TEWMDD03

Chapter 03

The visit from the Imperial Palace Knights has partially fulfilled the requirements for the side story—apparently.

And there’s only ten percent left to go?

Wasn’t that scroll supposed to help me prevent destruction?

Side Story — Chapter 1: The Threat That Never Ended

Why does the title of the side story sound so ominous again?!

‘W-wait… could the Imperial Knights be the reason Mom… dies?’

Seriously? Really?

If that’s true…

That’s absolutely not happening!

I’m not going to let my mom die such a pointless death!

‘Think, Cecilia! Think!’

I can’t just trust that scroll anymore. I need to use my own head!

I stood frozen before the glowing text box, my seven-year-old brain firing on all cylinders.

First, I had to figure out why the Imperial Palace would even bother coming all the way out to this rural backwater.

The most likely reason I could think of was…

“Harzen Walker.”

It was then that Derrick’s dad spoke, hefting an axe onto his shoulder.

Not that he didn’t already look intimidating, but with the axe, he was downright terrifying.

“Explain the situation.”

“Well, even I didn’t see this one coming.”

Closing the book in his hand with practiced grace, Harzen spoke in that elegant voice of his.

I swallowed nervously, watching the standoff between the two dads.

Truth be told, I’d already been wondering if the Imperial Knights’ visit was because of Harzen.

After all, he was a former royal who had renounced his claim to the throne.

“Whatever brought you all this way, I imagine it’s not the worst idea to discuss it over a cup of tea.”

His aristocratic speech was just another part of the persona he kept up.

“—Of course, that’s assuming you can set foot inside in the first place.”

The haughty tone, too, was a dead giveaway of his royal blood.

“But before that, Princess, why don’t you head inside?”

Harzen’s gaze softened as it turned to me, the corners of his eyes crinkling in a way that looked kind, but carried a subtle pressure beneath it.

A few days ago, I might have shrunk under that weight and obediently gone inside.

“Nu-uh. I don’t want to!”

Pressure or no pressure, I had the right to know what was going on right now, Dad.

“Cecilia Miller.”

When I didn’t listen, Derrick’s dad dropped my nickname and called me by my full name in a firmer voice.

That was his way of saying the situation was serious.

‘Yeah, well… maybe it is. But honestly…’

Was I more afraid of being scolded, or of Mom vanishing from my side forever? Easy answer.

“…Fine. Better than letting the kid disappear from our sight.”

Harzen adjusted his glasses, giving up without much of a fight.

Then he pressed the tips of his long fingers together—once, twice.

With that graceful, unhurried motion, a shimmering light appeared, flowing downward, then upward, until a dome of iridescent energy enclosed the entire house.

It was a defensive barrier, conjured by none other than Harzen Walker—one of the most powerful mages in the novel’s world.

‘Whoa…’

I stared, completely entranced.

I’d never thought I’d get to see such a massive barrier in person. Usually, he only ever cast small ones—just big enough to cover my room.

Of course, compared to his true ability, even this was tiny.

“What’s all this, huh? What’s going on?”

Kyle’s dad emerged from the house, scanning the surroundings.

“Looks like we’ve got uninvited guests.”

“Uninvited? Out of nowhere? Forget that—what’s the plan now?”

“We’ll hear them out first. I don’t want unnecessary bloodshed.”

“Wow… that’s a fancy way to say ‘kill them all.’”

Kyle’s dad came up beside me, covering my eyes as he muttered under his breath.

“Do you even think before you speak, [bleep]?”

Honestly, Dad, if you’re going to censor yourself with musical notes, it kind of ruins the point.

“Dad—use nice, polite words.”

I pushed his hand away and uncovered my eyes.

Not long after—

Clank, clank.

The sound of metal on metal echoed across the quiet countryside, followed by the heavy thud of marching boots.

I peered over the low fence at the wide field beyond.

Instead of the golden sweep of autumn grain, the land was filled—utterly packed—with soldiers in armor.

Like waves crashing onto a shore, the silver tide rolled toward us.

“It’s been a long time, Duke Harzen Einhalt.”

One of the men stepped forward, speaking through the barrier.

Harzen’s smile remained refined as he replied.

“I’ve long since relinquished the title of Duke. There’s no need for formality.”

“How could I be disrespectful to the great Einhalt? That would be treason.”

“Considering I’ve abandoned the name for quite some time now…”

Though his smile stayed in place, his voice turned cold, like frost forming over glass.

“Instead of meaningless pleasantries, why not tell me why you’ve dragged so many soldiers out to this quiet countryside?”

“His Majesty the Emperor commands the return of Duke Einhalt and Lady Miller to the capital.”

“To the capital?”

This time, Harzen’s smile slipped entirely.

“He drove us out, and now he wants us back?”

“It was you who first chose to leave—”

“No.”

Harzen cut him off, slowly shaking his head.

“Whether we chose to leave the capital is not the point right now.”

“…”

“You still haven’t answered my question. Why summon Yuria and me back all of a sudden?”

His voice was ice, sharp enough to cut.

“I cannot tell you that.”

“Then I cannot comply.”

“In that case, we will take you by force.”

“And how exactly will you manage that, when you can’t even set foot past this barrier?”

The air grew taut, tension wound to the breaking point.

I swallowed hard, eyes darting between them.

‘Are they actually going to fight here? And then Mom dies, and the dads lose it—’

No. No, no!

I shook my head fiercely.

Mom wasn’t even here right now, and as long as Hargen’s barrier was up, nothing could—

“…Huh? Wait.”

A familiar voice rang out from beyond the barrier.

I whipped my head up, scanning the ranks of soldiers—

And there she was, pink hair like soft candy fluff, sticking out starkly against the silver of her helm.

“Mom?”

Speak of the devil…

Mom, you can’t just show up like this right now!

“Was gone volunteering at the nursing home for a few hours, and what’s this mess I’ve come back to…?”

Mom glanced once at the barrier, then at the armored man before her.

And then—

“My apologies.”

Without warning, the man leveled his sword at her throat.

Mom—oh, for crying out loud.

‘They’re taking Mom hostage?!’

Cowards! Absolute cowards!

“As the Duke says, I cannot enter the barrier. This was the only method left to me. I trust you understand.”

“You’ve no regard for your own life, I see.”

“You [bleep]-ing [bleep].”

Even Kyle’s dad was spitting out a whole string of musical-note obscenities now, stepping forward.

“Oh dear—am I a hostage now?”

Mom’s bright, clear voice rang out, far too cheerful for the situation.

Ding—KA-BOOM!

The world exploded.

A deafening blast swallowed everything in an instant.

Smoke billowed upward in choking clouds, the acrid scent filling my nose.

Through the haze, I thought I heard… music?

“…Never got to try the whole ‘hostage experience’ even when we were fighting the Demon Lord. How novel.”

As the smoke thinned, Mom brushed the dust from her hair with perfect composure.

The onlookers stood frozen, dumbstruck.

And I thought to myself—

Oh. Right.

My mom is scary as hell.