Chapter 222.

It’s only been half a day since I’ve seen you, and the joy of seeing that gray-covered face like someone I haven’t seen in a long time wells up in my heart.” What’s going on here? Where’s the battle?”

“There’s no time. Side by side first.”

He urged. I nodded, hastily picking up the robes I’d taken off and putting them on. I didn’t expect to be out so soon ……

I thought I could only escape once the official battle between his army and the rebels began. Trying to find a stick to beat Eben with while the chaos was going on was a ploy without an answer, now that I think about it.

“Go here, male daughter.”

Putting both the potion and the rose away, he rejoined the Crown Prince. Then he pointed to the ledge he had climbed out of.

“Be on your back tight.”

“Ah, here ……?”

With a shudder, I looked down the narrow passage. Immediately a swarm of rats clattered out, and there was nothing strange about it, dark and dank. Of course Callisto crawled out from there, and though I knew I could escape there, I could only see the beginning of it.

“Why, don’t you want to go? I swept it all clean when I crawled. And killed the occasional little mouse and centipede, don’t you worry.”

“No, what …… is not like that.”

Seeing me who didn’t dare to go easily, Callisto wrinkled the bridge of his nose and said viciously. Although it wasn’t because I didn’t want to go that I was naughty, surprisingly, the words put me at ease.

“What a centipede.”

Barely able to suppress my exhaustion, I got on the ground and crawled inside. Soon, complete darkness descended with a “whoosh”. This was because Callisto had closed the door to the passageway. Fortunately, the suffocating ambush position didn’t last long. Soon after, the passageway that was meant to be crawled through grew wider and wider, and in an instant, a spacious space appeared.

“Come this way, male daughter.”

The Crown Prince pulled something out of his arms, not even taking a moment to catch his breath, and led me. The thing he took out brightened the dark surroundings. It was the Night Ore.

It took me a moment to look around, quite surprised. Dozens of forks in the road were intricate, like a maze. Callisto didn’t hesitate to move his feet toward one of them. I followed, and I asked in confusion.

“Your Highness, where are we?”

“A secret passage known only to the royal family.”

“Ah.”

Somehow, unlike this morning’s early morning abduction, it was a vain escape.

“Fool. Isn’t it only natural that there is a secret passage in the palace? Thanks to it, I was able to find you easily.”

Knowing the kind of feelings I had, the Crown Prince abused the kidnappers nakedly. He called the kidnappers “stupid guys”, but I used to be the kidnapper’s master. I changed the subject awkwardly.

“If only the royal family knows about it,…… the second prince also knows about it?”

“Don’t worry. He doesn’t know about this place.”

He turned the corner and replied calmly.

“This is the Empress’ Palace. A place where the children of the queen’s wife have never set foot, so they don’t know.”

“…… The Queen’s Palace?”

Knowing exactly where I was being held captive, I opened my mouth. No wonder the place of confinement was overly luxurious.” Crazy!”

I don’t think Ikris locked me up in the Queen’s Palace without any sense. I don’t know, I looked at the Crown Prince’s eyes either.

“In the secret passageway with the most forks in the road. After mom died, I was running all over the place.”

Luckily, the Crown Prince didn’t seem too concerned about why I was locked in the Queen’s Palace.

“You’re the one, what’s going on? Do you know how surprised I was to receive the report of your disappearance?”

Instead, his eyes widened as if he remembered to ask me about the situation.

“I was at the meeting and even the Duke ran off like a madman. Told you to stay put, like a disobedient pony.” “…… I’m sorry.”

For making a mistake, I dutifully admitted it.

“There goes ……”

Reflexively, I tried to call Winter, quickly remembering that Callisto also knew everything and corrected it.

“No, I went to the Marquis de Belldandy, when I was kidnapped by Prince Delman, whom I met at the swamp.”

“Insulting the Crown Prince was also a good measure of deception.”

I, who was briefly describing the situation, was interrupted by his words and closed my mouth. He then said to himself.

“But why is that damn Delman always pestering people?” This time it was a story about Ikris. So far Callisto didn’t know what was going on between me and Ikris.

“Should have killed him in the swamp then ……”

He murmured grimly, his heart pounding like he had nothing to do with it.

“Ah, anyway, thank you for coming, Your Highness.”

I chose to hastily switch topics this time as well. I, with Callisto like that, said dumbfounded.

“Without the tracking magic, that wizard would have died of anal rupture. I know you’re lucky.”

“Uh…… why the anal rupture in particular?”

“Useless canes too. Don’t delve into things like that, you’ll get hurt.”

Even after saying something like that, there wasn’t the slightest idea of wanting to go deeper.

Callisto squinted at me who didn’t answer and stopped to ask.

“But you, where is the magic wand?”

“…… was robbed.”

I was embarrassed and answered in a small voice.” Geez.”

He frowned and smacked his lips.” Come here.”

Then suddenly started back the same way. Confused, thinking, “Wrong way?

I followed him closely.” Where are the hostages?”

“I think I’m at the Sun Palace. Had a general look at the prison before I came here, but it’s not there.”

“Then go quickly.”

Meaning to go to the Sun Palace, of course.

“…… male female.”

He called to me in a heavy voice and paused again.

“At exactly twelve o’clock, I’m going to raid the west gate, where the defense knot is weakest.”

I looked at him in surprise at the sudden talk of combat.

“I have to get out of here before then .”

“It’ll have to be quick.”

His words made me anxious. Could I deal with Ibn in that kind of chaos?

Honestly, I’m not confident. But it was better than charging in with no plan with my bare hands. Because at least Callisto, who can use his sword, will be along.

“Come on. Then I’ll go first ……”

“Not done yet.”

At that moment, I tried to move my feet in a panic, and the crown prince stopped again.

“I’ll take you outside and then come back and try to rescue the hostages.”

“Yeah? What’s that ……”

“But I can’t guarantee that there will be stalwarts of the Second Prince’s faction like Leila and the Marquis d’Ellen.” I couldn’t understand for a moment, and blankly recalled his words. So, he excluded me in all cases.

“…… What are you talking about, Your Highness? The shard was also taken.”

It was nothing less than voluntarily given, but it seemed as if Callisto would not wash his hands of the story now.

“I must go to the Sun Palace now.” I said firmly.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Can’t even use magic for anything.”

I just noticed. The Crown Prince who had turned straight around when he heard me say that the magic wand had been snatched. His plan to quickly rescue the hostages with me had just been modified.

“I can’t do anything without the magic wand?” His words became more and more infuriating the more I heard them.

“I don’t know when my usefulness starts to depend on having a magic wand or not.”

“Don’t be angry, listen to me, male daughter.”

I looked at him coldly, and the Crown Prince sighed and grabbed my shoulder.

“The Emperor is alive or dead, and the people sent by the Second Prince have hidden more troops in the meantime than expected.”

“The soldiers were hastily summoned, but honestly, the chances of victory are not great. There will still be demons mixed in between the rebels. Perhaps.”

“Maybe you should abandon the palace and the capital and flee.”

I was shocked by the words that came out of his mouth.

“Abandon ……?”

I can’t believe he said something like that out loud.

“Yes.”

But the Crown Prince confirmed it once again.

“It’s nothing. Your safety is more important to me than the palace and the unknown child.”

“…… Your Highness.”

I called him with the effort of a choking man.

It couldn’t be nothing. I was well aware of how much money and effort Callisto had gone through to become emperor.

He had fought and survived in order to return to the capital, the palace, and rolled into battle. But now for me, it’s easy to say the word give up. But I didn’t give up on the ending, on the hostages, on anything but praying in my heart for his safety ……

Unknown feelings made the inside tumble. I bit my lower lip. I thought that once I went to the palace and met Iben, I could solve it right away, the situation was much more complicated than I thought.

“If the battle officially starts, send someone fast to get your wand. Kill Rilla or whatever, we’ll talk about it then.”

Callisto coaxed me. But if we go then, everything will be too late. Because Iben will resurrect all of Rilla with a child sacrifice.

Like he said, is avoidance the answer?

I hesitated for half a day before I finally made up my mind to speak.” …… magic is not in a state where it’s completely unusable.” “What?”

“Defense magic is usable.”

Although it was a one-time thing. But afraid of causing a commotion, I decided not to say that to Callisto.

“As your highness said, even if you can’t kill Liben immediately …… the children can be saved.”

“Children are also magicians, and by unlocking a body, they can teleport with magic.”

Already, Raon had been seen skillfully using movement magic. If it can be unraveled, it might be possible to save it more easily than the others. Expecting slim possibilities, I convinced Callisto.

“If the two of us are buying time, His Highness’s army might win and break into the Sun Palace.”

“The male daughter.”

“Even if it is attempted …… No, even if it is not attempted, please let me see it.”

He told me how to kill Ibn, and didn’t say anything about finally asking me to take care of the children.

But isn’t it cowardly to give up without even making any attempt.

“If I see with my own eyes that it really won’t work, I’ll do what your highness says when the time comes.”

I who spoke strongly, Callisto looked at me with confused eyes.

But I knew he would eventually do as I said. A low sigh is heard.

“It’s too hard for you.”

“If you just look at the surface and don’t see what’s actually going on, you’ll be wrapped up and dragged around like a bundle of luggage.”

“Come.”

He led me back to the turn. We passed swiftly through the secret passage in silence.

We headed toward the Palace of the Sun with Ibn.