The Mad Emperor's Legacy
At last, the massive hearth slid aside with a heavy scrape, revealing a flight of stone steps descending into the darkness.
To think such a secret place existed within the Imperial Palace.
"Why on earth is there a facility like this in the kitchen?" I asked, utterly dumbfounded by the absurdity of it all.
"Head Chef... you're telling me this used to be a torture chamber?"
At my question, the head chef offered an awkward, sheepish look.
"It's just a story I heard from my predecessors, General. I believe it was built during the reign of the Mad Emperor."
His words jogged my memory. The Mad Emperor—a tyrant infamous throughout the Empire's history for his sheer cruelty. A man who took sadistic pleasure in tormenting and torturing others. I had always assumed his torture chambers were located deep within the imperial dungeons, though.
"I was told that a very long time ago, the kitchen and the pantry actually served as the prison," the head chef explained. "That hearth over there was the Mad Emperor's private torture chamber. Then, when they moved the kitchen to the first floor ages ago, they repurposed the space into a cold storage facility."
The Imperial Palace held far more secrets than I had anticipated. It was an ancient structure, so I knew there were bound to be hidden spaces, but still... Come to think of it, even the old watchtower had a passage leading outside.
Just then, a voice interrupted. "General, did you summon us? But... what is that passage?"
Seeing that the court mage, the priest, and the physician had arrived, I quickly briefed them on the situation and outlined our plan.
"Hmm... If Her Imperial Highness is being held hostage, we must deploy a wide-area sleep spell."
At that, I asked just to be absolutely sure. "I thought magic was strictly forbidden and suppressed within the palace grounds?"
The court mage shook his head. "Not quite. With a specific authorized artifact, one can channel magic freely."
I nodded. It made sense. Knowing the sheer utility of magic, there would be no point in employing court mages if they were completely barred from using it inside the palace. Besides, I had seen Deviang cast spells here before.
"If I maintain the wide-area sleep spell for five minutes, even a Sword Master would have no choice but to succumb to sleep. I will dispel it afterward, so you may send in your soldiers then."
I nodded. "Understood."
The mage extended his palm toward the dark stairwell and began to channel his magic. I watched as a soft, ethereal glow emanated from his hand.
"I sense the mana signatures of two individuals inside."
"Is one of them Her Imperial Highness?" I asked urgently, but the mage replied with a hesitant shrug.
"I cannot say for certain. But we will know soon enough."
After a short while, the mage lowered his hand and turned to me. "You may enter now."
At the court mage's word, I gave the order to the commander. "Search the area immediately."
At my command, the commander deployed soldiers armed with short swords, spears, and axes.
"General... it is dangerous, so please remain here."
I nodded. Then, turning to the trembling kitchen staff, I said, "If... we rescue the Princess, I will personally petition Her Majesty the Empress for a full pardon for all of you."
The chefs looked immensely relieved. Please... let her be in there. I waited anxiously, my heart hammering against my ribs.
Before long, the heavy, rhythmic clanking of armored footsteps echoed from the stairwell.
In the arms of the lead soldier was a beautiful, grey-haired young woman. Seeing her—with tear stains and a runny nose, as if she had cried herself to exhaustion before falling asleep—a wave of profound relief washed over me.
"Her Imperial Highness!"
At the sight, the court mage, physician, and priest rushed forward to examine Princess Joy.
"Fortunately, she appears to be merely asleep."
"Inform Her Majesty the Empress of this immediately."
As I spoke, a man dressed in black with his face covered was dragged out from behind by the soldiers.
"Is that the assassin?" I asked.
The soldiers nodded. "Yes, sir. He fell asleep while holding Her Imperial Highness hostage, so we dragged him out."
I scowled and ordered, "Send this bastard to the torture chamber immediately. Tell the interrogators to extract the identity of his mastermind, no matter what it takes!"
The soldiers nodded and hauled the man away.
How long had I been staring at Deviang as he lay in bed, his face pale and asleep?
"Theodora, get some sleep."
At my mother's words—her own complexion looking none too well—I shook my head.
"No, I am fine. You should rest instead, Mother. Joy will surely be safe."
General Agrippa, whom Deviang always trusted and praised. If it was him, he would bring her back. I didn't have much faith in Agrippa himself, but I believed in Deviang. And since the subordinate Deviang trusted most had personally gone to rescue her, I chose to believe in Agrippa.
I tried to reassure my mother, but she shook her head, her voice trembling with worry.
"Joy... When I think of what that young child might be going through right now, I tremble so much I cannot sleep. If anything happens to her as well... I won't be able to face my late husband in the afterlife."
As I tried to comfort my mother, whose voice was thick with sorrow—
Knock, knock.
At the sound of someone knocking on the door, both my mother and I turned our heads.
"Who is it?" my mother called out.
A man's voice answered from the other side. "General Agrippa and Princess Joy have arrived."
At those words, I answered in a hurry. "Bring them in at once!"
Creak.
As the door opened, revealing Agrippa and Joy cradled in a soldier's arms, my mother and I rushed forward.
"Joy?" Seeing her lying so still and silent, I turned to Agrippa. "What happened?"
Agrippa replied, "Since Her Imperial Highness was being held hostage, we utilized a wide-area sleep spell. She will wake up shortly. The doctor examined her just to be safe and confirmed there are no issues, so you may put your mind at ease."
As my mother checked Joy's face and body, she took Agrippa's hands in hers, tears welling in her eyes. "Ah... thank you. Thank you so much."
Agrippa waved his hands in embarrassment. "Your Imperial Majesty, please speak comfortably to me. I am merely a vassal of the Grand Duke."
My mother shook her head. "No. How could I speak casually to the savior who brought my precious daughter back safely? Before I am the Empress Dowager, I am a mother."
With those words, she held his hands tightly and bowed her head. "Thank you. Thank you truly."
"No, please... there are still imperial laws and protocols..."
Seeing Agrippa shifting his gaze toward me, practically begging for rescue from the awkward situation, I spoke up.
"Mother. General Agrippa is feeling quite awkward. Please, that is enough."
At my words, my mother reluctantly let go of his hands, looking apologetic. "My apologies, General. I was simply so overwhelmed with gratitude..."
Agrippa bowed slightly. "Think nothing of it, Your Imperial Majesty. I merely followed the Grand Duke's orders."
"I understand that you are also a long-time friend of my husband, General Agrippa."
"I have served His Grace for a long time, yes..."
"Though I am the Empress, I know the virtues of a wife. I know what it means when a husband, in a moment of mortal peril, entrusts his very life—his seal—to someone."
Truthfully, I had been deeply shocked when I saw Deviang entrust his seal to Agrippa. Deep down, when he had stopped me from taking the seal, I thought he trusted me... but he didn't. Or perhaps, because it concerned the affairs of the Grand Duchy, he simply wished to prevent my intervention entirely.
At my words, Agrippa asked with a solemn expression, "How is His Grace's condition?"
"He has entered a stable phase, but I was told it will take quite some time for him to wake."
I knew that poison derived from magic stones was exceptionally dangerous. The poison had seeped into his bones, and they said he would require surgery in a few days...
Agrippa's face hardened. "Is it... a situation that cannot be resolved with potions?"
"The assassin coated his dagger with a poison made from magic stones... They say once his stamina recovers in a few days, he will likely have to undergo surgery."
Agrippa bit his lip. "Sigh... At the very least, we have captured one of the assassins."
The assassin... "Where is he?" I asked.
"He is in the torture chamber," Agrippa replied.
"I will go and see the bastard's face myself."
Agrippa shook his head. "The torture chamber is