It seems that was the first time in his life he was caught in such terrible madness. The worst choice at the worst moment. A war that everyone tried to stop. Chaos forcibly created.

After thorough preparation, he launched a surprise attack. The sound of heavy hooves echoed across the green land, and an army in golden armor swept through Alphion like a storm.

The war was, of course, won. He took the life of the kneeling Alexis youngster right before her eyes. He wanted to clearly imprint in her two eyes that she should never betray him again.

But the war, forcibly waged, brought about destruction. With the fall of the House of Alexis, other nobles trembled with anxiety, and because of the political direction moving forward, they all feared they might be next. Eventually, they all turned their backs on him, supporting the rebellion raised by Asius.

The defense forces desperately resisted the fierce attacks, but they were woefully inadequate to stop the Guardians with supernatural powers.

Finally, the massive palace gates collapsed, and the allied forces poured into the imperial palace. During this fierce battle, certain of defeat, his steps headed toward her, imprisoned in the underground dungeon.

“Choose.”

He asked while loosening the leather straps pressing against his wife’s entire body.

“Do you want to die like this?”

“Ah… ah, no… I hate it……”

“Wouldn’t it be better to die by my hand instead?”

“Hic… I hate, hate dying……”

“Those bastards won’t spare you.”

His wife, crying bitterly, still shook her head continuously, perhaps still attached to life.

Though his heart ached at the sight, laughter kept escaping. Because in the final moment, he had come to know the shape of his heart toward her.

Ah, he truly loved her… To the extent of betraying the mission he had firmly adhered to until now. He loved his wife enough to make a choice that threw everything into the fire pit.

He kept chuckling at the irony that even he, who had viewed love most foolishly in the world, ultimately became an infinitely weak human being in the face of true love.

Did he regret coming to know love?

That question lingered in his mind until the moment Asius’s ice pick severed his neck.

The foolish man who couldn’t discard one woman and had abandoned the great success he could have grasped with just a reach, smiled.

No, he didn’t regret it.

* * *

In a desolate field shrouded in gray mist, all trees were withered and twisted, and Estelle stood alone on the ash-filled ground.

She vacantly raised her hand and waved it. Her hand movements, rippling slowly as if moving underwater, and the blurry afterimages didn’t seem real.

Caw!

Startled by the eerie cry, Estelle looked up at the sky. There, a flock of crows, blackening the air, performed synchronized wing movements like playing a death march, drawing chilling trajectories.

Frightened by the blood-soaked gaze of the crows, Estelle lowered her eyes. She slowly moved her feet into the dreamlike world. As she did, the withered weeds turned to dust and scattered into the air with each step she took.

—Yes, keep going like that.

The wind whispered in Estelle’s ear. She was advancing toward a steep cliff path visible in the distance. Below the narrow, treacherous path lay a deep precipice, where orange liquid bubbled and boiled, explosively bursting bubbles.

As if possessed by something, Estelle didn’t stop walking.

She finally reached the cliff, and the scene viewed up close resembled a scene from hell. The hot, viscous liquid like lava heated the surrounding rocks and ground, and the heat was so intense that it made even Estelle’s distant skin feel hot.

—You’ve arrived.

An eerie voice encouraged her, riding on the wind. Estelle stepped forward without hesitation, and just as she was about to place her foot on the narrow path, someone grabbed her wrist strongly. Estelle momentarily lost her balance but soon stabilized thanks to the hand that pulled her.

“……?”

Estelle turned her head with a puzzled face. And her eyes widened.

“Jeff……”

He looked handsome, just like before he went berserk, before he lost an eye to Lexion, from much earlier when she first met him. Though he seemed like an illusion, he shook his head firmly toward her.

Estelle felt tears streaming down her face as she sensed the intense will in Jeff’s green eyes. Still… still you’re trying to protect me…

“You fool… let go! I, I killed you…!”

The wrist Jeff gripped felt as cold as if pressed against ice. Yes, his hand was freezing cold, but she could feel warmth from it… which made it all the more heartbreaking.

“I caused your death! Twice…!”

Jeff shook his head again.

“I… want to die…… I couldn’t protect you, and it’s too… too painful……”

The reality where nothing could be undone, the hellish future that would unfold—she simply couldn’t bear it. But…

Jeff smiled. That smile felt like a star shining in darkness, like a warm light illuminating hope even in despair, causing Estelle’s legs to give way.

Jeff embraced her. As if everything would be alright. Estelle sobbed bitterly in his arms.

Could she live with this guilt…… Jeff, as if responding to her words, tenderly cradled her tear-stained cheeks and nodded.

I told you, even this pain is from you, so I’m happy. His warm eyes were saying that.

—Be happy, Estelle. That happiness is the only thing I wish for.

Why did his voice resonate in her heart? Why did his gentle gaze feel like it was knocking on her heart?

“After what I did to you… do I… deserve to be happy—”

Jeff stopped her lips with his index finger and pointed to the side. There was a landscape filled with color. Beautiful… so beautiful… the Black Forest of Luard.

—Go back.

The wind that had wished for Estelle’s death now whispered to her in Jeff’s voice.

—Return to Caesar, you’ll find happiness. Because that is your destiny.

At that moment, the light illuminating Luard approached like a gentle dawn, gradually intensifying and warmly enveloping Estelle’s body. She closed her eyes and fully embraced that light.

* * *

“Ugh……”

Estelle opened her eyes again. Her trembling eyelids parted slightly, and sunset light seeped into her vision. That light passed through the window, coloring the entire room, spreading quietly.

“Hnngh……”

A groan escaped her lips. Her body felt heavy as if bound by iron chains, and she felt a stinging pain around her neck.

Raising her upper body, Estelle inhaled and rolled her eyes. She soon discovered Lexion’s silhouette standing before the massive window, creating a long shadow as he gazed at the setting sun.

“You’re awake?”

Lexion quietly addressed her, perhaps hearing Estelle’s presence. Ah, she raised her corpse-pale hands to cover her face. Was she alive again…… So in the end, she had revived to face the devil once more.

“You… you should have died… instead of Jeff…!”

Though endless despair flooded her heart, no tears came. Whether because she had no energy to cry, or perhaps her emotions had dried up from shedding too many tears.

“……”

Though Estelle had awakened, Lexion kept his gaze fixed outside the window. It wasn’t that he didn’t care about her condition. In fact, she had regained consciousness several times before, and each time she had furiously cursed him as if giving her last words, her lips barely able to form proper pronunciations.

The doctor had confirmed she had miraculously survived the crisis. So there was no need for him to check with his own eyes whether Estelle was safe.

“Estelle, it may sound cruel, but even in this state, I cannot give you up.”

Her hoarse voice hurled insults at him, but he continued regardless.

“However… if you truly cannot be with me… if being by my side is more painful than death… I’ll let you go.”

“……”

Estelle raised her eyes with an incredulous expression. But she could still only see Lexion’s back.

“However, divorce is not an option. Duke Adrian will officially become your lover. You must still attend important imperial events, and any child you bear will be named as my successor.”

Lexion smiled bitterly. He didn’t care about the child’s bloodline. That it was her child mattered more to him.

“I’ll probably become a laughingstock. It’s dishonorable for Duke Adrian as well, and you’ll be surrounded by endless rumors and slander. But… if that’s acceptable……”

Lexion paused briefly. Judging from her breathing, she seemed surprised. However, he didn’t want to see her face.

As the silence lengthened, the sky became completely covered in darkness. F*ck, why couldn’t he speak…… Despite rehearsing many times. He felt nauseated. No, to be honest, his heart ached. Ridiculously so.

“…Leave as soon as you recover, Estelle.”