After a while, Elmer rushed and signaled that the Emperor had come. Everyone present got wary and stiff. They checked on Alicia once again and made sure everything was ready. The baron sent a secret message to the Count through birds and earnestly prayed for everything to work out positively.
The Emperor entered the quarters with many knights. It was as if he had come to raid the place instead of inspecting it. Both Sir Alfred and Baron Andrei kneeled and said,
" I greet the sole Sun of the Empire."
The Emperor signaled them to get up and said,
" Baron Andrei, fancy seeing you here. I thought swordsmanship wasn't your forte, as you were more interested in civil officials' duties."
The Baron replied,
"Your majesty, with all due respect, just because the horse has discovered mining doesn't mean it can't excel at racing too. Of course, I would remember basic swordsmanship. After all, it is one of the things House Herbert teaches their children who might be their future heirs."
The Emperor glared and signaled his knights to 'inspect' the place. Every knight moved to search the place except the captain, who stood behind the Emperor to guard him. As most of the knights signaled that they had found nothing strange, the Emperor started to doubt the intel. Then the captain from behind said to the Emperor,
"Your Majesty, I sense a person, probably a child, in that closet. I am not sure of it, though."
The Emperor ordered the knights to search the closet where Alicia was hidden. Sir Alfred and the Baron opposed it and said,
"Your Majesty, a routine inspection doesn't involve searching a closet!!"
The Emperor, thinking he had hit the spot, ignored their opposition. As the knights approached the closet, Alicia, who could hear some conversations, trembled with fear. She felt her body going numb and was breathing profusely as the door opened. She prayed not to be found. She wished for a miracle. Then suddenly a flicker of light appeared. The knight who opened the door reported that he had found nothing, while Alicia could see him clearly. It appeared as if she had gone without a trace.