The figure behind him was someone completely unexpected.

“…… Your Grace, Duke Mercedes.”

Lewid uttered the name with pained reluctance.

Purple eyes gleamed vividly in the darkness.

When his gaze moved to Lewid’s waist, Lewid flinched and quickly removed his hand from his sword.

Then he carefully parted his lips.

“What brings you here without any notice?”

Lewid had certainly thought Cardien would be by Livia’s side.

After all, after Livia collapsed, Cardien seemed to be out of his mind.

Knowing what that feeling was like, Lewid dared to feel sympathy for him.

Though he tried to hide this sentiment, it inevitably showed in his eyes and tone.

Lewid belatedly watched Cardien’s reaction after realizing his tone revealed his sympathy, but Cardien answered as if he didn’t care about such things at all.

“Count Lewid Aspul, there’s something you need to help me with.”

“Help with……”

“The method you used to extend your wife’s life.”

“……!!”

Lewid’s eyes widened at the unexpected words.

At that moment, moonlight seeped in, revealing Cardien’s face that had been hidden in darkness.

Only then did Lewid realize that Cardien hadn’t overlooked his mistake.

‘His eyes……’

They weren’t the eyes of a normal human.

It wasn’t that he had overlooked the mistake; Lewid Aspul was already of no concern to Cardien.

Not just Lewid, but those completely dead eyes seemed like they wouldn’t respond to anything anyone said.

It wasn’t this bad when Cardien first came to Aspul.

Lewid unconsciously took a step back.

Those inorganic eyes, seemingly not belonging to a human, instilled an instinctive fear.

Swallowing hard, he continued.

“I don’t know the exact method that could extend my wife’s life. I was only told that offering a sacrifice could save her.”

“……Sacrifice.”

“……Your Grace, I understand your feelings, but-”

But he couldn’t continue.

“Then make me the sacrifice. Use that method on the Tutor.”

“……!! Wh-what are you saying…!!”

This time, Lewid couldn’t help but be shocked.

To make himself a sacrifice.

Cardien had already heard everything from Livia. He must know how sacrifices were treated and how they lost their lives.

Yet he said such a thing!

Lewid asked with a trembling voice:

“B-but Your Grace, aren’t you aware that this method was fundamentally flawed?”

After saving the Countess, Livia had revealed that the Countess’s soul had been trapped.

So she had merely been sustaining her life, unable to either die or truly live.

Cardien must know this fact, too.

And yet…

“I don’t care.”

Again, there was not the slightest hesitation in his answer.

“As long as she’s alive, as long as she’s breathing, that’s enough.”

There was even a sense of madness in his muttering voice.

By this point, Lewid Aspul realized.

That whatever he said would be useless…

But that wasn’t the only problem.

The Count continued with difficulty.

“The sacrifice alone won’t be enough. As far as I know, we need a tool to connect the sacrifice’s power……”

Sigmon couldn’t be found, and the branch that had been in the basement was gone. Even if a hundred people were sacrificed, it would be a meaningless death.

“What about this?”

“Pardon?”

It was when Lewid looked up at him with a puzzled expression.

Cardien took something out of his pocket and threw it in front of the Count.

It fell onto the soft rug.

“Th-this is……”

Lewid’s eyes widened as he picked it up.

“How did this come into Your Grace’s possession……”

It was the stone that had been placed beside the Countess. Inside the stone, a faint golden light still remained.

That golden light had been preventing the sacrifice’s power from leaving the Countess.

When this stone was removed, that power had gone out of control, and the Countess’s condition had rapidly deteriorated.

Conversely, using this stone might allow them to utilize the sacrifice’s power, but…

Though he didn’t know how the Duke had obtained it, Lewid looked down at the stone and said with a darkened expression.

“I understand your feelings toward her. I, too, owe her a debt I can never repay. But Your Grace, if you disappear, the Lagranacia Empire-”

“Count.”

“……”

“Your tongue is long. If you won’t cooperate, I’ll do it alone.”

“Your Grace……”

But the words he courageously spoke didn’t reach Cardien and faded futilely.

Lewid’s expression darkened.

In truth, he had known from the beginning.

That no matter what he said, Cardien’s mind wouldn’t change.

Just as his own hadn’t…

Finally making his decision, Lewid parted his lips.

“I underst-”

But his words were cut short.

“……Men……”

At the sudden voice, Lewid stiffened and slowly turned his head.

The Countess, who had opened her eyes, was slowly sitting up.

“M-my wife! You shouldn’t get up yet…!”

Startled, he rushed over, but the Countess coldly pushed his hand away.

Slap.

The sharp sound of friction echoed in the quiet room.

Lewid looked at his wife, who had pushed his hand away, with a surprised face.

The Countess, though emaciated, had lively eyes and spoke in a cold voice.

“I’m disappointed in you.”

“Wh-what do you mean, wife?”

“Trying to repeat the same mistake again.”

“That’s……”

Lewid, at a loss for words, closed his mouth.

Because the Countess was right.

After looking over her speechless husband with cold eyes, the Countess turned her head.

In the darkness, Cardien was coldly staring at her.

Though one might be intimidated by those eyes devoid of any emotion, she didn’t mind.

“I heard about you from my husband. Though late, let me introduce myself. I am Teresa Aspul.”

“I won’t forgive anyone who interferes.”

The returning voice was unbearably cold, as if it could freeze everything.

It was cold anger directed at her for interfering with his plan.

Lewid flinched and tried to stand between them to protect his wife, but Teresa lightly stopped him with her hand and gracefully got down from the bed.

“Wife……”

“It’s alright.”

“……”

Lewid couldn’t stop his wife.

Passing by him, Teresa stood before Cardien.

The thin and petite Teresa Aspul looked so fragile compared to the towering Cardien.

However, even before those cold eyes that cut mercilessly, Teresa maintained her composure and responded calmly.

“I won’t forgive interference, even from a lady.”

That was his final warning.

“Your Grace…!!”

Lewid cried out in alarm.

No matter how high his rank as Duke, it was not appropriate language to use toward a Countess.

Moreover, knowing it was sincere made it all the more terrifying.

But once again, Teresa remained unshaken.

With a gentle smile, she retorted.

“If you harm me, she wouldn’t forgive you.”

“……”

For the first time, there was a change in Cardien’s expressionless face.

Frowning, Cardien glared at Teresa.

Because he knew who “she” referred to.

“I met her, too. She was such a warm and kind person. Truly deserving of the title ‘savior’……”

“Useless talk-”

“I owe her a great debt. So I cannot let you sacrifice yourself. If you disappear, she would be in great pain.”

“……”

“Is that what you want? For her to suffer with guilt and pain in a world where you’re gone, barely sustaining her life with your sacrifice?”

“……Even so, I don’t care.”

Cardien quietly replied and took a step closer to her.

Lewid flinched, ready to spring into action at any moment.

Standing right in front of Teresa Aspul, looking down at her with his eyes, Cardien said.

“As long as the Tutor is alive, even if she’s in tatters, I don’t care.”

“……You’re a selfish person. You are.”

“I know. The Tutor knows it too.”

At his unhesitating response, Teresa let out a shallow sigh.

Coldly watching her, Cardien uttered chilling words.

“If you don’t cooperate, Aspul won’t escape my wrath either.”

Teresa calmly looked at Cardien, who had now resorted to threats, and replied in a composed tone.

“There’s no need for that.”