Ignition Successful, but It Burned the Wrong Person

Isabella—Theus naturally knew who she was. The ruler who had revived the Empire, a legendary Empress of her generation, whose final death had been hasty and unceremonious. Theus had always suspected that she had shed her shell by assuming the Prince's identity, and most subsequent investigations had pointed in that direction.

But why had Bazel taken on her appearance?

Theus felt as though he had been struck by lightning. So many overlooked details suddenly surfaced in his mind, all linking together at this moment.

That day, when he had asked the Prince when the war would begin, the Prince had said, "I'm waiting for something."

A few days ago, when he had asked the Prince whether he wanted to attend the ignition ceremony, he had said, "I have something more important to do."

And lately, the Prince had vanished without a trace.

Bazel and Isabella had barely had any dealings with each other. If he had to force a connection, Bazel had been Isabella's fervent supporter. Meanwhile, the Prince had always kept Galahad by his side. Theus had first begun suspecting the Prince's identity because of Galahad. He was a Transcendent of the [Knight] pathway, practically directly tied to the imperial family.

Isabella had been willing to risk exposure just to bring Galahad with her, and Galahad had pledged his loyalty to her...

A faint guess suddenly formed in Theus's heart. Could it be that what Isabella's shell-shedding ritual actually required was... a certain emotion?

The Prince had carried out an assassination out of extreme hatred. Galahad had shown fanatical loyalty. And then the Prince had suddenly discovered that Bazel was equally fanatical!?

"You are—"

Theus was just about to question her when he suddenly saw Isabella raise a finger to her lips and wink at him.

Theus instinctively froze.