The Most Perfect Traitor
Leon, dispatched to Princess Lilliana on the orders of the Second Prince—the most perfect traitor—stood with bated breath, tracking every movement in the banquet hall. Serian Elhardt. She had blatantly kicked away the music stand. With that single 'mistake,' she had signaled to Leon that there were impure elements hiding in this banquet hall. So Leon had immediately ordered his subordinate to tail the suspicious musician. As a result, he had confirmed that the man was secretly making contact with 'Marquis Edan.' Two of them are confirmed. But the real problem was those champagne glasses dancing atop the servants' silver trays.
Right before the princess's speech began, he had seen it. Marquis Edan, who had contacted that musician earlier, approaching the imperial head sommelier and giving him instructions. The sommelier had then headed straight for the kitchen where the champagne was being prepared. There was no room for doubt. There's something in that drink.
Yet for some reason, Serian Elhardt—who seemed to see through everything—was now holding her own glass. As if she knew nothing at all. Could she really not know? No, that's impossible. There's no way she wouldn't know. Leon was confused. What was her true purpose?
Just then, a subtle shift in Serian's behavior caught his eye. She brought the glass right to her lips, then suddenly paused. She furrowed her brow slightly and made a small movement, as if bringing the glass to her nose to sniff its aroma.
Leon hesitated no longer. If kicking the music stand had been a signal meant for him, she must already know about him and the royal guard's presence. In that case, this action was surely a silent prompt for his next move. He quietly emerged from the shadows and approached Serian's side as if nothing had happened.
"...My lady, this is a toast for the empire's glory, yet your expression seems troubled."
He added in a voice only she could hear.
"Are you, perhaps, waiting for something?"
It was code. Do you know there's a problem with this drink? Why aren't you arresting them immediately? He wanted to confirm her real intentions.
Serian turned her head at the voice calling her. It was the expressionless servant who had come to fetch her earlier, claiming the princess was calling for her. Waiting for what? Oh, maybe he noticed my disappointed face when I didn't get any chocolate?
But the marquis had already mentioned preparing a celebratory drink. She didn't want to seem petty by bringing it up again. She simply smoothed out her frown—which had come from disliking the smell of alcohol—and answered as indifferently and elegantly as possible.
"No."
"It's fine now. Everyone has received their glasses."
She gestured with her chin toward the line of servants holding trays, which had now ended.
What... Everyone had their glasses, so it was okay?
"...!"
The meaning behind those words!
Leon realized it at once. She was telling him to identify the last remaining impure elements. The culprits wouldn't have poisoned the glasses they themselves intended to drink from. There was no need to cause a scene now. Once the banquet ended, they could collect all the used glasses, find the ones without poison, and the owner of that glass would be the culprit.
Unbelievable... This woman had turned the entire banquet hall into one giant trap.
Goosebumps rose across Leon's entire body. He no longer needed to hesitate. On the perfect board she had laid out, it was now his turn to dance with the sword.
Leon bowed deeply to Serian in respect—a silent signal that he understood her will. Then, without hesitation, he turned and vanished back into the shadows to issue new orders to his subordinates.
Serian grew anxious. She had succeeded in making the princess cry, but that was the end of it. Before she could deliver the decisive blow, the princess had stormed out on her own accord. Damn it, if you're going to cry, do it here...
Her plan to publicly humiliate her and overturn the board had gone awry. If the banquet ended like this, she would only be remembered as 'a hero who became slightly arrogant the moment she gained fame.' For her clear goal of 'dismissal,' this lukewarm reputation would never suffice. She needed an overwhelming, irreversible finishing blow that would be seared into everyone's minds.
At that moment, the princess cried out.
“For the glory of the empire, and for our new hero!”
As if on cue, everyone raised their glasses with cheers. It was the climax of the banquet; if they proceeded with the toast now, everything would end here.
...It's now or never.
Serian looked down at the champagne glass in her hand. The golden liquid sparkled like a jewel beneath the chandelier light. The glory of the empire. The symbol of victory. And everything she needed to shatter to pieces.
A cold smile formed at the corner of her lips.
Yes. The crazy bitch of this banquet hall is me.
It was time to crown the highlight of her plan.
Crash—!
The sharp sound of shattering swallowed both music and noise. The champagne glass Serian held exploded across the marble floor. Golden liquid and glass shards flew in every direction. The banquet hall froze instantly.
Facing the people rigid with shock, Serian spoke with an arrogant expression full of fury and contempt.
“Is this all a victory toast amounts to?”
“W-what is this...”
An old marquis's mouth fell open.
“Lady Elhardt! What is the meaning of this outrageous behavior!”
Panic and rage erupted from all sides. Yet Serian's heart was perfectly calm. It was done. There was no turning back. Smashing the toast during the celebratory speech personally hosted by the princess, at the exact moment all eyes were upon it—it was a perfect social death.
Hiding her satisfied smile, she pretended to be flustered.
“Oh dear, I'm sorry. The wine must have gone bad; there was a foul smell, so without realizing...”
Her brazen excuse was like pouring oil on a fire. The murmuring turned into open condemnation. This was the end. Her position as chief development officer and her fame as a hero—both gone.
“Enough—!”
A sharp voice rang out from the platform. It was Princess Lilliana. The shy, delicate girl from before had vanished. Her face was pale, her expression firm as if coldly suppressing rage.
“We will conclude the evening here.”
“Everyone, please return home.”
Bewilderment rippled through the nobles. Lilliana, who had always worn only a shy smile. The empire's little flower, who had never once raised her voice. None of them had ever seen her wear such a cold, resolute expression.
No one dared speak first. Eventually, an old marquis coughed awkwardly and rose. After offering the princess a light bow, he headed silently for the exit. That became the signal. One by one, the nobles began to leave the hall, murmuring among themselves.
In a corner of the banquet hall, hidden in the shadows, Leon unconsciously held his breath. ...A move I couldn't even imagine. His hand had already gripped the hilt of the sword concealed in his sleeve. He had already warned the princess beforehand not to drink the suspicious champagne. The original plan had been for him to step forward right before everyone drank and arrest every musician and servant on the spot.
But that would have turned the hall into a bloodbath. If the culprits, cornered, made one final desperate move, he could not guarantee the safety of Her Highness or the many nobles present. The best course was to let the enemies remain unaware their plan had been exposed and safely conclude the banquet.
Yet he could not allow everyone to drink from poisoned glasses either. There was no solution. No matter what he did, someone would be hurt. Just as he was about to halt the situation for lack of a proper method, Serian Elhardt moved. She shattered her glass, insulted the toast, and turned the banquet into chaos.
The wine must have gone bad; there was a foul smell...
That was impossible. Every dish and drink at an imperial banquet underwent strict inspection. She knew that as well as anyone. Therefore, it was a warning to everyone present.
This drink has gone bad, so do not drink it.
She had thrown away her social status, the fame she had built, and her title as hero—all in a single instant. A vicious yet perfect self-sacrifice to end the banquet without a single victim.
...I see. She noticed I had already warned Her Highness and arranged the board to match.
It had all been within her calculations. Leon shuddered with awe. To cast aside her social position and reputation like mere dust—she possesses the mindset of a true saint...!
While preventing anyone from drinking the poison, she had chosen to become the 'crazy bitch who ruined the banquet' so the culprits would believe their plan remained undiscovered. At the cost of destroying her own reputation, she sought to end this game without a single casualty.
......She is an extraordinary person.
Leon had no choice but to admit it. The hero of victory. The empire's flash of light. She had not grown arrogant from those glittering titles. It was the complete opposite. She had never cared about fame to begin with. She was someone who could set down everything she had built without hesitation if necessary.
The guests poured out like a receding tide. Before leaving, none forgot to cast Serian glances brimming with contempt and disgust. Receiving those cold stares with her whole body, Serian cheered inwardly.
Just then, Ian and Elise approached her. Their faces were etched with disappointment and pity.
“Why did you do that, Serian?”
Ian's voice was heavy. Serian simply shrugged and answered shortly.
“I just felt like it.”
At her icy reply, Elise could say nothing more and turned away. Only Ian lingered, gazing at her with sorrow-filled eyes, before quietly departing.
It was a perfect finish. Now everything was truly over. Just as she turned with a light heart, an imperial servant approached and bowed politely.
“My apologies for the delayed thanks, Lady Elhardt.”
He was one of Leon's men.
“Thanks to the time you bought us, all preparations are complete.”
“What...? What do you mean...”
“From now on, we will handle the rest.”
...Handle what, exactly?
Valerius left the banquet hall in utter confusion. Why? Why would his great revolutionary comrade, Serian Elhardt, commit such a sudden act? He desperately tried to decipher her intentions. Could she have betrayed them? No. That was impossible. She was surely seeing a far larger picture than he could.
Valerius forcefully cast aside the impious doubt. Yes, calm yourself. She... she would never do that. There had to be another reason. Some variable they had failed to grasp. Perhaps the assassination plan had been discovered beforehand, or there was a traitor inside their organization. She must have seen through it all—and by turning the banquet into chaos, she had signaled them to abort the operation while buying them time to escape.
To grant them a chance to flee by discarding even her social status, her fame, and her title as the empire's hero—knowing full well how perilous her own position would become. What a bold and sacrificial decision...!
He trembled once more at his comrade's greatness. In the midst of that chaos, he could slip away unnoticed and plan for the future.
He was just about to leave the central hall when a figure near the exit stopped him cold. It was that expressionless servant who had been hovering near the princess. Something was wrong. The servant, who should have remained humbly bowed, now stood tall, staring directly at him. The presence that had felt empty before now radiated the savage killing intent of a ferocious beast.
The servant's hand moved to his collar. Without hesitation, he ripped the garment open. The loose servant's attire fell limply aside, revealing the black iron armor hidden beneath. He was no servant. It was Leon, the shadow of the Second Prince and captain of the royal guard.
Leon drew his sword in silence. That was the signal.
Clang—!
A metallic roar shook the entire hall as the royal guards hidden everywhere drew their blades at once. In an instant, they had everyone in the hall surrounded.
"Seal all exits!"
Damn it—so it really was discovered. Valerius's steps halted abruptly. Yet he remained unperturbed. His perfect disguise could not be seen through by anyone. A few comrades might be captured, but they could never arrest every ally hidden among so many powerful figures. Once the commotion died down, he would be able to leave without issue.
But— This is impossible! What was happening? Screams rang out as comrades concealed among the crowd were subdued without resistance. The arrests were precise and unhesitating, as if they knew everything. This was betrayal. Someone among them must have sold them out.
As despair gripped him, the click of heels sounded from behind. Serian Elhardt was emerging from the banquet hall. Revolutionary comrade! A faint spark of hope lit in his eyes, as if he had seen a savior who could reverse this desperate situation.
At that moment—the imperial knight, the empire's loyal hound... approached her. Valerius held his breath. If he was going to act, now was the time. Yet the knight bowed his head to Serian Elhardt instead. The imperial knight. The empire's loyal hound. Why...?
C-could it be? Valerius's heart sank. His ominous premonition became reality.
Leon sheathed his sword and, before everyone's eyes, bowed deeply to her.
“Thanks to the young lady's great sacrifice, we were able to uproot the conspiracies threatening the empire. This grace, His Highness the Prince and I will never forget.”
Valerius reeled as if struck in the back of the head by a hammer. Sacrifice? The empire's dog was thanking that woman? While he stood there dazed, Serian merely looked bewildered, unable to grasp the situation—but to Valerius, every gesture looked like calculated performance. Behind that seemingly pure face hid a cold, cruel true visage.
This can't be...
Only then did he understand. Goosebumps erupted across his body. She was no spy from the Astra Empire! Using him as bait, she had crafted a vicious, perfect trap to draw out and annihilate every comrade hidden throughout the hall.
He and his allies had targeted the empire's heart, but she had protected that heart while planning to excise every cancerous cell parasitizing the empire. At Leon's gesture, the royal guards rushed forward and bound him.
Valerius, helplessly captured, glared at Serian with bloodshot eyes. The flawless plan years in the making. The noble cause of Salad's independence. To think it had been shattered— by nothing more than one little girl...
Yet Serian simply stood there, her face still pure and innocent, as if she knew nothing at all.