“It seems His Majesty has given him a lot of affection, considering how seriously he is investigating this matter.”

The crooked smile on Carlothian’s face remained unyielding.

“Moreover, it appears he visited the palace the day before the incident occurred.”

“I’ve never heard such a thing.”

“You will hear it soon.”

He said quietly to the investigator.

“Before long, it will spread widely in high society.”

In an instant, he erased his expression and stood up.

The Emperor—just thinking about him made him grind his teeth.

‘He’s being quite a nuisance.’

After all, the Emperor wouldn’t expect him to fall into this trap.

That guy would want him to suffer more and die.

It was clear that even without this incident, he would continue to find ways to ensnare him.

‘Seeing you like this makes me feel I did the right thing.’

The image of that man grinning madly as he was struck by his own blade came to mind. Carlothian bit his tongue in his mouth.

He wanted to tear the Emperor’s flesh apart immediately. But not now.

He had to protect Ariadeline. He couldn’t abandon himself and dedicate everything to revenge.

“Is there anything else you wish to ask?”

“……No. Thank you for your hard work.”

The investigator bowed his head, and Carlothian left the investigation room.

As he stepped out of the investigation room, he saw a man walking toward him from the opposite direction. The middle-aged man with brown hair was a familiar face to Carlothian.

“It’s been a while.”

“Ah, it’s an honor to see you, Your Grace.”

It was Mace Dolorante, a collateral member of the Dolorante Marquis family.

It seemed they were gathering those who could immediately become marquises upon Seth Dolorante’s death.

Despite the circumstances, he had a rather anxious expression. Carlothian averted his gaze.

The former Marquis Dolorante had two younger brothers, and those two were likely engaged in a power struggle for the marquis title.

Carlothian passed by him without saying much.

“I’ll help you.”

“……”

For a moment, Mace Dolorante’s face froze in a smile.

“I will send someone quietly.”

Carlothian walked past him without needing to hear a response. He would naturally take his hand.

Mace Dolorante was the second son of the Dolorante Marquis family. And he was currently competing with Dorrison Dolorante.

In the past, despite being the youngest, he possessed enough power to threaten the former Marquis Dolorante.

Mace Dolorante was somewhat at a disadvantage. Thus, he had no choice but to take Carlothian’s hand.

The next day, a letter was delivered to Mace Dolorante.

Enclosed with the letter was a false report about Dorrison Dolorante.

The documents were so meticulously fabricated that they appeared genuine.

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

“What shall we do with the remaining body?”

“Throw him into the river near Dorrison’s Dolorante estate.”

“Understood.”

The Duke’s knights soon disposed of Seth Dolorante’s body, which had undergone severe torture, in the river near the Dorrison Dolorante estate.

It was discovered the very next day. The capital was thrown into chaos.

Mace Dolorante seized the opportunity to present false documents claiming that Dorrison Dolorante had recently visited the western forest.

“No! I really didn’t! Please spare me, Your Majesty…!”

Dorrison Dolorante was accused of murdering Seth Dolorante.

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

Seth Dolorante was murdered, and a collateral family member accused of his murder was imprisoned.

I felt strange. Although I didn’t have a fondness for him, the fact that someone I knew had died left me feeling unsettled.

Curiosity piqued, I leaned over next to Carlothian, who was sitting at the desk in the bedroom, merely looking over documents, and asked,

“So, why did you send the Emperor his head?”

At my words, Carlothian’s hand froze for a moment. Then, as if he hadn’t heard anything, he began to move again.

‘Are you pretending not to hear?’

I squinted at him and reached out. I gently brushed his black hair, and he slowly closed his eyes. I looked at his closed face and thought.

The news was spreading, and it seemed there were rumors that Seth Dolorante had provoked the Emperor’s wrath by touching the Empress.

Thanks to that, suspicions about Carlothian were minimal.

“You don’t have to tell me everything, but I hope you’re not intentionally hiding something.”

As I swept his hair aside, his eyes opened. His dark, lifeless eyes stared directly at me.

He seemed to slowly exhale, then soon answered, as if responding to my words not to hide anything.

“It was he who killed my father and who will kill you.”

“…….”

He continued speaking plainly, as if he had already made up his mind about everything.

There was a surge of malice in his dark eyes. For the first time, I confirmed his hatred with my own eyes.

When I couldn’t say anything, he continued.

“Ariadeline, I can’t forgive him. How can I forgive someone who took everything from me?”

He looked at me.

“……Just like you couldn’t forgive me.”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words.

“Ariadeline, you are my miracle.”

He spoke reverently, as if discussing a matter of faith.

“……How could you forgive me?”

I parted my lips, unable to say anything.

“I won’t deny your hatred. However…”

I smiled slowly and bitterly.

“I won’t let that hatred consume you.”

At my words, his eyes widened. The hand he was holding trembled slightly, as if he wanted to grip my hand tightly but couldn’t.

Seeing that, I let out a deep sigh.

In fact, I had been troubled by a small dilemma for the past few days.

Carlothian looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Do you have something on your mind?”

I naturally intertwined our fingers.

Carlothian flinched at my touch. I squeezed our entwined fingers tightly and looked at him.

Unlike my firm grip, he did not clench his hand. I leaned my face closer to his in dissatisfaction.

He looked down at me. I waited for a few seconds, but he didn’t move.

“Have you noticed you’ve been acting strange lately?”

“……In what way?”

I narrowed my eyes.

“I don’t want to say.”

“……Just tell me. I’ll fix it.”

“Think about it yourself.”

I released my grip and turned away with a huff. I left the room, and the maids followed me, chattering. Dolly asked,

“Are you going for a walk?”

“Yeah.”

As I went down with the maids, I thought about how, in the past, he would have kissed me.

‘He doesn’t avoid me touching him first, but he avoids touching me.’

Of course, it could be because I had a fit whenever he touched me for a while.

But that should have gotten better by now. When I wore a serious expression, Dolly asked,

“Did you have a fight?”

At her words, I looked at Dolly. Come to think of it, what happened to her after she was with me?

No matter how I thought about it, it didn’t seem like she had a good experience.

“Dolly.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’ve been through a lot.”

“Uh? What do you mean?”

“Just that.”

I smiled with a frown and stepped out into the garden. Dolly followed me with a puzzled expression.

Carlothian watched Ariadeline stepping into the garden from the window, gripping the curtain tightly.

He felt joy at her touch but fear at his own. The sensation of their last touch still lingered vividly.

That feeling of having choked her…

He held his breath for a moment, recalling that sensation.

He choked up just thinking about her, who called it love even after he had strangled her neck. His eyes welled up.

Even after all that, she still calls it love, even after he strangled her neck again.

He exhaled the breath he had been holding. With his eyes now darkened, he looked at Ariadeline, illuminated in the bright light.

“Whatever it takes…”

I vow to protect you. I would risk everything for it. Even if it means giving up my life.

I could die for you.

Ariadeline.

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

“He wasn’t just a little crazy.”

The Emperor chuckled wryly as he examined the seemingly authentic documents and evidence once again.

Rumors were even spreading in high society that Seth Dolorante might be connected to the Emperor.

The Emperor had no evidence that Carlothian Denaves killed Seth Dolorante.

He only had a gut feeling because Carlothian had preempted the method he intended to use. He had sensed what he was planning before he could act.

“What on earth is happening?”

Carlothian Denaves was not someone who could end up in such a situation.

He appeared to be a solid character who maintained his boundaries. That was Carlothian Denaves, and that’s why he believed he could control the situation.

However, it was gradually slipping out of his grasp. No, it had already escaped and was lurking in the darkness, targeting him.

“……What do you think?”

The Emperor asked what resided within him. After several days of silence, it finally responded with a voice filled with joy.

It is coming.

“What?”

The time is coming.

“What do you mean?”

My foolish half has exhausted all its strength. Thus, despair will grow, and disaster will be drawn nearer.

Before the Emperor could open his mouth, shadows flowed from his body.

The Emperor’s body jolted. Darkness engulfed his entire chamber.

Thud.

The emperor’s room was soon filled with silence and darkness. It was an event that happened on a very dark night.

Time passed, and morning arrived. When it was time for him to rise, the Emperor, who usually got up on his own, did not cough, prompting the attendant to knock on the Emperor’s door.

“Your Majesty.”

There was no response.

“Your Majesty?”

Despite being called several times, there was no response. Ultimately, the attendants, suspecting something had happened, gathered the knights to forcibly open the Emperor’s door.

“I will accept the punishment, Your Majesty…!”

Creak, clank!

The door opened. And inside…

“W-what is this…?”

It was filled with pitch-black darkness. Even though it was daytime with sunlight streaming in, there was a black wall erected inside the door that obscured everything ahead.

Even those who knew nothing could feel the ominous energy creeping up.

“High Priest!”

The attendant shouted.

“Bring the High Priest…!”