In the royal capital of the Human Empire, the moment the Imperial Guard Commander issued the order to stop Princess Forn and prevent her from leaving the capital, all the knights across the city sprang into action to carry it out.
Even though they could hardly believe what they had heard…
Princess Forn? The Crown Princess?
But orders were orders—and they had to be obeyed.
The instant Forn sensed the disturbance of auras throughout the capital, she realized her father had discovered everything. She dashed at full speed toward the grand imperial gate.
Fortunately for her… she was already very close to the capital walls.
She managed to rush beyond them effortlessly, without a single scratch, and without having to use her strength against any knight.
The moment she crossed the capital's borders, she took out a strangely shaped gem from her storage bracelet.
She looked at it briefly… then crushed it.
A faint, peculiar aura burst from it, wrapping around her body and concealing her presence from the knights and mages.
She did not want to use a teleportation gem, because she knew full well that the empire's skilled mages would immediately sense its magical wave and trace its direction.
So she waited until she was out of sight… then used the concealment gem first.
At the gates of the capital, the knights suddenly halted.
They could no longer see her… nor sense her aura.
One of them shouted in frustration:
"We should have stopped her from leaving!"
Another, panting, replied:
"How? She couldn't use magic like that inside the capital… the isolation spell was active!"
Silence fell.
They all sighed.
They knew punishment was coming… even if the order had arrived late, even if the princess had already been only steps away from the gate when they received it.
But none of them dared to say that aloud.
The Imperial Guard Commander's authority was far too great.
A short while later, the Emperor arrived with the Guard Commander, several imperial knights, and mages.
The moment he arrived, he headed straight toward the royal hall in the imperial palace.
His voice thundered with command:
"Spread the isolation spell across the entire empire! Do not let Forn escape using teleportation!"
Some of the guards were slightly shocked by the precision of his order.
How did he know… that she had already escaped?
When the Guard Commander noticed their confusion, he scoffed lightly and said:
"Of course the Emperor knows you cannot capture her. He only expected you to delay her a little."
Then he added more seriously:
"Do not forget… Princess Forn is the strongest knight in the empire."
Their eyes flared for a moment, and they felt a mixture of embarrassment and relief.
They had expected immediate punishment… but the Guard Commander's next words froze them in place:
"Prepare yourselves."
He paused, then said coldly:
"We are beginning a dangerous pursuit… to capture Princess Forn."
The moment the guards heard the order to hunt the Crown Princess, they stiffened.
They knew her strength all too well.
She was not merely the heir. She was the empire's strongest knight.
The thought of being sent to capture her sent a cold chill through their hearts.
Meanwhile, the Emperor rushed toward the palace with several imperial knights. He ordered the Guard Commander to prepare the forces for pursuit while he continued toward the royal hall.
When he reached its doors, he raised his hand and said coldly:
"I will enter alone. Stay here."
Then he stepped forward.
The two guards assigned to protect the hall were kneeling before the doors.
He looked at them for only a single moment…
Then waved his hand.
In a flash, their heads flew from their bodies.
He did not wait for an explanation. He did not ask what had happened.
He knew that since they bore no injuries, it meant they had allowed someone to enter—or failed to carry out his direct command: No one was to enter the throne hall.
He stepped inside.
And stopped.
The entire floor was destroyed. Deep cracks split the royal marble. Through the gaps… the secret hall below was visible.
He quickly shut the doors behind him, preventing anyone from seeing the extent of the devastation.
Then he activated the ancient magic embedded within the hall.
As the spell surged, the shattered floor began restoring itself, and the cracks in the walls vanished as though they had never existed.
Once he confirmed the magic was working, he wrapped himself in a golden aura and descended into the secret hall.
His eyes went straight to the spot where the sacred spear had stood.
It was empty.
And so were some of the metals.
In that moment, he needed no further proof.
Forn.
He rose from the secret hall slowly this time, his expression as hard as stone.
When the imperial knights saw him emerge, they bowed at once.
He ordered four of them to guard the royal hall and allow no one inside—no matter who it was.
As he gave his orders, he felt a familiar aura approaching.
He turned.
His eldest son was hurrying toward him.
"What is happening, Father? Has something occurred? Why is there such chaos?"
The Emperor looked at him for a long moment.
This son… was different.
He had never been interested in the throne. He did not care for politics or power struggles. He wanted a quiet life, far from the shadows of rule.
That was why the Emperor had chosen Forn as heir instead of him.
But now…
With Forn's betrayal…
He began to reconsider.
This son was not weak. On the contrary, he was one of the strongest mages on the continent of Mira. He was the very one who had created the isolation spell that covered the imperial capital.
The Emperor spoke slowly:
"Listen carefully, my son… You will come with me to capture Princess Forn."
The eldest son froze.
"How…? How is that possible? Wasn't she the one meant to inherit the throne? How could she betray you, Father?"
The Emperor fell silent for a moment.
He sighed.
Then said in a low but decisive voice:
"What matters is not how she betrayed me… but that she did."