These were palace guards.
Men who stood at the heart of authority.
People entrusted with protecting the royal grounds itself. Incorruptible—at least, that was what everyone believed. In the western territories, wardens were like that.
Nobles, too. And palace guards above all should have embodied that ideal.
Anyone bold—or foolish—enough to test them should have been dragged straight to the dungeon without room for complaint.
That was how it was supposed to go.
Yet—
"Make sure you're back before sundown," one of the guards said lazily. "That's when our shift ends."
Julies laughed lightly. "Ha-ha. Understood. We'll keep that in mind. Take care."
The gates began to open.
Emma stared.
Her mind refused to process what she was seeing.
What… was this scene?
The demon—fine. That sort of shamelessness was expected of his kind.
But a noble lady from a count's family?
And the palace guards, abandoning their sacred duty so casually?
