The sunlight was falling.

  Caitel looked serious while watching the young emperor before him. Even if he was a rising emperor, he was nothing but a firefly compared to the sun, a sun just like Caitel, who stood tall for years.

  He was an opponent that Caitel could bring down if he wanted to, but he didn’t. Not because he disliked the cheeky new one of Pretzia, it’s just that one reason wasn’t enough to trample on a new emperor. Besides, Caitel had lost interest in Pretzia when the past Emperor’s neck fell.

  “Well, looking forward to the coming days, I will take my leave.”


  Crimson red eyes full of hostility stared into Caitel.

  To be honest, those eyes seemed similar, but Caitel didn’t want to teach the young emperor who didn’t know about life anything. Caitel smiled and turned around.

  Again and again, Ferdel greeted the young emperor on Caitel’s behalf.

  “I want the peace we promised today to continue till tomorrow. I wish you a peaceful journey.”


  Ferdel should just tell them to hurry up and leave.

  It was annoying, but Caitel was patient.

  It was because he wanted to send that arrogant and annoying child back to his own country without delay.

  A scandal with his daughter.

  He could feel the urge in his chest to twist the throat of the young emperor. He didn’t intend to accept marriage proposals from anyone, but he felt like the person intending to ask for his daughter’s hand should be dignified enough to ask Caitel.

  He would give his daughter to a man who would put the entire world under his feet, but to a guy who couldn’t even conquer a star?

  “I once again thank Your Majesty and Agrigient for the hospitality you’ve shown. I will take my leave now.”


  A woman whom no one recognized was the one doing the greeting and bowing.

  Layla. No, was she called something else?

  Caitel had seen her hanging out with Ria at times; he could see the nervousness on her face.

  She would always pretend to be calm, but she was worried that Caitel would harm her. Of course, if something happened, she would have been stuck here, but Caitel wasn’t the kind to fall for such women.

  “Well then.”


  Pretzia bid farewell.

  At last, the burdensome tasks ended. When the convoy of the Pretzia started, Caitel turned back.

  Rather than that, he had an important thing to do. He had to see how his daughter was doing and comfort her; he wanted to be with her once they all left.

  It was only in the evening, after the sunset, that Caitel appeared at Fulgor palace. It was time for dinner. Since his daughter always felt good after having a meal, he wanted to use this time to entertain her.

  The only thing which greeted the emperor was the empty room without its owner.

  “.…… where is my daughter?”


  An ominous feeling. Whenever Caitel had that feeling, he knew something terrible was about to happen.

  At that question, the maids in Fulgor palace began to tremble. They knew Caitel wouldn’t let ordinary lives as theirs see the light of tomorrow. However, they couldn’t answer the emperor.

  “Is she bathing? Gone out for a walk?”


  He asked, thinking they would spit out an answer, but the maids didn’t utter a single word. Looking at the poor maids who were shivering because of him, Caitel took a heavy breath.

  He took a deep breath and exhaled just as heavily to calm himself.

  However, that didn’t seem to have any effect. Eventually, Caitel did what he did best.

  “Kyah!”


  “Your Majesty!”


  Shrieks were coming out of the room with objects shattering. Caitel threw anything his hand could grasp to the wall or the ground till Caitel decided to stop.

  “Your Majesty!”


  While all the other maids ran, Serira approached him. In Caitel’s mind, he wanted to cut off her tongue since it always spoke the right words, but his reasoning would overwhelm his impulses.

  “Where did my daughter do, you maid?”


  He had a gut feeling, but he had to confirm.

  There were Two Winter Moon Knights and guards attached to her, but those incompetent knights let her go. When they returned to Solay, he thought of firing them. Caitel looked away.

  Seriria responded slowly.

  “The princess isn’t in the palace.”


  “Where did she go?”


  Serira stiffened at Caitel’s question.

  Shiiing.

  Once she said that, Caitel’s sword touched Serira’s throat. If she spoke a lie, he meant to cut her down, but Serira’s expressions were calm as always, as if she knew about this situation.

  And Caitel hated that.

  “She went out of the palace.”


  “Kyaah!”


  A scream erupted from the maids who heard the answer. And Caitel cut Serira’s hair slightly. He didn’t intend to cut her down; he wanted her to fear him.

  Caitel raised his hand and called for the attendants who followed him.

  “All those who work in this palace will be executed.”


  What he had asked them to do was to protect his daughter, not take their eyes off her.

  The attendants were shocked at Caitel’s outburst. No, no matter what wrong they did, to execute Princess Ariadna’s maids was extreme. However, it was an order from the king.

  Once done ordering them, Caitel turned back, not feeling an ounce of regret.

  Until Serira called for him.

  “Your Majesty.”


  He would typically ignore it, but since she was a woman who once saved him, he turned back. She took something out of her hand and showed it to Caitel.

  Caitel took the piece of paper with an unpleasant expression. When he opened it, he saw that familiar handwriting.

  ‘Your Majesty, this girl is inadequate and wants to taste the evil sweetness of the outside air. There, she is trying to leave and see the beautiful world with her own eyes.

  ‘If Your Majesty understands, then I assume you realize why the girl had to leave secretly instead of telling you because you would catch her.

  ‘Your Daughter.’


  ‘PS. If the people in my palace quit, get sick, or killed, I won’t return. Don’t put them in jail! If you do, I will hate you! I won’t even talk to you ever again!’


  “.……”


  What was he reading?

  When he looked up, Serira was looking at Caitel. Maybe she didn’t know what was in it. He wanted to rip her heart out, but the letter clearly said not to hurt the maids.

  Shit.

  “.…… no need for an execution.”


  The maids, who were crouching and awaiting their eventual death, raised their heads in surprise. And Caitel turned away.

  However, he wasn’t backing down.

  “Close down the capital and block all borders.”


  Fardel, who would hear the order, might think Caitel went mad, but it didn’t matter. The only thing which mattered was to get his daughter back as soon as possible.

  Seeing that Assisi was nowhere to be found, he must have Ria, which made him feel at ease.

  “Go and bring the twins and Graecito.”


  “Yes, Your Majesty.”


  The attendants sighed as a new order had been made.