A Curious Omission
Kyle had been swamped lately.
The upcoming Imperial Festival was to blame.
Who would have guessed that the grand annual event, held to pray for the Empire’s peace and prosperity, would fall right after he became commander?
“…Commander. Here is the eastern corridor guard deployment chart.”
“…Ah, yes. Just leave it there.”
“And this is the list of VIP seating access personnel. This one is the external envoy movement plan.”
“…Yes, yes. Put them all there.”
I could only nod blankly at the mountain of documents piling up before me.
…Had the Imperial Festival always required this much work?
The Emperor, the imperial family, ministers, and envoys from every nation.
All the Empire’s most prominent figures gathered in one place. Security was no simple matter.
Where to station personnel, who to seat where.
If anything went wrong, the responsibility would fall squarely on me.
“…Haa.”
A sigh escaped me.
…This had never been my dream.
A quiet countryside, a small restaurant, leisurely simmering soup.
That had been the entirety of my modest aspirations.
Yet somehow I had ended up as the Imperial Guard commander, shouldering the entire security of this massive imperial event.
‘…I want to run away.’
The thought rose with sudden intensity.
Maybe I should just throw these papers aside and vault over the palace walls right now, fleeing to some distant village.
…No. That was impossible.
If I left now, the entire event would descend into chaos. Instead of escaping, I would likely be wanted across the entire Empire and dragged back in chains.
‘…Fine. Whatever. Let’s just clear this mountain first.’
With a resigned expression, I buried my face back in the documents.
…How much time had passed like that?
While checking the guard deployment charts one by one, I suddenly tilted my head at a particular spot.
…Huh? That’s strange.
The small passageway right behind the VIP platform where the imperial family would sit on the day of the festival had, for some reason, been left out of the guard deployment.
…I had personally ordered personnel to be stationed there just a few days ago. Who had changed it?
I narrowed my eyes and stared at the chart for a long while.
…Well, it might simply have been an oversight by the person in charge. With so much work, it was possible a few spots had been missed.
…Still, something about it left me uneasy.
‘…This feels off.’
…But what could possibly go wrong at a single event?
Once the festival ended without incident, I could go back to plotting my escape.
So I brushed the unease aside.
= = = = =
Finally, the day of the Imperial Festival arrived.
The vast Grand Plaza of the Imperial Palace was packed from early morning.
Colorful flags fluttered in the wind, and golden drapes adorned the platforms set up throughout. A dazzling procession of nobles and envoys from across the Empire stretched endlessly.
In the middle of it all, I moved busily.
“…Eastern deployment, any issues? What about the western side… and the envoy routes?”
The position of security chief allowed no room for complacency. I constantly checked the guard status while patrolling the plaza.
While I was in the thick of it, a familiar voice called from behind.
“Commander.”
I turned to find Celine standing there.
“…Ah, Vice-commander. Perfect timing.”
“I have finished inspecting the western security. No abnormalities.”
“…Well done. Then let’s check the central area once more together.”
Celine and I walked side by side toward the center of the plaza.
…Having her nearby was reassuring. She had been the previous commander, after all. When it came to security, she was far more meticulous than I was.
“…About the passageway behind that platform. I noticed a few days ago that the guards were missing, so I assigned new personnel.”
“…Ah, that spot had been bothering me as well. Excellent work, Commander.”
So she had noticed it too. I nodded with quiet relief.
We continued walking through the plaza, discussing various security matters.
…Then it happened.
“His Imperial Majesty the Emperor arrives——!”
A booming cry sent a ripple through the crowd.
The Emperor slowly appeared on the central platform. The imperial family followed one by one, taking their seats. Crown Prince Octavian, and beside him…
…Without realizing it, my gaze stopped on one person.
Victoria.
Clad in a crimson gown, she looked even more regal and graceful than usual. Seated among the imperial family, she truly resembled a blooming red rose.
But then.
…Huh?
Victoria’s eyes were fixed in this direction.
More precisely, she was quietly, intently looking back and forth between me and Celine standing beside me.
…There was something strange about that gaze.
Neither angry nor smiling, it was an indescribable look. Under that silent stare, I felt an inexplicable chill.
‘…Uh, this feels ominous.’
I swallowed dryly without meaning to.
…Whenever that princess looked at me like that, something unusual always followed.
She hadn’t misunderstood me being with Celine again, had she? She wasn’t about to rush over like she did at the market and start calling me “darling” in front of everyone…
…No. This was the middle of the Imperial Festival, with everyone watching. Even Victoria wouldn’t cause such a scene here.
‘…Yeah. It’ll be fine. I’m just worrying for nothing.’
I tried to shake off the ominous feeling.
…Yet that cold sensation that had crept down my spine refused to fade.
= = = = =
Victoria could not take her eyes off the man in the plaza below.
…Kyle.
Even as he hurried about directing security, he looked so dependable no matter how many times she saw him. A faint smile unconsciously tugged at her lips.
…However.
The moment she noticed the other person standing right beside him, Victoria’s expression hardened instantly.
…Celine von Frostheim.
That silver-haired woman was once again clinging to Kyle’s side. Chatting amiably, walking together through the plaza.
…Even from afar, the two of them looked so intimate and affectionate.
‘…Th-that…’
Victoria’s hands clutched the hem of her gown tightly.
…Last time, she had forced herself to look the other way. After all, as commander and vice-commander, they had countless reasons to be together.
It was merely a professional relationship. Telling herself that, she had pretended to be magnanimous and turned a blind eye.
…But.
…But what was this?
Professional? Walking shoulder to shoulder, sharing warm smiles?
Who could possibly call that mere duty?
…She could no longer stand by and watch.
‘…This will not do. I must act myself.’
Victoria’s red eyes gleamed coldly.
She had to separate that scheming woman from Kyle’s side somehow.
She could not remain seated, watching the two of them grow closer.
‘…Yes. I’ll make up some excuse.’
Victoria leaned toward the Emperor seated beside her. With the face of an adorable youngest daughter, she spoke softly.
“…Father. May I be excused for a moment? I have an urgent matter to attend to.”
“…Hmm? In the middle of such an important occasion, where could you possibly be going?”
“…Hoho. It will only take a moment. I shall return before the main event begins.”
Before the Emperor could stop her, Victoria rose gracefully from her seat.
…Behind that elegant smile lurked a sharp, blade-like rivalry. The good-natured Emperor failed to notice.
‘…Wait for me, Kyle. And you, Celine von Frostheim…’
Victoria lifted her skirt slightly and began descending the platform, her heels clicking with each step.
= = = = =
…Victoria’s figure leaving her seat was visible.
Octavian glanced sideways at his younger sister’s retreating back, feigning indifference.
…He did not care where she was going. What mattered was that the time had finally come.
‘…Hoo. It’s finally beginning.’
A faint smile played on Octavian’s lips.
…For this Imperial Festival, he had made secret arrangements.
He had not done anything as foolish as dirtying his own hands. He had merely left a tiny hole in one corner of the security net.
…Of course, that man was not so easily fooled.
The passageway behind the platform that Octavian had deliberately left unguarded—Kyle had already noticed the gap and filled it with guards. New Imperial Guards now stood at the entrance.
‘…Huhu. Not bad.’
Yet the smile on Octavian’s face only deepened.
…Fool. That passageway had only been a decoy.
While the man was distracted by the obvious bait, Octavian had already created a real opening elsewhere—one no one would notice.
…Where that opening was, or what might slip through it, even Octavian did not know exactly. But that was enough. That was the beauty of this plan.
At an event where everyone gathered, there were always those lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity.
Whether they bore grudges against the Empire or sought a quick profit, if a gap appeared, something would inevitably slip through.
‘…Nothing was done by my own hand. There was merely a slight lapse in attention.’
Even if something happened, the blame would never reach him.
All responsibility would fall on the one overseeing security. On that so-called “Emperor’s Sword.”
…Octavian looked down at Kyle, who was bustling about the distant plaza.
Yes. Let’s see.
Just how pathetically that man’s supposedly flawless security would crumble before the eyes of the entire world.
…Watching his hard-earned reputation sink into the mud, and the man kneeling pale-faced before the Emperor’s wrath.
‘…Huhu. Yes. Struggle all you like.’
Octavian leaned back in his chair, wearing a satisfied expression as he leisurely awaited the chaos about to unfold.