Chapter 6
The very next day, as soon as I submitted the missing person report under the name “Ineria Mertiel” for the Duke and Duchess, the Imperial Palace wasted no time in sending someone.
Since the imperial side had already given me advance notice, everything proceeded rapidly and efficiently.
I had Kisschel, who would act as my hands and feet, and now that I had a clear goal to survive, there was no reason to delay any longer.
“They said they’ll be arriving soon through the teleportation gate. Kisschel, gather the people of the ducal estate and have them ready.”
“Understood.”
We were taking a stroll in the garden when we received word that the Imperial Knights would soon arrive for an investigation. I had been enjoying a rare moment of peace, so I was slightly disappointed that it had to be interrupted.
After a meal and a brief walk around the training grounds, I checked the time and changed into a formal outfit to receive the guests.
“I’ll pick your clothes today—it’s been a while.”
Kisschel brought me a black dress that matched the color of my hair, along with a white shawl to complement it.
It wasn’t overtly flashy, but the subtle elegance still commanded enough authority to deserve a round of applause.
Every chandelier in the mansion was lit.
Seeing the line of maids and servants gathered in the main hall reminded me of the days when the Duke used to return home.
‘Whenever the servants stood in formation like that, I would always run and hide in my room.’
Those were all stories from a much younger time.
The teleportation gate opened quickly, and knights clad in golden armor began entering the mansion in perfect formation.
“They say it’s an investigation into the Duke’s disappearance, but this feels excessive.”
“Well, with the master of the house gone, there’s no need to hold back.”
I gave instructions to have them led to the drawing room.
Thinking about it, the whole situation was absurd.
“I can’t become the head of the house because I’m a woman, but I can be the acting head? Really?”
Maybe not absurd—more like laughable.
Some of the knights entered the drawing room.
For a moment, I almost forgot to breathe.
“……”
The knight standing before me.
As he glanced around the ducal estate and spotted me, his eyes widened slightly before he approached.
“I am Pablo Herka of the First Knight Division. I greet Lady Mertiel.”
He paused, then slowly extended his hand.
Seeing him, I had to quickly wet my dry lips.
It was him. The man who had relentlessly hunted me down in my previous life, desperate to capture me while I was hiding in the mountains.
Calm down. Just breathe.
I’d prepared myself for this kind of situation ever since I knew I’d be facing the knight order again.
Slowly, I placed my hand in his.
Pablo bowed and kissed the back of my hand.
It was a flawless, knightly greeting toward a lady—but I couldn’t suppress the bitter smile curling on my lips.
A knight of the Empire, representing justice and virtue, and a high-ranking criminal who once had a bounty on her head—now meeting again as knight and noblewoman.
We began talking.
It had been a while of meaningless small talk about the Duke’s disappearance.
When the investigators who’d gone to the Duke’s chambers muttered that there were no suspicious traces, I watched from a distance as Pablo nodded.
He gestured toward the knights behind him with a flick of his chin.
“Bring the letter.”
At his command, one of the knights pulled an envelope from inside his uniform.
A white letter, sealed with the Imperial crest.
“A letter for me, I presume.”
“Yes. His Majesty wrote it personally to you, Lady Mertiel. It must be opened by your hand.”
All eyes turned to me as I reached out for the letter.
Using a letter opener, I broke the seal and drew out the paper, imprinting every word into my eyes as I read.
The knights, unaware of the contents, nervously swallowed, darting their eyes around.
“……”
I could hear them gulping from across the room.
They were all collectively holding their breath, waiting for the words that would come out of my mouth.
“His Majesty…”
I smiled faintly and tucked the letter inside my coat.
“…has invited me to the Imperial Palace.”
It was far from a simple matter, but I tried my best to make it seem so.
An invitation?
I had expected to be summoned for investigation, but this went beyond what I had anticipated.
From the contents of the letter, the Emperor intended to treat me as a guest.
Being summoned for an incident and being invited as a guest were two entirely different things.
“It’s my first time visiting the Capital, so I’m quite looking forward to it.”
I made an effort to lift the mood as I addressed the stiff-faced knights.
Only then did they finally look up at me.
With so many large knights gathered in one space, even this vast hall felt cramped.
My mind was racing.
“His Majesty has graciously adjusted the schedule to suit me, and I’m grateful for that.”
“If possible, we’d like to escort you to the Capital ourselves. When would be convenient for you?”
Now, when would be convenient?
“I’ll go in ten days. You may return ahead of me.”
I gave them a specific date.
Of course, part of the reason was that I didn’t want to travel with that man—but I hid that and offered a reasonable excuse.
“As you know, the current situation is quite chaotic, and I’m behind on matters that need tending.”
I smiled and met Pablo’s gaze directly.
He flinched and looked away the moment our eyes met.
‘What’s with him?’
He shouldn’t have retained any memories from our past life, so why such a sharp reaction?
[If it were me, I’d rather choose death. Living on like a worm, just to survive? I’d take my life as a noble with pride instead. Don’t you agree?]
Back when we were alone during my escape in my past life, those were the exact words he’d thrown at me.
Pride as a noble?
That was his greatest mistake—bringing that up to me of all people.
Maybe it was because of those words that I managed to survive for over three years.
Noble pride? Living like a worm?
Out of sheer spite, I was determined to live even longer—just to spite him.
Though in the end, I quietly met my end right in front of his eyes.
“I’ll see you in the Capital.”
I gave Pablo a parting smile.
It was the bare minimum courtesy I could offer him.
✦ ✦ ✦
Ten days—both short and long.
Between packing and handling other affairs, time flew by and the day of departure finally arrived.
“You’ve strengthened security at the estate, right? And the knights and servants are all prepped?”
“No need to worry. You do know how competent I am, don’t you?”
I was unusually hyped up for my first official outing.
To be honest, I didn’t want to bring those annoying knights or attendants along, but I had no choice for now.
“We’ve prepared the best carriage… what do you think? Like it?”
“This is my first time riding in a carriage.”
In my past life as a fugitive, I had only ever snuck into cargo wagons.
“Maybe I should’ve just used the teleportation gate instead.”
That’s what the estate’s magic tower is for.
Mumbling to himself, Kisschel eyed the lined-up horses and carriages with dissatisfaction.
I bumped his shoulder with mine.
Or rather, some part of his arm.
“It’s fine. I actually wanted to ride in a carriage at least once—this works out.”
The Capital was once a place I dreamed of visiting as a child if I ever got to leave the estate.
A city with golden fountains, grand temples, museums…
A place where well-paved roads led to sparkling buildings and people of all kinds bustled.
Of course, once I became a fugitive in my past life, it became the place I most wanted to avoid.
“They say there’s a shop in the Capital that even supplies Mont Blancs to the Imperial Palace.”
“How do you know that?”
I read it in a low-tier tabloid that came with two fairytales.
I had Kisschel get me some recently, and once I got into it, it became the perfect pastime.
“We have to try it.”
“Sure. Though excessive sweetness torments me, I’ll endure it for your sake.”
He said that, but always joined me during dessert time anyway.
I boarded the carriage.
“Oh! By the way, I have one good news and one bad news.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“First, the good news: we won’t get lost on the way to the Capital. Great, right?”
“Is that even possible?”
With the roads recently repaved, even the knights who traveled to the Capital frequently were struggling to figure out new routes.
“It wasn’t possible—until it was. And the reason it became possible? That’s the bad news.”
Kisschel helped lift me into the tall carriage, holding me firmly by the waist as he spoke.
“The Imperial Palace is sending us a knight to act as our guide.”
