Chapter 11 (Part 5)

The news of the Caliph’s critical condition had brought Roshan to Pasa, but his mind was consumed with worry for Therese.  

“You’ve arrived.”  

Greeting Roshan was the Vizier, who had served the current Caliph his entire life.  

The Vizier, studying Roshan’s balanced physique and the imperial family’s distinctive red eyes, smiled with satisfaction.  

“You remind me of the Caliph in his youth.”  

Roshan ignored the Vizier’s words entirely and responded dryly.  

“It’s been a while, Vizier Nasser.”  

“Please, don’t lower yourself to address someone as lowly as me.”  

“…”  

Roshan struggled to suppress a smirk at the Vizier’s drastically changed demeanor.  

As a child, the Vizier had always turned a blind eye to Roshan being beaten or tormented. It seemed he had conveniently forgotten those memories.  

After briefly visiting the Caliph’s chamber to pay his respects, Roshan stepped outside.  

“…Ha.”  

The news of the Caliph’s critical condition was true. Lying on the bed, the Caliph kept his eyes closed, his breathing sustained only by medication.  

‘He looks like a dead man.’  

The shadow of death cast over his father’s face left Roshan’s thoughts in turmoil.  

To his younger self, the Caliph had seemed like an immortal being with absolute power.  

It was hard to believe that he had grown so frail and was now nearing the end of his days.  

The Vizier’s voice snapped Roshan out of his reverie.  

“The Pasa Empire is like a candle in the wind right now.”  

As someone involved in the intelligence guild, Roshan was well aware of Pasa’s precarious state.  

The ongoing succession disputes had drenched the empire in blood, and with the Caliph’s collapse, invasions from all sides had begun.  

Pasa was now like a ship without a captain.  

“If you abandon Pasa now, innocent citizens will bleed.”  

“Why me, of all people?”  

“The Caliph has already chosen you as his successor.”  

The current Caliph had carefully considered which of his sons would govern the Pasa Empire best.  

The answer he arrived at was Roshan Jawad.  

Roshan had stayed out of the intricate power struggles and was skilled in both governance and combat.  

“What does that mean to me?”  

Roshan’s eyes turned cold at the Vizier’s words.  

Was I supposed to bow and express gratitude for being acknowledged by the Caliph?  

But the cunning Vizier knew exactly how to persuade Roshan.  

“I hear your mother’s homeland has already been invaded.”  

At the Vizier’s words, Roshan closed his eyes tightly.  

Even if he couldn’t remember her, his mother’s existence was not meaningless to him.  

The news of her homeland being trampled didn’t sit well with him.  

The Vizier quickly held up a small vial in one hand.  

“I’ve already prepared the medicine as promised.”  

As Roshan reached for it immediately, the Vizier pulled his hand back, hiding the vial in his sleeve.  

“I’m sorry, but this medicine can only be used by the Caliph. Until then, it’s just water.”  

The implication was clear: unless Roshan became the Caliph, the antidote would remain ineffective.  

“…Ah.”  

“Will you become the Caliph?”  

Though the Vizier’s words were tantamount to deceit, Roshan had no other choice.  

“Give it to me.”  

Handing over the vial, the Vizier added an explanation.  

“Reviving a life defies the laws of nature. Sacrifices are inevitable.”  

Roshan couldn’t argue with the Vizier’s words.  

Saving Therese from her destined death was certainly not a natural course of action.  

‘Does this mean I must accept my fate as the Caliph?’  

As the Vizier had said, if the current Caliph died, not only his mother’s homeland but the entire Pasa Empire would be drenched in blood.  

Roshan, overwhelmed with confusion, closed his eyes tightly.  

“Why me, of all people…”  

This was a question he had pondered thousands of times before.  

Roshan wanted to know why fate had chosen Duke Richard as Therese’s destined partner and why he, who could make her happier, was not the one.  

‘No one could love her more than I do.’  

But the human heart could not be forced. Even before her death and during their reunion, Therese had never seen Roshan as a man.  

“It’s time to make a decision for what you truly desire.”  

The Vizier spoke quietly, as though he could see through Roshan’s thoughts.  

“…”  

This prompted Roshan to cast aside all the thoughts that had been clouding his mind.  

‘What I desire is only her happiness.’  

Everything else was trivial and unimportant.  

“I will become the Caliph.”  

As Roshan made his solemn declaration, a gust of sand brushed across his face.  

***

Heading to the guest room where Baron Demori was resting, Therese stumbled several times, her back drenched in cold sweat.  

“Father will be all right.”  

The image of her father collapsing kept flashing in her mind, making it impossible for her to calm down.  

When she reached the guest room, Baron Demori was lying in bed, resting peacefully.  

“Duchess, you’re here.”  

“Ah, how is Father?”  

Therese, trembling, asked, and the maid informed her that the Baron had passed the critical stage.  

“Ha, thank goodness.”  

Relieved, Therese leaned against the wall as her legs gave out.  

Looking at her sleeping father’s face brought tears to her eyes.  

‘When did he grow so old?’  

As a child, her father had seemed like a towering mountain.  

He had no gray hairs or wrinkles back then and was strong enough to carry her on his shoulders while running.  

“When will the physician return?”  

“He said he would come by at dawn.”  

“If anything happens, let me know immediately.”  

“Yes, Duchess.”  

After entrusting her father’s care to the maid, Therese reluctantly stood up.  

She couldn’t stay here long, fearing the Emperor might find fault with her.  

‘At least he’s safe for now.’  

Today, thanks to her compliance, she had been allowed to leave the room that resembled a beast’s cage.  

‘What a horrific room.’  

The room where Therese had been confined was beyond counting how many people had passed through it.  

Various handprints were left on the walls, and broken fingernails were embedded in the surfaces.  

These were likely traces left by the women she had heard about in the rumors.  

‘The Emperor’s vanished canaries.’  

And now, Therese herself would become part of those rumors.  

“It’s fine.”  

She had made this decision because she wanted to help her father and Duke Richard.  

Her only concern now was whether the Emperor might suddenly change his mind on a whim.  

“I can only hope he doesn’t.”  

If she couldn’t even hold onto that hope, she felt she wouldn’t be able to endure her current situation.  

After pressing a final kiss to her father’s forehead, Therese quietly stepped outside.  

As she exhaled the long breath she had been holding, tears streamed down her cheeks.  

‘It’s not time to cry yet.’  

She wiped her tears with her sleeve, but then noticed a presence across the hallway.  

“…?”  

When she lifted her head, the figure leaning against the wall slowly straightened. Emerging from the shadows was none other than Duke Richard.  

“…Ah.”  

Of all things, meeting Duke Richard alone was what she had hoped to avoid the most.  

Therese bit her lip hard enough to hurt and raised her chin.  

‘I must pretend I didn’t see him.’  

Even hearing his voice right now felt like it would shatter her heart.  

Straightening her back, Therese moved to walk past him, but the Duke’s strong arm caught her waist. 

“Let go of me…”  

Before she could finish her sentence, Duke Richard dragged her into an empty room.  

Soon, Therese found herself trapped between the door and the Duke.  

“Why do you pretend not to see me?”  

The Duke, his arm stretched past her shoulder, radiated warmth.  

Therese, trying not to feel his body heat and scent, coldly opened her mouth.  

“Thank you for helping my father.”  

“Can you not see me?”  

The Duke’s trembling voice pressed against her as he leaned closer.  

“I need to go. Please step aside.”  

“Where are you going?”  

“…”  

At his question, Therese bit down hard on the soft flesh inside her mouth.  

She couldn’t bring herself to say she was heading to the Emperor’s side.  

“Look me in the eyes and tell me.”  

“Tell you what?”  

“Is it truly your wish to divorce me?”  

Even though she had left behind the signet ring and divorce papers, it seemed the Duke still hadn’t let go of his lingering feelings.  

‘I must end this completely here.’  

If she didn’t, the Duke would continue trying to meet her like this, and eventually, the Emperor would find out.  

‘The Emperor will harm the Duke.’  

The Emperor had already once released a bear in the forest to try to kill the Duke.  

When she raised her head to speak harshly, she saw the tears welling in the Duke’s eyes.  

Duke Richard was silently crying, unable to make a sound.  

This only strengthened Therese’s resolve.  

“Were your promises to follow my wishes all lies?”  

“Of course not. I have always been sincere with you.”  

“And so am I. This is the end for us.”  

Even in this second life, God had not allowed Therese to have Duke Richard.  

The more sincere he was with her, the more afraid she became for his safety.  

‘So, live your life strongly.’  

Even if I die.