Crash! The emperor’s palace collapsed, and people screamed.

They trembled in fear, worried that the ground beneath them might crumble at any moment. They backed away as if they were about to flee, but then hesitated.

It was because they were watching the emperor’s reaction.

I, too, couldn’t take my eyes off the sight of the collapsing imperial palace.

Could it be? Did Alec really come here?

To find me?

My heart pounded.

The emperor, who had been gazing at the scene outside with a cold expression, finally spoke.

“Who would dare do such a thing?”

“Your Majesty!”

At that moment, the door burst open, and the attendants rushed in.

They swallowed nervously, glancing at the crumbling palace, and then spoke.

“The, the north is safe. The monsters have all disappeared, and they are no longer emerging… B-but we must evacuate immediately…”

“…What? That’s impossible.”

The emperor’s brows furrowed.

I turned slightly toward them, confused by what I was hearing.

“What is going on? Is something happening in the north?”

Monsters?

My heart sank.

Monsters in that mysterious place?

But why did the emperor and his attendants seem troubled by the fact that the north was safe?

Suddenly, I felt a chilling sensation run through my veins.

The emperor turned to me with a slight tilt of his head.

“Are you worried about the north? It’s no longer of any use. Along with Alec, everyone—”

“Your Majesty.”

Harriet, who had been standing by the window, called out in an urgent voice.

My heartbeat grew louder.

My chest heaved as I suddenly felt like I couldn’t breathe.

What did they do to the north?

Soon, Harriet’s now calm voice echoed again.

“Your Majesty, it’s Viscount Wiltsbrook.”

“Who?”

A flash of displeasure crossed the emperor’s eyes. Frowning curiously, he turned his gaze back outside the window.

“What nonsense—”

It was then.

Crash! A terrifying sound erupted as the large window shattered.

People’s hair and clothes whipped around violently.

Before anyone could even scream, something moved with the speed of light, grabbing the emperor by the throat and dragging him back out through the window.

With tremendous force, he was hurled into the garden.

Boom! A thunderous noise reverberated through the sky and the earth.

Dust billowed up, filling the vast imperial garden and the air above.

Even the trees were uprooted, flying into the air before crashing back down, causing onlookers to cover their mouths in shock.

No one dared utter a sound.

The center of the beautifully maintained garden was now a sunken, round basin.

Something had shattered the glass in an instant and destroyed the garden.

Suddenly, one of the attendants let out a startled cry.

“Your Majesty? His Majesty is gone!”

Only then did people begin to murmur as they searched for the emperor with their eyes.

The emperor, who had been standing there just a second ago, had vanished without a trace.

“S-surely, over there…!”

One of the maids pointed out the window and then took a step back in shock.

The dust that had clouded the air was gradually settling.

In the middle of the sunken garden, a figure lay sprawled under the moonlight.

Even from a distance, the presence of the emperor of this empire was undeniable.

It was clear that the fallen figure was the emperor, and silent horror filled the air around me.

* * *

Aksen gritted his teeth and forced his eyes open.

The pitch-black night sky filled his vision.

Tasting blood in his mouth, he slowly lifted his upper body.

Whoever had thrown him around like a rag doll was going to pay.

Did they have two lives?

In front of him, he saw a tall, imposing man standing with his cape billowing in the wind.

Due to the moonlight behind him, Aksen couldn’t see the man’s face clearly.

Squinting slightly, Aksen soon recognized him.

There was only one person in this country who looked like that.

Ha ha ha. Aksen let out a low laugh, raising the corners of his lips.

“Alec?”

How did that bastard get here?

Aksen’s red eyes blazed with a mix of anger and amusement.

Alec’s gaze, too, darkened with long-held rage.

The tension between their eyes crackled in the air.

Alec still didn’t fully know the memories of his past life.

However, he recalled a dream he had shortly after arriving in this world.

It was a scene from his childhood where Aksen tormented and trampled on him.

Alec looked down at Aksen and spoke softly, “Do you know how long I’ve waited for this moment?”

Finally, the sole cause of this world’s misery lay beneath him.

Alec planned to kill Aksen in the most painful way possible. A quick death wouldn’t be punishment—it would be forgiveness.

The powerlessness, humiliation, shame, and self-hatred that his past self had felt…

He was going to make Aksen feel every one of those emotions.

The anger he had suppressed his entire life threatened to explode, burning fiercely within him.

After all the years of honing his skills, he was finally able to destroy him.

Aksen spoke sharply, his eyes gleaming with pride.

“So, you’ve finally lost your mind. You dare throw me around like a rag doll? Don’t tell me you’re the one who destroyed the imperial palace, too?”

“You think I came here just to destroy one palace?”

Aksen’s jaw tightened.

“How are you going to handle the consequences of this insolence, Alec, when you only have one life?”

Alec’ gaze grew even darker.

“You still don’t understand the situation. You should be worrying about your life, not mine, shouldn’t you?”

Aksen gritted his teeth.

This was the first time Alec had openly defied him with such hostility.

No, was it the second?

Aksen recalled the day he first insulted Louise, and Alec had become enraged.

“Who would marry such an idiot? Another fool with nothing but an impressive facade, I see.”

“Just kill me! I’ll never return to the palace again.”

“I don’t care what happens to me, but if you treat Louise that way… I won’t forgive you, even if you’re the emperor…”

Aksen’s eyes gleamed with a more intense murderous intent.

He should have killed Alec back then.

He’d let him live because it was amusing to see him trembling, and now, Alec had betrayed him.

“You insignificant fool. You’ll never surpass me. Do you think I’d be scared by this paltry display of strength?”

Aksen was stronger than anyone else in this world.

He had grown stronger and continued to hone his power, never allowing anyone to surpass him.

Whenever he sensed someone hiding magical power, he would find and consume them—even if they were children.

No one should ever exceed his power.

He had to be the one who ruled with the greatest might.

He wanted everyone to fear him.

But this idiot, Alec…?

It was so absurd he couldn’t find words.

Clearly, Alec was nothing more than an ant beneath his feet, yet now, Alec exuded an indescribable sense of intimidation.

Aksen hadn’t noticed when or how Alec had gained this power.

That realization irritated him.

“Aksen Kaisley.”

Alec called out to him in a low voice as he approached.

Bending down, he grabbed Aksen by the collar, forcing him to meet his gaze.

Aksen stared back, as if trying to pierce through Alec with his eyes.

“Don’t think you’ll get away with messing with my woman. I’m going to crush you in the most painful way possible.”

Aksen smirked crookedly.

“I’ve never failed to get what I want. You’ll pay for getting in my way, Alec.”

As Aksen sneered, his magic surged, spreading outwards.

The fierce energy, capable of melting anything it touched, scorched the surrounding grass and enveloped Alec.

Soon, he would be wiped out without a trace.

It was a shame to kill him so easily, but Louise was in the palace.

He didn’t want any more interference on the day he finally claimed her…

Ding!

[An attack has been detected!]

[‘Specialized Skill: Don’t Touch My Husband’ has been activated!]

[When enemies harbor malice and attempt to harm you, your resistance increases tenfold.]

[Your mana decreases during use.]

[The duration is proportional to your mana and affection level.]

A resistance skill surrounded Alec.

Aksen’s magic, which had been aimed at Alec, bounced back as if repelled, causing Aksen’s eyes to widen slightly.

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