A tall, slender woman stood cloaked beneath the cold moonlight—mysterious, elegant, almost ethereal.

"Eep!"

Philoire jolted in fright. Just as she was about to cry out, the figure moved like a phantom, appearing instantly before her and covering her mouth.

"Good evening, Princess."

Suran offered a polite smile. "Please don’t be nervous. I am not your enemy, nor do I intend to oppose Oster. Could you keep your voice down?"

She released Philoire.

"You’re… the assassin from this afternoon!"

Philoire recognized her—she’d heard the descriptions.

"Correct. It’s me."

Suran lowered her hood, revealing her face. "I’m only here to retrieve what’s mine… and to share one thing with you, Princess."

*What a stunningly beautiful lady…* Philoire murmured inwardly.

*No, no, no—that’s not right!*

*What am I even doing? This is the assassin who abducted Knight Elsa in broad daylight! And I’m marveling at her beauty?!*

Philoire shook her head vigorously like a rattle drum, forcing herself to stay alert.

But no matter how clear-headed she tried to be, the situation was clearly not in her hands.

This was the very person who’d snatched Elsa from among countless knights and vanished without a trace. Face to face now, Philoire felt utterly powerless.

*Damn it… If only I had a strong, healthy body like Sister Plamia’s…*

Sighing inwardly, she asked cautiously, "Your belongings? And what do you want to tell me?"

"Weren’t you striving to see Plamia? So was I," Suran said. "Let’s talk after we’ve seen her."

Philoire dared not move rashly. She simply nodded.

They proceeded deeper into the secret chamber.

Soon, they reached a room tucked away in its heart.

A lavish four-poster bed dominated the space, flanked by a vanity, a full-length mirror—every detail fit for nobility.

Suran let out a soft remark: "I’d heard Princess Philoire secured this place for Plamia, but I never imagined it’d be this dignified. I thought it’d barely surpass a prison cell."

"Sister Plamia is Oster’s heroic knight! I could never let her be thrown into prison!!" Philoire exclaimed, voice trembling.

"So… you don’t believe she’s guilty? Even with all the evidence?" Suran asked.

"Of course not! But… witnesses and proof are all there…"

"Actually, I don’t believe it either."

"…Huh?"

Suran lifted the blanket. There lay Plamia.

Clad in a straitjacket, her eyes vacant—as if blind, deaf, utterly entranced.

Philoire had fought for this "dignified" setting, yet seeing Plamia like this felt anything but.

"How cruel…"

It was Philoire’s first time seeing her imprisoned. She covered her face, leaned close, waved a hand before Plamia’s eyes—but got no response.

"She seems under the effect of a temporary sedative," Suran said.

Unlike Suran’s "Yapao," this was genuine potion-induced trance.

*Guess I’ll have to lecture Black Hare later. What era are we in? Still clinging to old formulas instead of innovating… No wonder I had to use that "Yapao"…*

*No…*

*I might not… might not be going back at all.*

Suran tapped her forehead, took a deep breath, refocused—and began carefully searching Plamia’s person.

Elsa hadn’t lied. Suran had sensed the magic crystal’s aura upon approaching. And yes, she found it.

Elsa likely planned to retrieve it quietly after Plamia’s execution, during corpse handling.

But after checking the crystal’s condition, Suran placed it back.

"That crystal… I’ve never seen it. It’s yours, right?" Philoire asked, confused. "Why not take it?"

"Patience, Princess. I cannot leave yet," Suran said softly. "Returning it is a necessary step for the ‘sting operation’."

"‘Sting… operation’? What does that mean?"

"No need to dwell on the term. Just tell her—once the ‘fish’ bites—that no one came, and you saw no one."

"If she doesn’t take you away immediately," Suran added, "stay. Say it’s safer here."

"What… what are you even talking about?" Philoire was utterly lost.

"Just follow my words, Princess. You’ll be pleasantly surprised. That’s all." Suran gave a faint smile, pushed open the window, and leaped out.

Philoire stood bewildered.

She hadn’t been harmed.

Who was she? Why believe in Sister Plamia’s innocence? Who was the "fish"?

"What a strange person…"

Murmuring, Philoire pulled out a handkerchief to tend to Plamia.

Suddenly—

"BOOM!!"

The chamber door shattered inward.

Philoire’s heart leaped—then eased at the sight.

Elsa burst in with knights. Spotting Philoire by the bed, she froze. "Princess Philoire?"

"Elsa, weren’t you…"

"I escaped the assassin, Princess."

Elsa and her knights knelt swiftly, then looked up. "Why are you here? Has anyone else come?"

Philoire recalled Suran’s words.

*Should I do as she said…?*

*If I don’t… will she…?*

Though Suran showed no threat, doubt lingered. Swallowing hard, Philoire answered:

"No. From start to finish… I’ve been completely alone here."