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With every step I took, blood left its mark on the floor.

The long-awaited moment was approaching.

At this point, even my breathing had begun to calm down.

As the castle guards saw us, blood-soaked and advancing, they shouted for surrender.

“Surrender! Surrender, please!”

Even the maids and retainers knelt, begging for mercy.

“P-please, just spare our lives!”

Seeing my red helmet, everyone recognized me.

The name “Kyle Allen” echoed around the place.

My comrades tied the arms of those surrendering with ropes.

One by one, they were secured and overwhelmed.

For now, our army was taking control of the castle.

Yet, screams could still be heard throughout the castle.

There seemed to be some soldiers refusing to surrender and a final act of desperation from the terrified.

I glanced down at a maid being restrained and asked,

“Where’s Robert’s room?”

First, I needed to capture the head.

Then everything would come to an end.

“I-it’s on the second floor! The closest room near the stairs!”

We made our way to the second floor.

My mind was filled with speculations about what Robert might be doing.

I had seen Robert’s face many times since I was a child.

He was the one who lent resources on behalf of the impoverished territory of Roktana.

He had once pressured Vivian using that very leverage.

I didn’t know much about the internal affairs of Roktana, but Vivian had often been tormented by Robert.

How much did he want to consume the Rondore family?

How badly did he want it, to target even Vivian’s life?

I was curious about how he would react.

When his grand ambitions crumble, would he scream in rage, or would he give up and beg for his life?

Though Robert Rondore had been eyeing Vivian, upon reflection, I too had fallen into his schemes.

Even when Vivian swallowed the poison and when the castle was engulfed in flames, I had been there.

Perhaps Robert might show some resentment towards me.

For I was the one who thwarted his plans against Vivian.

Knowing that, it might be why I was curious about Robert’s reaction.

Vivian and I were on one side, while Count Korod and Robert Rondore stood on the opposite.

The end of our conflict was drawing near.

Before long, we arrived at Robert’s room.

With the adornments and size of the door, there was no mistaking it.

This was indeed Robert’s room.

Even the guards in front were kneeling, awaiting us.

“W-we surrender! P-please show mercy…”

I ignored them and nodded towards the door.

“Break it down.”

I told my comrades.

‘It’s unlocked.’

But the sound from inside came first.

As Balron lifted his foot to break the door, he slowly set his leg back down.

I gently pushed the door, and as if following what I had heard, it opened smoothly.

-Creeeak…

Inside were four people.

Robert Rondore, his wife, and their son and daughter.

The remaining three trembled, unable to meet our gaze, but Robert Rondore stood proudly, looking out the window.

“It’s been a while, Kyle Allen.”

Robert said.

I observed his confident demeanor for a moment.

“…We’ve lost, haven’t we?”

His laid-back manner while leisurely sipping from a filled wine glass was bizarre to me.

Had he lost his mind?

Or was he drunk enough to have false courage?

It was the attitude of someone who didn’t realize they were about to die.

As Rondore’s executioner, I had taken many lives.

Each person reacted differently, but their essence was always similar.

Yet, Robert’s reaction was unlike any I had seen before.

Perhaps he still thought there was time left to live.

“Do you admit to your crimes?”

I simply asked Robert.

He twisted his wine glass for a moment and then questioned back.

“What crime are you talking about?”

I frowned.

At this point, attempting to deny anything would only complicate matters.

“…Don’t act so shameless. Nesto—”

“—No, I admit to everything… but what crime do you mean?”

I was momentarily confused.

“What are you talking about?”

Not understanding, Robert continued as if looking at a fool.

“There must be more than one crime I’ve committed. I’m curious which one you mean. Of course, anything brought forth will be my doing. I’ve lived fiercely.”

There was even a hint of mockery in Robert’s expression as he looked at me.

I didn’t understand how he could be so relaxed.

That was the attitude of someone who surrendered unarmed, not of someone still fighting.

“Colluding with Count Korod—”

“—I did that.”

“Poisoning Vivian’s food—”

“—I put poison in it.”

“The fire that spread in Rondore Castle—”

“—That fire was started by me. Do you know how many I had to kill to manage that?”

“….”

“In addition, I placed numerous spies and informants in the castle and tried to lure various retainers to my side. Just how much gold did I spend to crush the markets of Roktana? Honestly, it’s impressive how you’ve held on like weeds. So in a way, it’s almost relieving.”

“….”

By confessing all his crimes, Robert left me with no words.

But Robert was waiting for me to ask something.

The expression was as if he wanted me to ask quickly.

As if he was nearly about to burst from waiting so long for that question.

But I had no idea what that question could be.

As we locked eyes, frozen in place, Robert suddenly asked quietly.

“…You don’t know, do you?”

Still baffled, I responded.

“…What?”

“Hah…!”

Then, Robert burst into cheerful laughter, laughing for a long time.

“Hahaha!”

Using this laughter as a snack, he downed his drink, and everyone in the room only glanced around nervously.

Even Robert’s family appeared to be unaware of anything.

Only Robert knew why he was laughing in this room.

If it were any other day, I would have thought he was just pretending to be insane.

But earlier, I recalled that trio blocking my way.

Vivian didn’t want me here.

That lingered in my mind.

“This is a masterpiece. Oh, what a masterpiece.”

Perhaps the drink had gone the wrong way, as Robert coughed repeatedly amidst his laughter.

“I never knew I could create such a piece of work without even realizing it. If this is a crime, then does that make it a crime? I can’t believe I wasn’t able to take the head of the house despite going this far…! I must be in some divine holiday mood.”

Robert drank every last drop and turned to me with open arms.

“I’ve lost, take me away. If I’m to die, I should at least do it in front of my cute niece. I should throw out an apology before I go, shouldn’t I?”

Though I had been ready to kill him on the spot, his demeanor was so confident it made that impossible.

At the same time, his words felt so uncomfortable that I stood there unable to move for a moment.

“What on earth are you talking about…?”

“I can’t just tell you that plainly. I want you to keep wondering. That would make me even happier.”

“… “

“Don’t feel uneasy.”

Robert said as if he could read my mind.

“Feel relieved. Everything you fought in the dark was indeed my doing. I commissioned the assassination of Vivian, which you frequently thwarted. It’s over now. In the end, you will be the one to strike my neck. It all worked out just as you intended.”

“… “

“Impressive. Truly impressive. You are remarkable, Kyle. What did you say to me at the ball? The reason you protect Vivian, despite us being enemies… was that out of guilt? Because your father killed Vivian’s family… that is, my brother and our niece? Isn’t it remarkable, possessing that level of character?”

I looked at Robert’s family.

“…Are you doing this for family? Trying to act even crazier just to seek pity—”

“—I already made a promise with Vivian.”

“…What?”

“As long as I protect my honor… I’ll spare the family.”

I hadn’t heard that Vivian made any promise with Robert.

The unease was growing, but I couldn’t grasp what it was.

Perhaps Robert was just saying this nonsense to toy with me.

“…What honor do you hold? Blinded by power… You tried to kill the last niece you had.”

I retorted.

Robert grinned and said.

“…You have a point, Kyle. You certainly do.”

Upon closer inspection, deep within his face lay untapped fury.

His lips quivered, and the veins in his eyes burst.

It wasn’t that he didn’t care about the safety of his family, but that he was grasping at sanity through that alone.

Finally wearing a savage expression, he said.

“My honor should be safeguarded by my niece… But you’ve already shattered everything. What honor do you expect me to uphold in front of my niece…?”

“… “

Deciding to stop arguing with him, I gave the command.

“…Take them all away.”

Robert and his family submitted without resistance, captured by us.

It was a far more uncomfortable ending than I had anticipated.

 

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