Alpha and Zeta were originally under the command of Marquis Renier.
Renier was the father of the late Empress and was the center of the First Prince's power within Katzen.
After Cesare dies, everything that happened in Valdina will reach the Marquis' ears.
'If it were Renier, he would try to get rid of her.'
The Marquis was the one who protected Cesare despite all the sabotage attempts by the Emperor.
They supported Cesare despite his unclear status and precarious power because he was the man to lead the empire.
Since Marquis Renier is someone who serves the empire to that extent, if he learns of Medea's power, he will be wary of her and will definitely try to eliminate her.
"Cesare, that could endanger the Empire. Who could face the Princess of Valdina without any preparation?"
Terence warned. He had already experienced the Princess with his eyes and body.
The Regent and the envoys played on the chessboard she had created while hiding underwater. The empire would not be an exception.
His point was correct.
This was truly uncharacteristic of Cesare. To leave a foreign Princess in such danger.
"So?"
Cesare asked back.
"I am no longer a person. So Katzen must deal with the Princess without the help of the one who cast me out."
I couldn't break the curse or find my life, so what passion did I have left to devote to this country?
Katzen. Empire. Throne.
He felt the colors of everything that had supported him fade away. The fire of fleeting desire was dying out.
A similar level of emptiness that Kensington had felt blossomed in Cesare's heart, only his was a bit darker and darker.
"Tell me, Terence. Is there anything left for me to give to the Emperor?"
"..."
"Just cover your eyes for a moment. She won't stop anyway."
Nothing will change even if he disappears.
Perhaps Medea's sword, which was meant to strike down Jason, will soon be pointed at the empire.
There is no clear reason or background as if there is some kind of old grudge against him, but he will surely continue to strangle his enemy as he is doing now.
It was a sad, ironic thing that he could no longer watch that minister.
'I just wanted to check how far it could go.'
For the first time, he felt a sense of kinship with others...
He never thought he would find someone in this far-off Valdina with whom he could share the same vision and point of view.
So, it seems that the presence of the Princess, that little girl, is not erased. Even on this last page where his life is coming to an end.
He remembered Medea, who had broken down and cried in her brother's arms that day.
He felt a needless sense of pride. He even had the urge to reveal himself in front of the Princess, thinking that he had chosen the wrong person.
It will no longer be his job to strike back the sword that was being swung down or to hold onto someone's shoulder.
Still, an inevitable bitterness remained on the tip of his tongue.
He wanted to watch that woman.
He wanted to be with Medea in her vision, to see how far she could go.
Is it because I know I can't let her go? Where does this inexplicable obsession that I can't shake off come from?
Cesare's ankles were caught by feelings that were about to disappear, shrouded in the veil of death.
The torn pieces of letter fell from his elegant fingertips like flower petals.
"If you will not listen to me, go back to your old master."
"Your Highness is our only master!"
Alpha suddenly shook his head.
"Then don't forget to maintain it."
Cesare's languid authority said it would tolerate no further abuse of power.
Maintain.
Alpha flinched. He could feel with his skin that his lord, who had been like a huge mountain, was really preparing for the end.
"... Yes. I will follow your orders."
The men retreated. Cesare stared out the window.
The sky was dark as if mocking his efforts to prepare for a flawless, lofty finish.
***
Valdina Prison.
A damp and musty-smelling prison cell. The faint sound of something being chewed could be heard.
"Is this all you have?"
Samon frowned as he rummaged through the basket of medicine and bread that Marieu had brought.
"I'm sorry, the chef has become very picky since he caught me last time..."
Marieu watched as Samon hurriedly stuffed the bread into his plate as if she were his mother.
"I'll take a sip. Drink this too, darling."
Gulp, gulp.
Sweet fruit juice flowed greedily down the corner of Samon's mouth.
It was a cheap drink that he would normally not have even considered, but now it tasted sweeter to him than the nectar that the Gods drank.
"Damn it. I've been starving for three days. Three days!"
Even as he was rumbling, his stomach rumbled, and cried out for more food.
For the past four days, Samon had been suffering from a hunger that seemed to tear at his very organs as if even rock-hard black bread and dry oatmeal were luxuries. This is because the 4th Princess who was angry at his scheme, blocked all rations going into the prison.
Since she was harassing the traitorous Duke Claudio, the guards turned a blind eye to her harassment and did not report it to their superiors.
'My poor love, you are of royal blood, and yet you are treated so harshly!'
Marieu, who had no way of knowing that fact, felt her heart break at the sight of Samon's skeletal complexion.
"Until the execution, I'll try to get some meat somehow."
Marieu reached through the bars and carefully wiped the juice and crumbs from the corner of Samon's mouth.
The execution of the weightlifters was just around the corner. After the fall of the Duke Claudio family, Marieu withdrew and hid her presence.
However, she could no longer stand by and watch the situation where her beloved's life was in danger as each day passed by.
"Don't worry, darling. I'm sure we'll be able to avoid execution somehow."
After a while, Marieu spoke calmly as if she had decided on something.
"Because our child will save his father."
"What?"
Samon raised his head, doubting his ears. His hand that was stuffing bread into his mouth stopped.
"What does that mean?"
Marieu nodded as if she had expected Samon's surprise.
"Yes, I have an idea. I have already made contact with the Queen Dowager's emissary, so I can meet the Queen Dowager soon-"
"No! Not that!"
Samon groaned in frustration. His arm slipped out of the bars and grabbed Marieu's wrist...
"Our child, what does that mean?"
He grabbed both of Marieu's wrists and shouted at her in a low voice, preventing her from moving.
Marieu instinctively shrugged her shoulders after seeing her lover's sparkling eyes.
"I went to see the doctor and he said I was pregnant."
Marieu twisted the hand that was caught away. Then she answered while covering her stomach.
"The blood of the Duke Claudio family is here in my body."
"..."
"Simon, aren't you happy? If the Queen Mother knew about this child's existence, she wouldn't be able to ignore you."
Marie continued speaking urgently to her lover who had no answer.
"The royal family is precious, and I am also the first to give a grandchild to the Queen dowager. If we survive like that, we can live happily ever after with the child, and plan for the future whenever we want."
Her eyes were filled with both cunning and fear. She feared Medea but sought the Queen Mother's approval.
Except for Medea's siblings, there is virtually no royal bloodline.
Even if the Regent had committed treason, wasn't he the biological son of the Queen Dowager who carried him for ten months?
If she knew that the bloodline of her soon-to-be-executed child was still alive and breathing, her frozen heart would melt. What parent would want their child's lineage to end?
Marieu was so confident.
"Samon?"
But she was taken aback by Samon's reaction.
She thought he would be overjoyed at finding a way to avoid execution, but contrary to her expectations, his reaction was surprisingly muted.
The cold prison air rushed in like a sting to her cheek. Marieu hesitated as she looked at Samon's distorted face.
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