Silin glared at the palace servants.

Those who were whispering quickly avoided her gaze and hurried away.

If they had seen such a sight under normal circumstances, they would have been cowering flat on the ground, trembling.

They wouldn’t have dared meet eyes...

“What the hell is this?”

Was it because of what happened during the 5-on-5 open battle?

Is that why they’re treating me with such contempt?

Silin clenched her teeth.

“I won’t let this go.”

She moved quickly.

She needed to meet her father urgently and resolve today’s matter.

Everywhere she walked, she felt eyes on her.

“That’s right. In the Outer Palace... His Majesty... hmm.”

“A check on the other Wonhwa as well... Even the previous Western Wonhwa’s sudden retirement...”

“Even before becoming Wonhwa... yes, it’s outrageous.”

At the entrance to the imperial palace, guards blocked her way.

“You may not enter.”

“I’m not here to see His Majesty. I want to see my father—”

“We apologize.”

While struggling with the guards, harsh gazes continued to fall upon her.

Whispered voices did not cease.

“The Southern Wonhwa was ordered to—”

“Good heavens.”

“The Western Wonhwa is pitiful... yes, stealing admiring gazes away, how detestable... unbelievable...”

Unable to endure any longer, Silin shouted,

“Enough with your babbling—!!”

At her shout, palace servants stepped forward.

A middle-aged attendant frowned.

“Disturbances in front of the Imperial Palace are unacceptable, Wonhwa.”

“I—”

“It’s after sunset. Please leave the palace.”

“I want to meet my father and leave together! Why block me without even a word?!”

“Wonhwa.”

“Shut their mouths—!! How dare they utter such words before me!!”

Silin clenched her sleeve tightly and shouted as if screaming.

“What is this chaos!”

Others came out from inside the palace.

They were elders of the Central Tower.

The one shouting was Marquis Noklang.

Behind them, nobles who had been waiting approached.

“What on earth is happening?”

“Who dares to cause a disturbance before the Imperial Palace?”

All wore displeased expressions.

Silin flinched and lowered her shoulders.

“It’s not that... but the palace servants were rude...”

“No matter the rudeness, who dares raise their voice before the Imperial Palace?”

“M-my lord...”

Marquis Noklang, who always treated her kindly with a gentle smile after she became Wonhwa, now looked at her with a face full of anger.

Those who used to call her ‘Wonhwa’ or ‘Young Lady’ while rubbing their palms had all changed in an instant.

Minor nobles who hid behind their mothers’ skirts twisted their mouths.

“Those bastards...”

Silin gritted her teeth and bowed her head.

“I apologize if I caused offense. But I only intended, as a Wonhwa, to discipline the palace servants’ misconduct—”

That was when someone snickered.

“Excuses are always so convenient.”

Then the noble children behind burst into giggles.

“She’ll claim bringing intruders into the Outer Palace was to protect His Majesty.”

“Maybe she’ll say it was to discipline other Wonhwa’s misbehavior.”

“Not even a sincere excuse.”

“Does she even know what sincerity is? The one who used to play princess games in the central army.”

Silin’s face flushed as if about to burst.

The thin-lipped Sarimun child glared at the noble children.

“No more disrespect will be tolerated, Young Lady.”

“Is telling the truth also disrespectful? By the way, why did you bring intruders into the Outer Palace?”

“I was dazed from blessing damage. I apparently rambled delusions, so please don’t misunderstand.”

No sooner had she said that than bursts of laughter broke out.

The noblewomen covered their mouths as they laughed, and the men twisted their lips in disbelief.

The children giggled and looked at each other.

A noble boy said,

“The Western Wonhwa’s words are correct.”

“Huh?”

“They said she’d make that excuse.”

“...!”

The nobles whispered with laughter.

“Anyway, that Western Wonhwa is clever.”

“Which is why the Central Wonhwa, driven by jealousy, dared bring intruders into the Outer Palace.”

“What about isolating her from the social circles by using other Wonhwa?”

Silin took a deep breath.

“Erilot Astra. That cunning one...!”

She glared at the noble children.

“Do you really believe that? You’ve known me longer.”

“Knowing you longer only makes it more disappointing.”

“Don’t misunderstand. I...”

At that moment, all the nobles’ gazes suddenly shifted toward the Imperial Palace.

Through the gate, the stiff-faced Duke Chateaubriand was coming out.

Only then did Silin’s expression relax.

One child gave the nobles one more glare and hurried toward her father.

“Father, we need to talk. The Western Wonhwa did strange things to me.”

“Shut your mouth.”

“...Father?”

Duke Chateaubriand passed by without even looking at his daughter.

As the duke walked silently, Marquis Noklang shouted,

“Don’t think you can rely on His Majesty’s mercy again this time.”

“...”

“I will never forgive the duke’s interference with the Emperor’s guards. You know my nature. Even as this old body breaks, I will cling and bite.”

“...”

Silin looked coldly at the nobles, then tensely turned her gaze to her father.

“Father...”

“Didn’t I tell you to shut up—!”

“...!”

“Come with me separately.”

“W-what...?”

Duke Chateaubriand left first, and the nobles dispersed.

Groups gathered here and there, talking about today’s events until they vanished.

“So what will happen, Father?”

“Chateaubriand’s side is in big trouble. His Majesty has turned his back on helping, and Duke Astra is furious over his granddaughter’s affairs...”

“Father, please calm down.”

“Calm down?! How can I calm down when the Emperor’s guards are in such a state! Call a veterans’ meeting!”

“Please...”

“What will happen to Silin Chateaubriand now?”

“That’s not the problem. If the children deceived by that reckless liar make a mistake against the Western Wonhwa, then even we...”

Silin was like a completely abandoned seagull.

Palace servants watching her snickered quietly.

“This... must be handled.”

If it’s handled, she can return to her previous position.

“Didn’t Marquis Noklang say he’d call a veterans’ meeting?”

The veterans’ meeting is a gathering of past grand generals.

They still held great influence in the Emperor’s guards.

Especially the current grand general, trusted by the veterans, whose word none could override.

“If they investigate the guards now...”

If she were to be chased from the Wonhwa seat in this condition, it would be the end.

She needed to quickly discipline the Wonhwa and soldiers.

Silin hurriedly ran to the torch-lit palace.

She planned to check the documents in her office but heard voices in the greenhouse.

“The Wonhwa are still here.”

Good.

She wondered if they’d refuse to meet, but now she could talk with them.

Silin entered the greenhouse.

Eastern army Wonhwa Sebastia and Southern and Northern Wonhwa were seated around the table.

The Southern Wonhwa stood up at once upon seeing Silin.

“I will be going now.”

“Rika!”

Silin quickly grabbed the Southern Wonhwa’s arm.

“Don’t go. Let’s talk.”

“Is there anything to discuss?”

“Marquis Noklang has called a veterans’ meeting. Judging by the situation, the Wonhwa troops will be investigated. They probably want to push me out.”

“So?”

“I’m not the only one in trouble.”

Silin looked awkwardly at the Southern Wonhwa.

“Rika, you also received my help, didn’t you? And Northern Wonhwa as well.”

“...”

“Who do you think helped you win the Southern Wonhwa preliminary match? This will be a big problem if it gets out.”

“...”

“So please discipline the troops. Say there were no problems with me. That the strange one was the Western Wonhwa and thus unreliable... Rika, Benya, Sebastia...”

“...”

“We got along well, right? Remember how kind we were before the Western Wonhwa came?”

“That’s ridiculous.”

The Southern Wonhwa laughed bitterly.

Then roughly pushed Silin away, shouting,

“Discipline? The soldiers have already gone into the investigation room—!”

“What, what did you say?”

“You confessed with your own mouth, so the investigation can only be quick! Did you think Astra would give time to discipline the troops?!”

“That... can’t be...”

“As soon as Miss Astra woke up, she immediately blocked the Wonhwa troops’ entry and started the investigation—!!”

Silin’s face turned pale.

“So that’s why people...”

Now she understood why they had looked at her with such harsh gazes.

They already knew she’d be chased from the Wonhwa seat.

The Southern Wonhwa looked at Silin, tears streaming.

“What will you do now?”

“...What?”

“The Outer Palace guard that day was the Southern and Central armies! Because of you, I ended up helping bring intruders in too! Even though I didn’t know—!!”

The Southern Wonhwa sobbed and shook Silin’s shoulders.

“What will you do now? If you’re kicked out of the Wonhwa... then I’ll...!”

“It’s not my fault. This is all, all Erilot Astra’s fault.”

“You’re the one—!”

This time the Northern Wonhwa shouted.

The Northern Wonhwa was also sniffling.

“I—there was no problem, but I took what you gave me... I just thought it was for the Northern troops...”

“...”

“My father was furious. If this gets to my sister’s ears, I’m dead... sniff...!”

The Southern Wonhwa kept yelling.

“Take responsibility! Tell your proud father and take responsibility!”

“What will you do now? Waaah...! My sister will kill me...!!”

Sebastia, arms crossed, sighed.

Then she stood.

Silin flinched and looked at Sebastia.

“W-where are you going?”

“I’m not involved with the three of you. If you want to discuss it, do it yourselves.”

“Is it okay to just leave like this?! No loyalty?”

“Should I be loyal to a criminal?”

Sebastia looked at Silin with disbelief and walked away.

Just as she was about to leave, she looked back.

“Though there’s no loyalty to a criminal, if the Southern and Northern Wonhwa are gone, it will be difficult to lead the Wonhwa troops.”

“So...!”

“W-will you help?”

The Southern and Northern Wonhwa brightened.

Sebastia said,

“If you want to live, what are you waiting for?”

“Huh?”

“What...”

“Who do you think holds the key to this matter?”

The Southern and Northern Wonhwa looked at each other.

They both took a deep breath at the same time.

Then they hurried off running.

“Wh-where did you say Erilot was?”

“Well... since Duke and Count Astra are having a private audience with His Majesty the Emperor, she probably hasn’t left yet...”

“The ward! The ward!”

“Ah! Let’s go together!”

Silin shouted after the two who were running off like madmen, leaving her behind.

“You’re leaving me?! How can you do this! After everything we’ve been through...!”

The two didn’t even listen and ran toward Erilot.

Sebastia smiled faintly and said,

“I don’t think I’ll see you again, so here’s some advice.”

“...I don’t need it.”

“Why? You like advice.”

“You...”

“Tomorrow, the world will be turned upside down. Wouldn’t it be better to leave before then?”

“...”

“If you can leave, that is.”

Sebastia exited the room.

The waiting Eastern army’s senior general bowed his head.

He looked inside and asked,

“What will you do now?”

“Well... I guess to see clearly?”

“See clearly?”

“Erilot seems about to seize control of the Wonhwa troops.”

“Haven’t you already made her your adopted sister?”

Sebastia chuckled softly and hummed,

“Prepare a get-well gift for Erilot. A rose would be nice.”

“A rose from Astra, then.”

“The darker the black rose, the better.”

“Yes.”

Sebastia snickered.

“This is getting interesting.”

Jowik Chateaubriand is in that hand.

Probably from the start, they had planned to investigate the Wonhwa troops and brought Jowik—who has much influence in the Central Army—to the Western troops.

“She’s clever.”

Because she’s so smart, she will never let this go easily.

The world will change.

And Sebastia’s prediction came true.

The next day, the world turned upside down.

I arrived early at the imperial palace.

Han Ji-hyuk looked at me with a worried expression.

“You’re still not well, but you insist on doing this today?”

“Quick and decisive. The point is to give the opponent no time to prepare.”

“Impressive, really.”

Han Ji-hyuk shook his head.

I smiled once and then dropped to my knees in front of the imperial palace.

“Your Majesty! I, Erilot Astra, 23rd descendant of Astra and eldest daughter of Daymond Astra, humbly request an audience─!”

Palace servants rushed over, flustered.

“How dare you, Wonhwa. Stand up.”

No, this is not the time to stand up.

I closed my eyes and shook my head with a determined expression.

“This is something I must do.”

“But—”

“I apologize for the disturbance, but will you give me a chance to speak to His Majesty?”

“That is—”

I gently pulled away the servant’s hand and shouted again.

“Give the Central Wonhwa a chance!”

It was natural for people to be dumbfounded.

To ask for a chance for the one who tried to kill me.

Even I thought it was ridiculous.

“W-what...!”

People were confused and at a loss, and I bowed my head again.

“I made a mistake, but I believe my loyalty to His Majesty is sincere. Your Majesty, please forgive Silin!”

“...”

“Your Majesty, please forgive Silin Chateaubriand, the Central Wonhwa!”

“...”

“Please give the Wonhwa a chance to prove their loyalty!”

As I shouted this, everyone looked at me with moved faces.

Though inwardly I was scheming.

“I’ll make it so they don’t strike at the pro-Emperor faction. So you know whose hand to take.”

Daymond Astra.

My father is here.

“But if you truly forgive Silin, you’ll die.”

It’s all an act.

You guessed it too, right?

I’m just giving the pro-Emperor faction a chance to escape. Hmm?

“Your Majesty...!”

“You, child...”

The Emperor muttered as he stepped forward.

The Empress Dowager accompanied him.

She took my hand and helped me up, saying,

“How can you navigate such a harsh world with such a kind heart?”