“Derivis. There are no traps.”

Derivis reached for the safe. Despite its formidable lock and thick iron doors boasting impenetrable security, he effortlessly broke it open, forcing it ajar.

Inside, he found Nine’s secret ledger, brooches from the families aligned with her, and a wealth of letters and other incriminating evidence. Derivis quickly flipped through the ledger.

“…She’s really taken more than her share, hasn’t she? Not just ensuring the dethronement…”

Derivis trailed off, but Rosalie and Nathan understood the unspoken words.

“We must head to the Imperial Palace immediately.”

Though Rondun was deeply wounded, making it difficult to move quickly, they needed to reach the palace before he could attempt any desperate maneuvers.

⊱⊱⊱────── {.⋅ ✧✧✧ ⋅.} ──────⊰⊰⊰

Patrick was lost in thought as he moved the chess pieces. It had been over a week since Nine’s downfall had begun.

“Right now, the Empress is claiming innocence, using the nobles to submit petitions. She’s even playing the role of a pitiable victim of tyranny, swaying public opinion…”

If they didn’t produce solid evidence soon, things would get tricky. Patrick pondered his next move while staring at the chaotic chessboard.

“Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince and Duchess Judeheart are here to see you.”

At the voice outside the door, Patrick raised an eyebrow and quickly ordered them to be let in. Although it was impolite to seek an audience with the Emperor unannounced, these two wouldn’t do so without good reason.

“What brings you here? And Derivis, why do you look like that?”

Surprised by Derivis’s dust-covered appearance, Patrick stood up and asked. But instead of addressing Patrick’s concern, Derivis swiftly handed him the evidence he had brought.

“You must imprison the Empress immediately.”

“What are you talking about…?”

Patrick examined the ledger Derivis handed over first. His face hardened, and he immediately ordered Venick to be summoned.

“Crown Prince, imprison the Empress in the underground cell at once.”

“Yes, understood.”

Patrick’s gaze fell on Rosalie, who stood beside Derivis.

“Duchess, did you find these ledgers with the Crown Prince?”

“It was, in fact, the Duchess who uncovered them. The hidden location, the safe—everything was thanks to the her efforts.”

At Derivis’s firm response, Patrick clenched the ledger and spoke.

“In that case, would you honor my request to stay by Derivis’s side until the end?”

Rosalie’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected request. Then, she quickly agreed.

Venick arrived, and Rosalie and Derivis led the knights to Nine’s palace. Andree, who had started frequenting the Empress’s palace again due to Nine’s schemes, spread her arms to block their way.

“You can’t just storm into the Empress’s quarters unannounced with knights like this!”

“Get out of the way.”

Despite Derivis’s warning, Andree refused to step aside. But with a gesture from Derivis, Andree was quickly and unceremoniously thrown into the hallway by the knights.

Derivis flung open the door to Nine’s room with such force that it almost came off its hinges, causing her to jump up from her chair in shock.

“What do you think you’re doing?! Even rudeness has its limits!”

Nine shouted, her voice strained with anger.

“I have orders from His Majesty to imprison the Empress in the underground cell.”

At Derivis’s nod, the knights approached Nine. Her face turned pale as she threatened them not to come any closer, causing them to hesitate.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Crown Prince! I demand to see His Majesty immediately!”

“What are you waiting for? Escort the Empress.”

At Derivis’s stern command, the imperial knights grabbed Nine by the arms.

“How dare you lay hands on an imperial family member! Let go of me! Crown Prince!! How dare you humiliate me like this?!”

Nine struggled violently, trying to lunge at Derivis, but was blocked by Rosalie, who had been silently watching. Furious at being stopped, Nine gritted her teeth.

“How dare you, you lowly Duchess!”

But Rosalie only watched her with a cold, calm expression while taking in Nine’s fury.

“The rotten bridge the Empress was clinging to has collapsed. It’s time to sink to the bottom of the river.”

Rosalie’s quiet words, spoken so only Nine could hear, left her trembling with disbelief.

“Derivis and I found the treasures you so carefully hid away.”

As Rosalie’s soft words reached her ears again, Nine began to spiral into panic.

‘How… How did they find out?! Even Radinis didn’t know where it was! Not even Lady Andree!’

Seeing that Rosalie had said all she intended to, Derivis gestured to the knights.

“Take her away. Don’t let it bother you no matter how much she resists.”

“You can’t do this to me!”

Despite Nine’s desperate cries, her body was forcibly dragged away by the rough hands of the knights down to the underground prison, a place filled with the stench of death and suffering and where not a single ray of light could penetrate.

⊱⊱⊱────── {.⋅ ✧✧✧ ⋅.} ──────⊰⊰⊰

With a clink, the sound of a teacup being set down accompanied Moiron’s weary sigh.

“These days, the atmosphere among the nobles is quite unsettling. To be honest, it’s nothing short of a purge.”

“They committed acts nearly equivalent to treason. It’s hard to imagine they’ll escape severe punishment.”

One by one, the nobles listed in Nine’s ledger were being dragged into the underground prison. Moiron let out a long sigh, glancing at Nathan, Whitney, and Toronto standing behind Rosalie.

“You’ve certainly increased your security.”

It was unusual to bring such a large entourage of escorts to a café in the heart of the capital, especially with such heavy security.

“There are some complicated matters at hand right now.”

“Hmm, I heard you were present when the Empress was removed from the palace.”

The speed at which rumors spread in the Imperial Palace was astonishing. But given that nobles who had aligned themselves with Nine were being purged almost daily, it wasn’t surprising that these rumors traveled even faster.

“And you defended Prince Radinis at the banquet. I can’t help but wonder what you’re thinking.”

It was well-known that Patrick cherished his sons, but it was also true that he had unilaterally elevated Derivis as Crown Prince, creating a rivalry between Derivis and Radinis.

However, since the banquet, Derivis had been seen protecting Radinis, leaving the nobles astonished. Many speculated that Rosalie, who was at the center of attention at that time, might have been the one to bring the two brothers together.

“I can’t go into details, but… I just hope that those who deserve happiness will find it.”

Rosalie showed some discomfort, indicating she couldn’t elaborate further. Sensing this, Moiron playfully feigned a troubled expression.

“Oh, I didn’t mean to put you in a tough spot.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Well, I hope you find happiness too, Duchess.”

Rosalie responded to Moiron’s playful comment with a light-hearted laugh.

“What are your plans for tomorrow? There’s a wonderful opera performance—would you like to join me?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m scheduled to visit the palace tomorrow.”

Moiron expressed her disappointment but understood. 

Rosalie planned to visit the now-empty Empress’s palace to duplicate the magic circle leading to the secret eastern villa and consult Tehard about how to break it.

‘If it becomes known that Radinis was used in the experiments, then it’ll give the opposing nobles something to latch onto.’

She also intended to check for any other magic circles, sketch them out, and secretly consult Tehard before officially requesting the Mage Tower’s assistance—a plan that Derivis also approved.

“If you won’t tell me why you’re going to the palace, then at least stay a bit longer and chat with me.”

“I’d be happy to.”

Rosalie smiled and ordered another cup of tea, accepting Moiron’s invitation.

⊱⊱⊱────── {.⋅ ✧✧✧ ⋅.} ──────⊰⊰⊰

“Please get me out of here…”

She couldn’t tell how many days had passed. Nine was on the verge of madness, trapped in the underground prison for what felt like only a few days.

“Why on earth…! Empress, why…!”

Nine covered her ears, trying to block out the familiar screams of a noble echoing through the prison, where only a few dim lights flickered from the walls. The voices that had once flattered her now tormented her mind with their screams, eroding her sanity.

Although they couldn’t dare to torture someone of imperial blood, the thought that her voice could soon join the chorus of screams sent waves of fear through her.

‘It’ll be fine. I’m royalty. They haven’t tried to torture me yet. I’ll probably just be exiled.’

However, the damning contents of her ledger gnawed at her mind, shaking her confidence.

‘Is this… the end of my dreams?’

Despair, which she couldn’t shake off, began to take hold.

“Your Majesty the Empress~.”

At the sound of a familiar voice, Nine quickly lifted her head from where it had been resting on the cold floor and rushed to the bars. Beyond them stood Rondun, and she called out to him desperately.

“Rondun!”

“Shh. I snuck in, so keep your voice down.”

Rondun put a finger to his lips, and Nine hurriedly lowered her voice.

“Hurry up and get me out of here using your magic!”

“Well, you see, it would be a problem even if I got you out. I don’t think Your Majesty can escape execution.”

“What…?”

“You’re already facing severe charges, and it seems they’ve discovered the anti-aging experiments you conducted on the children in the secret villa. The Crown Prince immediately requested an investigation, and the magicians are already on the case.”

Rondun’s words, delivered as if it was all a headache for him, left Nine slumping to the ground with a hopeless expression. The reality was so hard to believe that she couldn’t even cry. All she could think of was that she had to do whatever it took to escape from here.

Sensing her desperation, Rondun smirked.

“So, how about participating in the experiment I mentioned before?”

“You mean the one using magic to switch bodies?”

Nine clung to the bars again. Rondun leaned in, his face close to hers, smiling broadly as he nodded.

‘Although I’ll miss my own body, I might escape death if I could enter Radinis’s body! Maybe I’ll even get another chance to claim the empire.’

As these thoughts ran through her mind, Nine stretched her hand through the narrow bars as if grasping at a lifeline.

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