Her words struck me with a sudden mental halt.
Was she saying he truly stood between two pits of death while playing her father's foolish game?
I did not wish to appear as someone who differentiates between his servants,
yet my disappointment in their organization this time was undeniable.
I found nothing to say except:
"I have nothing to punish you for.
Rather, I should reprimand him—for bypassing the guards and leaving without informing anyone."
…
She looked at him with slight surprise.
His words were not delivered with the gentleness she had grown accustomed to.
He rose from his seat and continued speaking:
"As for Haniul, I am grateful that he protected Jinho throughout that time.
There is no cause for fear—but your organization is extremely poor."
He said it sharply, with irritation, casting a sideways glance at her.
His tone was terrifying.
It made her tremble.
She truly wanted to continue living—and while provoking him in this manner had succeeded, she feared it might derail her plan.
Everyone downstairs waited for him to descend, his face clearly marked with displeasure.
Silvester let out a sound of irritation of his own.
Raphael approached Haniul, who dared not lift his gaze.
He had assumed he would be reprimanded—he deserved it, after all, for bringing Jinho back and making him follow.
But Raphael placed a hand on his shoulder and said calmly:
"Thank you, Haniul.
I appreciate your protection of Jinho—even your negligence in the competition for his sake."
Haniul stared at him, unable to comprehend his words.
Did this mean he would not be blamed for anything?
Should he feel relieved, or shocked?
He could not tell.
He questioned himself silently, until Songjin spoke with remorse:
"I apologize… I forgot the dagger.
Had I not, he wouldn't have gone in there."
Raphael sighed and replied:
"We both know that forgetting is human.
We are human, after all.
And we know well that Jinho is stubborn—he would blame himself if he had let you go alone."
"What I want to know now is how he bypassed the guards.
Was he truly that much smarter than them?"
He crossed his arms over his chest, staring proudly at the guards behind him.
One of them stepped forward as if to confess, yet no answer came.
Raphael advanced, his eyes dark with menace.
"Are these truly guards… or decorative dolls?"
He said it quietly, filled with rage and sharpness.
Silvester lowered his head.
Everyone did.
He was difficult to read—
at times forgiving, at times forgetful of his status as a prince,
and at times so strict it felt suffocating.
Mariana descended the stairs, glaring at them with irritation.
Every guard present knew they were already condemned by her gaze alone—
no one would be spared.
"Very well. Since no one will speak, I give you two hours.
I will check on Jinho and return to find you in the courtyard.
If no one confesses or offers a satisfactory apology, I promise execution."
He turned his back on them.
Now then—how would they deal with this?
He gestured for Rora to follow him, and before exiting through the door, he said:
"Mariana, I cannot blame you.
However, anyone you bring here is a trust.
If you fail to protect one, I cannot guarantee the safety of the other.
Rora's service to you has ended."
She maintained her indifferent, rigid expression, even as Rora looked at her with remorse.
Both knew they bore the greater blame.
Jinho's life was now safe—there was no need to sever either of their necks.
"Take me to his room."
He ordered her, his tone still unusually sharp.
She could feel sweat tracing down her neck.
Tension weighed heavily on the heart of someone who did not wish to die.
When they entered the room, they found him asleep—deeply, looking far better than before.
Rora sighed in relief, and even Raphael's irritated features softened at the sight of his peaceful rest.
Yet he wondered how much pain the boy had endured.
He approached, gently playing with his hair as he thought:
"You were remarkably intelligent—especially with observation and military planning.
You once planned a war alongside us, yet never fought in it."
"I know you bypassed them by discovering some flaw.
I have no doubt of that.
But when did you have the time to find it, when you've been in trouble since your very first day here?"
"Arora would be devastated…"
He paused.
"…Arora—no, I mean Rora.
Tell them he is exempt from duties if he awakens."
Rora looked puzzled at the name, then realized—after a moment—that Arora was Jinho's elder sister.
What kind of relationship did you have with her, to confuse us like this?
She wondered silently.
She bowed, casting Jinho a look of guilt and pity, and as she grasped the door handle to leave, she heard him say:
"I will overlook your concealment of him.
Do not disappoint me again."
She froze.
Her heart climbed into her throat—one wrong breath and she would collapse.
She struggled to maintain silence and steady breathing.
Yet he had exposed her without even questioning her.
What kind of sorcerer was he?
"Won't you answer?"
He snapped irritably.
She nodded without turning back and replied in a trembling voice:
"I will not repeat it, my lord."
She was exposed—
and lying now would only make it worse.
She left the place with her emotions in conflict,
while he remained seated, thinking deeply.
What kind of situation have you put yourself in?
You are nothing but a servant—why do you drag yourself into danger, and pull others along with you?
The hardest thing is to remain in a safe place.
True difficulty lies in patience, in staying without trouble until I become Emperor.
You stupid fool.
He rose from his seat while the others were heading down to dinner together.
He would speak to them now—about everything that had happened since he stepped into this place.
He took his seat at the table,
as the Duke and his children sat as well.
Raphael said irritably,
"Where is Seongjin?"
Hanyul answered nervously,
"In truth, he said he would return to his room and apologized for not attending."
Raphael's features showed annoyance, yet he suppressed what he wished to say.
They all began eating under a heavy silence,
one that tightened around their throats, refusing to allow the food to descend into their stomachs.
Raphael spoke while eating,
"Silvester… was this truly the system you operated under before me?"
Silvester replied in fear,
"It was not as I had planned. I beg for forgiveness."
Is he truly doing all of this for Jin-ho? By the Creator… he has stirred everyone here just by changing his tone because of him.
Mariana whispered inwardly,
If things are like this, then why did he not prevent his death before?
Mariana was thinking instead of eating like the others.
Hanyul looked at her with concern, but he could not say a word—the Prince's presence was before him, and he was furious, if we were to add a word that could describe him.
"Hanyul," Raphael said,
"I will present you with a request. You may accept or refuse as you wish.
Would you become one of our knights?"
Without hesitation, Silvester spoke as if the question had been directed at him:
"Of course he will accept."
Raphael struck the table and said,
"I did not ask you.
Therefore, keep silent, Duke."
Everyone flinched at the sound of the strike and his burning gaze, swallowing their fear as they looked at him.
Hanyul glanced at his sister as if asking for her opinion.
Their bond was clearly close, so Raphael continued,
"Since you helped Jin-ho, and I swear I am grateful to you, you have the right to add one condition to your departure with me."
Alarms blared inside Mariana's mind—
like ambulance sirens.
Her thoughts tangled; she was supposed to be the one leaving.
In one of the events, Mariana goes to the Prince's palace.
Why, then, is Hanyul the one leaving now?
Everything became suspicious.
The story had changed, and she did not know what she was supposed to do.
But her brother's request made her feel that the waters had returned to their proper course.
"I want my sister to accompany me there."
Raphael looked at Mariana, then at Silvester.
"It seems his fortune has drawn close to perfection."
Raphael did not mind her presence—on the contrary, he sensed her intelligence would assist him.
"What do you excel at, or what do you offer,
for me to take the useless with me to the Imperial Palace, as you know?"
He said this as he set down his knife and fork.
She smiled—clearly provoked—and replied sharply,
"I studied accounting and economics, as well as law.
I can assist in that capacity."
He looked at her with admiration, the irritation finally leaving his eyes.
He nodded in approval and said calmly,
"Very well, Hanyul. I can take Mariana with us.
Prepare yourselves—two days from now."
Their father hid a victorious smile behind his teeth.
Though he had not expected his son to go, it mattered little—
he could secure influence within the palace.
But Raphael's next words shattered his dreams.
"I wish to add something for you, Silvester.
Once the competition ends, you will have no right to offer opinions, criticisms, requests, or commands toward us—the people of the palace.
As all respect their ranks, so must you."
Silvester stared at him in shock.
Raphael smiled sideways and asked,
"Do you object?"
Silence.
Silvester had nothing to say.
Respecting the divisions established within the Empire was a duty.
Raphael's father divided the Empire as follows:
The ruling family in the North.
The Sylvanor family—the Duke—in the South.
Jin-ho's family, the Kim clan, in the East.
And finally, the Ambervale family in the West.
Four regions ruled by one sovereign,
with four nobles branching beneath him to assist in governance.
And since the Kim family had fallen, their region became subject to the administration of Duke Silvester.
Mariana recalled everything she knew about the Empire's division from the story.
After her father's death, the Sylvanor family would fall under Hanyul's leadership.
Weeks later, she herself would die under Raphael's wing.
It was difficult to even think about—
how could she possibly enact it?
She sighed before everyone, still lost in thought,
until Raphael's voice jolted her back.
"Do not worry. Everything will proceed contrary to your careless management."
He stood and left the room.
For the first time, she saw him this domineering—
as though the humility of the previous night had completely evaporated.
Yet she did not care.
She rose in turn and headed to her room.
If my brother becomes one of his knights and my father dies,
he will have no time to visit or govern this land.
This change will make me the one who rules the family—
assuming I do not marry Raphael.
But since I will leave with him to his palace, as in the previous outcomes…
That means the probability of marrying him exceeds eighty-five percent.
All these senseless thoughts—
beginning without end—
remained trapped within her weary mind, exhausted from its struggle for survival.
Two hours passed.
Night fell,
darkness enveloped the place.
Only lanterns and a few candles illuminated the palace's rear courtyard.
Ten forest guards gathered there, along with Hanyul.
On the opposite side stood Raphael and Seongjin.
As though the agony of death clung to their faces—
as though the Angel of Death had come to reap heads.
"Who allowed him to pass the guard?"
Raphael asked angrily,
drawing his sword in an attempt to frighten them.
More than anything, he desired a foolish confession—
something that would spare him from killing them.
But then he heard a familiar voice say:
"No one allowed me. I passed on my own."
He turned toward the sound—
and there stood Jin-ho, leaning on Rora.
The wind blew, cold and sharp, making him shrink slightly.
Yet he stood there, gazing at them with green eyes—
like a cat hidden within the darkness.