Under the cover of night, Princess Filia and I slipped out of the Imperial Palace.
　We were on our way to the place of Clarice's imprisonment.
　It seems it's been a long time since Filia has been outside the Imperial Palace.
　Maybe that's why she was looking around a little restlessly.
　Filia was once again wearing a maid's outfit.
　It's because I can't go out freely without hiding my identity, but the princess' beautiful silver hair was so conspicuous that I was scared that my identity would be exposed at any moment.

　If they found out, they might misunderstand that I was the kidnapper who took the princess out of the palace without permission.
　Even though it was an emergency to save Clarice, it was a bit awkward.
　I stepped into a less safe area of the imperial capital of Hazare.

''Let's split up around here.

　I said, and Filia nodded anxiously.
　The enemy wants the princess to come alone.
　So they put Filia alone at the negotiating table and I watch it from my hiding place.
　When the enemy's strength is known, or if it looks like Filia is about to be harmed, I will jump out and join the fight.
　That's how it's supposed to work.

　Finally, we are in front of our assigned abandoned house.
　It's 2am.
　There's no one there.
　Filia is standing at her negotiating partner's designated spot while I hide in the shadows of the next building.
　I heard small footsteps.

'I didn't expect the Crown Princess to be here herself.

　The woman who showed up said.
　The woman, dressed in black, plain, normal clothes, was someone I'd seen before.
　A rather beautiful woman with distinctive freckles.
　She's the maid who came to tell me that Clarice wasn't here during the day today.
　An insider was the executor, after all.

'So it was Theodora who left that letter behind?

　Filia said.
　'Theodora,' that woman's name is said to say.

'Yes. It was supposed to be an excuse for His Highness to go to the Imperial Guard to consult with them, and they were to use that as an excuse to have my breathless guards solidify around His Highness.'

It would make it much easier to kidnap me.

'But now that His Highness is here like this, we won't have to go around like that. I'm grateful that Your Highness is so vassal-minded.

　Despite the words, there was a mocking sound in Theodora's voice.
　Filia's neat face clouded over and she said

'Is Clarice safe?'

I didn't hurt you at all. Don't worry. We're not scoundrels. She's a bad maid, but unlike your highness, she doesn't have dirty blood in her veins.

　Filia backed away as if frightened.
　Dirty blood?
　In the Empire, that word means--

'Your Highness Princess Filia. I know.

No, don't tell me, please...

You are the daughter of the devil.

　I gasped.
　A demon.
　They are beings with the same characteristics as the demons that nest in the ruins, yet they have the same appearance as humans.
　They are powerful, yet they are despised, enslaved and persecuted by humans.
　And they are capable of producing children with humans.

''Our Emperor's Majesty is truly a man of no moderation. He has gotten his hands on a demon's slave girl and impregnated her. That demon is the real mother of His Highness, isn't it?　The imperial family is desperately trying to hide it, but many people in the imperial palace know about it.

What are you going to do to me?

Look at this.

　Theodora flipped up the sleeve of her dress to reveal her right arm.
　Her right arm was covered with a disastrous tattoo.
　I know.
　The tattoo was a sign of membership in the Coalition of Righteous People, a secret society of human supremacy.
　The members of the Coalition of Righteous People are an illegal group that hates inhuman races such as elves, beastmen and demons, and aims to eliminate them.
　'I, sir,' says Theodora.

'I, you know, I just can't forgive them. Demons are the enemies of humanity, fellow demons. They pretend to be human with an unconcerned face. It's a horrible thing that such a thing is everywhere, having children with humans, and to top it all off, it's mixed in with the royal family.

'If you want to kill me, why are you going through all this trouble?

　Filia is right.
　Rather than risking it and calling him here, he could have poisoned him while he was at court.
　But Theodora chuckled.

'No, sir. Your Highness must be kept alive. If it is announced to the world that Your Highness is the daughter of a demon, the sense of danger against the demon will certainly increase.''

Will you take me alive to prove it?

'Yes. And after I've done my job, I'll taunt and kill you in the cruelest way possible. It will be a good example to the world.

　Theodora said with amusement.
　While Filia and Theodora were confronting each other, I wasn't doing anything.

　I was searching for the number of enemy comrades nearby.
　From the signs, there were about five of them.
　The search spell also gave the same answer.
　Adding too many people to the conspiracy to kidnap the princess would increase the risk of detection.
　Besides, since Theodora and the others didn't have a high opinion of the possibility of the princess coming here, there was no need to allocate a large number of people.
　Five people is a reasonable number in that sense as well.

　I took a deep breath.
　It's about time. I draw my sword and take a stance.

Now, Your Highness. "Now, your highness, please get some sleep.

　I jumped out of the way almost as soon as Theodora said that and took the small staff out of her pocket.