Chapter 82

“My goodness…”

“…”

Alec’s face flushed slightly under her gaze.

To him, it was a completely ordinary power and ability, but to her, it must have been so unbelievable that her reaction was intense.

Oddly enough, now that he had revealed the truth, he felt much more at ease.

It was better than trying to lie his way out of the situation with a ridiculous excuse.

“A sorcerer, in this world…”

Louise mumbled to herself, staring at him in a daze.

Finally, Alec met her gaze more clearly.

“Well, it’s not that extraordinary. In any case, you don’t have to worry about the castle. It’s just that, thanks to my abilities, the old and ruined parts have been restored to their original state.”

“…”

Louise silently looked into his eyes. Her gaze wavered slightly.

Having directly experienced his unreal power just moments ago, she couldn’t help but believe what he said.

Louise looked slightly dizzy, as if she might faint, but then she seemed to regain her composure and spoke.

“…I understand. If that’s what you’re saying, I have nothing more to say.”

“…..”

“But honestly, I’m surprised to learn that there are people like sorcerers in this world. And that you’re one of them, Alec… my husband…”

“…..”

Louise still appeared confused. However, despite having witnessed his unbelievable abilities firsthand, she didn’t seem to realize that he wasn’t the real Alec.

Why didn’t she suspect him?

Suddenly, Alec had the urge to test her a little. He wanted to confirm if it was really the system’s design preventing her from being suspicious.

“Louise.”

“Yes?”

“Does it feel like I’ve changed so much that I seem like a different person?”

“…..”

Louise’s lips parted slightly. Alec’s jet-black eyes stared directly at her without a hint of wavering. Louise took a deep breath before answering.

“I can’t say you haven’t.”

“…..”

“You feel different. If you had lost your kindness and turned wicked, you would seem even more like someone else.”

“…..”

Alec’s eyes wavered slightly. Now, he was beginning to understand what Louise had been thinking all along.

“If you had become a bad person and mistreated me or others, I would have thought you were no longer the Alec I knew.”

“…..”

“But right now, you’re still the Alec I know. Even though you’ve gained unbelievable abilities… you’re still my husband. Right? You’re still ‘you’…”

“…..”

Louise looked up at him with slightly desperate eyes, as if seeking a clear confirmation. This was something Alec hadn’t fully considered before.

Was it that as long as he remained kind to her, she wouldn’t doubt him?

Alec let out a soft sigh and lowered his gaze slightly.

“I’m not a good person anymore.”

“…..”

“I’ve lied to you before. I’ve hidden things from you.”

“…..”

“I thought you would be suspicious of me.”

As he finished speaking, he looked at Louise again. She quietly met his gaze. It was hard to tell what she was thinking.

“Why would you think that?”

“…What?”

“Were you worried that I would push you away because you’ve changed?”

“…..”

“Or… do you still want to divorce me?”

“…..”

What was this?

Alec’s throat tightened as if he were flustered. Louise’s expression was somewhat sorrowful yet tender.

“Don’t worry. Even if no one else believes you, I won’t.”

“…..”

“I won’t blame you just because you hid your power from me. How could you easily talk about something like that?”

“…..”

“Rather, it must have been hard for you to keep it hidden all this time.”

“…..”

At that moment, Alec realized why Louise hadn’t been suspicious of him.

It was because of her immense trust in Alec.

Louise then gently grabbed the hem of his clothes.

“So don’t worry. As long as you’re by my side, I don’t care about anything else.”

“…..”

And Alec could feel her desperate desire not to lose Alec.

These were words that the real Alec should have heard.

Louise bowed her head slightly.

“…I wasn’t planning to say this, but… you’re the only one I have…”

“…..”

Alec felt a dull ache in his chest, as if his heart was throbbing.

Alec was the only person Louise could trust and rely on.

Right now, to Louise, nothing else mattered as long as she had him by her side.

If he weren’t Alec, Louise would feel utterly empty, just as she had in the original story when she followed him to her death.

“…..”

Without saying a word, Alec reached out and pulled Louise into his arms.

He embraced her tightly, pretending to be the real Alec, as much as she desired.

Louise finally seemed relieved, burying her face in his chest and wrapping her arms around his waist.

Though he held her, pretending to be Alec… his heart felt somewhat empty.

***

“Has the former Duke and Duchess Brent departed for Wiltsbrook Castle yet?”

Olivia, wrapped snugly in a plush fur cloak, sipped her warm tea. Surrounding the Empress were Scarlett, Rose, and other powerful noblewomen of the court.

With Julia now permanently imprisoned, the ladies could chat freely with the Empress without worrying about her presence.

Their faces were noticeably bright.

However, mindful of Olivia’s feelings, no one dared mention Julia. Julia had nearly caused trouble for the Empress, upsetting the Emperor in the process.

‘Why would I poison the person I’ve entrusted the North to?’

“…”

“Tell me instead, Olivia. Does Marchioness Howard think my imperial command is less important than her selfish interests?”

The emperor’s cold words to the empress still sent chills down Olivia’s spine whenever she recalled them. Never in her life had she bowed so low.

“I’ll hold Julia accountable and send her to the guillotine. It’s fortunate that Louise is safe, Your Majesty.”

Nothing made her more uneasy than the emperor’s displeasure. When his mood soured, it became difficult for her to manipulate him to her advantage. Instead of executing Julia, the emperor imprisoned her. She was sent to the same prison where Carson had recently been held—a strange place where even those who ate still wasted away like mummies. Nobody ever survived longer than a week there.

This was the first time Olivia had seen it in person, and the oppressive, unpleasant chill gave her the creeps. Like Carson, Julia wouldn’t last long there.

“Is there some terrible leyline flowing through this place or what?”

Very few knew about the oddities of the prison, but spreading rumors about it wouldn’t do anyone any good. If word got out, the emperor would be displeased, and that was something she wanted to avoid at all costs. Julia was already a lost cause. Olivia was more concerned with how the emperor reacted.

Wasn’t the purpose of sending Louise and her husband to the North to let them die? He didn’t care whether they survived, so why was he so touchy about the accusation that Louise had been poisoned?

Olivia’s suspicions only deepened. It was clear that the emperor didn’t want them dead—he wanted to bend them to his will, to force them to submit. The entire empire had already bowed to him, yet Louise and Alec remained the ones to make the emperor falter.

‘Julia should have succeeded.’

Beneath the table, Olivia clenched her fist so tightly that her nails dug into her skin. The emperor’s obsession with the couple was bound to become a threat to her.

Voices from the other noblewomen continued to murmur around her.

“They’re probably wandering through snow-covered mountains by now.”

“They might not even have a proper map and could be going in circles. Imagine how cold and miserable it must be.”

“I just hope they manage to reach the castle safely, as His Majesty ordered. It’s already been two days since they left, hasn’t it?”

“I heard they took five carriages, loaded with servants and luggage. Maybe they should’ve hired mercenaries instead.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying! With the money they’re spending on staff, they could’ve just hired some knights or mercenaries.”

“But even then, who knows how much help that would’ve been? Didn’t the last group bring guards too?”

“In the end, they’ll just come crawling back, begging for mercy. Didn’t they say they’d invite us to the castle once they got there? How ridiculous.”

A low, sneering laughter filled the room.

The women were mocking another noblewoman in the empress’s presence, clearly mistaking her for someone insignificant. Olivia had feigned fragility and kindness to avoid the emperor’s wrath, and now even these inconsequential women looked down on her.

“At least Julia used to keep society in line…”

The lack of someone to replace Julia was becoming a problem. Olivia didn’t want to step in herself, but she was growing tired of letting things continue this way.

But if Louise and Alec really returned to the emperor, begging for their lives, what would he do? Would he offer them another deal?

The prospect filled her with dread. The emperor had finally lost interest in the empress, and now this situation could threaten her own position.

Feeling a sudden dizziness, Olivia raised her hand to her head and stood up. The startled noblewomen rushed to her side.

“Y-Your Majesty!”

“I think I’m feeling a headache coming on. I should retire for now.”

“Th-That would be wise, Your Majesty.”

“We’ll escort you to your chambers.”

Supported by women on both sides, Olivia leaned on them weakly as they guided her away.

As she walked, she thought grimly to herself.

If the Brent couple managed to return alive yet again, the emperor would surely throw them into another deadly situation.

‘I won’t let him get what he wants.’

Before the emperor could fully tame his new toy, Olivia resolved to break it. And if anyone could make that happen, it was her father.

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