Chapter 49

Dietrich stood up. Dusting off his knees, he casually returned to his seat. Then, he leaned forward, pouring the remaining liquor from the bottle beside Oliver, who was still gasping for air. As the carpet soaked up the alcohol, the sharp scent of liquor spread throughout the parlor.  

“What a waste.” Dietrich murmured, curling his lips into a smirk.  

“You… you’ve truly gone mad. If I die right now, suspicion will immediately fall on you.”  

“Suspicion? Of course, it should.”  

Dietrich retorted sharply. Crossing one leg over the other, he looked down at the fading old man with an expression that exuded arrogance.  

“The first to be suspected is also the first to prove their innocence.”  

“…What?”  

“You’ve always had a heart condition, Teacher.”  

Dietrich continued, his voice reverent as if delivering a speech before an audience. Oliver, aghast, stared at him, his breaths ragged with disbelief.  

“A heart condition? What nonsense…!”  

“And yet, you continued to serve the people as a respected lawyer, dedicating yourself to your duties as a Representative for the citizens of Rohadin.”  

Cough, cough. 

Oliver coughed up another dark clump of blood, staining the liquor-soaked carpet a deep crimson. With each passing moment, his consciousness dimmed further.  

Dietrich’s cold, emotionless gaze lingered on Oliver as he continued speaking without pause.  

“Even as you felt your body weaken day by day, you never ceased your actions.”  

“…Ugh…”  

“And today, of all days, during a meeting with me, your rival for the Speaker position, you coughed up blood.”  

“D-Dietrich…”  

“The moment you collapsed, I would have been immediately apprehended by the police and detained in a temporary cell for several days.”  

Dietrich spoke as though predicting the events to come, including his own arrest as a suspect. Yet, he seemed utterly unbothered by the idea.  

After all, this too was part of his plan.  

“But you won’t die today, Teacher. You’ll merely lie bedridden, awaiting the day your life finally comes to an end.”  

“…Huff…”  

“And, of course, you won’t be able to say a word or do anything about it.”

The time Oliver would spend teetering on the edge of life and death while Dietrich was imprisoned would be the perfect opportunity for Dietrich’s carefully placed allies to act.  

Dietrich began elaborating on his plans in detail.  

“In a few days, you’ll close your eyes forever.”  

“…….”  

“And I’ll be released shortly after. The investigators will suspect the liquor we drank together and conduct thorough tests, but neither your body, the liquor I brought, nor any part of your home will reveal any trace of poison.”  

“Hah.”  

“Furthermore, a diary of yours will be discovered, detailing your illness and acceptance of your impending fate.”  

“What… poison did you use?”  

“Dorte.”  

Oliver, who had defended countless clients and was familiar with nearly every poison, had never heard of such a substance. Dietrich, already aware of this, provided the answer.  

“A colorless, odorless, and tasteless poison discovered among Singred chemists. Once it enters the bloodstream, it dissolves completely, making it nearly impossible to detect.”  

“To think I’ve been living in your trap all along…”  

Realizing his helpless fate, Oliver gasped in despair.  

The man before him was no longer the pupil who had once been captivated by revolutionary ideals whispered among the commoners ten years ago. Dietrich, now, was merely a man consumed by revenge for the bloodline that had destroyed him.  

With a final, ragged breath, Oliver’s life ebbed away.  

“…You’ve chosen the wrong target for your revenge.”  

“Revenge?”  

“…….”  

“Ah yes, let’s call it revenge. As long as Rohadin’s royal family exists, my vengeance will never end.”  

That’s the sole reason I exist, as the one who survived at the cost of my family’s lives. 

Swallowing the truth that nearly escaped his lips, Dietrich gazed at Oliver’s lifeless body.  

Collapsed on the carpet, Oliver lay unconscious, his face buried in the pool of his own blood.  

“Ah, you can’t answer anymore, can you?”  

Dietrich rose to his feet. In the suffocating silence, he stared at Oliver’s fallen figure. For a brief moment, his expression cracked, revealing what could only be described as guilt, before vanishing without a trace.  

After a moment of composure, Dietrich bowed respectfully before the man who had once been his teacher.  

“Your noble sacrifice for Rohadin will be remembered forever. Rest in peace.”  

And I’ll accept my punishment after death, Dietrich quietly added.  

It wasn’t long before doctors and officials rushed into the small house at 25 Fregit Street.  

***

Charlotte entered the gray building alongside Lida. From the moment she stepped onto the stairs, she felt something was off. Inside, the people bustled about frantically.  

Even though Charlotte had scheduled a meeting with Dietrich, no one from the foundation came to greet her.  

Eventually, Lida managed to catch a staff member rushing by and asked about the situation. After a brief exchange, the staff member hurried down the hallway to fetch someone.  

Before long, a man approached Charlotte. Removing his bowler hat, he offered her a slight bow.  

“My apologies, Viscountess. I’m Martin Homayer, Chairman Dietrich’s secretary.”  

“Nice to meet you. I’m Charlotte Lintz. I had an appointment with Dietrich today, but this situation is quite unexpected. Is something wrong?”  

“Ah… yes. I can’t go into detail, but an urgent matter has come up. The Chairman is currently out.”  

Hmm? 

Today’s meeting was supposed to discuss the vocational program at the school Dietrich had established. Though the actual work would be handled by his staff, this was meant to be their first formal discussion.  

According to Lucas, Dietrich often arrived ahead of schedule unless something extraordinary happened. It was unsettling that such a situation had arisen without prior notice.  

However, seeing the flustered Martin and the chaotic atmosphere among the foundation’s employees, Charlotte felt that something serious must have occurred.  

Still, from her perspective, it was somewhat of a relief. After all, she had been dreading the idea of facing Dietrich alone.  

Having made up her mind, Charlotte offered a faint smile.  

“Ah, such things happen when running an organization. I understand.”  

“Thank you. I’ll be sure to inform the Chairman when he returns.”  

“Yes. I’ll leave these documents here. Please pass them on to him as well.”  

“Of course. Thank you again.”  

At Charlotte’s direction, Lida handed over the envelope of documents to Martin.  

As they exited the building, Charlotte felt a sense of relief and made a sudden decision.  

“Let’s plan an event!”  

Though her words sounded grand, it wasn’t much of an event. She simply decided to wait for Erhen outside the royal palace instead of idly passing time until their meeting.  

Since reuniting in Heringen, things had changed between them. Though Erhen had become different from before, Charlotte herself had also changed since their married life.  

She had never imagined that sharing her heart and whispering sweet nothings with someone could bring such happiness.  

Walking down the street, she often found herself smiling for no reason. Even the sunlight interrupting her late mornings felt delightful.  

Having been born into a loving family in this life, unlike her previous one as an orphan, she thought she could be content with just that.  

But knowing that the person she loved also loved her in return brought her unparalleled joy and made her heart race.  

At the same time, it terrified her.  

The thought of their contract relationship coming to an end loomed over her.  

So, she wanted to make the most of their time together.  

After everything ends, wouldn’t it be enough to live with the memories of a happy month?  

If so… wouldn’t that be enough?

Unlike the bustling scene in front of the royal palace gates a few days ago, crowded with palace officials and nobles leaving work, the earlier hour today made the area unusually quiet.  

Under the lofty and majestic Ivory Palace, the garden gracefully stretched to the palace’s main gate. With the softened weather, new buds began to sprout, and the exquisitely sculpted garden ornaments gleamed under the radiant afternoon sun.

“Oh, he’s here! He’s here!”  

Charlotte, looking out the window, immediately recognized Erhen from the halo of light shining in his direction and stomped her feet in excitement.  

Erhen, stepping toward the main gate with Philip, was dressed in a black suit. Unlike his relaxed demeanor in Heringen, where they had spent much time together, Erhen, who frequently visited the royal research institute, wore a suit as routinely as work clothes.  

Of course, to Charlotte—and to many women who valued the aesthetic appeal of a man’s appearance—Erhen looked pleasing no matter what he wore. However, seeing him in a suit that perfectly matched her taste made her even more satisfied.  

Especially at this moment, the fact that Erhen was her man brought her immense joy.  

Charlotte, her face brightened, opened the carriage door and called out.  

“Erhen!”  

Hearing her voice, Erhen, who had been talking with Philip, turned toward its source. Upon spotting Charlotte, his lips curved into a pleasant smile.  

“Charlotte.”  

He murmured her name joyfully as he approached.