The Emperor lowered his eyes as if to hide his despondent expression and slowly leaned back against the sofa. 

His expression gradually became vague, as if he was lost in thought. 

Was he remembering the past? The Emperor stared silently at the letter from her father that had fallen on the table. 

After a long silence, he finally spoke. 

“…I won the throne with bloodshed, but I have no regrets. There was no other way back then. The Imperial family was rotten beyond redemption, and the Crown Prince, next in line, was a madman consumed by murder.”

The Emperor’s gaze towards Ariel held an emotion akin to remorse. 

But somehow it didn’t seem to be directed at her. 

Does he see my father through me? 

Though his eyes were on her, they seemed to be searching for someone else. 

Ariel didn’t answer. The Emperor didn’t seem to expect an answer either, for he continued to speak. 

“And when the purge was over and I was finally on the throne, Arnold and Marquis Blante were by my side. It was truly reassuring. I believed that the future of the empire I would build with them would shine brightly. I swore that I would never become a tyrant like the late Emperor.” 

“……” 

“Although I had ascended the throne through bloodshed, I thought history would remember me as a wise ruler. I did my best. I gave titles based on ability rather than status, freed the slaves and greatly reduced taxes for the commoners.” 

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he saw something out of place. 

“If I had stopped there… perhaps this tragedy would not have happened.” 

His low muttering became clearer as his gaze sharpened and focused directly on Ariel. 

“The canal project – it was born of my greed. I claimed it was to improve the quality of life for the common people, but in truth I felt it wasn’t enough. I felt that to be remembered as a great ruler, I had to leave behind greater achievements. Otherwise, it seemed that the stain of blood on my hands would never fade.”

The Emperor spread his hands in front of him. 

They were rough but clean hands, but the Emperor could not bear to look at them for long. He clasped them tightly, as if to hide them.

“You are right, my lady. All this tragedy began with me. Marquis Blante and Arnold – they both died because of me.”

I failed to protect my people. They had to believe in me to the end.

His deep, regretful voice trembled slightly. 

The Emperor’s true face, hidden beneath the dazzling golden façade, was now revealed. As Ariel watched the crumbling figure before her, her gaze shifted to her father’s letter.

Her father who had believed in the Emperor to the end. 

Ariel remembered a conversation she had had with her father when she was a child. 

“I don’t like His Majesty. He always makes things difficult for you, Father.” 

“Ah, this father of yours has caused our Ariel to worry.”

Her father had spoken to her gently, with a young, pouting Ariel on his lap. 

“Do not hate His Majesty. It’s only because your father told him too many hard truths.” 

“What’s a hard truth?” 

“For example, let’s say Ariel wants to eat a cookie every day, but I tell you every day that it’s bad for your health.” 

“Ugh… Stopping me from eating cookies makes you the bad one, Father.” 

“That’s right. I play the bad part. I tell His Majesty not to eat cookies every day. Not once have I said it’s good or okay.” 

“Not even once?” 

“Not even once. But you see, despite hearing those words every day, His Majesty has never thrown me out. Sometimes he even listens to what I say. If His Majesty were really a bad person, he’d have told me to stop and kicked me out long ago.” 

“Do you like His Majesty, Father?” 

“Hmm… Yes, I do. I’ve sworn allegiance to His Majesty. That’s why I will never hate him until the day my life ends. Of course, I won’t stop telling the truth and pointing out what’s wrong. Even if I distance myself from His Majesty… it’s so that he can follow the right path.”

Her father, who always stroked her head and smiled when she couldn’t understand difficult words. 

Ariel took a deep breath and finally parted the lips she had held tightly together. 

“I… resent Your Majesty. I don’t want to forgive you. But to leave everything behind, to abandon the Empire… it’s been far too long. My father swore allegiance to Your Majesty, and my ancestors swore allegiance to the First Emperor. I cannot break this honour at will.”

The Emperor slowly closed his eyes and spoke in a measured tone. 

“I am sorry, my lady. It’s much too late, but I sincerely apologise.” 

“Yes, it is too late. A single apology isn’t enough to win back Blante’s loyalty.” 

The Emperor let out a heavy breath and opened his eyes. But he showed neither anger nor displeasure at Ariel’s boldness. With a sombre expression he simply asked, 

“I see. You did not come here just to hear an apology. What do you want?” 

Meeting the Emperor’s gaze directly, Ariel replied, 

“I want an official proclamation from Your Majesty.” 

“An official announcement…” 

“Yes. Hold a trial to fully expose the crimes of the Duchess of Viasteus, who killed the late Archduke and my father, and Archduke Seyerd, who falsely accused my father of treason.” 

“……” 

“Hide nothing. Punish them according to their crimes. Please prove that my father’s decision to swear allegiance to Your Majesty was the right one.” 

“!”

“So that my family and I can once again pledge our loyalty to the Imperial Family.” 

The Emperor’s gaze wavered, but Ariel did not stop. 

“If you choose to turn away again, I will reveal everything myself. A year ago no one would have believed me, but now everyone will. It is none other than Your Majesty who has increased my credibility.” 

With these words, Ariel delivered her final ultimatum to the Emperor, whose expression was unreadable. 

“If the truth is revealed through me, Your Majesty will never be remembered in history as a great ruler. Instead, you will be remembered as a tyrant who abandoned his loyal subjects. Therefore, I implore you – give me the chance to carry out my father’s will.”

Ariel bowed her head with impeccable formality, offering the Emperor both warning and respect. 

The Emperor made no reply. Ariel, unshaken, seemed to have expected it. 

Even if he had realised his mistakes, how could a person change in an instant? The Emperor would need time to think. 

Of course, she didn’t intend to give him too much time. 

Ariel raised her head and spoke in a firm tone. 

“Then I will await Your Majesty’s answer until tomorrow. I also have a request.” 

The Emperor’s tightly sealed lips finally parted. 

“…A request?” 

“Yes. I’ve heard that the Duchess is in Your Majesty’s custody. Before I leave, I would like to meet her. I have something to tell her.” 

This time the answer came immediately.

“Very well.”

The Emperor then pulled the cord to summon someone.

Click-

The one who came through the office door was the Emperor’s knight, Storophel.

“Escort the lady to where Melish is.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I will take my leave now, Your Majesty.”

“I will send you my reply soon.

The Emperor replied, turning his head slightly as if to hide the deepening lines on his face.

Ariel bowed politely and left the office with Storophel. 

* * *

A small windowless outbuilding behind the Sun Palace. 

Guarded by Imperial soldiers, this was the place where members of the royal family accused of crimes were interrogated. 

The fate of those interrogated here was almost always grim – they either lost their lives or were stripped of all royal privileges and exiled from the Empire. This was the fate of those who had committed serious sins. 

“This is the room.”

Storophel said, pausing at a grey door. Ariel’s eyes fell on the large lock. 

The faint scent of mana stones emanating from it suggested that it was a magically strengthened lock. This also meant that the entire door was protected by an invisible magical barrier. 

A prison from which there was no escape. 

Clap

The dull sound of the lock being released echoed through the damp room. 

Crack 

As the door opened, Ariel slowly stepped inside. 

The room was bare, containing only a large table and two chairs. Sitting in the drab room was the Duchess of Viasteus. 

Still in her blood-stained dress, unable even to change, her hands tied and her hair dishevelled, she looked a shadow of her former self. Yet her gaze was fierce, even murderous, as if she might lunge for Ariel’s throat at any moment. 

Ariel smiled faintly and spoke softly. 

“It’s a relief to see you still full of energy.” 

Scrape. 

The sound of the worn chair scraping the floor echoed as Ariel sat down. 

“What? A relief?” 

“Yes. Breaking someone who has already given up on everything is not revenge. So it really is a relief.” 

“You!” 

Ariel met her fierce, glaring eyes and gently lifted the corners of her lips in a mischievous smile. 

“Because it means I still have a chance to destroy you.”