Marion.

It was the first name that came to Maxim’s mind when Emile informed him of the situation. Maxim quickly scanned the First Prince's quarters. If he ran to the First Princess's quarters to evacuate the people there, everything might already be too late by the time he returned. There was no time for hesitation. Maxim swiftly dashed into the First Prince's quarters. He needed to relay a warning to Louis before rushing to the First Princess's quarters without delay.

Unlike Christine or Theodora, Marion had no means to protect herself. Maxim’s sense of urgency grew.

“Sir Maxim! Wait a moment…!” “Move aside!”

Pushing the attendants out of his way, Maxim reached the First Prince's bedchamber. Although the guards attempted to stop him, Maxim forced his way past them and threw open the door to the chamber.

“You must flee.”

This was the first thing Maxim said as he barged into Louis's room, pushing past the attendants who tried to block his way. Luckily, no armed forces had yet entered the palace, so there was still a bit of time to evacuate the prince and princess. The First Prince, watching the commotion in his quarters, seemed momentarily stunned.

“Maxim? What is this about at this hour?”

Louis blinked, staring at Maxim in bewilderment. Seeing his teacher visibly distressed was rare, which only made Louis more alarmed.

“There’s no time to explain, Your Highness. Everyone in the palace is in danger right now.”

With these words, Maxim lifted Louis to his feet. As Maxim issued instructions to the attendants, who looked around in confusion, Louis’s mind began to clear. Scenarios raced through Louis's head of situations that would make Maxim this anxious, and one likelihood rose above the rest.

“...Don’t tell me, Kyle has made his move?”

Rather than being further shocked, Louis grasped the situation in an instant. Maxim barely had time to admire his perceptiveness and quickly nodded.

“Yes. I received information from a trusted source. You must evacuate immediately.”

“If you say so, then it must be true.”

Louis’s gaze turned cold and steady. He promptly began to issue direct orders to the flustered attendants. Watching him, Maxim spoke with a heavy heart.

“Your Highness, we must leave the palace without delay. We can use a side path at the back of the palace; that way, you’ll avoid detection and be able to escape safely.”

Maxim, leading the way, was halted by Louis.

“Maxim.” “Yes, Your Highness.” “…Run straight to the First Princess’s quarters and deliver this news without delay. Then, escape with Michelle and regroup with us.”

The moment Louis spoke, Maxim’s eyes widened. With a serious and somber tone, Louis held onto Maxim, making his request. A ripple ran through Maxim’s heart, which had been silently worrying about Marion all this time.

“Your fiancée is also with Michelle, so at least it won’t be a burden to place this task on you. You looked as if you were itching to run there anyway.”

Louis smiled—a smile that Maxim couldn’t tell was either bitter or genuine—as he patted Maxim’s shoulder. Maxim shook his head, seeing Louis smile knowingly, as if seeing right through him.

“Your Highness, even if Marion weren’t the personal attendant to Her Highness, the First Princess, I would have gone to rescue her after ensuring your escape.”

Louis let out a hearty laugh. Even if it wasn’t entirely sincere, Louis couldn’t be more pleased to hear Maxim’s assurance to protect the princess.

“Understood, Maxim. How could I doubt or ignore your words?”

“Your Highness, I would never abandon a request made between friends so easily.”

Louis nodded. Friend. That word, spoken directly by Maxim, brought an inexplicable calm to Louis. The panic stirred by the situation dissipated completely. Regaining the firm composure befitting the First Prince, Louis gave Maxim an order that sounded like a request.

“Please, Maxim. Ensure that Michelle makes it out of this safely. And…save the one you love as well. I will fight to the end, as promised.”

Maxim looked at Louis silently. He hadn’t expected to act on this promise with the prince so soon. A pang of regret hit Maxim, knowing he had to send the prince off without being by his side. Maxim offered Louis one final piece of advice.

“If I may, Your Highness… In these circumstances, you can’t trust anyone in the palace. You must consider that anyone could be colluding with Leon Bening or feeding information to him. You should entrust your safety only to someone you truly trust.”

With a resolute expression, the First Prince nodded.

“The captain of the Second Guard is trustworthy—a man who would never think of betrayal, so there’s no need to worry. And aren’t there also the Duke’s knights? Don’t worry about me and go quickly. Save Michelle and Marion.”

“Please stay vigilant, Your Highness. I will return as swiftly as possible to stand by your side once more.”

“Where should we rendezvous?”

After a brief silence, Maxim informed Louis of a safe meeting place. If the king managed to escape, he would likely head there as well. The tavern Lily was a gamble. In a situation where they might need reinforcements, being found by Bening’s forces could mean the end. The Adventurers’ Guild, well-armed, would be much safer.

“I will meet you again at the Adventurers’ Guild headquarters, Your Highness.” “If Michelle escapes safely, there will be no consequences for you not returning. So go!”

Louis gave Maxim a final push, urging him out of the First Prince’s quarters. The knights who followed Louis gave Maxim a silent nod, wishing him luck. Maxim acknowledged their encouragement and, after watching Louis depart, turned toward the First Princess's quarters.

Bang.

The vague sense of unease began to solidify with the booming noise as if a door had been broken down. Before the fear could fully settle, and before it could reveal itself through fire and blood, Maxim picked up his pace. Before long, the First Princess's quarters came into view.

“Sir Maxim?”

One of the attendants recognized Maxim and called out.

“What brings you here at this hour?” “Where is Her Highness the First Princess? And Marion…where is she?”

The attendant wiped her hands on her apron and replied.

“…She should still be in her bedchamber. Sir Maxim, what exactly is happening?”

“We must evacuate everyone immediately. There’s no time to explain further. Please, just follow my instructions.”

The firmness in Maxim’s voice caused the attendant to nod unconsciously. Leaving her, Maxim entered the princess’s quarters. He saw a familiar figure fully armed, stepping out from within. With a brief sigh, Maxim acknowledged her. She was one of Count Agon’s people, someone he could rely on in this situation.

“Yvonne.” “Maxim Apart? What brings you here all of a sudden?” “Leon Bening will soon storm the palace with his forces.”

Yvonne Monet’s expression froze as she tried to process what Maxim had said.

“…Wait, this is too sudden. Are you saying that Count Leon Bening is about to invade the palace? Just like that? What about the First Prince…?”

“My arrival here is on the First Prince’s command, Yvonne. His Highness is already evacuating the palace, and he has entrusted me with the task of ensuring the First Princess’s safety.”

Maxim placed a firm grip on Yvonne’s shoulder.

“Hurry, please. Before it’s too late.”

Reading the urgency in Maxim’s voice, Yvonne nodded and ran to find the First Princess. Soon after, the princess descended the stairs. Though she looked pale, she maintained a composed demeanor despite the chaos.

“Maxim…”

Marion, who had been by the First Princess's side, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing him. She seemed reluctant to approach him openly, given her proximity to the princess. Maxim, with a reassuring expression, gave her a subtle nod of assurance. After briefly watching this silent reunion, the First Princess raised her hand to stop Maxim’s bow.

“Explain as we go. For now, escaping the palace takes priority.” “I’ll lead the way. We can use a side path; that route should allow for a safe exit.”

Maxim gave a heavy nod.

“If we escape now, is there any place we can safely remain?” “The Adventurers’ Guild should be safe.”

“Is Count Agon’s residence not an option?”

Unlike Louis, the First Princess’s supporter, Count Agon, maintained a residence within the capital. However, with an insurrection underway, there was a high probability that forces were already watching the Count’s residence. Maxim shook his head, explaining the danger. Understanding his point, Michelle sighed.

“Louis will head there as well, won’t he?” “Yes, he agreed to meet there after rescuing Your Highness.”

Michelle glanced back at her quarters and instructed one of her attendants.

“Set the palace on fire. It should distract them, even if only a little.”

Maxim looked at Michelle with surprised eyes, but she merely shrugged, as if it was a trivial matter.

“If they’re storming the palace, it’ll be a lost cause anyway. I’d rather burn it myself than watch them set it ablaze.”

Flames began to rise from the palace entrance. The First Princess nodded in satisfaction, watching her palace burn and spew black smoke.

“Well then, let us depart.”

 

The Captain of the Third Guard Division couldn’t hide his unease. Before him stood knights dressed in pitch-black uniforms, glaring at him as if he were an enemy.

“…I’ll say it again. Arm yourselves immediately and prepare to join the Count’s forces as soon as they arrive. The Second Prince himself is about to rise with his sword.”

A rugged-looking man took a step toward the Captain. Paola Simone, with a crooked smile on his lips, shook his head.

“Well then, I’ll say it again, too. I—and my knights—don’t follow your orders.”

“You insolent brat… Do I need to make an example of you here to make you listen?”

The Captain growled, but Paola let out a dry chuckle.

“Sorry, but this isn’t just my opinion.”

Paola subtly tilted his head to the side. A platinum-blonde knight, leaning against the wall, sighed.

“Isn’t that right, Captain?”

The Captain of the Third Guard Division’s face twisted. With a voice raised as if ready to throw a punch, he started shouting at Paola.

“What nonsense are you spouting?!”

Swish.

The sound of fabric brushing against the wall echoed as Theodora pushed herself off it and turned slowly toward the Captain. Sensing the intensity in her gaze, a cold sweat broke out on the Captain’s forehead, and he involuntarily took a step back.

“C-Captain, what is this? Your father is still…”

Clang!

It happened in an instant. Black Wolf, its dark fangs bared, was now at the Captain’s throat, growling low with a menacing hum. The Captain gritted his teeth, backing away as Theodora pressed her blade ever closer.

“It seems like now’s the right time to make things clear.”

Behind Theodora, Rione and Paola joined her. The Raven Knights all drew their swords in unison.

“We, the Raven Knights, will never join the ranks of traitors.”

Behind Theodora, Paola let out a mocking laugh.

“You’re finally saying something right, Captain.”

“Let’s go aid the First Guard, as well as the Second and Fourth. Paola, take the knights and prepare to face the enemy outside.”

The hesitation was now completely gone from Theodora. Paola gave a wicked grin. Finally, showing up like this, Maxim.

“So this is truly what you intend to do?”

The Captain’s voice dropped. Despite his intimidating words, his gaze kept darting down to the sharp tip of Black Wolf, which was aimed at his neck, and then back up.

“There’s no reason not to.”

Theodora answered coldly and thrust Black Wolf forward. The Captain barely tilted his head back, narrowly dodging her strike. Blood trickled from a small cut on his face.

“You damned—!”

The Captain cursed as he defended himself against her unrelenting strikes. The Count’s plans—the entire scheme—was falling apart. The Captain, struggling to keep up, dropped his guard slightly, attempting a counterattack. But Theodora’s sword pressed in on him without a moment’s pause. If this continued, he wouldn’t even have time to manifest his aura before that black blade would start tearing him apart—

“Enough.”

Theodora’s sword halted. Her gaze wavered. A middle-aged man had appeared, casually blocking her blade.

When? From where? How?

It didn’t take Theodora long to recognize his face. Bernardo Lennon had quietly appeared at some point, separating Theodora’s sword from the Captain of the Third Guard Division.

“B-Bernardo.” “You, go and assist the Second Prince.”

Following Bernardo’s words, the Captain nodded frantically, sheathed his sword, and rushed off toward the Second Prince’s quarters.

“My lady, I’d like to resolve this without conflict. It’s not too late; gather the Raven Knights and join the Count’s forces.”

Theodora narrowed her eyes at Bernardo. Sometimes, the knights serving her father, Leon Bening, stirred an inexplicable discomfort within her. They acted loyal, yet it seemed as if they had left their souls somewhere far away.

“No. I’ve made my stance clear. I will never side with traitors.”

Bernardo didn’t try to persuade her further. Instead, he drew his sword from his belt and met her gaze, his expression cold.

“…Then there’s no other choice.”

The look in Bernardo’s eyes as he faced Theodora was the same as when he faced an enemy.

“By the Count’s order, I’ll bring you to him by force if necessary.”