Chapter 5

Carlos pulled a palm-sized wooden box from his desk drawer and set it in front of me.

“Once a week. Fill this box completely. The deadline lasts until the guardianship ends.”

I narrowed my eyes.

Considering the potency of the purification stone, the amount he demanded was by no means small.

…More than I expected.

But I wasn’t in a position to negotiate.

“If you can’t—”

“I’ll do it.”

The answer left my mouth before he could finish.

Carlos studied me silently, his expression unreadable.

“Don’t mistake this for trust.”

“I know. It doesn’t matter.”

Even as I spoke, my heart pounded violently.

The first piece of my plan had fallen into place.

“I’ll prepare the guardianship documents myself. Anything else?”

“No. I’ll be going.”

I slid down from the chair and headed toward the door.

“Wait.”

I paused.

“Yes?”

“Why me?”

I understood the question.

There were many people desperate for purification stones. Some would have accepted my proposal far more eagerly.

So why choose the Carter ducal house—the imperial family’s greatest enemy?

“That’s because…”

Because you’re my father. Because I have to save you.

But what I said was different.

“If I’m entrusting my safety to someone, shouldn’t it be the only Grand Duke in the Empire?”

The light in his questioning eyes dimmed.

“If you intend to act like a princess within my estate, abandon the idea now.”

“If that were my intention, I would have accused you of insolence first.”

“…At least you understand your position.”

“I’ll take my leave.”

With a proper bow, I exited the office.

It worked.

Back in the guest room, I collapsed onto the sofa.

It will take about ten days.

To formalize guardianship, the documents had to be submitted to the temple and approved.

Until then, ducal extraterritorial rights would shield me from the Emperor.

For now… I can breathe.

I lifted my aching left arm.

One box per week.

Not a terrible trade.

Even if I had to reopen wounds repeatedly, it was a small price for survival.

Better than being drained in that cold laboratory.
Better than lying on a hard table beneath the emotionless gaze of nameless officials.

Once the imperial family lost control over Carlos—

I would leave.

“There’s one more person…”

On the table lay another dark red stone identical to the one I had given him.

I hadn’t come all this way merely to survive.

There was someone else I needed to find.

I have to move before the Emperor notices.

It had been four days since I left the palace.

By now, he must have realized.

I needed to act before pursuit began.

“…Still. I should rest first.”

Despite two days of sleep, my body felt heavy.

I closed my eyes.

Sun Palace

“Princess Rhea has left the palace?”

In the imperial bedchamber, the Emperor slowly rose from his pillow.

Edgar bowed.

“Yes, Your Majesty. She disappeared three mornings ago.”

“She’s throwing another tantrum.”

The Emperor clicked his tongue.

Rhea had always been troublesome.

After learning that her blood was used in purification stones, she occasionally left the palace for days—sometimes with only a single knight. It was almost as if she wished to remind him of her necessity.

“I should have locked her in a dungeon and broken her properly.”

When he had taken the Grand Duke’s daughter from her mother’s arms, he had not planned this far ahead.

Only later had he discovered that her blood enhanced stone refinement.

Otherwise, she would have been discarded after serving her purpose as leverage.

“Leave it. She’ll crawl back soon enough.”

“Your Majesty… this time, she left without an escort.”

“…Without a knight?”

His golden eyes sharpened.

“She has done similar things before, but always returned within a day.”

“Her rebellion grows bold.”

Then—

A memory surfaced.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“…Edgar.”

“Yes?”

“Has she ever called me ‘Your Majesty’ before?”

Edgar hesitated only briefly.

“…Since she first began speaking, she has always called you ‘Father.’”

He had noticed.

That day in the lounge—

She had addressed him formally.

A faint unease coiled in his chest.

“Edgar.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Dispatch a pursuit team. Quietly.”

His golden eyes gleamed coldly.

“It never hurts to be certain.”