At the south palace gate, a large number of guards were stationed. They were thoroughly inspecting everyone entering or leaving the city, and because of this, a long queue had formed.
Syring, who was sitting inside the cart, asked the coachman, "What is going on outside?"
"Princess Syring, the royal guards are conducting inspections," the coachman replied.
Syring looked outside through the small window and thought, They don't look like guards from the South. They are definitely from the capital. Did the Queen send them for me?
Still inside the cart, she asked, "Is there any other way we can enter the city?"
"There is, but it would be very risky," the coachman replied.
"Why?" Syring asked.
"There is a mountain route, but traveling through it at night would be dangerous for you," the coachman explained.
"We will go that way," Syring said.
"But the cart can only travel about six kilometers. After that, you will have to walk another fourteen kilometers," the coachman warned.
Syring knew that going through the main gate would be even more dangerous.
"We'll take the mountain route."
The coachman had no other choice. He turned the cart toward the mountains.
Amaryllis was lost in thought when Marantaceae asked about his wound. Startled, he touched it. It looks fine now, he thought. "I didn't even realize it myself," he said.
Marantaceae looked concerned. Without hesitation, Amaryllis had risked his life to save him.
"You don't have to risk your life for me again," Marantaceae said.
Amaryllis noticed the change in his behavior and wondered, Why is he still talking to me so calmly?
"It's just a small wound. I'm not going to die from it," Amaryllis replied.
"I don't want you to take risks," Marantaceae said.
Amaryllis looked at him in surprise.
"Are you worried about me?"
Marantaceae looked at him for a moment, then turned and continued walking without answering.
Amaryllis caught up with him, thinking, You can change the subject, but I'll find out the truth.
Marantaceae finally spoke.
"You still haven't told me how you discovered my identity."
Caught off guard, Amaryllis pretended he hadn't heard the question.
"For now, we can trust Grandpa."
Grandpa was meditating alone in his room when Ionanthus angrily stormed inside. However, seeing Grandpa deep in meditation, he calmed himself and stood silently in the corner of the room.
Grandpa slowly opened his eyes.
"Why did you come here in such a hurry?"
"Why did you kidnap those men?" Ionanthus demanded.
"So, you found out," Grandpa said calmly.
"Why do you always humiliate me?"
"I humiliate you?" Grandpa replied. "I'm doing all this for you."
"How?"
"I found a new member for our group. He will be your partner in the future."
"Who?"
"Marantaceae," Grandpa answered. "The man who defeated you."
"You asked him to join us?" Ionanthus said in disbelief. "How could you do that?"
Grandpa remained silent.
His silence only irritated Ionanthus even more.
"He only won once."
"He is loyal," Grandpa replied.
"How can you trust him?"
"Just as I trusted you when I first met you."
"Then trust me," Ionanthus said. "I can accomplish this without him."
"To achieve our greater goal, we need him."
Furious, Ionanthus stormed out of the room.
General Ivy stood outside the Queen's chamber, waiting for the royal physician to finish Queen Violas's examination.
Through the slightly open door, he could see Queen Violas lying on her bed while the royal physician spoke quietly to her.
Although he couldn't hear their conversation clearly, the expression on Queen Violas's face told him that the matter was serious—something she wanted to keep hidden from everyone else.
The royal physician finally finished the examination and stood to leave.
General Ivy immediately stepped forward.
"Allow me to escort you."
The royal physician nodded.
Once they were outside the chamber and General Ivy confirmed no one else was nearby, he quietly asked,
"How is Queen Violas?"
"Do not worry. Her Majesty is fine," the royal physician replied.
General Ivy nodded.
Just as I expected. He won't tell me the truth.
Laurel was at a brothel with the Northern Prince, the only survivor of the fire that had destroyed the North Palace.
While the prince was upstairs with a woman, Laurel sat on the ground floor, quietly drinking wine.
Four drunken men were sitting behind him, drinking and chatting. Laurel paid them no attention until he heard one of them say,
"Did you hear? Queen Violas was actually behind the attack on Anemone."
The man hadn't spoken loudly, but Laurel heard every word.
He immediately turned to look at them.
"How do you know?" another man asked.
"Everyone was talking about it near the tea stall," the first man replied.
Laurel studied them carefully.
They all look like ordinary townspeople. Nothing suspicious.
Then who is spreading this rumor?
After thinking for a moment, Laurel left the Northern Prince behind and hurried back to the palace.
Anemone was discussing state affairs with his ministers when Laurel burst into his chamber without permission.
Anemone frowned angrily, but after seeing the worried expression on Laurel's face, he dismissed the ministers.
"What's wrong? Why did you come in such a hurry?"
"Everyone outside is saying that Queen Violas might be the one behind your assassination," Laurel said.
"Don't believe the rumors," Anemone replied calmly.
"Why don't you look surprised?" Laurel asked. "Did you already know?"
"These rumors have been spreading for several days," Anemone answered. "You don't need to worry about them."
"Why aren't you worried? What if they're true?"
"Even if they are true, I don't have to worry," Anemone said with a faint smile. "I have you to protect me."
Laurel nodded.
"I promised you that I would protect you from everyone."
For the first time, Laurel sensed a hint of pressure behind Anemone's calm voice.
As Laurel left Anemone's chamber, his mind was filled with conflicting thoughts.
On the way, he ran into Narcissus.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"I'm going to bring back the Northern Prince," Laurel replied.
"Where is he?"
Laurel hesitated for a moment.
"...At a brothel."
Narcissus smiled.
"You should visit one sometime."
Laurel looked at her in shock.
"W-What would I even do there?"
She laughed.
"The same thing the Northern Prince is doing."
"The Northern Prince is young," Laurel replied awkwardly. "He can do those things."
"Go there," Narcissus teased. "Maybe you'll find someone."
Blushing, Laurel quickly left the palace and returned to the brothel.
However, the Northern Prince was nowhere to be found.
He questioned everyone inside the brothel, asking if they had seen the prince, but no one knew where he had gone.
He then questioned the two guards outside, asking if they had seen anyone enter or leave, or whether they had seen the Northern Prince depart.
They also knew nothing.
Laurel immediately ordered the palace guards to begin searching for the prince.
Filled with anxiety, he rushed through the streets alongside several guards.
I have to find him before anyone else in the palace learns that he's missing. But how could someone make the Northern Prince disappear under such strict surveillance?