The retreat was swift, suggesting that Kallian had some foreknowledge of the situation.

Even before Baron Baril left the main fortress, Kallian had made arrangements for the safety of his family. Not only Baril’s family, but also the families of other nobles who might be sent to capture Kallian, had been moved to safety.

As a result, Baril was allied with him from the moment they left the fortress. As a result, the 1,200 soldiers under Baril’s command and the 100 knights accompanying Kallian left together.

Meanwhile, the remaining 100 knights, who had been stationed at the border waiting for reinforcements, joined Kallian and made their way to the Grand Duke’s fortress. The result was a march of extraordinary proportions, the likes of which had rarely been seen. The locals who witnessed the march were initially astonished, but when they learned that it was a revolt against the Grand Duke, their attitudes quickly changed.

“Theodor, bringing down that reckless idiot?”

“Kallian has decided to do so.”

“Oh dear, if he’s going to take on such a task, he needs to eat well. Please, rest in our tavern before you leave.”

“If you need a place to stay, our entire village will be happy to help!”

Theodor had lost all trust. It all began when Kallian was forcibly summoned while assisting a diseased region, only to have the summoner covet his vassal’s wife and attempt to kill her.

From that moment on, Theodor became increasingly consumed with pleasure and completely neglected his duties as ruler.

Recently, disturbing rumours have begun to circulate that, in a state of madness, he has begun to attack and even kill servants and vassals in the Grand Duke’s palace.

‘…He had been preparing for this for a long time.’

That fact naturally became clear.
Elliope unconsciously rubbed her fingertips as a shiver ran through her.

‘A very long time.’

When she realised that the messenger birds Kallian had sent in all directions were part of this very plan, a strange sense of calm washed over him instead.

If she had known nothing, she would have been amazed at how quickly everything had been prepared. But Elliope was aware of Kallian’s past – of what had happened to Grand Duke Elsen.

Perhaps, even without her involvement, he had dreamed of this moment for a long time.

But when she thought this and looked up at Kallian, he replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“It’s the moment you create, my lady.”

“…….”

It was a statement she didn’t quite understand.

“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have done this.”

A distant voice flickered through her mind at that moment.

“I was born to despise it, but rather than hate, I simply had no interest.”

It was his voice, speaking of Theodor.

“But now I can hate him freely.”

“…Why?”

“Because you want to bring him down.”

She still couldn’t quite grasp the meaning behind his words, yet Kallian whispered the same thing over and over.

“If we are victorious, it will be yours.”

“…Then, if we lose—”

It will still be mine.

Just as she was about to say those words, Kallian smiled—a deep, unfathomable smile.

“Even defeat will not be yours.”

“…….”

“Because your dog will not allow defeat.”

And so, after their long march, the Grand Duke’s fortress finally came into view.

Elliope, held in Kallian’s arms, swallowed hard. For some reason, her ears felt dull, as if reality itself was slipping away. The only thing that remained vivid was the warmth of Kallian behind her.

‘…I…’

She had come to bring Theodor down.

The memories of her past life suddenly brushed against her chest. The emptiness and sadness she had felt when looking at Theodor’s coffin came back one by one before gradually fading away.

‘You deserved a far more wretched death than that.’

His death was passed off as an illness. The few who knew the truth remained silent while the people mourned and paid their respects.

Those who did not know the true circumstances accused them of not caring enough for the Grand Duke’s health. They also gossiped about why he had died without leaving an heir.

Even those who knew the truth believed it was all her fault.

Because she lacked charm, because she was an unworthy woman.

Because she was a frigid woman who didn’t know how to seduce her husband properly – that’s how it happened.

The imperial family, seeing her as a disgrace, probably thought only of selling her elsewhere at a cheap price.

They knew she could not bear an heir, but they were probably willing to push her anywhere as long as it was in Leanne’s place.

In the end, all the burden and consequences would fall on Elliope alone.

A new wave of anger rose inside her.

Having crushed her in the past, Theodor had now tried to claim her by force in this life – and it was utterly repulsive.

‘All the disgrace I suffered should have been yours.’

In her past life, his death had not only affected him. It had also shattered Elliope’s honour and life. 

In this life, Theodor had gone so far as to drug her, try to take her against her will and humiliate her.

‘I want you dead.’

She wanted Theodor to die in shame.

She wanted him to suffer the same humiliation she had suffered in her past life.

At first she had simply wanted him to meet Charlotte and die in the same way as before. But looking back now, that would have been far too merciful a death for him.

This realisation now gripped Elliope’s heart with absolute clarity.

“Remember what I told you, my lady.”

As the Grand Duke’s palace came into view, Kallian whispered softly, still holding her in his arms.

“Victory will be yours.”

“…….”

“Defeat…”

“will not be tolerated, as you said.”

As if to confirm her words, Kallian gently tilted Elliope’s head back.

And with that, he pressed his lips to hers.

Compared to the kisses they usually shared, this one was devoid of warmth – dry and solemn, almost as if it carried the weight of a final vow.

The words fell from their joined lips like an unshakable brand.

“It will be so.”

“…….”

“And when it is, my lady.”

Kallian whispered.

“Will you take me as your eternal dog?”

“…….”

“Will you give yourself completely to me?”

For some reason, the question was strangely unsettling.

Elliope slowly parted her lips to speak.

“You already have me completely.”

The moment she said it, a burning heat swirled in her mouth, as if she had swallowed embers.

Kallian’s eyes curved into a quiet, knowing smile.

“You mustn’t jump to conclusions.”

His heated lips whispered, as if to nail her to the spot.

“A dog must be trained to the end, my lady – until it wags its tail and obeys.”

Bang!

The doors of the Grand Duke’s palace swung open. The knights stationed inside, waiting for them, stepped aside as their forces entered.

Flames erupted somewhere in the distance – far larger than the fire that had consumed a single house before.

***

The building was half-empty.

The remaining servants and maids either fled or hid when they saw Kallian and Elliope.

“Welcome.”

“We have been expecting you.”

Some welcomed her openly and without hesitation.

It was an amusing change to see those who had once thought Elliope hopeless now looking at her as if she were a saviour.

Finding Theodor was not particularly difficult.

He stood motionless in the centre of the audience chamber in the Grand Duke’s palace, his back to them.

In his lowered hand he held a sword – the very one that symbolised the Grand Ducal House, the one he had long since put aside.

“…….”

No one had cared for him, and there was not a servant in sight.

His once well-groomed hair was now dry and rough, untouched by oil. Even his clothes were dirty and unkempt, as if they hadn’t been changed in a long time.

Even in his dishevelled state, Theodor was surprised to recognise only Kallian’s footsteps.

“Kallian Icerick.”

Theodor breathed out heavily without turning around.

“Have you brought the Imperial Princess to me?”

“Your Grace.”

“The Imperial Princess… she should have arrived by now.”

His words seemed to take her back to the day she first came here.

Slowly, Theodor turned his head.

“…….”

Elliope met his gaze with calm, unwavering eyes.

Like his dishevelled hair and tattered clothes, his face had become gaunt and pale, almost unrecognisable.

It was as if he had replaced food with endless alcohol and drugs, for his body occasionally twitched in uncontrollable spasms.

“Where is the princess?”

His eyes gleamed with a madness as if he were only half aware of reality.

But the moment he saw Elliope standing right next to Kallian, a wide, almost grotesque grin spread across his face, as if his lips could tear from the force of it.

“You have arrived, Your Highness.”

“…….”

“You travelled such a long way… to become my wife.”

Theodor then turned his gaze to Kallian and continued speaking.

“Truly, my most loyal follower. There is no follower as devoted as you.”

A faint excitement flickered in his eyes.

“Grand Duke Ilmos!”

At that moment, someone came rushing in from the inner chambers.

“This is no time for this!”

Holding up the hem of her elegant gown as it dragged across the floor, Leanne ran into the hall, her face full of urgency.