Chapter 10
“So you’re saying that on that day, I should wear something cuter than usual?”
“You remembered exactly what you were told.”
“Ren! Don’t you think our lord is acting strange? I seriously don’t understand him at all.”
The office of the hamster teahouse—where Layton had briefly stopped by and then left.
Ren and Luca, who remained behind, sat on the sofa with expressions that still hadn’t recovered from the shock.
After hearing Luca’s words, Ren had no choice but to agree.
The person who had just been here was nothing like the lord he served.
He had rattled off a list of corrections, then vanished with a short, casual, “Make sure it’s prepared.”
Layton Zynes wasn’t that kind of man.
He was someone strong enough to wield the demons that lived around him, someone utterly merciless when it came to achieving his goals.
So then who, exactly, had that man just been?
Ignoring Luca—who sat beside him muttering blankly, “This is an emergency. Our lord has gone strange”—Ren sank into thought.
Who would be coming here?
Someone capable of softening the lord?
It was unbelievable.
No matter how much he thought about it, no answer came to mind, and Ren could only shake his head.
If they come here, I’ll have to see for myself who it is.
Whether that person brought something good or bad, anyone capable of causing such an unusual change was worth knowing about.
Ren abruptly stood up, determined to carry out the task assigned to them.
Then he lightly kicked Luca with his foot.
“What?”
“What do you think? We’re going to order aprons embroidered with hamsters, just like the lord said.”
“…Damn it! My image has completely hit rock bottom!”
As Luca stomped and complained, Ren kicked him again—this time harder—and threatened him bluntly.
“If you don’t want it to fall even further, you’d better come with me. It’s an order from the lord.”
“I said I’m going!”
Grumbling all the while, Luca still obediently followed Ren outside, their footsteps naturally heading toward the tailor’s shop.
And the sight of two burly men ordering hamster-embroidered aprons at a clothing store was truly something to behold.
* * *
The Empress’s Palace, home to the most beautiful garden in the empire.
The empress, who had been personally tending to her violet roses—flowers that released a captivating fragrance—brightened at the sight of a long-unseen guest.
“It’s been a while. For you to come all the way here… is something urgent?”
“Your Majesty, the Empress.”
The man bowed politely before lifting his head.
The silver-rimmed glasses perched on his nose glinted in the light.
“Sit down first, Travi.”
Called by name, Travi took a seat with refined composure.
Soon after, a maid brought steaming cups of warm rose tea.
“It’s made from roses grown in my garden. Try it.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“It’s quite effective at calming an anxious heart.”
At her words—spoken as if she already knew why he was here—he gave a small, awkward cough.
Watching him with gentle eyes, the empress asked casually,
“What is it? Has something unsettling happened?”
Her voice hadn’t changed at all, yet the man swallowed hard.
The empress was always kind.
Not indulgent in everything, but unless it was a serious matter, she was known for her mercy.
And yet, for some reason, her dark eyes were always difficult to meet.
“No. I don’t believe it’s a serious issue.”
“Hm. And yet you came to see me? That doesn’t quite add up. I’m fairly certain I told you not to come unless it was important.”
At the cold undertone in her voice, the man spoke calmly.
“Yes. What I wished to report is…”
After hesitating for a moment, Travi rummaged through his jacket pocket.
He pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.
“Do you know what this is?”
“…What is it?”
As the wrinkled paper was unfolded, hurried, scrawled writing came into view.
My daughters. Never trust the imperial family. And Eve…
The paper was already badly damaged, the rest unreadable.
But the moment the empress read the words, her hand trembled—and she crushed the paper in her fist.
She drew a quiet breath.
Though she feigned composure, the slight trembling of her hand was unmistakable.
She took a sip of the rose tea said to calm anxiety, then slowly set the cup down.
“Where did you find this?”
“Near the carriage that belonged to Duke and Duchess Bennet.”
“Did anyone else see it?”
“No. The Imperial Knights and the Bennet ducal household had already recovered all important items. It seems this was overlooked.”
“I see.”
Pressing her lips together, the empress slowly raised her hand and tore the paper apart.
The fragments fluttered uselessly to the floor.
“Travi.”
At the sound of his name spoken so softly, his mind snapped to attention.
If he failed this task, he would be the one torn to pieces.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I trust you. Deeply. And I know that in terms of magic, there are very few in this country who could defeat you.”
“Yes. Please give your command.”
“Forget the paper you just showed me. And you are to visit the Bennet ducal house.”
“You wish me to infiltrate it?”
“Yes. No matter how, get inside—and stay close to Selena Bennet and Ailee Bennet.”
“I understand.”
Such a mission was nothing difficult for Travi.
The only concern—
Perhaps sensing it, the empress spoke first.
“Yes, Marquis Layton. I heard at the recent banquet that he has become the Bennet family’s guardian. If you’re infiltrating the ducal house, he’ll be the one you must be most cautious of.”
“I don’t believe he’s unbeatable.”
“How admirable—such confidence.”
She let out a small laugh, as though genuinely amused.
But then her dark eyes sank, cold and deep like an unfathomable abyss.
“Confidence aside, Layton Zynes is a man called a demon. No—perhaps he truly is one.”
Swordsmanship refined beyond compare.
A tenacious vitality that survived even death-threatening situations.
The empress recalled his gaze at the banquet.
When he looked at her and the emperor, his demeanor was obedient, his eyes lowered.
And yet she had seen it clearly.
The dark, viscous intent lurking beneath—enough to make one’s hair stand on end.
“Then how should I approach him?”
“To deceive Layton, you’ll likely need to approach Ailee Bennet first.”
Selena Bennet, who lived solely for her sister.
And Layton, who watched over Selena.
Unlike his cold presence at the banquet, Layton sometimes wore a gentler smile when looking at Selena—
As if she were someone he needed to impress.
“That should grant you access to the ducal house.”
No emotion stirred within the empress’s sunken black eyes.
Faced with that eerie gaze, Travi could only swallow dryly and nod.
* * *
Behind the stables of the quiet Bennet estate.
The stable hands had long since finished tending the horses, leaving the area deserted.
And moments like this were perfect for practicing holy power!
With Ailee busy in lessons with her tutor, I set out with Chik-Chik, completely at ease.
[Focus a little more. Gather the refreshing energy circulating through your body.]
“Ugh… even more than this?”
[Yes! That’s it! Imagine shaping it into something sharper.]
Chik-Chik’s holy power lessons were incredibly effective.
Just as I’d suspected, being absurdly talented paid off—before long, I managed to shape my holy power into something sharp, like a blade.
Cool energy coursed through my body, emitting a fierce, sacred aura.
[Perfect! Seriously—what are you?]
“That perfect?”
[Yes. The last time I saw someone like you was hundreds of years ago. It’s like looking at that child again.]
Chik-Chik fell quiet, as though lost in memory.
I didn’t know who he was thinking of.
But the way his usually lively presence dimmed told me it must be someone deeply missed.
Who could it be?
Someone from the past who possessed holy power like mine.
Not being well-versed in imperial history, I couldn’t guess.
Besides, books about holy power were incredibly rare.
Feeling the energy swirling in my palm, I gently patted Chik-Chik.
Then—
A scream echoed in the distance.
“Kyaaaah!”
My mind went blank.
The instant I heard it, I took off running.
That voice—without a doubt—was Ailee’s.
Rushing toward the sound, what I saw was—
“I don’t want to study! I want to rest today! Don’t tell my sister!”
Ailee was somehow dangling from a tree, struggling with her tutor.
Too stunned to speak, I stared up at her.
Still unaware of my presence, Ailee shouted again,
“I want to go to the hamster teahouse!”
After our parents’ deaths, it had been so long since I’d seen her throw a tantrum like this that my mouth fell open.
Watching the scene, Chik-Chik murmured softly,
[…Your sister seems to resemble someone I once knew as well.]
