Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Breaking Free
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“Your Highness, it’s Ray.”
“Come in.”
As soon as Ray entered, he handed her a contract and a note. The note detailed everything she needed to do for the escape. The contract laid out various terms and conditions for joining the organization.
“You promised to grant me one wish before. This is the organization I belong to. I’d like for Your Highness to join us as well.”
“Aremai…….”
“We can handle the contract later. For now, please take it.”
As she examined the contract closely, Ray held out the note. When she unfolded it, a simple message was written there.
[Come to the food storage warehouse by dawn, still dressed as a maid.]
“So for now, we just wait until the time comes?”
“Yes, that’s right. When the moment arrives, someone from our side will come fetch Your Highness and get you out of the palace.”
“I see.”
Ray clearly had no intention of lingering and vanished quickly. Watching his golden blond hair flutter as he left, she felt a strange unease. Why go out of his way to dye it such a conspicuous color……?
But she decided not to dwell on it. Just thinking about the escape was overwhelming enough for today. Before she knew it, time had slipped by as she pondered what her future might hold.
Night fell. The moonlight was dim. Shadows fell thick and heavy, making it nearly impossible to see. She silently opened the door and stepped out, searching for Ray.
“Ray?”
But Ray was nowhere to be found. Assuming he must already be at the food storage warehouse, she headed there in her maid outfit.
Crunch, crunch.
It was a quiet night. A dark night as well. Perfect conditions for sneaking around. Sticking to the shadows and suppressing her presence as much as possible, even the knights with sharp senses failed to detect her.
“Is no one here?”
She entered the food storage warehouse. Not wanting to be crushed by the silence and darkness, she lit a candle. But still, no one was there. Outside remained dark, but dawn was already approaching. Anxious that she might miss her chance, she grew restless.
Just then, she heard voices murmuring. She extinguished the flame and retreated deeper into the warehouse. Three men’s voices carried over.
“Captain, is she really here?”
“No one’s in sight!”
“Have you ever known Ray to fail a mission?”
She had been on high alert, but at the mention of Ray’s name, she realized these were the people he had sent. Seeing them open the warehouse door and enter, she stepped out from her hiding spot.
“Are you the ones Ray sent?”
The sudden voice echoing in the silent warehouse startled the men. One hand gripping their weapons, the other shining light on her face. They saw a woman with golden blond hair, blue eyes, and wearing the maid outfit they had specified.
“The Crown Princess Consort?”
“That’s right.”
She nodded at the question from the man in the lead. He ordered his companions to sheathe their swords. She glanced at him briefly. Sensing her gaze, the man spoke.
“Welcome to Aremai. I’m Reshinka.”
“I’m Lucia. When do we depart?”
“We’ll be leaving soon. You’ll have to hide in the food crates on the way out—is that alright?”
“It’s fine until we’re clear of the capital.”
“We won’t keep you there that long. You’re a newcomer, and we don’t treat our members harshly.”
“I see.”
By the time they exited the warehouse, the sky had grown noticeably brighter. She felt anxious, but the workers loading the empty crates moved with calm leisure.
“Slip in here. Please stay completely silent until we pass through the gates.”
“Yes, understood.”
“We’ll trust you. ……Hey, hold up! We need to make enough space for a person.”
“Got it, Captain!”
She quickly slipped into the gap they created. Once they confirmed she was inside, the laborers began stacking goods on top. In an instant, darkness enveloped her.
It was dark here, cramped. Uncomfortable to move in. Suddenly, an old memory flashed through her mind. She must have been fourteen—hiding in a tiny shed to escape Muila’s kicks. It had been such a gloomy, terrifying place.
Overcome by that fear, she drifted off to sleep for a moment. Meanwhile, outside, the laden wagons set off. A drowsy guard at the gate greeted them.
“Hey, heading out now?”
“We were delayed checking the freshness of the vegetables we supply to your merchant guild, one by one.”
“Take it easy. Word is His Imperial Majesty is thrilled with how fresh the produce from your guild is.”
“That’s why we have to work even harder.”
“Oh, right you are. We’ve held you up too long. See you tomorrow.”
“Yes, understood.”
The gates opened promptly. While she slept, the wagon sped away from the capital.
Meanwhile, Ray was in the Crown Princess Consort’s room. He put on the neatly folded clothes she had left behind. Dressed in her nightgown, he shook out the hair tucked between the garments. His golden blond dye job for the mission shimmered.
“Preparations are complete.”
Just to be sure, he checked again. From the first floor to the top, meticulously. It was perfect. Everyone was asleep, and oil soaked the floors. He took a deep breath.
“It’s okay.”
Even with resolve, it was frightening. But he kept murmuring, “For Aremai.” Those words were like a talisman to him.
Whoosh!
With her mind steadied, she set the first floor ablaze. Then she returned to the Crown Princess Consort’s room. Heat rose. Smoke billowed from the windows. The acrid stench filled the air. She clenched her fists, refusing to tremble in fear.
This is all for the organization. My sacrifice will make it shine, and it will lay the foundation for the world our leader will build.
She steeled herself. Peace settled in. Even as the flames approached in real time, she felt no fear. She murmured once more.
“For Aremai.”
* * *
At dawn, a mysterious fire broke out in the Palace of Punishment. Not a single person inside escaped. The blaze roared fiercely. No amount of water could extinguish it until the Emperor himself intervened.
The Emperor cast magic in secret, and with his spell combined with relentless firefighting efforts, the flames were soon subdued.
“Gasp!”
Those sent in to search were speechless at the horrific scene. All the doors had been nailed shut, ensuring no one could flee, and everyone had perished in this hell.
“This was definitely deliberate.”
“I think so too.”
The decisive evidence was the clear signs of arson. A question lingered in everyone’s minds: Who on earth would set the fire, and why?
Everyone was baffled. The motive and method remained mysteries—how the fire started in the Palace of Punishment undetected, and how it burned until the entire place was consumed without anyone noticing.
“Argh! Celine, why you!”
“Waaah…….”
“Brother! Where’s my brother!”
The imperial family placed the fire victims’ bodies in the hall where Canibella and Rainen had once held their wedding. It was the bare minimum courtesy to allow the bereaved to claim them. Wails echoed through the hall day after day.
“…….”
Amid it all, the Emperor faced a dire predicament. Though unidentified, the corpse’s features matched those of his son’s beloved Crown Princess Consort—horribly so. Confirmation after confirmation pointed to her.
The Emperor couldn’t fathom why this had happened. Was it the work of someone with a grudge against her? These late-life disasters were giving him headaches. And he dreaded what Rainen’s reaction would be if he learned.
But he couldn’t keep hiding it indefinitely. He summoned Rainen at once. Knowing what that place and day meant to him, but handling this crisis took priority.
The Emperor also convened an emergency council. An unknown intruder had breached the palace security, killing the Crown Princess Consort and numerous servants. This was a grave security breach and a direct challenge to the empire.
“What are your thoughts?”
“If I may, Sistia Kingdom insists it wasn’t them.”
“There’s been no report of their forces crossing the border even once.”
Voices speculating on the culprit filled the chamber, but no one pinpointed the truth.
“Sorry I’m late.”
The raucous meeting fell silent at that single voice. It was Rainen, who had been paying respects at the tombs of the former Empress and Crown Prince.
Seeing displeasure on Rainen’s face, the Emperor ended the meeting.
“That concludes today’s council.”
He gestured for Rainen to follow. Irritated by the abrupt recall, Rainen wondered why he’d been dragged back before properly mourning.
Has Father Emperor forgotten Mother Empress and my brother?
He wanted to demand answers, but the Emperor’s aura was unusually grave today. He decided to confront him later.
“Follow me.”
Rainen trailed the Emperor for a long while to the hall with the bereaved. They stopped before a particularly large coffin.
“Look.”
At the Emperor’s command, he stared silently at the body inside. It was charred beyond recognition by the fire. He gazed for a long time, then recoiled in horror and rushed forward. Standing before it, he stared endlessly.
Blood trickled from nails digging into palms, but he felt no pain. His chest hurt far worse than any fist. It felt truly torn apart, words failing to escape his lips.
“…….”
He refused to believe it. Couldn’t accept this as reality. This couldn’t be happening. It couldn’t……
“Ah…… Ah!”
Tears streamed endlessly. He collapsed before it, wailing.
“Argh!”
The scream of a man who lost his love echoed throughout the palace.