episode_0082

Eventually, the furnace is pushed to the side and the basement stairs are revealed.

Is there a secret place like this in the imperial palace?

“Why is this facility in the kitchen?”

I ask this question in this absurd situation.

“Chef… This used to be a torture chamber?”

The chef speaks with a puzzled expression at my words.

“This is something I also heard from my seniors in the past. I understand that this facility was built during the time of the Mad Emperor.”

Those words reminded me of something.

Crazy emperor.

He is an emperor famous for being a cruel tyrant to the empire.

An emperor who enjoyed harassing and torturing people.

I thought the place he tortured was a dungeon?

“I heard that a long time ago, kitchens and warehouses were prisons. Among them, the furnace over there was used as the mad emperor’s personal torture chamber. Then, I heard that when the kitchen was moved to the first floor a long time ago, that area was converted into a refrigeration facility.”

There are more secrets in the imperial palace than I thought…

Since it was a building built so long ago, I thought it might have secrets, but…

Well, the old watchtower also had a passage to the outside.

at that time.

“General, did you call us? But… what is that passage?”

After confirming that the court wizard, priest, and doctor have arrived, I explain the situation to them and explain the strategy.

“Hmm… If Her Royal Highness is a hostage, you will have to cast a wide-area sleep spell.”

I ask that question out of curiosity.

“Can’t you use magic inside the imperial palace?”

The court wizard shook his head at my words.

“That’s not true. If you have a special artifact, you can use magic.”

I nod my head at those words.

but…

Knowing the benefits of magic, there is no point in having a court wizard if magic cannot be used in the imperial palace.

Last time I saw Debian use magic too.

“If you use a wide-area sleep spell for 5 minutes, no matter how much you are a sword master, you have no choice but to fall asleep. After that, I will dispel the magic, so you can send the soldiers then.”

I nod my head at those words.

“Okay.”

Then the wizard spreads his palm and spreads magic on the underground stairs.

I watch as soft light emanates from his palm.

“I can feel two people’s worth of mana inside.”

“Are you Her Highness the Princess?”

He speaks as if he is not confident in my hasty words.

“I’m not sure about that. But you will soon find out.”

After a while like that.

The wizard withdraws his hand and speaks to me.

“You can go in now.”

Following the words of the court wizard, I give an order to the commander.

“Search that place immediately.”

At my word, the commander deploys soldiers with short weapons, spears, and axes.

“General… It’s dangerous, so please stay here.”

I nod my head at those words.

“If… I can save the princess, I will petition His Majesty the Emperor for a pardon for all of you.”

The chefs look relieved at my words.

Please…stay in there.

So I anxiously wait for the search party.

And soon…

The footsteps of heavily armed soldiers can be heard on the stairs.

A beautiful gray-haired woman in the arms of a soldier.

I feel relief when I see the woman with tear stains and runny nose, probably because she fell asleep from exhaustion from crying.

“Her Highness the Princess!”

Seeing this, the court wizard, court doctor, and priest approach and look at Princess Joy.

“Luckily, it looks like you fell asleep.”

“Quickly report this to His Majesty the Emperor.”

As he says that, a man wearing black clothes with his face covered comes out from behind and is dragged out by the soldiers.

“Is the author an assassin?”

The soldiers nod their heads at my words.

“Yes. I subdued Her Highness and brought her while she was asleep.”

I frown at those words and give an order.

“Send the interest to the underground torture room immediately. Whatever it is, tell it to the torture technician to reveal the mastermind!”

The soldiers nod their heads at my words and take the man away.

***

How long had he been looking at Devian, who was lying on the bed, sleeping with a pale face?

“Terra. Get some sleep.”

I shake my head and say this to my mother who doesn’t look good.

“No. it’s okay. Mom, please get some rest. I’m sure Joey will be safe.”

General Agrippa, whom Devian always trusts and praises.

He will save you.

I don’t have much faith in Agrippa, but I do believe in Debian.

Because his trusted confidant personally went to rescue him.

I believe in Agrippa.

So, I tell my mother to relax.

My mother shakes her head and speaks in a worried voice.

“Joy… I can’t sleep because I’m so nervous when I think about what that little girl is going to do. If something goes wrong with that child… I don’t have the honor of seeing my husband when I die.”

When I tried to comfort my mother’s voice full of sadness.

-smart!

My mother and I turn to the door when we hear someone knocking.

“Who is it?”

A man answers his mother’s words.

“General Agrippa and Princess Joy have arrived.”

I hastily answer that question.

“Hurry and bring her inside.”

-Squeak!

My mother and I run over to see Joey in the arms of Agrippa and the soldier.

“Joey?”

I ask Agrippa as I look at Joey, who is still as if dead.

“What happened?”

Agrippa responds to my words.

“Because the princess was being held hostage, I used a wide-area sleep spell. You will wake up soon. The doctor examined me just in case, but he said there was no problem, so I hope you can rest assured.”

At Agrippa’s words, his mother, who had been examining Joy’s face and body, held Agrippa’s hand and spoke.

“Ah… thank you. Thank you so much.”

Agrippa waves his hand at his mother’s words and says:

“Mother Empress Dowager. I am a subordinate, so please feel free to speak. I am only a vassal of His Majesty the Archduke.”

At those words, my mother shakes her head and says.

“No. How can I speak comfortably to the benefactor who brought my precious daughter here safely? She is the mother of one child before becoming Empress Dowager.”

Saying this, he holds Agrippa’s hand and bows his head.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“No… But there is a national law…”

I say this when I see Agrippa looking at me as if he is embarrassed and asking for help.

“Mother. General Agrippa is perplexed. So please stop.”

My mother removed her hand and spoke as if she was sorry for what I said.

“Sorry. General, I’m just so thankful…”

Agrippa bows his head slightly at those words and says.

“No, Empress Dowager. I was simply following His Highness’s orders.”

“From what I heard, General Agrippa is a long-time friend of my husband.”

“I have served His Highness the Archduke for a long time…”

“Although I am an emperor, I know the virtues of a woman. When your husband is in danger. To the extent of entrusting me with a seal that is like my life.”

To be honest, I was very surprised to see Debian entrusting the seal to Agrippa.

interior. When trying to remove the seal. I thought you believed in me…

He didn’t believe me. No, maybe they wanted to block my intervention at the source because it was a matter for the Grand Duchy.

Agrippa asks me back with a serious expression.

“How is your Majesty the Archduke?”

“You have entered the stabilization phase, but I heard that it will probably take quite a while for you to wake up.”

I know that poison using magic stones is very dangerous.

They said the poison had seeped into my bones and I would have to have surgery in a few days…

Agrippa’s face hardens at my words and says,

“Is this a difficult situation to solve… with a potion?”

“It is said that the assassin applied poison made from magic stones to the dagger…, and that he will probably need surgery when his stamina recovers in a few days.”

Agrippa bites his lip at those words.

“Phew… First, we arrested one assassin.”

Assassin…

“Where is the assassin?”

Agrippa responds to my words.

“In the torture room.”

“I will go and see the assassin’s face in person.”

At those words, Agrippa shakes his head and says:

“The torture room is often frowned upon due to the nature of its work. It’s hard to show it to the higher-ups. Leave this to the experts.”

The mother also responds to those words and says.

“That’s right, I also hope you don’t go to the torture chamber.”

At those words, I shake my head and glare at Agrippa.

“They kidnapped my only younger brother and almost killed my husband. I will personally uncover the identity of the assassin.”

At those words, Agrippa’s face turns pale and he speaks.

“I completely understand and empathize with you, but… I am an expert who specializes in torture. They know how to inflict as much pain as possible on criminals without causing them to die. Prince Hwang, if a criminal dies or a rumor spreads while the emperor is personally torturing him…”

An emperor who tortures… A crazy emperor comes to mind.

“Okay, Terra, I don’t think there’s any need to remind us of the family’s negative stories again.”

I get lost in thought at those words.

What would Debian do?

Maybe you stopped me?

“Good. I won’t come forward, but I wonder who is behind it. Please check and let me know.”

Agrippa nods at my words.

“Are you sure?”

“And thank you for saving my sister.”