“Who died, you say…?”

It was the afternoon after an extraordinary night.

In the sunny garden, Alec, Andrew, and I welcomed Brooks as a guest.

Brooks sat down and continued speaking.

“I was quite shocked too. I only heard about Marquis Marcel after returning from the palace. Word has already spread through high society that Marcel tried to harm you two after the ball last night.”

“…I see.”

This was because of Damien.

People had discovered Damien collapsed near the ballroom last night.

Though he had survived, he had sustained severe burns that required him to be wrapped in bandages.

But Damien felt a deep sense of betrayal, believing Marcel had abandoned him and fled.

Marcel had revealed everything he had plotted to everyone.

It was only then that people realized Alec and I had been in danger, prompting them to come to check on us late at night.

Among them was Brooks.

It wouldn’t take long for the news of the two failed attempts to spread through high society.

Yet the result was death.

Alec had purposely healed Marcel, sending him back as if nothing had happened.

The bruises that had once been colorful vanished before my eyes.

As much as I wanted to tell him not to treat him, I had no choice but to prepare for any potential fallout.

I looked at Alec and Andrew and asked, “But how did Marcel end up like that?”

Brooks took a sip of tea to wet his throat before speaking again.

“According to the butler from Howard’s household, he drank poison like a madman.”

“Poison?”

“Yes. The fact that he even had something like that in the mansion shows he wasn’t of sound mind. I’m so glad you two are safe.”

“So he took his own life, then.”

Upon hearing my words, Andrew seemed surprised and frowned.

“He deserves whatever punishment he gets. The claim that he’d give us the territory and factory was likely just vanity. He must have intended to kill Alec and Louise to cover it all up.”

Brooks nodded in agreement with Andrew’s words.

“Everyone seems to agree on that. Damien even admitted it. It seems Marcel was greatly disheartened after his plans failed. However, he didn’t seem like the kind of person to take his own life, but with what happened with Julia, perhaps he was already struggling internally.”

Brooks, feeling parched, took another sip of tea.

So many people had endured an unusual night.

Alec and Andrew didn’t mention the incident of Marcel kneeling before us last night; it seemed there was no benefit in bringing it up.

I had also instructed our family to keep quiet about it.

‘But poison…’

I clenched my hands under the table.

The image of Marcel, despairing after kneeling before us just once, flooded my mind.

He had made Alec kneel countless times before.

During the hunting season, he had even played the role of prey, yet he could die so easily?

There were many times I felt an urge to kill him, rising to my throat.

I turned my gaze to Alec.

What must he have felt when Marcel finally submitted to him, even if only once?

As someone who hadn’t personally experienced Alec’s pain, I couldn’t even begin to imagine.

Yet, he listened to our conversation with a detached look in his eyes, making it hard to read his thoughts.

Brooks took a breath before continuing.

“The Emperor has also heard about what happened yesterday.”

“…What did he say?”

“He doesn’t seem particularly interested in the matter of Marquis Howard’s wager. He probably thinks it’s trivial.”

“……”

“Well, it’s good for you two. Since Marcel boasted at the ball, it would be beneficial to hire a legal representative.”

“I understand. Thank you.”

I replied coolly.

Someone had already sent the shoes they had wagered that morning.

It was something that happened whenever the outcome of a bet was determined.

I had already been considering how to quickly secure approval for the transfer in the council.

‘Don’t worry, Marcel. We’ll run your textile factory even better.’

As I was grinding my teeth slightly, Brooks’s voice continued.

“Oh, and the Emperor has summoned you to the palace. You might receive the title of viscount as promised.”

I forced a faint smile at Brooks’s beaming expression.

I wasn’t in the mood to smile, but it felt somewhat rewarding to have gained something.

* * *

“If you restore the castle within a week, I might even elevate you to a viscount.”

“If you completely govern Grand Carli within a month, I might even return the Duchy of Brent and its territories.”

As I prepared to head to the palace, I recalled the words I had heard from the Emperor.

It would take over ten days to travel to the North and back.

Excluding the days spent traveling from the capital to the North, we had only spent exactly one week there.

Was the Emperor considering that when he thought of returning the viscount title?

But whether he did or not, I didn’t really care.

I had lost my dukedom with just a word from the Emperor; what was the value of a title now?

Everything we had felt like a bubble, except for toppling the Emperor.

After finishing my preparations, I went downstairs alone and caught sight of Eloise and my mother-in-law.

Eloise glanced at me absentmindedly and then quickly looked down, while my mother-in-law maintained her usual posture but had a strange look in her eyes.

“…What’s going on?”

Had something happened that I didn’t know about?

I found it odd, so I approached them, and Eloise awkwardly smiled.

“Uh? Oh, nothing. Sister.”

Eloise rubbed her knee awkwardly, the spot where I had kicked Marcel.

I found it strange that Eloise seemed to be reading my mood, so I smiled lightly and went downstairs alone.

Just then, Alec came down, and Eloise and my mother-in-law saw us off.

“Be careful. You need to make a good impression on the Emperor.”

“I’ll try my best.”

I shrugged at Eloise’s advice as I climbed into the carriage.

Even if I tried to make a good impression now, it wouldn’t matter; we didn’t need to make ourselves disliked before we gained strength.

As the carriage began to move, I gently held Alec’s hand, which was next to me.

He looked at me at my touch.

I cautiously voiced the concern that had lingered in my mind since Brooks’s visit.

“Alec, are you perhaps thinking that Marcel’s death is your fault?”

Given Alec’s personality, he might feel guilty about it.

Thinking back to how he was yesterday, he had been so cold, almost the opposite of the Alec I knew, and I worried he might be blaming himself.

He seemed momentarily surprised by my question but then answered definitively.

“No, not at all.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’m relieved.”

I gave him a more comfortable smile.

As I caressed his hand a little more warmly, I spoke again.

“I was worried about that. But you probably wanted to die much more in the past. I’m really grateful you’ve held on until now.”

“……”

He stared at me for a moment before pulling his hand away from mine to grasp my hand firmly.

With a steady gaze, he assured me.

“You don’t need to worry about me anymore. I’m not the person I used to be.”

“I understand.”

His words made me break into a gentle smile.

The anxiety I had about what the Emperor would say when we met seemed to dissipate a little.

I nestled into his side and said, “I hope that from now on, it’ll be the Emperor kneeling before you, not Marcel.”

How wonderful would it be if such a miracle occurred?

While it might have been impossible in the past, I believed that now, with our current selves, we could definitely make it happen.

***

“We greet Your Majesty.”

At last, Alec and I slightly bent our knees before the Emperor and then stood up.

I softly lifted my gaze and looked at the Emperor.

Seated on the luxurious throne at a distance, the Emperor dominated the vast audience chamber.

He was also constantly watching Alec and me, but somehow, his demeanor felt different from usual.

He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of us.

“You’ve really returned alive.”

The Emperor finally straightened his previously tilted head and spoke.

He looked and sounded as if he couldn’t believe we had actually come back.

It made sense. Even Andrew, who is more capable than us, barely made it back after a few months. Could he have imagined that Alec and I would succeed and return in just ten days?

Up until now, Alec had been the most disregarded figure in high society.

I knew very well that Alec had changed in many ways, but the Emperor was still unaware.

He only seemed to have noticed a slight change in Alec’s demeanor.

I didn’t want to reveal much, as there was nothing good to come from the Emperor learning more about Alec.

“But it’s strange.”

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories