"Will they be all right?"

For the twenty-fifth time, First Princess Michelle asked that question, and Denis patiently nodded in response. The mask of strength and resolve she had worn while leading her followers safely to the Adventurer's Guild had long since faded. They had been in the guild for over an hour now, but there was still no news from Maxim, who had left to check on the First Prince and the king's condition.

"They'll be fine. Except for Captain Hugo, there’s no knight in the kingdom who could match Maxim. He’ll complete his mission and return."

Though Denis spoke confidently to reassure Michelle, he was just as anxious. He knew Maxim could handle himself in any situation, but he couldn't stop worrying about Charlotte. The nagging thought of "what if" lingered in his mind, and he shook his head, trying to dispel the ominous thoughts that haunted him.

It’ll be fine. If I start to lose my composure, it won’t help anyone, he reminded himself, glancing at the others. The knights of the Fourth Guard sat quietly, lips tightly pressed, and the maids who had escaped with them looked tense. Marion, especially, seemed burdened with worry but made an effort not to show it.

"Would you like some tea?"

A cautious voice broke the silence. The guild branch leader stood nearby, gazing at Michelle and Denis with concern.

"I'm fine, but please bring some for Her Highness, the First Princess," Denis replied.

The branch leader nodded and called over a staff member, giving them several instructions.

"It's a turbulent night," he said, sighing as he sat across from Denis at the table. Denis nodded in agreement, his mind troubled. The night was not even halfway over, yet Denis felt it would be the longest night of his life.

"Upon receiving word, I issued an emergency summons and gathered all adventurers above a certain level. Soon, the skilled ones will arrive here at the guild," the branch leader explained, looking toward the dark, gaping entrance of the guild's main hall. Denis nodded stiffly. As soon as the branch leader finished speaking, a commotion could be heard. Denis extended his senses, hoping it was knights entering the lobby, but it turned out to be adventurers summoned by the branch leader.

The adventurers appeared confused at the sight of royal personnel in the guild's headquarters. A bald-headed adventurer who seemed to be their representative stepped forward upon seeing the branch leader.

"Branch leader, what is going on here…?"
"Pierre, Leon Benning has attacked the royal palace," the branch leader answered.

Pierre then noticed the First Princess, seated with her head bowed. He quickly knelt, prompting the adventurers behind him to follow his lead, all of them now kneeling in deference.

"We greet Your Highness, the First Princess."

Michelle lifted her head slightly, reminding herself to put on a strong expression before addressing them. Her voice trembled only faintly as she forced herself to speak.

"Thank you for your loyalty. I am grateful to you for coming here to aid us in this time of crisis without hesitation."

Pierre, visibly uneasy at seeing the First Princess as the sole royal representative, hesitated before asking, "Is Her Highness the only one here? What about His Majesty and the First Prince…?"

Realizing the Princess’s pallor, Pierre stopped himself mid-sentence. Denis sighed and answered in his stead.

"Neither His Majesty nor the First Prince has arrived yet. Our knights are searching for them everywhere."

What a thoughtless question. Pierre broke into a cold sweat upon seeing the shadow that darkened the Princess’s face. The whereabouts of the king and the First Prince remained unknown, and the palace had fallen into Leon Benning’s hands. A creeping dread began to take hold.

"Raise your heads and stand at ease. While we may be waiting now, your help might soon be needed. I am counting on you," Michelle said.
"Yes, Your Highness," the adventurers responded, each rising with varied expressions. Some looked excited at the palpable tension, while others, like Pierre, appeared deeply troubled and silent. Most were simply cautious, glancing about nervously under the watchful eyes of the First Princess and the Fourth Guard. The adventurers started inspecting their equipment repeatedly, as if doubting its reliability.

"Marion," a voice called.

Among the murmuring and clinking of metal, Marion saw an adventurer with dark blue hair approaching her. She tilted her head in confusion—how did he know her name? The adventurer cleared his throat respectfully and introduced himself.

"My name is Adeline."

Marion's eyes widened. She had heard Maxim mention him before—the blind knight he had encountered while rescuing Christine. She hadn’t expected to meet him like this.

"It seems you’ve regained your sight," Marion observed.

Adeline's eyes widened in surprise at her comment. Despite being fully healed, he still wore the mask Maxim had given him, almost as a habit. Adeline looked into Marion’s blue eyes, his gaze softening.

"Has Arsen—no, Maxim spoken of me?"

Marion nodded. Adeline, visibly caught between joy and surprise, quickly remembered his purpose for seeking her out.

"Is Maxim in the palace right now?"

Marion nodded again, curious about the worry etched on Adeline's face. She wondered why he, of all people, who knew Maxim's strength so well, would be concerned.

"Is there something you’re worried about?" she asked.

Adeline bit his lip. Bernardo Lennon. If that monster, who had lived beyond reckoning, had joined the invasion… Adeline hesitated, debating whether to tell Marion, when another commotion from the lobby made him turn.

"What happened?"
"Are you hurt?"

Marion recognized the First Guard members who had stayed in the palace and felt her heart sink. The fact that they had arrived at the Adventurer's Guild instead of remaining by the king’s side was a bad sign. The adventurers and the Fourth Guard watched grimly as the First Guard entered the guild.

"Charlotte!"

Denis’s face brightened with relief as he ran over to Charlotte. She exhaled a sigh of relief upon seeing him, but shadows still lingered on her face.

"What about His Majesty? Is he safe?"
"Sir Aron is with His Majesty, so he should be all right. They must have taken shelter somewhere, and we’ll probably receive word soon. But…"

Charlotte glanced over at where the First Princess was seated. Michelle kept glancing in their direction, struggling to suppress her curiosity.

"We couldn’t find the First Prince," Charlotte said quietly.

Denis’s expression darkened.
"Does that mean…?"
Charlotte shook her head, signaling him not to jump to conclusions. Denis nodded and looked past the First Guard to a group of knights dressed in dark uniforms.

"What are you doing here?"

His voice was filled with hostility. Only one knight order wore such dark attire—the Raven Knights, who had allied themselves with the Second Prince. As Denis glared at them, one of the Raven Knights stepped forward, his rough features softened by a leisurely smile.

"No need for long explanations. We’ve turned against Leon Benning and the Second Prince," the man, Paola, explained.

Denis frowned. Paola shrugged and addressed him with an air of familiarity.

"Long time no see, Sir Denis. Haven’t seen you since the Round of Sixteen. You were quite impressive."
"I don’t recall us being so close," Denis replied stiffly, clearly uncomfortable with Paola's casual tone.

"In any case, we Raven Knights no longer wield our swords under the Second Prince. I’d appreciate it if you’d understand that," Paola added.
"How easily you speak of betraying your lord," Denis retorted.

Though Denis was usually lighthearted, he couldn’t abide Paola's flippant attitude.

"He wasn’t someone worthy of loyalty, that’s all," Paola said with a sly grin.

At that moment, the captain of the Raven Knights, Theodora, appeared, supported by a knight with orange hair.

"It may look disgraceful, but this is our true resolve," she declared.

Denis's eyes widened at the sight of Theodora. He knew her skill well and owed her a great debt for saving him from Javier Franco’s blade. And she was… Maxim's…

His thoughts were interrupted as Theodora began to speak.

"We will no longer bow to Leon Benning, nor will we kneel to the Second Prince, who brings chaos upon this land."

Theodora looked back at her fellow Raven Knights, who nodded in silent determination. Denis, realizing it was not his place to decide, turned toward where the First Princess was seated.

"Come in," Michelle said, granting them entrance.

Though Theodora’s face was pale, her eyes still blazed with fierce resolve.

"Forgive us, Your Highness," she said.

Michelle shook her head. The First Guard, their numbers significantly reduced, joined the Raven Knights inside.

"There’s no need for apologies. Could you briefly explain what happened?" Michelle asked.
"It's hard to provide precise information. We withdrew our forces and escaped to the assigned location once the tide of battle began turning against us," Theodora replied, glancing around. Apparently, Maxim had not arrived yet.

"Maxim Apart is still fighting in the palace. If you permit, I’ll head there immediately to support him," Theodora said, indirectly asking to return to the palace. Michelle’s gaze wavered at her words. Then Adeline stepped forward and knelt.

"If you grant permission, I, too, will join the search. Please, allow it."

Denis clenched his jaw. While he admired their resolve to search the palace for the king, the First Prince, and Maxim, he knew they needed every resource right now. He was just about to advise caution when yet another commotion erupted outside the lobby. Without waiting, the adventurers and knights rushed out.

"Could it be His Majesty?"
"Or maybe it’s the First Prince," they murmured, their voices filled with hope and worry.

Marion clasped her hands tightly, silently praying that the newcomer was her fiancé.

Amid the crowd, it was difficult to see who had arrived, but Adeline quickly recognized the presence in the lobby. Marion, noticing Adeline's brightened expression, looked toward the entrance. Someone waved their hand in the air, parting the crowd to reveal two weary knights.

"Maxim!"

Marion ran toward him. Adeline watched her go with a tinge of envy before following her to the lobby.

"...My God."

She froze, and it seemed the entire lobby did the same. Blood dripped steadily. One knight clutched his side, and Hugo Bern, leaning on Maxim for support, weakly waved a hand.

"It’s nothing serious. Get back to your duties and don’t worry about me."

"Nothing serious." But the knights knew that if anyone had injured the kingdom’s strongest knight, Hugo Bern, it was a matter of grave concern. They couldn’t look away as he and Maxim made their way to a table and sat down.

"Captain."

Members of the First Guard hurried over, their faces etched with distress. Hugo released his grip on his side, revealing blood staining his uniform. Though not life-threatening, the wound itself was enough to unsettle everyone.

"Who could have…?"

It didn’t matter who—the fact was that Hugo Bern, the kingdom's strongest knight, had been forced to retreat. Christine cast a healing spell on him, and Hugo received it with a calm expression before looking up at the First Princess. He stopped Christine's healing and knelt on the guild hall’s floor.

"Punish this unworthy servant," he said.

Michelle did not want to hear what came next. But the harsh truth spared no one, rushing in before she could brace herself. In a voice that trembled with the weight of defeat, Hugo Bern delivered his report.

"I, Hugo Bern, failed to fulfill my duty to His Majesty and was forced to retreat."
"His Majesty and Louis…?" Michelle’s voice shook.

Hugo’s voice trembled as well.

"Vice-Captain Sir Aron Sis, who was protecting His Majesty, was killed. The First Prince was captured by the rebels. And…"

Tears streamed down Hugo's face, his lips bleeding from how hard he had bitten them.

"His Majesty was… slain by those rebels."