“Bring Superintendent Andres here immediately. I have nothing to say to small fry like you!”

“Were you looking for me?”

Rosend blinked, his vision blurred. He couldn’t even tell whether this was reality or a hallucination. But either way, it didn’t matter.

Nothing would happen to him—nothing at all.

Rosend licked his lips.

“H-hey, what do you think you’re doing? Superintendent Andres! Have you forgotten who I am?”

For years, the police and House Bernarde had maintained close ties. And not just the shipboard police—law enforcement throughout the Hudson territories had long been within Bernarde’s grasp.

“How could I?” Superintendent Andres replied coolly. “Sir Rosend, you are under arrest as a serial murderer. You have the right to appoint legal counsel, and the right to remain silent if you believe your statements may be used against you. However—”

Andres added, his expression icy,

“Don’t bother. There’s nothing left you can hide.”

“What kind of b*llshit is this?!”

“Get him something to put on.”

“Yes, Superintendent!”

The women who had been cowering, reading the room, clutched their clothes and fled into the bathroom attached to the cabin.

Superintendent Andres issued orders to the tense officers.

“Take Sir Rosend into custody immediately. Bring the women along as witnesses as well. Take their statements, then release them.”

“Yes, Superintendent!”

Rosend continued to thrash about and shout obscenities, his body swaying unsteadily.
But no one in that room feared him anymore. Nor did anyone pity him.

Rosend would simply receive the punishment he was due.

For the realization of justice was something no one could stop.

The storm-like night was passing.

Dawn seeped slowly into the room.

A new morning was about to begin.

***

The news of Rosend’s arrest reached Daniel as well.

Antoni glanced sideways at him, unease flickering in his eyes as Daniel remained silent.

“…We’ll be reaching the Kingdom of Aliche soon. We’ll dock in two days,” Antoni said carefully. “Your Grace, shall we bring Lady Selenia back now?”

Daniel turned to him, his expression bleak.

Catching sight of something that had settled into Daniel’s eyes, Antoni swallowed hard.

“Your Grace?”

“No. Not yet,” Daniel replied. “Selenia will return after everything is finished.”

“And when will that be?”

“Tomorrow at dawn.”

Daniel rose slowly to his feet.

Antoni couldn’t shake his unease. From Daniel, he sensed the ominous presence of a beast—
it felt like seeing Daniel during the full moon once again.

Wasn’t the curse supposed to be gone?
Or was it because Selenia wasn’t by his side?

With a worried look, Antoni ventured,

“Do you need Lady Selenia? If that’s the case, then—”

“Antoni.”

“Yes?”

Antoni answered, tension tightening his face.

“It seems I’ve been under a rather grave misunderstanding all this time.”

“A misunderstanding…?”

“The beast wasn’t there to kill me—
or to attack me.”

At that moment, Daniel’s eyes compressed into something dense and lethal. Antoni saw it clearly—golden, tightly coiled, like a beast’s gaze.

Antoni hastily stepped back.

“If it can be controlled,” Daniel continued calmly, “what better weapon could there be?”

“Your Grace!”

That sounded dangerously wrong. Antoni swallowed.

“What are you planning to do…?”

“I’m simply going to do what must be done,” Daniel replied. “That man deserves the judgment of justice.”

Daniel curled his lips into a cold smile. The malice and killing intent rolling off him were enough to make one’s skin crawl.

“Your Grace…”

“There’s no need to worry,” Daniel said evenly. “A sinner of Ulus merely passing judgment on another sinner.”

That composure only deepened Antoni’s fear.

“I should go see Superintendent Andres. Make the preparations.”

Daniel’s lips curved upward once more.

***

Daniel was able to meet Superintendent Andres immediately, just as he wished.

To Andres, Daniel might as well have been the heavens themselves. He was prepared to do anything for him.

Daniel smiled gently.

“Thanks to you, matters have gone smoothly. On behalf of the imperial family, allow me to express my gratitude for your service.”

“Not at all! It was something I was bound to do,” Andres replied earnestly. “If anything, I should be the one thanking you for granting me the opportunity to help restore order to the Empire.”

By now, the case had already been reported to the Imperial Police Agency. Senior officials within the agency who had long been in league with Bernarde were keeping their heads down, tails tucked between their legs. Rumors were even circulating that the Police Commissioner might resign over this.

As for Andres, he was on the verge of a double-rank promotion.

“…I’m curious how you intend to deal with Rosend Bernarde,” Daniel said.

“As for Rosend Bernarde…” Andres hesitated. “Well, within the Hudson Police Agency, the prevailing opinion is that it would be best to leave him behind in the Kingdom of Aliche. Capital punishment is decided rather easily there, and… since it’s a foreign country, there’s concern that public sentiment among our citizens wouldn’t take it well otherwise.”

Daniel let out a soft, derisive chuckle.

If they were the sort to worry about public sentiment, they never should have joined hands with Bernarde in the first place. But Daniel was in a rather good mood, so he let it pass with a light smile.

“I have a different idea.”

“……If it’s what Your Grace desires, I’m prepared to cooperate in any way.”

“If execution is already a foregone conclusion, then—”

Daniel smiled cruelly. Anger pooled in his eyes as he bared his white teeth.

Daniel had never once forgiven anyone who touched what was his. If Rosend had never laid a hand on Selenia, things might not have gone this far.

But the deed had already been done.
And Selenia’s delicate cheek was stained dark with bruises.

Time and again, Rosend had dragged her into hell.

The more precious and pitiful Selenia was, the more Daniel wanted to return that suffering to Rosend in kind. He wanted to teach him what fear was—what pain truly meant.

Daniel let out a faint breath. The killing intent he could not suppress churned thickly in the back of his throat.

The unbearable headache tormented him. Daniel pressed hard between his brows.

“I’m thinking… it might be best if I deal with Rosend myself.”

“Your Grace…?”