
She asked while heading into the dressing room to change.
“Cecily snuck in and hid something in the wardrobe.”
“Looks like Cecily begged Consort Calliope and claimed she was innocent.”
Consort Calliope likely told Cecily she’d believe her if she planted poison in Eleanor’s room.
Unaware she was tightening her own noose, Cecily had followed the order.
Eleanor glanced over the dresses in the wardrobe and stepped back into the room.
She didn’t ask Caron what he did with what Cecily had hidden. She’d left it to his judgment, and would accept whatever he had done.
Caron seemed puzzled by her lack of follow-up but said nothing.
Eleanor stood in front of the mirror to check her appearance, then sat on the sofa. She was curious about the situation downtown, whether there were any further damages or attacks.
Time seemed to crawl.
Knock, knock.
At the sound, Caron instinctively reached for his waist, only to remember he wasn’t armed, and lowered his hand.
“Yes?”
“Miss Eleanor Snow. I’m Aileen from Baron Coning’s household. I’ve come under my Consort’s orders. May I have a moment of your time?”
Eleanor had turned away one of the first consort’s maids earlier that morning, but with nothing pressing now, she agreed to meet Aileen.
“Come in.”
Aileen entered and quickly scanned the room before smiling.
“I wanted to announce myself properly, but I didn’t see any maids around, so I let myself in.”
Eleanor only nodded slightly and gestured to the opposite sofa. The gesture felt aristocratic and arrogant, irritating Aileen, but she held back her annoyance and sat down.
‘So this is Eleanor Snow of Tulip Palace.’
Serving Consort Aurelia, Aileen had heard stories about Tulip Palace’s noble guest. Hair like silver snow beneath the sun, and skin like ivory porcelain, they said.
Indeed, her beauty lived up to every word.
‘Sorry, Your Highness, but you can’t beat that face.’
‘Maybe it was true that the Emperor might have fallen for Eleanor Snow and is thinking of making her Empress.’
Her appearance, like that of a masterpiece carved by a genius sculptor over a lifetime, was enough to overwhelm anyone. But Aileen pulled herself together.
‘I serve no one less than Consort Aurelia herself. In this palace, only the Empress Dowager ranks above her.’
She had once hoped to serve the Empress herself, but her family’s status relegated her to Aurelia’s maid instead.
Still, considering all the past Empresses who had died, maybe staying with Aurelia wasn’t such a bad fate.
But…
Eleanor hadn’t said a word since Aileen had entered. Her face still bore a perfectly painted smile.
‘Why isn’t she saying anything?’
