* * *
Worried that something might have happened—perhaps he had collapsed while alone—she quickly set off.
If it had been an urgent matter, surely someone would’ve given her a heads-up.
So her unease didn’t feel unfounded.
When she reached the area near the Emperor’s office, the Empress halted, chilled by the cold air.
The Imperial Knights should have been standing guard as always, but they were nowhere to be seen.
What is this…?
If not in his office, the Emperor was likely in the council chamber receiving reports from his ministers.
As she turned that way, several high officials stood frozen in place, their faces grim.
“What’s going on?”
“Y-Your Majesty the Empress!”
“I asked what happened.”
“Well… from Epentel…”
She knew the Emperor was supposed to formally announce Eren’s citizenship today.
Only a few family heads had been privy to that confidential plan, so she wondered if the news had leaked and caused this chaos.
“If this is about Eren Nependes, I already know.”
“…I don’t quite understand what you mean, but Eren Nependes is not among those inside.”
Eren isn’t in there? Then who is?
As the Empress tried to enter the council chamber, the ministers hastily blocked her way.
Their pale, stricken faces looked as though they had seen something unspeakable.
“…Step aside.”
“You mustn’t, Your Majesty… it’s dangerous…!”
“His Majesty is in there alone, is he not? And you still call yourselves loyal subjects?”
“H-He said no one is to enter!”
“Where are the Imperial Knights?”
Though present earlier, the knights at the chamber entrance looked helpless now, unable to enter.
“…He declared it an imperial order.”
At that, the Empress bit down hard on her lip.
So hard that blood welled up from the delicate skin.
“Then I’ll go in. Move.”
“…Your Majesty…”
“Now!”
At her command, the ministers hesitated briefly, then stepped aside.
They had said there were multiple people inside. Even for the Emperor, that seemed reckless!
Just as she was about to open the chamber doors, a large hand grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
Slowly turning her head, she saw Ashard—her brother and second only to the Emperor in whom she placed her trust.
“…Let go.”
“I’ll go in.”
“What?”
“Stay here.”
With that, Ashard turned to Eren, who clearly didn’t understand what was going on, having heard nothing.
Eren quickly scanned his surroundings, trying to grasp the situation, but the silence from everyone was suffocating.
“You stay here as well.”
Whatever was happening, it was clear Ashard wouldn’t let him enter too.
Eren nodded in reluctant understanding.
Ashard, after briefly looking at Eren, placed a hand on the sword at his waist and stepped inside.
Why the sword…?
Eren hadn’t even realized Ashard was carrying a sword on the way to the palace.
Turning around, he studied the ministers’ faces.
They were ghostly pale, trembling—this wasn’t a normal situation.
A sharp instinct struck Eren—Ashard might be in danger.
The moment the thought hit, Eren dashed into the chamber.
Though the Empress shouted his name behind him, he didn’t hesitate.
As soon as he entered, a stale, metallic stench hit his nose.
It was a smell Eren knew all too well.
Blood…?
There was no mistaking it.
He had smelled it too many times before.
But this time, it was mixed with something else—something foul, like rotting flesh…
Thud—
While searching for Ashard, something rolled and hit his foot.
It was heavy.
Instinctively, Eren looked down—and gasped in horror.
“D-Dead…”
A severed head, brutally hacked as if mutilated, had rolled toward him.
As it turned slightly, the face became visible.
It was someone Eren recognized well.
“Ugh…! H-His Majesty…!”
Frozen in shock, all he could do was tremble.
He covered his mouth to stifle the scream rising in his throat, but his voice kept escaping, fueled by panic.
He couldn’t breathe.
For the first time, he fully understood what it meant to be paralyzed by fear.
Behind the petrified Eren, a shadow fell.
“So you were here, after all.”
At the sound of a familiar voice, Eren’s heart pounded as if it would explode.
He hoped it wasn’t who he feared, but the sight that followed made his body go rigid.
“Why… are you here…?”
A man with dark hair and copper-toned skin gave a chilling smile.
His oddly glowing violet eyes pinned Eren in place—he couldn’t even move, trembling all over.
Freezing up upon seeing him was pure instinct.
“Long time no see, Eren. Looks like you’ve been doing just fine without me?”
Eren’s eyes twitched.
As Helid strode toward him without hesitation, Eren stumbled back in panic.
His legs were shaking so badly it was a miracle he didn’t collapse.
“That’s a cold welcome.”
“S-stay… away…”
The words barely came out.
He tried not to let the trembling show, but his breath caught in his throat as he spoke.
The fear was expected—he remembered how the original novel described him—but it wasn’t just fear.
It was deeper.
‘Ah…’
When their eyes locked, Eren finally understood.
Those eyes looked at him like he was an amusing toy.
That greedy gaze that devoured him from head to toe.
Helid’s stare, blatantly sweeping over his body, twisted Eren’s face in disgust.
“Why are you here?”
He stared straight into Helid’s eyes, determined not to back down.
Helid simply curled his lips, amused.
“Hmm. To see you?”
“…Don’t joke with me. This is Trovien. You, a general of Epentel, shouldn’t be here.”
“Well, the Epentel commander is here too. So I don’t see why I can’t be.”
Eren’s face hardened at the mocking reply.
What the hell did that mean?
Why was this man in Trovien?
Countless thoughts swirled in his head, but Helid didn’t give him time to think.
“What? Trying to run again?”
He reached out, fingers gliding along Eren’s hair and the curve of his neck.
The touch was as repulsive as a snake’s lick.
Eren flinched, hastily batting his hand away.
“Who says I ran from anything?”
“If you say so.”
Helid’s voice made no attempt to hide its lewdness.
As if to prove he’d drag Eren back if he ran, he yanked him close by the waist.
His hand slid down the curve of Eren’s back to his rear, giving it a light pat.
Eren’s eyes flared with contempt as he shoved him away.
Just as he flinched, fearing Helid might close in again, a tall shadow blocked his view.
When he cautiously opened his eyes, he saw flaming red hair.
“I told you not to come in. Why don’t you ever listen?”
Ashard stood protectively in front of him, hiding Helid from view.
Eren felt a bit relieved.
But Ashard’s tone, slightly angry and unlike anything he’d heard before, made him glance up anxiously.
The grin vanished from Helid’s face, which had been all too cheerful moments ago.
“So you’ve already seduced some man, Eren? How’d you do it? Flash a little heat like you did with me?”
‘What the hell is that supposed to mean?’
Eren clenched his teeth at the filthy insinuation and glared.
‘I’ve never even seen your damn face until today.’
Of course, the original Eren—before he possessed the body—may have met him, but that didn’t count.
As Eren stared daggers, Helid’s gaze shifted to Ashard.
The little rabbit who’d been shaking moments ago was now puffed up with confidence, glaring like he had the gods on his side.
The change in demeanor clearly started with Ashard.
“I put so much effort into saving you for later. You didn’t give it up to that bastard already, did you?”
‘You crazy son of a—!’
* * *
