Chapter 8 – Part 4

“Duke Marsden.”

“…Yes.”

“It’s hard to fully believe Count Gael’s claim that he covered up Buck Rodley’s crimes out of goodwill. Though his belated confession adds some credibility to his testimony, he could still be fabricating it to fit the evidence. However…”

Hellebore looked at Marsden with regret.

“Even if the Count did sponsor a sorcerer, that alone isn’t enough to harshly punish him. As long as he wasn’t personally addicted to magic. If that were the case, we would have executed all the nobles who dabbled in magic out of curiosity.”

“But Your Majesty! There was a field where cursed stones were cultivated. He could have been actively nurturing sorcerers.”

“There is no conclusive evidence that the Count did this.”

Marsden did his best to suppress his frustration. Losing his composure was exactly what Gael wanted.

Hellebore’s logic was understandable. After all, he himself had secretly meddled in the Kettlelin Forest, making him a suspect as well.

“What about the case of the sorcerer colluding with Harry Palmer to curse me?”

“Hmm?”

“Harry Palmer commissioned the sorcerer to curse me to blackmail the Marchioness. Even if the Count claims he helped the sorcerer out of goodwill…”

Marsden’s cold stare made Gael’s cheek twitch slightly.

“Can the Count truly be free from responsibility?”

Hellebore’s expression changed subtly. As an emperor, he could be lenient towards minor eccentricities, but it was different if someone had attempted harm or was involved in such acts.

“Even if the Count was unaware, the fact remains that his support for the sorcerer put both me and the Marchioness in danger. While nobles’ investments in magic can be dismissed as frivolous pursuits, the Count’s actions this time were a significant threat, even if indirect.”

Hellebore fell into thought. Gael was also lost in his own reflections, particularly about Olivia.

She was a significant variable. Olivia’s return and her establishment of the prison were unexpected developments. No one anticipated she would come back so changed, charging through people like a wild horse, getting closer to the truth.

That Harry Palmer turned out to be so useless was also a surprising revelation.

“Count, do you have anything to say in response?”

After collecting his thoughts, Hellebore addressed Gael. Gael adopted a submissive expression.

“It pains me to know how much trouble the Duke and the Marchioness have suffered, but I can swear to the heavens that I am completely innocent in this matter. Your Majesty, as you know, I genuinely love the Marchioness. She is the only person I love with all my heart.”

The deep hatred emanating from Marsden, who had closed his eyes, was palpable. Gael barely suppressed his instinctive fear.

“But doesn’t the Count currently… love his new fiancée?”

Hellebore asked, glancing at Marsden. Gael lowered his gaze sorrowfully.

“I have ‘no choice’ but to love her… but I have someone I truly love, and I will resolve this. I love the Marchioness… no, I love Liv with all my heart and would never do anything to hurt her…”

Bang!

Gael’s fervent explanation was abruptly cut off by the stone-like hand that struck the table, leaving a clear crack.

“Forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty.”

Marsden stood up and bowed to Hellebore. Though not surprised, Hellebore was clearly puzzled.

“Duke, why did you do that?”

“I’m sorry, I simply couldn’t bear to listen any longer…”

Hellebore, who had known Marsden for a long time, recognized that his patience had reached its limit. Was Gael Abyss’s desperate confession of love for Olivia what broke his composure? Something seemed off.

“I will discuss with the Duke and decide on the appropriate measures, so the Count may leave for now.”

First, he needed to get Gael out of the room. It was clear that something Gael had said had severely provoked Marsden, and continuing the interrogation might lead to bloodshed.

“I trust Your Majesty will make a wise decision.”

Gael calmed his still-pounding heart and left the audience chamber. He felt like a prey animal that had narrowly escaped a predator.

‘That wretched creature.’

As he followed the palace attendant, Gael inwardly cursed Marsden. The audacity of treating him as the sole criminal was infuriating.

“Uh… Count?”

Just as he was about to recall someone’s face, a familiar voice called out. Gael smiled brightly.

“Liv.”

Gael approached Olivia as if meeting a lover after a long time, but she recoiled with a look that seemed to say, ‘Has this guy lost his mind?’

“Liv… no, Marchioness, I’ve been very worried about you.”

“Really? I thought the Count only worried about his own safety and his fiancée. Or rather, he’s worried about his fiancée slipping out of his grasp.”

Gael found Olivia beautiful in her simple dress, but that thought was quickly overshadowed by her mocking tone.

He wanted to express his true feelings, but the palace attendants prevented him from doing so. Gael grimaced as he pleaded.

“Though I’ve been clouded by corrupt magic, you know my heart has always belonged to you, Marchioness.”

“Why are you getting so worked up all of a sudden?”

“I merely seized the opportunity to convey my feelings to you again, Marchioness.”

Olivia crossed her arms, tapping her fingers as if trying to gauge Gael’s intentions. Then, she suddenly started laughing.

“Haha, you must be so exhausted, Count. Constantly acting every moment.”

“Such harsh words…”

“When I first came back, you were speaking to me so rudely, and now you’re pretending to be a courteous and respectful ‘former fiancé’? When we were never even engaged.”

Her sharp words pierced Gael’s heart. Olivia continued to speak harshly, regardless.

“How strange. If we were truly lovers, wouldn’t you have asked why I was hiding to make you jealous, or why I didn’t come to you immediately upon my return?”

Gael glanced at the palace attendants. They all pretended not to be interested, but their curious eyes were fixed on them.

This was a mistake. Confronting Marsden had left him unsettled, leading him to poke around where he shouldn’t have.

“You know, Gael?”

Olivia smiled as if asking if she was calling him correctly. She approached him with measured, deliberate steps.

“The truth is, I don’t remember much of the past. Naturally, I don’t remember anything about you. In fact, you’re the person I remember the least.”

The warmth drained from Gael’s face. He genuinely didn’t want to hear what Olivia had to say next—not because it would put him in a difficult position, but because it would mess with his feelings.

“Marchioness, if you don’t mind, perhaps later…”

“No, it will only take a few words.”

Olivia stood right in front of him and smiled faintly. She lightly placed her hand on his shoulder.

“Gael, do you still like me?”

“Of course…”

The words wouldn’t come out easily. His muscles twitch involuntarily.

‘Of course. I love you so much that I became a monster. Because I wanted to believe you loved me…’

“Then you must also know how much I utterly despise you now.”

Gael’s blue eyes became clouded. Olivia, standing on tiptoe, whispered in his ear.

“If you missed it, I’ll say it again. I hate you so much. And I guarantee, I never truly loved you,”

“Liv.”

“Not even once.”

Olivia must have gone mad. That couldn’t be. How much had she loved him in the past?

If he could just shut her mouth… so she could never say such things again…

Gael, in a daze, reached out to grab Olivia.

“Ugh!”

But before he could, he was thrown back, landing unceremoniously on the floor. Groaning, he looked up to see who had pulled him back.

“Duke Marsden!”

“Are you not afraid of dying?”

The sharp words made Gael flinch. The atmosphere was so chilly that even the palace attendants didn’t dare think of helping Gael up.

“If you lay a finger on her again, I will personally cut that finger off.”

Olivia, now looking somewhat exasperated, pulled on Marsden’s arm. Her actions seemed more out of concern for Marsden than anything else.

“Enough, let’s go!”

“Enough, let’s go, Marsden!”

There was a similar incident once before. At a party where Marsden couldn’t hold back and lunged at Gael for boasting about being engaged to Olivia in front of everyone. Olivia had to stop Marsden then, too, asking him to let it go and not make things more difficult.

“Liv.”

By the time Gael called out for Olivia, she was already gone with Marsden. A palace attendant tried to help him up, but Gael refused.

‘I wished that if you regained your memories, you’d remember only the love we shared.’

But.

“I never truly loved you, not even once.”

‘How am I supposed to take that?’

Gael remained seated on the floor for a long time, his mind sinking into the truth he had long avoided.

***