Chapter 55. The Stilen Joint Operation
The corridor leading to the Queen’s chambers was bathed in radiant streams of light.
The goddesses painted on the walls gazed benevolently at those passing by.
The vases placed here and there filled the hallway with a subtle fragrance.
The path toward the Queen exuded warmth and serenity.
And yet, in that beautiful corridor, two men lurked in the shadows, wholly out of place.
“W–what? How could you possibly expect me to do this?”
Dyke pressed himself into the shadow cast by a massive pillar, scanning his surroundings nervously.
He looked at the beams of light flooding the hall with despair.
He simply did not have the courage to step into that light.
“I can’t do it, Advisor Colin.”
“Don’t worry. Just do exactly what we practiced.”
“There’s no way this will work!”
Colin patted Dyke’s tense shoulder reassuringly.
“That’s how I ended up marrying my wife, you know.”
“That’s only because Lady Drestor was generous of heart!”
“No. Trust me, it works on anyone.”
Colin gave Dyke a look of exasperation. How could he be making such a fuss over something so simple?
The plan was straightforward: seduce one of the Queen’s maids, win her favor, use her to gather the Queen’s schedule and movements, then find an opening to separate the Queen from the Princess.
And when the chance came—secretly spirit the young fawn-like Princess away from her mother, the doe-like Queen.
“Easier than going to war, isn’t it?”
“If it’s so easy, why don’t you do it?”
“I would succeed in an instant… but I’m already married, am I not? I can’t betray my beloved wife.”
“But Advisor—”
Having grown tired of coaxing, Colin finally issued a thinly veiled threat.
“Listen. Even if this were an order from the Commander himself—if you refuse, it’ll be insubordination. You’ll face military tribunal.”
Seeing no room to escape, Dyke gazed hopelessly at the wall of light spilling into the corridor.
Never before had light seemed so terrifying.
“Just do as I taught you.” Colin straightened Dyke’s epaulettes one last time.
“And don’t forget the eyes. Stare like you’re about to devour her. Just like the Commander does.”
Dyke’s eyes, already twitching, looked about ready to burst.
“But Advisor Colin, how could I possibly—”
Just then, the click of a door echoed down the hall.
Someone was stepping out of the Queen’s reception room.
Dyke froze. The moment he had most dreaded was upon him.
The crisp tap, tap of high heels rang out through the bright corridor.
No. I can’t. I can’t do this.
He shook his head violently, clutching at the pillar for dear life—
But Colin gave him a firm shove, sending him stumbling straight into the light.
“Oh my!”
“Wahhh!”
The sudden appearance of an Imperial soldier caused a small commotion in the corridor.
The maid hurrying along shrieked, while Dyke, pushed against his will, let out a strangled yell.
“A-ahaha.”
Flustered, he quickly regained his balance and bowed awkwardly.
His ears turned crimson as he forced out a laugh.
The bouquet trembling in his hands shook just as violently as his heart.
If only the order had been to slay ten enemy soldiers—it wouldn’t have been this difficult.
This mission felt impossible.
“What is the meaning of this?”
The maid who had been on her way stopped, eyeing Dyke blocking her path.
The flowers between them quivered faintly, releasing their fragrance.
Dyke stood there, tongue-tied, while the maid’s clear voice pressed him again.
“I asked what business you have here, especially before the Queen’s chambers.”
Her firm tone echoed across the corridor.
Dyke clenched the bouquet so tightly the veins bulged in his hand.
He had been taught that survival depended on composure, no matter the situation.
So he forced himself to recall Colin’s instructions.
Colin had powdered his face, insisting men should dress up, too.
“I am Dyke Reverini, aide to the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Army.”
He had also been told to bring a gift.
The powder’s fragrance tickled his nose, but he resisted the urge to sneeze and extended the flowers.
“Please… accept these.”
Still unable to raise his head, he kept his gaze fixed on the floor.
Yet silence hung over the hall.
Huh? Why isn’t she taking them? Oh—that’s right. I was supposed to compliment her, too.
He forced his lips apart, recalling Colin’s rehearsed lines.
“I prepared them… for a beautiful lady such as yourself.”
And he was supposed to stare at her hungrily, like the Commander.
Dyke screwed his eyes so tightly they almost formed double lids and lifted his head.
“For someone who resembles—”
But the instant his gaze met the maid’s—
All of Colin’s teachings evaporated.
“Ah…”
The powder, the carefully arranged bouquet, the endless practice lines—
Everything he had prepared over the past week became meaningless.
Staring at her, Dyke let out a faint groan.
“…I’m doomed.”
On the first day the Stilen Empire invaded the royal castle, they had forced a maid—who had resisted bitterly—onto the throne as bait.
She had cried, struggled, but Dyke’s comrades had threatened her with rifles, and Dyke himself had held her hand to prevent her escape.
That maid, coerced into acting as the Queen during the great banquet, was Meredith.
And now Meredith was glaring at Dyke.
“Aide Dyke… what business do you have here, of all places, before Her Majesty the Queen’s chambers?”
Her voice, once melodious, was now cold as ice.
Dyke lowered the bouquet, despair flooding his chest.
Of all the maids in the palace—why her?
Her piercing gaze was as sharp as the barrel he himself had pointed at her that day.
Colin’s plan to seduce a maid and use her to steal away the Princess had failed before it even began.
“My apologies.”
I never should have listened to Colin.
Realizing the mission was lost, Dyke hid the bouquet behind his back.
“If you have nothing further to say, I shall take my leave.”
“W–wait!” Dyke called out desperately as Meredith turned to go.
“Aren’t you… terribly busy?”
“I am on an errand for the Queen, on my way to the workshop. Do I now need to seek your permission for even that?”
“N–no, of course not.”
“Then kindly step aside.”
At her firm words, Dyke instinctively moved aside.
He watched her retreating figure with a dazed expression.
What do I do?
He didn’t know what, but he knew instinctively that he couldn’t let her go like this.
Summoning his resolve, he strode forward in long steps and blocked her path again.
“Please, wait.”
Meredith’s voice sharpened with frustration.
“What now? Will you seize my hand again and force me into some seat?”
“No. I… wish to apologize for that day.”
Dyke’s shyness vanished. He met her eyes with a determined expression.
As a soldier, fighting armed enemies was natural.
But Meredith had been unarmed.
Threatening her with a gun, holding her against her will, using her in their mission—that had not been conduct befitting a soldier.
So now Dyke bowed his head in earnest contrition.
“The situation was dire, but that is no excuse for not explaining, for forcing you into that operation. I regret it deeply.”
Meredith froze, caught off guard by the unexpected apology.
She remembered vividly the cold barrel aimed at her. And yet… an apology?
The meeting she had least expected was now unfolding in a way she could never have predicted.
Dyke continued calmly despite her silence.
“I sincerely apologize for that day.”
Meredith studied him, standing so upright, so proper, apologizing like a well-bred child. Slowly, she spoke.
“Then why… are you blocking my way now? Has another urgent situation arisen?”
Sensing her hostility soften slightly, Dyke steadied his breath.
Colin’s tricks wouldn’t work here. Only the straightforward path remained.
He straightened his posture and met her eyes directly.
“Yes. Circumstances are urgent. That is why I had no choice but to stop you.”
His expression grew grave.
“You are aware that a peace treaty was recently signed between Stilen and Iorenti, yes?”
Meredith stiffened.
The war had only just ended. Peace was fragile, tenuous.
It was like walking hand-in-hand across thin ice that could break at any moment.
As someone close to the Queen, Meredith forced herself to stand tall and answer carefully.
“Yes. I heard the Stilen Peace Treaty was signed not long ago.”
“Our Imperial Army, in light of this new era of peace, is conducting operations to solidify our alliance with Iorenti. We cannot allow this hard-won treaty to be broken by some unfortunate incident.”
“I… I suppose not.”
“However, we have encountered difficulties beyond our ability to solve. Our knowledge of Iorenti is limited, and our area of activity restricted. This has created serious problems in carrying out our operations.”
“Is that so?”
“After numerous discussions, we concluded that Stilen and Iorenti must cooperate closely. Peace cannot be achieved through one side’s effort alone.”
“I see… And so?”
“To carry out the Stilen Joint Operation, I am here to request Iorenti’s cooperation.”
“…Excuse me?”
Meredith blinked at him blankly.
He was speaking in the continental common tongue, but—
Frustrated, she asked directly:
“And why are you telling me this?”
“Because I need your help.”
“Surely you should be speaking with the Senate, or His Majesty the King?”
“No. Only you can do this.”
“Me?”
Dyke nodded firmly.
“Yes.”
“And what, exactly, could I possibly do to aid peace between our nations?”
Clutching the still-useless bouquet, Dyke declared with great confidence:
“Help us secretly spirit away the Princess from the Queen.”
