His suspicions lasted only a moment.

He could still vividly remember when Serena had confided in him about her past.

Even in a situation like this…

He couldn’t believe that it had all been a lie.

‘Then who…?’

His next suspicion turned to Isabella.

Lesta had warned him that once he took a lover, she would reveal her true nature.

She knew that he had summoned Serena to his bedchamber late at night.

She hadn’t shown the slightest reaction, however.

Like a noblewoman willing to tolerate her husband’s mistress, she concealed her true feelings and continued to play the role of the perfect future crown princess.

He had always found it strange that she neither drove Serena away nor confronted her.

Perhaps…

Perhaps she had been preparing for this all along.

‘But Isabella couldn’t have framed Serena for treason on her own.’

‘Did Duke Blackwood help her after all?’

‘But would Father really trust Duke Blackwood’s words?’

Impossible!

If there was one person the Emperor distrusted more than anyone else, it was Richard Blackwood.

It had to be him.

Even if he presented overwhelming evidence and countless witnesses.

The moment those words left his lips, the Emperor would stop listening.

More importantly…

The Emperor already suspected that House Sunray was behind Serena.

For now, there was no evidence.

It was House Sunray’s unwavering loyalty over the years that had prevented the Emperor from acting on his suspicions.

However, if they were to make even the slightest mistake…

Or if they behaved in any way that aroused suspicion…

The Emperor would cast them aside without hesitation.

This was why the Duke of Sunray and all his supporters remained silent rather than pleading their case to the Emperor.

Asterion himself did not dare send a single letter to the Duke of Sunray.

He feared that contacting him carelessly would only deepen the Emperor’s suspicions.

Fortunately, Serena had not been executed immediately, as House Sunray had also become involved in the matter.

‘What am I supposed to do?’

‘Can I really leave Serena like this?’

‘Shouldn’t I save her?’

‘But how?’

‘Father won’t even grant me an audience.’

‘What can I possibly do?’

His mouth was completely dry.

He reached for the teacup the maid had left earlier.

The tea was cold by then.

However, he wasn’t in the right state of mind to ask for a fresh pot.

As Asterion lifted the cup, he noticed a small, folded piece of paper tucked beneath it.

Although he was alone in the room, he glanced around instinctively before quickly picking up the note.

He unfolded it.

Inside was a single, brief message.

[Just stay where you are. I’m on my way.]

There was no name signed at the bottom.

Even so…

Asterion knew immediately that Lesta had sent it.

“…Ha.”

Asterion let out a quiet, incredulous laugh.

Serena Eilune was not the only person Lesta had placed inside the Imperial Palace.

***

While Crown Prince Asterion wrestled with his thoughts and Lesta’s group was making its way toward the capital…

The first performance of The Reversed Hero was held at the capital’s Grand Theater.

Even before the play premiered, strange rumors had already begun spreading throughout the capital.

“Have you heard? Dominic Blackwood recently went to subjugate the Red Labyrinth in the Marquis of Isden’s territory, but they say he wasn’t the one who defeated the boss.”

“Then who was?”

“They say it was the Mercenary King—a woman named Lesta.”

“Oh, I’ve heard of her. She’s a well-known mercenary from one of the coastal cities. Lesta Ernel, right?”

“That’s the one. They say she’s unbelievably strong.”

“Strong or not, she’s still a woman.”

“So? They say she carries a sword that’s bigger than she is, and it’s a black blade.”

“So you’re saying Lesta Ernel killed the boss? Isn’t it more likely she just stole the kill after Dominic Blackwood did all the hard work?”

“Apparently not. I know one of the Isden knights who took part in the expedition. According to him, Dominic Blackwood didn’t fight at all. They say he stayed in the rear because he was too scared.”

The tavern burst into laughter.

“Oh, come on. Who fed you that nonsense?”

“I’m serious. That’s exactly what the Isden knights have been saying. Every one of them claims they would’ve died if the Mercenary King hadn’t shown up. They even said Dominic Blackwood tried to use Isden’s knights as human shields.”

“Watch what you’re saying. If someone from House Blackwood hears that, you’ll be in serious trouble.”

“I’m only repeating what I heard. Otherwise, how do you explain the Mercenary King ending up with the boss core?”

“Maybe she waited until Dominic Blackwood had exhausted himself fighting the boss, then swooped in and stole it.”

“If that were true, do you really think Dominic Blackwood would’ve just let her walk away with the boss core?”

“Maybe he was too exhausted after leading the battle to fight the Mercenary King.”

“That’s probably it. Besides, Dominic has never cared about personal glory. He likely thought that as long as everyone made it out alive, that was enough.”

“Exactly. That sounds much more believable.”

“Either way, you shouldn’t go around spreading rumors without proof.”

To those who knew nothing about Lesta, what had happened in the Red Labyrinth was nothing more than another piece of tavern gossip.

But to Richard Blackwood…

Who knew Lesta all too well…

They were something else entirely.

The moment his aide finished recounting the rumors he had heard…

Richard Blackwood shot to his feet.

“What is that supposed to mean? Why are rumors like that spreading?”

“My apologies, my lord.”

“This isn’t a matter that can be dismissed with an apology…”

Dominic had been acting strangely ever since returning from the Marquis of Isden’s territory.

That was why Richard had sent someone to investigate what had happened inside the labyrinth.

Yet before that man could even return with his report…

A rumor capable of stopping his heart had already begun spreading through the capital.

Because it was entirely plausible…

A cold sweat broke out across Richard’s back.

“And, my lord… The play that premiered at the Grand Theater…They say it’s based on what happened that day.”

“A play?”

Richard had never cared much for the theater.

“It’s called The Reversed Hero. It’s about a mercenary who risked her life fighting inside a labyrinth to protect the knights who entered with her, while the knight who remained safely in the rear received all the praise from the people waiting outside.”

“…That’s the story.”

“And it has become… incredibly popular…”

The aide’s voice trailed off as he watched Richard cautiously.

Richard wore an expression the aide had never seen before.

His eyes were so wide that they looked as though they might burst from their sockets.

His lips were slightly parted, as if he had forgotten how to breathe.

The aide couldn’t hide his confusion.

No matter how serious the situation, Richard Blackwood had always remained calm and collected.

Seeing him so shaken was beyond anything the aide could have imagined.

The rumors were certainly unpleasant.

But they were still just rumors.

Was there any real reason to react so strongly?

Among the servants of House Blackwood…

Only a select few had ever known the truth.

And of those few…

Most had been killed after carrying out the order to throw it into the sea.

There was no surer way to keep a secret than to bury it with the dead.

This was why the aide, who knew nothing of the truth, could not understand why Richard was reacting as though the world had just collapsed over what seemed to be nothing more than idle gossip.

He had expected Richard to dismiss it with nothing more than a cold laugh.

After forcing himself to regain his composure, Richard quietly ordered the aide to leave.

The moment the door closed…

He slumped heavily into his chair.

He couldn’t fathom what had happened.

Dominic’s behavior that day had certainly been unusual.

Nevertheless, Richard had been convinced that the mission had ended successfully.

If it hadn’t…

The Marquis of Isden would never have remained silent.

More importantly…

If something had gone wrong, Dominic would have told Richard the truth and worked with him to find a solution.

He was intelligent enough to know that avoiding a problem in the present would only allow it to return later in a far more devastating form.

This was no ordinary matter.

It involved that.

‘Why did he hide it?’

‘If he had told me immediately…’

‘I could have found a way to contain this before it spiraled out of control.’

By helping Isabella carry out her plan, they had successfully framed Serena for treason and drawn the Duke of Sunray into the affair.

All that remained was to wait.

However, an entirely unforeseen problem had arisen, leaving Richard with a pounding headache.

After pressing his fingers against his temples for a long time, he finally left the estate to confront Dominic.

***

Dominic had no time to concern himself with the rumors circulating about him.

Since he returned from the Marquis of Isden’s territory, his condition had steadily worsened.

At first, it had seemed like nothing more than a fever.

Despite receiving the finest medicine, eating nourishing meals and getting plenty of rest, however, he only grew weaker.

Worse still…

At unpredictable moments, he was overwhelmed by violent surges of emotion.

Bitterness.

Sorrow.

Despair.

Rage.

Irritation.

Agony.

And, every so often, a joy so overwhelming that it felt as though his heart would burst.

These emotions came without reason or warning.

They would swell beyond control…only to vanish just as suddenly.

By that point…

Even Dominic could no longer deny the truth.

‘I took Lumen.’

Lumen, a terrifying drug created by diluting the original extract, was born.

The moment it entered the body…

Every trace of pain disappeared.

The body felt impossibly light.

The user was then overwhelmed by an intense sense of euphoria.

However, the true horror only became apparent once the effects had worn off.

The instant the bliss faded…

All the vanished pain and heaviness came crashing back at once, bearing down on the body with unbearable force.

The suffering would never end…

Not until another dose of Lumen was taken.

House Blackwood further diluted the drug before distributing it to healing clinics.

Physicians administered the weakened drug to patients with excruciating terminal illnesses.

For a fleeting moment…

Those patients rejoiced, believing they had finally been freed from their pain.

But before long, they began craving Lumen again.

No matter how much the price increased.

They continued to buy it.

Again.

And again.

All House Blackwood had to do was sit back and watch the money flow in.

There was only one problem with Lumen, though.

Once someone became addicted…

There was no escape.

With most narcotics, withdrawal was excruciating, but those who endured it long enough could eventually overcome their addiction.

Over time, the symptoms would gradually fade.

But Lumen was different.

Its withdrawal symptoms never diminished.

In fact, they only became more horrific with each passing day.

Until now…

Dominic had never considered this to be a problem.

The more unbearable Lumen’s withdrawal symptoms became, the more impossible it would be for people to stop using it.

But now that he had become one of them…

It felt as though his entire world was collapsing.