As soon as Forn reached the doors of the royal hall, she released her aura, sweeping the dust and debris from her clothes until they were spotless—as if nothing had happened. She gripped her sword tightly, hid her turmoil behind a cold expression, then opened the door and stepped out.
The two guards were still kneeling where she had left them.
She felt a flicker of relief.
The emperor had not arrived yet… and the news had not spread.
She looked at them sternly and said,
"No one is to enter the hall now. Is that understood?"
Then she left without waiting for their reply. She had no time for apologies or vows of loyalty.
All that occupied her thoughts now was escape… Escape from the imperial palace… From the entire human empire.
The guards lifted their heads after she disappeared from sight and exchanged confused glances. There was something strange in her behavior, but she was the Crown Princess… and neither dared to question her.
They stood again, breathing deeply, and resumed their watch.
Unaware that their deaths were now closer than they could imagine.
As soon as Forn left the imperial palace and walked toward the outskirts of the capital, she felt eyes on her.
Several people… positioned carefully.
"So the emperor warned the guards… didn't he?"
She vanished from her spot in an instant, using her speed and aura to conceal her presence, then dashed toward the edge of the capital as fast as she could.
She did not look back.
Far from the imperial capital, the emperor was seated among nobles from across the empire, watching knights fight in the arena.
The celebration was loud. Laughter echoed. Goblets were raised in honor of his presence.
But the emperor was not enjoying himself.
He thought irritably:
"How much of my time has been wasted attending this foolish banquet…"
A plump nobleman approached him, dressed in luxurious garments reeking of perfume, and said enthusiastically,
"We are honored by your presence at our celebration, Your Majesty! You cannot imagine how delighted we were when you accepted the invitation!"
The emperor looked at him calmly, though a deadly coldness hid beneath his gaze.
"You spent quite a fortune on this event… didn't you?"
The noble smiled and waved his hand quickly.
"Nothing is too costly for you, Your Majesty! The moment I heard you had accepted, I summoned the finest event organizers from across the empire… even from beyond! All for you!"
The emperor replied evenly,
"Well done—"
But he stopped abruptly.
His expression froze.
A strange sensation pierced his heart like a hidden blade.
Someone… had breached the secret chamber.
The sacred spear.
The metals.
They had been touched.
In the next instant, light swirled around him as he attempted to teleport back to the throne room—
But—
It failed.
The spell halted before completion.
He felt a barrier.
Something was blocking his transportation.
His eyes widened briefly, then his face twisted with fury. His golden aura erupted violently, cracking the ground beneath his feet and making the nobles tremble.
He roared, shaking the arena itself:
"Captain of the Guard! We return to the capital at once!"
The moment he said it, he vanished.
The plump noble could neither speak nor comprehend what had just happened. He stared at the empty space where the emperor had stood, then muttered in shock:
"What in the world happened… to make the Emperor of Humanity leave in such haste?"
That noble was known across the continent of Mira as the Fat Golden Hound.
He was no ordinary noble, but a shrewd merchant who always appeared at the right place at the right time—and walked away with the greatest profit. Many mocked him with that nickname in contempt… but he never cared.
When he glanced at the other nobles, he saw confusion and whispers spreading among them.
But his usual smile quickly returned as he said cheerfully,
"It seems His Majesty is occupied with something. Let us continue our celebration until he finishes his business."
Music resumed. Laughter returned.
But tension lingered in the air.
The nobles exchanged wary glances, wondering what could possibly drive the emperor to leave like that.
The plump noble gestured slightly. His head guard approached and bowed respectfully.
"Is something wrong, my lord?"
The noble replied calmly, no trace of jest in his tone this time:
"Prepare. We are leaving the human empire immediately."
The guard's eyes widened in surprise, but he answered at once:
"As you command, my lord."
The noble nodded and withdrew quietly to a secluded corner.
From within his robes, he took out a small, oddly shaped crystal and raised it to his face.
He whispered what had happened—about the emperor's sudden departure—then returned the crystal to its place as if nothing unusual had occurred.
He rejoined the celebration wearing a pleasant smile.
Meanwhile, the emperor tore through the sky toward the imperial capital, fury rising within him.
"Who dared…?"
His thoughts raced.
The secret chamber… the sacred spear… the metals…
Then his mind halted on a single name.
Forn.
Only one other person knew of the secret chamber.
He roared in anger:
"Captain of the Guard! Order the knights in the imperial capital to prevent Forn from leaving immediately!"
The captain, flying at full speed behind him, froze for a split second.
The princess… the Crown Princess?
But there was no time for questions.
He pulled out a communication gem and issued a sharp command:
"By order of the Emperor! Prevent Princess Forn from leaving the imperial capital at once!"
Then he sped after his lord with everything he had.
At the edge of the capital…
Forn was already close to escaping.