The Count of Mapel was completely pacified.
Cecilia and Count Mapel were locked in the dungeon. They were scheduled to be tried and sentenced at daybreak tomorrow.
Although he was expelled, in any case, he was a nobleman who had come to patrol the border under the orders of the Emperor. The charge of attacking Targayel was serious. Even if he was not executed, he would at least be stripped of his title and stripped of everything. Of course, the same was true for Cecilia.
By the time the situation had been somewhat sorted out, a full day had passed. Elze, who had not been able to move her buttocks for a moment until dawn, was tired. Her mental fatigue was greater than her physical fatigue.
But she couldn't rest yet. It wasn't until dawn that she could find some quiet time with Hayden and Shan.
“I’m really ashamed.”
And Hayden bowed his head to Elze and apologized several times.
“It’s all my fault...”
The reason Cecilia was able to draw her sword was because Elxe was considerate of Hayden. In fact, before Cecilia acted like that, she should have already taken care of Count Mapel on her own.
Hayden also knew that fact, so he kept nodding his head. Elze waved her hand at Hayden.
“It’s okay, Hayden. It’s not your fault.”
"...”
Shan was standing next to Elze with a look of “it’s your fault,” but he didn’t really add anything. Elze glanced at Shan once before continuing.
“The perpetrator who committed such an act should apologize. Why is it Hayden, the victim, who should apologize?”
“But... I made a wrong decision...”
“I allowed it because it was within the scope of control. So stop apologizing.”
Elze smiled at him and spoke calmly.
“Hayden’s role is very important from now on. Now that Hayden has become Count Mapel, you must lead the border.”
“Thank you so much. I will work hard!”
Hayden, full of energy, repeated his promise. He was discussing the future and the summary trial that was to take place tomorrow. Then, a knock came, and Liv's voice was heard.
“This is Liv.”
Liv asked permission to come in, but he didn't. He just opened the door slightly and stuck his head out. He didn't say what he wanted to say and just smiled faintly. It was the smile of a guilty person. When Shan narrowed his eyes, Liv pretended to cry and said to Shan.
“Lord Cirxus, I have something to tell you separately.”
The dungeon was damp and cold. The beds were nothing more than rags on straw, and the dishes were rusty ironware. Cecilia sobbed on the icy stone floor.
“Sob, sob sob...”
Cecilia's tears would not dry because she was sad about her situation. She did not think about the sins she had committed and only cried over the pain she was going through.
Next to her, who was staying up all night with her eyes wide open, unable to sleep, Count Mapel was sleeping soundly and snoring loudly. For the convenience of surveillance, they were even put in the same cell under the pretext of being a married couple.
Because of that, it was hell for Cecilia. The guy she hated was rolling around next to her, so she just wanted to kill him. Cecilia, who was suffering because she was wondering why she was the only one suffering like this, suddenly looked out the bars.
“...”
It was quiet. The only sounds in the dead silence were Cecilla's breathing and Count Mapel's snoring.
At that moment, a thought suddenly struck Cecilia. It was a very impulsive thought, dangerous. But it sucked Cecilia's heart in like a swamp.
Cecilla looked back as if possessed by something. There was Count Mapel, fast asleep.
It was all because of that guy. The impulse grew stronger as he recalled the image of Count Mapel abandoning her and running away alone.
She began to pull the bedsheets and tie them tightly into a rope. When she came to, Cecilia was already on top of Count Mapel and had wrapped the rope around his neck. Cecilia pulled on the rope with all her might.
“Ugh... Ugh!!”
Count Mapel, who had been sleeping, woke up late and struggled. However, the string was already tightened tightly. Count Mapel eventually collapsed after not being able to hold out for long.
“Haa... Ha...”
Killed. Finally killed. Cecilia felt a strange sense of elation. She even felt relieved.
How great it would be if she could kill Erzenes and Shan Cirxus like this. Even though she knew that her actions were not normal, she couldn't help but laugh. Cecilia, who had been laughing like a crazy person for a while, came to her senses belatedly. She left Count Marpel's body and hung herself on the prison door.
“!!”
Surprisingly, the door was not locked. It was simply a latch. Cecilia couldn't hide her delight as the door opened with a creaking sound.
“Finally, God is helping me...!”
She barely suppressed the laughter that threatened to burst out. Then, with a sob, she ran up the stone steps of the dungeon barefoot.
And then Cecilia runs away, and some time passes.
“Hey! You finally escaped.”
A figure suddenly appeared in the darkness. The person who appeared while whistling was Liv.
Cecilia thought no one was there, but no. They were just hiding and watching. Liv walked leisurely and looked around the cell.
“Hmm.”
And then he looked down at Count Mapel, who was lying on the floor. A string made of old bed sheets was lying around his neck.
Liv, who had been observing him closely, blinked. Although it was faint, he could see Count Mapel’s chest rising and falling. It seemed that Cecilia’s strength was weak, so he simply fainted from shortness of breath but did not die.
Anyway, the old man's lifeline was unnecessarily long. Liv muttered, clicking his tongue.
“Hey, you didn’t strangle him enough because you didn’t have enough strength. This won’t do.”
And he climbed onto Count Mapel and grabbed the sheet with both hands. He pulled the strings with all his might, just like Cecilia had done earlier.
At the sound, Liv was startled and let go of his hand. Count Mapel's broken neck dangled. Liv belatedly regretted it.
“Oh my.. This is too obvious.”
Liv, who had been trying to adjust his cervical vertebrae here and there, soon gave up and stood up neatly. Then he looked back into the darkness and said.
“Epen.”
Then, just like Lib had done earlier, a person walked out of nowhere.
The man with half of his face covered by a mask was Epen. And the shadows that had been hiding behind Epen appeared. At the appearance of Epen and Kalia, Liv laughed heartily and said.
“Shall we start the chase?”
Cecilia ran and ran. Her bare feet were covered in blood from the rubble and dirt, but she didn't have time to care. She didn't even feel pain.
She passed through the backyard of the mansion and entered the forest. After running for a while without thinking, Cecilia tripped on a rock and fell.
“Ahh!”
She rolled around on the floor and collapsed in a mess. Panting for breath, she finally looked around and heard the rustling of grass blades.
At first, she thought it was the sound of leaves swaying in the wind. But it wasn't. It was the sound of shadows rising in the black darkness of dawn. Cecilia knew who they were, wearing black masks.
“Kalia...!!”
Cecilia stepped back in horror. But she was already surrounded. A man suddenly emerged from between the shadows that surrounded them.
“Lady Cecilia.”
“Cull, Lord Cullens?”
Cecilla was relieved at the appearance of Liv, who she could say was somewhat familiar with. However, Liv was the bomb.
“You must have tried hard to escape.”
The tone of Liv's voice as he spoke was subtle. Cecilia was panting, and he spoke as if he felt sorry for her.
“But the rule is to kill fugitives.”
“!!”
Cecilia's mind flashed belatedly. A prison cell without a single guard, a door that was open without a lock. She thought it was all luck, but it wasn't. Cecilla had escaped, and it was a means to create an excuse to kill her.
But Cecilla, not knowing what was happening, took the bait. Later, she trembled and begged for her life.
“Save me... Save me...!!”
But Liv just shook her head.
“So who told you to touch our lady? And Lord Cirxus, too.”
Instead, he went even further and started criticizing her.
“Consider yourself lucky. If only I had time, I wouldn’t have killed you so easily.”
Liv waved her hand. The circular encirclement began to close in. Cecilla screamed at the sight of the black masked men approaching her one step at a time. But no one helped her. Liv just gave her a mischievous smile and said his final goodbye.
“Yes, now you have to die.”
“...So, it happened like that.”
After finishing his explanation, Liv bowed deeply to Shan.
“I’m sorry. It was unavoidable.”
Because Liv wanted to talk privately, Shan sent Hayden away and talked with Liv in a distant hallway.
After listening to Liv's story to the end, Shan briefly shared his thoughts.
“That’s a pretty clever lie, Liv.”
“Oh, no.”
Liv laughed and scratched his head. He grinned and asked Shan a question.
“Is it too obvious?”
Instead of answering Liv's question, Shan raised his eyebrows. It was a silent rebuke, asking why he did something he wasn't told to do. Liv rolled his eyes and thought of a suitable excuse.
“Liv Cullens.”
However, Shan finally sighed and confessed as he heard his stern voice questioning him.
“Isn’t that the woman who has been harassing Cirxus and Madam so much? I tried to spare her as much as possible, but when I came to my senses, it was... It really wasn’t intentional.”
At first glance, the way he spoke in a cascade of words made it seem like he was telling the truth. However, Shan was not fooled by that.
“So Cecilla killed Count Mapel and opened the prison door herself to escape?”
“No, that’s... That’s...”
Liv, who had been rolling his eyes here and there, eventually admitted his guilt.
“I’m sorry. I will gladly accept the punishment.”
But it was all in words, Liv showed no remorse at all. Shan sighed and ran her hand through her hair as she saw him smiling broadly.
"Ha..."
Anyway, Shan had no intention of questioning him about killing Cecilia.
Targayel's vassals were absolutely loyal to Shan, to an extent.
Just as Elijah would jump into anything that came to Elze's attention, so did Liv. She was just a little more reserved.
In fact, it was a miracle that Cecilia had survived until now. Shan was surprised that Liv hadn't come forward sooner. In any case, it had already happened.
“There’s nothing we can do. She indeed tried to run away... Let’s just settle this by shooting her while she is running away.”
He was already worried about their disposal. It would have been easier to just die like this without any headaches. He wouldn't have to worry about the aftermath.
“I will explain to Erzenes, so stop talking nonsense.”
“Don’t worry!”
Liv shouted proudly. Shan frowned and signaled for him to be quiet. She was afraid that Elze might hear.
Liv belatedly shut his mouth with an “Oops.” Leaving behind him, who was pretending to sew his lips shut, Shan glanced over to Elze.
It was best for him not to know that he was getting blood on his hands like this. Shan muttered to himself softly so that no one could hear.
“...Because I only want to show her good things.”
After much hard work, Catinson Lovell joined the Royal Knights.
In fact, Catinson also knew. It wasn't something that a noble without any support could do by simply trying hard to join the Imperial Knights. It took all three elements: skill, luck, and timing.
However, Catinson devoted himself to practicing swordsmanship, and God also took Catinson's side. As a result, he ended up joining the Imperial Knights.
As if his constant efforts had paid off, Catinson's skills improved exponentially. His name was among the top five in the Imperial Knights, even though he was just a newbie who had just become a knight.
The Imperial Knights, which consisted of only the children of nobles, were, in essence, a knighthood. They needed someone with ability. Among them, Catinson Lovell was a coveted talent that many nobles wanted to bring into their power.
Of course, Catinson had already sworn allegiance to Targayel and become his vassal. However, since it was done secretly, Catinson was still known to be unaffiliated. Thanks to this, many people approached Catinson in an attempt to befriend him.
Even if it wasn't for that reason, Catinson was popular among the knights. Knights without a backing felt a sense of kinship with Catinson and wanted to be friends with him, and senior knights also liked Catinson's honest and straightforward personality. The name Catinson Lovell gradually spread within the noble society, knowingly or unknowingly.
“Catinson Lovell.”
Catinson, who was practicing hard in the training ground, turned around when he heard someone calling him. A man was standing there. He had slightly slanted eyes and a slightly mean expression, but he smiled and extended his hand to Catinson.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Adam from Gettine, who joined the company at the same time as you.”
But Cattinson did not take his hand, but only looked it up and down. Cattinson knew Adam Gettine. He was the one who had revealed Elze's identity at the trial of the Count of Epernon.
“...?”
Adam was taken aback when Catinson gave him a hostile look. Adam's hand became shaky because he didn't continue to hold his hand. It was the first time someone had acted like this to Adam, the son of a successful marquis.
If it hadn't been for His Excellency's order, there would have been no reason to talk to a guy whose family name he didn't even know. Adam tried to hide his seething anger. As Adam slowly pulled his hands back and put them in his pockets, an elegant voice was heard.
“Everyone, thank you for your hard work.”
"Your Excellency!"
The owner of the voice was Duke Seraph. Duke Seraph, wearing a dark green velvet coat with gold buttons, smiled slowly. A beautiful smile was drawn like a picture, and his face naturally glowed. Everyone around him looked at Duke Seraph because of his dazzling light.
Duke Seraph seemed accustomed to the gazes gathering around him, and his actions were natural. Adam spoke, not knowing what to do in front of Duke Seraph.
“I, I didn’t expect you to come here in person...”
But, Duke Seraph’s target was not Adam. Seraph politely accepted Adam’s greeting and smiled as he greeted Catinson.
“It’s my first time seeing you as a rookie.”
Most people would have already fallen for it. Although the rumors about Duke Seraph had been bad recently, such thoughts would disappear when they saw his angelic face.
There was a reason why Duke Seraph had taken such a direct approach, even using his appearance. Recently, his support base had been dangerously shaken.
Duke Wade allied with Targayel and gradually eroded the power of Duke Seraph. Duke Wade was originally a highly respected nobleman. Many established nobles liked his old-fashionedness and honesty. Targayel, who had the support of young and emerging nobles, joined the alliance.
As both the old and the new began to suck him in, it was difficult for even the Duke Seraph to hold out. This was especially true now, when the sex scandal was nagging at his ankles like it was now.
In this standoff, Catinson Lovell was a symbol of sorts. If he could successfully attract this rising star, it would be possible to give weight to one side in the evenly balanced power struggle. That is why Duke Seraph took the rare step of directly recruiting him.
But no one knew that Catinson Lovell was as stubborn as a bear and that no one else but Elze caught his eye.
“Yes, that is correct, Your Excellency.”
He said that and stared blankly at Seraph. If he were a normal person, he would have tried to continue the conversation with Seraph by saying all sorts of things. However, when Duke Seraph didn’t say anything, Catinson just nodded and left.
“If you have no business, I’m busy with my training, so I’ll stop here.”
“...”
Seraph was left cold, just like Adam. A tear ran down Seraph's smiling face, which had never been ignored like this in his life.
An unbearable sense of humiliation swept over Seraph. He barely managed to keep his expression and hurried back to his office in the palace. If he stayed there any longer, he would not be able to maintain the image of His Excellency the Holy and Noble Duke.
Entering his own office, which was cleaner and more perfect than any other place in the palace, the mood that had been running wild just a moment ago seemed to calm down a little.
"Ha..."
It was at this time that Duke Seraph took a deep breath to calm his mind.
"Your Excellency!"
His secretary came in hurriedly and handed him a letter. The Duke opened it and muttered expressionlessly.
“...Is Mapel a failure?”
Seraph crumpled the letter. The paper crumpled under his gloves. He really shouldn't have entrusted such an important task to such lowly people. He didn't want to get his hands dirty, so he tried to finish it off as neatly as possible, but this is what happened.
Annoyance at things not going as expected washed over Duke Seraph. He took a deep breath for a moment and then let it out.
Targayel could no longer be left at the border.
Now, Seraph also fully understood why Targayel had come to the harsh terrain of the border. The longer he gave them, the worse it was for him. Targayel was still steadily increasing his power little by little.
Besides, spring was slowly approaching.
The royal family made several excuses to prevent Targayel from bringing more than a few knights to the border, the most important of which was the cold winter weather.
As the days grow warmer and the frozen roads thaw, Targayel's second contingent will set out. They must act before Targayel becomes complete.
Left alone, Targayel would gain a foothold on the border and then attack the capital, where he would work with the forces Duke Wade had established to take down Baluar.
Perhaps Catinson Lovell, who had ignored him today, had already been recruited by Targayel.
Duke Seraph, who had been lost in thought for a while, suddenly looked out somewhere. He walked slowly and opened the window of his office.
The curtains fluttered as cold air rushed into the study. Beyond the window, the palace of Baluar was in full view. Looking at the palace, he muttered softly.
“...Now it is time for His Highness the Crown Prince to ascend to the throne.”
Cecilia is dead.
She strangled Count Mapel in prison and escaped, then fled through the forest, where she was chased and eventually killed.
There were many suspicious aspects to Cecilia's death. Even if it was true that Cecilia killed Count Mapel, it was absurd that she would have given chase through the guards who were guarding the prison.
Elze couldn't believe Shan's words at all. But no matter how hard she tried to find out the truth, everyone was so united that they wouldn't tell Elze anything. In the end, Elze had no choice but to believe Shan's words.
“Whew...”
Elze sat down on the bed and let out a slow sigh. She had been busy catching up on the events that had happened at Count Mapel’s house all day. It was only late at night that she was finally able to go to bed.
Elze felt the soft texture of the bed and was lost in thought. She had felt strange since she heard the news of Cecilia's death.
Elze was determined that she would play a part in her death, but Cecilia died before Elze could even touch her.
A strange sense of emptiness washed over her. When she thought about it, her relationship with Cecilia was really tough and tenacious. She felt relieved when she shook off the burden that had been weighing on her shoulders, but she also felt an emptiness. It was truly a mysterious feeling.
Elze, lost in thought, lay on the bed without even changing her clothes. As she was doing so, Shan approached her.
“Elze.”
He grabbed her arm and lifted her up.
“You have to take off your clothes.”
Elze, who was tired of everything, answered in a sobbing tone.
“Just a little bit more.”
Shan said, kissing Elze's cheek.
“If you stay still, I’ll do it.”
But judging by the shape of his moving hands, it seemed like he was making plans for something other than rest.
Elze said, pushing Shan's hand away.
“Shan, I’m tired.”
“That makes sense.”
But Shan said that and insisted on changing Else's clothes. Thanks to Shan, Elze finally changed into her pajamas and crawled back into bed. As she was about to roll up in the blanket, Shan tapped the bed and said.
“Lie down. I’ll rub you.”
Elze half-believed Shan's words and lay down on the bed. Elze asked him, resting her chin on the pillow Shan had given her.
“Do you know how to give massages?”
Then Shan smiled and asked back.
“Is there anything I can’t do?”
“...”
It was unfortunate, but it was true, so there was nothing to say. Elze just made a pouting motion at him and lay down quietly on the bed.
And of course, Shan was good at giving massages. His large hands pressed hard on her back. He gently kneaded her forearms, and his hands delicately loosened her muscles and bones, making her moan involuntarily.
“Ugh... What are you, you? If you’re good at something like this, it’s cheating..."
Shan grinned and said to Elze, who was grumbling but still saying it was good.
“A long time ago, there was nothing. You had to know how to do a variety of things to make a living.”
Shan whispered, pressing his hands firmly along her spine.
“And it’s also good for loosening up your muscles after a fight...”
A low voice softly sank down on her body. She was warmly embraced by the deep voice, and hands with just the right amount of pressure caressed her body.
The kneading and pressing hands were really nice. Elze felt like her whole body was melting and soft. His hands passed over her upper body and went down. It was when Shan was pressing her thighs. Elze impulsively called Shan.
“But Shan.”
But even after calling him, she couldn't say anything. Feeling something strange, Shan called Elze softly. Elze bit her lips for a moment, then turned over slightly. Then she faced him.
“You know...”
It was a scary story to tell. But it was also a story that had to be told at some point. Elze finally mustered up the courage to tell him.
“I really... what if I’m infertile?”
Words are truly scary.
Cecilia's dagger did not touch a single hair on Elze's head. But her single harsh words left a deep wound in Elze.
When Cecilia threw the word 'infertility', Shan stopped her and let it slide. However, even after that, Cecilia's words continued to be embedded in Elze's heart. They were transparent like a piece of glass and could not be seen, but every time she chewed on them, she felt pain.
Elze had never seriously thought about having children. She had never had time to do so, and even after she got married, things like pregnancy and childbirth felt like something far away, like someone else's business.
Things like that, she'll do it someday, but it's not her story yet.
Elze's thoughts on having children were just that, but after hearing Cecilia's remarks about infertility, she seemed to come to her senses.
It had been almost a year since they got married, but there was still no sign of pregnancy. It was a problem for a couple who were extremely healthy not to hear news of a child.
“After hearing that story... I started to wonder if there really was something wrong with me.”
Elze trailed off with a gloomy voice.
“I’m just a little worried... Ugh!”
Elze screamed out loud. It was because Shan had pinched Elze's cheek hard. Elze looked at him with a look of bewilderment, with a cold pain.
“What are you doing!”
He's pinching her while they're still having a serious conversation. But even under Elze's resentful gaze, Shan didn't feel sorry but rather narrowed his eyes.
“Don't say that.”
The deep furrows between his eyebrows showed that Shan was quite angry. He spoke in a stern voice.
“You are absolutely forbidden from saying that there is a problem with you or anything like that.”
And Shan pressed his finger against Elze's cold cheek and threatened her.
“If you do this one more time, I’ll pinch both of your cheeks next time.”
Elze had to keep her mouth shut. Shan let out a deep sigh. Then, he pressed his forehead against Elze's and said.
“You haven’t even seen a doctor yet. Can you just make a guess like that? Huh?”
"That..."
Shan's words were right. Elze was simply frightened by Cecilia's words and was like this. He put his hand under Elze's pajamas. The warm hand was placed on her stomach. The feeling of their bare skin touching each other was warm.
“What if, really, we can’t have children?”
Shan asked, caressing Elze's belly.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
His hand moved down a little further, caressing her stomach. Shan said, squeezing her inner thigh firmly.
“I didn’t marry you because I wanted to have children. You don’t have to worry about that.”
He spoke to Elze in a resentful tone.
“I’m busy showing you only good things and telling you only good things... but you’re the only one thinking bad thoughts.”
Her heart ached, but on the other hand, it tickled her. It was even more so because she knew how much the people of the empire valued children to continue their lineage. Many women were driven out because they could not bear children.
But Shan is not. Despite all that she has been through, Elze still misunderstands him. Shan was the type of person who would get angry and say, “What’s wrong with not being able to have children?” and tell her not to worry about such things. Shan smiled as he watched Elze’s face slowly relax.
“Didn’t I tell you to think more about yourself instead of thinking about things like that?”
Shan's hands were warm. Their eyes met and curved in a curve. His face came closer, and their lips touched. The soft sensation dug into her mouth. Elze did not close her eyes while kissing him. Instead, she looked straight into his purple eyes.
Many say they fear Shan Cirxus. They say his purple eyes are like those of a demon, and they are afraid to look at them. But his eyes were not only wild. There was also gentleness and weakness in them.
Maybe it was something only Elze could see. To Elze, Shan was always someone she wanted to protect and cherish.
And it was the same for Shan. Elze, who had always been a strong support to others, was the most delicate petal to Shan.
Suddenly, her heart swelled. As soon as their lips parted slightly, Elze let out a breath and called his name.
“Shan...”
He saw purple eyes that filled her up. Elze smiled, liking the warmth of those eyes.
And then she called his name again, this time in a slightly more excited voice.
“Shan Cirxus...”
Shan looked at Elze with his sweetest eyes. He whispered in a low, deep voice.
“Call my name again.”
Elze called Shan's name over and over again. His arms hugged Elze tightly. Elze melted into the tight embrace.
Cecilia and Count Mapel were locked in the dungeon. They were scheduled to be tried and sentenced at daybreak tomorrow.
Although he was expelled, in any case, he was a nobleman who had come to patrol the border under the orders of the Emperor. The charge of attacking Targayel was serious. Even if he was not executed, he would at least be stripped of his title and stripped of everything. Of course, the same was true for Cecilia.
By the time the situation had been somewhat sorted out, a full day had passed. Elze, who had not been able to move her buttocks for a moment until dawn, was tired. Her mental fatigue was greater than her physical fatigue.
But she couldn't rest yet. It wasn't until dawn that she could find some quiet time with Hayden and Shan.
“I’m really ashamed.”
And Hayden bowed his head to Elze and apologized several times.
“It’s all my fault...”
The reason Cecilia was able to draw her sword was because Elxe was considerate of Hayden. In fact, before Cecilia acted like that, she should have already taken care of Count Mapel on her own.
Hayden also knew that fact, so he kept nodding his head. Elze waved her hand at Hayden.
“It’s okay, Hayden. It’s not your fault.”
"...”
Shan was standing next to Elze with a look of “it’s your fault,” but he didn’t really add anything. Elze glanced at Shan once before continuing.
“The perpetrator who committed such an act should apologize. Why is it Hayden, the victim, who should apologize?”
“But... I made a wrong decision...”
“I allowed it because it was within the scope of control. So stop apologizing.”
Elze smiled at him and spoke calmly.
“Hayden’s role is very important from now on. Now that Hayden has become Count Mapel, you must lead the border.”
“Thank you so much. I will work hard!”
Hayden, full of energy, repeated his promise. He was discussing the future and the summary trial that was to take place tomorrow. Then, a knock came, and Liv's voice was heard.
“This is Liv.”
Liv asked permission to come in, but he didn't. He just opened the door slightly and stuck his head out. He didn't say what he wanted to say and just smiled faintly. It was the smile of a guilty person. When Shan narrowed his eyes, Liv pretended to cry and said to Shan.
“Lord Cirxus, I have something to tell you separately.”
***
The dungeon was damp and cold. The beds were nothing more than rags on straw, and the dishes were rusty ironware. Cecilia sobbed on the icy stone floor.
“Sob, sob sob...”
Cecilia's tears would not dry because she was sad about her situation. She did not think about the sins she had committed and only cried over the pain she was going through.
Next to her, who was staying up all night with her eyes wide open, unable to sleep, Count Mapel was sleeping soundly and snoring loudly. For the convenience of surveillance, they were even put in the same cell under the pretext of being a married couple.
Because of that, it was hell for Cecilia. The guy she hated was rolling around next to her, so she just wanted to kill him. Cecilia, who was suffering because she was wondering why she was the only one suffering like this, suddenly looked out the bars.
“...”
It was quiet. The only sounds in the dead silence were Cecilla's breathing and Count Mapel's snoring.
At that moment, a thought suddenly struck Cecilia. It was a very impulsive thought, dangerous. But it sucked Cecilia's heart in like a swamp.
Cecilla looked back as if possessed by something. There was Count Mapel, fast asleep.
It was all because of that guy. The impulse grew stronger as he recalled the image of Count Mapel abandoning her and running away alone.
She began to pull the bedsheets and tie them tightly into a rope. When she came to, Cecilia was already on top of Count Mapel and had wrapped the rope around his neck. Cecilia pulled on the rope with all her might.
“Ugh... Ugh!!”
Count Mapel, who had been sleeping, woke up late and struggled. However, the string was already tightened tightly. Count Mapel eventually collapsed after not being able to hold out for long.
“Haa... Ha...”
Killed. Finally killed. Cecilia felt a strange sense of elation. She even felt relieved.
How great it would be if she could kill Erzenes and Shan Cirxus like this. Even though she knew that her actions were not normal, she couldn't help but laugh. Cecilia, who had been laughing like a crazy person for a while, came to her senses belatedly. She left Count Marpel's body and hung herself on the prison door.
“!!”
Surprisingly, the door was not locked. It was simply a latch. Cecilia couldn't hide her delight as the door opened with a creaking sound.
“Finally, God is helping me...!”
She barely suppressed the laughter that threatened to burst out. Then, with a sob, she ran up the stone steps of the dungeon barefoot.
And then Cecilia runs away, and some time passes.
“Hey! You finally escaped.”
A figure suddenly appeared in the darkness. The person who appeared while whistling was Liv.
Cecilia thought no one was there, but no. They were just hiding and watching. Liv walked leisurely and looked around the cell.
“Hmm.”
And then he looked down at Count Mapel, who was lying on the floor. A string made of old bed sheets was lying around his neck.
Liv, who had been observing him closely, blinked. Although it was faint, he could see Count Mapel’s chest rising and falling. It seemed that Cecilia’s strength was weak, so he simply fainted from shortness of breath but did not die.
Anyway, the old man's lifeline was unnecessarily long. Liv muttered, clicking his tongue.
“Hey, you didn’t strangle him enough because you didn’t have enough strength. This won’t do.”
And he climbed onto Count Mapel and grabbed the sheet with both hands. He pulled the strings with all his might, just like Cecilia had done earlier.
At the sound, Liv was startled and let go of his hand. Count Mapel's broken neck dangled. Liv belatedly regretted it.
“Oh my.. This is too obvious.”
Liv, who had been trying to adjust his cervical vertebrae here and there, soon gave up and stood up neatly. Then he looked back into the darkness and said.
“Epen.”
Then, just like Lib had done earlier, a person walked out of nowhere.
The man with half of his face covered by a mask was Epen. And the shadows that had been hiding behind Epen appeared. At the appearance of Epen and Kalia, Liv laughed heartily and said.
“Shall we start the chase?”
***
Cecilia ran and ran. Her bare feet were covered in blood from the rubble and dirt, but she didn't have time to care. She didn't even feel pain.
She passed through the backyard of the mansion and entered the forest. After running for a while without thinking, Cecilia tripped on a rock and fell.
“Ahh!”
She rolled around on the floor and collapsed in a mess. Panting for breath, she finally looked around and heard the rustling of grass blades.
At first, she thought it was the sound of leaves swaying in the wind. But it wasn't. It was the sound of shadows rising in the black darkness of dawn. Cecilia knew who they were, wearing black masks.
“Kalia...!!”
Cecilia stepped back in horror. But she was already surrounded. A man suddenly emerged from between the shadows that surrounded them.
“Lady Cecilia.”
“Cull, Lord Cullens?”
Cecilla was relieved at the appearance of Liv, who she could say was somewhat familiar with. However, Liv was the bomb.
“You must have tried hard to escape.”
The tone of Liv's voice as he spoke was subtle. Cecilia was panting, and he spoke as if he felt sorry for her.
“But the rule is to kill fugitives.”
“!!”
Cecilia's mind flashed belatedly. A prison cell without a single guard, a door that was open without a lock. She thought it was all luck, but it wasn't. Cecilla had escaped, and it was a means to create an excuse to kill her.
But Cecilla, not knowing what was happening, took the bait. Later, she trembled and begged for her life.
“Save me... Save me...!!”
But Liv just shook her head.
“So who told you to touch our lady? And Lord Cirxus, too.”
Instead, he went even further and started criticizing her.
“Consider yourself lucky. If only I had time, I wouldn’t have killed you so easily.”
Liv waved her hand. The circular encirclement began to close in. Cecilla screamed at the sight of the black masked men approaching her one step at a time. But no one helped her. Liv just gave her a mischievous smile and said his final goodbye.
“Yes, now you have to die.”
***
“...So, it happened like that.”
After finishing his explanation, Liv bowed deeply to Shan.
“I’m sorry. It was unavoidable.”
Because Liv wanted to talk privately, Shan sent Hayden away and talked with Liv in a distant hallway.
After listening to Liv's story to the end, Shan briefly shared his thoughts.
“That’s a pretty clever lie, Liv.”
“Oh, no.”
Liv laughed and scratched his head. He grinned and asked Shan a question.
“Is it too obvious?”
Instead of answering Liv's question, Shan raised his eyebrows. It was a silent rebuke, asking why he did something he wasn't told to do. Liv rolled his eyes and thought of a suitable excuse.
“Liv Cullens.”
However, Shan finally sighed and confessed as he heard his stern voice questioning him.
“Isn’t that the woman who has been harassing Cirxus and Madam so much? I tried to spare her as much as possible, but when I came to my senses, it was... It really wasn’t intentional.”
At first glance, the way he spoke in a cascade of words made it seem like he was telling the truth. However, Shan was not fooled by that.
“So Cecilla killed Count Mapel and opened the prison door herself to escape?”
“No, that’s... That’s...”
Liv, who had been rolling his eyes here and there, eventually admitted his guilt.
“I’m sorry. I will gladly accept the punishment.”
But it was all in words, Liv showed no remorse at all. Shan sighed and ran her hand through her hair as she saw him smiling broadly.
"Ha..."
Anyway, Shan had no intention of questioning him about killing Cecilia.
Targayel's vassals were absolutely loyal to Shan, to an extent.
Just as Elijah would jump into anything that came to Elze's attention, so did Liv. She was just a little more reserved.
In fact, it was a miracle that Cecilia had survived until now. Shan was surprised that Liv hadn't come forward sooner. In any case, it had already happened.
“There’s nothing we can do. She indeed tried to run away... Let’s just settle this by shooting her while she is running away.”
He was already worried about their disposal. It would have been easier to just die like this without any headaches. He wouldn't have to worry about the aftermath.
“I will explain to Erzenes, so stop talking nonsense.”
“Don’t worry!”
Liv shouted proudly. Shan frowned and signaled for him to be quiet. She was afraid that Elze might hear.
Liv belatedly shut his mouth with an “Oops.” Leaving behind him, who was pretending to sew his lips shut, Shan glanced over to Elze.
It was best for him not to know that he was getting blood on his hands like this. Shan muttered to himself softly so that no one could hear.
“...Because I only want to show her good things.”
***
After much hard work, Catinson Lovell joined the Royal Knights.
In fact, Catinson also knew. It wasn't something that a noble without any support could do by simply trying hard to join the Imperial Knights. It took all three elements: skill, luck, and timing.
However, Catinson devoted himself to practicing swordsmanship, and God also took Catinson's side. As a result, he ended up joining the Imperial Knights.
As if his constant efforts had paid off, Catinson's skills improved exponentially. His name was among the top five in the Imperial Knights, even though he was just a newbie who had just become a knight.
The Imperial Knights, which consisted of only the children of nobles, were, in essence, a knighthood. They needed someone with ability. Among them, Catinson Lovell was a coveted talent that many nobles wanted to bring into their power.
Of course, Catinson had already sworn allegiance to Targayel and become his vassal. However, since it was done secretly, Catinson was still known to be unaffiliated. Thanks to this, many people approached Catinson in an attempt to befriend him.
Even if it wasn't for that reason, Catinson was popular among the knights. Knights without a backing felt a sense of kinship with Catinson and wanted to be friends with him, and senior knights also liked Catinson's honest and straightforward personality. The name Catinson Lovell gradually spread within the noble society, knowingly or unknowingly.
“Catinson Lovell.”
Catinson, who was practicing hard in the training ground, turned around when he heard someone calling him. A man was standing there. He had slightly slanted eyes and a slightly mean expression, but he smiled and extended his hand to Catinson.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Adam from Gettine, who joined the company at the same time as you.”
But Cattinson did not take his hand, but only looked it up and down. Cattinson knew Adam Gettine. He was the one who had revealed Elze's identity at the trial of the Count of Epernon.
“...?”
Adam was taken aback when Catinson gave him a hostile look. Adam's hand became shaky because he didn't continue to hold his hand. It was the first time someone had acted like this to Adam, the son of a successful marquis.
If it hadn't been for His Excellency's order, there would have been no reason to talk to a guy whose family name he didn't even know. Adam tried to hide his seething anger. As Adam slowly pulled his hands back and put them in his pockets, an elegant voice was heard.
“Everyone, thank you for your hard work.”
"Your Excellency!"
The owner of the voice was Duke Seraph. Duke Seraph, wearing a dark green velvet coat with gold buttons, smiled slowly. A beautiful smile was drawn like a picture, and his face naturally glowed. Everyone around him looked at Duke Seraph because of his dazzling light.
Duke Seraph seemed accustomed to the gazes gathering around him, and his actions were natural. Adam spoke, not knowing what to do in front of Duke Seraph.
“I, I didn’t expect you to come here in person...”
But, Duke Seraph’s target was not Adam. Seraph politely accepted Adam’s greeting and smiled as he greeted Catinson.
“It’s my first time seeing you as a rookie.”
Most people would have already fallen for it. Although the rumors about Duke Seraph had been bad recently, such thoughts would disappear when they saw his angelic face.
There was a reason why Duke Seraph had taken such a direct approach, even using his appearance. Recently, his support base had been dangerously shaken.
Duke Wade allied with Targayel and gradually eroded the power of Duke Seraph. Duke Wade was originally a highly respected nobleman. Many established nobles liked his old-fashionedness and honesty. Targayel, who had the support of young and emerging nobles, joined the alliance.
As both the old and the new began to suck him in, it was difficult for even the Duke Seraph to hold out. This was especially true now, when the sex scandal was nagging at his ankles like it was now.
In this standoff, Catinson Lovell was a symbol of sorts. If he could successfully attract this rising star, it would be possible to give weight to one side in the evenly balanced power struggle. That is why Duke Seraph took the rare step of directly recruiting him.
But no one knew that Catinson Lovell was as stubborn as a bear and that no one else but Elze caught his eye.
“Yes, that is correct, Your Excellency.”
He said that and stared blankly at Seraph. If he were a normal person, he would have tried to continue the conversation with Seraph by saying all sorts of things. However, when Duke Seraph didn’t say anything, Catinson just nodded and left.
“If you have no business, I’m busy with my training, so I’ll stop here.”
“...”
Seraph was left cold, just like Adam. A tear ran down Seraph's smiling face, which had never been ignored like this in his life.
An unbearable sense of humiliation swept over Seraph. He barely managed to keep his expression and hurried back to his office in the palace. If he stayed there any longer, he would not be able to maintain the image of His Excellency the Holy and Noble Duke.
Entering his own office, which was cleaner and more perfect than any other place in the palace, the mood that had been running wild just a moment ago seemed to calm down a little.
"Ha..."
It was at this time that Duke Seraph took a deep breath to calm his mind.
"Your Excellency!"
His secretary came in hurriedly and handed him a letter. The Duke opened it and muttered expressionlessly.
“...Is Mapel a failure?”
Seraph crumpled the letter. The paper crumpled under his gloves. He really shouldn't have entrusted such an important task to such lowly people. He didn't want to get his hands dirty, so he tried to finish it off as neatly as possible, but this is what happened.
Annoyance at things not going as expected washed over Duke Seraph. He took a deep breath for a moment and then let it out.
Targayel could no longer be left at the border.
Now, Seraph also fully understood why Targayel had come to the harsh terrain of the border. The longer he gave them, the worse it was for him. Targayel was still steadily increasing his power little by little.
Besides, spring was slowly approaching.
The royal family made several excuses to prevent Targayel from bringing more than a few knights to the border, the most important of which was the cold winter weather.
As the days grow warmer and the frozen roads thaw, Targayel's second contingent will set out. They must act before Targayel becomes complete.
Left alone, Targayel would gain a foothold on the border and then attack the capital, where he would work with the forces Duke Wade had established to take down Baluar.
Perhaps Catinson Lovell, who had ignored him today, had already been recruited by Targayel.
Duke Seraph, who had been lost in thought for a while, suddenly looked out somewhere. He walked slowly and opened the window of his office.
The curtains fluttered as cold air rushed into the study. Beyond the window, the palace of Baluar was in full view. Looking at the palace, he muttered softly.
“...Now it is time for His Highness the Crown Prince to ascend to the throne.”
***
Cecilia is dead.
She strangled Count Mapel in prison and escaped, then fled through the forest, where she was chased and eventually killed.
There were many suspicious aspects to Cecilia's death. Even if it was true that Cecilia killed Count Mapel, it was absurd that she would have given chase through the guards who were guarding the prison.
Elze couldn't believe Shan's words at all. But no matter how hard she tried to find out the truth, everyone was so united that they wouldn't tell Elze anything. In the end, Elze had no choice but to believe Shan's words.
“Whew...”
Elze sat down on the bed and let out a slow sigh. She had been busy catching up on the events that had happened at Count Mapel’s house all day. It was only late at night that she was finally able to go to bed.
Elze felt the soft texture of the bed and was lost in thought. She had felt strange since she heard the news of Cecilia's death.
Elze was determined that she would play a part in her death, but Cecilia died before Elze could even touch her.
A strange sense of emptiness washed over her. When she thought about it, her relationship with Cecilia was really tough and tenacious. She felt relieved when she shook off the burden that had been weighing on her shoulders, but she also felt an emptiness. It was truly a mysterious feeling.
Elze, lost in thought, lay on the bed without even changing her clothes. As she was doing so, Shan approached her.
“Elze.”
He grabbed her arm and lifted her up.
“You have to take off your clothes.”
Elze, who was tired of everything, answered in a sobbing tone.
“Just a little bit more.”
Shan said, kissing Elze's cheek.
“If you stay still, I’ll do it.”
But judging by the shape of his moving hands, it seemed like he was making plans for something other than rest.
Elze said, pushing Shan's hand away.
“Shan, I’m tired.”
“That makes sense.”
But Shan said that and insisted on changing Else's clothes. Thanks to Shan, Elze finally changed into her pajamas and crawled back into bed. As she was about to roll up in the blanket, Shan tapped the bed and said.
“Lie down. I’ll rub you.”
Elze half-believed Shan's words and lay down on the bed. Elze asked him, resting her chin on the pillow Shan had given her.
“Do you know how to give massages?”
Then Shan smiled and asked back.
“Is there anything I can’t do?”
“...”
It was unfortunate, but it was true, so there was nothing to say. Elze just made a pouting motion at him and lay down quietly on the bed.
And of course, Shan was good at giving massages. His large hands pressed hard on her back. He gently kneaded her forearms, and his hands delicately loosened her muscles and bones, making her moan involuntarily.
“Ugh... What are you, you? If you’re good at something like this, it’s cheating..."
Shan grinned and said to Elze, who was grumbling but still saying it was good.
“A long time ago, there was nothing. You had to know how to do a variety of things to make a living.”
Shan whispered, pressing his hands firmly along her spine.
“And it’s also good for loosening up your muscles after a fight...”
A low voice softly sank down on her body. She was warmly embraced by the deep voice, and hands with just the right amount of pressure caressed her body.
The kneading and pressing hands were really nice. Elze felt like her whole body was melting and soft. His hands passed over her upper body and went down. It was when Shan was pressing her thighs. Elze impulsively called Shan.
“But Shan.”
But even after calling him, she couldn't say anything. Feeling something strange, Shan called Elze softly. Elze bit her lips for a moment, then turned over slightly. Then she faced him.
“You know...”
It was a scary story to tell. But it was also a story that had to be told at some point. Elze finally mustered up the courage to tell him.
“I really... what if I’m infertile?”
Words are truly scary.
Cecilia's dagger did not touch a single hair on Elze's head. But her single harsh words left a deep wound in Elze.
When Cecilia threw the word 'infertility', Shan stopped her and let it slide. However, even after that, Cecilia's words continued to be embedded in Elze's heart. They were transparent like a piece of glass and could not be seen, but every time she chewed on them, she felt pain.
Elze had never seriously thought about having children. She had never had time to do so, and even after she got married, things like pregnancy and childbirth felt like something far away, like someone else's business.
Things like that, she'll do it someday, but it's not her story yet.
Elze's thoughts on having children were just that, but after hearing Cecilia's remarks about infertility, she seemed to come to her senses.
It had been almost a year since they got married, but there was still no sign of pregnancy. It was a problem for a couple who were extremely healthy not to hear news of a child.
“After hearing that story... I started to wonder if there really was something wrong with me.”
Elze trailed off with a gloomy voice.
“I’m just a little worried... Ugh!”
Elze screamed out loud. It was because Shan had pinched Elze's cheek hard. Elze looked at him with a look of bewilderment, with a cold pain.
“What are you doing!”
He's pinching her while they're still having a serious conversation. But even under Elze's resentful gaze, Shan didn't feel sorry but rather narrowed his eyes.
“Don't say that.”
The deep furrows between his eyebrows showed that Shan was quite angry. He spoke in a stern voice.
“You are absolutely forbidden from saying that there is a problem with you or anything like that.”
And Shan pressed his finger against Elze's cold cheek and threatened her.
“If you do this one more time, I’ll pinch both of your cheeks next time.”
Elze had to keep her mouth shut. Shan let out a deep sigh. Then, he pressed his forehead against Elze's and said.
“You haven’t even seen a doctor yet. Can you just make a guess like that? Huh?”
"That..."
Shan's words were right. Elze was simply frightened by Cecilia's words and was like this. He put his hand under Elze's pajamas. The warm hand was placed on her stomach. The feeling of their bare skin touching each other was warm.
“What if, really, we can’t have children?”
Shan asked, caressing Elze's belly.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
His hand moved down a little further, caressing her stomach. Shan said, squeezing her inner thigh firmly.
“I didn’t marry you because I wanted to have children. You don’t have to worry about that.”
He spoke to Elze in a resentful tone.
“I’m busy showing you only good things and telling you only good things... but you’re the only one thinking bad thoughts.”
Her heart ached, but on the other hand, it tickled her. It was even more so because she knew how much the people of the empire valued children to continue their lineage. Many women were driven out because they could not bear children.
But Shan is not. Despite all that she has been through, Elze still misunderstands him. Shan was the type of person who would get angry and say, “What’s wrong with not being able to have children?” and tell her not to worry about such things. Shan smiled as he watched Elze’s face slowly relax.
“Didn’t I tell you to think more about yourself instead of thinking about things like that?”
Shan's hands were warm. Their eyes met and curved in a curve. His face came closer, and their lips touched. The soft sensation dug into her mouth. Elze did not close her eyes while kissing him. Instead, she looked straight into his purple eyes.
Many say they fear Shan Cirxus. They say his purple eyes are like those of a demon, and they are afraid to look at them. But his eyes were not only wild. There was also gentleness and weakness in them.
Maybe it was something only Elze could see. To Elze, Shan was always someone she wanted to protect and cherish.
And it was the same for Shan. Elze, who had always been a strong support to others, was the most delicate petal to Shan.
Suddenly, her heart swelled. As soon as their lips parted slightly, Elze let out a breath and called his name.
“Shan...”
He saw purple eyes that filled her up. Elze smiled, liking the warmth of those eyes.
And then she called his name again, this time in a slightly more excited voice.
“Shan Cirxus...”
Shan looked at Elze with his sweetest eyes. He whispered in a low, deep voice.
“Call my name again.”
Elze called Shan's name over and over again. His arms hugged Elze tightly. Elze melted into the tight embrace.
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