The incident always unfolds like a natural disaster.
It’s large-scale, and it doesn’t give you a moment to react. Just like the Emperor’s declaration heard before the spirit trap.
But Ezekiel was determined to deal with it somehow. He infused his entire body with mana and moved at a frenzied pace.
His destination was, of course, the place where the 5th Princess and the Emperor were.
It was the Imperial Capital.
Shwoooosh─!
How long had he been racing with his mana? He snapped back to reality when the strong wind made his ears feel completely numb.
The silhouette of the Imperial Capital began to come into view.
Why did it look so ominous today even though it appeared the same as usual? It must be the shocking news that the 5th Princess was to be executed.
Throwing all shock aside, Ezekiel accelerated.
There was a woman who opened her mouth for the first time in a long while.
“Public execution… I’ve never experienced one before.”
It was Seina, the elder of the Blue Tower.
“Has there ever been a precedent for public executions in the Empire?”
“There has, but at least not during our lifetimes. I’ve heard it was a long time ago.”
Anes, who was racing alongside Seina, replied. Ezekiel was ahead of the two women, completely focused on the sprint.
“…Then what about instances where a princess was led to the execution platform?”
“Of course, there are none.”
Shock echoed in the voices of the two women. Ezekiel felt the same way. Who would have thought he’d witness the 5th Princess ascend to the execution platform?
“Execution is appropriate for treason, of course…”
Anes couldn’t finish her sentence and stole a glance at Ezekiel barreling ahead.
As expected, Ezekiel’s voice soon returned.
“The 5th Princess must not be executed. Absolutely not.”
Secretary Anes quietly nodded.
Unintentionally, she reflected on Ezekiel’s entire past. Thanks to that, she could vaguely guess without further explanation.
Why the 5th Princess had hidden such a device in the spirit trap, what was happening now… all of it.
So, she followed Ezekiel in silence, but she couldn’t help but worry about Seina. Would there not be too much chaos?
“Master.”
Surprisingly, it was Seina who spoke first.
“I don’t know much, but we must definitely prevent the execution of the 5th Princess, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Got it.”
Seina nodded willingly without further questions. It was an expression of boundless trust toward her master.
“I also feel there’s something off about this situation. You wouldn’t be wrong, Master, and above all, I’m curious about the truth.”
“They’re trying to kill the 5th Princess under the pretense of silencing her.”
Ezekiel simply spit out the truth.
Of course, just because he said it simply doesn’t mean it would be easy to accept. The truth Ezekiel faced was shockingly heavy.
“You said you wanted to know the truth, right? So do I.”
Ezekiel said with a serious expression.
“The 5th Princess has to be alive for that to happen. You can’t ask anything of a dead person.”
Every word Ezekiel poured out pointed clearly in one direction.
At least not in the direction of the Emperor.
In fact, it pointed in the opposite direction. As Ezekiel sensed that the day he would clash with the Emperor was fast approaching, he knew it was now.
They continued to dash for a while longer.
Anes cautiously opened her lips.
“But, I’m not sure if there’s any way to meet the 5th Princess now that she’s a condemned prisoner. Is that possible?”
“I’m not considering anything.”
“You have a plan?”
“No, I’m saying I’m not thinking about the consequences.”
There came a moment when they had to turn the path they were racing along. Whish! The man swiftly turned, and his profile flashed by.
What was visible were those determined blue eyes.
“No normal method will work, and once you’ve made up your mind, it’s as if you’ve already turned your back on the Emperor.”
Ezekiel’s rough declaration continued.
“The traitor isn’t the 5th Princess; it’s me. You all better stay out of my affair. One slip-up and you’re dead.”
Anes opened her mouth to say something but ultimately clamped it shut.
She wanted to stop him right now.
For a mere inspector to intervene was presumptuous, and turning his back on the Emperor was an incredibly reckless act. So, she wanted to advise him not to take such a dangerous step.
…But now that she knew his past, that became impossible.
Anes understood well now.
Ezekiel had fought through a tremendous amount of tragedy throughout his life. But despite that, he had lost far more than he had gained.
Many people strive in this world, yet none receive less reward for their efforts than Ezekiel did.
Perhaps that was why.
In truth, when the 5th Princess appeared in the spirit trap, Anes hoped that everything would be thoroughly revealed.
“…”
In the end, even knowing this was a perilous path, all she could do now was cheer him on. She just hoped for a miracle. That Ezekiel’s wishes would come true.
“It’s my fault.”
While dashing, Ezekiel suddenly murmured.
His tone felt devoid of any emotion.
Anes and Seina quietly stared at Seina’s back. There was no moment to intrude.
“If I had completely erased my record or returned to the Imperial Family… if I’d done anything…”
He wondered if things wouldn’t have escalated this much. Suddenly, Ezekiel felt regret.
On another note, after saying all that, he realized there was something that weighed on his mind.
‘How does the 5th Princess know so many details about my past?’
Caught up in the thought of needing to stop the execution of the 5th Princess, he had overlooked it, but upon reflection, it was indeed very strange.
Just looking at the age of Arcne, who was thrown into the demon realm as an infant, it was clear that all the princesses at that time were very young.
No, they were beyond young.
‘Wait a minute, the 5th Princess doesn’t even seem to have been born yet.’
How could the 5th Princess be so aware of Ezekiel’s movements, and how did she plan to carry out such a scheme?
Thinking he had to meet her right away, Ezekiel increased his speed.
How much time had passed?
“Look over there.”
Anes mumbled softly.
Ezekiel also clearly saw the destination he was heading towards with his own eyes.
Finally, the underground prison of the Imperial Palace came into view.
*
The imperial palace, a place that must maintain decorum and tranquility at all times.
Boom─!
A sound of rupture that shouldn’t be heard in such a place echoed. One of the walls to enter the underground maze crumbled completely.
“Inspector! If you go in any further…!”
The guard froze in disbelief, his expression filled with horror. He wouldn’t die. Arrangements had been made so that he wouldn’t be frozen for more than an hour.
“Block it! No one is allowed to enter!”
The guard muttered that, only to become a statue himself.
Whoosh─!
A man swiftly passed by, barely brushing against it. His footsteps aimed deep into the underground prison.
Or rather, ‘seeping in’ would be more accurate.
The man’s speed was at a level that couldn’t be pursued by the eye. It spread through the underground prison as if cold chill were rapidly spreading.
Boom─!
And finally, he was able to reach the lowest level.
The lowest layer of the underground prison.
A vast space that served as a prison for an entire floor; Ezekiel had heard about it. It was only treated on special occasions when a very significant prisoner was involved.
The figure of the 5th Princess was not fully visible yet.
This was a space where not even a single ray of light could enter. Only the light that streamed in from the newly made hole in the ceiling shone down upon the feet of the 5th Princess in a circle.
She was chained.
“Neo.”
No answer came.
But the sound of breath was definitely audible. The 5th Princess Neo was still alive.
“Haa….”
Ezekiel let out a breath, wiping his face. He first confirmed that the opponent was indeed alive.
“Neo, it’s me, Ezekiel.”
Still, no response came.
What if she was just barely clinging to life but was not in good condition? A wave of anxiety rose in Ezekiel’s heart.
And then.
Thud thud thud─
A cracked ceiling fell again.
Thanks to that, the dark underground prison illuminated all at once.
Now, the full appearance of the 5th Princess was revealed.
Even with the tremendous commotion and a hole torn in the ceiling, the 5th Princess hardly seemed to care about Ezekiel.
Though her neck and feet were shackled, her hands appeared free. Perhaps because of that, she was continuously reading something held in her hand.
‘What’s that…’
It was an item very familiar to Ezekiel.
It was the proposal letter he had personally written.
The 5th Princess was repeatedly reading it over and over.
“Hello, teacher.”
She mumbled a very brief greeting.
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