“There are various traps and tricks everywhere in the royal palace. This is also one of those. I will show the trick this time because it is a necessity.”Those were Leticia’s words.After arriving at the destination, she pulled a book from the bookcase placed in the wall and pushed the protruding part that was hidden behind it.Then, the bookshelf opened like a door.“Now, shall we go?”Leticia walked in without hesitation, and started going down the dark stairs leading to the basement.“There are many royal people in the country history who have done things in the dark. They used this crevice in the wall to avoid the public’s eye and went to an inaccessible place where people could not get close to. The place we’re headed to right now is exactly that type of place. “We exited the aisle and went straight ahead.And at the end of the not-so-long road, there was a staircase leading up again.“Please push the third big stone from the right upwards”We climbed the stairs, but it was a dead end. Only a door remained in front.Rudy changed places with Leticia, and opened the door as instructed.As soon as the door was opened, light came in from above.When Rudy passed through the door, there was a narrow stone space.There are only solid doors and long spirals that seem to be at that spot.“Now, let’s climb the stairs a little more”Leticia takes the lead again and starts climbing the stairs.“Maybe …… is this a tower?”I reached the middle of the staircase and opened my mouth.“Yes, yes. This is a tower to imprison a high-ranking person that commits a crime. And considering the original use, I think there is another door to access it other than the official entrance. But …… well, as I mentioned earlier, I guess some royals used it for shadowy purposes.”Leticia said so, laughing hard.Her complexion is slightly fatigued from climbing the long staircase.When we reached the top of the stairs, there was a small space.That small room was divided into two spaces……The three of us gathered together and looked at the scene.The room first half of the space was covered with a wall that let us see the other side while we remain hidden behind it, and the other half was an inner room surrounded by a grid.And there was Yuri Noir inside the grid…… in the dark, sitting on the ground.“.…… Leticia, this is ……”Rudy asked in a low voice without concealing his confusion. Leticia put a forefinger in front of her mouth, signaling him to not speak.As we silently watched from behind the wall for a while, the room suddenly became quite noisy.And a person appeared together with the noise. It was Edward, who should have been confined in another prison.“Yuri! I came to help you!”She dimly looks at him that is approaching the grid with a voice of love and hate.“.…… how did you come here?”On the other hand, Yuri asked him without emotion.“This person has freed me. …… You too, are free from now on.”A well-dressed man stood behind Edward.I and Rudy opened our eyes at the sight of the familiar man.The second prince was not directly involved in the case, so he received a light punishment by the Supreme Court.And behind them were the two knights who should guard the entrance of the tower.“Stop.”She looked down to Edward, who squatted down to open the grid, and said so in a cold voice.Edward, who has already opened the door, looks up to her astonished.“What’s up? Yuri. There is nothing to be afraid of. After fleeing from here, we can hide some time and prepare a comeback. We’ll take back the throne. “She smiled, but her expression was not clear.Rather she laughed as if drowning in sorrow.“You don’t know? He’s not willing to help me anymore,”“You may not believe it right away, but it’s possible to take back the throne Yuri. First of all, let’s leave here ……”“If I leave here, I will be killed in a second. By him and his companions. To maintain the secret.”“Yuri, that’s not true! They are the people who helped us. Anyway, let’s get out. Believe me.”“They need you. Because you still have a use for them. The only way they can regain the power is to sit you on the throne, but I am useless now. I am in their way now.Ah……I wonder if I can’t escape my fate as the woman who has a blood relationship with the Twil’s country…… I wonder if I never will be able to be only a woman named Yuri.If you sit on the throne, I’ll lose all value for them, because they won’t be able to send their daughters to your side if I’m there.”“Yuri. That’s entirely wrong. By all means …… please let’s go”“Yuri, the only moment to escape is now. I’m hoping to remove some important officials from Prince Alfred’s hands, because we need to erase them before I sit on the throne.”Yuri laughed and said in a clear tone.“.…… First of all, there is no need for me to help the people of this country, including you, because this country is nearing its end, and there are others who can help me too.”The man who followed Edward screamed of fear at the words she said laughingly.” Prince Edward!! You wanted to help her, because she’s your beloved one, but …… still she is connected to the Twil’s country. She deserves this. She must not be the person at your side.”“No, don’t say that…… Yes, she’s in such dire situation, but that’s not her fault. She has spoken like that only because she’s emotionally unstable now. Yuri, I guess that’s your decision? Even if we protect you from anyone who tries to harm you, you’ll not come with us……Yuri responds nothing to Edward’s question.She just returned a cold look.“Edward-sama! You are being deceived. Although you originally could have taken the throne without having to pass through such a situation as the present one, everything came to be like this because this person was a traitor of the country. It will be a matter of time before she destroys you. Please wake up now. “The moment Edward’s entourage said that, one of the knights behind him drew a sword and was approaching her.Another knight holds Edward down so he can’t rescue her.But in front of this situation she was just looking quietly with dimly cold eyes.“Stop!”The moment the sword reaches her …… Edward shook off the knight’s hand and broke in between the sword and her…… It was at that moment.That with a dull sound, Edward was pierced by the sword.Quietness dominates the field as if time had stopped.The knight who was holding the sword became so unsettled and his hands shivered so much that he eventually let go of the sword.The sound of the fall to the ground of the knight’s body and the sword resonates.And at the same time, Edward, painted in red fell on the spot.She saw the red blood flowing from his body with surprise, but at the next moment he smiled and returned the look up at Yuri.“.…… Yuri ……”Edward, even when he fell, reached out to be at her side.At this sight, the light returns to her eyes, which had been dimly lit up until now.“Why …… why did you come to me?”She asks shouting.“For you too, I am nothing more than luggage! Like them, I’m a tool for you too …… You’re also a noble? So why ??!!”At that question he smiled while blood flowed from his mouth.“.…… I promised, did I not?”“I will always protect you from harms way……” He smiled warmly while speaking softly to her.In the first place, she would not fall into such a situation if it were not that Edward came with them …… but still.Still, he was the only one who really wanted to protect her.