“Wh-what……”

The former emperor fell backward and sat down. His face, with his legs trembling violently, was filled only with shock. The duke put the bundle of papers back into his bosom and opened his mouth with a grim face.

“Now you’re making a face that suits you.”

“Ugh……”

“It’s disgusting to think I treated you with respect all these years without knowing your very existence was a sin. It makes me sick to my stomach, I can barely sleep.”

Duke Day spat through the iron bars. Unlike what Kedrick had done, he couldn’t hit the former emperor’s face with his spit. But the former emperor’s face was already contorted as if he had been hit by spit hundreds or thousands of times.

“You’re not even human. As you wished, you’ll continue your miserable life for the time being.”

The duke told him about his final fate while examining the former emperor’s rotten face. Though shocked by the truth that shook his very foundation, the former emperor’s eyes sparkled slightly at the news that he could preserve his life.

“But don’t think it’s out of mercy. We’re keeping you alive because we need to punish the filthy vermin who harmed humans.”

The duke felt nauseous at the sight and began trampling on the former emperor’s hope. The former emperor would live exactly one hundred days. But he wouldn’t truly live. The duke took out a small book from his bosom. Unlike the bundle of papers, he threw the book into the space where the former emperor was confined, beyond the iron bars.

“We must appease the grudges of those you’ve killed and tortured. Returning to them the pain they suffered as much as possible. That’s the punishment handed down to you.”

The book contained the names of the many people the former emperor had killed. Next to some names, there were records of how they had died.

The duke recited several cases he remembered from the book’s contents and explained that several specialized technicians for the former emperor, along with physicians and clerics to keep him breathing, were already waiting.

“Don’t expect mercy from them. They’re all family members of those you killed.”

At Duke Day’s words, the former emperor finally looked at the book that had fallen near him with a fearful face. The duke watched the fear rapidly consuming the former emperor, then turned around and said loudly,

“The introduction of our guests is over. Bring them all in!”

* * *

The owner of the Ivory Palace had changed. The traces of the palace’s former owner, the deposed empress Liliana who had been dethroned along with the former emperor, were erased in an instant.

Roshan wanted to fill the empty palace with only the most precious things. At his command, soon to be enthroned as emperor, people moved quickly.

Especially the dozens of white lilies that Roshan had personally selected filled part of the Ivory Palace’s rear garden in just three days. Looking up at the Ivory Palace from the garden where white flowers created waves, its appearance seemed even more elegant and classic.

“Aaagh!”

However, from the room that was the epitome of beauty within the Ivory Palace—a place where everything from the wallpaper to the small decorations was flawless—a woman’s high screams and cries erupted daily. Though the sound had noticeably diminished at some point, the servants nearby heard it when the windows were open.

The servants in the Ivory Palace were startled by the sound that seemed to wring out entrails, even in the middle of their work. But they soon turned their heads, pretending not to hear. They had no choice. The woman screaming and crying was the new owner of the Ivory Palace and would soon become the empress of the Empire.

‘Besides knowing that His Highness brought her here, we don’t know anything else……’

‘It’s hard to watch her like this every day. It gives me goosebumps just hearing it.’

‘I heard she was a married woman, but His Highness fell for her at first sight and brought her here……’

Rumors about the woman grew more abundant by the day. Her identity shrouded in mystery, everything about her was secret except that she was beautiful. Some whispered that she might be Roshan’s secret lover and a prisoner who had been offered to the former emperor—Princess Yerena of the Sedas Kingdom.

‘No, that’s not right. I heard she was a prisoner kept in that tower near the temple garden, you know? The one where they used to confine criminal members of the imperial family. She was a prisoner there.’

‘A prisoner from there means that princess? But the princess is dead. How many people saw her being carried out in a box?’

But since the princess of Sedas was already dead, the rumors soon changed to say that Roshan had found someone who resembled his lover whom he couldn’t forget and brought her.

‘I did as commanded, Count James.’

‘Good work. His Highness will be satisfied.’

That was clearly a lie. But those who knew the truth remained silent. In fact, even the changed rumors originated from those who knew the truth.

‘Your Highness. House Rockzenta has sent word that they will follow your command. If you permit us to proceed as planned, she will be recorded as the second daughter of Marquis Rockzenta.’

‘……Make it so.’

This was what Roshan wanted. Newly made emperor, he controlled and managed everything surrounding the woman who would be the new owner of the Ivory Palace and his companion. Not just what she ate, slept on, and wore, but even her past, including her parents, siblings, and family, were personally selected by him.

‘Why not change her name as well? If she uses the name of the dead princess, rumors could spread at any time.’

‘……That won’t be necessary.’

‘……’

‘If anyone dares to wag their tongue, we’ll make an example by ripping it out.’

Thus, with all this made possible by tremendous power, the truth was covered up and lies began to circulate in the world as truth. People expressed doubts about the suddenly appeared woman but gradually believed the false rumors.

But not everything went as Roshan wished. No. He was struggling, barely suppressing the one thing he most wanted to control.

“How is she?”

“I’m sorry. She still can’t calm her excitement……”

The elderly head maid muttered apologetically to him as soon as he entered the Ivory Palace. Roshan’s face darkened at her words.

“Your Highness.”

The head maid called to Roshan with difficulty. He turned his gaze toward her. She then took out an object well-wrapped in fine cloth and offered it respectfully.

“This is something she dropped before going to bed. A cleaning girl found and brought it.”

Though she spoke as diplomatically as possible, the reality was this: Before being tied to the bed, Yerena had discovered the necklace around her neck, roughly torn it off, and thrown it away.

The maids, busy restraining her, had forgotten about the necklace. Only today did a cleaning maid discover it and present it to the head maid.

Roshan clutched the broken necklace chain and a pair of rings in his hand. He knew better than anyone how much the princess treasured these rings, which were practically heirlooms from her parents. But to think she had thrown even these away. That fact was more devastating than the damaged chain of the necklace he had given her.

“……You may withdraw.”

Roshan put the necklace in his pocket and gestured to the head maid. The middle-aged woman silently withdrew. Roshan stood there for a long time before moving his feet.

Soon, in front of a door, the knights standing straight opened it as soon as they saw Roshan.

The room he entered through the opened door was neat. All precious objects were appropriately placed where they belonged, and the subtle fragrance made people feel comfortable. However, deep inside the room, as he passed through several arched doorways, a strange atmosphere began to hover.

Roshan’s feet finally reached the innermost bedroom. Five maids standing by the bed hurriedly bowed their heads when they saw him. He gestured for them to withdraw.

When the maids who had been shielding the bed like curtains disappeared, the woman on the bed was revealed. She lay motionless with her eyes closed as if unconscious. Roshan looked at the pale woman’s face, then slightly trembled his hand when he saw both wrists bound to the bedpost. Though padded with soft cloth, there were clear marks on her thin wrists from how violently she had moved.

Roshan bit his lip until it bled and slowly walked to the woman’s side. And just as he knelt beside the bed, the princess who was supposedly already dead and turned to ashes opened her eyes wide.

* * *

Yerena didn’t scream when she saw him. Roshan opened his mouth while deeply bowing his head to her blue eyes glaring at him.

“I won’t ask for forgiveness.”

“……”

“But could you just stay alive by my side?”

Despite his deeply bent posture, an impossible request flowed from his mouth. Yerena moved her mouth as if wanting to say something while looking at the shameless man.

Roshan slowly removed the cloth covering her mouth. Yerena took a big breath with a “huk” at her suddenly freed mouth. Then she coughed slightly as if her throat hurt and moved her cracked lips.

“Get… away.”

“……”

“The leader of the invading army… treating a prisoner from a defeated country with respect? Does that make sense?”

“……”

“It’s, it’s disgusting, so get away!”

Her voice, like scraping metal, was soaked with hatred. Roshan unconsciously swallowed dry saliva. Though he had expected this, it hurt that her eyes showed nothing but contempt and hatred toward him.

“Lady Yerena.”

“……”

“I haven’t changed.”

“……”

“The person you’ve seen all this time is still the same.”

Roshan spoke with a halting voice. Yerena burst into hollow laughter at the man’s sophistry. Am I the crazy one, or is he? After deceiving her with a false identity for nearly two years, what was he saying? That nothing had changed?

“I am Kian, your guard knight. The one who protected your side.”

“……”

“And I will continue to do so. I will protect you and stay by your side. Just as you’ve seen me.”

It was a terrible thing to say. Yerena’s lips, covered with scabs, trembled. What nonsense was this when his identity was already fully exposed? And who gave him permission to stay by her side?