The Water Magician

Von Dobre entered the Imperial Palace at eight in the morning and exited at six in the evening.

Until the time of the attack, he had been maintaining this schedule, but it seems that after the attack, he had been holed up in the Dragon Spring Residence.

However, with Ryo and Abel now acting as his bodyguards, permission was granted by Wei Feng, the leader of the guards, to return to his original activity schedule.

"Wei Feng is the most powerful person..."

"Yeah, Ryo, even if you think that, you shouldn’t say it out loud."

Abel admonished Ryo for his words.

"I also wouldn’t have been allowed to do anything if Count Heinlein had said no..."

"That’s just because the chancellor has a higher position than you, Abel, right?"

"I was... the king, though..."

"A king is just a figurehead. You're merely being carried. You mustn't misunderstand that."

"I see... a misunderstanding."

It seemed even his majesty the king was having a hard time.

It was the third day since the two accepted the bodyguard request.

The group of bodyguards, including Ryo and Abel, was waiting in a standby location outside the Imperial Palace.

To put it simply, this is the place where bodyguards and attendants wait while their master is inside the Imperial Palace.

If they were low-ranking officials, there would be no attendants, but for a lord like Von Dobre, or high-ranking officials, it was different.

They are what could be referred to as the Shtaiif Layer.

There are quite a number of people in the Shtaiif Layer, and the number of attendants is substantial as well.

In cases like the wedding of the prince and the principal consort, the number of people stationed at the Imperial Palace significantly increases.

Naturally, the number of those waiting outside the Imperial Palace also rises sharply.

There seem to be various types of standby locations, but the one where Von Dobre's bodyguard group is located resembles a gymnasium, with multiple groups waiting.

In Von Dobre's case, he had to wait for a long time since he entered the Imperial Palace in the morning and exited in the evening, while others did not stay for as long.

Some even left in about thirty minutes.

Ryo was deliberately surveying his surroundings.

Then, he quickly seated himself next to Wei Feng, the leader.

"What is it, Ryo-san?"

Wei Feng, who always wore a serious expression and never compromised on his work, spoke courteously to Ryo and Abel.

He always addressed them with a "san" suffix.

"Yes. Actually, there’s something I want to confirm regarding our bodyguard duties."

"What is it?"

Wei Feng prompted Ryo's question.

In the meantime, Abel had also come next to Ryo.

This was to stop Ryo in case something happened.

"I’ve heard there are three princes competing for the next throne, but which faction does Von Dobre belong to?"

"Hey, Ryo!"

Abel raised his voice at Ryo's excessively straightforward question.

Surely, it might be good to know for their bodyguard duties, but it didn't seem like a question a hired bodyguard should be asking...

Wei Feng narrowed his eyes and looked at Ryo.

"Hmm."

After observing for about a minute, he opened his mouth.

"The lord does not belong to any faction."

"Eh?"

Ryo was surprised by Wei Feng's answer.

"Is that really... possible? I mean, I think there might be some harassment from the princes... If that’s the case, no one would protect him, and wouldn’t that be a problem?"

"I understand what you're saying, Ryo-san. And, in the Darwei Imperial Palace, that is quite common."

"If that's the case..."

"That is why he was attacked."

"Oh... I see..."

Previously, it had been said that Von Dobre was attacked.

Of course, it was unknown who instigated the attack.

But it was easy to imagine.

It could be one of the three princes fighting for the throne.

Or perhaps someone from their factions.

They might have attacked and threatened Von Dobre, who does not belong to any faction, to draw him in.

Or it might have been a warning to those who do not belong to any faction.

Regardless, in a fierce faction struggle, not belonging to any group is the most dangerous.