Poji didn’t hold out for long and spilled everything he knew. He swore he had no idea who was behind the plot and claimed that his only role was to divert the lottery winner away from the imperial palace.
There was little doubt in his words. After all, no mastermind this meticulous would ever reveal their identity to a mere foot soldier.
“So, where exactly did you take them?”
“J-just anywhere outside the palace gates! They said their people would come to pick the winner up once I made contact!”
Poji, now stripped down to just his undergarments after Alvin searched him thoroughly, shivered in fear.
“And then?”
“And then… and then I handed them over, that’s it!”
“You don’t know where they were taken after that, do you?”
“Well…”
Poji’s lips twitched nervously. What was this? I hadn’t expected him to know the destination, yet his hesitation hinted that he might know something after all.
“Actually, I… uh, I followed them for a bit.”
“Where? Where did they go?”
Alvin tapped his sword against the floor impatiently, his voice sharp. Poji, clearly terrified but trying to puff up his chest, dared to ask,
“If I tell you, what will you do for me?”
“What?”
Alvin, stunned by Poji’s audacity, raised his sword again. I quickly stepped in to stop him, speaking firmly.
“If you tell us now, I’ll ensure you’re allowed to retire with your dignity intact.”
“R-retire?”
Poji’s small, button-like eyes widened in disbelief. It was clear he had been hoping for a monetary reward instead.
“Why? Surely you didn’t think you’d still get to work as a gatekeeper after pulling something like this, did you?”
“Well, I… uh…”
“If you waste more time and keep talking nonsense, I’ll have no choice but to make your actions public.”
I had no intention of giving him any real leeway. People like Poji, if treated too leniently, wouldn’t repay kindness—they’d stab you in the back at the first opportunity. The best way to deal with him was to press down hard and make it clear there was no escape.
“And not just this incident—every shady thing you’ve ever done will come to light.”
I smiled, calm and collected, as if I already knew all his past wrongdoings. Poji’s face turned deathly pale.
I didn’t know what crimes he might have committed before this, but one thing was clear: this wasn’t his first time stepping out of line.
No one would casually sabotage a critical imperial project, especially involving something as important as the lottery winner, and then lounge around their house without a care in the world.
He’s probably abused his position as a gatekeeper to commit all kinds of illegal acts, both big and small.
“So, what’s it going to be? If this blows up, your family might suffer as well.”
Of course, I had no intention of making the matter public. I didn’t want the situation to escalate, either. But Poji didn’t know that, and the thought of his family being affected made him panic.
“I-I’ll tell you everything!”
“Good,” I said, crossing my arms and waiting for him to speak.
*****
“Do you really think there’s a cave here?”
Alvin asked incredulously, his expression doubtful.
“He didn’t seem to be lying, so we have no choice but to check,” I replied.
We were climbing a small hill located directly behind the imperial palace. According to Poji’s confession, this was the place where the kidnappers had taken the lottery winner.
‘As soon as I saw them dragging the winner up the hill, I knew it. Oh, it’s that cave! That cave would be the perfect place to hide something!’
According to Poji, the cave was so well hidden that no one could find it without already knowing its location. That made it an ideal hiding spot.
Poji himself had discovered the cave for a less-than-noble purpose: he’d been using it to smuggle and store strong liquor banned from the imperial palace, sneaking it in during his early-morning shifts.
The cave had gained a certain notoriety among palace staff who wanted to shirk their duties. It was conveniently close to the palace, which made it all the more tempting for rule-breakers.
“Are you alright, Lady Evelyn?”
Alvin, walking ahead of me, turned around with a worried look.
Now that we were closer, the hill looked much steeper, higher, and more rugged than it had seemed from a distance. The knee-high weeds made it even harder to climb.
“I’m fine. Just go ahead,” I said, brushing aside his concern.
We didn’t have time to waste. If word got out that Poji had confessed, the kidnappers might move their operation elsewhere.
We have to get to the cave before they relocate the winner.
“Sir Alvin, how many people can you handle on your own?”
“…Handle?”
“If, by any chance, the knights we called don’t arrive in time, it’ll just be the two of us. And as you know, I’m not much of a fighter.”
“If they’re like that soldier from earlier, I could manage six. But if they’re trained knights… maybe three at most.”
“They’re likely trained. If not knights, they might be mercenaries—people who’ll stop at nothing to get the job done.”
“Ah, I see a rock up ahead, Lady Evelyn!”
Alvin suddenly crouched down, motioning for me to do the same. I quickly ducked behind him.
Sure enough, through the foliage, I spotted a large, oddly round boulder in the distance. Poji had said the cave entrance was hidden behind that strange rock.
“What’s the plan? Do you have a strategy in mind, Lady Evelyn?”
Alvin gripped his sword tightly as he spoke. He seemed to have gained quite a bit of trust in me after the encounter with Poji.
“As soon as we enter the cave, take down anyone you see. I’ll use that opportunity to secure the lottery winner.”
“That’s… a very simple plan.”
He looked a little disappointed at the straightforwardness of it.
“Sometimes simple plans work best. Besides, we don’t have time to waste crafting a perfect strategy.”
“Understood. Are you ready?”
“Wait a moment.”
I slid a yellow gemstone into the magic bracelet Katana had given me. The stone was enchanted to reduce my presence, making it easier for me to move unnoticed.
“Okay, I’m ready!”
As soon as I spoke, Alvin darted forward. His speed startled me, even though I had expected him to move.
Alright, time for me to follow!
I quickly trailed behind, using the path Alvin cleared to make my way to the cave entrance.
“Argh!”
“What the—!”
Chaos had already erupted inside the cave as Alvin launched his attack.
There are more people here than I thought…
Peeking inside from the entrance, I saw that the cave extended deeper than I had anticipated, and there were quite a few people inside.
Clang! Thud!
The sounds of swords clashing and bodies hitting the ground echoed through the cave. It didn’t seem like Alvin would be able to handle all of them on his own.
In that case, I’ll move now!
I pressed myself against the cave wall and crept further in, heading toward the back as quickly as I could.
If the winner’s here, they’ll be at the very back. Judging by how quiet it is despite all this commotion, they’ve probably been sedated… There they are!
In a recessed part of the cave, I saw someone curled up on the ground, wrapped in a blanket. Their age and gender were impossible to determine, but it was definitely a person.
I hurried over.
“Are you alright?!”
I grabbed the blanket-covered figure, shaking them gently. There was no response, but I felt their body flinch.
They’re not completely unconscious.
“Can you stand? We need to get you out of—”
As I reached to pull the blanket off, a hand shot out from underneath and grabbed my wrist.
What the—?
The grip was so strong, it was hard to believe this person had been sedated. A cold sense of dread washed over me.
“Got you.”
The voice was raspy, and the blanket slipped off to reveal a face I hadn’t expected to see.
Despite her sunken cheeks and disheveled hair, I recognized her immediately.
It was Marriott.
She grinned maniacally, holding a dagger in one hand.
Why was she here? Was she the mastermind behind everything? And if so, where was the real lottery winner?
All those questions were drowned out by one overwhelming thought:
I have to get out of here.
“Die!”
The dagger came down fast, and I instinctively raised my free arm to block it. The blade touched my arm—
Fwoosh!
“What the—?!”
A bright white light burst from my arm, deflecting the dagger.
What… is this?
I stared in shock at the faint barrier of light surrounding me. It looked almost like a magical shield.
Marriott, however, wasn’t deterred. She let out a shrill scream and swung her dagger wildly, her movements growing more frantic with each passing second.
The barrier began to crack under the relentless assault. Marriott must have noticed, because her eyes lit up with twisted glee.
“It’s breaking!”
She raised the dagger high for a final strike. I clenched my eyes shut, bracing for the end.
But then—
“Ugh!”
“Lady Evelyn!”
I opened my eyes to find myself in someone’s warm embrace.
…What just happened?
Gasping for breath, I looked up.
“…Your Majesty?”
It was Caesar, holding me close while pointing his sword at Marriott.
He kicked her dagger away, sending it clattering across the cave floor.
“Ugh…”
Marriott groaned in pain, clutching her injured hand as she slumped to the ground.
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