The Summons Called an Apology
The next morning, I dragged myself into the dining room with dark circles under my eyes after not sleeping a wink all night. The atmosphere at the table was heavier than it had ever been. At the head sat my eldest brother Carlyle, frowning deeply while holding a newspaper. Across from him was my second brother Cassian, viciously stabbing an innocent salad with his fork while stealing glances at me.
The loud explosion of a barrier from the direction of my bedroom balcony last night meant Cassian had clearly stayed up all night too. His usual sly playfulness was completely gone. Instead, his eyes were filled with pure brotherly concern that practically screamed, 'What on earth happened in our youngest sister's room? Was she hurt?'
Haah… Blood really is thicker than water. Even though he's a bad guy, he's still worrying about me like this. A corner of my heart ached as if pricked by thorns.
My brothers were desperately worried about me, yet if they knew that very object was hidden right under my mattress, what expressions would they make? If that thing really was decisive evidence of treason, would I end up dying at my brother's hands? Or would I have to turn him in myself?
But Cassian's inner thoughts were burning in a completely different direction from the 'treason' I was imagining.
Damn it, has the imperial family discovered that I've been secretly gathering funds to create a forbidden artifact?
Cassian hid his trembling hands under the table and bit his lip hard. He had never believed for a single moment that their father—the empire's strongest swordsman—and their mother, who had received the protection of the Goddess Lucetia, had died so futilely in a mere 'carriage accident' fourteen years ago.
Seven years old at the time, Cassian still remembered it clearly. The strange, chilling fog that had enveloped the three siblings right after the accident. From that day on, their memories had been subtly altered, as if by some agreement, leaving only the truth of that day cleverly erased.
The reason Cassian had risked everything, pouring enormous secret funds into the black market to create a 'memory restoration artifact,' was solely to recover the cruel truth lost on that day fourteen years ago. He had thought he was almost there… Now, the fear that his dangerous pursuit might have endangered his precious youngest sister left him choking on waves of guilt.
But to my eyes, my brother's restless behavior looked like something else entirely.
Cassian, don't tell me… you've already noticed I have that thing and that's why you're acting like this? Is that why you're pressuring me with such terrifying energy?
My suspicions multiplied endlessly.
“……Elly.”
Cassian's low, sunken voice broke the silence. He set down his fork and stared directly at me.
“Last night… you must have been very startled. I'm sorry. I should have paid more attention.”
His voice was thick with genuine remorse and trembling. But to my ears, even that apology sounded like a double-edged blade.
Was it 'I'm sorry my assassin scared you'? Or was it a silent threat meaning 'You should be the one apologizing for disrupting my plans'?
I swallowed dryly and barely managed to answer.
“It's okay, brother. Thanks to eldest brother's barrier, nothing happened. I'm really fine.”
I tried to smile as naturally as possible, but my hand was trembling faintly as it gripped the bowl of mushroom soup.
Noticing the tremor in my fingertips, Cassian clenched his fist tightly. Then, with a determined expression, he added,
“Don't worry. I'll make sure those vermin never come near you again. I'll… take care of everything. I'll make them pay the price for that day without fail.”
To Cassian, those words were a vow to avenge our parents and uncover the truth. But to my ears, they sounded like a chilling declaration: 'No matter what happens with the emperor, I will succeed in my rebellion.'
While exchanging looks full of deep affection for each other, our minds were writing completely different genres of scenarios. Cassian was crafting a desperate 'revenge tragedy,' while I was writing a 'spy thriller' to prevent our family's downfall.
Caught between guilt and fear, I couldn't even meet his eyes and was just stirring my cooling soup when eldest brother Carlyle's low, icy voice sliced through the dining room air.
“Cassian, that's enough. Can't you see your killing intent is preventing our youngest from eating?”
Only then did Carlyle fold his newspaper and turn his gaze toward us. The overwhelming pressure befitting the empire's strongest swordsman and the head of the Lucerne family instantly enveloped the table.
“And Elinoa. For the time being, refrain from going outside. I have already reported last night's incident directly to His Majesty. We will soon cooperate to uproot them completely.”
At the word 'cooperate,' I nearly dropped the spoon I was holding.
Eldest brother, that is exactly the path that leads me straight into the lion's den!
I called out to him desperately.
“No, brother! Didn't those men last night have the imperial crest on their collars? The imperial family was targeting us!”
Carlyle answered my question with cold eyes.
“They had the nerve to embroider the imperial sun emblem on their collars. But upon inspection, they were crudely made fakes. Someone is impersonating the imperial family to target our Lucerne. It's a despicable scheme to take you—the most vulnerable one—as a hostage.”
“……What? Impersonating?!”
Cassian's eyes widened like saucers. Seeing his dumbfounded face, the suspicion that 'it wasn't Cassian who sent them?' flashed through my mind for a split second.
But I was soon struck by an even greater shock.
It wasn't Cassian, and it wasn't the emperor either? Then who the hell was it? That boy from the shopping district? Or does this mean there's a third force targeting this silver cylinder?!
There was no time to feel relieved that it wasn't the emperor. The realization that some unknown, colossal mastermind was aiming directly at my life brought an even more horrific terror crashing down on me.
“Whoever it is, they've crossed the line. Starting today, I'll triple the mansion's barriers and replace all the escort knights with elites. I've also sent those 'icicle rats' to the imperial palace to inform His Majesty Carlyle of the seriousness of this situation.”
Our family's utterly deranged breakfast of shared delusions and misunderstandings continued like that, each of us nursing our own terrible headaches. A massive storm that would shake the entire empire was slowly casting its shadow over the quiet dining table of Lucerne.
[At that moment, in the Emperor's office]
“……So. The Duke of Lucerne personally sent these to me?”
Carlyle Lucerne, leaning languidly on his throne, turned his crimson eyes downward. On the finest marble floor lay three men, completely frozen and currently in the process of thawing.
Knight Commander Elik reported in a tense voice.
“Yes, Your Majesty. It appears someone impersonated the imperial family and targeted the Duke of Lucerne's residence—specifically the youngest lady's bedchamber. The Duke requests a thorough imperial investigation, stating that these rats had the audacity to steal Your Majesty's name.”
The corner of Carlyle's mouth twisted into a smirk. He rose from his seat and roughly yanked open the collar of one of the frozen men. There was the crudely embroidered imperial sun.
“Hah. My shadow? They dared to impersonate my name?”
Carlyle's red eyes flashed with deep irritation and intrigue. The audacity of those who would steal the name of the empire's ruler was impressive, but why was their target specifically the room of the Lucerne duke's daughter?
The room of the Lucerne duke's young lady…
Suddenly, the image of the dazzling platinum-haired woman he had encountered in the imperial garden a few days ago flashed through Carlyle's mind. A memory-erasing ability user and the Lucerne lady being targeted by impersonators. It was too strange to be mere coincidence.
“What a damn annoying situation. Have I been too merciful lately?”
Carlyle muttered lowly as he lightly kicked the head of one of the frozen fake assassins. It was a casual kick, yet the killing intent within it was so chilling it seemed to freeze the air in the office.
“Elik. You said this happened to Lucerne's youngest sister?”
“Yes, that is correct, Your Majesty.”
“Hmm……”
Carlyle's eyes narrowed as he stroked his chin. It seemed their little game of hide-and-seek had reached its end. The time had come to personally confirm the bold prey that had torn up his garden and fled.
Elinoa, having decided to stay confined to the mansion for the time being at her brother Carlyle's insistence, was enjoying a leisurely afternoon tea in the garden after sleeping in for the first time in a while. The fresh spring breeze had blown away all her recent troubles, and she was elegantly savoring the finest Darjeeling tea.
That was when the butler suddenly came running toward her, his face deathly pale.
“My lady! My lady! A letter bearing the imperial seal has arrived for you!”
Pffft—!
I spectacularly sprayed the tea I had been drinking like a fountain, then snatched the letter with trembling hands. It felt like opening a prophetic book that foretold the end of the world.
After taking a deep breath and carefully opening it, I found handwriting full of the emperor's characteristic arrogance scrawled across the page.
I wish to deliver my personal apology for the 'shadows of mine' that mistakenly visited your room last night.
Board the carriage waiting outside. Refusal is not an option.
It is an imperial command, after all.
Until then.
“……What kind of apology is this supposed to be?”
'Refusal is not an option'? This wasn't an invitation—it was a summons! No, it wasn't even a summons. It was a clear warrant sending me straight to a forced labor camp.
I lifted my head and looked up at the sky. The weather was disgustingly nice.
Damn it all.