Lumiere followed Karl and set foot for the first time in the secret room connected to the king’s bedroom.

The inside was cozier than she expected, and sunlight entered quite well.

What was somewhat unusual was that there were doors on all four sides of the room.

It was filled with the smell of medicines, and in one corner was a large sofa that seemed to be used as a bed.

Someone must have been sleeping there, as a large blanket was disheveled and half fallen off.

Probably that old man who was staring blankly at the man on the bed.

“Brook.”

Karl entered the room and called to Brook, who was standing by the bedside.

Brook rarely rang the bell.

Though it was a bit troublesome, he would exit through the third door leading to the storage room and circle back to the king’s bedroom to avoid potential danger.

The fact that he rang the bell meant the matter was urgent or important.

Lumiere stayed a step behind, watching Karl approach Brook without getting too close.

Brook stood still, looking at the other king lying on the bed.

“Your Majesty.”

“……Yes, Brook.”

Brook slowly raised his head and formed a wrinkled smile.

His eyes were moist with an old man’s tears.

“I knew today would be the day. He has finally…… left this father.”

Brook sobbed like a child in front of Karl.

Karl silently embraced Brook and let him cry in his arms.

He didn’t care at all that the king’s formal attire was getting wrinkled and wet.

For him, what mattered more than expensive clothes for a fake wedding was the grief of a comrade who had shared his pain for a long time.

“……Hans Berels, son of Brook Berels, has returned to the embrace of the most gentle god. I guarantee he will find complete rest there.”

“Yes, yes. Your Majesty, I too, I too think so. Since his life was so painful, I pray and pray again that at least his death will be peaceful.”

He felt both sad and relieved at parting with his son.

He already missed him, and loved him so much he wanted to hold onto him even in his painful state.

You in your childhood days, you when you grew up and made me proud, and you when you returned with your body broken.

There wasn’t a single moment I didn’t love you.

My son. My son.

My beloved son.

I heard that person’s apology.

Even if it wasn’t sincere, my son.

I saw him bow his head before me.

I didn’t accept that false apology for your sake.

His handsome face contorted, which was somewhat satisfying.

You should have seen that.

……You should have seen it.

I love you. My son, Hans.

Your father will follow you soon.

* * *

‘……So today is the day.’

Paul Evoque swallowed hard and got up as footsteps secretly spread through the prison.

In the dim dawn, the air tense with anxiety made him feel chilled to the bone.

Paul Evoque crouched in the corner, hugging his knees tightly.

He needed to organize his thoughts well before they came to get him.

‘If I play my cards right, I might be able to escape from this prison today.’

Something big was about to happen in the prison.

Something like a rebellion or a riot. He needed to watch for his opportunity.

His legs trembled with nervousness.

Though he wasn’t doing much, his heart was beating with more tension than anyone else’s.

‘I need to behave properly.’

He needed to pretend to offer them good information while proving his usefulness.

Otherwise, it was obvious he would just be used and discarded.

‘No, I’d be lucky if I’m just discarded.’

How many people in here held grudges against him?

Someone could stab him in the back without anyone knowing.

Paul Evoque sat on the cold floor, biting his nails, hoping they would come for him soon.

Outside it was bustling, and the murmuring sounds grew louder.

How many minutes passed like that?

The sound of iron bars opening one by one in the corridor began, and footsteps started to gather.

‘Fi-Finally!’

Paul Evoque jerked his head up to look beyond the bars.

At that moment, long shadows stopped in front of his cell.

“……What should we do with this one?”

“I don’t know. He’s not really useful anymore…… If we leave him here, won’t he just die on his own?”

A voice devoid of any warmth muttered coldly.

‘……What?’

Surprised, Paul Evoque crawled to the bars and clung to them.

“Me, take me too! Please! Take me with you!”

“……How noisy. Should we just kill him and go?”

“Yeah. He’s not worth keeping alive anyway.”

The blood drained from Paul Evoque’s face.

‘This is bad! At this rate, I’ll be discarded without even being used.’

That meant not only would he fail to escape from here, but he would face immediate death.

He desperately shouted.

“D-Duke Tartien’s armory! I know where the armory is! No, no, no, his hidden private warehouse! I, I know where it is! If you let me out, I’ll take you there! You need money, right? Do you think everything ends when this riot is over? What about tomorrow, the day after? I don’t know what you’re planning, but if you want to see tomorrow, you need money!”

Did his desperate cry reach them?

Lachika Nabels, the woman standing at the front holding what looked like a hand axe from somewhere, approached the cell where Paul Evoque was imprisoned.

“……Private warehouse? Where is it?”

“Do you think I’m stupid enough to tell you right here?”

“Well, if you don’t tell us willingly, you might die right here?”

Lachika threatened calmly while brushing Paul Evoque’s prison bars with her hand axe.

Ka-ka-kang—

A sharp sound rang out as the axe grazed past one of Paul Evoque’s fingers that were gripping the bars, nearly cutting it off.

“Aaargh!”

Startled, Paul Evoque quickly grabbed his bleeding hand and backed away.

“How about it, feeling like talking willingly now? Or do you need to see body parts falling off one by one before you change your mind?”

“……I’ll, I’ll guide you! Please, I’m begging you, take me with you! You can’t find that place just by hearing about it! You might waste time wandering around! So please, take me with you!”

“……Hmm.”

“It’s hundreds of billions of grand! How much do you think the Duke’s hidden funds amount to? More than you could ever imagine!”

“We don’t have time……”

“I don’t know what you’re preparing for, but after today ends, you’ll definitely need money. Whether your plan succeeds or not!”

After contemplating for a while, the woman nodded to a man behind her.

Surprisingly, he was one of the prison guards.

Only then did Paul Evoque realize that this woman could have escaped from this prison anytime.

She hadn’t been unable to escape; she had been waiting for some opportunity all this time.

The guard quickly followed Lachika’s instructions and opened the prison door of Viscount Evoque.

Lachika glanced at Paul Evoque, who staggered out, and spoke to the man standing beside her.

“Take Cross and a few trustworthy people to the warehouse this man mentioned. We can’t let others get to it first, so go right now, gather what you can, and take it to the base ‘he’ prepared for us. Join us as soon as possible.”

“Yeah, got it. You, lead the way quickly. We don’t have time to waste.”

Paul Evoque kept bowing his head to the man pulling him out as they went outside.

‘Finally, freedom for me too……!’

Whatever these people were doing or planning didn’t matter at all to Paul Evoque.

He was just happy to have escaped from that hellish prison.

At that moment, tremendous explosions and gunshots began to be heard from outside.

Tension immediately spread across the faces of Lachika and her group.

Lachika nodded with a hardened expression and adjusted her grip on the hand axe.

“Looks like it’s started. Come on, let’s go support them.”

At Lachika’s words, dozens of prisoners following her shouted in unison!

“Great! Let’s go! Let’s do this!”

“F*ck, do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this day? Schultz, that son of a b*tch, he made me a eunuch!”

Everyone burst into laughter at the words of a bushy-bearded man stomping his feet.

It wasn’t genuine laughter of joy, but rather like explosive sounds from those who couldn’t contain their excitement.

“These dog-like guard bastards! These dog-like noble bastards!”

“Hahaha! Michael, he’s not talking about you, so cheer up!”

“Everyone, stop chattering and move quickly! Let’s show them how terrifying it is when men who’ve returned from hell start a riot!”

Bang, kwang! Bang!

Once again, consecutive explosions were heard, and then someone shouted.

“The wall is breached!”

As if that sound was a signal, the prisoners all began to run.