Chapter 70

Chapter 70

Preparations to go to the Great Temple and the desert went smoothly. There were, however, things that had to be cleared up before the Imperial Palace was emptied.

“Your Majesty, Shadow has reported.”

Hearing the word ‘shadow,’ I quickly focused on Mason. It was clear that it was about what I had asked Declan the last time.

“I was waiting.”

“As Miss Erica said, I watched the handmaid Sylla and found that she had a connection with the servant.”

After checking Jennifer’s handmaid, I immediately asked Declan to follow her.

“She planted a lot of rats here and there.”

Declan twisted his lips after hearing the report.

“Thanks to that, we can use it in reverse, so I think we’d rather be grateful.”

I followed him to make a mockery.

“This was taken from the servant.”

Saying so, Mason then handed him a small envelope.

“As expected, it seems like they are communicating with someone outside the Imperial Palace…”

Mason, who blurted out his words, had an unusually bewildered look.

“What’s wrong?”

“That, please check the contents.”

With a puzzled expression, Declan took the contents out of the envelope.

“This…?”

The paper, presumed to be a letter, was blank.

“Did we get caught surveilling?”

“It won’t be. Don’t you know Shadow’s skills?”

“Unless it was done on purpose…”

Declan tapped the desk with his finger.

“It may be that the letter paper has a mechanism that we do not know about to hide the contents.”

“It will take some time to figure out what it is.”

“If, while we were looking, the servant finds out that the letter has been lost, he will certainly be suspicious.”

“What is the servant doing now?”

“He was busy, so he doesn’t know he has lost the letter.”

Declan glanced at the letter and turned to me.

“What do you think?”

Perhaps because I was from another world, they asked me if I might know a new method that they didn’t know about.

I looked at him and grinned.

“Can I do some experiments for a moment?”

Declan nodded his head obediently.

“Please, light a candle.”

He had Noah bring him a candle and light it. At the same time, Mason watched the whole situation, puzzled and anticipating.

“Put a piece of paper on top of a candle. You have to control the distance, so you don’t get fire on it.”

Declan followed my instructions calmly.

“Unbelievable…”

Seeing the letters appearing one by one on the letter paper, Mason exclaimed in admiration. Declan was also a little surprised.

“How did you know about this?”

“There was a way to make invisible ink like this in the world I lived in.”

“Invisible ink.”

He then stared at the letter paper with interest.

“How do you make this?”

“There are several methods. I don’t know if they use the same method here.”

Here, it was said that they used plant berries instead of starch or baking soda — Samo grass and Encasia fruit.

“It’s invisible ink, it’s amazing.”

Mason looked at the letter paper with curious eyes.

“Oh, but there is a problem. If this happens, we can’t put it back, can’t we?”

The original plan was to intercept the exchanged letters, check the contents, and return them. Then, we could keep stealing information without them noticing it. For this, even a special writer had been prepared.

“Then, it will make them move more stealthily. They will change the way they communicate.”

Declan made a troubled face.

“Your Majesty, may I do more experiments?”

When I asked with a smile, Declan looked at me with anticipation.

‘…If it was a one-time thing, they wouldn’t even do it.’

If it were me, I would have taken a different approach.

“Please, cool off the heat on that letter.”

Declan lowered the temperature by placing the letter paper against the cold metal decoration. Immediately, the letter paper turned into blank paper again.

“…Really, it’s like magic.”

He and Mason glanced at the blank letter paper.

“Oh, they must have used a method similar to the world I lived in. I was lucky.”

I deliberately made a fuss and pretended to be surprised.

“Awesome. How did Miss Erica know that?”

“Because she’s smart.”

Declan replied as if quoting the obvious. Mason, who normally would have ignored it and passed by, obediently agreed, “Even in the poison case, I thought you had extraordinary abilities, but I didn’t know you had such specialized knowledge.”

“It’s luck.”

Seeing the affection in the eyes that looked at me happily, I was filled with pride.

“Looking at the contents of the letter, it seems that she is eager to meet.”

It was a letter from Jennifer to Duke Otien. It said that because she had to complete the magic, she was asking for a chance to meet the Emperor.

“…She is a very persistent and cunning woman.”

Mason hardened his face and spat coldly after seeing the contents.

“Well, you should do well on your side. Use this method to keep monitoring the Princess and the Duke.”

The reason for rushing to keep an eye on Jennifer’s handmaid was that Declan had to vacate the Imperial Palace soon. In the meantime, we didn’t know what was going to happen to Jennifer and Duke Otien, so we had to come up with a plan.

‘Isn’t this enough to know their plans in advance?’

My anxiety and worry still remain, but for now, this was the best. For the rest, I had no choice but to trust Mason and Duke Buccleuch.

“All right. And, Miss Erica, can you tell me how to make these inks?”

“Why?”

Declan asked back for me.

“Isn’t the reason we called a special letter was to keep the original letter? If we can make the same ink as them, I think we will be able to do it according to the original plan.”

That was what I was aiming for. Not only to find out their plans but also to gather evidence to bring them down.

‘He is smart, too.’

I gazed at Mason and smiled happily. At the same time, Declan looked at me as he nodded his head, thinking it made sense.

“All I know is a method using samo grass and encasia fruit, but I don’t know if it exists here as well.”

I pretended to be innocent and lied.

‘Well, how can Declan know if there are samo grass and encasia fruit in Korea?’

When Declan spoke, he said he would find out and took the letter before leaving the office.

* * *

In the dark dawn where the sun had not yet risen, the Emperor’s bedroom was quietly lit. In front of us stood Liam, Hans, and a knight we had never seen before.

“Erica, this is Sir Wenzel Oswan.”

“Nice to meet you, Miss Erica. I am Wenzel Oswan.”

Wenzel bowed to the doll in Declan’s arms.

“Mason told Liam and Wenzel about your situation because they have to escort you.”

I glanced at Liam and Wenzel with concern. While Liam looked the same as usual, Wenzel looked at the doll with curious eyes. Fortunately, it was reassuring that neither of them seemed hostile or fearful.

“You don’t have to worry because they are the ones who shared life and death with me on the battlefield.”

“That’s a relief.”

As Declan advised me not to be anxious, his eyes comforted me.

“I think all three of us have already been told about this schedule.”

“I will sacrifice my life to protect Your Majesty and Miss Erica.”

Liam knelt down, and Wenzel and Hans knelt next.

“The top priority in this escort is this doll, not me. We must protect the doll’s body from any damage.”

“Your Majesty!”

I couldn’t hide my surprise and called him.

No matter how dangerous the doll’s body was, it was not more important than Declan’s life. What was the point if Declan died, even if I was fine…?

“I can protect myself, so don’t worry. Your safety is the most important to me.”

“Your Majesty’s safety is the most important to me, too. To me, Your Majesty is the most important.”

His eyes widened, and then the corners of his eyes opened up.

“Am I the most precious to you, too?”

Declan asked softly.

“Did I say that I am Your Majesty’s other self? Your Majesty must live so I can live.”

It was sincere. A world without Declan would be unimaginable. I didn’t want to live in this world without him.

“…I cherish you, too, so I won’t die. Don’t worry.”

He smiled faintly and caressed my silhouette.

“Your Majesty, we will protect both Your Majesty and Miss Erica. Trust me.”

Liam put a hand on his chest and uttered seriously.

“I trust you. Please, take good care of me.”

The three people, including Liam, bowed their heads.

“Hans.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You are Erica’s servant. So, as much as you do, keep this doll as the top priority.”

Hans pondered for a moment, then bowed his head with a stiff face, “I will give my life to protect the guardian angel.”

Hearing that, Declan nodded his head contentedly.

“This journey will not be easy, but I believe in you.”

When the three men gave a salute like a knight and then left the room, Mason and Noah came in soon after.

“Please, take good care of the Imperial Palace.”

“Don’t worry, and have a safe trip.”

Mason bowed his head and greeted.

“Your Majesty, can’t I go with you?”

Noah clung and cried to him like a child sent away from his father.

“If you are away, who will manage my palace? You’re the only person I can trust.”

“But, I haven’t been separated since I met Your Majesty. I’m so worried.” Saying so, Noah’s eyes clouded as if tears were about to fall.

“I’m counting on you.”

Declan tapped him on the shoulder and he reluctantly bowed his head.

“Please, come back in good health. I will protect the Imperial Palace well.”

“Yes.”

Declan replied softly, then pressed the hood down and went out the door. When we arrived at the west gate of the Imperial Palace, an ordinary carriage and two horses were prepared.

“I’ll be back.”

Declan made eye contact with Mason and Noah, who came out to send us, then got on the carriage holding the doll.

‘…When I come back here, please let me be human.’

I looked around the Imperial Palace before getting on the carriage.

—