‘This!’

Startled, Rosha quickly gathered her magic power, preparing for any unexpected attack.

However, the power surrounded her rather than coming at her. The people didn’t even recognize it, let alone resist it.

She realized that she could no longer hear the applause that had been ongoing. She looked around.

The Hall of Sun, which was bustling just moments ago, seemed to have stopped as if it was an illusion.

It felt as if someone had pressed the ‘pause’ button.

“Do you see those pitiful people, Lady Roshanak?”

The Emperor who had just let go of her hand pointed at the nearby people with an air of superiority.

The unknown knight maintained the posture as required by the royal court and didn’t move at all. The middle-aged nobleman, who was whispering to the person next to him, remained in the same position, hand on his lips.

They looked like exquisitely stuffed dolls.

“They just stand there, ignorant of everything.”

“…”

“While we converse beyond their perception, they cannot see us right now.”

But Rosha noticed a very few people slowly turning their heads towards them. Duke Feriel, Marquis Lycaon, and…

‘Cassis.’

She had to stay alert.

Rosha, who had been momentarily overwhelmed by the abruptly halted scenery, quickly turned her head.

Stopping time is the domain of God, so she couldn’t understand the situation at the moment, but if it were to extend someone’s time, it seemed like it could be put into the category of supernatural ability.

‘Even if that were the case, the recoil would be large or the conditions would be very difficult.’

She glanced at the hand that had touched the Emperor and discreetly sensed her surroundings with magic power. Meanwhile, the Emperor casually walked among the frozen people and continued talking:

“Of course, they probably don’t even realize that this world is heading to its predicted end. It’s both a blessing and a regrettable matter from my perspective.”

‘…A world heading to its predicted end?’

She was aware of the upcoming harsh trials, but what the Emperor implied had a slightly different nuance.

Before she could ask, the Emperor turned to her and whispered a proposal.

“But… what if there was a way for you to escape the fate of the apocalypse?”

“…”

“Even if the world cannot be saved, what if there’s a way to save you?”

“Is this coming from that hooded figure?”

Rosha asked, looking behind.

On the dais where the Emperor sat, there was a figure wearing a hood, standing still like a guard. She noticed the figure’s eerie eyes moving under the hood.

“…It’s not exactly what they said, but it’s close.”

The Emperor, who glanced in that direction, raised the corners of his mouth meaningfully and said:

“In any case, I’d like someone as skilled as you to join me. We can discuss the details later.”

“…”

“It may be a challenging question to answer immediately, so take your time to think. But you have to respond quickly.”

Snapping his fingers, the Emperor smiled wickedly.

“I am not patient.”

And just like that, the magical effect ended.

People began to move naturally, unaware of what had just happened.

Watching this scene, Rosha looked down at the old gun in her hand.

While many questions remained, one thing was clear.

‘…He even offered the sacred relic to bring me to his side. Today, I’m supposed to break the princess’s brainwashing?’

There’s no way she would side with the Emperor.

After all, he was the one who said that the world she loved couldn’t be saved.

* * *

After her schedule at the imperial palace was over, she had plenty of time until she planned to sneak into the summer palace with Froy.

After the medal ceremony, she toured the imperial palace with the chamberlain, learning various things. Rosha wanted to rest at the mansion for a while.

However, her precious rest time was about to vanish.

Why?

“Haha, isn’t an old man allowed?”

Duke Feriel, insisting on visiting the mansion for a while, was the reason!

“That’s cold. Aren’t we comrades who fought against a huge monster risking our lives? Can’t comrades visit each other’s houses?”

“Can you visit some other time, old man?”

“When would that be? Are you talking about the future to an old man, who’s walking around with a cane? What if there might not be another time?”

Cassis, who boldly called the Duke an old man, seemed out of line, but Duke Feriel, who wielded his age as a weapon in this argument, wasn’t easy to deal with.

Rosha finally raised both her hands and shouted:

“Please stop talking and get in the carriage now!”

The mansion, located in a district with other noble residences, wasn’t far from the imperial palace. The carriage arrived at the mansion quickly.

“Miss! You’re back!”

“We’ve been waiting!”

“Congratulations on receiving the medal!”

From afar, the knights of the family, who were training, greeted her enthusiastically as she descended from the carriage.

The frail young lady, who suddenly began to perform martial arts one day, seemed to have won over their hearts. Ever since they heard about Rosha’s martial arts prowess in the capital, they became fans.

“Why don’t they greet me?”

In contrast, Cassis, who had been around knights all day, was left out in the cold. A sad state of affairs.

However, the following Duke Feriel seemed to focus on a different aspect.

“That child was here…”

The old man with white hair looked at the middle-aged woman leading the knights with regretful eyes. Marian, who had rushed here as soon as she heard about the events in the capital, was there.

‘Do they know each other?’

However, thanks to the timely arrival of the butler, there was no opportunity to ask.

The butler, who claimed to have worked half his life in this mansion, seated Duke Feriel, an unexpected guest, with great skill.

After swiftly serving tea, the old man who took a sip praised it highly.

“How did you know I like this tea and brewed it to the perfect strength? It’s different, even if it’s a mansion that served the Imperial Secret Intelligence Service.”

“…”

“Eh? Was this a secret?”

The problem was that the compliment went in this direction.

“…Please share your stories.”

The unflinching butler bowed and left.

“That parrot looks very bright, doesn’t it?”

Duke Feriel, after receiving attention from Cassis and Rosha, finally got to the main point when half of the snacks on the plate were gone.

“If the young lady becomes the protector knight of this Empire, she will have a hard time ahead. The council is already saying that if another disaster comes, they’ll put her in the forefront.”

“I… expected that.”

In any case, those with abilities and magic are destined to face oserals.

She played a significant role in the previous trial, so they would award her a First Class Guardian Medal and an honorary title to make the most of her.

Of course, she would also go to clear the trials, but she planned to get as much out of it as possible for the cost of risking her life.

However.

“You expected it? Then you shouldn’t be sitting like this!”

“Excuse me?”

“Whether you want it or not, you’re already in the whirlpool of power. At times like this, shouldn’t you gather people around you?”

The old man said while munching on a snack.

“I will be one of them. That’s why I came to this mansion.”