Chapter 4
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Chapter 4 After the Scrolls deflected the poisoned arrows, Imperial Knights rushed in from all directions.
"Chase them! There aren't many of them!"
As the Knights came thundering forward, the assailants vanished into the crowd. Yet the scene remained absolute chaos. It couldn't have been otherwise. This was the first assassination attempt on Crown Prince Kiaros—naturally, it was shocking to everyone present.
"No... Are they insane? Against Crown Prince Kiaros?"
"Who's behind this? Aren't they afraid of imperial retaliation...?"
Murmurs echoed from every direction. Everyone concluded that 'someone had committed a senseless, mad act'—because Crown Prince Kiaros remained completely unharmed. 'That's thanks to me....' I thought this while swaying unsteadily. The magic from all the Scrolls had been exhausted, and blank pages bearing magical circles fluttered down around me like snow. 'Today's attack was difficult to prevent.' In the original timeline, Crown Prince Kiaros—once so formidable—would have died absurdly today from an unexpected second period of darkness he couldn't foresee. After that, the Empress would also pass away, and the Emperor, who had been away from the Capital, would return to power, though he wouldn't last even a year. 'It's classified information, but the Emperor is in such a state that his death at any moment wouldn't be surprising due to illness.' The sole surviving member of the imperial family and protagonist—the youngest Prince—was merely eight years old. Thus the Polariud imperial house would crumble, and war would engulf the realm. And now, I had twisted the original narrative and saved Crown Prince Kiaros from the assassination attempt.
"I told you to stay in position!"
While I was basking in quiet satisfaction, the White Knight Commander exploded in anger at three Knights who had abandoned their posts.
"What were you thinking, charging forward the moment you spotted enemies! Revealing yourselves partially nearby is an obvious lure tactic!"
The fundamental reason this incident occurred was singular: the escort Knights had zero combat experience. How could those guarding the Crown Prince—a member of the imperial family—have ever fought a real battle?
"Truly... what would we have done without Miss Mina from the Magic Department!"
"...It's Namia...."
Activating Scrolls requires magical power. I had just exhausted mine to its absolute limit. Even as I swayed, I corrected him awkwardly.
"Not the Magic Department—the Scroll Management Department...."
Before me, eyes as vivid and crimson as rubies suddenly appeared. Crown Prince Kiaros. Though he must have been the most startled by the unexpected second period of darkness, his expression remained unchanged, still emanating the cold, commanding aura of a sovereign.
"Defense Scrolls... I was definitely reported yesterday that there were six of them."
The proposal must have been submitted last night, then? He had read through it all and memorized even the number of Scrolls that no one else would have cared about? 'Wow, that's a level of meticulousness our department hasn't seen.' He truly was thorough. It was admirable. His gaze swept across the Scrolls piled like snow around me, then returned to me.
"Just how many of them are there?"
Even as I fielded the question, my vision blurred and my mind grew hazy. 'I didn't sleep all night making this yesterday, and I've completely drained every ounce of magical power from my body.' Honestly, all that remained was for me to lose consciousness. Still, I had to do my best to make an impression while the opportunity existed.
"...172 scrolls."
I barely managed to answer before I collapsed. I thought I would crash straight into the ground, but it was surprisingly warm.
"Ah...."
As I barely managed to blink, Crown Prince Kiaros's face came into view. Wow. Am I really being held in the Crown Prince's arms right now? 'He certainly has a nice physique.' Crown Prince Kiaros seemed to be saying something, but I couldn't hear it clearly. In any case, the Crown Prince appeared unharmed. I barely managed to move my lips and whispered.
"I'm so glad you're safe...," And I added, my eyes fluttering.
"I wanted to protect you so badly. Really, truly, desperately."
After that, I lost consciousness completely. * * * Upon returning to the Imperial Palace, Crown Prince Kiaros launched an investigation into the perpetrators. They were undoubtedly the same group he had been pursuing all this time. 'They know even the affairs of the Imperial Family—they might be a more formidable force than I anticipated.' The very fact that they would plan such an attack against him, a Dragon Lord, was highly unusual. 'The timing of that sudden Dark Period is also deeply unsettling.' Had it not been for that unexpected Dark Period, he could have eliminated them all before they ever fired their poisoned arrows. 'If they had even predicted my second Dark Period, which I myself didn't anticipate, then they're no ordinary foes. But is such a thing even possible? It's as if they know the future....' He immediately began investigating the "second Dark Period."
Nothing like this had occurred since the founding Emperor of Polariud, so the Imperial Family had never made any preparations for it. 'I should keep the fact that I experience Dark Periods classified from the outside world, just in case.' He showed no outward sign of it. Yet even breathing felt suffocatingly difficult now. 'According to the records, the second Dark Period should be identical to the first.' If so, he could recover his strength again in half a year. As he sat lost in thought, the White Knight Commander approached and bowed to make his report.
"I am truly ashamed. Here is the disciplinary roster."
Three knights who had disobeyed the Commander's orders and rushed out, as well as the White Knight Commander himself for allowing a breach in the escort, were all listed for discipline.
"What."
Crown Prince Kiaros muttered with a dark expression.
"I was careless as well, so there's nothing more to say."
"And the Scroll magic, no, the Scroll planning, no wait, no.... My apologies. Namia Loapi from the Scroll Management Department's Inventory Team...."
"Give it here."
The moment Namia's name was mentioned, Crown Prince Kiaros snatched the report from the stammering White Knight Commander's hands. Namia Loapi, second daughter of the Loapi Marquessate, currently twenty-three years old. The report contained Namia's personal information. Three years and seven months since joining the Inventory Team of the Scroll Management Department under the Imperial Knight Order. Her twin brother, Huan Loapi, also served as an Imperial Palace civil servant, currently stationed in the Treasury Department. Yet among the subsequent passages, one particular detail caught his attention. 'Top scorer on the Imperial Academy entrance examination, Class 54?' However, her average grades throughout her time at the Imperial Academy ranked in the lower percentile, her graduation examination scores were among the lowest, and her Imperial Palace civil servant recruitment examination scores were similarly poor. Subsequently, she was assigned to the Scroll Management Department—a sinecure position. 'Hmm.' Amidst countless scrolls fluttering down like snow, her blue eyes met his—clear and luminous. I had certainly thought those eyes lacked enthusiasm, spirit, and focus. [Yes, of course.] That voice, devoid of even minimal sincerity, remained vivid in my memory. Could she truly be the same person who had recited legal statutes fluently and activated one hundred seventy-two scrolls? [I wanted to protect it so badly.] Why did that particular voice carry such genuine conviction? In any case, she was an extraordinarily peculiar woman. [Truly, really, desperately, with all my heart.] When I heard those words, I felt somewhat unsettled... Crown Prince Kiaros lowered his gaze before asking quietly.
"Has Miss Namia Loapi still not regained consciousness?"
"No, sir. According to the Health and Welfare Department, she should awaken by tomorrow..."
After Namia lost consciousness, Luca Class from the Health and Welfare Department immediately took charge of her care. [It's because she exhausted her mana to its limit. Combined with accumulated fatigue, she should recover fine after proper rest.] [She is my benefactor. Ensure she receives proper care until she awakens.] [Hmm... Her nutritional status isn't particularly good. Would it be acceptable to add intravenous fluids?] [Use every intravenous fluid in the Imperial Palace if necessary.] Crown Prince Kiaros fell into contemplation. 'Poor nutritional status? Her salary shouldn't be insufficient. Then why?' Moreover, her twin brother was stationed in the Treasury Department—the most vital department within the Imperial Palace civil service.
"The Loapi Marquessate? Where is that?"
"Well... it's merely an unremarkable lower-ranking noble house."
"I see. Are their circumstances particularly difficult?"
"I'm uncertain, but it shouldn't be that severe. After all, they maintain a reasonably respectable marquessate estate in the Capital, and both the twin siblings serve as Imperial Palace civil servants..."
The Empire was a pleasant place to live. Poor nutritional status in adult women was rare even among commoners. Crown Prince Kiaros furrowed his brow.
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