CH 29

“No one shall move. Knowing that we’ve noticed may make things worse. I’ll call Belson first.”

“Since they’re skilled enough to break through the magic barrier, by the time the soldiers arrive they would have fled already.”

When the emperor was about to call for Belson, Davan answered while raising a glass of water.

On the surface, they looked as if they were having a normal conversation, and their expressions did not change at all.

As expected, crazy people are different.

I had to admire it again when I saw it.

“What’s the point of having two of the best swordmaster in the empire if I can’t use them when I need them?”

The emperor muttered with a dissatisfied face.

“…?”

“Your Majesty.”

At the same time, Davan and Cadel’s expressions turned bewildered.

“It is Your Majesty who prevented us from carrying a sword in the Phantom Palace.”

“When I entered the palace, I was stripped of my sword.”

Did the ‘two swordmasters’ pointed out by the emperor earlier meant Davan and Cadel?

As expected of the male characters, they were great men, but as the emperor said, they were useless when needed.

“You guys didn’t know how to bend the rules a little bit. In case of an emergency like this, who will protect me?”

“Then, if you summon my sword now, I would gladly fight back.”

At Cadel’s suggestion, the emperor clicked his tongue as if he had heard something he shouldn’t hear.

“That’s no good. The Phantom Palace I’ve worked so hard to make will be destroyed.”

“So, Your Majesty wants a show of loyalty with our bare hands?”

Davan responded with a confused expression on his face.

“Why, of course. I believe in your loyalty.”

“…”

At the stern words of the emperor, Cadel turned away.

Davan, leaning back in his chair with his arms folded, looked grim.

As I stared at them, I suddenly had doubts.

‘Am I really among the male leads?’

The more I thought about it, the more strange it was.

Originally, when Ollina and the male leads were together, only heart-fluttering moments occurred…

All I did when I came to this place was to fight Cadel, fight Davan, and survive the emperor.

As if those were not enough, now I have to fight an unknown intruder.

My words just came out of nowhere.

“Your Majesty, we are responsible for the future of our empire.”

“Anyone who hears you right now will think that there is quite a difference in age between you and I.”

[T/N: The emperor is saying if Leah is implying he’s  childish]

There were still no signs of nervousness.

“It’s only been less than 10 years since I graduated from the academy.”

In particular, the emperor was too calm even though an intruder came into his precious Phantom Palace.

There are three male characters, but none of them are helpful…

As my eyes narrowed, Boom—! A dull sound was heard.

“…”

The three pairs of eyes that were bickering with each other were raised at the same time.

“I’ll go for a look for now. After that, can you guys finish yourself? There are three decent men here, after all.”

After sitting quietly, I got up. The sharp heels flashed as I took off my high heels and held them in my hands.

“What are you going to do?”

Davan asked, frowning.

‘Hmm.’

After lightly ignoring his words, I roughly estimated my distance from the target.

The heel was so sharp that it was difficult to walk, so I thought I’d use it like this.

“What do you mean what am I going to do? Of course we have to go and take a look first.”

I stretched out my arms and thought that I was lucky enough to come in a dress with light sleeves.

As I was swinging my arms, Davan sprang to his feet.

“Leah Prezis, are you out of your mind…!”

Whiiing!

The high heels I’ve been carrying flew through the air.

The red jewel embedded in the side line flashed like a flame.

The expressions of the three useless men changed differently from each other…

At that moment, the high heels fell towards the exact target.

“Ugh!”

A heavy moan leaked from the bushes, and the leaves shook.

It hit the mark again.

***

“…”

Cadel’s gaze followed the high heels that had flown into the bushes.

“Leah Prezis.”

Davan, who had not been shaken by any provocations so far, got up from his seat.

“Ugh!”

At the final scream, the air thumped and shook.

It seemed that the intruder, who had a clear understanding of the internal geography, had escaped by opening the barrier.

‘There is no way to catch them.’

As if thinking so, Cadel immediately turned away.

Since the other party had entered the Phantom Palace, it meant that there was a traitor or intruder inside.

It was also highly likely that it was among the emperor’s closest entourage.

‘But what’s more surprising than that is…’

In this situation, it was Davan and Leah that Cadel was paying close attention to.

“Are you insane…!”

Davan, whose face was distorted, said to Leah.

He gritted his teeth, as if he was trying to hold back something.

‘This is an unexpected profit.’

At that moment, Cadel doubted whether the person in front of him was Davan Khajans.

The Davan that Cadel knew was famous for not being emotionally swayed by anything.

“…”

Cardel’s turquoise eyes darkened.

The Khajans imperial family is said to have inherited the divinity of the supreme god Odin, and among them, the person who was called Odin’s wolf, was Davan.

The reign of Olvan Khajans, which was the most prosperous period in the history of the empire, was succeeded by the 2nd Prince and the current emperor, Fven Khajans.

Originally, according to God’s will, the throne should have returned to the 4th Prince, Davan Khajans.

Because it was Davan Khajans who was praised by all as the wolf of the supreme god of war, who chewed and swallowed every corpse on the battlefield.

‘However…”

Cadel smiled softly, recalling a story everyone already knew, even though everyone tried to keep it down.

When Cadel saw today’s Davan, he suddenly wondered.

‘Is it the intruder or the woman who broke Davan’s composure?’

Cadel’s gaze shifted toward the woman with a small face.

[T/N: Having a small face is considered beautiful for Korean people]

‘Leah Prezis.’

Cadel didn’t dislike this mysterious situation.

It even seemed interesting.

I can’t believe there’s someone who can destroy Davan Khajans’ reasoning.

That alone was a great harvest for Cadel.

More than anything else, he had also discovered someone who shook his composure.

‘This is fun.’

He was sincere. It was really fun.

Leah Prezis, whom Cadel was familiar with, was not like that.

She was the woman who has been rumored to be abandoned someday, a foolish villainess, and a miserable one at that…

Cadel felt once again that he was greedy.

In order to get his target, he could be cruel to the bottom or infinitely warm.

That’s how he got everything so far.

The Vernon Duchy, fame and wealth, trust and reputation.

That was the reason why he became tenacious whenever I hunted.

Because the barely-running things stimulated Cadel’s desire.

But of course he’s never been greedy for anyone.

Because people were always interchangeable and only a means.

However, he was greedy for the woman.

It wasn’t an impulsive feeling from heterosexual love.

It’s kind of like watching a goose that lays golden eggs in an instant.

‘Or perhaps a rabbit?’

Cadel’s serene gaze scanned Leah’s face.

Her pink hair, white skin, and above all, those round cheeks looked just like a rabbit.

Come to think of it, she seems to resemble a white rabbit running away from my gun on the hunting grounds.

How fast the little thing runs…

I’m greedy.

“Why don’t you grab a hold! You miss them right in front of your eyes. You can’t just sit there and do nothing.”

“You, what the hell…”

Cadel stared at the two quietly.

Leah’s gaze, looking at Davan, did not contain any love, not even anything like it.

Rather, Davan’s eyes facing Leah were even more unstable.

This was a completely different development from the rumors he was aware of.

‘I’ll have to catch all the bastards who have been spreading rumors like that and kill them.’

Because this meant that all plans had to be completely revised.

Cadel eventually had to take a sip of the wine.

It was bitter enough to make the tip of the tongue numb, but it was also sweet enough that it was regrettable.

It was exactly what Cadel was feeling right now.

He felt very sick because all the plans had been twisted, but on the other hand, he found it strangely interesting.

‘Let’s change the target.’

Cadel turned the glass bottle slightly. The dark red wine swayed from below, drawing a whirlwind.

Cadel never rushed to the top from the beginning.

Rather, he was the one who touched the lowest point to make the highest point shake.

— I think the people of the region will feel most secure when you, and not the court, protect the South.

“…Ha.”

The amethyst eyes that looked straight into his eyes came to mind.

How dare you…

But contrary to expectations, Cadel burst into laughter.

He’s already got a headache from thinking about where to start planning again.

‘More than I thought…’

Cadel’s eyes, which had been as stiff as if wearing a mask, became impatient for a moment.

‘This is going to be an interesting problem.’