"To think a noble lady of the Empire, raised so preciously, would face monsters—I am deeply heartbroken and concerned. The Imperial Family is ever ready to assist you, my lady."
"I am fine."
"Do accept it comfortably. Your crimes have already been punished, so you need not worry about that matter arising again. I guarantee it."
I unconsciously bit my lip. My insides grew hot at the Emperor's nonchalant drivel.
"Very well."
Fortunately, my answer came out composed. Though I had been away from this place for some time, it seems the training I underwent for so long has not disappeared.
Hiding my expression, pretending to be at peace. Or the smile I put on regardless of my true feelings.
It's unpleasant that it's familiar, but on the other hand, it's fortunate. It means I can still skillfully handle everyone here.
"I heard you subdued a vicious monster in an instant. How was that possible?"
"It is God's blessing."
"And what of the matter of appearing from the Black Tower?"
"It is God's power."
"Though they say it was imprisoned in iron bars, it was a considerably large and fierce Dullahan. How do you intend to take it out?"
"God is helping me."
By this point, anyone would be angry, but the Emperor was not shaken in the slightest. Going a step further, he even laughed heartily.
"That God watches over you so, is the Imperial Family's joy and the Empire's glory. I pray that my gratitude reaches God."
"Yes, it will reach God."
"I am privately overjoyed at our reunion as well. Please forget the past and think kindly of the Imperial Palace once more."
I raised my gaze, which had been lowered all this time. The Emperor was smiling, but there was no trace of warmth in his eyes.
Meeting that gaze directly, I drew a faint smile at my lips.
"Your invitation is undeservedly generous."
"You haven't changed. It seems God values your dignity highly and has performed a miracle."
"It is fortunate that God, at least, recognizes my worth."
A subtle silence flowed through the audience chamber. As I pretended not to notice and smiled brightly, the Emperor tilted his lips slightly and murmured.
"I heard you are traveling with a holy knight—your faith has also become full."
It's only been a few days since my appearance with Samuel was spotted, and the rumor has already spread this far?
Cursing my sister's loose lips inwardly, I answered in a gentle tone. Not forgetting to raise my head fully so my neck was clearly visible.
"My resurrection being God's miracle, it was only natural that my faith would become full."
The Emperor laughed benevolently and said he thanked God who resurrected me.
As the one who gave final approval for my beheading, speaking as if he didn't see the scar on my neck at all.
Not wanting to lose to the Emperor who smiles like a snake, I smiled back at him, when my father, who had been standing quietly beside Duke Andrei, spoke up.
"Your Majesty, if Anelie is carrying out God's revelation as a resurrected one, she must be very weary. Today, as a father, please allow me to attend to the daughter I have so earnestly wished to meet."
I almost forgot my composed expression and frowned. Wondering what on earth he meant, I glanced over and saw my father waiting for the Emperor's response.
"My, my. While I understand the Duke's feelings, I have been greatly looking forward to meeting the resurrected one. The Imperial Palace will provide sufficient accommodation, so do not worry."
Naturally, the Emperor had no intention of handing me over to Roam. He used the justification that he must treat me who captured the Dullahan that appeared in the Imperial Palace, and acted even more triumphant.
My father quietly acquiesced without objection. He probably never thought he could take me away in the first place.
'So he said that for me to hear.'
He wasn't one to make such obvious gestures, but being a resurrected one must have made my father quite anxious.
The Emperor looked at my father who said nothing and laughed pleasantly, then turned his gaze to Maxel.
"Crown Prince, personally guide the resurrected one. One loved by God deserves such treatment, wouldn't you agree?"
Maxel, who had been looking at me strangely since our reunion, slowly nodded.
"Of course. I will carry out Your Majesty's command with joy."
"Now then, escort her to the guest room immediately."
The Emperor said in a voice mixed with laughter.
"Having once shared hearts, there must be accumulated conversations to share. I will specially reduce the Crown Prince's duties. You may take sufficient time."
Listening to Maxel's voice saying thanks, I turned my gaze without answering.
Is he saying to pour out accumulated insults since he's giving me plenty of time now?
* * *
I need to plan how to get the Dullahan and escape this place quickly.
Escaping the Imperial Palace, honestly, perhaps because it's a familiar space, I strongly felt it would somehow work out. Depending on the situation, I could get help from rats or birds.
Of course, there are other Dullahans inside the bracelet too...
I already knew that activating unregistered magic tools in the Imperial Palace would be detected.
But if I openly said I'd use the bracelet, there was a risk of revealing the existence of other Dullahans.
So unless it's the worst situation, I should be cautious...
"Anelie."
The continuing thoughts were cut off.
I hadn't noticed because I was walking lost in thought, but the attendants and guards who had been following were gone. Only Maxel, who had been walking slightly ahead under the pretext of guiding me, had stopped in the middle of the corridor and was looking back at me.
When I didn't answer and just stared at him, he took a step toward me. I stepped back exactly that much, and Maxel approached me again.
Similarly, I calmly stepped back and maintained the distance.
"Anelie..."
"Please speak, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
When I answered coldly, Maxel's expression distorted slightly.
"What's with that tone all of a sudden? Speak comfortably like before."
"Earlier, I made a mistake."
"A mistake? We always spoke comfortably."
"How could a criminal who was beheaded dare do something so disrespectful to the Crown Prince of a nation?"
Maxel, who had been trying to maintain composure, finally gritted his teeth and furrowed his brows.
"Anelie!"
"You don't need to raise your voice. I can hear you perfectly well. Please speak quietly. It's noisy."
After pretending to be affectionate so uncharacteristically, now I finally saw the Maxel I knew.
That hard, cold expression, acting as if he's been harmed by me somehow.
When I faced him expressionlessly, he let out a long sigh and spoke in a tired voice.
"I want to have a conversation for a moment."
"I'm very weary from carrying out God's command. I want to rest right now."
"Just for a moment will do."
"If you trouble a resurrected one like this, you'll be punished later."
When I answered calmly, Maxel's expression distorted even more. However, he, whom I thought might find fault and criticize me like before, was unexpectedly silent.
"...Fine."
I don't know what he thought, but he readily backed down. Then he walked ahead briskly as if he had never stopped.
Though something was suspicious, I didn't particularly want to talk more, so I quietly followed Maxel.
...I followed willingly because I didn't want to talk, but if I had known we'd come here, I would have rather held out earlier.
It was a mistake that I tried to consciously ignore Maxel while organizing future plans in my head.
By the time I realized where I had arrived, it was already too late.
Staring blankly at the interior with the door wide open, I took a deep breath and looked back at Maxel. He was standing with his hands behind his back with a peaceful face.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"Please rest. I'll send someone to attend to you soon."
"Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"I hope your fatigue recovers quickly."
"This is not a room given to guests, is it?"
When I gritted my teeth and said each word with force, Maxel narrowed his eyes.
"You remember."
Was I mistaken? Maxel's voice seemed to carry delight. As if my remembering this room was something to be happy about, when it definitely shouldn't be.
"Since I remember, please end the guidance here. I'll find the 'real' guest room myself."
"Isn't a familiar place more comfortable? Whenever you entered the palace, you always stayed in this room."
For a moment, I was so dumbfounded I couldn't speak. However my silence was interpreted, a faint smile appeared on Maxel's face. The satisfaction felt from that smile made me even more dumbfounded.
A familiar place? A familiar place, you say?
"This palace is the Crown Prince's palace, and the room you're offering now is the room used by your former fiancée."
"Yes, the room you used."
"No, it's the room of your former fiancée who was beheaded. Not me."
I couldn't even force a laugh. When I saw Maxel spouting nonsense in the middle of the night at the Oel flower farm, I thought he might do something worse than that.
But I didn't expect this situation. It seems Maxel was much more brazen than I thought. To think of giving me this room.
"I didn't know your memory was this poor."
"No, it's you who has poor memory. I definitely told you. To meet your end in the Imperial Palace. I properly guided you to where you should be."
My heart beat loudly. It was because I understood that Maxel was referring to the conversation in the prison.
The conversation I had with Maxel last, before the beheading.
I said I wanted to go outside the palace, and Maxel told me to die inside the palace.
Fed up with everything revolving around Lilia, excluding me. It was the moment I truly gave up everything.
At that time, I had lost the will to take back what was stolen, and was consumed by the desire to escape from everything.
"Yes, so I died in the Imperial Palace. Didn't you see my head fall with your own eyes?"
"What I see before me is you, returned alive."
That miserable death summarized in just a few words. How insignificant was my death. When hollow feelings rose, laughter came out instead.
"Stop talking nonsense, Your Highness."
"Anelie. You always longed for affection and attention from me."
"When in the world are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about when you used this room. As clever as you are, you must have understood why I'm giving you this room."
Of course I understood. Are you trying to probe if we can start over again, you crazy bastard.
"This is truly... I don't know whether to say you have good nerve."