The Empror's Trap

Ch 27 - Peril (Part 1)

They both remembered the path they came by. Worried that someone might overhear their conversation, Pluvia had her palace guards keep watch on the route leading to the pavilion instead of hovering nearby.

They walked along without talking. From Pluvia's perspective, there was nothing left to discuss. Whether Kenji meant well or not, he still threatened her position. Kenji saw a grim wall between them, too.

That wall had a name: power.@@@@

As long as he held onto it, Pluvia would see him as an obstacle. But would he let it go?

Not a chance. Only a fool would give up hard-earned authority and the alliances he'd built. Yes, those alliances made her trust him less, but they also protected him, his sister, and Lina.

Kenji's head spun with the ways Emperors—throughout history—tended to be calm yet deeply suspicious. He'd read enough novels and books and watched enough historical dramas to know that a ruler can force even their own child to die over a single doubt. Much less Kenji, who was basically an outsider. Who knew if she'd turn on him the moment he gave up his soldiers and allies?

This wasn't a game where you can restart if you lose. One death here, and it's over.

He glanced at the emperor walking a few steps ahead of him and shook his head.

Then he sniffed the air. Amid the familiar scent of trees and grass, something smelled off.

"Your Majesty," he said, grabbing her sleeve. If they'd been in court, a bunch of older officials would be shouting him down for this. "Forgive my bold question, but does anyone kill animals in this garden?"

"???" She stared at him as if he'd gone crazy. "Are you serious? Marshal Kenji, you're as familiar with this palace as I am. You know there's a designated area in the imperial kitchen if they need to slaughter animals. If it's sacrificial livestock, the Ministry of Rites handles it. As for killing people...that happens outside the palace walls. The Imperial Garden is where I relax. Nothing unpleasant goes on here."

"I see."

Kenji smiled, took a deep breath, then tightened his grip on her sleeve. With his other hand, he drew the sword at his waist.

She could detect the noise, but pinpointing the exact location was tough.

"Every direction."

Kenji glanced back along the path they'd come. The guards who had been posted there were nowhere in sight, so clearly something had happened.

"Your Majesty, you know where the garden gates are?"

"Yes."

She'd grown up here. Nobody knew the place better.

"Something's about to happen. If I tell you to run, head straight for that gate—"

He never got to finish. Suddenly, he paled.

"Run!"

He didn't have time to explain. Even an idiot could guess what he meant. Pluvia leaped out of his arms and dashed toward the gate.

Right then, a small figure dropped from overhead, plunging an iron spike downward.

Kenji reacted on pure reflex and raised his arm just in time. The spike tore through his spiritual shield and stabbed straight into his forearm.

Damn, that hurts.