Hari disappeared, and Antor was publicly executed. Ilisei remembered that day when people gathered like clouds in front of the execution platform. At the memory, she shuddered involuntarily.

Anyone who recalled that time would have the same reaction. Recaptured and imprisoned, Antor had tried to bite his tongue to commit s*icide but failed. The sight of him struggling with soldiers forcibly holding his jaw while a gag was shoved in his mouth was so wretched it was hard to believe he was a prince of the kingdom.

They had expected Antor, with his tremendous l*st for power, to refuse to accept reality and pour out curses and rebellion until the very end. However, contrary to everyone’s expectations, his final appearance in life was said to be somewhat strange.

Criminals, on the day before their execution, seek forgiveness from the goddess at the Igrito Temple and receive absolution for their sins. This was believed to be the only way for those sentenced to death to find salvation.

But Antor did not pray. He stared at the temple’s mural with a peculiar expression. At the dazzlingly beautiful blonde woman sitting on lush tree branches, biting into fruit.

“Hari?”

Rather than repenting his sins, Antor pulled up the corners of his mouth and smiled. A chilling, sinister laugh that crawled along the floor. The moment he heard that name, which had become forbidden within the castle, Achilleon’s face turned menacing.

At the king’s displeased expression, the new high priest, Homuros, sternly rebuked him.

“What are you saying right now? Criminal Antor, confess your sins to the goddess. Do you truly have nothing to say?”

No matter how long they waited, Antor only grinned, causing murmurs among the assembly. His hunched back. His bulging eyes. His gaping lips. The disheveled prince glaring at the woman in the mural truly seemed insane.

“Yes, that woman was real.”

No one understood the meaning of his muttering. Suddenly, Antor’s eyes flashed up and he laughed savagely.

“Achilleon, let me give you one sincere piece of advice.”

The high priest tried to intervene, but the king raised his hand.

“You’re not worthy of possessing that woman. That’s why she’ll keep running away.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“I mean your selfishness destroyed everyone. Not just Hari, right? That filthy, sticky greed of yours will wound those you love and ultimately make them flee.”

“In hell, no one will listen to your nonsense, so babble all you want before you go. If it’s a last will, I’ll write it down. Though you won’t have any descendants to read it.”

“You don’t deserve to love. You don’t deserve to be loved either. If anyone learned of your disgusting selfishness and cruel greed, they wouldn’t want to be involved with someone like you. Don’t you truly understand? Who drove that woman to the cliff’s edge.”

“……”

“Enjoy your power to your heart’s content. Covet jewels and wealth until you’re sick of them. Even if you have everything, there won’t be a single person who truly remains by your side.”

Achilleon hardened his expression but ultimately said nothing. Unable to watch any longer, the high priest dragged Antor away. The evil laughter echoed long after he had left.

Thus Antor was executed before the entire nation. Dressed in white burial clothes. The pure white silhouette flowing long on the ground with his garments. Blood pooled on the floor, clinging to his hair.

Antor, who had maintained an aristocratic image his entire life, was beautiful even as a corpse. He looked like he was sleeping deeply rather than dead.

In principle, a traitor’s corpse is not interred in the royal tomb, but Achilleon made an exception this time. In the end, Antor’s body was placed in a rather shabby wooden coffin next to First Prince Dictys’s tomb.

Some criticized this as cruel treatment, saying that Antor was still royalty. Others whispered that Achilleon’s exception for the corpse’s interment was probably to silence the criticism. 

Additionally, some quarters that suspected the late king’s death had conspiracy theories that Achilleon had poisoned the former king and pinned the crime on Antor, but these quietly disappeared at some point. Whatever the truth, the current king was Achilleon.

“Miss Hari will be doing well wherever she is.”

“I hope she’ll send us a letter saying she’s doing well once she’s settled. She’ll never return here, will she?”

“Probably not…”

Julia and Yulessei were each lost in their own thoughts when…

Knock knock.

Along with the sound of knocking, a guard delivered a message.

“You have a visitor. Julia and Yulessei. Someone wants to meet you.”

“Us?”

Who could it be? If it was someone they didn’t know, they were frightened first.

“Says she’s a merchant. Go quickly.”

The two maids headed to the corridor with half suspicion, half curiosity. But unexpectedly, the person waiting for them was Ipea. The one Hari had introduced as her friend. Beside her was a woman with brown eyes wearing a deeply pulled hood. She smelled of the dry desert wind.

[Sorry for calling you so suddenly. Were you surprised? I have something I want to ask about Hari.]

“…We don’t know anything. Really. We were just as shocked when the lady suddenly disappeared.”

The maids whispered in frightened voices, quickly looking around to see if anyone was listening. Then the woman from the desert asked.

“Then, do you know a priest named Doris? Please. Help me meet him.”

* * *

The deaths of the former king and Second Prince that had caused such an uproar in Hitais also cooled down as time passed. However, the curse Antor left behind continued to be discussed among the nobles.

Perhaps because of this, the number of women on the queen candidate list decreased. But this was actually better for Achilleon.

“This woman has outstanding beauty and an excellent family, but there are rumors of poor conduct, Your Majesty. Rumors of having three lovers…”

“This woman is a rare genius who studied at the academy. Her family isn’t bad either. But her appearance is a bit disappointing.”

“More than a bit disappointing, isn’t it? Well, they say the heart matters more than the face, but shouldn’t you consider the future prince and princess’s appearance too?”

The ministers put their heads together in heated debate.

“What are Your Majesty’s thoughts?”

They needed to bring in a queen quickly to stabilize domestic affairs, but just when the ministers were struggling to find a suitable queen candidate…

“Your Majesty! It’s the eldest daughter of House Albron!”

Outstanding beauty, supreme family background. The eldest daughter of House Albron, who possessed talent as well, had sent a marriage proposal. There was nothing more to consider.

“Decline it.”

However, once again Achilleon firmly refused.

“Do my words not sound like words to you lords? I have no thoughts of marriage yet.”

“Your Majesty, it’s already been four months since your coronation ceremony, and if you still don’t marry, the people will worry. Just like a king’s role is important for excellent governance, a queen’s role is also necessary. You must quickly bring in Her Majesty the Queen. And since we don’t know when another continental war might break out, the matter of succession is also important…”

The ministers earnestly protested, but the king remained unmoved.

“Are you talking about a wedding ceremony when magical beasts are rampaging everywhere? Are you in your right mind?”

Far from showing interest in women, he was devoted only to work. In the end, they had no choice but to step back again this time. His Majesty must be concerned about the curse of the dead Prince Antor. Everyone thought so.

It was also true that the timing wasn’t good. Just when it seemed the reactionary forces had been eliminated and national affairs were stabilizing, magical beasts began appearing everywhere.

Achilleon was always at the forefront of battle. Since he wandered battlefields without even having children, the nobles on his side couldn’t help but feel anxious. There was one person they all commonly watched warily.

The collateral royal family member who was the most likely successor candidate after Achilleon: Trinita.

Wouldn’t this bring another bloody storm to the royal castle?

The nobles watched carefully. Another internal conflict before the shock of Antor’s rebellion had even faded. It was terrible. If a succession struggle occurred again, outsiders might try to exploit it.

Like Isthmia had intervened. However, contrary to the nobles’ concerns, there was no particular tension between Trinita and Achilleon.

“Unless he’s an idiot, he wouldn’t show hostility.”

“We must keep a close eye on Trinita, Your Majesty. Didn’t His Highness the Second Prince also harbor dark intentions despite not looking the part?”

“The Second Prince was different. You have no eye for people.”

“In any case, you should quickly welcome a queen and have an heir…”

The nobles pleaded desperately, but Achilleon didn’t even pretend to listen.

“Instead of worrying about useless things, come up with a plan to reduce magical beast damage. Duke Apsel. You should inspect the western regions that suffered particularly severe damage and conduct relief activities.”

Instead of driving out Trinita, innocent nobles were banished from the royal castle. Trinita, who had been watching the entire situation, hesitated when his eyes met Achilleon’s, then bowed politely.

His intelligent eyes gleamed sharply. Trinita immediately scolded the ministers loud enough for all to hear.

“When my brother hasn’t found a woman to his liking, I don’t understand why you’re all in such a hurry. Isn’t that right? Or if you’re pushing like this knowing who he has in mind… you’re truly foolish fellows. Even I can tell.”