Count Royer clicked his tongue as he observed Gerick’s blank face.

Gerick never properly listened when others spoke.

“……Therefore, I sentence you to be removed from the imperial throne and to spend the rest of your life in Benedict Monastery.”

Only then did light return to Gerick’s eyes.

He shouted, filled with indignation.

“Benedict Monastery! Just kill me instead!”

Benedict Monastery was located on an island off the southern edge of the Empire.

Once you entered, you should forget about ever leaving.

It was a place for those who were mentally unstable or had committed unforgivable crimes and been banished from their families.

Even just hearing rumors about it, being confined in Benedict Monastery felt more severe than death.

Ion raised his hand to catch Gerick’s attention.

“We’re not sparing you because your crimes are light. You need to live and realize what you tried to destroy. Atone to those who suffered because of you until the end of your days.”

“I, I……”

“Both you and I had opportunities that others couldn’t enjoy because we’re descendants of the late Emperor. This opportunity wasn’t given to become slaves to power, exercising rights without responsibility and causing others pain.”

“……”

“We need to fulfill moral obligations corresponding to our high social status. You should have fulfilled these obligations better than anyone. But you didn’t.”

“……”

“Benedict Monastery is still a place where people live. I hope you properly reflect there and fulfill the duties given to you.”

Gerick glared at Ion, grinding his teeth.

Ion’s words weren’t wrong.

However, fundamental statements always tended to provoke resistance.

“You have everything. Because you have everything, because you have the luxury, you can spout such nonsense. Duty? Fine, duty. But how can I fulfill obligations when I can’t exercise my rights?”

“Coveting what belongs to others isn’t a right, is it? You were already exercising your rights sufficiently. You simply weren’t satisfied with your greed and went down the wrong path.”

“If Erika hadn’t left me—”

“You were the one who betrayed Erika.”

Gerick bit his lip hard, unable to say more.

No matter how many times he thought about it, he had been wrong on that point.

If he hadn’t lost Erika, he would have been the one sitting on that throne, speaking with authority.

Gerick’s head dropped.

No matter how much he dwelled on the past, it wouldn’t return.

“I approve Count Royer’s sentence. Remove Gerick Kaiser from the imperial throne and transport him to Benedict Monastery.”

Knights rushed in and took Gerick away.

Count Royer rolled up the scroll again, placed it on the platform, and returned to his seat.

With the punishment of the criminals complete, it was time to address the most important matter.

The Duke of Sparta rose from his seat and declared to everyone:

“I nominate Grand Duke Ion Kaiser as the new Emperor.”

The nobles, who had been watching carefully throughout the meeting, unanimously agreed to Ion ascending to the throne.

Though the nobles’ opinions didn’t significantly influence the general trend, politics wasn’t something done alone.

Even if it was just a formality, it was better to hold a coronation ceremony with the nobles’ consent.

The meeting proceeded smoothly from accepting Ion as Emperor to scheduling the coronation ceremony.

※※※

Evelyn calmly accepted the fact that Gerick had been deposed and Ion would ascend to the throne. This was understandable since she herself had played a crucial role in making it happen.

Perhaps Evelyn had foreseen this from the moment Gerick recklessly interfered with Erika.

She regretted becoming intimate with Gerick despite knowing about his relationship with Erika.

The fact that multiple wives were permitted for Gerick as a member of the imperial family didn’t serve as absolution.

Erika had been Evelyn’s friend, and at one time, she had prided herself on being closer to Erika than anyone else.

However, Evelyn had always envied and been jealous of Erika.

A caring father, an affectionate brother, and a fiancé who only had eyes for Erika—there was nothing not to envy.

So she seduced Gerick.

While she couldn’t share other people, sharing Gerick was possible.

Gerick fell more easily than expected, and during their time together, Evelyn felt fulfilled.

She was satisfied even knowing that Gerick hadn’t chosen her over Erika but had selected her out of interest, believing Erika would never leave him.

Gerick might have only given his body, but Evelyn had given both body and heart.

Gerick wanted to have both Erika and Evelyn, but Evelyn abandoned Erika to have Gerick.

However, in the end, Evelyn found herself envying Erika again.

She thought she had gained Gerick by sharing her body with him, but it was all an illusion.

Erika, who had turned her back on Gerick, chose Ion.

At that time, Evelyn had mocked Erika’s choice.

No matter how upset she was, Erika seemed foolish to marry her lifelong enemy.

After all, Erika and Ion fought whenever they met and didn’t even speak to each other after their fights.

But once they married, everything changed.

The Ion who had growled at Erika disappeared, leaving only a devoted husband who cherished his wife.

The Ion who would rush toward Erika with blazing eyes was gone.

Now Ion fretted constantly, afraid Erika might get hurt or upset.

Evelyn felt pathetic.

She had approached Gerick out of envy for Erika and even married him, yet she remained alone.

Gerick resented Evelyn while regretting losing Erika.

Evelyn, who had once rejoiced at claiming Gerick’s embrace first, now found herself jealous of Erika again.

She envied her for being loved by her husband.

When she heard the news of Erika’s pregnancy, her jealousy nearly drove her mad.

‘Why can’t I have that?’

Apart from being good with a sword, Erika wasn’t better than her in any way.

Why was Erika more loved?

Evelyn thought and thought, but couldn’t understand.

Knock, knock.

“Evelyn, it’s me.”

At the sound of Erika’s voice, Evelyn snapped out of her thoughts and opened the door.

After Gerick was captured, the attendants and maids of the Empress’s palace had slipped away like sand.

Evelyn was waiting alone for the imperial decree in the empty Empress’s palace.

She had played a significant role in the change of imperial power but wanted to keep it strictly confidential.

So while she wouldn’t be treated as a criminal like Countess Rose or Gerick, she couldn’t continue staying in the Empress’s palace.

With Gerick’s deposition, Evelyn also had to step down from her position as Empress.

Evelyn judged that this was why Erika had come to visit her.

“You’ve heard the news?”

“Yes.”

“I came to ask what you want to do from now on.”

Being married to Gerick didn’t change Evelyn’s status as a saintess.

She could still enter the Papal Office and live as one.

Erika and most others expected Evelyn to return there.

Still, the request served as a final consideration for Evelyn.

They were willing to help if she chose something other than the Papal Office.

“I want to go with Gerick.”

“……To Benedict Monastery?”

“Just because Gerick committed crimes doesn’t mean he’s not my husband. I promised before God to spend my life with him. Let me go with him.”

Erika was surprised by Evelyn’s choice.

Though they might have had a good relationship at the beginning of their marriage, recently Evelyn and Gerick had been worse than strangers. She had even opened the door for those who wanted to pull him down from the throne.

Erika found it unexpected that Evelyn still considered Gerick her husband despite betraying him.

“Evelyn, I don’t think you need to be punished alongside Gerick.”

“I want to take responsibility for failing to support him properly and practice spiritual discipline.”

“Spiritual discipline?”

“I heard that Grand Duke Ion spoke to Gerick about moral obligations. I’m the same as Gerick. I was too busy fulfilling my selfish desires rather than setting an example for those below me.”

“……”

“I knew you were suffering because of Gerick but couldn’t stop him. I knew Countess Rose was trying to kidnap your child but didn’t warn you. You don’t have to commit crimes directly to be a criminal. Ignoring crimes, like I did, is also a crime.”

Erika was speechless in the face of Evelyn’s admission.

Honestly, if she wanted to charge Evelyn with crimes, she could.

She hadn’t done so because she felt Evelyn was also a victim.

During what should have been a happy time, Evelyn had been marginalized as Gerick became obsessed with Erika.

Erika couldn’t forget Evelyn’s uncharacteristic visit, begging her to leave Gerick.

That desperation and urgency had felt too personal, making her uncomfortable for a long time.

So now that Gerick had stepped down from the throne, she wanted to grant Evelyn’s wishes.

But even after learning what Evelyn wanted, she still felt uncomfortable.

‘Why would she choose to follow Gerick of all people?’

Since she had suffered because of Gerick, Erika had hoped Evelyn would make an easier, more comfortable choice.

She wanted to write a divorce permit if Evelyn desired and help her make a fresh start.

But Evelyn’s choice was Gerick.

Erika couldn’t dissuade her because Evelyn’s resolve was too firm.

“I didn’t know you cared for Gerick that much. I’ll grant your wish.”

“Thank you.”

※※※

Countess Rose’s execution took place in the grand plaza.

Countless people came out to witness her final journey.

“They say she killed the late Emperor.”

“I heard she killed her former husband too.”

“My goodness, how cruel must she be to kill her husband? Since the late Emperor was also her husband in a way, did she kill two husbands?”

“She’s vicious, truly vicious. Ugh~ scary.”

“They say frost falls even in midsummer when a woman harbors resentment. Be good to your wife.”

People were shocked that Countess Rose had killed two husbands.

Though they say spouses are close yet distant, people shuddered at the thought of killing someone who shared their bed.

The revelation of her involvement in the late Emperor’s death was also quite shocking.

Those who had experienced the fear of war after the death of the peace-loving late Emperor did not hesitate to condemn Countess Rose.

On the same day, a carriage carrying Gerick left the capital, heading for Benedict Monastery.

Since Gerick was using a prisoner’s carriage, Evelyn had to follow in a different carriage.

People welcomed Gerick’s deposition.

Prices had skyrocketed making it difficult to make ends meet, and they had lived in fear due to the war.

People cheered at the news that Ion, who had transformed the harsh Sheffield into a livable territory, would become the new Emperor.

They expected the Empire’s situation to improve.

Indeed, once Ion became Emperor, government offices and administrative departments began functioning properly.

It was a magnificent sight to see the imperial knights, who had previously created tension by flexing their power, moving with discipline.

People were relieved to see everything returning to its proper place.

The era of peace had dawned once again.