The rumor that the Empress had incurred God's wrath was nothing good.
It was all the more so since Heinrich was riding on the Empress's support. Meanwhile, Frigian unni was clinging to Father, and Lilia was busy whispering to Mother....
I wasn't particularly worried about Frigian unni or Lilia's movements. Honestly, their flailing felt almost laughable.
If Lilia managed to persuade Mother again, well. That wouldn't be bad either. If that happened, I would be spared the effort of tying Roam and Lilia together.
No matter where, with whom, or how secretly Lilia conversed, no matter how covertly Frigian unni conducted her schemes, I could grasp all of their traces. This alone meant I held a significant advantage over them.
So what mattered now was the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace, which had sent no news even late into the night.
[Shall I go?]
As I stood vacantly gazing at the sky that had turned pitch black, Zigor casually posed the question.
"No."
The crow that had delivered the news to me said it had nearly been struck by an arrow while crossing above the Imperial Palace to gauge the atmosphere.
At least for the time being, the atmosphere of wariness toward animals seemed likely to continue, so sending Dullahans transformed into animals was dangerous.
'It would be dangerous to transition through phantoms as well.'
I didn't know what situation Zenon was in, and if I rashly established communication through phantom state and happened to be discovered by someone, it would be a disaster.
In the end, was waiting the only answer?
"Or maybe I could persuade Father and just...."
Muttering to myself, I suddenly lifted my head.
"The most effective power for hunting monsters is divine power."
So the Temple, startled by this unexpected accident, would likely send someone, wouldn't they?
...For instance, a paladin.
* * *
The Empress lay breathing evenly.
The Imperial Palace physicians' diagnoses were unanimous. There were no external injuries; she had simply fallen asleep.
But if her condition was normal, why had she not awakened for several days and remained in deep sleep?
Heinrich, who had been looking down at the Empress with a grief-stricken face, slowly turned his body. The fatigue that assailed him made it difficult to manage his expression.
'A monster attack.'
He had never imagined it.
Honestly, Heinrich had been at ease until the moment he departed from the Imperial Palace with the Empress.
Of course, that didn't mean he had been careless. Rather, it would be more accurate to say he had been confident because he had prepared thoroughly.
It was not a first journey but a familiar route he had traveled for several years, and for safety, he had taken measures several days in advance.
So could he have even imagined? A scene where a monster suddenly burst out among peacefully flying ducks while crossing a river.
'If Aneli had been by my side, it would have been much easier.'
Aneli possessed the ability to converse with beasts, so if she had been together, she would have grasped the situation much more clearly. Perhaps she could have immediately attempted to converse with those ducks that had flown up then.
If it were up to his heart, he wanted to contact her right this moment, but sadly, that was impossible. The communication magical tool they had shared had been damaged in the commotion of that day.
'I need to make contact as soon as possible.'
Should he rather persuade Duke Roam to reveal Aneli's existence, even if it's early? It hadn't even been a few days since she went to Roam—had Aneli already achieved all her objectives?
'It's embarrassing to the point of shame that I promised not to ask for any more help.'
A servant approached Heinrich who was walking lost in thought with a complicated face.
"Your Highness, the Temple is requesting an investigation."
"An investigation?"
"It seems to be related to the recently announced content."
At the servant's quiet report, Heinrich frowned.
"Damn announcement."
Heinrich uttered a nervous mutter to himself and reluctantly moved his feet.
That Dullahans were the rampant evil.
He didn't know how much public sentiment was in upheaval because of that announcement.
The imperial citizens were hoping that the resurrected one would step forward and say even a single word, and even the nobles wanted to meet the resurrected one who was said to be in the Imperial Palace.
As if the resurrected one were the sole savior to stand against the rampant evil.
The Imperial Palace was not publicly announcing the resurrected one's disappearance with various excuses, but it would likely be difficult to stall for much longer.
The Emperor, who had even opened the ancestors' tombs claiming to expel evil energy, was now clamoring that the situation had worsened and demanding they capture the resurrected one immediately.
"For now, I've guided them to the reception room."
"And His Majesty?"
"Since His Majesty took charge of the resurrected one, he said dealing with the Temple is also something Your Highness must handle...."
The servant carefully spoke while watching Heinrich's reaction. Heinrich pushed away his exhausted look with effort and nodded.
"....Let's go."
The Emperor was now shuddering at talk of God's wrath, monsters, and such. He would surely have taken the Temple's visit poorly.
Normally, when the Emperor didn't step forward, reports would have gone to Maxim, the Crown Prince. But now the person the Emperor was foisting external duties upon was Heinrich.
To meet the Temple's visitors, Heinrich quickly moved his feet. Behind him, several subordinates followed tactfully.
"Your Highness the Prince, a report has come in that there is an abnormality in the Imperial Palace barrier."
"In the barrier?"
At Heinrich's sharp question, the subordinate stammered as he explained.
"The message says about half a day is needed to restore it."
"As if His Imperial Majesty's mood isn't already troubled enough, not a single thing goes smoothly."
Heinrich muttered in bemused frustration and glanced back at the Empress's Palace he had exited from.
"Tell them to strictly verify everyone entering and leaving. Except for those attending to her, no one shall pass the Royal Guard."
"Yes, understood."
"And Maxim?"
"He is claiming that all of this happened because God's will was misinterpreted."
"Tch, his learning ability is unnecessarily good."
Heinrich clicked his tongue briefly and muttered.
Maxim was undoubtedly trying to reverse his reputation through this opportunity. It seemed he was even pretending to be a devout believer for that purpose.
"Tell them to attend to him carefully since his mind is still unstable. With the Imperial Palace atmosphere already uneasy, it would be a major problem if the Crown Prince were to commit any misconduct."
Heinrich spoke without restraint as if the surrounding attendants were of no concern. Perhaps someone among them would run to Maxim and deliver Heinrich's words just now.
But Heinrich wasn't worried. If Maxim heard his words, wouldn't he rage and thrash about even more?
If that happened, the already edgy Emperor wouldn't keep tolerating the Crown Prince who couldn't grasp the situation indefinitely.
Thanks to moving diligently while giving orders to his subordinate, Heinrich arrived at the reception room before long.
The attendants waiting in front of the door bowed their heads toward Heinrich, then threw the doors open with all their might.
Beyond the doors opening wide on both sides, the splendid reception room scene came into view.
"The First Prince has arrived."
At the servant's report, the visitor rose from the sofa.
Pure white armor wrapped tightly around a massive frame, revealing his status as a paladin.
"Sir Samuel."
And beside him, someone was visible with hands politely gathered and head bowed, as if advertising that she was his attendant.
Brown hair tied neatly, brown eyes cast downward. An unremarkable-looking woman.
"....Everyone leave. I must have an urgent conversation with the guest."
At Heinrich's words, the attendants exited the reception room with quick steps. Heinrich also signaled the confidants watching from behind him to leave.
Only after emptying the reception room did he breathe a sigh of relief.
'Can I be this glad.'
Just facing her gave him a feeling of having regained peace.
It was a change of mood that made his earlier scorn at those desperately seeking the resurrected one, thinking they would save their lives, feel utterly meaningless.
'Aneli.'
Even though she had changed her appearance with alteration magic, he could recognize who she was at a glance.
Heinrich approached with long strides, beaming a bright smile toward Aneli.
Thinking that the relief he felt upon seeing Aneli, who had entered the Imperial Palace risking danger, must mean he too believed her to be a savior.
"The problem with the barrier was because of you."
"You recognized me at a glance."
"How could I not recognize you."
At Heinrich's words filled with certainty, Aneli made a deflated expression.
"How did this happen? How did you tamper with the Imperial Palace barrier?"
"I received Roam's help."
"Ah, that spy they had planted in the Imperial Palace Magic Department."
That spy who had played a significant role when Aneli escaped this Imperial Palace was still working in the Imperial Palace Magic Department.
'I had deliberately left them there to expose when indicting Duke Roam's reckless behavior later, but to think it would help again like this.'
Even at the news that a spy was operating brazenly while deceiving the Emperor's eyes, Heinrich didn't feel the slightest worry or tension.
Worry about what.
Rather, he had the illusion that all the accumulated fatigue had vanished entirely because of just one person.
"There's no time. I must return early, so let's hurry."
Ah, if only this large paladin weren't here, it would have been perfect.
Heinrich looked at Aneli while desperately holding back the rising lament. Whether Samuel's words were true or not, Aneli had a somewhat hurried face.
"I came out without Father knowing, so the situation is urgent."
"Today's meeting will likely continue late."
Duke Roam would currently be in the main palace central conference room with other nobles. He had heard they were discussing the issue of mustering private soldiers to subjugate monsters that might be lurking near the capital.
Maxim didn't attend the meeting on the grounds that he should lie low for a while since he had incurred God's wrath, and Heinrich didn't attend because he had to handle external duties in place of the absent Crown Prince.
Thanks to that, it was fortunate that he could meet Aneli like this.
At Heinrich's explanation, Aneli answered with a voice mixed with a sigh.
"Of course that would be the case. That's why I chose today. But it doesn't seem like a situation where I can take my time."
Her words were true. Heinrich, who had firmly gathered his mind that had briefly relaxed, nodded with a grave face.
"I couldn't contact you—did something happen to your magical tool?"