For now, I have decided to focus on my work. Ideally, this emergency assembly would conclude with Lucid reflecting on his actions and agreeing to negotiate.

However, contrary to my hopes, there is a chance that Lucid’s arguments could gain legitimacy. Recalling the people who cheered as he shot foreigners made that possibility seem all too real.

What if the Emperor were to permit Lucid’s suggestion of armed suppression? All of Edmund’s hard work would be undone, and we would be back at square one.

Surely, I told myself, the Emperor—who still showed favor toward foreigners—would never go that far. And yet… with so many of them turning to force these days, perhaps it wasn’t unthinkable after all.

A restless unease quickened my hand as it flew across the papers. I wasn’t alone in my anxiety—Ecla, too, was unusually subdued.

Time slipped away unnoticed. By the time I finally looked up, the curtains had already cast long, stretching shadows across the office.

“The assembly is dragging on longer than expected.”

“True. His Highness Lucid may have committed a grave crime, but the noble faction won’t simply allow it to stand.”

Ecla, too, glanced nervously at the clock.

And then—

A heavy, urgent thundering of footsteps echoed outside the office.

Could it be Eduond? Ecla and I both turned toward the door at once.

“Lady Ecla!”

But it wasn’t Edmund who burst through. It was Galahad.

Although he was said to have suffered only minor injuries, he did not look well at all. He had a bandage on his forehead, was using a crutch to support his leg and had bruises and cuts all over his body. He was in no state at all.

“Ashis—your grandfather—has awakened!”

So that was it. Having been under the care of the imperial physicians, Ashis must have regained consciousness.

“Is it true?!”

Ecla covered her mouth in shock. Struck by Borea’s bullet, the surgery had gone well enough, but because of his age, he had lain unconscious for a long time. It was a miracle.

“When I was being treated, he opened his eyes. The very first thing he asked for was you, Lady Ecla. So, please—hurry…!”

“Yes, of course! I’ll go at once!”

In her rush to rise, the stack of documents on Ecla’s desk scattered to the floor.

“Ah—the papers!”

As she dropped down to reach for them, I quickly lifted her to her feet.

“Go on! I’ll take care of this!”

“Thank you—I’ll be right back!”

Ecla dashed out in haste. It was truly good news, but…

‘Why isn’t Galahad leaving? Wasn’t he only here to deliver the message to Ecla?’

Ignoring his burning gaze, I lowered my head and continued gathering the scattered papers.

‘Please, just go.’

“Olivia.”

“…”

“Olivia. Please—I beg you. Look at me, just once.”

I sighed and lifted my head. At this rate, he clearly wouldn’t leave until I did.

“Why did you come?”

“Can’t you forgive me? Even though I’m not your master, I am the man who truly loves you.”

“If you truly loved me, how could you lie to me?”

“I only wanted your heart. I loved you too much, and that’s why I did it.”

“Don’t think you can use the word love to excuse a lie.”

At my cold words, sorrow clouded his face.

“I just wish you wouldn’t go back. I wish you could stay here with me forever, always within my sight and happy.”

“Enough! It’s over between us!”

‘He doesn’t even understand. If I fail to find my master and claim his heart, then I—’

Wait. Come to think of it, I…

“What are you doing here? You’re no longer even my staff.”

That cold, familiar voice—I didn’t need to see to know who it was.

Edmund entered, with Felix at his side, his face a little weary.

“Your Highness Edmond, please—just give me a moment to speak with Olivia!”

“Leave.”

Edmund shoved Galahad out, slamming the door shut with a thud.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but… you broke up?”

When Edmund returned, I promised myself that I would tell him everything. I planned to reveal all the feelings I had kept hidden, and to tell him that I loved him.

But what would happen if I confessed my feelings to him now?

Because of my contract with the devil, I’ll disappear from this world either way. If I fulfil it, the demon will send me back to where I came from. If I fail, my soul will become Mephisto’s feast.

Would I really want to tell him once that I never liked him, only to confess again that I did, and then vanish from this world forever? That would be the worst possible thing.

I didn’t want to be seen as the worst by Edmund.

When I was gone from this world and Edmund thought of me years from now, I wanted him to remember me as ‘There was someone I once cared for.’ Not as the woman who said she loved me, only to disappear without a word once I accepted her heart. Not as the woman who disappeared straight after our wedding.

I didn’t want to leave him with that kind of ending.

“Don’t… don’t trouble yourself over me.”

I bit down on my lip. Of course seeing my mother mattered too, but… I didn’t know anymore. I didn’t know. Of course I loved her. I didn’t want to give her up like this. But then… what about Edmund?

“…I see. Then it’s none of my concern.”

Edmund pulled out his chair and sat down.

“Did you hear? Ecla’s grandfather has awakened.”

“Yes, I heard. Ecla rushed off to see him right away.”

“Good. Aside from his weakened strength, they say he’s in good health.”

Edmund opened a file as he spoke.

“Ashis has agreed to return to Umpha with Ecla in an attempt to persuade the foreigners. He wants to resolve this peacefully, as we did fifteen years ago. It seemed for a moment that Lucid’s foolishness had ruined everything, but it looks like there’s hope after all.”

Edmund went on, recounting the matters discussed in the council.

But his words barely reached me.

I had thought confessing my heart would be the end of it. Yet here I was.

‘Did Mephisto know all along? That in the end, I would give everything to my master? That instead of stealing his heart, I would lose my own?’

“Thanks to Ashis’s awakening, it looks like we’ll be able to prevent a military response.’ Of course, I still think force may be necessary. But I believe there’s more to this. Someone has been stirring up this civil war.”

Edmund spread out the files of our investigation.

The gun that Boreas owned was an N764QA, equipped with a safety mechanism that prevented accidental discharge. Once we had confirmed this, we looked into Phenol, who claimed that the gun had gone off when it was dropped. However, he had already vanished without a trace.

This meant that everyone connected to the Boreas incident — the very spark that had ignited the war — had disappeared. This in itself was highly suspicious.

If someone was exploiting the civil war to undermine the growing influence of outsiders within the Empire, then it was equally clear that their intention was to prevent Edmund from ever becoming crown prince.

“Yes. I believe that too.”

I steadied my heart.

Even if I had found my master, how could there be a wedding amidst a civil war? It was impossible.

So, before I disappear from this world completely, before Mephisto devours my soul…

I want to make Edmund a crown prince.

I want to give this world the happy ending it has always been denied — by my own hand.

“There was something I wanted to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“I saw one of the Blackwood men. He was alive!”

Back then, they had clearly been moving under someone’s orders.

“We might be able to uncover the truth behind the incident.”

“But resolving this civil war is our top priority.”

Edmund’s words weren’t without reason.

“That’s true. However, since they opposed Your Highness’s plans, it’s highly likely that they were acting on the Empress’s orders. You suspected as much last time, too. I’ll say this cautiously, but the people we should suspect the most in this civil war are the Empress and His Highness Lucid.”

“That’s also true.”

At Edmund’s words, Felix—who had been standing quietly behind him—gave a firm nod.

“I’ll investigate where His Highness Lucid sent the refugees, and place men to watch them. If it’s really one of Blackwood’s men, I’ll recognize his face.”

“Don’t deploy too many.”

In the end, uncovering the truth behind this war mattered more.

And, unexpectedly, the opportunity came sooner than I imagined.