CHAPTER 10
The atmosphere was dark and unnaturally quiet.
It was night.
A still, deep night when everyone was sound asleep.
But silence was entirely different from the absence of life’s energy.
‘Something’s wrong.’
No matter how late the hour, the three knights were always on rotation guarding my room.
And yet, right now, it felt as if nothing was awake at all.
I turned my head—and as expected, everyone in the room had collapsed as if dead.
‘A suspicious energy has entered the palace.’
[Indeed.]
Knox agreed with me.
‘It seems like the power of darkness, doesn’t it?’
This was a witch’s intuition.
The power of darkness—something that temporarily mimics death by halting life.
It was a forbidden magic, usually wielded by beings from the Demon Realm.
‘But the Demon King is dead, isn’t he?’
That meant someone else was using demonic power.
Either someone whose soul had already fallen, or a lunatic willing to use corrupted power despite the consequences.
At that moment, I sensed soundless footsteps coming from the corridor outside.
‘There they go!’
The creeping black energy was flowing past my room, reaching into other areas.
Had I not been a powerful witch in a baby’s body, I too would have fallen unconscious like the others.
‘But why are they skipping my room? Who’s the target?’
[Hard to say. But it seems they’re heading deeper into the palace.]
Using such dark magic meant the target had to be someone strong. And there were quite a few powerful figures in the palace right now.
‘If they’re heading deeper, could it be the Emperor’s chambers?’
[Most likely.]
‘Wait! Then Mom might be in danger!’
Absolutely not.
I quietly spread my tiny hand. As I channeled energy through the magic circle within me, a swirl of blue light and golden dust surged between my chubby fingers.
I needed someone to use this for me. After all, I couldn’t even lift myself—still just a newborn.
I turned my body to look at the three knights who had collapsed on the floor.
Then, silently, I recalled the spell.
‘One of them must be compatible with me!’
If the person’s name was known and five criteria matched, I could use magic to control them like a puppet.
Golden trails of energy I released spun above the heads of Fiona, Angela, and Thomas, finally connecting to Fiona’s hair.
Blonde, female, magic, sword, bread. Bread?
‘Whatever! Close enough!’
It wasn’t perfect, but thankfully it was enough to connect. I should be able to use her for a while.
‘Wake up, Fiona!’
Responding to my call, Fiona rose like a life-sized doll.
I poured all my strength into her. From where I lay, I could see through her eyes.
‘Feels like I’ve entered Fiona’s body.’
It had been a while since I used this spell, so it felt unfamiliar.
‘Let’s go!’
Silently, using Fiona’s body, I slipped out of the room and found the assassin cloaked in black energy.
He moved swiftly, shrouded in darkness. But fortunately, Fiona’s body was quick and agile.
“W-why are you awake? This shouldn’t be possible!”
The intruder’s panic was palpable.
He cursed and drew his sword—but he couldn’t get any further.
Fiona’s blade, sharp and radiant with golden light, pierced him in an instant.
No way the intruder came to merely spectate after breaking into the imperial palace with death magic.
‘If he was aiming for my mom or my family…’
Then his fate was already sealed the moment he stepped in. The blood he spilled on the corridor floor burned away into black ash.
It was proof that his soul had been entirely extinguished by forbidden magic.
The Next Day
“Fiona! You defeated an assassin and protected Her Highness! As your captain, I’m proud!”
“M-me?”
Loziana watched with satisfaction as the confused Fiona was praised by Captain Surden of the Lightning Division.
Fiona looked bewildered, but Loziana was delighted.
After all, she had a good impression of Fiona from the moment she clenched her fists and vowed to protect her.
‘Good thing Fiona was chosen. Lucky she likes bread.’
Thanks to that, Loziana had been able to meet the spell’s five compatibility conditions.
‘Once I grow up and can eat bread, I’ll make sure to share some with Fiona.’
While the baby in bed was nodding with determination, Captain Surden explained.
“Thankfully, no serious harm was done. The blood on your sword matched the trail we found. Investigation’s ongoing, but it seems someone sent an assassin using dark magic.”
When the knights awoke in the morning, they discovered strange traces in the hallway. Later, the Archsage confirmed through divine power that it was indeed black magic.
Those affected had no memory of what happened—as if they’d blinked and forgotten everything.
“You must have sensed danger instinctively and stopped the intruder. You’ve upheld the honor of our order, Fiona.”
Thanks to her, the Gold Guardians had managed to fulfill their duty and maintain their reputation.
“The Emperor has ordered tighter internal security from now on.”
“Yes, Captain. I will protect Her Highness with my life.”
Surden patted Fiona’s shoulder, then encouraged Angela and Thomas before leaving.
After he left, Angela quietly asked Fiona,
“Thank goodness Her Highness is safe. But Fiona, what happened? You looked the most shocked when you saw your sword this morning.”
No one in the room knew what had actually happened.
“That’s just it. I don’t remember anything.”
Fiona swallowed hard.
Yet the sword that killed the assassin had unmistakably been in her hand.
Emperor Leodian, having confirmed that Loziana and his family were safe, gave a command to the palace guards and Surden:
“Strengthen interior defenses. But loosen exterior security… discreetly.”
Moments earlier, looking at the peacefully sleeping Loziana had made him want to thank the gods he once doubted.
Though he showed no signs outwardly, he was furious.
Security had been breached, and the intruder had reached the vicinity of the newborn princess’s room. Everyone there had fallen victim to forbidden magic—and hadn’t even realized it.
‘An intruder, even with the Tower Master present.’
What if the Gold Guardians hadn’t managed to stop the assassin?
If harm had come to any imperial guest—be it the Tower Master, the Archsage, or a Graham priest—it could’ve sparked a war.
‘The assassin’s dead, so we can’t determine the target.’
Even if they’d succeeded in infiltrating, attacking any of the powerful guests wouldn’t have been easy.
The Archsage Daniel had a holy knight; the Tower Master wielded formidable magic; and the Emperor himself had the destructive power of a dragon.
‘It could’ve been meant to stir unrest, not an actual assassination.’
That meant the enemy must not be allowed to achieve their goal. They must behave normally, observe closely, and lull the enemy into false confidence.
‘And we must never let the princess near danger again.’
Leodian fell into quiet contemplation.
The attack was reported to the Archsage Daniel as well. He personally confirmed the traces of black magic, and the palace guards stated that the intruder had been eliminated before any priest even sensed the dark energy.
“I heard the Tower Master proposed marriage to the young princess?”
Daniel seemed more intrigued by that than the assassination.
“Yes. He plans to remain in the palace a few more days.”
Holy knight Berl, dressed in white and armed with a silver sword, relayed the news.
“Heh.”
The youthful sage chuckled.
“Just like Tenebres—Edwin is one fascinating fellow.”
Come to think of it, he was no different.
“Still… Asterios must have heard about it by now. Why haven’t we seen any reaction?”
Daniel muttered, puzzled.
“If you mean Lord Tenebres, he’s likely carrying out a secret imperial mission. He hasn’t been seen since the elders’ meeting a few days ago.”
“Really?”
Where had the Emperor sent Black Breath? What task had he been given?
“Well, I’ll find out soon enough. More importantly, it’s about time Her Highness’s divine power surged again…”
It had been three days since they’d suppressed the overwhelming holy power within that tiny body. Another growth spurt was imminent.
“The Emperor will summon me soon. Berl, stand by as well.”
Daniel went to wash his hands, and just as he finished, a page summoned him.
“By His Majesty’s order, the Archsage is requested at the Princess’s chamber.”
“I was expecting this.”
Wiping his hands with a white towel, he followed the servant with Berl at his side.
As expected, the Emperor, Empress, and others concerned about Loziana had already gathered.
In her crib, Loziana was breathing heavily.
“Archsage,”
Leodian called him coldly. The Empress stood beside him, pale with worry.
‘She must be scared Loziana will lose consciousness again, like last time.’
Daniel spoke slowly.
“I did say her power would surge every three days.”
So why put false hope in worthless magic and let the princess suffer?
“If you had allowed me to visit Her Highness daily, she wouldn’t be in this much pain.”
Daniel was unbothered.
Magic stones couldn’t substitute divine power. What the princess needed was pure holy energy.
That’s why he could act so arrogantly before the Emperor.
“Archsage, heal the princess now. Or be exiled from Dreart immediately.”
The Emperor was no longer making polite requests. But Daniel just smiled.
‘This time, I’ll stabilize her power and bring her back to Graham.’
That was his only goal.
“Understood. This surge won’t last as long as before. But…”
“But?”
“Prepare yourselves.”
Prepare…?
“What blasphemy is this?!”
Empress Ariana rose in fury, her eyes already brimming with tears.
“I don’t mean she’s in critical danger. If the last fever was due to explosive growth in divine power, this time, it’s her body rapidly growing to contain it.”
“What…?”
The Empress staggered. Leodian held her, glaring fiercely at Daniel.
“You mean, the princess will suddenly age?”
“Yes. She’s in pain because her body is undergoing rapid development.”
Daniel predicted,
“She will grow to about three years old.”
Even in her hazy mind, Loziana heard Daniel’s words.
‘Did that sage or whatever just say I’m gonna grow?’
A body not even fifteen days old was going to suddenly turn into a three-year-old? No wonder every bone ached and her whole body felt twisted.
‘No wonder… Ow, my joints.’
Still, it was the best news she’d heard in a while.
‘Three years old! I’ll be able to run! I’ll be able to speak!’
Sniff…
Tears welled in her eyes from pure joy.
‘Honestly, being a newborn was so hard. I couldn’t talk, couldn’t move as I wanted…!’
With a three-year-old body, she’d find Knox and fulfill their contract.
‘Then I’ll go back to the past and revive my sisters. And after that…’
Through her blurry vision, she saw the Empress crying for her.
‘No matter what, I like Mom. Even after the contract ends, maybe I’ll stay in the palace a little longer.’
As she thought that, her joints flared up in terrible pain.
“Aaaahhh!”
A small scream burst from her lips.
“Oh heavens! Rozi! My baby!”
The Empress cried out, hugging her tight, just as her consciousness plunged into darkness.
Her mother’s warm embrace—
That was the last thing she remembered. And when she opened her eyes again—
She knew something had changed.
‘My body feels light!’
She could feel that her limbs had grown. She could move freely now!
And at last, she could speak!
“Da-nn-bit.”
(Damn it.)
She hadn’t expected her first word to be a curse.
“Cra-p!”
(Crap!)
One thing was clear—
This wasn’t her palace room anymore.
