If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 56

“Make sure not to follow the sun.”

 

The cryptic words of Princess Silver Bird suddenly came to mind. Could it have been a warning not to head west?

 

After passing through the seemingly endless hedge garden, a long stretch of pristine white walls came into view. Reina, like many who saw it for the first time, made the same assumption.

 

“Is this the boundary of the imperial palace?”

 

“No.” Gwendellin’s response was curt, nothing more than a brief reply.

 

Suddenly losing her kindness again, Gwendellin pulled Reina a bit more roughly. The grip on her hand grew increasingly firm.

 

“Ah, Your Highness. Ah!”

 

“…”

 

“Y-Your Highness, it hurts!”

 

“…”

 

Unable to endure it any longer, Reina yanked her hand away as if shaking off the grip. At that moment, as Gwendellin turned her head, Reina found herself face-to-face with her. Reina caught her breath in surprise.

 

“…”

 

Gwendellin was glaring at Reina with a terrifying expression she had never seen before.

 

Reina’s lips trembled slightly. “Y-Your Highness…”

 

Gwendellin’s demeanor softened again. “Ah! S-Sorry. It must have hurt a lot.”

 

“…”

 

“I guess I was in too much of a rush to show you. Here it is. The last place to visit.”

 

“…”

 

Gwendellin’s eyes curved like a crescent moon as she smiled, but somehow, Reina found that expression chilling and averted her gaze.

 

In the middle of the endless white castle walls, there was a long passageway. It looked as if following this path would lead to another world, mysterious yet eerie, as the crimson glow of the sunset made it appear almost sinister.

 

Something… feels ominous.

 

While Reina shivered slightly, Gwendellin stepped into the passage first. Then, she turned back and extended her hand toward Reina. “Come on. It’s truly beautiful inside.”

 

“…”

 

The beautiful, black-haired princess urged her so gently that Reina’s heart pounded.

 

✦

“Your Highness.”

 

Sasha was savoring the aroma of her tea while admiring the sky of the imperial palace, painted in shades of crimson. Hamel waited for her to take a sip of her tea before delivering her report.

 

“They went to the west.”

 

“…”

 

Sasha’s movement as she set down her teacup was incredibly graceful. However, her sky-blue eyes, staring off into space, were filled with an icy fury unlike anything seen before.

 

“So, Gwendellin has finally crossed the line.”

 

“Will you intervene?”

 

“I can’t let this slide.” With a resolute voice, Sasha immediately rose from her seat.

 

Hamel turned to the maids and gave an order. “Everyone, prepare to accompany Her Highness.”

 

From the moment the word ‘west’ was mentioned, the maids seemed to have guessed the gravity of the situation, their expressions turning grave. For Regen, who was still unaware of the filth within the imperial family, Sasha clearly stated the destination.

 

“We’re going to the Harem Palace.”

 

✦

“Reina, hurry.”

 

“…”

 

Reina’s eyes trembled violently as she stared at Gwendellin standing in the passageway. Beyond the passage where Gwendellin stood with her back turned, the world was filled with the crimson glow of the setting sun.

 

“Make sure not to follow the sun.”

 

“Come here already.”

 

The warning echoing in her mind clashed endlessly with the temptation ringing in her ears.

 

Reina suddenly noticed something. On the floor where Gwendellin stood, a thick golden line of unknown origin was drawn. Reina’s instincts screamed at her that she must not cross that line.

 

“I’ll show you around. It’s so beautiful inside.”

 

“W-Where is… this place?”

 

“You’ll know when you come.”

 

“Your Highness… “Reina whimpered with fearful eyes.

 

As things refused to go her way, Gwendellin’s expression turned sharp. “Come here. That’s an order.”

 

“Kyaa! W-Why are you doing this?!”

 

When Reina instinctively tried to step back, the maids blocked her retreat. Rough hands gripped her shoulders from both sides and pushed her forward. Even then, the maids themselves refused to step into the passageway.

 

“Help me!”

 

There were guards nearby as well. However, they remained motionless, as if they neither saw nor heard the commotion.

 

The bizarre customs of the imperial palace drained the color from Reina’s face. The maids, having completed their task of shoving Reina into the passageway, retreated. Gwendellin, as if claiming Reina as her own from this point on, roughly grabbed her wrist.

 

“Stop being such a nuisance.”

 

“Y-Your Highness! Please, don’t do this!”

 

“I told you to come here!”

 

“Ahh! Your Highness, please… !”

 

Reina tried to escape, but her retreat was blocked by the maids. In the end, she was dragged along by Gwendellin’s overpowering strength. Her shoes slipped off, and before she knew it, a golden line appeared in front of her bare toes.

 

“N-No…! Save me…!” Terror and despair turned her face pale, and tears began to stream down her cheeks.

 

At that moment, a figure suddenly intervened in her blurred vision. The grip that had been violently pulling her loosened.

 

“You’re not acting very princess-like, Sister Gwendellin.”

 

“…!”

 

The voice that had repeatedly warned Reina in her mind now rang in her ears. Through tear-filled eyes, Reina looked straight ahead. A platinum-haired woman had stepped in, snatching Gwendellin’s hand and positioning herself in front of Reina. The furious expression twisting Gwendellin’s face revealed the identity of the newcomer.

 

“Rosasia…!”

 

Sasha released Gwendellin’s wrist as if she had touched something filthy and stood firmly, facing her head-on. By completely blocking Reina from Gwendellin’s view, she made her intent to protect clear.

 

Reina, who had collapsed to the ground, trembled as she tried to assess the situation behind her. The maids who had treated her poorly, those under Gwendellin, were also being stopped by what appeared to be the maids of Princess Silver Bird. The same went for the knight. A knight with silver hair was pressuring Heinz with a chilling aura.

 

“If you draw your blade, I’ll cut you down.”

 

“…”

 

“I’ll consider you as having taken part in this vile act as well.”

 

“…”

 

Heinz, seemingly more afraid of his honor being tarnished than his neck being severed, couldn’t bring himself to draw his sword.

 

Gwendellin, cornered, screamed in frustration. “She’s my guest! Get out of the way!”

 

“That’s right. She’s your guest. In that case, we should reveal all the facts and ask the guest’s opinion.”

 

“Ro-Rosasia!”

 

Reina flinched. The one who had stood firmly like a fortress to protect her now turned around and locked eyes with her. Even under the same sunset glow, the person before her exuded neither an ominous nor sinister aura.

 

“Your name?”

 

“Re-Reina Fabiet.”

 

“Lady Fabiet, do you know what kind of place this is?”

 

“I-I-I don’t know.”

 

“This is the Harem Palace.”

 

“Ha-Harem Palace…?”

 

Sasha explained the cruel customs of the imperial palace, something a naive young lady from the outskirts like Reina wouldn’t know. “Since it’s a forbidden area for men, any man who enters is executed on the spot. Women are restricted from entering or leaving after sunset. This place is the emperor’s garden, and by law, all the women here are considered the emperor’s flowers. His Majesty can pluck any flower he desires, whenever he pleases.”

 

“…!”

 

The red hue in the sky completely faded, and the twilight of early evening descended upon the world. At that moment, the gatekeepers, who had been standing still like statues, closed the entrance to the harem. It looked as if the gates of a white hell were shutting.

 

Realizing what could have happened to her, Reina gasped for air, unable to breathe properly. Then, another person appeared.

 

“What a commotion.”

 

“…Chamberlain.”

 

It was an underling sent by the mad emperor to assess the situation.

 

The chamberlain’s gaze swept around the area before landing on the golden line at Gwendellin’s feet. Aside from Gwendellin, no one had stepped on or crossed the boundary of the Harem Palace. He seemed deeply regretful about this.

 

“Such lovely flowers have stayed within their lines.”

 

“Was His Majesty planning to visit today?”

 

“Yes, Princess Silver Bird. However, it seems that it won’t be necessary anymore. I’ll take my leave now.”

 

With the chamberlain’s words, the situation became even clearer. Gwendellin had acted like a procurer.