Elna visited the room of the Fifth Consort, Zuzan, and faced Zuzan, who was sitting in a chair.
"Didn't you ask me to bring Christa as well?"
Elna clenched her fists at Zuzan's insincere request. This wasn't a request; it was a threat. However, Elna looked Zuzan straight in the eye and replied.
"Her Highness Christa is not feeling well and is resting in her room. So, I came alone."
"Is that so. Not feeling well... Well, never mind."
Zuzan said this and offered Elna a chair. Elna had no choice but to sit, but she didn't touch anything on the table. In Elna's memory, Zuzan had been crying when the Second Consort died. The tears were real. That's why it was so chilling. Even though Zuzan was someone she hated so much, she could still shed tears. Elna thought that if someone could deceive themselves so thoroughly, they could easily deceive others. Elna's father had once called Zuzan a woman like a snake. Elna now understood those words.
"I called you here because I need your help."
Zuzan said this with a friendly smile, but to Elna, she looked like a snake approaching with its tongue out, slowly getting closer, waiting for the moment to strike. Elna closed her eyes lightly, imagining herself being constricted and unable to move. She did this to shake off the illusion.
"I will not assist in the imperial succession struggle."
"Why not?"
"The Amsberg family has never been involved in the imperial succession. Our stance is to keep a distance from politics."
"But you support Leonardo, don't you? You are currently serving as a guard for his mother."
"We are childhood friends. I will help within the limits of personal assistance. My presence as a guard reassures them. Is that not acceptable?"
"No, it's a wonderful friendship. Could you direct that friendship towards Zandra as well?"
Absolutely not.
Elna thought this but couldn't say it outright, so she gave an ambiguous answer to dodge the question.
"I'll consider it if there's an opportunity to become closer."
"That's a cold response. Both that girl and I value you, you know?"
"Is that so."
Elna gave a cold reply but felt something was off. The idea that the Amsbergs would be valued was absurd. The Amsbergs were in a secure position, and there was no need for such flattery. Yet, Zuzan had said it. Elna frowned at the inconsistency.
"If you help Zandra, the rewards will be great. I promise not to harm your childhood friend."
"Thank you for the offer, but... Your Highness, may I ask a question?"
Persistent persuasion.
It wasn't wise to refuse outright. The best approach was to skillfully dodge and end the conversation by saying it was time to go. Elna understood this, which made the situation even more peculiar. Therefore, Elna decided to cut off the flow and ask a question.
"What is it?"
"Why did you ask for Christa?"
"That girl is the sister of Liette, who is at the border. If we can get that girl on our side, Liette will also support us."
"Support...?"
Elna couldn't believe what Zuzan was saying. It was impossible. The Second Consort's daughter, Liette, and Christa would never side with Zuzan. Even if Zuzan were innocent, the fact that she was suspected meant she couldn't gain their support. Yet, Zuzan had given this answer.
"Christa isn't here now. I'd rather talk about your matters."
"Is this a delay tactic..."
Elna said this, revealing her suspicion. Zuzan tilted her head in surprise.
"What do you mean?"
"!!??"
Elna was certain from Zuzan's reaction that she had been lured here. Elna stood up and ran without a word. Zuzan didn't try to stop her. The harem was vast, and the consorts' rooms were far apart. By the time Elna reached this room, enough time had been wasted. Elna cursed her carelessness and climbed onto the harem's roof, running the shortest route. She had been separated from Christa because Zuzan had asked for her, knowing Elna would leave her behind. The purpose was to separate them.
"Damn!"
By worrying about Christa's feelings, Elna had inadvertently put Christa in danger. She should have stayed by her side. Despite this regret, Elna reached near Mitsuba's room. She didn't think anyone would do anything in the harem. Looking into the room, Elna's face showed disappointment when she saw Christa was gone.
"Her Highness! Where are you!?"
"Oh! I heard that Prince Arnolt was injured and returned."
"If that were true, there would be more commotion! Come with me!"
Elna led the guards and followed Christa's trail, asking people nearby. As the direction narrowed down to the carriage station used by merchants, Elna left the guards behind and went ahead. Upon reaching the carriage station, Elna scanned the merchants. Everyone was surprised by her sudden appearance, but Elna ignored them and looked around. She noticed stains on the ground—wiped blood, and multiple stains at that. The method of wiping was typical of assassins. Elna sighed and looked up. She saw a rabbit plushie, which belonged to Christa, a little further away.
"Her Highness..."
Elna called out and ran to the plushie. The white plushie was dirty but not bloody. Elna breathed a sigh of relief, thinking Christa wasn't injured. Then, she felt something hard in her hand. Something was embedded in the plushie. She saw a coin. Elna whispered, hesitantly.
"Bandit..."
A thin thread of magic extended from the coin, leading far out of the castle.
"Rita..."
Elna called out, a mix of gratitude and worry. Rita must have followed Christa. However, if Rita was with Christa, it meant the future Christa had seen was likely to come true.
"Report to the Emperor that an emergency has occurred! Her Highness Christa has been kidnapped! Recall all important officials to the castle and seal it! Hurry!"
The captain of the Royal Guard had the authority to do this. In emergencies, they were allowed to act independently. Elna gave further instructions.
"I will follow her. Request the dispatch of the Royal Guard from the Emperor!"
Elna said this and floated into the air. In the sprawling capital, it was faster to fly than to navigate through the crowds. She usually didn't do this because the Emperor had banned unauthorized flying. However, now was not the time to worry about that. Elna headed straight for the location indicated by the coin.
---
"Alright, this will do for now."
Christa, who had been taken out of the carriage, woke up but didn't know where she was. She was weak and tied up. She vaguely remembered descending stairs, but she wasn't sure. She was definitely in a dark, damp room.
"Well, Princess, I'll bring you a collar that fits you. Just wait."
The bald man who had tied her up said this. He was in charge of managing slaves and went into the back, looking pleased. Christa felt despair at the thought of being collared. Collars were usually magical devices that deprived people of their freedom and were banned in the empire. Being captured by people who used such things made Christa shudder. However, she heard a voice that shouldn't have been there.
"Ku-chan..."
"Rita...?"
Rita, who had called out to Christa in a low voice, smiled when Christa responded. She immediately started cutting the ropes with a dagger.
"How did you...?"
"I found your plushie and followed. I saw you being put in a carriage, so I got in too."
"But it's dangerous... Why...?"
"Rita doesn't abandon friends."
Rita said this, cut the ropes, and helped Christa stand up.
"We can't escape..."
"It's okay. Rita will protect you."
Rita said this with her usual bright smile and led Christa towards the exit. They moved step by step through the complex underground passage, but they were just children, and one of them couldn't walk properly. The bald man soon caught up.
"Rats wandered in. Well, it's fine. You'll be a product too."
"Here he comes!?"
"Rita, run...!"
"I can't!"
Rita and Christa changed their route to avoid being caught. They entered a room with an open door and closed it.
"Phew... Did we lose him?"
"No way..."
Rita was relieved, but Christa looked despondent. The room was where children were kept to be sold as slaves. It was a separate structure that looked like a hut from the outside. Christa remembered it clearly. It was the room where Rita would die in the future she had seen. Rita would be impaled and die here.
"Rita!! Run!!"
"What? I'm running..."
"No, please!"
As Christa pleaded, a voice came from the back of the room.
"Found you~"
The low, menacing voice belonged to the bald man, who had entered through a hidden door that looked like a wall.
"This place is full of hidden doors. Hiding is impossible."
"No way..."
"Damn!!"
Rita tried to open the door they had entered, but something was blocking it. The bald man had done something.
"Well, hide and seek is over."
"Don't come near!"
Rita hid Christa behind her and brandished a dagger. The bald man looked amused.
"Oh, oh, scary, scary. Playing knight, are we?"
"Shut up!"
Rita showed a sharp, childlike dagger technique. The man, caught off guard, stepped back, but a little blood trickled from his leg.
"Tch... Brat... Put down that dagger now. I'll spare your life."
"No!"
"Rita! Stop!"
"The Princess says so?"
"Rita doesn't abandon friends!"
Rita said this and brandished her dagger. When the bald man approached again, she attacked as before, but the man, having gauged the reach of the dagger, stepped back and kicked Rita hard, creating an opening.
"Ow!!"
"Ouch, that hurt..."
"Cough, cough... Ugh..."
"Rita! Rita!"
Rita, kicked away, rolled and hit the wall. She coughed up blood, and Christa ran to her, but Rita, with tears in her eyes, stood up and shielded Christa again.
"You're so brave, even though you're so weak. Were you taught to protect royalty as a knight?"
"No, that's not it..."
"What's not it? They grow up in the castle, never knowing hardship. You look like a commoner. I'm not saying anything bad, but put down the dagger. Being a slave is better than dying."
"I refuse..."
"Ah, what a pain. Even a kid talks about knightly honor."
The man said this dismissively, but Rita glared at him and brandished her dagger again.
"Rita isn't a knight... I'm protecting Ku-chan because she's my friend... Rita doesn't abandon friends!!"
"Is that so."
The bald man picked up an iron rod nearby. The tip was sharp, probably used to torture slaves. He pointed it at Rita. The scene overlapped with the future Christa had seen. She felt a sense of resignation. Since the day she saw the future where the Crown Prince would die, Christa had seen many futures. Some she hadn't even told Al or Mitsuba. She had a vague understanding of which futures could change and which couldn't. Futures where people's deaths were clearly seen couldn't be changed. No matter what actions were taken, they led to the same outcome. She had tried many things, but the futures where people died never changed. The Crown Prince, a long-serving military officer in Liette's retinue, and a maid—all their deaths couldn't be changed. She had struggled this time because she didn't want Rita to die. But in the end, her actions had led to Rita's death. Effort was futile, and inaction was futile. The future couldn't be changed.
"Then die."
The bald man slowly raised the iron rod. Christa felt despair. At her own powerlessness. At her cursed ability. But her heart couldn't give up. She couldn't accept Rita's death. So, she clung to her last hope, believing in the words her brother had left.
"Elna!!!"
"Shouting won't help."
The bald man thrust the iron rod. At that moment, the wall was shattered, and something attacked the bald man. For a moment, he didn't understand what had happened. He only realized he had been hit and thrown into the wall.
"What...?"
"I'm sorry for being late, Your Highness, Rita. Are you okay?"
"Elna..."
The man realized the wall was now a long hole. The knight had broken through the wall to reach them. And the knight's sword had deeply pierced his body. He understood that the woman had cherry-colored hair and emerald eyes.
"Ams...berg..."
"Yes... Did you hurt my dear junior?"
"Then what...?"
"You deserve to die."
Elna said this and put more force into the sword, which impaled the man and sent him flying through the wall. Elna didn't check where the man went; she had something more important to confirm.
"Rita...!"
"Elna...sister..."
"Oh, Rita..."
Elna supported the wobbly Rita and checked her abdomen. The purple bruise suggested broken bones. She cast a simple healing spell, but it only alleviated the pain. She needed to see a professional healer immediately.
"Elna...!"
"Your Highness...! I'm sorry. This is my fault..."
"No... I'm sorry... I broke my promise..."
Christa, crying, hugged Elna, who also hugged her. Elna then gently and carefully hugged Rita, careful not to aggravate her injuries.
"Thank you... It's because of you, Rita..."
"Hehe... Rita is brave...?"
"Yes, very brave. You did a great job."
Elna said this, picked up Rita, and stood up.
"Elna... The children..."
"I know."
Elna lightly swung her sword, and the collars on the slave children were cut one by one.
"If you want to live, follow me."
Elna said this and led Rita and Christa out of the room. The children followed without hesitation.
I apologize for the stress. I tried to summarize it quickly, but it seems many people were irritated. I think the Imperial Capital part will end in one more chapter.