Morning court had just begun.

The towering golden hall stood silent beneath the pale light of dawn filtering through high carved windows. Rows of officials dressed in dark ceremonial robes stood in perfect order beneath the dragon pillars.

The atmosphere was calm.

Routine.

Predictable.

—

At the center of the hall, the Emperor sat upon the dragon throne, his expression indifferent as ministers presented reports one after another.

Tax matters.

Border disputes.

Harvest records.

Nothing unusual.

Nothing alarming.

Yet somehow—

The air inside the hall felt heavy.

As though something unseen was waiting.

—

Then suddenly—

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed outside the court.

Every official frowned immediately.

The palace guards at the entrance stiffened.

Interrupting morning court without permission was a serious offense.

A young palace guard rushed inside and dropped heavily onto his knees.

His breathing uneven.

His face pale.

—

"Your Majesty!"

—

The entire hall turned silent.

The Emperor’s cold gaze lowered toward him.

"...Speak."

—

The guard swallowed hard.

"The missing people..."

His voice trembled.

"...have returned."

—

For one full second—

No one reacted.

As if the words themselves were too unbelievable to understand.

Then—

The entire court exploded into whispers.

—

"What?!"

"The missing villagers?"

"The merchants too?"

"How is that possible?"

—

Several ministers looked visibly shocked.

Others exchanged uneasy glances.

Even older officials who rarely reacted emotionally had changed expressions.

—

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"...Explain clearly."

—

The guard quickly bowed lower.

"This morning..."

"Groups of missing citizens suddenly appeared outside the eastern city gates."

"And in several nearby villages."

—

He inhaled shakily.

"The total number..."

"...is around two hundred people."

—

Silence crashed over the court again.

This time heavier.

Colder.

—

Two hundred people.

Not one.

Not five.

Two hundred.

—

The Prime Minister stepped forward immediately.

"Impossible."

"Those people disappeared last week."

"They were searched for across the entire province."

—

Another minister nodded quickly.

"Yes!"

"No traces were found!"

"No kidnappers!"

"No bodies!"

—

The guard lowered his head further.

"But they truly returned, Minister."

"Families have already identified many of them."

—

The hall became chaotic again.

—

"Where were they found?"

"What condition are they in?"

"Were they harmed?"

"Did they escape?"

—

The Emperor finally raised one hand.

Instant silence.

—

"...What condition are they in?"

—

The guard blinked slightly.

"...Fine, Your Majesty."

—

The officials frowned.

"...Fine?"

—

"Yes."

"They appear healthy."

"No wounds."

"No visible illness."

—

The hall became even quieter.

Because somehow—

That answer was worse.

—

The Emperor leaned slightly forward.

"...Do they remember what happened?"

—

The guard hesitated.

Then slowly shook his head.

"...No, Your Majesty."

"They remember nothing."

—

A cold silence spread through the hall.

—

One minister spoke slowly,

"How can two hundred people disappear for an entire week..."

"...and remember nothing?"

—

No one answered.

Because no one could.

—

The Emperor’s gaze darkened slightly.

"...Bring several of them inside."

—

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

—

Moments later—

Three ordinary civilians were escorted into the hall by guards.

A middle-aged farmer.

A young merchant.

And an elderly woman.

All three looked pale and frightened standing before the imperial court.

—

The farmer trembled visibly.

"This commoner greets Your Majesty..."

—

The Emperor observed them carefully.

"...Raise your heads."

—

Slowly, they obeyed.

Their faces looked exhausted.

Confused.

Lost.

—

The Emperor spoke calmly.

"You disappeared seven days ago."

The farmer nodded weakly.

"Yes..."

—

"Where were you?"

—

The man’s expression immediately changed.

Confusion crossed his face.

Fear followed.

—

"I..."

He swallowed hard.

"I don’t know."

—

The hall became still again.

—

"What do you remember?" the Emperor asked.

—

The farmer frowned deeply, trying to think.

"I remember leaving my village..."

"...then fog."

—

"Fog?"

—

"Yes..."

The man’s breathing became uneven.

"Very thick fog."

"And after that..."

His eyes widened slightly.

"...darkness."

—

Several ministers exchanged uneasy glances.

—

The Emperor turned toward the merchant.

"And you?"

—

The young merchant looked pale.

"I remember hearing voices."

—

"What kind of voices?"

—

The merchant’s face tightened.

"...Crying."

—

A chill spread across the court.

—

The merchant continued quietly,

"Many people crying..."

"Begging..."

"Screaming..."

—

His hands trembled slightly.

"But I couldn’t move."

—

The hall felt colder.

Heavier.

—

The Emperor stared at him carefully.

"Did you see anyone?"

—

The merchant froze.

Then slowly nodded.

"...A shadow."

—

Several ministers visibly stiffened.

—

"What shadow?" one official demanded immediately.

—

The merchant’s face turned white.

"I..."

"I don’t remember clearly..."

"But..."

His voice lowered into almost a whisper.

"...its eyes were red."

—

The hall fell deathly silent.

—

Even the guards looked unsettled now.

—

The elderly woman suddenly spoke shakily.

"It was watching us..."

—

Everyone turned toward her.

Tears filled her eyes.

"I could feel it..."

"Watching..."

"All the time..."

—

One minister immediately shouted,

"Nonsense!"

"You’re frightened and confused!"

—

But his own voice lacked confidence.

—

Because deep down—

Everyone felt it.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

—

The Emperor slowly leaned back against the throne.

His expression remained calm.

But inside—

His thoughts had already begun moving rapidly.

—

Missing people.

Fog.

Darkness.

No memory.

Red eyes.

—

It matched too closely.

Too perfectly.

—

The strange incidents across the kingdom.

The reports hidden by the Duke.

The unnatural energy.

The attack on the Empress.

—

And now—

This.

—

The Emperor finally spoke.

"...Send every returned citizen to the medical hall."

"Have imperial physicians examine them carefully."

—

"Yes, Your Majesty."

—

"No one leaves the capital until further orders."

—

The ministers immediately looked alarmed.

—

"Your Majesty..."

"You suspect illness?"

—

The Emperor’s eyes darkened slightly.

"...I suspect something."

—

But he did not elaborate further.

Because even he—

Did not yet fully understand what they were facing.

—

As the civilians were escorted away, whispers slowly spread through the court once more.

Fearful.

Uneasy.

Uncertain.

—

And above them all—

The Emperor sat silently upon the throne.

Watching.

Thinking.

Realizing.

—

Whatever was moving through the kingdom—

Was no longer hidden.

—

It had begun showing itself openly.

And somehow—

That was even more terrifying.

The morning court had finally ended.

But the heavy atmosphere inside the palace had not faded.

Officials left in uneasy silence, whispering quietly among themselves about the returned missing people.

Some looked frightened.

Others suspicious.

And a few—

Looked pale enough to collapse.

—

Inside the imperial study—

Only two people remained.

The Emperor.

And Prince Liang.

—

The doors closed heavily behind them.

For a moment, neither spoke.

The Emperor stood near the window, his hands clasped behind his back as sunlight filtered faintly across the floor.

His expression was unreadable.

But Prince Liang knew him too well.

He was thinking deeply.

—

Finally, Prince Liang broke the silence.

"...This is no ordinary matter anymore."

—

The Emperor’s gaze remained outside.

"...I know."

—

Prince Liang walked closer slowly.

"Two hundred people disappeared for seven days."

"No injuries."

"No memories."

—

His brows furrowed.

"And then suddenly returned?"

He shook his head.

"That’s impossible."

—

The Emperor finally turned slightly. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"...Not impossible."

—

Prince Liang looked at him carefully.

"...You believe their words?"

—

The Emperor’s voice lowered.

"I believe they experienced something."

—

Silence settled briefly.

—

Prince Liang sat down slowly.

"...Red eyes."

"...Fog."

"...Shadows."

He exhaled heavily.

"The court already looks terrified."

—

The Emperor walked toward the table slowly.

"And fear spreads faster than truth."

—

Prince Liang nodded.

"That’s exactly the problem."

—

He leaned forward slightly.

"If rumors spread through the capital..."

"...panic will follow."

—

The Emperor remained silent for a moment.

Then finally spoke quietly—

"...Someone is playing games."

—

Prince Liang looked up immediately.

"You think this was intentional?"

—

The Emperor’s eyes darkened slightly.

"Yes."

—

He sat down opposite him.

"The timing is too precise."

—

"The missing people vanish."

"They return together."

"They remember nothing."

—

His fingers tapped lightly against the table.

"...Almost like they were meant to be found."

—

Prince Liang’s expression changed slowly.

"...A warning?"

—

"Or a message."

—

Silence.

—

Prince Liang frowned deeply.

"But why send them back?"

"If someone kidnapped them..."

"Wouldn’t it be safer to eliminate them?"

—

The Emperor’s gaze sharpened.

"Unless keeping them alive serves a purpose."

—

Prince Liang froze slightly.

Then slowly understood.

"...Fear."

—

The Emperor nodded once.

"Alive victims create fear better than corpses."

—

The room fell quiet again.

Heavy.

Cold.

—

Prince Liang rubbed his forehead slightly.

"This kingdom is becoming strange."

—

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed faintly.

"It already was."

—

The attack on the Empress.

The strange incidents.

The unnatural strength reported at the borders.

The disappearances.

Now this.

—

Everything felt connected.

But the full picture remained hidden in darkness.

—

Prince Liang finally asked quietly,

"...Do you think this is connected to the palace?"

—

The Emperor did not answer immediately.

That silence alone—

Was enough.

—

Prince Liang leaned back slowly.

"...So even you suspect it now."

—

The Emperor’s voice lowered.

"...I suspect everyone."

—

A chill passed through the room.

—

Prince Liang gave a bitter smile.

"That’s comforting."

—

The Emperor ignored the joke.

Instead, he spoke calmly—

"Double surveillance around the palace."

"No one enters or leaves freely."

"And quietly investigate every strange movement within the inner court."

—

Prince Liang nodded seriously.

"It will be done."

—

Then after a pause, he asked—

"...What about the Empress?"

—

The Emperor’s expression softened almost invisibly.

"...Increase her protection too."

—

Prince Liang noticed immediately.

And for the first time that day—

He smiled slightly.

"...You really changed."

—

The Emperor looked at him coldly.

"...Do your work."

—

Prince Liang laughed quietly.

"Yes, yes."

But inwardly—

He understood.

The Emperor was no longer protecting the Empress out of duty.

—

Now—

It was personal.

—

Outside the palace windows, dark clouds slowly gathered over the capital.

And somewhere—

Hidden behind unseen eyes—

Someone was still watching.

Still planning.

Still playing their game in the shadows.