Was it to distinguish herself from her retainers?
She wasn’t dressed in a gown but in ceremonial attire, both ornate and imposing.
Adorned with precious gems and golden ornaments, it could have looked gaudy, but her noble bearing made it seem anything but.
Instead, the transcendent aura she exuded merged with the ceremonial outfit’s grandeur, emanating an overwhelming sense of authority.
It felt as though she was a completely different person.
Could someone change so drastically in just three years?
Rumble…
As Epherna walked, the crowd instinctively parted, creating a wide path for her.
The path was unnecessarily broad for a single person, yet it seemed insufficient as the crowd widened it further until it could accommodate over ten people walking abreast.
Epherna ascended the podium with deliberate steps and took her seat upon the throne placed there.
When she raised her hand with a small gesture, all the retainers who had been bowing their heads simultaneously lifted them to offer formal greetings.
“Familiar faces, and some new ones as well.”
Her golden eyes, radiating a languid gaze, scanned the hundreds present with a sweeping glance.
“First, I thank you, my loyal subjects, for coming. Traveling back and forth between your hometowns and the Imperial Capital each year for the New Year’s Festival and my ascension anniversary must not be easy.”
She gave a soft smile and chuckled lightly.
Though her tone seemed casual for an emperor’s opening address, it didn’t come off as arrogant.
Anyone with even a modicum of perceptiveness could tell.
Her heart wasn’t smiling at all.
“I hope this will be an enjoyable banquet for all. Let’s skip the tedious speeches this year, shall we?”
Why ruin the lively atmosphere with long-winded declarations?
Her words brightened most of the attendees’ expressions, though a few nobles flinched, their shoulders trembling.
It appeared that she had already taken steps to address certain issues before the banquet began, ensuring that any necessary punishments were discussed in advance to maintain a harmonious celebration.
Where there were those to be held accountable, there were also achievements to honor.
Epherna called forth individuals, summoning them to stand before her.
Among them were familiar faces as well as strangers.
She personally recounted their accomplishments and presented them with rewards.
Each declaration was followed by resounding applause that seemed to shake the heavens.
The honorees couldn’t hide their joy, grinning ear to ear.
After all, they had achieved deeds significant enough to be personally acknowledged and rewarded by the Empress herself.
Even if their pride soared sky-high today, it would be forgivable.
After bestowing all rewards and praise, Epherna raised her glass.
As her retainers lifted their glasses in response, she delivered a brief toast.
At her proclamation, palace musicians began playing, announcing the start of the dances and songs.
When Epherna descended from the podium and began mingling, the room grew lively, as if the earlier silence had never existed.
Sensing the atmosphere had sufficiently warmed up, I concealed my presence amid the subdued chaos.
There was something I needed to find. Not remnants of the Revolutionary Army, but clues about my name.
‘I was told I’d find answers here.’
Dairon had conveyed someone’s words, and I had chosen to trust him.
Whoever had instructed him to pass that message on to me…
“Where are you going?”
Ah, I’d forgotten about her.
“Our conversation isn’t over yet.”
“Apologies, I have something to attend to.”
“It won’t take long.”
Meriel possessed exceptional observational skills.
The fact that she could see through my concealment suggested she was even sharper than I’d assumed.
“…Fine. I’ll listen for a moment.”
It was better to settle this thoroughly now than to let it linger.
“My question hasn’t changed. Why haven’t you talked to me?”
Because the chances of you being connected to the Revolutionary Army are zero. There was no need to waste time engaging with you.
Of course, I couldn’t say that, so I dodged the question.
“…Apologies. It’s a flaw in my personality. Can we let it go?”
“Your personality? Do you dislike shamans?”
“….”
I feigned a sorrowful expression, the kind that would make anyone think, “Ah, he must have a tragic story.”
Perhaps it worked.
“…I’m sorry. I must have touched on a painful memory.”
“It’s okay.”
I felt guilty, though.
Not only had I created a misunderstanding, but I had lied.
I’d repay this debt later.
For now, I parted ways with Meriel, concealing my presence as I left the palace.
The security near the Imperial Palace was exceptionally tight.
Every guard was fully armed, and their numbers exceeded a hundred, even at a glance.
It seemed impossible for the Revolutionary Army to succeed in any external assault.
‘Nor from within.’
There were no bombs, scrolls, or any items that could pose a threat to human life within the palace.
Additionally, weapon possession was strictly regulated, making it highly unlikely for anyone to have smuggled in anything dangerous.
What could they be planning?
Even if they tried to disrupt the banquet, it would be futile.
No matter how many insurgents they had managed to sneak inside the palace, their numbers would be but a fraction of the total present. They would be overwhelmed in no time.
Poison? Assassination?
These were the most plausible methods, yet the odds still seemed slim.
If they aimed to kill with poison or assassination, their target would undoubtedly be the Empress.
However, it was customary for the Empress to abstain from eating or drinking during the banquet to mitigate the risk of poisoning.
The same applied to assassination.
The Empress was always under close protection, engaging only briefly in conversation and spending most of the time seated on the podium, overlooking her retainers.
What was the plan?
‘…No, this isn’t the time to dwell on that.’
Wasn’t I in the middle of searching for clues about my name?
I had already put faith in the “arrangements” left behind, so I might as well rely on them for now.
Opportunities to roam freely around the Imperial Capital were rare.
With most of the security concentrated at the Imperial Palace, this might be my only chance.
Walking leisurely around the palace grounds, braving the midwinter winds, no one paid me any heed.
In restricted areas, I used concealment to slip through unnoticed.
An hour passed as I wandered, even employing my eyes’ ability, yet I found nothing.
Were they expecting me to find someone?
If so, I was even more lost.
Honestly, I had no idea what I was supposed to discover.
“Haah.”
Was it fate, then?
No matter how hard I tried, were my efforts meaningless?
Perhaps. After all, I wasn’t searching for an object but a name.
I’d wasted enough time on fruitless endeavors. I resolved to focus on what I could do now.
Heaving a deep sigh, I stopped walking and turned to head back to the capital.
But perhaps I was just a moment too late in making that decision.
BOOOOOOOM!!!
*****
FWOOSH!
The Imperial Palace was ablaze, engulfed in flames that roared like a tempest.
The scale of the explosion was beyond what could be achieved even with grand-scale magic.
Yet, for some reason, the firestorm didn’t expand beyond a certain point.
It was as if an invisible hand was containing it, compressing and suppressing the damage.
Was this thanks to the “arrangement” left behind?
No, it wasn’t.
Even he couldn’t have predicted an explosion of this magnitude.
This was something prepared solely for one woman.
That left only one explanation.
“Haah… haah…”
A mage, beyond mastery and approaching divinity, had deployed a full-power mana field.
She had shielded everyone at the banquet with barriers, mitigated the explosion’s power, summoned Shir, and invoked divine blessings.
Her efforts spared almost everyone from harm, but the cost to herself was severe.
The absence of Bergamot, who could have supported her but was incapacitated from drinking too much and resting in her quarters, only added to the burden she had to bear alone.
[Contractor! Are you unharmed?]
“What about the nobles?”
[They’re all safe!]
It was a s*icide bombing, not an ordinary one but one using a Demon Language Scroll—a scroll imbued with demonic magic.
“They’ve been silent for ten years, only to strike now?”
This attack must have been meticulously planned for years.
The Revolutionary Army, cut off from royal support, could never have afforded a Demon Language Scroll otherwise.
It was both a certainty and a fact.
“Your Majesty.”
Duke Simon Lemea approached.
His silver fox fur stole was singed black, and his voice was low and steady.
“It seems to be an attack by the remnants of the Revolutionary Army. However, rest assured—the damage is negligible.”
A few minutes before the explosion, he had sensed something amiss and evacuated as many nobles as possible.
He himself had remained behind in the banquet hall, shielding many others.
“So please, Your Majesty, be at ease.”
“…”
Epherna’s condition was visibly poor.
Objectively, it was critical.
Blocking such a massive spell within a fraction of a second was a feat even Bergamot would hesitate to claim as achievable.
Only after she heard an accurate assessment of the damages did she finally close her eyes slowly.
“You arrived rather quickly.”
“…”
