I played too well the role of an adopted daughter. In episode 101 of the novel, the terrorist organization “Heat Wind,” operating across the empire, has often executed suicide bomb attacks using humans as mediums.

“The hot wind will blow from the desert.”

That was the incantation that marked the beginning of the “Heat Wind” massacre magic.

In other words, it meant that explosive magic involving humans would soon be real here.

‘If that goes off, we’re all dead.’

Viola hurriedly looked around.

‘Why! Why is Heat Wind here?’

Was the Forget-Me-Not Ball such a major episode?

‘No. Size isn’t even the issue to discuss here.’

Jeremy popped up, and Selina appeared as well.

It was already far beyond the original narrative of the “Forget-Me-Not Ball.”

But now, with Heat Wind appearing too…

Heat Wind had been a mere teaser throughout the novel, only revealing its true form in the latter half.

To think it would appear so blatantly in the early episode of the “Forget-Me-Not Ball.”

‘I need to find them.’

Someone here must be altered into a magic biological bomb.

It is rumored that its explosive power could obliterate an entire royal palace.

‘Who could it be?’

The young nobles around also looked around.

Though they didn’t know the intricacies like Viola, they seemed curious about who was singing that line, “The hot wind will blow from the desert.”

“It was difficult to find premonitions, and before the explosive magic was completed, identifying who the explosive medium was became quite a challenge, making it hard for the empire to find a countermeasure.”

For Viola, coming up with a countermeasure was impossible.

At this rate, we’d all die.

“Sis, just wait a moment.”

Leaving Hela for a moment, Viola began to run somewhere.

‘Geez!

She skillfully dodged the gathered young nobles like a fish, heading towards the podium where the banquet host was.

That was where the Lady Selina was sitting, taking a break.

The escort knight guarding Selina noticed something was off and pulled out a wooden training sword.

“Stop right there.”

Viola instinctively dodged the wooden sword and got closer to Selina, gasping for breath.

“I have something to tell you, Lady.”

“What is it?”

Selina didn’t ask any questions.

She, too, had heard something like the incantation “The hot wind will blow from the desert” and thought something was off.

It seemed Viola was familiar with that song.

“The possibility of a magic bomb terror attack is extremely high.”

The escort knight’s eyes widened, almost like marbles.

His flustered demeanor was evident, yet Selina remained completely composed.

“Sam, control your expression. The attention is focused here, and your expression might create chaos in the banquet hall.”

Selina indeed exhibited the poise of an imperial noble lady.

Even after hearing such shocking news, she remained calm and stable.

Only after hearing Selina’s words did escort knight Sam manage to maintain his composure and act as if nothing were wrong.

“On what basis do you say that?”

“I know about this magic incantation.”

“Are you talking about the song we heard earlier?”

“It’s not a song; it’s magic chanting masquerading as a song. This magic chant creates a powerful explosion using humans as a medium.”

“This is the Hailris Marquisate’s marquis residence. Multiple layers of barriers to repel malicious dark magicians are in place, ensuring ironclad security.”

From Selina’s perspective, Viola’s words were rather rude.

In essence, they disregarded the security and capabilities of the Hailris Marquisate.

Typically, in such situations, high nobles would get angry.

Not out of genuine rage, but to uphold the dignity of their families’ honor and the knights protecting them.

However, Selina was a bit different.

“The Princess Viola wouldn’t be unaware of such things. For now, I shall trust you, Princess.”

Selina prioritized safety over her reputation and dignity.

Before seeking detailed explanations, she took immediate action.

“We found spoiled food. An oversight on my part. There’s a risk of mass food poisoning, so we will conclude today’s ball here. Please return to your lodgings, and I will dispatch healing mages and clerics from the Hailris Marquisate.”

Selina handled the dire situation with the ease of someone who had faced such disasters multiple times, ensuring everyone could return to their lodgings unharmed.

The Emperor of the Sword, Nelak, was hiding in the ceiling, watching Selina.

‘Still beautiful.

For today, he had even mastered stealth techniques he usually didn’t practice.

It was stealth taught directly by the head of the Shiaud family, famous for their expertise in concealment.

He was confident that no one would detect him.

Not even Selina would notice his presence.

“The hot wind will blow from the desert.”

That incantation reached even Nelak, who was hiding in the ceiling.

He realized it was no ordinary melody.

‘What is this?’

He traced the source of that song.

It was tricky to follow, but not impossible.

A nameless blonde boy.

Yet the boy seemed hardly aware he was the one making that strange melody.

‘This is odd.

It felt unusual, but he couldn’t pinpoint what exactly was strange.

The truly strange thing happened next.

“Sis, just wait a moment.”

Viola’s voice rang out.

No matter how much of a Sword Emperor Nelak was, with mana mastery that touched the heavens—

Even a renowned martial artist couldn’t hear every voice distinctly amidst the clamor of over a hundred young nobles and the orchestra.

‘No mana was used?’

It was just a voice.

He had rarely felt a voice with such power.

It was like hearing Heron’s voice.

Nelak’s eyes widened.

‘That movement…

After realizing Selina was interested in Viola, Nelak had done a bit of investigation on her.

He thought it might help Selina—perhaps receive compliments in the process—

It was a self-initiated investigation.

‘Bellatu.

It wasn’t just that Viola was running.

Instinctively, she weaved through gaps and navigated the most efficient path towards Selina.

Her movements were incredibly smooth and fast.

‘Impressive.’

It reminded him of Medea in her childhood.

‘No, Viola is even faster and more agile than Medea back then.’

Admittedly, due to the banquet’s nature, it was advantageous for the much smaller Viola compared to the Medea of that time.

In any case, Viola’s movements were those of a heavenly-given weapon.

But even more astonishing was what happened next.

‘Did she dodge the escort knight’s wooden sword?’

Selina’s escort knight was a third-rank knight.

In Nelak’s mind, he would have loved to assign a knight bearing the title “Star” to her, but Selina had rejected it.

She said having such a strong and famous knight attached would create an odd sense of unease at the banquet.

Furthermore, knights of that stature had their responsibilities and various busy missions to perform.

‘But still, he’s a third-rank knight.’

Of course, knight Sam wasn’t wielding all his strength.

He had swung his sword, not to attack Viola, but to restrain her.

Nelak had sparred many times with third-rank knight Sam.

He had personally verified his skills.

Being one of Selina’s escort knights, he wasn’t picked carelessly.

Sam was definitely no weak martial artist.

‘This is insane.’

She supposedly was a White Bellatu, yet how could she move like that?

They say you can tell someone’s potential by their actions.

‘She has the qualities to become a supreme martial artist.

Viola’s movements were at least comparable to, if not surpassing, young Medea.

She possessed a terrifying talent.

After that, the banquet concluded, and having heard Viola’s words from the ceiling, Nelak dispersed mana to spread his awareness.

‘Where is that boy?’

He closed his eyes and recalled the situation.

As a peak martial artist, he unconsciously cataloged everything he had seen into his mind.

The happenings inside the banquet hall started to come back one by one.

Even though he hadn’t visually observed everything and hadn’t been aware of it, his genius brain recalled all the details.

In his memories, he sought out the blonde boy.

‘He’s moving…

What a strange movement.

‘Something feels off.’

It seemed Viola’s tip-off wasn’t entirely wrong.

‘If even Sam hasn’t noticed the oddity…

There was a subtle sense of incongruity that even the third-rank knight couldn’t detect.

It felt as if mana was squirming within the boy’s heart.

‘First, I’ll subdue him.’

Using stealth and agility, he snatched the boy and rendered him unconscious.

‘No one saw, right?’

Of course, with this display of skill, some might have recognized it.

Perhaps Viola’s butler, Jeremy, or Hela’s butler, Ersa, would have managed to perceive his movements.

Yet most would remain unaware of what had transpired.

From his perch in the ceiling, he drew his sword.

‘Venda.’

In an instant, he gathered his mana.

Unified with his sword, he swung it rapidly.

In a single strike, he sliced through something.

‘The boy is…’

Fortunately, the boy didn’t die.

Thank goodness he cut cleanly.

The Emperor of the Sword, Nelak, had severed the potent explosion emanating from the boy.

The concept of cutting away an explosion was beyond the comprehension of an ordinary person; however, it was just a regular task for the sword master, Nelak.

He dissected the dense flow and configuration of mana that would lead to an explosion.

Though it was only one swing, he scattered thousands of sword energies in that brief moment.

Thunk!

Nelak leapt down from the ceiling.

He placed the blonde boy on the ground.

“I think an explanation is in order, Young Noble Viola.”

Though he appeared embarrassed in front of Selina, it was a different story in front of Viola.

Viola swallowed hard without realizing it.

‘The Sword Emperor, Nelak.’

She recognized him immediately.

That handsome man before her could only be the Sword Emperor, Nelak.

The pressure radiating from the Emperor was on a different level from ordinary people.

Having endured such weight a few times with her father, Duke Heron, she could somewhat manage to breathe under this heavy pressure.

“How did you know about that spell, and how did you foresee the explosion? You act as if you know everything.”

Viola swallowed again.

She had moved to save people in a hurry, expecting a situation like this would arise.

But why was the Emperor, who should be at the Monarch Palace, here?

‘What should I say in response?’

Nelak’s cold voice continued.

“Depending on your answer and its credibility, Young Noble, I might hold you responsible, so think carefully before you reply. I currently regard you as a very likely suspect.”

… This is bad.