The Villain’s Aide Has Run Away

The Imperial Palace was shrouded in silence.

The attendants moved on their toes, bowing even lower than usual and holding their breath. Everyone knew that one wrong word could cost them their lives.

It was not enough that Count Camilo had been dragged away—now even Count Maven had been imprisoned in turn. Since that news spread, the Empress’s mood had been cold and heavy all day.

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

The one who came to see her was Brian. His face, usually calm, showed rare traces of unease.

The Empress looked at him silently. That single gaze was enough to remind Brian of his own agitation, and he quickly stilled himself.

Once he had regained his composure and sat down, the Empress gestured to the others. Only when the chief lady-in-waiting led everyone out did the two of them remain alone.

“Speak.”

“It seems there was a secret chamber inside the Academy. The Crown Prince discovered it and immediately arrested Count Maven, who was in charge of the construction.”

“My, my…”

The Empress let out a quiet sound of surprise. Yet her eyes were calm, like a lake concealing something beneath its surface.

“Count Maven… I cannot imagine what greed led him to build such a thing. I heard all the weapons stored inside were confiscated as well.”

Brian’s voice cracked slightly as he struggled to contain his emotions. After a short pause, he could no longer hold back and changed the subject.

“Now that all the weapons have been seized, it will certainly affect the domain wars.”

Only then did the Empress slowly turn her gaze toward him.

“Brian.”

Her tone was soft, but the warning within it was unmistakable. Her expression was flawless, as though she had nothing to do with any of this. She wore her mask perfectly.

“There is no need to waver.”

Brian lowered his eyes. Though he bit the inside of his lip to steady himself, his fingertips trembled faintly.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince will find out.”

His tone was careful, but every syllable carried a restrained sharpness. It was clear he believed the Crown Prince would use this incident as a pretext to come after them.

But the Empress did not move an inch.

“Then the Crown Prince should find out.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“And what does that have to do with us?”

Silence followed. The Empress’s gaze swept lightly over Brian’s face.

“Remember this. Maven grew greedy, and now he is paying the price. It has nothing to do with us.”

She pronounced the last words with deliberate clarity.

“Even so, I am concerned.”

“Brian, do not act like a child.”

The Empress cut him off sharply, as if she no longer wished to indulge him. But for some reason, Brian did not back down.

“What if we shake the Crown Prince?”

The Empress looked at him as if asking what he meant.

“We have one of our people inside the Academy.”

At the mention of the leader of the Shadow Division, the first thing that came to mind was his rough, metallic voice.

“He says that with Your Majesty’s permission, he can move at once. He’s already found a way to infiltrate.”

Brian did not specify what that meant as he carefully studied the Empress’s reaction.

His words were more of an offer than a report—he would only reveal the rest if she agreed to the deal.

The Empress could not help but think deeply. With the Shadow Division’s dark power, they could easily throw the Academy into chaos.

Though she worked with them, their goals were not perfectly aligned. Just as the Empress had her secrets, they surely had theirs.

Finally, the Empress gave her answer.

“As always, I am far too busy tending to the affairs of the nation. The Academy may be important, but not so much that I would set aside everything else.”

It was a declaration of indifference—a tacit permission.

Brian rose from his seat.

“I will deliver the order at once.”

When he reached the door, something came to his mind. He turned back toward her.

“Did you know the Crown Prince has taken a liking to his new aide?”

The Empress lifted her head.

“As the rumors say, it seems he reaches out to anyone who catches his interest, regardless of who they are.”

After revealing that the aide was the latest subject of the Crown Prince’s scandal, Brian left with a relaxed expression—quite unlike when he entered.

That remark was not merely a report.

“I wonder how he intends to use that aide.”

The Empress muttered to herself, and then another name surfaced in her mind—someone else who was currently imprisoned.

Count Camilo.