"This is where the secret passage leading to the interior of the Imperial Palace is located."
Noel looked straight ahead with the resentful eyes of the mercenaries behind him. Following his gaze, Irene looked in that direction with a strange expression.
"I never thought the secret passage would be under the tomb of His Majesty the Former Emperor."
When she first heard about the secret passageway's location from the Prince, Irene couldn't believe it, and even when it was in front of her, she still found it unbelievable.
"Let's get in first and talk later."
"Okay."
When Noel gave the signal to the mercenary members, they joined forces and started pushing the giant coffin to the side. Soon after, something like a deep tunnel with a staircase leading to some sort of basement appeared.
With the secret passage of the Imperial palace in front of them, the Ram members gulped. They realised the dangerous gravity and importance of this job at that moment.
With everyone frozen and deep in thought, Irene approached the tunnel first.
"Come on."
The mercenary members looked at Irene with disbelief. With her weak physique, she was also a person who could easily crumble under pressure, but this little woman acted as if nothing had affected her. Which made the Ram members feel awe.
"It is dark underneath. You may fall here. Take my hand."
As Irene was about to go down the stairs, Noel quickly approached and took her hand. Irene thanked him, and they went down together. Louiselle, who was following them, sent a mocking look towards the still frozen mercenaries.
Recognising that gaze, the members of Ram protested in weak indignation.
"Wait, Louiselle! What's wrong with the look you're giving us?"
"It's nothing."
"Nothing? You looked at me like a coward!"
"I know you well."
"What!"
The mercenaries felt the pressure gradually diminish while squabbling with Louiselle. When they first heard that they were up against the Emperor, they thought that their leader had gone mad, but thinking about it again, this was nothing compared to the missions he had assigned so far.
It wasn't about killing monsters, jumping into gang dens, or traversing the desert. It was just a matter of dealing with one person.
Moreover, their immediate task was to deal with the knights escorting the Emperor, not the Emperor himself. As for the Emperor…
The mercenary members all had the same thoughts when they saw Irene's back as she took the lead.
This couple had many similarities.
♔♔♔
The secret passage was very long and puzzling, just like a maze. If it weren't for the map that the Crown Prince had provided, they would have lost their way.
Thanks to the map, the party reached the main palace safely without encountering any knights and got out of the passageway.
"...The exhibit hall."
A low-saturated light was illuminating the painting.
Last time, when she entered the palace, she also saw this painting, so she and Noel approached the portrait of the former Imperial family and stood in front of it. Perhaps it was because of the current mood. The image of the couple in the painting touched her more than it did back then.
'Rivena...'
It was an image of her smiling as she sat next to the former Emperor. In Undi's memory, Rivena was always struggling... but she looked happy sitting next to the Emperor.
"Looking at this painting, the two of you resemble each other."
"Really?."
Noel came up to me, Irene, as she looked at the portrait.
"If they were still alive, would I have been able to be next to them? Would I be able to feel their warmth?"
If both of them had not died at the hands of the Emperor, would she have felt the warmth of her family as well? Would have she been able to live her life confidently instead of in the shadow of her younger sister? Would it have been possible to go on a picnic together on a sunny day and be cared for and pampered when sick? It was all impossible now. All that was left was vengeance.
"I will be that kind of family to Irene."
Noel looked at Irene and said in a low voice.
"Just like this painting, I will be Irene's warmth."
"Noel..."
Irene looked at Noel silently for a moment. He looked more serious than ever. Seeing that, Irene smiled.
"Thanks."
The past years were like an illusion. It would be a lie if she said she had no regrets for her previous family, but she now had her own family, Noel and Grand Duke Kristen.