“Oh, everyone, step aside, please.”
Dearyn waved her hand lightly as she stuck to Sirius' side and entangled his arm.
“As you all saw earlier, His Highness the Prince has superior combat prowess, so his senses are more sensitive than others. So, please, don’t touch him randomly, and don’t get too close to him.”
Those who have come now are precisely the first ones to beware of.
They are people who have neither loyalty nor faith, who only seek momentary gains, and change their loyalty according to their interests. These people cannot be given influential positions, because they will abandon Ceres without hesitation if he is in danger.
“Ah... we get it...”
“We apologize, we made a mistake due to our ignorance.”
Those present quickly retreated after Dayaren's rebuke, but their eyes were filled with dissatisfaction.
'And who are you?'
But Dayarin met their questioning looks with a condescending smile.
“I… am someone who has His Highness’s trust so much that he can sleep peacefully with his back to me. As for you, strangers, please do not approach without permission.”
People who are allowed into restricted areas always look attractive.
Although they are burdened people, having access to places that are “not open to everyone” gives them a magical aura.
It was a declaration that she alone had the right to approach the First Prince.
The feeling of superiority that swept over her was similar to what she felt when she first dressed as a priest.
'Well, it looks like I'm starting to enjoy this role.'
It seems that she will start to like her new role as the prince's confidant.
The sight of them making their way through the audience in the hallway was truly majestic.
Ceres, with his imposing height, walks in the middle with confident steps, which increases this prestige.
Deyarin proudly walked beside him towards the concert hall.
Without a doubt, Sirius, surrounded by all these people, would be the most eye-catching person inside the hall.
“Huh.”
But as they were walking, Deyarin suddenly stopped.
At the end of the corridor, she saw Robin heading towards them, but he stopped as soon as he saw them.
Robin hesitated with his confused look. He did not approach, nor did he run away.
This corridor is a far cry from the palace designated for the Second Prince, and it is unbelievable that Robin, who had lived in the palace for so long, had lost his way.
“Oh...isn't this the hero of the day?”
“I'm not sure he's really a hero...”
Robin was a well-known face inside the palace.
Even before Deyarin spoke, those around her started commenting on him.
The betrayal he committed, suddenly moving from the third prince to the second, was enough for the accusation of “traitor” to be attached to him among the people.
Now that he had moved to the Second Prince's class, he suddenly appeared in front of the First Prince? What audacity is this?
“...I came because I have something important to say.”
“I don't think there's anything worth listening to.”
Dearyn knew about his betrayal beforehand, so she was neither shocked nor angry by his actions.
Her cold response, without even reacting, made Robin shiver violently.
“It really matters.”
“I don’t think...we have many people here who want to talk to His Highness the Prince.”
The days of asking Robin for help are no more.
Dearyn smiled condescendingly and raised her chin.
“You should have chosen the right class from the beginning.”
Robin bit his lip and bowed his head.
He was supposed to run away after this insult, but he did not. It seems he didn't come just to switch sides.
“Just a moment.”
Dearyn let go of Sirius' arm and took a step toward Robin.
But before she could take a second step, Sirius grabbed her arm.
“I will go with you.”
“It's okay, I'm fine.”
No matter how much Robin tried to hurt her, he would only be able to incite some anger, nothing more.
Dearyn smiled reassuringly and tried to let go of her hand, but Sirius meant something else.
“I'm the one who's not okay.”
Dearyn smiled silently.
Now she can deal with these matters with a smile.
“Oh, right...”
“You were truly a true warrior.”
Once Deyarin explained, Sirius's sharp gaze turned into an expression of deep sympathy for his former subordinate.
There was no need to engage in a long dialogue with Robin.
“Please talk.”
It was interesting to see what excuse he would come up with.
Or what trick will he resort to this time?
He pretended to be nice and enthusiastic, then stabbed them in the back, and now he showed up again so simply? How rude.
Dearyn looked at Robin with a murderous look as she crossed her arms.
"…I apologize."
The beginning was reasonable.
He had left Sirius and joined the Second Prince, and it was natural for him to feel guilty.
“Yes, you should apologize.”
Deyarin nodded sarcastically, and accompanied it with a clear smile of contempt, as if she was saying to him: Try, nothing will benefit you now.
Robin ducked his head down, but his voice continued. This is most likely his last chance to see the First Prince face to face.
“I intended to send you both away, with a large reward. I did not do that on purpose after I learned who you were, never.”
“Even murderers usually say that the killing was not intentional, but an accident.”
“Okay, let's say so. What then?”
No one denies that every person has circumstances that cause him to behave in a certain way.
Even when she spied on his conversation, Dearyn did not feel that Robin had gone to the Second Prince of his own free will. Most likely, he was pressured.
Even in the concert hall, he tried not to get too involved.
If the Second Prince's plan had succeeded, Sirius would have become a mere impostor and expelled in disgrace. Clearly, Robin made sure things didn't get to that point.
But...that doesn't erase the fact that he's a traitor.
In front of Dearyn's cold response, Robin's shoulders slumped even more.
“...I'm really sorry. I just wanted to apologize.”
He looked really remorseful. But Dayarin was not affected, but rather laughed sarcastically.
If it was just an apology, why now?
Now that Sirius had gained recognition as First Prince and stood before the Emperor himself?
“It seems that the Second Prince intends to kill you, right?”
Indeed, if the Second Prince felt that Robin had betrayed his plan, he would not hesitate for a moment to eliminate him.
But are they supposed to feel pity now? They almost died because of him!
Compassion is given to people like Charlotte, who sacrificed and became worse off as a result of helping them, not to a cowardly traitor.
Deyarin was not the type whose heart softened easily.
“I can’t believe you are here to ask for help or mercy. But if you are killed by the Second Prince, I will pray that you go to a good place.”
“The Second Prince does not yet know where the remaining royal guards were taken.”
When attempts to arouse pity did not succeed, Robin began submitting new papers.
But Dayarin did not care about the Second Prince's soldiers. Even if they were poor, she was not willing to sacrifice for them.
"so what?"
“They are well-trained forces. You may need them one day.”
“Hmm...”
There is no doubt that they have high military value. But pushing those who survived death into a new battle? This is not humane behavior.
On the other hand, if they returned to the Second Prince, it would be a disaster. To prevent that... they need Robin.
How annoying that was.
“Your whole life is betrayal in betrayal.”
“This will be the last. I promise.”
“How can I believe you?”
“If the First Prince doesn’t win, I will die anyway.”
True, survival first.
Dearyn exhaled a long sigh, and Robin continued, in a low tone:
“And I'll keep your secret about being 'that' priest too.”
The Second Prince might actually be starting to doubt.
Now Dyaren may seem like just a friend from the Third Prince's Palace, but at any moment she may be discovered for what she really is: a mad monster tamer.
“Being a priestess is not scandalous in itself, but the Second Prince will attach scandal to me to expel me from the temple.”
Of course, no one masters filth like the Second Prince.
He may accuse Dearyn of having an illicit relationship with Ceres, and strip her of her status as a religious devotee.
He blames his crimes on others without shame...
If this man becomes emperor, the country will fall into corruption.
Dayarin's anger against the Second Prince was no longer merely for personal reasons, but had become a national ferment.
Although she still felt the sting of betrayal from Robin, there were more gains in accepting his offer.
But accepting the traitor...was not easy.
“You do realize that accepting a traitor like you would be a great sacrifice on our part, right?”
“...Of course. If I betray you again, you can kill me...”
“We are not like some people, we do not kill the first person who does us wrong. But instead...”
It was clear that Robin was a man of carrots and shakes.
Therefore, he must be treated in a way that he understands.
Diarin's eyes sparkled with deadly coldness.
She was the one who tamed the crazy dogs. What about an ordinary traitor? It will be much easier to tame him.