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nAt the Second Prince Palace just before the banquet began.

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nSomething flopped to the floor with a gruesome sound.

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n“You’re really heartless.”

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nCallian’s expressionlessly muttered low while shaking a rat knife in his hand.

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nThen blood dripped from the razor’s edge.

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nTwo bodies were placed at Callian’s feet randomly.

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nThey were the maids who had recently assisted in Callian’s grooming.

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nIf Callian had been relaxing, he would have been hurt somewhere by now.

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nOf course, they wouldn’t die with this much effort, but it must have been difficult to move today, and that must have been the sender’s goal.

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n“You’re being very aggressive in telling me not to attend.”

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nCallian laughed in a sultry tone as he looked around at the poison needle in his hand.

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n“Your Highness, it’s time for you to go.”

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nBaron’s voice came through the door. Callian checked the time and looked down at his clothes.

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nThere were blood drops from the knife all over the place, but not a single drop of blood was splattered on the black uniform.

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n“Baron, come in for a second.”

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n“What? You have to go now.”

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n“Okay, once you get in, you’ll know.”

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nIn response to Callian’s resolute answer, the door opened with a growling sound.

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n“Why do you always say that at once?”

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nAfter confirming the disaster, Baron, who had entered with much grumbling, jumped out.

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nAnyone could tell what had happened.

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n“…Is it the Empress?”

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nBaron, who was surprised for a moment, quickly grasped the situation, surrounded his magical powers and cut off the sound and asked.

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n“Maybe. My brother doesn’t have the guts to do things inside the Imperial Palace.”

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n“Why…?”

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nBaron bit his lips at Callian’s blunt affirmation.

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n‘How long had it been since my master’s wounds had healed after he had gone out into the city and been hit with a poison?’ Baron thought.

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nIn his palace, which was supposed to be the safest, he was attacked by his own maids.

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nBesides, today was the place where Callian returned from the battlefield and appeared for the first time.

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n“I’ll have to filter out all the people in the palace.” Baron muttered with a hardened face.

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nIf there are any suspicious people, I would send them out without exception.

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nEven if we had to crush all of the servants, we could not back down this time.

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n“All right, don’t waste your energy on useless things.”

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n“No, I’ll have to do it. Last time you ignored my advice and went out and got stabbed. This time, I’ll do whatever I want.”

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nCallian looked at Baron for a moment, who was even more depressed than he was after being attacked.

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nEventually he nodded and said, “Alright.”

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nAnyway, I didn’t want to crouch any further than was absolutely necessary.

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n“Oh, Keep this and hand it over to Kayden. If you find anything else, report it immediately.”

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nCallian, who had placed the sword on the desk, held out a small cloth and wrapped the poison needle.

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n“This…”

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n“Earlier, they were attempting to flushed in my head, but the poison evaporated and flew away.”

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nThere were quite a few types of lethal poison that disappeared within a few minutes when exposed to air.

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n“That poison was the kind I know, so there’s no need to investigate it. Tell” the wizard or a priest to do it.

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n“A wizard or a priest?”

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nAfter those words, Baron carefully examined the needle.

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nI was also a middle-class wizard, so I wondered if I could feel anything from it.

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nBut no matter where I looked, I couldn’t feel anything from an ordinary needle.

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n“It looks like an ordinary needle. I don’t feel anything.”

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nCallian patted his shoulder at his words.

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nEven when I looked at it, it was a common needle that you could see everywhere.

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n“As you said, the needle itself was just an ordinary needle.”

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n“Then why…?”

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nWhen I took the needle from the hand of the assassin, I felt something ominous running through my body.

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nIt was like a headache that was always beating my head.

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n“It felt bad.”

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nCallian briefly described that feeling.

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nIf I go into details, Baron would leave everything behind and cling to the investigation.

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n“I see.”

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nFortunately, Baron wrapped the needle well in a cloth without any doubt and wrapped it in his arms.

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n“Then what about the banquet? Should I ask someone else to bring clothes?”

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nPerhaps because it was a black uniform, there was no sign of blood or wrinkled marks.

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n“I’ll go like this. That’s why I always wear black.”

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nBaron’s face turned pale at the words that Callian said with a smile.

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n‘So, will blood spill in front of so many nobles?’

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nThat was something I would never have seen in my life.

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n“No, but… Never mind, Today was your first official position as an adult! They can’t kill you like that!”

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nBaron’s expression, which spoke out like a rapid-fire gun, was harsh.

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n“I’m just kidding.”

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n“What?”

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nHowever, Baron stopped clenching his fist at the words of Callian, who was tirelessly looking at him.

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n“There’s no blood on it. Wouldn’t it be too embarrassing to have blood on them while dealing with those things in the first place?”

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n“Anyway, if I’m late, I’ll be in trouble. I’ll have to see the ruined Empress’ expression no matter what.” Callian, who left those words, strode.

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nBaron, who was excited by that unhesitating appearance, followed Callian hastily.

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n“Hurry up a little bit more.”

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nContrary to how he spoke lightly in front of Baron, Callian’s expression turned cold as he walked away.

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nEven if he was injured according to the Empress’ wishes, Callian would have attended today’s banquet.

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nHe had a reason, He had to… No matter what happens.

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n✿

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nThe Empress, who had an obvious frown with slight nervousness, suddenly had a benevolent expression on her face.

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n“…Prince, you’re a little behind the appointed time.”

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nHowever, the soft tone of words was the content of criticising Callian.

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nAt the confrontation between the two, the nobles held their breath and looked at them.

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nEight years ago at the Queen’s funeral, she acted so sweet and kind.

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n‘Now it seems that there was no need for that.’

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nUnlike then, now, the confrontation between the First Prince and Callian was on the surface.

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n“Oh, some cute mice came out of my palace.”

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nCalian, who has not changed a single expression, replied lightly to the appearance of the Empress.

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nThere was some cold energy in that tone.

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n“If you wish, I can send it to you, Your Majesty the Empress.”

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nThe expression on the Empress’ lips twitched slightly at the words he added with a curled eyebrow.

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n“…Don’t let the atmosphere cloud on a good day.”

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nIt was the First Prince who took the place of the Empress.

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nCallian glanced at the First Prince and took a step back with an incomprehensible smile.

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n“Excuse me for a moment.”

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nAs if she hadn’t had a fight with Callian, the Empress, who returned with an elegant posture, and announced the start of the banquet.

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nAfter that, the order of the Debutante Party that I know went on.

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nThe priest of the temple uttered a blessing prayer, and the young noble ladies, who debuted this year, came out one by one and kissed the back of the Empress hand.

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nYoung nobles below the position of Count kissed on the back of the Empress’ hand, while those above the Count were given a handkerchief to cover the spot where the Empress’ kissed.

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nIt was a custom that has been around for a long time.

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n‘That distance would be perfect…’

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nMy rank was the highest, so my order was the last.

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nAfter I received the handkerchief, I had to join hands with the Empress to announce the real start of the Debutante banquet.

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nIt has also been done for a long time by a woman with the highest ranking among those who debuted that year.

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nThe Imperial Palace hosts the Debutante Dance every three to five years, and it usually replaces the late Duchess or Duke.

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nThis time, I took the job because of my participation. I was grateful that they could only see my back.

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nContrary to my seemingly casual appearance, I was quite nervous on the inside.

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n‘Maybe there’s only one chance now.’

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nAs I climbed the high stairs, I remembered the pocket watch in my arms.

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nThe artifact that distinguishes the black wizard to be exact.

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nBut before I could make up my mind, I arrived in front of the Empress.

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nBlue eyes were staring behind her back, but I didn’t notice him.

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n‘This is driving me crazy!’

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nBy etiquette, I lifted the hem of my skirt to greet the Empress and received a handkerchief stained with the Empress’ kiss.

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nAnd then I made up my mind…

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