Leinas also couldn't help but find the nobles of this kingdom incredibly foolish. Compared to the Empire's current policies, their shortsightedness was even more glaring.
Yet, despite everything, she had no regrets about leaving the empire.
Especially not when it meant serving him—the man standing before her.
She had witnessed his strength firsthand.
The events in the swamp had made that abundantly clear.
He had the power to summon a fourth-order angel, a feat beyond comprehension, and his strength had already reached the level of an Adamantite rank adventurer.
The depths of the swamp were perilous enough, yet he had ventured even further into the dense forest—alone—for two full days. When he returned, not a single wound marred his body.
Not even an entire team of Adamantite-rank adventurers could have accomplished that!
And then, there was the matter of her curse...
No.
It wasn't that he had simply lifted the curse—rather, she had gained the ability to control it.
That was something entirely different.
Leinas had no idea how Sakeer had done it, and she had no intention of asking.
Powerful. Mysterious.
Serving him as his knight was an honor.
"My lord, what are my next instructions?"
Leinas's green eyes gleamed as she looked at Sakeer with unwavering focus.
Sakeer studied her for a moment before his lips curled slightly.
"That's a fine outfit."
His gaze swept over Leinas's refined, noble attire before he continued, "Since you've just returned from a banquet, I assume you've had some contact with the kingdom's nobles."
"Tell me your impressions."
At the back of the room, Imina sat on the table, legs crossed, chewing noisily on her food.
Leinas's expression remained composed—she knew full well that Sakeer wasn't asking for a simple evaluation of these nobles.
She took a moment to organize her thoughts before speaking.
"I've attended a few smaller gatherings, including the Countess's birthday banquet."
"From what I've observed, the kingdom's aristocracy is divided into two factions: the pro-royalist faction, and the noble faction that prioritizes their own interests above all else."
"The noble faction holds the most power, led by the first prince, Barbro Andrean Ield Ryle Vaiself. He is the rightful heir, but even if he ascends the throne, there's no guarantee he will be able to control them."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"There are rumors that the second prince, Zanac, is highly talented. However, unlike his brother, he has no noble support. If you're looking for an entry point, my lord, he might be a viable option."
Leinas was no fool. She could easily deduce what Sakeer was aiming for.
Sakeer chuckled.
"Impressive as always, Leinas."
The amount of information she had gathered in such a short time was commendable. As expected, only a noble would understand nobles best.
However, he tapped a finger idly against the armrest of his chair before posing a question.
"The second prince has no support?"
He smirked. "That's unlikely. Don't you find it strange that in such a short time, a rumor about his talents has already spread?"
Leinas froze for a split second—then realization dawned on her.
Sakeer leaned back slightly.
"You're overlooking something."
Leinas frowned slightly. As far as she knew, the only members of the royal family were the first and second princes.
Unless…
"The princess… Princess Renner?" she murmured.
Throughout both the empire and the kingdom, princesses had no claim to the throne. Their political value was negligible.
Or so it seemed.
Suddenly—
"Wait a moment, my lord."
Leinas's eyes flickered with recognition as if she had just recalled something important. Without hesitation, she turned and strode out of the room.
It didn't take long before she returned, holding an elegant invitation in her hands.
She respectfully presented it to Sakeer.
"This was one of several invitations I received during my first days at the Noble Pavilion. It's from Princess Renner."
Leinas's tone remained neutral. "At the time, I didn't think much of it, and after that, she never sent another."
Sakeer accepted the invitation and examined it. The design was unremarkable, even bordering on plain.
A small smile played at the corners of his lips.
"A canary trapped in a cage."
He set the invitation aside and looked up at Leinas.
"Tell me, if you were that canary, what would you do?"
Leinas hesitated.
For a moment, she had no answer.
Then—
A cold voice spoke from behind her.
"Either fight desperately to escape… or starve to death before surrendering."
Imina wiped the last crumbs of pastry from her lips as she spoke, her tone indifferent.
Sakeer turned to her with an amused smile.
Princess Renner was an enigma.
She couldn't be judged through the simple lens of morality—good or evil didn't apply to her.
Every suggestion she had ever made wasn't truly about whether or not they would be accepted.
No.
She simply wanted the empire's spies to deliver them to the Blood Emperor.
Engaging in actions that harm others while providing no benefit to oneself was irrational by normal standards. Yet, Princess Renner's motivations remained unclear. Was she simply bored, playing her own game of manipulation? Or was she desperately seeking validation, a way to prove her own worth?
She reminded Sakeer of Clem—a dog that had once known only servitude. The unwavering gaze of a devoted subordinate had soothed Clem's broken spirit, just as Renner seemed to find solace in the idea of being acknowledged.
Thus, in Sakeer's eyes, the root of Renner's distorted personality boiled down to two key factors: self-identity and self-worth.
"The first prince has status but no presence—he's nothing but a stupid pig."
"The second prince is intelligent and does have the makings of a king. But that's all."
Sakeer flipped the invitation between his fingers before handing it back to Leinas. His expression turned serious.
"Think of this woman as the empire's own Jircniv."
Leinas's eyes widened in disbelief.
The Blood Emperor Jircniv was undoubtedly the most remarkable ruler in the history of the empire. Even the corrupt and incompetent nobles had no choice but to acknowledge his greatness.
And yet, her lord had placed Princess Renner on the same level as him?
"After your duel with Gazef, seek out Princess Renner and align with her."
Sakeer's expression grew darker, his gaze deepening.
"There's no need for us to orchestrate every move. She'll do it for us."
"Once an obscured gem is freed from its constraints, it will shine on its own."
Leinas hesitated for a brief moment, but ultimately, she nodded with unwavering resolve. "Understood, my lord."
Sakeer continued.
"This woman is too intelligent. You don't need to keep too many secrets from her. Simply treat her as a smart canary in a gilded cage."
Then, shifting topics, he added, "In your fight against Gazef, be wary of his technique—'Fourfold Slash of Light.' If he's improved since last time, it may have evolved into 'Sixfold Slash of Light.'"
His gaze flickered toward Imina.
"I won't be staying in the kingdom for much longer. If anything happens, the two of you will need to work together."
Imina's amber eyes narrowed, her expression instantly hardening.
A dangerous glint flashed across her face as she shot Sakeer a cold glare.
"Don't lump me in with your subordinates."
Her voice was sharp.
"Speaking of which, where's my payment? You haven't given me a single coin, and now you expect me to babysit some noblewoman?"
Sakeer stood, stretching lazily.
"Soon." His tone was light. "And trust me, the reward will be more than worth it."
Nightfall In the outer district of the royal capital, a small, inconspicuous inn stood in the quiet darkness.
Shadows moved swiftly through the night.
Figures clad in black, their bodies wrapped in tight-fitting combat gear, advanced toward the inn with practiced silence.
"The half-elf is inside?" one of them whispered.
"Yes. She's changed locations three times, but we've confirmed she's currently staying here."
"Be careful. This one isn't weak."
A different voice chuckled darkly. "A half-elf, huh? Pretty rare. If we sell her into slavery, she'll fetch well over a thousand gold coins."
Another assassin sneered. "Forget the gold—don't you wonder how she tastes in bed?"
Laughter rippled through the group.
"Don't get ahead of yourself," their leader cut in sharply. "Lord Thousand Kills ordered us to take her alive."
Their pace did not slow. Moving in perfect synchronization, they closed in on the inn.
But just as they reached the entrance—
The wooden door creaked open.
A lone figure stepped out into the moonlight.
Expressionless, eyes like cold steel, Imina met their gazes.
The assassins froze.
"We've been spotted!"
Their faces twisted in alarm.
"No choice. We attack now!" one of them ordered.
The location was remote—any struggle here wouldn't be noticed right away. If they acted quickly, they could still complete the job before attracting attention.
Or so they thought.
Then—
A calm voice drifted through the night air, sending a chill down their spines.
"As prey, you seem to have mistaken your roles."
It came from behind them.
Their bodies stiffened.
Slowly, they turned—
There, standing in the shadows, was Sakeer.
Gone was his usual priest's robe. Instead, he wore a deep black cloak, his entire form shrouded beneath the hood.
His presence was suffocating.
(End of Chapter)