There are limits to healing the body with magic.

Still, Marian’s breathing became easier thanks to the improvement.

“……Abel.”

Marian called out to Abel in a tearful voice. Without a word, Abel removed her shoes, letting them roll across the floor.

“I expected you to return smiling, Marian.”

Abel fiddled with Marian’s hand.

“I wished for your day to be peaceful. But none of that came true. Was something wrong with breakfast?”

Abel met Marian’s gaze, his reflection visible in her tear-filled, transparent blue eyes. Marian shook her head.

“……”

“Was my wish too much? Do those damned, cursed ones never tire? You’re always suffering like this… every time…”

“Abel.”

“Asking me if you’re okay, saying you’re sorry.”

“……”

Abel continued in a low voice.

“I was the same… unable to save you, Marian. I was the same… not realizing you were suffering like this!”

Abel’s voice grew slightly agitated, and his uncontrolled magic seeped out, filling the room in a thick haze. The overwhelming pressure made Liebe and Rosette shudder, yet Marian remained unaffected in the midst of it.

“Why didn’t you tell me.”

“……I……”

Marian shook her head.

“Why, with such amazing abilities, didn’t you run away, why.”

Marian stretched out her thin arms and embraced Abel. Where should she even begin to explain? She had believed this was her rightful punishment—that she was atoning for the lives she had taken. That she didn’t deserve happiness.  

Her breathing grew heavy.

“Because I’m someone who shouldn’t do that.”

“Marian.”

“I’m fine. These are wounds that will disappear with time anyway. But the people I killed won’t come back. They remain dead. They……”

Marian swallowed a fireball.

“They can never return. So I’m fine.”

Abel ground his teeth. Marian’s words were too profound that no rebuttal came to mind. The Marian speaking those words seemed about to crumble. Abel couldn’t forget that day either. But he was someone who knew how to make peace with the world—and how to grant himself forgiveness when needed.

Marian is too pure and kind. To the point of being poison to herself. She was a righteous person who couldn’t even forgive herself. Abel gently stroked her cheek.

It was a delicate touch compared to the pain he was feeling. HE whispered lowly,

“If you say so, then I suppose that’s how it is?”

Abel realized all his worries until now had been futile. Marian was someone who shouldn’t be left alone. She thinks her own sacrifice is too natural.

If Marian has no intention to change and cannot change, then Abel will protect her. Abel steeled his resolve.

“Then from now on, I’ll stop you from doing that.”

Marian’s pupils dilated as Abel pulled her closer by the neck. She could feel his breath against the tip of her nose before he pressed his lips gently to her forehead.

“Since you won’t protect yourself, I’ll protect you.”

Marian stared at Abel, frozen stiff.

“My small and kind princess.”

Abel channeled all of his released magic into Marian, as if pushing out seawater. Her defenseless, relaxed eyes grew hazy, and her body slowly collapsed against him.

He caught her.

“……Undress her and apply medicine.”

“Y-yes!”

The overwhelmed Rosette answered quickly.  

Abel laid Marian on the bed and watched her for a while before leaving.  

“Liebe.”  

“Yes.”  

Liebe answered in a suppressed voice. Abel turned his head and met Liebe’s eyes, a fierce smile playing on his lips. His magic swayed ominously.  

Liebe unconsciously stepped back. Abel was a beast that could turn ferocious at any moment—a beast that only became gentle before Marian.

“Do you know the simplest way to solve problems in cases like this?”

Liebe shook her head. Her heart pounded. Abel was someone who transcended human limits. His way of thinking was also different from ordinary people.

“……Just remove the cause.”

Abel’s pupils flashed cruelly.

“You mean the Empress and Crown Prince?”

“The mother more than the Crown Prince. That mother who would do anything for her offspring. We should use the offspring as bait to catch that mother.”

Liebe unconsciously held her breath.

Abel organized the thoughts in his head. If the Crown Prince becomes endangered, the Empress and House Katra in the West will move. Benjamin was their hope and pillar. House Katra originally had roots in the underworld.

Someone who ruled the underworld achieved merits and received a title.

But even after 100 years, their old habits remained unchanged, unable to hide their cruel nature.

“We should frame the Crown Prince for murder.”

“What? Hic!”

The surprised Liebe hiccuped. Murder!

“There’s a killing method used only by Katra.”

This was something he learned because a mercenary who worked in Katra was in the slave fighting arena together. Though the guards burned to death, those who were there together must be living well somewhere.

“We should kill the head butler. In Katra’s way.”

Liebe stepped one step back.

She knew that those gathered by Marian harbored strong aspirations for something. But she had never seen desires as twisted and intense as Abel’s anywhere. Liebe spoke in a frightened voice.

“The, the head butler?”

There must be a reason for him telling her this. Abel smiled sinisterly.

The head butler deserved to die. During his tenure as head butler, he committed hundreds of crimes that shouldn’t have been done under the Emperor and Crown Prince’s orders. So, this was practically divine punishment that Abel was delivering in place of God.

Katra’s killing method uses large needles — they kill by stabbing thick, long needle-like objects into vital points on the crown of the head. Those needle tips had Katra’s seal-like marks embedded in them.

‘It’s not something that could be easily obtained.’

Abel stared at Liebe. The reason for involving Liebe in this was because Lucerta was closer to the West than Giverny. Giverny had roots in the North while Lucerta was a merchant guild with roots in the Southwest.

Moreover, Lucerta’s guild master was a cowardly fellow who had been lavishly spreading wealth to those who seemed to have power. Katra was among those recipients. If they used Lucerta, they could obtain the large needles.

“There’s an assassination tool used by Katra. Large needles with Katra’s seal engraved on the ends. I hear Katra only has them made by craftsmen residing within Katra. Get that, Lucerta.”

Abel smiled coldly. His red pupils flashed cruelly. These were the eyes of someone who already knew blood and murder. Though Liebe stepped back avoiding Abel’s gaze, she was soon blocked. A magic barrier caught her ankles.

When the head butler dies, it’s considered the Emperor’s life being threatened. This was because the palace’s head butler knows the Emperor’s every move.

If suspicion falls on the Crown Prince for killing the head butler, the Empress will self-destruct.

Liebe also understood that calculation.

“……Father won’t listen to me.”

“Persuading Lucerta’s guild master is your job. Don’t tell me you lack even that ability?”

Abel mocked her.

Liebe took a deep breath. She knew she shouldn’t fall for such provocation. That would be losing in a deal. But!

‘I don’t want to lose to this man!’

Liebe’s eyes flashed. She wanted to beat Abel alone no matter what.

“I can do it. The large needles, I’ll get them by the end of the fighting tournament.”

Abel lifted his lips.

“Good. Don’t lose that confidence.”

Released from Abel’s magic barrier, Liebe fell onto her butt from the rebound. Abel merely looked down at her with authority, making no move to help. Liebe quickly jumped up and dusted herself off.

One more task had been added. Moreover, she had undoubtedly stepped into dangerous business. Yet she doesn’t back down. Liebe clenched her fist.

**

Liebe took a deep breath.

She pondered intensely for two days. Meanwhile, Marian remained secluded, focusing on her recovery while eating the special nutritious meals Abel prepared. This morning, after confirming that Marian’s face had improved considerably, she finally left.

Liebe knocked on the door of Lucerta guild master’s office.

“Come in.”

Her father’s always gruff voice was heard. Liebe opened the door and entered.

“Liebe? Shouldn’t you be in the capital right now.”

The Master of the merchant guild asked coldly.

“Don’t tell me you’re quitting after just a few months……”

“No, Father. I came because I have a favor to ask.”

The guild master of Lucerta tilted his head. Liebe was his most promising child. She had quick judgment and an excellent eye for both goods and people.

When Liebe first rebelled against him and declared independence, he had quite high expectations. However, Princess Marian was still nothing more than a fragile woman with nothing to her name.

Duke Madrian rolled around with different women almost every day.

That’s how worthless Princess Marian was.

As Princess Marian was undervalued, Guild Master Lucerta’s disappointment deepened.

“A favor? I no longer have any obligation to grant your favors, Liebe.”

“This will interest you, Father.”

Guild Master Lucerta’s eyebrow twitched. Liebe placed a heavy white box on the desk. She opened the box and inside were bottles packed tightly together.

It was the result of four people working diligently at Princess Marian’s palace over the past months.

“What is this? I already have countless useful medicines.”