Rewinding time slightly to the hour when the match between Rei and Noise was still underway, a small group of figures was making its way through the Imperial Capital.
The group consisted of Vihera—technically the Second Princess of the Empire—Lord Tilleul, who was utterly devoted to her, and about ten other knights.
The procession marched through the streets with an air of unhurried grace.
Because the vast majority of residents and tourists had flocked to the arena, the streets of the Imperial Capital were noticeably sparse. Vihera and her companions moved through a city so quiet it could almost be described as deserted.
Of course, "deserted" did not mean they were entirely alone. Some people had decided that the arena would be too crowded to watch the matches comfortably. When these bystanders caught sight of Vihera, their first reaction was to gasp—men and women alike—at her radiant beauty and her equipment, which bore a striking resemblance to the provocative garb of a dancer or a prostitute. Then, their heads would tilt in confusion as they realized she looked familiar. Finally, as they searched their memories and realized exactly who she was, they would catch their breath again.
"Is that... Princess Vihera? Her Highness?"
At that whispered murmur, those nearby quickly realized that the woman was indeed the Empire's Second Princess—even if she herself considered her place in the imperial registry a thing of the past. A stir began to spread, yet no one dared to rush toward her. This was partly due to her status as imperial royalty, but more than anything, it was the atmosphere radiating from Vihera, Tilleul, and the knights.
It wasn't quite murderous intent, but it was an aura of such intensity that it warned others not to approach carelessly.
If anyone there had been a professional warrior—an adventurer, a soldier, or a knight—they would have understood immediately. This was the fighting spirit exuded by those about to throw themselves into the thick of battle.
In Vihera’s case, there was an added layer of pure anticipation at the thought of finally facing a worthy opponent.
She understood, of course, that this operation was for the sake of rescuing her younger brother from house arrest and the looming threat of assassination. Even so, Vihera’s instincts as a combatant hungered for the fight itself. Her thirst for battle was sharper than usual, likely fueled by the knowledge that Rei was currently fighting the S-Rank adventurer Noise at the arena—or perhaps had already finished.
"Tilleul, is everything in order on Theoreme’s end?"
When she addressed the man walking behind her, he replied in a low, measured voice.
"Yes. Once we are spotted and the commotion begins, he is scheduled to enter the palace with the assistance of the contact lurking inside."
"A double diversion, then. It's typical of Theoreme’s tactics, but isn't he being a bit overcautious? With Rei and Noise fighting in the finals, I'm certain everyone—nobility included—has gathered at the arena."
Vihera spoke those words because she personally enjoyed facing powerful enemies, and the lack of them would make the rescue too simple. Tilleul, however, shook his head slightly.
"It is true that the palace's defenses are significantly reduced compared to normal. However, if we act with even the slightest carelessness, Prince Mercurio might pay the price. If possible, we would prefer for Lady Vihera and I to pile one diversion upon another so that the unit led by Theoreme can safely extract His Highness."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"Regardless of our movements, the moment Theoreme—the head of the Third Prince Faction—is seen in action, our objective will be immediately apparent."
"Hmph. Well, as long as the boy is saved, I suppose it's fine."
She muttered this before abruptly changing the subject.
"That reminds me, what about the child of the Axe of the Thunder God... Rhodos, was it? What became of the news that he had infiltrated Big Brother Cabajid's faction?"
"Theoreme’s proposal for the double diversion was partly influenced by that. It seems there are signs that the other side half-expected us to take action. They likely didn't expect us to move this quickly, however—let alone strike during the finals of the fighting tournament."
As he answered Vihera, Tilleul felt a pang of pity for Rhodos, who was known to most only as the son of Elk. Tilleul’s own prediction was that the young man’s love would never bear fruit, given that Vihera didn't even recognize him as a man.
Devoted to Vihera as he was, Tilleul had seen many similar figures over the years. Many had been enchanted by Vihera's beauty, only to fall by the wayside without ever fulfilling their desires. The decisive difference this time, however, was that the woman Rhodos loved was herself in love with Rei.
(Calling it unrequited love doesn't quite cover it... what a wretched soul. It is only natural to be captivated by Lady Vihera, but... Rei, is it? I wish to meet him myself as soon as possible and see him with my own eyes. If he is unworthy of Lady Vihera...)
Unaware of Tilleul’s internal monologue, Vihera continued.
"I don't know the specifics of how he slipped into Big Brother Cabajid's faction, but he’s doing surprisingly well. I suppose he truly does have the blood of the Axe of the Thunder God in him."
She spoke with genuine admiration, but had she known that Rhodos’s only reason for joining the First Prince Faction was his rivalry with Rei, she likely wouldn't have been so generous with her praise.
"...Indeed. I have heard that their security is quite formidable, making it impossible for us to plant our own people. In that sense, his presence there is a stroke of luck."
In truth, Theoreme had informed Tilleul that several attempts to sneak members of the Third Prince Faction into the opposing side had ended in total silence; they were presumed dead. That was why Tilleul had been wide-eyed with shock when he first heard from his own palace contacts that Rhodos had been taken into the First Prince Faction.
"Because of that, the information he provides has been immensely useful."
"I imagine so."
Whether it was the preparations that suggested they knew Vihera’s group was moving, or the intel regarding the Requiem Bell targeting Rei—which had already played out—both reports had been shocking. Tilleul vividly remembered the expression Vihera had worn when she heard Rei was being attacked. It had been an expression of such ferocity it was almost transcendent.
(Still, considering he only infiltrated the First Prince Faction right before our rescue operation, we must assume he hasn't been privy to any truly critical secrets. ...If only he had joined them sooner... no, as a citizen of the Kingdom of Mireana, he likely would have been kept away from vital information regardless.)
As Tilleul mused to himself, the procession continued down the main street. Even with the thin crowds, such a conspicuous group was bound to draw the eyes of the remaining residents. They pressed on under those stares, and as they neared the palace, the number of guards increased.
Naturally, as the guards became more frequent, some recognized Vihera’s face, and many others recognized Tilleul. While Vihera's overwhelming presence had overshadowed Tilleul in the city, professional guards were not so easily distracted.
"H-hey. Isn't that... Her Highness Vihera?"
"Yeah. I heard she fled the Empire... why is she in the Imperial Capital? That isn't just someone who looks like her, is it?"
"...Well, given that flashy, provocative outfit, I suppose it’s possible..."
"Don't be an idiot. Who else would look that much like her?"
"The fighting tournament is on, right? Maybe it has something to do with that?"
"That's a stretch... no, look behind Her Highness. That's Lord Tilleul."
"...The one devoted to her?"
"Yeah. But still, why come to the Imperial Capital now, of all times?"
"Maybe we should ask? If it turns out she's an impostor, it'll be our heads..."
"Right. I'd rather not get chewed out by the superiors for being negligent."
The three guards whispered among themselves before approaching. They addressed Tilleul rather than Vihera, likely finding it too daunting to speak directly to someone they believed to be the Second Princess.
"Pardon us, but... would you be Lord Tilleul?"
"I am. There is no mistake."
Tilleul answered without a hint of hesitation, yet he did not slow his pace. Since Vihera was leading the group and she hadn't stopped, he saw no reason to. He knew that even if he stopped, Vihera would likely continue without a second thought. More importantly, the news that Vihera—who had supposedly renounced her imperial registry—was in the capital would cause a massive shockwave, and the longer it took for the authorities to realize it, the better.
The guards, not understanding the weight of the situation, continued to trail after him.
"And... the person walking ahead of you..."
"I'm afraid I cannot say."
"..."
The guards were left speechless by his blunt refusal. However, since the man before them held a status and level of power far beyond their own, they didn't have the courage to push further.
"Most of the senior officials are away from the palace at the moment, so if you could come back after the tournament finals..."
As they spoke, a sudden, bone-chilling cold washed over the three guards, causing them to freeze in place. They didn't understand what had happened at first, but as they stood paralyzed and watched Tilleul walk past, the reason became clear.
It was the knights walking behind Tilleul. They had turned their sharp, piercing gazes toward the guards—gazes so thick with bloodlust they were almost physical. The look clearly commanded them not to bother the pair any longer.
Knights and guards. Those whose trade was war versus those who maintained the peace.
The guards were not without combat experience; they protected the order of the Imperial Capital, after all. However, compared to the knights who lived for the battlefield—especially the elites directly under Tilleul—the number of life-or-death struggles they had survived was worlds apart.
In the end, the guards stood in silence and watched the group pass. Only once the knights were out of sight did they finally let out a collective breath of relief.
"Hah... that was terrifying. I guess that's what a real knight is like."
"Y-yeah. I never imagined they'd be that intense."
"Seriously. I thought I was going to be killed just by their look. If I have to deal with that, I'd rather take my chances with the rowdy fools using the tournament as an excuse for trouble."
"Same here. Besides, if those really are knights directly under Lord Tilleul, it's clear they aren't people we can handle."
"What should we do? Report this to the higher-ups?"
"Yeah... we'd better."
"Let's do that. Moving around in this heat is just painful anyway."
"Right. Even criminals wouldn't be stupid enough to cause a ruckus in this weather."
With that, the three guards left the street and headed back to the guardhouse, using the report to their supervisor as an excuse to get out of the sun.
Unaware of the guards’ conversation, Vihera and her group continued straight toward the palace. They encountered more guards and even several knights, but Vihera ignored them all, leading Tilleul and the rest onward with singular purpose.
Eventually, the massive palace gate came into view. Since it was daytime, the gate stood open, but gatekeeper knights armed with halberds stood watch before it. Though it was technically autumn, the heat was still like midsummer; wearing full plate mail in such weather made for a grueling post.
Under normal circumstances, gatekeeping was not a duty assigned to knights. However, this was the heart of the Bestia Empire, and before them was the palace where the Emperor resided. As such, the gate could not be left to mere soldiers.
The gatekeeper knights showed no signs of panic upon realizing who was approaching. When Vihera reached the gate, they looked at her dancer-like outfit without even a flicker of surprise and opened their mouths.
"Welcome back, Her Highness Vihera."
"Yes. Thank you for your hard work. I have some business inside, so I'll be going in, if you don't mind."
Vihera moved to enter the grounds. The knights said nothing and allowed her to pass. This was only natural; the palace was her home. Though Vihera herself believed she had renounced her imperial registry, her father had never officially recognized it. In fact, he was so pleased by her temperament and strength that he gleefully kept her on the registry.
Thus, Vihera’s entry was permitted without question.
However...
"Viscount Boogle, I must ask you to stop right there."
"...What?"
Just as Tilleul and the knights behind him tried to follow Vihera into the palace, the gatekeeper knight spoke up.
"Viscount Boogle, you are currently under suspicion for the Crime of Sowing Unrest. We would like you to accompany us so that we may hear your side of the matter."
As he spoke, about thirty more knights appeared from the direction of the palace—far more than would usually be stationed at the gate. They leveled their halberds, spears, and longswords, the sharp tips of their weapons all pointed directly at Tilleul.