‘It’s highly likely.’

‘Hera Leviza was a Veil too.’

I was so surprised when she came with the Guardians.

“Lady Leviza, why are you with the Mashitabbarogu...?”

“I am also a Guardian.”

“What did you say?”

“I regret having to reveal my identity to you like this....”

The Veils were more widespread throughout the Empire than I’d imagined.

‘I must find out more.’

If it becomes known I am the Messiah, I will become the enemy of every power-holder in the world, just as Dahlia warned.

“Um, miss....”

Betty blinked and stared at me.

“Yes?”

“Shall I give you the flowers again?”

She looked as if she’d take them back gladly.

I looked coldly at the bouquet.

“No.”

Although I needed to understand every corner of the Veils to control them, I still hated the sight of them.

The Empire was in upheaval.

The Emperor’s collapse.

The saint’s appearance.

The Regency decision.

Each was an event that would cause tremendous changes.

Incidents that would affect not only Kalsoye and the Empire, but the entire continent, indeed the whole world.

Perhaps because of this, many foreign dignitaries came to the Empire.

“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Aligiosa approaches!”

“The procession of Prince Cesare of Shueliz Kingdom advances.”

“Prince Mercedes of Raontra, Princess Veloster enters.”

“From the German Kingdom, the carriage of Crown Prince Christopher is arriving.”

...It was enormous.

I stood before the large window of the inner palace, watching them pour in.

“It seems all the princes and kings of the Solar Congress have arrived.”

Sebastia, rifling through documents at a table, replied with a sour face.

“I hate going to the Solar Congress every year, and it’s even more annoying to see them here in the palace.”

The General of the Central Army cleared his throat, “General Wonhwa, please maintain decorum. A single mistake before these dignitaries will cost you your head.”

‘I wish it would just fly off, damn it.’

“Wonhwa....”

“Do you know how many times I’ve been reinstated? Let me rest for once!”

Sebastia slammed her fountain pen down and returned to the position of Central Wonhwa.

With the Emperor still unconscious and no confirmed Central Wonhwa in place, things were already urgent—and there was no one left to promote.

In the end, the Grand General himself fetched Sebastia back to her post.

When I chuckled, she glared gloomily at me. “What’s so funny? This is a sad situation. I can’t even get married.”

“Do you want to?”

Wasn’t she a staunch non-marrier?

Sebastia placed her pen down with a thud and said, “It’s all because of our damned family customs.”

“The Biferi family’s damned customs?”

“Kuh-huh-hum! Ahem! Don’t call it damned....”

Despite the General’s stifled cough threatening to tear his voice, she went on.

“Unmarried women can’t enter the Great Congress. It’s the rule. It’s so damned.”

“That’s true. A rule so damned it’s absurd.”

“Kuh-hem! Cough! Cough, hack, cough!”

“You have to enter the Congress to be considered for succession. Damn it.”

Sebastia clicked her tongue and looked at the General. “Hey.”

“Y-yes, Wonhwa....”

The General, looking like he might die, stared at Sebastia. “What are you doing next week?”

“I will be escorting the dignitaries, naturally. Why do you ask?”

“If you have time, let’s register our marriage.”

“Wha—?!”

His eyes nearly popped out. After blinking as if disbelieving, his face flamed red.

“W-what, w-what on earth are y-you saying—!”

“Just lend me your name.”

“Do not mock me—!”

He shouted and stormed out, his face bright crimson.

Sebastia let out a snicker. “Joking is fun. If nothing else, think of it as part of his charm.”

I laughed. “Stop teasing him.”

“No, it’s genuine.”

She shrugged, then linked her fingers and rested her chin on her hands. “What about you?”

“Me?”

“It’s about time you got married. Your cousins are marrying off too.”

“Well....”

“When Salvatore proposed, why didn’t you just say yes?”

“....”

She smiled wryly and continued. “He’s not lacking in any respect—handsome, capable. If His Majesty the Emperor never wakes, he’ll be Emperor.”

“Maybe you’re right....”

“Of course. That’s why the dignitaries came in person—to see the Empire’s future, right?”

Indeed.

The main reason dignitaries came to the Empire was Salvatore.

To see what the future Emperor intended.

Sebastia crossed her legs. “As your sworn sister, let me advise you... give up on Prince Alexis.”

“What?”

“The moment the Regency was decided, Salvatore won. If you insist on Alexis, you and the Astras will be in danger.”

“W-why... Alexis... with me!”

She choked on her words and her voice cracked. Her face reddened, then she turned away, giggling. “You’re cuter than my General.”

“I—I don’t know what misunderstanding you—”

“Judging by how weird you sound, it’s no misunderstanding.”

I had nothing to say and swallowed hard.

Sebastia’s laughter faded and she grew serious. “Nobody who doesn’t know about you and Prince Alexis. Everyone knows you even fought Salvatore for him.”

“...”

“So just give up. If not Salvatore, choose another man.”

“Salvatore will target me to keep Alexis in check, right?”

“Yes.”

“If ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) His Majesty the Emperor wakes, the situation could reverse.”

Sebastia laughed. “Why talk so innocently?”

“...”

“You know that the moment Salvatore became Regent, His Majesty’s fate was sealed.”

“...”

“Even if I were Salvatore, I wouldn’t let the Emperor wake. You feel the same, don’t you?”

She was right.

The Emperor was unlikely to awaken. Indeed, it was almost impossible now—Salvatore would never allow it.

Sebastia propped her chin on her hand again. “The only way Prince Alexis survives is by marrying into the Raontra royal family.”

“What?”

I blinked, and Sebastia tilted her head. “What, you didn’t know?”

“Know what?”

“That cousin of yours, Dahlia.”

“Yes.”

“Her mother is Raontra royalty?”

“...What?!”

“That’s why the Empress pushed her marriage to Salvatore so hard.”

That made no sense! Marie and Masa’s mother was a commoner.

So Grimie must have acquired her for secret experiments.

‘If she were Raontra royalty, would they have done such horrific experiments?!’

I glared at Sebastia. “Are you sure about that?”

“I heard it from the knight guarding the Empress—he was from the Central Army.”

I gasped. “Sister, I must go.”

“You said you’d be caught by the dignitaries if you went outside—so you were hiding in my office, weren’t you?”

“I have something to check.”

“Very well.”

I bowed and left Sebastia’s office.

As I stepped into the corridor, Han Jihyeok and Konrad, who had escorted me to the palace, followed.

I led them to a deserted spot—the site of the late Empress’s tomb, whom Michelan had loved.

Stopping there, I turned to Konrad and Han Jihyeok. “What is this about Dahlia being daughter of Eastern Empire royalty?”

“...Yes?”

“What does that mean...?”

They looked anxious.

“Why didn’t word reach me? Konrad Marsial, Han Jihyeok!”

My thunderous voice made them kneel swiftly. “My apologies, milady.” “Forgive us—we will confirm immediately.”

Since no rumors of Dahlia circulated below, these must be the highest-level power-brokers. But among them lies the Daimond Jurisdiction. Father is the heir to Astra’s red star lineage.

‘Still, if I didn’t hear anything... there’s only one possibility.’

I glared fiercely at them. “Our intel system is compromised. Find out where it went wrong and who blocked the information, at once.”

“Yes.” “Yes.”

They tightened their jaw in resolve.

News of Dahlia spread like wildfire.

Whether I was the saint or Salvatore the Regent, Dahlia’s status was the hottest topic.

Even two people in a corner would be talking about it.

“How on earth is her mother royalty? There are no Raontra princesses.”

“There is one—the Veloster Princess.”

...such talk.

Alexis.

Dahlia.

Princess Veloster.

Their names never stopped being spoken.

Princess Veloster was the daughter of a lowborn maid.

The Eastern Empire Raontra still had slavery.

If even one parent was a slave, the child was a slave.

Although her father was the Emperor, because her mother was a slave, she was legally a slave.

Thus, she could not be called a ‘princess.’ Her father conferred the title ‘Princess of the Palace’ instead.

Even the handmaidens whispered in hushed tones.

“Princess Veloster wasn’t recognized as royalty, was she?”

“But she’s the Emperor’s beloved child. If Dahlia is her daughter, we can’t touch her in fear of Raontra.”

When they saw me, they fell silent—knowing of my tense relationship with Alexis, no doubt.

“Oh... Lady Saint, you can’t court Prince Alexis because of your status....”

“Chosen by the gods, yet half-commoner....”

“So status still matters in the afterlife....”

Some pitied me with sympathetic tones.

I walked with impassive expression. Konrad shot the courtiers a fierce glare; they finally shut their mouths.

“Do not mind them.”

At his words I glanced at him. “Why?”

“That is....”

“A tragic heroine now, am I?”

“...”

“Enough. I don’t really care.”

Having garnered pity in my first life, I felt nothing now.

What concerned me was...

‘Sympathy can turn to blame.’

If Alexis rejects Dahlia, the arrows will turn on me: how can you let someone die whom you love?

‘With a villain, the counterpart becomes the hero.’

Soon it will be said: Dahlia, who loved Alexis, would marry him even knowing he loved his cousin.

She will be the tragic heroine now.

‘I barely turned public opinion to my side—this is troublesome.’

I whispered to Konrad. “Have you found where the intel breach occurred?”

“Yes... the Veils.”

“Veils?”

Stopping, Konrad sighed. “It seems they took hold of several intel captains’ families or lovers as hostages.”

Just then—

“Lady Erilot.”

A familiar voice I never wanted to hear now.

‘Duke Jermo.’

Next to him was Hera. Both were Guardians—the very culprits who ruined my intelligence network.

I glared icily at them.

Hera hurriedly said, “We heard. There’s trouble in your intelligence organization.”

“As expected, your information is fast and shameless.”

“....”

“To think traitors dared cut off the flow of intel from their master. They must be terrified.”

“....”

I stared down Duke Jermo and Hera, faces white with fear. “If I were them, I’d think the same: ‘If caught, we die—so let’s betray again.’”

“...After we released them, Grimie must have re-blocked the network.”

“Of course.”

I, thoroughly annoyed, walked past them and looked at Konrad. “Replace the captains first.”

“Yes.”

“How long until the system is restored?”

Konrad flinched, looking uneasy. “Please allow some time....”

“You will, of course!”

“Longer than you think.”

“Longer than five days?”

“...Five days is harsh. The Duke himself didn’t push me this hard.”

Konrad looked at me, dejected. I laughed and patted his shoulder. “I always appreciate you.”

“...Yes.”

“Truly. I can’t live without you, you know?”

“I know....”

As I departed with a light air, the shadows of the Guardians trailed in their gaze.

In the darkness, the Mashitabbarogu revealed themselves.

Hera, fixing her gaze on my back, asked, “Why do we stand hidden and not before her?”

“...She would hate to see me.”

The younger Mashitabbarogu spoke grimly.

Hera snorted a laugh. “That’s true enough.”

All the Guardians looked at Konrad, who stood cheerfully beside me.

Hera’s emotionless tone: “It should have been us in that place.”

“...”

“...”

“...”

Jealousy seemed about to consume the Mashitabbarogu and Duke Jermo. Their role was to support her, to clear the underbrush blocking her path.

Duke Jermo said, “Then this will be our last chance.”

“What do you mean?”

The elder Mashitabbarogu asked, and Duke Jermo’s chilly voice replied, “We will find Lady Erilot’s mother.”

The woman who had vanished from the world without a trace.