I focused on the Mashitabvas’ expressions.

The younger brother signaled his elder. Seizing the moment, I hurled a grappling rope toward Dalia.

Whoosh!

The elder Mashitabva blocked it with his sword—but then—

Bang!

“Did you think it was nonlethal?”

I’d already tested those reflexes during the battle at Astra Manor. There was no way those brothers would guard Dalia and let a simple restraint tool land on her.

“Cough! Gah! Cough, cough!”

Dalia began hacking madly. Of course—my tool was rigged with a pepper bomb.

“Now’s our chance!”

At my shout, ropes sprang from every direction. The Mashitabvas flinched, but it was futile.

“Ugh—!”

Pepper stung noses and eyes; who could see properly? Meanwhile, our soldiers swiftly bound Dalia.

“Eek—cough!”

They dragged her toward me. Just as I grabbed her collar—

The Mashitabvas charged at me.

“They really love her, don’t they?”

Even with their airways set aflame by pepper, they moved with astonishing speed.

“If you even scratch my lady, I’ll tear you in two!” the younger Mashitabva yelled, veins bulging as a strange energy spread over him.

In that instant, the hooded figure leapt in front of them. “If you dare touch my lady’s child, you’ll never die peacefully.”

Clang—!

The younger Mashitabva’s sword clashed sharply with the hooded one’s blade. The elder Mashitabva’s strike pierced the hooded one’s side—but he sprang up, kicking the elder hard in the chest.

Thunk!

The elder Mashitabva lost balance and sank to his knees. The younger brother’s eyes flashed as he raised his sword again, but the hooded man arched his back to dodge, bolstering his muscles with aura.

“Such a pity. If it’s aura, I can wield it quite well myself.”

I blinked and enthusiastically applauded. “Ten points! A perfect ten!”

The Mashitabvas snarled in frustration and charged again.

“You—!”

Wham!

The hood fell back as he ducked and punched the younger brother squarely. “Child.”

I cheered, “Jeanne, ten points—!!”

Wind whipped off the hood, revealing beautiful sapphire hair streaming behind her. Time had only made her more powerful—the Empire’s greatest knight.

It was the moment my pride, the woman I respected most in the world, Jeanne, etched her name on another page of my life.

Regripping her sword, Jeanne spoke: “Erilot’s Royal Guard.”

At her command, countless hooded figures appeared around her—my personal protectors. With arrogant eyes, Jeanne declared: “Open hostilities.”

Ah, how I loved Jeanne. My heart swelled with adoring halos as I gazed at my coolest knight in the world.

Neither the Mashitabvas nor Grimie’s soldiers could withstand the Guard.

Of course not. Only the elite from the Igritz boy soldiers and the finest of my father’s direct troops were chosen—the Wall of Daimond’s {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Jurisdiction, trained by Jeanne herself to oppose the Veil.

“Are you the one who dared harm my lady’s cheek?”

Moscow—a soldier Han Ji-hyuk feared most—now served in the Guard. “A mere beastfolk...”

“Yes, it’s more fun if you fight back a little.”

Moscow grinned and advanced with heavy steps. As he neared the younger Mashitabva, his skin toughened and spikes jutted out. This was the Blessing , gained through cruel experiments as a tribal slave—his fists as hard as stone, felling countless foes.

I whispered to Jeanne, “When I move in, hold them. Our goal isn’t total annihilation, understand?”

“Of course.”

Jeanne smiled warmly and smoothed the folds of my gown. “My proud lady, remember that even the slightest wound pains a mother’s heart.”

“Right.”

I hugged Jeanne tightly, then turned my face toward the Mashitabvas and dragged the corners of my eyes down before flicking out my tongue at them.

“You...!”

Excited, the younger brother fumed—but I just chuckled and said, “That’s right, I’m trying to rile you up. Farewell~!”

I grasped Dalia’s hair at the nape and activated the Movement’s Blessing Stone.

“You’ll never haul the Mongma away! Your Blessing Stone can’t bear that weight—”

“Has Daimond’s Jurisdiction Development Bureau been idle, then?”

“What?”

“Farewell!”

“Name—!”

Their screams of rage followed me, but I disappeared in a flash.

When I opened my eyes, we were elsewhere. The Mongma lay unconscious at my side, and Dalia squawked miserably.

“You can’t leave me!”

“Quiet.”

I pressed her head down and strode forward. My plan had gone off schedule and I hadn’t checked in.

‘Is this the right place? Is our contact here?’

Just then—

“You’re late.”

Dalia and I turned as the woman leaning against the wall crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

“Sister Sebastia.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Sister Sebastia studied the stricken Mongma, then looked at Dalia.

“Lady Sebastia—!”

Dalia hurriedly stood and gazed at her. “I really admired you in the Lily Garden.”

“...”

“I even wondered how lovely it would be if you were truly my sister.”

“...”

“You’ve always been kind and excellent... right?”

Dalia glanced at the hovering relay talisman, signaling to Sebastia. To her, those words meant, ‘If the Central Royal Guards help one person, it’s unfair.’

Of course Dalia didn’t mean it that way—she meant, ‘Will you keep tormenting me in front of everyone?’

Sebastia raised an eyebrow. “I suppose you didn’t hear.”

“Huh?”

“What the gossipmongers say about House Viferi.”

“...?”

I smiled. ‘Those who built power with nary a decorum to spare.’

Sebastia bowed. “If it’s a contest in subtlety, I’m no slouch.”

“N-No, it’s not that! I don’t want to fight—”

“And as of today, I’ve resigned from the Central Royal Guard.”

“...What?”

Traditionally, the Royal Guard was for minors. Sebastia had long since come of age. Yet with the Empire in upheaval, they couldn’t remove her—there was always the risk of partisan backlash.

‘Indeed, like the old Citizen Bureau, policy provoking nobles would spark revolt.’

So she’d only nominally held her position, ready to yield to rising talent at any moment.

“And besides—”

Light flared from beneath her feet. The Mongma convulsed as its relay talisman exploded.

“No mere relay talisman, living only days, could withstand my true Blessing.”