CH 189

For a moment there, Irene contemplated whether her maid’s martial prowess was proficient enough to best the knight commander of the empire. ‘Or did she steal something?’ She really wasn’t a bad girl, although there was a time where she’d been scolded for chugging bottles of cooking wine in the kitchen. But, just what in the world could she have taken from Kane? Someone capable of stealing from Kane was qualified enough to become imperial knight commander themselves.

“What do you mean it was taken from you? Oh, please, what could possibly be stolen from a knight commander by a mere maid?” Irene’s attitude blatantly indicated she thought Kane was spouting absurd lies, which made him gnash his teeth audibly. “Seeing that you seem to be at a loss of words, you must be lying after—”

“My first time. That maid stole my first time!” Kane cried grievously.

“Excuse me?” Irene turned wide-eyed, doubting her ears. What? I beg your pardon? First time? What did he mean by first time? Her jaw dropped involuntarily, when it appeared that her maid had made off with something inconceivable.

* * *

Although the Imperial Guard had followed Estian to Aluna, the imperial knight order still remained in the capital. They cheerfully welcomed their superior Kane when he returned.

“Welcome back, Commander!”

“Since there’s time to spare, what say we have a spar!”

However, Kane didn’t acknowledge or spare the knights a glance, as he walked into the knight order’s building. The knights were about to ask if something had happened, but they quickly backed away after catching a glimpse of the abnormally terrifying expression on Kane’s face.

“What’s up with the commander?”

“How should I know?”

They talked among themselves, as they snuck glances in the direction Kane had disappeared. Not long after, the loud whinny of a horse came from inside, and Kane emerged riding a military steed that was only used during wartime.

“Commander! Where are you going?”

“Keep a good watch on the capital while I’m away,” Kane barked.

“What? But where are you going?”

Kane looked in the direction of Aluna and answered, “To catch a thief.”

Before the knights could question their commander further, Kane set off in a gallop. As they watched his retreating figure in dismay, they realized the seriousness of the situation. Not only was the emperor absent, now his right-hand man was also gone. It could be said that there was a glaring hole in the imperial palace forces.

“Not that there’d be any idiots who would come attacking…”

It wasn’t like Aluna was located at the edge of the continent. It was close enough that the emperor and knight commander could easily return whenever they wished. If anyone was foolish enough to view their absence as an opportunity to march against the empire, then the consequences would be obvious.

“I guess His Majesty and the commander would come back to thrash them.”

* * *

The saintess was at a loss with what to do—everything had been good up to the point of arriving at the villa. Now, the emperor and empress had disappeared and were nowhere to be seen. The only ones around were the dragon and the empress’s handmaiden, who were both busy gorging themselves on chicken. In any case, the saintess had done as Irene had instructed, arranging all her clothes and items in the room that she was assigned.

Leaving the villa, she thought, ‘I should just go sightseeing first and think about the rest later.’ Undoubtedly, Irene would be a slavedriver once she arrived, so she should at least make the most of her chance now to tour the city that was described as the ‘most beautiful on the continent!’

Nonetheless, her footsteps were soon leading her to a nearby pub. “My body’s so honest to its desires…” she muttered to herself. There was no better cure than alcohol for treating a troubled mind. Sightseeing could be darned for all she cared; that was an activity only suited when one could afford to slow down. Ordering a cup of liquor, the saintess took her drink and found a seat at an empty table.

“Scoundrel! How could you do this to me!”