# Chapter 102
The city was in full preparation for the festival. Colorful flowers hanging from every streetlight made one forget the season, and flags and banners hung on every window fluttered in the wind.
In the middle of the central clock tower wall at the temple, a recessed space was visible. Small figurines, their colors unfaded despite the passage of time, moved like dancers every hour on the hour.
Behind the clock tower stood the palace, imposing and prominent. The grayish-white limestone visible between the red bricks and the golden ornaments covering the dark navy roof demonstrated the empire’s strength. Rite gazed at his birthplace from afar. The Emperor was not far away.
“Rite.”
As he was about to board Eden’s carriage, Arden pulled at Rite’s coat from behind. It was the first time they had made eye contact and spoken since their last argument.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you. Let’s keep the non-rational state as a last resort.”
“…Non-rational state?”
“When you transform.”
Arden’s finger lightly touched Rite’s right arm and then let go. At the sensation of skin against skin, Rite looked down at his own arm.
“Innocent people could die, and it’s dangerous for you too.”
What now? Rite muttered in a low voice.
“I wasn’t planning to use that method anyway.”
“No, I’m not saying don’t use it…”
“Don’t worry. I don’t hide my thorns.”
The words didn’t conceal their barbs. Rite didn’t want to say such childish things either. Why did romance novel protagonists say hurtful words knowing they would make the other person dislike them? Rite resolved his long-held question in the worst possible way. Despite his brain ordering his mouth to shut up, his lips spoke on their own. This was beyond his control. His insides were boiling so much he would bolt upright even from sleep. Just as he thought “oh no,” a quiet voice addressed Rite.
Even though I raised him,
“Sometimes I don’t understand you.”
Rite laughed softly. While he had to try hard to barely ruffle Arden’s feathers, Arden kept touching his nerves without even trying.
I guess my affection is greater than Arden’s. With self-mockery, Rite opened his mouth.
“I often feel that way. Sometimes I think I know Arden best, but other times I feel I know him least.”
Arden looked like he had much to say but didn’t open his mouth again. Rite didn’t want to fight with Arden before such an important task either, so he quietly got into the carriage. Arden also took his seat beside Rite and closed the door.
“Let me check once more. The procession will start soon, and as soon as it begins, we’ll head for the palace. As I mentioned, the procession is fake. Only empty carriages will be circulating the streets.”
The Emperor hadn’t left the palace since last year. Eden didn’t seem to know the details, but that wasn’t important to Rite.
“Will there really be a procession in this situation?”
“All the more reason to do it. The real Emperor won’t be riding in it, and it makes for good bait, doesn’t it?”
Eden’s eyes moved slightly in the mirror attached to the front seat. His gaze lingered briefly on Rite before disappearing.
“I’ve finished talking with the newspaper. Thanks to both of your help.”
“I’m glad it worked out well.”
“When I first proposed it, the response wasn’t positive… but the family head’s affair seems to have been the most effective.”
“Just that?”
“The affair was with his wife’s sister.”
Eden said, frowning. Rite, who would normally have laughed, didn’t laugh today.
“Once Arden and Rite enter the palace, I’ll head straight to the newspaper. There are three main topics for the paper: First, Project Eternity; second, Arden’s false charges; and third… Rite’s identity.”
Eden still looked at Rite with disbelieving eyes. Eden hadn’t witnessed Rite’s birth, but he had clearly heard a baby’s cry. It was hard to believe that the abandoned baby had grown up in Arden’s care and matured so quickly.
“As I’ve said repeatedly, my story doesn’t need to be included.”
“No. Please include it.”
Rite cut off Arden’s words and leaned his upper body toward Eden. His eyes, heavier than ever before, stared persistently at Eden. Eden glanced at both of them and nodded.
“People’s interest will be most focused on Rite’s story anyway. Everyone knows the rumors about the child born in the palace back then. If he’s a hero sent by the goddess to earth, killing the Emperor won’t be labeled as treason. So it’s not entirely bad for attention to be focused on Rite.”
Rite exhaled and straightened his posture. He wasn’t completely satisfied, but that could be resolved after everything was over.
“Whether the assassination succeeds or fails, the article will be published tomorrow morning. It will say that a messenger of God entered the palace last night.”
“…”
“I’ll wait in front of the clock tower until sunrise.”
I hope we can publish the Emperor’s death notice tomorrow morning too, Eden added quietly. Arden couldn’t answer. His voice wouldn’t come out due to tension.
“There’s no need to force it. We have a second date planned. I’ve arranged carriages in various locations so we can escape immediately if there’s a problem. Do you remember the positions?”
Arden nodded. If things went wrong, the plan was for Rite and Arden to get out of the carriage, take the nearest available one, and return to the mansion.
“Whatever the outcome, I wish you luck.”
May Artalis’s light shine before you. Eden blessed them in a solemn voice.
The palace wasn’t far from the mansion. The carriage started to slow down and then came to a complete stop. Rite slightly lifted the curtain to peek outside and saw the small bridge filled with carriages. Most were cargo carriages loaded with tributes, and occasionally there were automated carriages like Eden’s, belonging to people with business at the palace. The cargo carriages weren’t automated, making them easy to distinguish.
“It’s 1:05. We seem to have arrived on time. However…”
Eden said, looking at his watch. Four carriages remained ahead. The inspection was being conducted more thoroughly than usual, so they might be able to move during the shift change.
“The one right in front will be difficult.”
Eden pointed beyond the front window. The carriage in front was an automated one. This would extend the route Rite and Arden needed to take.
“The one right behind is a cargo carriage, but…”
“Would it be difficult to change the order?”
“It would be too conspicuous. We should have been careful when entering the bridge…”
Arden anxiously looked to the front and back. Watching him, Rite gently reached out and lightly wrapped his hand around Arden’s wrist.
“It’s okay. We’ll get into the carriage in front. It’s better than getting off right behind—less chance of being discovered with some distance.”
Rite’s calm tone was almost unsettling. He was the one who should be most nervous, yet he was the most composed.
“You remember the map, right? With Arden here, I’m not too worried about finding the way.”
Eden met Arden’s eyes in the rearview mirror. Arden’s eyes, reflected in the mirror, were still a clear green.
“About 1 minute and 30 seconds left. Get ready.”
Arden wasn’t deeply religious. He was practically non-religious, but he found himself involuntarily folding his hands. He tried to imitate what he had seen people doing when he secretly watched through half-open eyes at the orphanage.
May the god, wherever you might be, protect Rite. Since you encouraged this innocent and fragile child to come this far, may you take responsibility.
Arden opened one of his closed eyes to look ahead. The line of carriages had shortened to just in front of them, but the guard change hadn’t taken place. Eden nervously fidgeted with the steering wheel, staring ahead. It was Rite who finally spoke.
“What time is it?”
“…10 minutes. No, it just passed.”
The cargo carriage they had planned to sneak into finished its inspection and slowly began to move. They could see the window of the automated carriage right in front of them opening. The guard change still hadn’t occurred.
“That can’t be… there’s no way. That person wouldn’t lie…”
“It’s too late. We have to go.”
The reason for Eden’s distress wasn’t clear. Rite made the decision, leaving behind the pale-faced Eden. With his hat pulled low, he grabbed Arden’s wrist. Just as he was about to open the carriage door, Arden grasped Rite’s hand.
“No. Behind.”
Arden pointed to the rear window. On the bridge crowded with carriages, two knights on horseback were visible. Eden, who had regained his senses, looked back and said,
“…It seems some of the knights dispatched to Rosmunt have returned.”
“Then what do we do? We can’t stay here.”
Rite applied pressure to the door he was holding. The knights were getting closer, and the inspection of the carriage in front seemed to be concluding.
A decision was needed. Arden, sitting on the inside, pushed Rite’s upper body with his palm, making him sit back down. Half-raising his body and standing in front of the carriage door, he spoke to Eden.
“I’ll go alone and draw attention while you turn the carriage around. Can you do that?”
