The Princess Imprint A Traitor - Chapter 30: The One Awakened from the Dream within a Dream (7)

“In that regard, I possess a truth that she is completely ignorant of. A truth so immense, that her naïve, flower-filled mind could never even imagine.”

Derek swallowed hard.

‘Isn’t this what’s called black alchemy?’

He wanted to ask, but doing so seemed far too dangerous.

“Derek, there is something I need you to do.”

“M-me?”

“Do you think I brought you all the way here for nothing?”

“…”

Derek felt a sinking sadness that he was, in fact, useful today.

“To reactivate the sealing stone, we need to activate the transmutation circle. Since alchemy is a power that only humans can wield, you’ll need to take that role. You are a royal, after all, so you should be capable of at least that much.”

“W-why don’t you do it, sister…?”

“Because you’re easier to overlook. Less threatening, more disposable.”

“Ah… I see.”

As always, Brigitte planned to observe from a safe distance, leaving others to handle the danger. She then turned her gaze to the homunculus leading them.

“You, over there.”

“Y-yes, Your Highness?”

“Tomorrow, find an opportune moment and lure the Punitive Knights to this location.”

“A-ah, understood…”

The homunculus didn’t dare voice any objection. He had long since been broken by Brigitte’s mixture of coercion and sweet-talking. Initially, she had lured him in with promises of a favorable place in the capital. When that failed, she used threats and even endangered his life. When that too didn’t work, she branded him using her remaining authority, binding him completely.

For Brigitte, branding was simply a tool to turn homunculi into perfect instruments. Eliza, who had witnessed the entire process up close, lowered her eyes with a rigid expression. Noticing Eliza’s look of disapproval, Brigitte spoke in a cold tone.

“The greater good always takes precedence over righteousness. My ascension to the throne is the greater good.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

Eliza’s eyes grew even darker, sinking into a deep gloom. Meanwhile, Brigitte looked up at the obelisk-like sealing stone, her icy blue eyes gleaming with a chilling sense of expectation.

“They won’t be able to escape. This trap will swallow them whole—no breaking free, no way to destroy or twist what’s to come.”

***

That day, Silvestian and the White Night Knights were stationed in Dandelion, tasked with keeping watch. The reconstruction of Dandelion was nearly complete, the subjugation efforts had gone smoothly, and the infrastructure projects disguised as supply routes were advancing swiftly.

All that remained was to locate and restore the final sealing stone, and the expedition could consider their primary mission accomplished. The return to the capital was now within sight.

“We must push on for a swift return to the capital,” Silvestian declared.

“Take care and don’t overdo it,” Eve replied, still bound to guard Dandelion alongside Rosie due to her companions’ concerns for her well-being. She waved goodbye to Mikael and the Punitive Knights as they headed off into the purple fir forest. Once their figures disappeared between the trees, Eve lowered her hand and glanced up at the sky.

“It’s cloudy.”

Dark clouds gathered overhead, a sign of impending rain.

***

From the afternoon onwards, Mikael sensed something off about the homunculus guide. His directions seemed less about exploration and more about leading them to a specific destination.

Suspicious, Mikael thought.

Before he could act on his suspicion, something unexpected happened.

“Aaaargh!”

“…!”

A man’s scream echoed through the forest. Trained as knights, Mikael and the Punitive Knights had no choice but to spring into action. They dashed towards the source of the cry.

“Ha…”

As they pushed through branches and shrubs, Mikael let out a sigh of exasperation at what they found. Hanging upside down, tangled in the bushes, was the 6th Prince, Derek.

“Help! Somebody save me! Aaaargh! Please, help!”

Derek thrashed around noisily as if he was doing everything he could to attract monsters.

“What on earth is going on?” Mikael asked.

“Gasp! Sir Agnito! You’re here! Finally! As you can see, I was stranded. We were ambushed by monsters from the sky, and I got separated from my knights!”

“…”

Mikael inspected Derek. His clothes were dirty, evidence of some struggle.

But his face and hands are spotless, Mikael noted, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Derek, noticing Mikael’s scrutiny, started flailing again. “What are you just standing there for? You, homunculus! Get me down from here, now!”

Derek turned his attention to the other knights of the Punitive Division, issuing orders. Bound by their oath, the homunculi reluctantly cut him down and lowered him gently to the ground. Mikael, eager to deal with Derek as quickly as possible, made a suggestion.

“I’ll escort you to rejoin the Flare Knights.”

“No, there’s something more important!” Derek blurted. “While being chased, I saw something that looks like the sealing stone! Before I lost my sense of direction, I remember the way. We should go there first!”

“…”

Derek’s sudden rationality and concern for the greater good were completely out of character. Normally, he’d be more than happy to hand any credit to the Flare Knights. Mikael stared at him intently, causing Derek to panic and raise his voice.

“So, come on! Follow me! This way!”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

With no choice, Mikael and the Punitive Knights reluctantly followed Derek. Suspicion weighed heavily in the air as they stared at the prince’s back. It didn’t take long before they arrived at a shallow cliff formed by erosion. Through the dense branches, the tip of an obelisk-like structure came into view—undoubtedly part of the sealing stone.

“The final sealing stone!” someone gasped.

“It’s really here!” another knight exclaimed.

While the Punitive Knights murmured in surprise, Mikael turned to Derek. “We should report this now.”

Mikael’s words were clipped and formal as he turned his back, intent on returning to the base as soon as possible. But this wasn’t the reaction Derek had hoped for. He quickly grabbed Mikael’s cloak.

“Wait! Aren’t you going to check it out? We need to get closer and inspect it! Look at it up close! Touch it even!”

“…There’s nothing for us to gain from inspecting it. As homunculi, we have no expertise in alchemy.”

“Then come with me! All of you! You’re my guards, aren’t you? You’re supposed to protect me!”

“…”

By now, everyone in the Punitive Knights was well aware that Derek had ulterior motives. Their faces darkened, as gloomy as the overcast sky.

If only Her Highness the 7th Princess were here… one of them thought wistfully.

Had Eve been present, she would have shielded them from this situation.

“Hurry up and come along!” Derek barked.

But Eve wasn’t there. The homunculi were defenseless in the face of a royal command. Then, Mikael’s voice cut through the air.

“Punitive Knights, halt.”

“What?” Derek spun around, glaring at Mikael.

Mikael calmly repeated the order. “Stay where you are. Do not move.”

“Hah!” Derek scoffed, incredulous.

“What did you just say?”

“…”

“Unbelievable! A mere homunculus knight captain not only defying me, but also giving opposing orders? Are you challenging my authority?”

Mikael maintained his composure, answering as respectfully as possible.

“The Punitive Knights do not belong to the 6th Prince, Your Highness. We serve the 7th Princess, Evueanrose Choelle Hadellamide. As her direct knight and captain of the Punitive Knights, it is my duty to prioritize the safety of my men.”

“So what? Eve’s not here right now, and I’m a royal! Homunculi must obey my commands!”

“…”

Derek’s true nature was finally showing. In the presence of royalty, even expressing displeasure could be construed as insolence. Mikael clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white. Derek interpreted Mikael’s silence as submission and, with an air of triumph, barked again.

“Punitive Knights, follow me!”

“Punitive Knights, halt!” Mikael countered.

“You… insolent wretch!” Derek fumed.

“…”

The tension between Derek’s and Mikael’s commands weighed heavily on the group. The homunculi, torn between their sworn loyalty to the royal family and their duty to Mikael, stood frozen, unsure how to proceed. Derek, too, was visibly flustered as the homunculi hesitated, unwilling to blindly follow him.

“Y-you insolent fool!” Derek spat. “My sister, Lady Betti, may have postponed punishment, but that’s over now! Once we return, I’ll make sure you’re executed for this treasonous behavior! And I won’t stop there—I’ll also hold Eve responsible for failing to properly discipline her knight!”

At the mention of Eve, a surge of fury coursed through Mikael’s mind, crystal-clear in its simplicity.

Should I kill him?

Sensing the rising tension, the Punitive Knights whispered urgently to Mikael.

“Captain…”

“This is reckless.”

“Please, for Her Highness’s sake, we cannot dishonor her like this…”

The Punitive Knights, though seething, gave subtle nods of submission, clearly reacting to Derek’s audacity in invoking Eve’s name. Mikael, his nails digging painfully into his palms, spoke through gritted teeth.

“I’ll lead the way.”

Given the circumstances, Mikael decided it was better to take charge and move forward rather than let the situation spiral out of control. He descended into the sunken area of the cliff and began parting the dense undergrowth. He and the twenty Punitive Knights cautiously advanced toward the sealing stone, maintaining high alert. So far, nothing unusual has occurred.

The sealing stone was more than half-buried in the crater-like depression. Only the obelisk-shaped tip was visible above ground, making the stone look like a memorial. The sun was already sinking into the western horizon, casting a chilling, ominous atmosphere over the area.

“It seems a large landslide occurred here,” one of the homunculus knights observed. But that was the extent of the information they could gather. Meanwhile, Derek, who had lured everyone here, seemed oddly uninterested in the obelisk itself. Instead, he was agitatedly digging into the ground with his foot some distance away.

At first glance, it seemed like nothing more than a neurotic display from the ever-unpredictable Derek. However, Mikael’s instincts told him something was amiss. He quickly intervened.

“What are you doing?”

“Hah! Let me go!” Derek thrashed as Mikael gripped his arm firmly. But the weak royal could hardly break free from a trained knight’s hold.

Derek then shifted tactics, pretending to struggle while continuing to dig at the ground. He was so focused on his task that he didn’t even care when one of his shoes slipped off. Then, something hard struck his bare foot. His face lit up in triumph, while Mikael’s filled with alarm.

Found it! Derek thought gleefully.

What is that? Mikael wondered.

In the ground beneath them, a stone slab had been uncovered. It was clear to anyone that it was somehow linked to the sealing stone buried nearby. Every fiber of Mikael’s being screamed danger. He quickly grabbed Derek’s other arm, restraining him further. But it was too late.

Derek didn’t need his hands to activate alchemy. With a defiant stomp, his bare foot slammed down onto the slab.

Perfect! Just as Betti planned!