My Long-Awaited Chance... or a Deadly Trap?
No, how long had I been waiting for an opportunity like this? At last—finally—the very moment I had been waiting for had arrived. Thump. Thump. Thump. My steps toward the audience chamber felt lighter than ever before. I kept forcing down the corners of my mouth that kept trying to curl upward, maintaining the solemn expression befitting the loyal Vice Commander of the Imperial Guard.
...No, seriously, how long had it been? From the very day I transmigrated into this body, I had been watching for any chance to slip out of this imperial palace. The back gate, the stables, the supply wagons—anything. But that insane princess had an uncanny knack for popping up like a ghost at every turn, always grabbing me by the ankle. She threatened to cut off my legs, chased me through the middle of the market and acted like we were a married couple. The list went on.
But this time was different. This time, I had proper justification. And not just any justification—a perfect one, in the form of an imperial decree issued directly by His Majesty the Emperor himself.
I crossed the threshold into the audience chamber. As expected, the Crown Prince stood beside the throne. Octavian von Roseria. Normally that insect-like gaze of his would have twisted my stomach into knots... but today, for some reason, his face looked different.
“...You have come, Sir Lowenheim.”
Octavian looked down at me, the corner of his mouth twisting into a smirk. “I assume you have heard about the border. They say the subjugation forces were crushed three times. Really now, does this not call for the Emperor’s Sword to step forward personally?”
As he spoke, he wore a strangely satisfied smile. As if sending me far away brought him that much joy.
...It was obvious. To someone who knew the original story, his thoughts were completely transparent. What this man was plotting right now. He intended to temporarily remove the cumbersome ‘Emperor’s Sword’ from the palace so he could freely trample the youngest princess who had always been a thorn in his side.
That satisfied smile belonged to a man whose scheme had fallen perfectly into place.
Under normal circumstances, the moment I saw through it, rage would have ignited inside me. The audacity—to toy with both the princess and me in the palm of his hand.
...And yet. Strangely enough, instead of anger, I felt a quiet thrill rising within me.
Think about it. This guy was currently trying to send me out of this wretched imperial palace. Legally, too, complete with an imperial decree.
...Wasn’t this exactly the situation I had been longing for?
He wanted to get rid of me. I wanted to leave. Our interests couldn’t possibly align more perfectly.
‘...Your Highness. May your brilliant scheme succeed exactly as you wish. As for me, I’m raising both hands in wholehearted welcome.’
I nearly flashed a bright smile at that loathsome face.
He probably thought he had trapped me, but he couldn’t be more wrong. That very trap was the escape route I had been desperately searching for all this time.
What a marvelous case of mutual misunderstanding—each of us convinced we were using the other. A truly exquisite shared dream built on completely different intentions.
...His personality was rotten, but the Crown Prince’s head spun with unnecessary cleverness. At least for today, I wanted to offer that sly little brain of his my most sincere gratitude.
“Sir Lowenheim.”
The Emperor, seated upon the throne, called to me in a dignified voice. “A pack of Manticores has appeared at the border, inflicting severe harm upon the people. We have dispatched subjugation forces three times, yet all have failed... I therefore believe this is a matter that requires my sword to act.”
Oh.
“I command you. Lead the troops to the border and subjugate those demonic beasts.”
...Ohhh!
I barely stopped myself from pumping my fist in triumph, using every ounce of willpower I possessed.
Leading the army to the border for a subjugation mission...
...This meant I could legally leave the imperial palace, didn’t it?!
Fireworks exploded inside my head. The border was distant. Not just distant—extremely distant. I could take the army out, make a show of subjugating the beasts, and then... yes, quietly slip away. Whether I pretended to go missing during battle with the horde or rode across the border under cover of night, the moment I put distance between myself and the palace, that crazy princess’s reach would no longer matter.
‘Perfect! This is my chance to run awaaaay!!’
I cheered wildly inside while maintaining the most solemn, loyal expression possible. I dropped to one knee.
“...I humbly accept and shall carry out the imperial decree.”
I prayed His Majesty would mistake the pure joy bleeding into my voice for loyal devotion.
“Ohh, truly my sword! How reassuring you are!”
...Yes, please feel as reassured as you like. I’m getting the hell out of here.
With light steps, I left the audience chamber. I felt like humming a cheerful tune.
Finally. Finally, I was saying goodbye to this miserable imperial palace. The humble dream of opening a small countryside restaurant and spending my days simmering soup felt close enough to touch.
Right, time to pack my things and depart as quickly as possible—
“Sir Lowenheim.”
...Ah.
At that voice, I froze on the spot.
Gentle, affectionate, yet somehow chilling. A voice impossible to forget no matter how hard one tried.
When I slowly turned my head, there she was, as expected. Victoria stood at the end of the corridor, wearing an expression that suggested she had been waiting for me there from the very beginning.
“I heard you received the deployment order.”
She approached with graceful steps and smiled beautifully. “Manticores at the border... Please return safely. I shall pray for your good fortune, Sir Knight.”
“...I am deeply honored, Your Highness.”
I bowed my head with maximum politeness. Yes, just a courteous farewell. Wishing me luck was a kind thing to say. Well then, if that was all—
“—That being said.”
...Huh?
“Before you depart on campaign, I wish to prepare a meal for you myself.”
Victoria took one more step closer. Those red eyes gazed up at me intently, curving into gentle crescents.
“Tonight. May I visit your quarters? Before you leave, I will cook you a warm meal... with all my heart.”
In that instant, an icy chill shot straight down my spine.
‘A warm meal... with all my heart.’
...Why did those words sound completely different to my ears?
—Before you leave, I’ll feed you a bowl full of poison.
...That was what I heard.
I looked directly at Victoria’s face. The gently curved eyes. The soft smile. Yet deep within those red pupils, something sharp flickered with an intense light.
I knew that look. I recognized it. In the original story, it was the same expression she wore when offering the final bowl to Kyle Lowenheim—the first to die—while saying she wished him luck...
...No way. Was this that moment right now?!
Alarm bells screamed inside my skull.
‘...Wait. Hold on. Just a second.’
Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
In the original story I remembered, Victoria’s poisoning of me didn’t happen at this point. It came much later—when the rebellion had fully ripened and the decisive moment was at hand. Only then did she remove the greatest obstacle by offering me that poisoned bowl.
But now was far too early. The word “rebellion” hadn’t even begun to take shape. This was hasty. Almost premature.
‘...What is this? Why now? In the original, the princess definitely didn’t approach me this way at this time.’
My spine turned to ice.
Until now, I had believed I held the answer sheet called the original story. That I knew everything that would happen. That if I simply avoided the dangerous points, I could survive and escape.
...But that answer sheet was beginning to deviate.
‘...Did something change because I transmigrated? Or is there something I don’t know about...?’
I couldn’t tell. And that uncertainty terrified me far more than any threat to cut off my legs.
...But now was not the time to dwell on it. Whatever the reason, the conclusion remained the same.
‘That’s a trap...’
A farewell dinner on the eve of departure? Who knew what might be in that bowl!
Run. Right now. Make an excuse and get out of here!
“...Um, Your Highness.”
I barely managed to suppress the tremor in my voice. “I am truly honored, however... the preparations for the campaign are extremely urgent. I must organize the troops and depart without delay. Therefore, that... dinner—might we postpone it to the next opportunity—”
“—Oh my. Are you truly that busy?”
Victoria tilted her head slightly. Yet the moment those words left her lips, the air in the corridor froze like the depths of winter. Her beautifully curved red eyes narrowed, slowly scanning me from head to toe. As if asking, ‘You dare refuse my invitation?’
...Any ordinary subject would have felt their blood run cold and immediately stammered, “Ah, no, not at all!!” while accepting on the spot.
But with my life on the line, I met that threatening gaze head-on and answered in an even more solemn, resounding voice—practically a shout.
“Yes! I am extremely, tremendously, incredibly busy!”
And once I started talking, the excuses flowed like a rushing river.
“Consider this, Your Highness! Even at this very moment, a pack of Manticores is rampaging at the border! What manner of creatures are those ferocious beasts? They are truly abominable monsters that have annihilated three entire subjugation forces! When I think of the pitiful citizens groaning beneath their claws, I cannot delay for even a single second!”
“......”
“Even now, the people of the border must be shedding blood, sweat, and tears while awaiting my arrival! Those children! Those elders! Trembling in fear of the demonic beasts and desperately crying out—how could I possibly enjoy a leisurely dinner? As the Emperor’s Sword, that is something that can never, absolutely never, be permitted!”
...In reality, the border citizens probably couldn’t care less whether I showed up or not. What I was actually worried about wasn’t the people—it was my own neck. But what choice did I have? The grander the justification, the better.
“Therefore! For the sake of the people, for the empire, and for His Majesty’s grace! I must devote myself fully to the campaign preparations at once! So please... kindly postpone the dinner to the next opportunity!”
I poured out the entire speech in one breath and bowed deeply.
“With that, I shall take my leave! When I return—definitely! I will most certainly accept that meal then! ...Farewell!”
And then I ran.
Without looking back, I strode briskly across the corridor. Before she could say another word, I fled the scene.
I could feel a scorching gaze piercing my back, but I didn’t care. The moment I accepted that dinner, my life would end as “Corpse Number One, vomiting blood and collapsing.” I knew that fact all too well.