The Imperial Palace of the Empire.
Inside it, there was a room designated as a so-called reception room within the emperor’s main palace, built solely for the emperor.
Of course, this room was rarely ever used.
Who would dare to receive guests on behalf of the emperor? It was merely a room created for formality.
However, at this moment, a secret meeting was taking place between two individuals.
“Would you like some tea?”
“No, thanks.”
The person that the emperor—of all people—offered tea to was none other than Athena Caladbolg.
She looked at Bordin with a displeased expression.
“So, what’s the reason you brought me here and staged this whole act? Do you really plan to imprison me?”
Such words were far too rude to be directed at the emperor.
But Bordin answered calmly, seemingly unfazed.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve no reason to oppose you when there’s a horde of monsters to deal with lately.”
He said this while sitting down, holding the tea in hand and letting out a sigh.
“Regardless of whether you’ve made illegal slaves or killed someone, you should know I have no intention of punishing you.”
“Hm… That doesn’t sound like something an emperor would say.”
“Everything is for the stability of the Empire.”
As Athena let out a small laugh, Bordin also chuckled lightly while bringing the tea to his lips.
“So what’s the real reason?”
“It’s a matter of covering up your crime, whatever it is. It’s not a big deal.”
Setting the tea on the table, he continued.
“However, someone has spread rumors about what you did throughout the Empire.”
“Rumors?”
“It has already reached the ears of the citizens and nobles. Now, it won’t be as simple as just covering it up. If handled poorly, the fairness of the law could collapse.”
“You’re making a fuss over just rumors?”
“It’s too clear-cut to dismiss as mere rumors given the informant and the evidence.”
“Evidence?”
As Athena frowned, Bordin looked at her with a questioning gaze.
“I heard the informant’s name is Bordin. He’s been working under you for five years.”
“…What?”
“I don’t know the details, but it seems he’s planning to betray you. Do you have any guesses as to why?”
“……”
“Anyway, stay within the palace for five days. I’ll make sure to establish your innocence somehow.”
But no answer came in return.
When Bordin looked up, he saw Athena deep in thought with a serious expression.
Silence lingered in the room for a while before.
“I have to go back.”
“Hmm?”
Athena stated her intention to leave. Bordin’s brow furrowed slightly, perhaps taken aback.
“Athena, wouldn’t it be better to stay here until the rumors die down?”
“No. I’m leaving right now.”
“If you leave like this, people will assume you’ve escaped to avoid investigation.”
“Let them think that.”
“For the sake of my face—”
But before Bordin could finish, Athena stood up abruptly. Golden mana began to slowly envelop her.
Bordin tried to persuade her further, but when he saw her face, he could find no words.
She looked too anxious.
“Are you… okay?”
Bordin was astonished at the sight of her emotions, something he had never seen before.
What could be causing her—who always seemed so bored—to be this anxious?
Realizing the situation was serious, Bordin let out a deep sigh.
“…Once everything is settled, return to the palace. Until then, I’ll find a way to come up with an excuse.”
“…I understand.”
Athena snapped her fingers, and golden mana began to glow brightly around her.
A precursor to a teleportation spell.
However, even after the magic activated.
The room was only briefly illuminated, and Athena stood still.
“…Damn it.”
Athena’s face contorted in frustration.
Without hesitation, she smashed through the wall and ran out.
BAM-BOOM!
With each step she took, a fierce sound and rushing wind brushed her body.
She exploded the mana in her feet and propelled herself forward. Before her feet touched the ground, she burst forth with mana again.
It was a method that put immense strain on her legs, but she didn’t care at all.
“Hera…!”
She couldn’t teleport to the mansion.
This could only mean one thing.
The teleportation stone set up in the mansion was rendered inactive by someone.
And that someone was probably Bordin.
She didn’t care why he suddenly betrayed her.
She had no interest in whatever scheme he was brewing.
The only thought occupying her mind was one.
Hera’s safety.
Gasp!
She felt anxious.
Fearing that something might happen to Hera, her heart raced wildly.
“It’s okay.”
She tried to calm herself.
Though she was far away, the dragon was currently beside Hera.
A little one brought into the mansion solely for the purpose of protecting Hera. If that wasn’t the case, she wouldn’t have been allowed anywhere near Hera.
So nothing would happen.
It shouldn’t.
It had to be that way.
*
“Uh…?”
Though no more blood was flowing, she couldn’t lift her body.
No matter how hard she tried to move, it only twitched slightly.
“Wh… Why can’t I move…?”
She was quite bewildered by her suddenly paralyzed body.
Just as she was trying to comprehend the situation.
“It’s poison derived from the heart of a basilisk. It suppresses the mana in your body and melts you from the inside.”
A male voice suddenly came from behind her.
Gathering her strength, she managed to turn her head slightly.
“Is… is that you, Master Bordin?”
The butler of the mansion, clad in a crisp suit and wearing a monocle, looked down at her with a surprised expression.
“How strange. You should have been dead by now, your heart melted away.”
He casually uttered chilling words.
“W-What do you mean…?”
“Is it the power of your innate ability? Fascinating.”
He approached, pulling out a dagger from his coat with a sympathetic expression.
“I’m sorry, Miss. I wanted to at least lessen your pain, but your body is remarkably resilient.”
“Why… are you doing this..?”
She was confused.
The sudden turn of events left her mind in a mess.
Yet, she was not foolish enough to be oblivious to what was happening.
She collapsed after eating, and then Bordin appeared.
She didn’t know why, but Bordin was trying to kill her.
It was highly likely that he had done something to the food.
“Are you curious?”
His calm, yet fiery gaze scrutinized her as he spoke.
“After all, there’s nothing more unjust than dying without knowing the reason.”
Bordin reached into his pocket and pulled out an amulet-shaped piece of jewelry.
He opened it, revealing a photograph.
As he presented the photo to her, she could see a woman harmoniously set against the backdrop of the evening sunset.
“My wife. She was killed eight years ago during a demon raid.”
As he spoke, Bordin’s expression turned somber.
“…And?”
“The village we lived in was somewhat isolated, far from the Empire. Up until the demon raid, it was quite a nice place to live.”
He placed the photo back in the amulet and continued.
“When the demons attacked, while the village soldiers were struggling to hold out, I sought help from the Empire.”
He laughed bitterly.
“They wouldn’t help. Simply because I wasn’t a citizen of the Empire.”
“….”
“But, perhaps the gods hadn’t forsaken us yet, I happened to meet someone—someone with enough skill to stop the demon raid.”
“…….. Athena.”
“Exactly. The one celebrated as the Empire’s hero, my current master, Athena.”
As if recalling that moment, Bordin’s eyes filled with rage.
“I ran and kneeled, begging her. Please save our village. Do you know what my master said?”
“…..What did she say?”
“‘Don’t bother me and get lost.’ Heh heh..”
“……”
“Well, as you can guess, the rest is a familiar tale. My wife and the villagers all perished, and since then, I’ve lived solely for revenge.”
Bordin finished, wearing a wry smile.
It was indeed a tragic story.
Was he committing these acts fueled by a thirst for revenge against Athena?
Was he attempting to use me, someone close to her?
But regardless of the reasons.
There was something more important than that right now.
“….The poison is wearing off.”
While he recounted his long story, she had been discreetly moving her fingers.
Unlike before, her fingers were moving quite naturally now.
For some reason, the paralysis was gradually lifting from her body.
“…But why are you trying to kill me?”
To gain even a little more time, she turned the question around at Bordin.
He silently gazed at her for a moment before finally responding.
“For the first three years, I tried to kill my master. I had enough skill to run a guild in my village.”
Gaining strength in her feet, she felt the sensation of her toes twitching.
“Ultimately, I couldn’t make any attempts. The moment I saw the golden mana, I realized—it was impossible to kill a monster like her.”
As time passed, her body gradually regained control.
“So, I changed my plan. If I couldn’t kill her, I would take something precious from her. That being you, Miss Hera.”
Just a little bit longer.
“I’ve spent years preparing to give that heartless monster something dear to her—”
But Bordin’s words trailed off.
He seemed to sense something strange, raising an eyebrow as he looked at her.
“…Now that I think about it, it’s odd. No matter how resilient the body, you should have been spewing blood by now.”
He pondered for a moment, gripping the dagger again.
“If there’s a change in plan, I must end this, so I’m sorry, but this is where our conversation ends.”
Without hesitation, he lifted the dagger high.
“After all, what life is left for you other than being a cherished doll of a monster?”
With no hesitation, he aimed the dagger at her neck.
“Ugh…!”
Though she wasn’t fully free of paralysis yet, she could move somewhat.
She immediately gathered strength in her body, extending her hand to intercept the trajectory of the dagger.
Her hand would certainly get cut, but it was better than having her neck severed.
And so.
Slash!
Blood sprayed.
Yet, despite the blood flying around, she felt no pain.
Opening her eyes to look at the situation.
The blood flowing out was not from her arm, but from Bordin.
His arm was cleanly severed, blood gushing out.
“Gah!!”
“Uh…?”
Like a fountain, the blood gushed forth from his severed arm.
As she stood there in shock at the sight, through the gushing blood, she spotted a figure.
A figure adorning a maid’s outfit—someone who had once been her friend.
“Al…ina..?”
Clutching a small blade in hand, it was Alina.
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