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Things went just as Dane predicted. Upon hearing the news of the 7th Prince’s engagement, the emperor openly declared his disapproval. Officially, it was stated that the reason for his disapproval was because he did not have the heart to send his ‘cherished son’ to such a faraway place.

“Instead, the emperor had sworn to send massive amounts of aid to the desert kingdom.”

Fleon, who had been listening, frowned.

“That easily? Urgh.”

Still recovering from his wound, he gently rubbed his abdomen. Though he was not a templar, Fleon’s wound was quickly healing after receiving treatment from the clerics.

“The cleric instructed you not to move too roughly.”

“When did I move roughly?”

Rebecca responded candidly.

“Suddenly sitting up while lying down on a couch is what you can consider ‘rough’, my prince.”

“Ducal princess, I’m not some child so could you get this blanket away from me?”

“The cleric also said to keep you warm. You might have already forgotten but your head is very precious.”

Fleon couldn’t manage to refute her words and scrunched his nose. Their relationship seemed to have evolved beyond friendly terms and there was now a strange atmosphere around them. Looking at their direction as well, Penne spoke.

“He might be saying that he didn’t want to send his beloved prince to a potential warring zone but the fact that the emperor, who had been using the Crown Prince as his representative this whole time, acted immediately means…”

“So, you’re saying that I’m like an important person now?”

Subtly ignoring Dane’s gaze on him, Penne nodded.

“Yes, it seems so. In any case, the emperor is siding with the Royal Family, or at least the few remaining members of the Royal Family. That’s good news for you, Aha–I mean, princess.”

“What? Why don’t you just call me by my name?”

“Hm, I don’t think I should.”

Ahasia and Penne turning away from each other with their faces ablaze was a sight to see. I felt like a senior coming across some freshmen dating. No, my chest was feeling ticklish too. I wished I had someone around me to share these special spring-like feelings with.

“In other words, he is inadvertently helping Ahasia because he wants to trap Dane here, right?”

“Yes.”

The emperor could never let Dane go so easily. Dane had explained that it was because of the ‘scent’ he made. Now that I thought about it, rather than calling it a scent… it would be more fitting to call it something else but I didn’t voice my thoughts out loud.

“Ahasia, did you hear that?”

I said, looking straight at Ahasia.

“You bought some time.”

I promised I would help Ahasia but this was all I could do.

“I’m sure you know this too but this is not your victory yet. Your country will be able to get back on its feet thanks to the Empire but there might be a regency.”

Neither of us ended up dying.

“The help you receive now might be temporary and you might have ended up walking down a very difficult path.”

I heard that the 2nd Prince wanted Fleon and Dane on his side. I wasn’t sure about Dane but Fleon had the huge temple that was Vulcanus behind his back. Our original objective was to get the 2nd Prince to help Ahasia but the emperor had unexpectedly entered the picture as well.

“I know. I’m still grateful for you.”

Ahasia lowered her head slowly. Her elegance took everyone’s breath away.

“For allowing me to live my life.”

Ahasia looked relaxed. How could she remain so relaxed when all she had to her name was a failing country, a sick king and only a small number of subordinates still loyal to her? But she undoubtedly looked freer than back when I first met her.

“I wanted to sell myself so that I could save everyone.”

“I know.”

“But you made me realise that my life too was important.”

For a moment, I could see a mirage of myself standing behind her, staring at me too. I might have been feeling envious of her at that moment but I had no way to tell. Even though her situation was hopeless, I envied her for freeing herself from the chains that had been holding her down.

“Do you know why my kingdom became a silk exporter?”

“… I’m not sure?”

Ahasia fished out the necklace she had been carrying before displaying it on her palm. She then clasped it tightly before handing it over to me. I quickly grabbed onto her hand so that we were now holding the necklace together.

“As you may already know, the silkworms we use to make our silk and the mulberry leaves we use to feed them do not grow in the desert naturally. However, according to our legends, a god from your country had blessed us with a meadow, allowing us to make silk.”

The gemstone in the necklace held a mysterious purplish hue.

“This is the necklace that the god in the legends had gifted us as well.”

People might say it was just legend but I was sure it wasn’t. This was a fantasy world where divinity existed and meadows could grow in the middle of the desert.

“The Royal Family of Ra Harte can never break their oath to this treasure.”

Her story sounded plausible. But why was she telling me this now?

“I am not only thankful to you but your country. And with Ra Harte’s name on the line, I, Ahasia, swear to be your ally, my saviour. I will make sure to repay you.”

Ahasia murmured to herself, seemingly in reflection.

“I swear. I will stay by your side.”

Seeing her so certain of her decision felt unfamiliar. The character that should have died according to the original novel was now telling the person she was supposed to kill that she was forever in her favour. Was this how the story was supposed to proceed? I didn’t think the original story was supposed to flow this way? If this wasn’t how it was supposed to go, did an original story even exist?

“Alright.”

It was about time I found out the truth. It was strange but I somehow always knew it would end up like this. It must have been my honed sixth sense speaking. But I had a feeling I was going to find out soon.

“This is farewell, Ahasia.”

I said my goodbyes.

“May all your wishes come to fruition.”

She had been like another me.

A few days later, the desert princess returned to her kingdom. She returned with an ambassador sent by the Empire and that ambassador’s name was Penne. He had been appointed with the support of the 2nd Prince and the aedile. This was also a farewell to Penne, the patrol that had been so kind and nice to me, whom I won’t be seeing for a long time.

***

Deep within the night, under a sky without a moon. The stars in the sky obscured by dark clouds reminded me of a black empty parchment.

Alone Dane stood as he looked up at the sky. His surroundings might have been dark but it wasn’t unfamiliar. He had been more used to the night than the day. It was only around this dark and quiet time of the day could his people work without burden so the night felt as natural as breathing to him.

Just then, Dane lifted his head and jumped back.

Bam, bam bam!

Daggers stuck out of the ground he had just been standing in. Dane glanced at the daggers before pivoting and unsheathing his sword. A gladius, a common sight in the Empire, rushed forward while the unknown assailant retreated backwards. His steps were light and nimble just like a cat’s.

“Deros.”

Dane called out his name.

“I thought you’d have come looking for me by now.”

Deros removed the cloth covering his lips. Dane had already seen through his disguise anyways. Dane and Deros knew each other well. No, Dane knew him well.

“I’m just here to tell you you’ve gone mad, chief.”

Deros spat out every syllable.

“Why would you do this when you know we’re just going to end up dying in a ditch, out of the emperor’s sight? We have done a lot of things for the emperor. Doing anything unnecessary will only stir the pot. You know better than anyone how our people desperately want to be recognised as actual citizens of this Empire and you still went against the emperor’s will.”

At Deros’ words, Dane could only laugh. There was no way Dane wouldn’t have known what Deros already knew. Being superior to Deros, Dane had become their chief from a very early age.

“We have done many things for the emperor… Deros, wouldn’t it be more accurate to say that you’ve done a lot of things using my name?”

“Dane.”

“You pretended that you had been doing it under my orders and tricked people into kidnapping women with divinity. You knew what they were doing to the women but you ignored it. Didn’t you?”

“Everything–”

“Was for our people. Well, alright. People only move for what they think is important.”

“You make it sound like you’re not a part of this. You are part of Rome.”

“Deros.”

His low voice forced Deros to raise his head. Though their eyes were of different colours, they were alike in the way they shone brightly in the dark.

“The reason why I just stood by even though I knew everything that was going on was because without you, we wouldn’t be able to gain the trust of the emperor’s men.”

Dane declared.

“I’m quitting the ‘shadows’.”

His decision was irrefutable. Deros knew and he came to see him.

“You know what? I’m not the chief anymore.”

Clang.

Their blades struck at the same time he uttered those words. As their blades dug into each other, Deros growled.

“How could you! How could you say such a thing?”

“Rome had forced me and my mother into this palace. I was forced to watch my mother abused because of me. Am I wrong?”

“You should feel honoured for your sacrifices!”

“I don’t find honour in such a thing, Deros.”

Dane’s voice was clear and succinct. The will he carried in his voice was irrefutable and filled with determination.

“You fell for someone!”

“Yes. And I’m willing to give her all of me.”

Dane flashed a beautiful smile.

“And I was afraid. Because I knew that getting my hands sullied even more would only drive me further away from her.”

Deros had to admit it. The man he considered his chief had been blinded by a woman and had thrown everything away for her. He had believed in his chief who had ultimately forsaken the will of their people who wanted to settle in the Empire after wandering for so long because he was blinded by love. Deros gritted his teeth.

“Right. I’m sure you’re smart in more ways than one. I can accept that. It was because everyone wanted you to be chief. Even when the elders had unanimously voted for you to be our next chief, I could only accept it. Because you were so much better than me! But Dane, you, shouldn’t have messed with the emperor.”

Deros knew. That Dane had been releasing some of the kidnapped women. Most of the women he released were either blondes or small girls. Just by that, he could tell who Dane had lost his soul like a fool to. Deros had long hated Dane’s dispassionate attitude to anything. It was time to bring things to an end.

“From now on, I’ll be the chief of the ‘Emperor’s shadows’ and I’m going to punish you for your actions.”

An unknown glint flashed in the eyes of the new chief, Deros.

“And unlike how you ran things, from now on, the ‘Emperor’s shadows’ is going to stand with the Crown Prince.”