Several hours had passed since the young Emperor inaugurated the main event. The unfolding Dürek mirrored the written records Eine studied before journeying to Léonas. Many men had already succumbed, while the remaining survivors, both weary and afflicted with injuries, persisted in their struggle against a multitude of ferocious beasts on the arena floor. The crowd erupted in cheers, momentarily forgetting the terrifying event that had just taken pce. The unsettling wails echoing behind the concealed entrance either ceased or were drowned out by the deafening cmors of the spectators.

  Eine gazed up at the sky. The sun gradually descended but had not yet relinquished its dominant position. She wondered how much longer it would be until twilight arrived. "What are the chances of their survival?"

  "Miracles rarely happen, Lady Estel."

  Eine gnced at the composed, bck-haired young man seated beside her. His demeanor had remained unchanged since the coronation ceremony, as though he already witnessed the same spectacle unfold countless times before. It was only to be expected since he was a native of this brutal and dangerous world. Even a foreign soul from a peaceful pce like hers had grown accustomed to the same numbing sensation. "Perhaps it is so." She cast her gaze back to the arena grounds.

  An hour ter, though the sun had yet to retire beneath the horizon, the final combatant finally fell, ending the Dürek. The waves of appuse and roars rumbled on the stands as the remaining beasts were subdued and dragged back into their enclosures. The young Léonas Emperor stood from his seat, announcing the conclusion to the ascension ceremony.

  As Eine was about to leave with the rest of the crowd, she noticed a pair of golden-haired twins, around ten or eleven years old, discreetly escorted by the guards heeling Nickos. Their appearances reminded her of the disposed Empress Dowager.

  Could they be…

  "You will draw attention to yourself if you stare too intensely, midy," the male protagonist cautioned.

  "Do you know those children's identities?" she lowered her gaze and whispered.

  "I'm certain you also discerned the resembnce between them and certain members of the Léonas royal lineage. However, it is prudent to refrain from prying into our allied Emperor's family affairs."

  "I understand." Eine pursed her lips. She swiftly turned to continue following the other dignitaries. Whatever would become of those children was outside of her concern and influence. Perhaps if Celeste, the female protagonist, were present with her overwhelming sense of justice, she would have intervened and emerged unscathed. The complete opposite, however, could happen to Eine, who was already neck-deep in precarious circumstances and barely managed to survive. In a foreign nation with shifting rules and alliances, she had only one month to achieve her goal and could not afford any missteps. One wrong move could lead Eine to be the next person cannibalized by the insect-ridden obsidian jar.

  Eine's group finally returned to the Rei Amahna Pace when the night enveloped the skies. She bid Elias goodnight and trailed behind a young pace maidservant to her quarters. A few minutes ter, a distant sound caught her ears. Eine abruptly stopped to scan her surroundings, looking for the origin of the noise.

  "Is something the matter, Lady Estel?" The maidservant turned around.

  "No, you may leave. I am familiar with the returning path from this point onward."

  "But, midy, I am entrusted with guiding you back to your chamber." The young woman hesitated.

  "Is it customary for the Léonas Empire to curtail the liberties of its guests?" Eine inquired, her voice measured yet edged with unmistakable sharpness. Like chilling gciers, her silver eyes narrowed and pierced into the young woman before her. A commanding authority emanated from her form, brooking no opposition or defiance.

  The young maidservant turned pale and colpsed to the ground. "Please have mercy, Lady Estel. It was not my intention to offend you." Her entire body recoiled, and her face nearly touched the stone pavement.

  "I shall indulge you this once, but do not compel me to repeat myself."

  "Thank you for your kindness, midy." The maidservant crawled to her feet and immediately scurried away.

  After the servant's figure disappeared, Eine asked Cecil, "Where is the sound coming from?"

  "From that direction, midy." He gestured toward a shadowy area nestled deep within the verdant rows of trees and lush greeneries.

  Eine pondered for a moment. Since she would soon have to seek opportunities to approach the new Léonas monarch, she should explore the pace grounds and acquaint herself with its yout. "Guide me there."

  "As you wish, midy." Cecil inclined his body and walked ahead, leading Eine and her maid into the darkness.

  After walking for several minutes, she finally spotted a few blurry silhouettes in the distance. "We can stop here. There is no need to approach further," Eine said and retreated behind a nearby tree. Since they chose such a secluded location, she deduced that the nature of their conversation necessitated secrecy. Eine muttered an enchantment to improve her vision. Unfortunately, she could not perform another spell to enhance her hearing because of the Magician Association's restrictions.

  No matter. The improved sight is enough. Eine's gaze fixed on the faraway figures. Five young females appeared to be engaged in a scuffle, with four outnumbering one. All of them donned semi-transparent veils, concealing half of their faces. However, Eine could surmise their statuses by observing the adornments on their clothing. In fact, she had encountered some of these women at the coronation ceremony. If she remembered correctly, the leader of the four women and the bullied woman both sat in the royal harem section.

  Drawn across the dirt-strewn surface by her hair, the pitiful young woman's tear-streaked face and disheveled appearance were nothing like the beautiful concubine she had been in the morning. The other women kicked and sneered, reveling in their victim's suffering. After the tormentors had satisfied themselves, they abandoned the young concubine to her vices and departed.

  "Midy, what should we do?" Mariam whispered after a while, waiting for Eine's order. Though the young maid only saw blurry silhouettes, she could still discern four of the five figures had already left.

  "Let us return," Eine replied. She had no interest in interfering with another nation's domestic conflicts. Suddenly, her peripheral vision detected a subtle ruffling near the young woman. Eine halted her movements and continued to observe for a little longer. Moments ter, an unfamiliar maidservant emerged from behind a rge shrub. She knelt beside the weakened concubine and whispered something in her ear. The young woman looked up, her countenance filled with gratitude and hope. Yet, the ultimate betrayal shattered the trust mere seconds ter. The maidservant plunged a dagger into the woman's neck, extinguishing her life. The young concubine never had a chance to react as the shocked expression remained etched on her face even after death.