Vol. 1 - Ch. 72

Chapter 72 

“Phew.”

It was only late at night when Johann finally finished his work. As he completed the last report, he set his pen down.

Rotating his stiff wrist from working nonstop, Johann gathered the documents meant for Edmund and rose from his seat. It was already past midnight, so he planned to review them once more before bed.

The corridor was silent, save for the sound of rain, as Johann walked alone. Though he tried to keep his distance from Edmund, it hadn’t been difficult to hear the news. He, too, knew what had happened.

‘Madam…’

Johann clenched the report in his hand. Though he had once spoken harshly of her, he had never wished for such an end. A guilt he couldn’t explain settled over him, and he let out a soft, weary sigh.

Just as he resumed walking, eyes drifting idly to the window, he stopped in his tracks.

“…Your Excellency?”

Recognizing Edmund outside, Johann bolted out of the mansion. He didn’t care that the report he had worked on for days was getting soaked. He ran without hesitation.

“Your Excellency!”

Johann managed to call out just before Edmund mounted his horse.

“Where… Where are you going?”

The rain was pouring so heavily that Johann could barely keep his eyes open, and Edmund’s expression was hard to make out. He swallowed dryly.

Word had it that the Black Knights barely stopped Edmund from throwing himself into the river. After returning to the estate, Edmund drank heavily for two days, then suddenly seemed to return to normal.

He hadn’t made a single attempt to search for Daphne. Johann had wondered if perhaps he was doing so in secret, but no, that wasn’t it either.

That was what puzzled Johann the most.

“…You're not, are you?”

A wave of unease washed over him.

“You’re not really going, are you?”

“Johann,” Edmund called his name quietly, “While I’m gone, I’m temporarily entrusting my authority to you.”

“Your Excellency…”

Johann’s face turned solemn.

Edmund had faced countless crises in the past. Some came without warning, others he had foreseen. Even when he went alone to exterminate monsters, he left with little more than a vague promise to return in a few days.

But he had never said something like this. That made Johann's anxiety all the more intense.

“Why… Why are you saying this?”

The soaked report slipped from Johann’s grasp and fell to the ground, now completely illegible, muddied beyond recognition.

“I’m going to find Daphne.”

“Your Excellency, Madam is…”

Dead.

She had to be.

After she threw herself into the river, the rains suddenly poured, doubling the river’s volume. The rain hadn’t stopped for ten days.

‘Madam has passed.’

Johann parted his lips, but the words caught in his throat and refused to come out.

“I don’t know how long it’ll take.”

Edmund mounted his horse.

‘But one thing I promise you.’

He turned with the reins in hand.

‘I will come back.’

Neigh!

In the stillness of dawn, the cry of the horse pierced through the sound of rain. Then came the clatter of hooves. Edmund grew smaller in the distance until he vanished completely.

Johann stood motionless, murmuring blankly.

‘I’ll wait… no matter what.’

* * *

Edmund kept riding. Through the rain, he pressed on. He entered the imperial palace through a secret passage he had long known, making his way to the forest where the engagement ceremony had been held.

Eventually, he stopped at the cliff – the place where Daphne had thrown herself.

[“Thank you.”]

Catching his breath, Edmund dove off the cliff.

Splash. The sound echoed in his ears as his body sank deep into the water.

* * *

In a modest room, the core figures of imperial power were gathered.

Chancellor Sergei Bled, Duke Bevelock, the Crown Prince, the Princess, and the Emperor.

“Hmph.”

The Emperor checked the time repeatedly, sighing with growing irritation.

Elizabeth bit her lip and glared at the door. Her elegant wedding dress was crumpled in her clenched fists. As the scheduled time neared, the Emperor, unable to hide his displeasure, finally spoke.

“Princess, what is the meaning of this?”

“Just a little longer… Please, just a bit more, Your Majesty.”

Elizabeth forced a smile onto her trembling lips.

“Edmund must have been caught up with something urgent.”

“He had something urgent during the engagement ceremony, too. It seems the Duke has more pressing matters than even the Emperor.”

“Come now, Your Majesty. If you say that, it breaks my heart even more.”

Her playful tone seemed to ease the Emperor’s temper somewhat. And so, every passing second became an agonizing wait once more.

Ding, dong.

The bell marking the hour rang out. Elizabeth shut her eyes tight. Her tightly clenched hand dropped. Edmund hadn’t shown up even with time fully passed.

“Princess.”

The Emperor addressed her, his expression somber.

“I believe I’ve given him enough chances.”

“…Your Majesty, if you could just give me a little more time—”

“I knew it would come to this.”

Before she could finish, Duke Bevelock cut in with a sigh.

Elizabeth glared at him, but his attention was already on the Emperor.

‘That old snake…’

She struggled to contain the fury boiling inside her, knowing full well Bevelock was escalating things on purpose. He knew she disliked his daughter and was clearly scheming to replace her with his own.

“I’ve said it time and time again, Your Majesty. Duke Winter should never be trusted. To skip his wedding to the Princess… such insolence is unheard of!”

“Duke Bevelock—”

“Princess, are you not ashamed?”

At those words, Elizabeth could no longer hold her composure, her brow furrowing sharply.

“You promised, did you not? That you could make the Duke one of us.”

“I… did.”

Yes, she had. Before the hunting tournament, she had been confident. Even a few days ago, despite some missteps, things seemed to be proceeding according to plan.

But the moment she saw Edmund standing, staring blankly at the spot where Daphne had fallen, only then did she realize something had gone terribly wrong.

Desperation took hold. She had even considered going to him, begging him to choose her.

“Duke Bevelock is right, Princess.”

“Y-Your Majesty…”

Elizabeth’s face drained of color as the Emperor sided with Bevelock.

“Your Majesty, please… calm down.”

This time, it was Sergei who stepped in, having been silently observing. With a gentle voice, he took a step forward.

“The Princess must be just as shocked. She clearly had no idea the Duke wouldn’t come.”

“That’s right.”

Elizabeth quickly nodded.

“How could this be the Princess’s fault? All the blame lies with the Duke.”

“Well, that’s true…”

Swayed by Sergei’s words, the Emperor’s tone softened noticeably. Bevelock, alarmed, quickly jumped in.

“Still, Your Majesty, the Princess—”

“Is also a victim.”

“…Yes, the Princess is a victim too.”

Unable to deny it without risking a charge of slandering royalty, Bevelock had no choice but to concede.

“Your Majesty, I have something to share in private…”

Sergei paused, glancing around meaningfully. Understanding the cue, the Emperor dismissed both Bevelock and Elizabeth.

Once the door closed, Sergei immediately spoke.

“There is someone I would like to introduce to you, Your Majesty.”

“Introduce?”

A robed figure entered. The person was covered head to toe, revealing only their hands, just enough to tell they were a woman.

“I believe I mentioned her once before. She has a personal connection with the High Priest.”

“I recall…”

The Emperor couldn’t fathom what this woman’s connection to the High Priest had to do with anything. Then, the woman removed her hood just enough to reveal her lower face. A white mask covered everything but her mouth, startling the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, this is the Saintess.”

Her exposed lips curved into a deep smile.

* * *

Upon hearing that Edmund hadn’t shown up to the wedding, Grace stood before the door, nervously taking deep breaths.

She had grown used to Elizabeth’s tantrums over the years, but lately, they had become more frequent, almost too much to handle.

‘Once I marry Lord Sergei, I’m quitting. Just get through this one more time.’

She took another breath and opened the door, bracing for flying teacups. But it was quiet. No familiar sounds of smashing porcelain. Grace straightened her hunched shoulders and peeked in.

“Princess…?”

Elizabeth was seated on the sofa, calm. No heavy breathing, no rage. Just a vacant stare.

“Grace.”

Elizabeth called her name, her expression blank. Startled, Grace hesitated for a moment before cautiously approaching.

“The Duke went into the Black Forest… to find that woman.”

“What…”

Elizabeth turned to look at her.

“Send assassins. I don’t care what it costs.”

Crack. Her grip on the armrest tightened so hard her nails looked ready to shatter.

“Kill them both.”

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