"It wasn't about leaving the imperial palace empty."
Maxel, who had been shaking his leg while seated in his chair, murmured as if talking to himself.
"In the first place, because I was bewitched by talk of monster hunting and whatnot, leaving my post like that, that bastard Heinrich...."
His voice grew progressively quieter until it was nearly inaudible by the end.
Lilia, who had been watching Maxel with her arms crossed, turned away.
Maxel, lost in his own thoughts, was startled when she showed signs of leaving and shot up from his seat.
"Where are you going?"
"......I'm going to check the situation outside. We can't keep hiding like this forever."
"Lilia, you must not leave my side as well."
"Of course, Your Highness. Why would I leave Your Highness's side?"
Not a trace of emotion showed in Lilia's smiling face. However, Maxel, who had lost all composure, didn't seem to notice.
Lilia gently removed Maxel's arm, which was clinging to her desperately, and spoke tenderly.
"I'll be back soon."
Maxel reluctantly let Lilia go. He paced anxiously around the room before finally sitting back down, shaking his leg again as he sank into his thoughts.
Lilia, glaring at him with eyes full of contempt, grit her teeth and turned away.
Creeeak.
When she opened the door, the sound of the old latch pierced sharply through her eardrums. The sound alone revealed the shabbiness of this place.
Given their sudden flight, it was impossible that they could have prepared a proper hideout. Even this much would have been unattainable without the help of Yusgell Guild Master.
In truth, the Yusgell Guild's situation wasn't particularly good either. This was because the Temple had designated monster hunters as heretics.
Naturally, the guild's position, which had practically controlled the monster hunters, became extremely awkward.
"Lilia-sama, it would be problematic if you go out for the time being."
Someone blocked Lilia's path as she walked lost in thought. It was a handyman assigned by the Yusgell Guild Master.
Though called a handyman, she had heard he held quite a high rank within the guild.
The guild master had specially selected him, considering Maxel and Lilia's status.
Moreover, the man served as both a guard and a messenger conveying the guild master's private communications.
"I'm not trying to go far."
"The atmosphere outside is turbulent. It would be best to stay in your room as much as possible."
He had no intention of stepping aside. Lilia, who hadn't even made it past the corridor before having to turn back, suppressed her dissatisfaction.
If she insisted, she could probably make him yield.
But if that caused any problems, the Yusgell Guild Master wouldn't be pleased.
'That man is different from Fresi.'
Unlike Fresi, who helped her purely out of love without expecting anything in return, he was a thorough merchant.
So it was better not to create unnecessary emotional conflicts.
Right now, the guild master's help was desperately needed.
"I understand."
Lilia took a deep breath. Though she had barely escaped with her life from the imperial soldiers' sudden raid, she hadn't thought this situation would continue.
Even if Maxel had steadily lost public support over several months, loyal subjects who followed the Crown Prince still existed.
If they could just join with them, things would become easier.
Lilia, about to turn away, suddenly looked back at the handyman.
"Have there been any letters or other communications?"
Lilia had instructed to dispose of the mine she had left under the Yusgell Guild Master's management.
While it was a pity in the long term, she needed to sell it immediately to raise more funds.
Once they had money, managing people would become much easier.
Besides, she had agreed to give up a portion of the shares when selling, so it wasn't a bad deal for the guild master either. He would have moved diligently, thinking of his own profit.
"There haven't been any."
"......I see."
It was a valuable mine, so surely a significant amount of funds would be secured.
'It must be taking time because it's such a large-scale operation.'
Lilia comforted herself with that thought and composed her expression.
"Do you happen to know anything about Roam's news?"
"I'm sorry."
Ultimately, the conversation yielded no meaningful results. Lilia swallowed a sigh and finally withdrew, then stood briefly in the corridor, deliberating.
Instead of going to the lounge where Maxel was, she chose the bedroom.
'I need to dream.'
Since hiding here, she had been sleeping whenever she could, so she wouldn't fall asleep immediately upon lying down now. But if she kept lying there, wouldn't she eventually sleep?
She hadn't received a new prophecy since predicting the failure of the monster subjugation. However, judging by the cycle so far, she would dream soon enough.
'Preferably today.'
If God truly chose her......
Having guided her this far, surely He must take responsibility.
Lilia's green eyes took on a cold light.
* * *
"Monster movements?"
"Yes. The detailed routes are attached to the report with maps."
Heinrich, looking at the knight before him with incredulous eyes, accepted the report.
From the very first page, a familiar name appeared. The Montel Territory, which had been buzzing with talk of the resurrected and the Crown Prince for a while.
"Skeletons......"
"The Montel Territory area hasn't had soldiers replenished since the subjugation force's crushing defeat recently. The Ruejak family is also not in a position to defend the territory, so they're protecting civilian homes with their own local guard."
"Damage?"
"None."
Heinrich, flipping through the report with a serious expression, paused.
He glanced up, staring at the knight fixedly, and asked again in a dubious voice.
"......None?"
"Yes. The monsters aren't showing any aggression at all. According to reports, they just pass by even when they see people."
Heinrich frowned as if he'd heard something absurd.
Monsters not harming people—could there be stranger news than that?
Of course, through Anelli, he had learned that she could communicate with monsters and sometimes even use them.
But that was something that applied only to Anelli.
To ordinary people, monsters were creatures that couldn't coexist in the same space, and monsters likewise recognized humans as food or enemies.
The claim that they would pass by without acting even with people right in front of them meant something that should never happen under normal circumstances.
'Did Anelli do something?'
The thought occurred to him, but Heinrich immediately dismissed it. If that were the case, she would have given him advance notice.
He flipped through a few more pages. The region names and monster names differed, but the content was the same.
All of them reported that monsters were moving in large numbers to some specific destination, showing no interest even when encountering people.
And the destination they were heading toward was......
'The Trebi Mountain Range.'
Heinrich's expression subtly darkened. This was also the place where Anelli would be.
If it seemed like the monsters were following Anelli...... was that just his speculation?
"If the report is accurate, this isn't just a problem for the Montel Territory. Even if we send reinforcements to the nearby garrison troops immediately, it will take time, so for now, convey that they should focus on guarding the territories adjacent to the Trebi Mountain Range as they are now. Don't provoke the monsters first, and regulate the territory residents' outings."
"Yes, understood."
He needed to send word to Anelli separately. But for that, she would need to contact him first—when would that be?
He fingered the communication necklace hanging around his neck and gestured for the knight to leave. Once he withdrew, only the aides remained in the office.
"Your Highness, an attendant from the reception room is waiting. Shall I tell him to wait a bit longer?"
One of the aides, who had been gauging the situation appropriately, spoke up carefully.
Only then did Heinrich recall the man who had been waiting for him in the reception room since morning.
Rubbing his chin as he deliberated briefly, he shook his head and rose from his seat.
"No, let him through."
After tidying his attire leisurely and even organizing his desk, Heinrich finally went to the reception room with unhurried steps.
The heavy door opened, and the figure seated inside came into view.
'He said he drank so much tea his stomach was full and he couldn't drink anymore, didn't he?'
Perhaps because of that, an empty teacup sat abandoned before the guest.
Upon seeing Heinrich enter the reception room, the guest hurriedly rose from his seat.
"There were so many matters to look into that I've unintentionally kept my guest waiting."
Heinrich spoke first with an amiable smile.
"Not at all, Your Highness. It is an honor just that you've made time for me like this."
"I'm glad you don't take offense."
As Heinrich laughed magnanimously, the other party smiled back with a pale face.
Though the guest was feigning composure, his rough skin and shadowed eye sockets made it easy to guess how anxiously he had been waiting for Heinrich.
Heinrich, seated leisurely on the sofa, crossed his legs and looked at his guest. Since he hadn't invited him to sit, the other man stood there staring at him blankly.
Resting his chin on his hand and gazing at the other man, Heinrich frowned slightly and murmured as if to himself.
"By the way, who did you say you were again?"
"......It is an infinite honor to meet you, Your Highness."
Without a trace of servility, the guest calmly bowed his waist.
"I am Segria Yusgell, humble as I may be, operating a trading guild."
Watching the deeply bowed head, Heinrich narrowed his eyes slightly. A faint smile crossed his lips.
"Ah, the Yusgell Guild."
"For Your Highness to know of my guild, what an honor......"
"Isn't it the guild that dared to evade His Imperial Majesty's august gaze to fill its own coffers? I heard you were caught trying to dispose of a mine you were secretly managing."
At that moment, Segria's shoulders stiffened rigidly.
"To leave such a substantial mine unreported—His Majesty remarked that a fitting candidate for the imperial prison had finally appeared. All the guild's assets were to be confiscated into the national treasury, weren't they? Seeing that you're here, it seems the criminals haven't been transported to prison yet. Have you come to express gratitude for the imperial family's humane treatment before being incarcerated?"
"There was absolutely no impure intent! It's all a misunderstanding!"
"My, that matter will be investigated gradually by the inquisitors."
Segria seemed to shrink back before suddenly dropping to his knees on the floor.
"Please give me a chance, Your Highness!"
"Well now......"
Trailing off with a deliberately troubled expression, Heinrich then spoke as if granting a favor.
"Very well, I'll give you a chance to show what you've prepared for now."
A faint hope flickered in Segria's eyes as he cautiously raised his head.
Seeing this, Heinrich leaned back deeply against the backrest.
Hoping that amid what would surely be a long conversation, the content he desired would be there.