At the forefront were Cesare Madrian with his now smooth face, Countess Yulian, and Sir Bruce. Hundreds of nobles stood behind them.

The imperial guards commanded by the Empress clashed with the rebel forces.

People closed their doors and huddled inside their homes while the city streets burned innocently.

And Leoni took in all of these scenes.

‘……So it finally begins.’

This was truly a self-purification process. They would clash with each other, shatter, and collapse. And when only one remained, exhausted, it could be crushed with just a finger.

Leoni let out a cold laugh as she watched the burning imperial palace.

“……Foolish creatures.”

Her eyes were filled with hatred impossible to conceal.

The memory of the north burning in the past came back vividly. She remembered the children, husband, and friends who had met their deaths without having committed any crime.

Transparent tears flowed down Leoni’s cheeks.

She had devoted her entire life for this moment.

Waiting for the moment to throw them into hellfire.

**

“The capital is on fire, Your Grace. The siege battle is still ongoing, but the advantage seems to be tilting toward Duke Madrian’s side.”

Abel raised his lips at Albrecht’s report.

“The Empress has plenty of greed but doesn’t know how to do anything. Contact Viscount Bochetti. There’s no better card to defeat that rabble.”

Albrecht bowed his head.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Send northern knights to join Viscount Bochetti, and contact Leoni to drive a wedge between Madrian and Countess Yulian.”

Vanessa stood between them. The problem arose from their different desires. Duke Madrian’s greed was endless. He still dreamed of what he couldn’t have.

Even from this distant place, Abel could divide them simply by sprouting the seeds he had planted.

The world was full of swindlers and con artists, after all.

And Rosette overheard that conversation.

Rosette moved stealthily in the darkness. She was putting what Abel had taught her to good use. She had volunteered to be a spy for Marian, who was feeling frustrated.

Rosette relayed what she had heard to Marian.

“……Finally in the capital……”

Marian narrowed her eyes.

“And I overheard about those children of the Crown Prince. It seems they plan to smuggle them abroad with the Crown Prince.”

“……Then the princess who left and the knight must return. We should bestow titles as promised, shouldn’t we? Contact them too, Liebe.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Marian fidgeted with her lips, filled with regret.

She regretted not being able to witness the Empress’s downfall with her own eyes. It was deeply disappointing not to see that face crumble in despair directly.

Clenching her fist, Marian felt another pang of regret for not seeing the empty imperial palace, abandoned and without its master.

She let out a sigh.

It was equally regrettable not to witness Madrian collapsing in despair.

With trembling hands, Marian rubbed her lower abdomen.

‘I’m sorry, little one. Your mother is such a mess.’

Marian held back a bitter laugh. What kind of mother was she.

**

Cesare ground his teeth. How could those who gathered for the greater cause be so faithless! Cesare erupted in anger.

Marquis Katra had been captured, and Countess Yulian had turned her back on Cesare. Despite Vanessa crying, wailing, and even fainting, it was of no use.

‘Her Highness Princess Marian says she cannot work with Cesare Madrian! Should our family sink because of one Duke Madrian?’

Cesare trembled with rage.

‘We will raise the child well. You go your own way, Duke. In reality, isn’t Madrian as good as ruined? It seems more beneficial for me to join hands with Drake.’

Cesare muttered in a voice full of anger.

“Filthy traitor b*stard.”

Once again, Cesare found himself on the streets. The Madrian ducal family was full of people chasing him, and in these turbulent times, no one wanted to join hands with Madrian.

“……Didn’t I tell you that you shouldn’t trust Countess Yulian too much?”

The aide sighed. Cesare glared at hism.

“This is all because of Marian! Isn’t this happening because that filthy woman clung to another man and betrayed me!”

The aide stared at Cesare with astonished eyes.

Even if the entire world cursed Princess Marian, shouldn’t Cesare, of all people, hold back from doing so? That is, if he had any conscience.

After all, it was Cesare who had first abandoned Marian, insulted her, and ultimately caused the entire mess.

His aide knew this better than anyone.

“That wench Marian deceived me with her innocent face! We clearly promised to join hands and work together then!”

“……Feelings can change.”

The aide spoke in a weary voice.

He no longer saw any light in Cesare.

He realized that his decision to tie his fate to Cesare had been entirely wrong. If there were a way, he wished he could turn back.

“Just as Your Grace did.”

“You, who should be on my side, are criticizing me?”

The aide sighed.

Cesare might rage wildly, but there was no reason to fear someone who was no better than a beggar. He was more afraid of the despair he would face by remaining at Cesare’s side.

**

Leoni stared with cold eyes at the person who had come to find her.

“……I won’t mention past matters.”

“Then why have you come to find me?”

“I came to save my life.”

“The hunting dog of Duke Madrian, now?”

“I admit my past mistakes, but what can someone like me do?”

He was the aide who had followed Cesare to the end. Leoni held back a scornful laugh.

She thought he would maintain his pride even in such a state, but the man who met Leoni’s eyes slid down from his chair and knelt.

“I was wrong.”

“……What are you trying to do now?”

“I’ll do anything if you spare my life. I came here because I want to live, and I don’t want to die.”

“……What Drake wants from Madrian is one thing. To completely erase that family’s existence.”

Leoni laughed coldly.

Returning twice what Madrian had done to Drake. That was the ultimate revenge Drake would take on Madrian. The aide smiled faintly.

His face looked as if he were screaming.

“The imperial family has likely already stripped the Madrian ducal family clean. Imperial knights were stationed in front of the ducal residence. If you want to get what you desire, you’ll either have to go to the imperial palace or take my hand.”

The aide muttered in a hoarse voice.

Leoni narrowed her eyes.

“Do you know where Duke Cesare is now?”

“I drugged his drink and put him to sleep. He’s in room 201 at the Hope Inn.”

The aide readily revealed Cesare’s location.

It was the face of someone who had given up everything. Leoni pressed her lips together.

“……I’ll send you to the north. Your Grace and Her Highness are there together now. Your fate will be decided based on the information you provide.”

“……Will I be able to live?”

“You’ll be able to save your life, I suppose.”

A warm breeze had been blowing in the north lately.

Abel was being generous in celebration of Marian’s pregnancy. It was said that the insane northern officials who had betrayed Drake had managed to keep their lives.

Though it was uncertain how long those who had never experienced hardship in their lives could survive after being thrown onto the streets. If they were lucky, they might be able to get jobs and sustain their miserable lives.

At Leoni’s words, Cesare’s aide clutched his chest in relief.

It seemed better than staying in the capital waiting to die.

“When should I leave for the north? We should capture him before Cesare wakes up.”

“I’ll send you to the north as soon as we secure Cesare Madrian. Tell me if you need anything.”

“……I have a copy of Cesare’s ledger. It contains a complete list of those who have dealt with Cesare Madrian.”

It was a ledger he had written separately without Cesare’s knowledge. The real ledger would have been confiscated by the imperial family, but he had one more remaining.

“I’ve hidden it, so you can go find it.”

Leoni nodded.

The gaze that looked at the aide’s smooth face, now relieved, was nothing but cold. He seemed unaware that in this world, there are lives worse than death.

The only reason Leoni couldn’t die even when she wanted to was one thing.

Because her enemies were still alive.

Leoni was still in h*ll.

**

Meanwhile, in the north.

Marian secretly summoned Liebe and Rosette. Sitting around doing nothing didn’t suit her temperament.

“……Can you send someone without Abel finding out? I need to send someone to the Princess of Jains.”

“We can do it. No, we will definitely accomplish it.”

Liebe said spiritedly.

“The Princess of Jains will soon return to the capital. Before then, the children……”

Marian narrowed her eyes.

The children still knew nothing. They had been pure and innocent before as well.

Would those children be able to grow up properly if they encountered Benjamin?

No, from the very beginning…

‘Can I forgive you, Benjamin?’

Those children would bring comfort to Benjamin.

But Marian wanted Benjamin to live forever in a burning h*ll. His soul did not deserve salvation!

However, Abel wanted Marian to stay uninvolved. For Abel’s sake, Marian was pretending to know nothing, merely feigning happiness.

“Smuggle those children out. Find suitable families to adopt them. And Benjamin should leave the country alone. Do you understand my intention?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Liebe nodded.

“If we use the merchant guild’s power, it should be possible. I’ll look for suitable families among those living in the countryside.”

“The children are innocent. That’s what you must remember.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Marian let out a bitter laugh.

The children are innocent. She found it absurd to say those words herself. If she truly believed that and cared for those children, she should have saved Tia.