Chapter 96. The Great Escape (1)

Three days after Sidhurst had joined them, something strange swept across the entire continent.

Atop every mage tower scattered throughout the world, a sudden wave of illusion magic erupted simultaneously. A towering figure appeared—an older man with short, silver hair and a rugged, masculine presence—introducing himself.

“I am Sidhurst, Master of the Mage Tower.”

He went on to declare that the Empire had already been tainted by dark magic, and that the sinister forces they wielded were a blight that should never exist in the world.

His voice carried a deep resonance that inspired trust in all who heard it.

The impact was enormous.

With even the Mage Tower siding with Yuri Briol’s claims, people could no longer dismiss the existence of dark magic as mere slander.

Some demanded the Emperor clarify his stance on dark magic, while others insisted that even the Master of the Mage Tower had been recruited by anti-Empire factions.

Chaos engulfed the entire continent.

Meanwhile, at the heart of it all—the Imperial Palace—the Emperor and his children gathered for a rare reunion.

“Father, you seem to have regained your health,” Ekaterina remarked.

Yugen immediately corrected her. “Ekaterina, what kind of way is that to speak? You should call him ‘Your Majesty’ or ‘His Imperial Majesty.’”

Ekaterina ignored him, and Ivar chuckled.

“What does it matter? My own daughter calling me ‘father’—what’s wrong with that?”

“That’s disrespectful.”

“We don’t need formalities among ourselves.”

“Still…”

“Now, now.”

After a long period of seclusion, Ivar finally appeared and summoned his children.

Yugen, Georg, and Ekaterina stood before him.

Ekaterina spoke again. “You look well today. Have you fully recovered?”

“Yes, I have. Everything’s better now—my body, my mind, more alive than ever.”

A gleam seemed to flash in Ivar’s eyes as he sat on the throne.

“I feel great. It’s been so long since I felt this way. Taking that rest was the right choice.”

He swirled the wine in his glass, watching the crimson liquid ripple.

“But while I was recuperating, I hear the outside world was in an uproar. Everyone’s been making a fuss. Ha ha ha. Dark magic, they say? What nonsense…”

Georg spoke up.

“I’ll make sure they keep quiet. They’re only mocking us because we’ve stayed silent. It’s time to take action.”

“Is that really necessary?”

“Your Majesty has been too merciful.”

“Have I?”

Ivar chuckled.

“Yugen, my son, tell me—what do you think we should do?”

“I….”

Yugen hesitated, lost in thought. Ivar watched him closely, waiting for an answer.

Ekaterina found the scene oddly theatrical.

It felt as if the whole thing was scripted, designed so that Ivar would simply follow whatever Yugen said.

She made a mental note: if Yugen proposed some ridiculous plan and Father accepted it without question, she would lose faith in him.

Rumors were already swirling within the palace that something strange had happened to Ivar.

Some courtiers even feared he had become something other than human.

Yet now, he had returned more vibrant than ever.

Perhaps this was the worst possible outcome.

“My opinion is…”

Yugen finally spoke.

“No matter what noise comes from outside, there’s no need for us to respond. The truth doesn’t change. But there is one thing we must watch out for: enemies within.”

“Enemies within?”

“Exactly. We should use this situation as an opportunity to root out those who sympathize with the enemy and undermine Your Majesty’s authority. If the Empire stands united, we can reduce that insolent Briol and the rest of those insignificant pests to ashes.”

“Hah. Are there really such traitors in this Empire? Who dares insult me?”

“Your Majesty, I hesitate to say this, but…”

Ekaterina blinked.

A strange sense of déjà vu washed over her. She tried to recall what it reminded her of, but her memories from her past life were hazy, like a blurred grayscale static—nothing clear.

Still, she felt she had seen something like this before.

In her mind’s eye, she saw a line of ants marching in formation.

In her past life, she had viewed the Empire as an anthill.

Like ants responding to pheromone signals, the people of the Empire moved as one, swayed by the Emperor’s will. As if possessed, they killed their neighbors, hung corpses in the streets, and sometimes sacrificed themselves.

Watching that, she had fallen into despair.

Probably so.

As she dwelled on those distant memories, a particular scene suddenly came to her.

She gasped softly.

“Ah.”

It was a moment from her past life. She stood atop a spire, looking down on the Imperial City.

The entire population was controlled by some unknown force. Mindless and obedient to the Emperor, the people resembled living corpses.

She had wanted to leave that cursed Empire immediately, but she was trapped in the spire.

Unable to escape, all she could do was long for someone and sigh deeply.

That day had come.

“Ah…”

She made a sound, but Ivar and Yugen were too engrossed in their conversation to notice.

Georg, standing nearby, asked quietly, “Are you alright? Do you feel unwell?”

Though known as a cold-hearted prince, he was surprisingly gentle with his only sister.

“No, it’s nothing.”

But Ekaterina didn’t trust even Georg. Dark magic could control a person’s mind. She couldn’t tell if Georg’s mind was already tainted.

Ivar spoke again.

“You’re right, Yugen. When did you grow up so much? I thought you weren’t ready to inherit my Empire, but now you’re more than capable. You could be Emperor right now.”

“What are you saying? I’m only here to assist Your Majesty.”

“You only call me ‘father’ at times like this. Ha ha ha…”

Ivar refilled his wine glass and drank deeply.

He usually savored his wine, but now he drank like a man parched with thirst.

Ekaterina found the sight almost gluttonous.

“Yugen, you’re right. Let’s do as you say.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll give my approval. Issue an emergency order across the Empire.”

Lost in thought, Ekaterina struggled to keep up with their conversation, her eyes widening in surprise.

Ivar stood abruptly.

“Set up reeducation centers and arrest all who show disobedience. Until the situation stabilizes, I will rule the Empire with a firmer hand. And all foreigners residing in the Empire—especially Briol’s people—must be detained and thoroughly investigated for any suspicious activity!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Yugen bowed his head in response.

Following Georg’s lead, Ekaterina bowed as well, but inwardly she resolved: it was time to leave.

---

Ekaterina had long foreseen a moment like this. Though her memories from her past life were faint, she knew she couldn’t stay in the palace for much longer.

So she had begged her father to secure a residence outside the palace and had steadily transferred her wealth overseas by various means.

But she hadn’t expected to have to leave so suddenly.

First, she summoned the one person she trusted most to her residence.

“Is that you?”

“Yes.”

“We haven’t known each other long, yet I’m your only ally? Princess, do you have trouble making friends? Ha ha…”

Irein joked as usual.

But Ekaterina knew she wasn’t the kind of person Irein usually dealt with.

Lowering the corners of her eyes, Ekaterina asked with a mournful expression, “Is that strange…?”

Irein immediately bowed her head.

“No, I’m sorry.”

Her beauty was beyond ordinary, and even a slight sad expression made those around her feel guilty.

Ekaterina leaned in close to Irein’s bowed head.

“Is it my fault? Because of me…?”

“No, no. Please stop.”

“Okay.”

Irein finally raised her head.

Ekaterina shrugged, her usual haughty expression returning as if nothing had happened. They said she had been Yuri Briol’s lover in her past life, and if nothing else, that expression was a perfect match.

“It’s not my fault. The world is wrong, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll make life difficult for the Briol people. So you’re coming with me, Irein.”

“Yes, but…”

Irein sighed.

“Leaving all the other Briol people behind…”

“More sentimental than I expected.”

“More than expected?”

“With such a big trading company, I figured you’d be a cold-hearted merchant chasing only profit.”

“What I buy and sell isn’t just goods—it’s trust. And trust is the heart of people. So my business is really about people.”

“Human trafficking is illegal, you know?”

“Wow, that sounds just like that guy…”

“Really?”

“Don’t be happy about it.”

“Don’t worry too much. I’m not going to kill anyone right away.”

“I hope not…”

Ekaterina, standing by the wardrobe, suddenly pulled a dress off its hanger.

Her slender neck and straight shoulders were revealed.

Irein looked away in surprise, and Ekaterina laughed.

“What’s wrong? We’re both women, after all.”

“Without thinking, it just happened reflexively…”

Irene cleared her throat awkwardly. Despite her reaction, Ekaterina was wearing a camisole and long underpants beneath her dress.

“So, you’re leaving right away?”

“If not now, then when? We have to leave when no one expects it.”

“Ah…”

“Decisions have to be quick, Irene.”

Ekaterina, now dressed in the clothes she had prepared, looked every bit like a traveler. She was so slender that her curves were almost too delicate, so she had to layer her clothes to add some shape.

Next, she used an artifact to change the color of her eyes and hair, put on a mask, and pulled her hood low to shadow her gaze.

“This should do, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

She smiled and lifted her head, revealing her beautifully folded eyes—enough to draw attention on their own.

Irene grabbed the edge of Ekaterina’s hood and pulled it down.

“Keep your head down.”

“It feels so stifling…”

They say too much is worse than too little, and her striking beauty was definitely a hindrance to escaping unnoticed.

“By the way, how do you plan to get out of the mansion? We don’t even know who might be leaking information.”

“Leave that to me. If I say I’m too tired to be disturbed, no one will come in. I’ll pretend to be part of your group and slip out. No one will know until tomorrow morning.”

“But I came alone.”

“Don’t worry. Just insist.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve been preparing for this moment, so I’ve already thrown a tantrum in advance.”

“Hmm…”

Irene nodded.

From what she’d seen, Ekaterina wasn’t particularly difficult, but the staff seemed oddly intimidated by her, which always felt strange.

Ekaterina waved her hand dismissively.

“Do you know how exhausting it is to fake anger? I’ve lost all patience.”

“Yes…”

“You know if you slap yourself, your hand hurts more, right?”

“I don’t.”

“Don’t look at me like that. I’ve taken care of everything behind the scenes. I’m very particular about welfare. That’s why everyone keeps working.”

“Yes.”

At Ekaterina’s urging, Irene gathered her things.

“I’m ready. So, we just leave like this?”

“Exactly.”

Ekaterina knocked loudly on the door from inside.

Soon after, a maid’s voice came from outside.

“Did you call?”

“Tell the staff that Irene and I are leaving. Escort both of us out. I’m too tired now and want to rest quietly, so no one is to come in. Don’t even come to call me, understood?”

“Yes. But it seems Irene came alone…”

“I said I’m tired.”

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“Did you hear me?”

“Yes. I’ll do as you wish.”

Bang!

“Do it properly.”

“I apologize! Please rest well, Your Highness.”

Ekaterina clutched her hand in pain after knocking so hard.

“Ouch…”

“Why did you knock like that?”

“To look fierce.”

After a moment to compose themselves, the two opened the door and stepped out side by side.

The maid, unaware that the suspicious figure beside Irene was Ekaterina herself, doubted her own memory as she escorted them out of the mansion.

Once outside, Ekaterina stretched.

“I bought this place knowing I’d have to get out someday. Not bad, right?”

“Well done.”

“I wanted to build a secret underground passage, but that was too difficult. Well then…”

Linking arms with Irene, Ekaterina smiled.

“Shall we start our great escape?”