At the same time that Kaya was taking the combat rank examination, the corridors of the Azure Palace, shrouded in deep darkness, were illuminated by a small, faint light moving slowly—something unusual for this place.
During the early dawn hours, when everyone was asleep, the figure breaking the silence and moving through the corridor was none other than Mark.
He was a supply-type automaton responsible for managing the Azure Palace, serving the abandoned princess alongside the mechanical doll Kaya.
Normally, he should have been in standby mode, resting.
But the reason he was moving at this hour was simple.
He sought a definite answer to the questions and concerns filling his thought circuits.
And… for some reason, he also wanted to confirm the intentions of the one who, like him, was awake at this time.
***
Soon, Mark arrived at a door engulfed in darkness.
Moving his main body cautiously, he knocked.
Once permission was granted from within, he extended his precise mechanical hand to open the door and stepped inside.
The scene reflected in his lens was the same as outside—an ordinary room swallowed by darkness.
However, the presence of a beautiful, black-haired demon sitting on the windowsill, gazing outside with a serene expression, completely transformed the atmosphere.
Bathed in moonlight, glowing faintly amidst the pitch-black darkness, she exuded an eerie presence that no one could easily approach.
This was the true form of Yuria, the Eighth Imperial Princess of the Demon Empire—one that was never seen in public.
Or rather, it was a side of her that appeared only when her sole attendant, Kaya, was absent.
The warm and gentle smile she usually showed her beloved servant was nowhere to be found.
Instead, sharp, cold crimson eyes and an expression utterly devoid of emotion replaced it.
Among all the members of the imperial family, she was the one who most resembled her mother, the Demon Empress—a natural-born ruler.
Based on the data stored in his system, Mark analyzed her presence as such, standing still and observing the picturesque scene before him until she acknowledged his existence.
Thinking back, Mark suspected that Dr. Selene, his creator, had also been influenced by this indescribable aura when she decided to support this plan and invest in its potential.
Of course, from a purely rational standpoint, that was nothing more than an illogical assumption.
But in reality, that young demon had survived against overwhelming odds, escaping countless grasps of death.
A gut feeling—
A sense that she would show them something remarkable.
Having served by her side for the past ten years, Mark had come to understand the meaning of such ambiguous notions.
***
“…This is rare. You, coming to see me at this hour. Do you have something to say?”
[Your Highness should already know best. And if I were to make a careful prediction, my purpose is likely closely related to why you are still awake right now.]
Yuria, breaking out of her deep contemplation, questioned her unexpected visitor.
Mark, without a moment’s hesitation, responded in his usual mechanical tone.
Yuria crossed her arms, a faint smile of intrigue forming on her lips.
Under the moonlight, her thin purple silk nightgown shimmered, exuding an allure that could easily steal any man’s breath away in an instant.
Of course, as an automaton, Mark remained completely unfazed, merely waiting for her response.
From the moment Kaya secretly left the Azure Palace—
From the moment he realized that his worst fears had come true—
He had awakened from standby mode, troubled by deep thoughts.
Then, by chance, his sensors detected that the princess was also awake, prompting him to seek her out immediately.
Now, his question was clear.
‘Did she already know everything?’
‘And if so, why did she allow it to happen?’
Especially at such a critical time, when their plan was so close to execution.
Normally, he would not question her decisions.
But given the circumstances, Mark was determined to receive a clear answer this time.
Looking at her long-time ally, Yuria soon spoke the truth without hesitation.
“Yes, I knew everything. That Kaya was secretly plotting something behind our backs. That she left the palace at this late hour… But I did not stop her.”
***
Mark had anticipated this, yet hearing the truth from her lips left him unable to suppress his shock.
As an automaton, his outward appearance remained unchanged.
But internally, his thought processes were thrown into disarray.
To him, who always pursued the most logical and stable outcome, Yuria’s decision was the worst possible choice—one that introduced too many variables.
Yet, at the same time, one question remained unanswered.
The reason behind Kaya’s sudden actions was, in all likelihood, tied to the financial state of the Azure Palace.
Based on all the data he had accumulated on her, there was a possibility she might act unpredictably.
However, the probability of her following his rational suggestions should have been the highest.
Which meant—
There was another variable at play, one that he had failed to account for.
As expected, the words that followed from Yuria’s lips turned Mark’s suspicions into reality.
“…It was probably when I said I’d attend the banquet wearing an old, worn-out dress. That must have been the trigger.”
The change in Kaya’s behavior started around that time.
‘There’s no way I can stand by and watch my beloved master be looked down upon!’ …That must have been what she was thinking.
Besides, she’s always been sneaking in and out of the palace now and then.
And she has known for a long time that her body model was specialized for combat.
Given all these factors, it’s not hard to guess what she’s up to.
“She’s probably somewhere in the capital right now, running wild and showing off her strength.”
[How can you say something so irresponsible…? If she gets caught by the city guards, it could cause a huge commotion.]
“That won’t happen. Kaya isn’t that reckless. She would never do anything that could harm me. Instead, she must be finding a legal way to use her strength to earn money… The guild, maybe? She’s probably trying her hardest to make money through those means. You’ve been educating her for the past ten years—you should understand her better than anyone.”
***
Mark was utterly shocked by Yuria’s carefree attitude.
Yet, despite his reaction, the young princess remained as composed as ever, as if discussing someone else’s problem.
She adamantly dismissed the worst-case scenario.
And indeed, Mark had to admit—Yuria’s words weren’t entirely wrong.
The Kaya he knew wasn’t the type to act recklessly.
***
Ten years ago, when he and Kaya were sent to the Azure Palace, Mark had received strict orders from his creator, Dr. Selene.
Stay by Princess Yuria’s side and provide maximum support in controlling the test subject.
Closely monitor and observe her progress at all times.
And so, he had faithfully carried out his mission beside Kaya all these years.
He had taught the blank-slate mechanical doll the mindset of a maid and the fundamental knowledge of this world.
As a trusted companion and sole advisor, he had done his duty, slowly building a relationship of trust with her.
Naturally, over time, his perspective on Kaya changed as well.
At first, she was a ticking time bomb—one that could explode at any moment.
But now, she felt more like an unpredictable, mischievous daughter.
The truth was, his reason for coming here wasn’t just concern about the plan being disrupted.
Part of him was genuinely worried about Kaya’s safety.
Once again, Mark found himself reminded that, somehow, he possessed emotions—something that should have only been installed in humanoid automatons.
Lost in complex thoughts, he remained silent.
Yuria, who had been observing him with an unreadable gaze, eventually turned her eyes back to the window and spoke.
“You’re wondering ‘why’ I let Kaya act on her own, aren’t you? It’s simple. This is a preliminary test before the real stage. If something as minor as this could cause problems, then our main plan will never succeed. And the only reason she made this decision after deep contemplation… is for my sake.”
“I didn’t want to stop her from doing something so devoted to me. The dress I wear that day isn’t particularly important to the plan, but it doesn’t hurt to have a better one, either. Honestly, I don’t know if Kaya’s efforts will succeed. But even if she fails, it doesn’t matter much. Just confirming the depth of her blind loyalty is enough for me.”
An unshakable conviction—
A belief so deeply ingrained that it allowed her to make such a reckless, audacious decision.
Mark simply couldn’t comprehend it.
But as someone in the position of a mere assistant, he had no right to outright deny her firm resolve.
In the end, he didn’t ask any more questions.
Instead, he muttered in a tone laced with frustration and resignation.
[…I’ve always known, but you truly are insane. No sane person would ever make such decisions.]
“Fufu, of course. In a hell like this, you can’t survive unless you go mad.”
***
With the radiant moonlight behind her, Yuria’s crimson eyes gleamed ominously in the backlight of the darkness.
Yet, rather than terrifying, Mark thought her madness felt more like the flickering of a wounded, fragile flame—dangerously close to burning out.