Chapter 123

Having left the main palace, Adele found herself walking toward the Marble Palace without quite realizing it. Spring had settled in now, warm enough that even the wind felt mild. The trees along the Marble Palace's lakeshore had all put out fresh green leaves.

"The cherry blossoms will be blooming soon."

Adele murmured it bitterly to herself.

"Halt!"

Three or four knights stepped forward and blocked her path. Startled, Adele flinched back.

Their white uniforms marked them as White Ghost Knights. If they'd belonged to the 1st Unit that Jennifer led, they would have recognized her, but none of these men seemed to.

"This area is restricted. Please turn back."

Adele gazed past the lake at the Marble Palace. The atmosphere was clearly different from the last time she'd come. Far more men stood guard around it now, and there was no sign of a single attendant or servant at…