Chapter 14.3

After Brienne woke from the path of memories, joyful news came from Rontiano as well.  

First, Derrick Harrington had been imprisoned.  

On the day Derrick’s trial was held, following an official document from Roeta, Derrick appeared looking haggard and denied the crimes he had committed, insisting he hadn’t kidnapped Brienne.  

But the hairpin Brienne had paid for the inn with was accepted as evidence, and thankfully, Derrick’s trial ended with a guilty verdict.  

It was said that everyone in society could testify that it was the hairpin Brienne always wore.  

As soon as Derrick Harrington was found guilty, Olivia, who stood in the gallery, slapped Countess Harrington’s cheek—a story that couldn’t be left out.  

<Never again speak carelessly about my daughter with that mouth.>  

With a strong yet elegant warning, no one watching the trial dared to stop her mother.  

It was said that for the gentle Madame Ford to act so boldly, there must have been a reason.  

‘Mother, really……’  

Brienne burst out laughing at that part while reading Shylo’s letter.  

Because of that, her father declared he would sever ties with the Harringtons, and Brienne thought her mother would be truly delighted.  

‘How will she react when I tell her I’m engaged to Herace?’  

Brienne pondered how to bring it up as she wrote a reply filled with love.  

When would be the best time for the engagement ceremony?  

How would His Majesty the Emperor react?  

As Brienne wrote down these various thoughts, unbelievable news arrived.  

“……What is this?”  

Brienne asked in a trembling voice, accepting the letter handed to her by the attendant.  

“It’s an obituary from the palace of the Third Prince.”  

A few days later, Brienne attended the funeral with Herace.  

It was a funeral held late because the body could not be found.

* * *

The funeral began under the supervision of Demekia’s Deputy Priest. It was attended only by those close to Lusellion Bartshire in life.  

Brienne placed chrysanthemums on the ownerless coffin and exchanged a glance with Garzen, who stood nearby.  

Garzen, who had grown noticeably gaunt since she last saw him, nodded slightly in greeting.

Brienne turned her gaze to look at the Marquis Bartshire and his wife standing beside him.  

The couple, who had lost their beloved son, received mourners with somber faces. The same was true for Lusell’s sister standing beside them, and for those who seemed to be his close friends—their expressions were no different.  

……Lusell must have been someone truly loved.  

As she looked around at the people filling the funeral hall, Brienne quietly wiped away the tears that had wetted her eyes. Bowing her head one by one to Lusell’s relatives standing by the coffin, Brienne prayed for Lusell.  

She hoped Lusellion Bartshire had gone to a happy place. That he could finally put down his pen and papers and rest in peace.  

Or…… at least, that news would come that he was alive somewhere.  

“It’s been a while.”  

After the memorial service ended, Brienne moved to the corridor and was finally able to meet Garzen.  

She wanted to express her gratitude for being allowed to stay at his palace, but since she had awakened, Garzen had not shown his face even once.  

Even when she sent messages through the attendant, there had been no reply, so Brienne continued to worry about him.  

She’d heard that after the fire at the Main Temple was put out, Garzen had mobilized the knights and searched the place thoroughly for ten days.  

Garzen himself had joined the search and dug through the debris, but they still hadn’t found Lusell’s body.  

“……It’s all my fault.”  

After maintaining a stiff expression throughout the memorial service, Garzen finally covered his face after standing before Brienne.  

“It’s because I was too weak, because I couldn’t even protect one of my own. I was lacking, and ended up being foolishly taken advantage of.”  

“That’s not true, Zen……”  

Seeing Garzen’s broad shoulders trembling, Brienne tried to comfort him.  

But Garzen couldn’t stop blaming himself.  

“I should have caught that damned Hamartia sooner. No, I should have gotten out of the Main Temple just a bit faster. The whole world outside the windows was burning, but I didn’t even notice, just like a fool, until the knights burst in……”  

Brienne shook her head at Garzen, who kept muttering over and over.  

If one were to argue that way, Brienne herself was at fault, too.  

“I was the one who first set up the meeting. I was the one who, caught by the Miragium, made you and Lusell wait out front.”  

“……”  

“Zen, don’t you think I am at fault the most?”  

Only then did Garzen, who had been burying his head, raise his face. Brienne, looking into his trembling black eyes, reached out to him.  

She gently placed her hand on Garzen’s arm and glanced back at Herace, who stood behind her.  

Herace nodded.  

“Brienne is right. This is not your fault, Your Highness, nor anyone else.”  

Sometimes, in life, things happen that cannot be predicted.  

Just as there are things that are unavoidable, there are also things that simply cannot be stopped.  

“……Zen, you did nothing wrong. Lusell would definitely think so, too. You know that.”  

Brienne slowly patted Garzen’s arm, forcing a smile as she lowered her head.  

She had said something comforting, but upon hearing the news about Lusell, she too had blamed herself.  

Lusellion Bartshire had died at the hands of Hamartia.  

If Riela hadn’t helped people get their revenge—  

‘Would there even have been a religion called Hamartia?’  

Once the thought entered her mind, it felt as if all of this was her fault, and she could hardly bear it.  

That Diashi had been hurt, that Lusell had lost his life—  

It all felt as if it happened because of mistakes she had made in the past.  

‘……So I have to fix it.’  

Brienne, holding back tears, managed a smile.  

She had to uncover the one behind Hamartia so that they could never do something like this again.  

“We’ll have a hard time, but we have to endure, Zen.”  

“……How?”  

“Do what Lusell wouldn’t be sad about.”  

“……”  

“Help you with what Lusell wanted to achieve.”  

At that moment, Garzen’s body seemed to freeze. In his eyes, which had been clouded like those of the dead, a spark began to appear.  

Herace spoke.  

“That day, I will say what I meant to say to you, Your Highness.”  

“……”  

“We have to find out who locked Derrick Harrington on the ship. I’ve heard that person is connected to the library explosion incident.”  

Looking at Garzen, who had returned to his princely demeanor, Herace emphasized,  

“Hamartia—the only way to find the one pulling their strings is to track them down.”

* * *

At that time.  

Diashi stood outside the hall where the funeral was being held, unable to enter and just staring inside.  

On the day the Main Temple was attacked, she had been with Lusellion, but the guilt of not being able to save him weighed heavily on her.  

The more she remembered shouting confidently at Prince Garzen and Lusellion that day, the more her throat ached deep inside.  

It was then that someone approached Diashi from behind and whispered,  

“Hello, Mage.”  

Startled, Diashi spun around.  

Brown hair and brown eyes.  

A pure white suit, a corsage made of red roses and white lilies.  

“Since you’re alone today, it’ll be easier to talk. Can I see you for a moment?”  

His appearance didn’t look like that of a mourner at all, and Diashi’s face turned pale.  

The vague memory in her mind began to sharpen into a clear picture.  

As soon as she remembered seeing that face up close, chills ran all over her body.  

“D-Don’t come any closer.”  

“What’s the matter? I just want to talk for a moment.”  

As Perian strode toward Diashi, who was backing away in fear, she found herself pinned against a pillar with nowhere to run.  

“Miss Diashi!”  

Brienne appeared from the corridor connected to the funeral hall. Perian, who had been smiling broadly, now twisted his lips.  

“What, you again? Really… How do you always show up wherever I am?”  

“It’s you who keeps popping up, Your Highness, not me. Both last time and now, I was here first before you arrived.”  

Brienne hurried over and stood in front of Diashi.  

Perian, looking into Brienne’s pale green eyes that stared straight at him, burst out laughing.  

“How odd. Why are you looking at me like that as soon as we meet today? I haven’t done anything wrong yet.”  

Perian’s cold gaze slid past Brienne’s shoulder.  

“I appreciate your interest, Lady, but I have no time to play with you today. The one I need to see isn’t you, but this Mage.”  

“……”  

Brienne frowned and glanced at Diashi.  

But—  

Diashi was clutching her chest, gasping for breath.  

Seeing her pale face, it was clear she couldn’t breathe properly.  

Brienne quickly supported her arm.  

“Miss Diashi, are you alright?”  

Asked in concern, Diashi whispered with a terrified expression,  

“That man……”  

Diashi’s shoulders trembled.  

“I remember now. The last person I saw that day—it was Prince Perian.”