Chapter 29: Secrets and Shadows in the Palace

Imperial Palace Study

Rubia sat across from Lucy, her cheeks puffed out in frustration. Her face was a storm of emotions, filled with unspoken reprimands.

“Why did you leave the palace? How did you catch the kidnappers? How long have you been sneaking out without permission?!” The questions came in rapid succession.

Lucy raised a hand to calm her. “Breathe, Rubia. Let me explain.”

Patiently, she recounted the events—how she tracked Perry’s location, used him as bait, defeated the kidnappers, and secured his rescue. When she finished, Rubia exhaled heavily, crossing her arms.

“As expected of Satan’s daughter…” she muttered under her breath before shooting Lucy a pointed glare. “But seriously, you stormed into a kidnappers’ den alone? Do you have any idea how reckless that was?!”

Lucy listened to the scolding with a calm expression, nodding along. She could have easily erased Rubia’s concerns with a bit of memory manipulation, but she refused to use such magic on someone who had always treated her kindly. That line, at least, she would not cross.

“If you knew their location, you should have sent the knights instead. What if something had happened to you?”

Rubia’s voice carried the weight of genuine concern, making it difficult for Lucy to brush her off.

“You’re right. It was dangerous,” Lucy admitted, though her tone lacked any real remorse.

Rubia sighed, rubbing her temples. “We need to report this to Arasia, but…” She hesitated. “You want me to keep it a secret, don’t you?”

Lucy gave her a hopeful look. “It would be… easier that way. Let’s just say I was kidnapped but managed to escape.”

Rubia pursed her lips, clearly torn. Then, as if struck by inspiration, she smirked. “Fine. But on one condition.”

Lucy arched an eyebrow. “What is it?”

“Promise me you’ll never leave the palace without permission again.”

Lucy hesitated. That was a rather binding promise.

Rubia extended her pinky.

“Swear on it.”

A childish vow? Lucy blinked. Oh, right. This was something Rubia used to do as a child.

With a quiet sigh, Lucy linked their pinkies.

“Fine. I promise.”

Rubia beamed, satisfied.

Arasia arrived shortly after, bursting into the room with palpable worry.

“Lucy, are you hurt?” She cupped Lucy’s face in her hands, searching for any sign of injury.

Lucy shifted uncomfortably.

“I’m fine.”

Arasia sighed in relief before suddenly kneeling. The knights behind her followed suit.

“I failed as your guardian,” she murmured, voice thick with guilt. “I allowed an enemy to invade the palace and let you be taken. I am no longer worthy of my position.”

Lucy frowned. “Arasia, stop that. We made it through. That’s what matters. But… how did they get inside the palace in the first place?”

Arasia’s expression darkened.

“We found traces of magic in the underground vault. It seems there was an accomplice inside.”

Lucy narrowed her eyes.

“A traitor.”

Arasia nodded.

“We’re investigating. I promise you, we will find them.”

Later that night, after Rubia had arranged a new room for Lucy, she returned to check on Perry.

She lay on a wooden bed, bundled under blankets. The moment Lucy approached, she cracked open her eyes.

“How do you feel?”

“Better… cough…”

Her voice was weak, body still frail from their harrowing escape.

“Rest. Rubia will make sure you recover properly.”

Perry hesitated before pulling the blanket up to her face.

“Thank you… for coming to save me.”

Lucy scratched the back of her head.

“It was my fault you were taken in the first place. Don’t thank me.”

“Still… no one has ever fought for me before. When you showed up, I felt… safe. So, thank you, Princess.”

Her voice faded as exhaustion took over. Lucy watched her for a moment, then sighed.

“I should prepare better for situations like this next time.”

She left quietly, only to find Rubia waiting in the new room.

“Here we are,” Rubia said cheerfully.

“Oh, and by the way, I’ll be sleeping here too.”

Lucy blinked.

“What?”

Rubia pointed to a second bed tucked into the corner.

“Just for a while.”

Lucy sighed, instantly understanding.

‘She’s babysitting me, isn’t she?’

Meanwhile,

The investigation progressed swiftly, uncovering the traitor’s identity—the Minister of Finance. But before he could be arrested, he took his own life, leaving behind a suicide note.

In it, he revealed that his daughter had been kidnapped and used as leverage to force his betrayal. He pleaded for his family’s safety, choosing death as atonement. Fortunately, Helatos had no system of collective punishment, sparing his remaining kin.

Despite this, the true mastermind remained unknown, and the empire pinned the blame on the Northern Forces. The matter, for now, was closed.

Lucy returned to the academy.

Her classmates greeted her with wide-eyed admiration.

“I heard you took down an entire gang!”

“Did you really behead their commander?”

“That’s amazing!”

Lucy frowned.

“That’s… not exactly what happened.”

Before she could correct them, the classroom fell into a tense silence.

A new student had entered. She was unfamiliar yet bore a nameplate that immediately caught Lucy’s attention.

Abbet.

The daughter of the disgraced Minister of Finance.

Her classmates whispered behind cupped hands.

“Why is she even here?”

“The daughter of a traitor has no place among us.”

“She should have followed her father’s example.”

Lucy observed Abbet’s rigid posture, her face set in cold determination.

The weight of her father’s sins now rested solely on her own shoulders.