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Silence flowed.

The words that came out of my mouth were beyond audacious.

For a person with the title of Count to dare ask the Emperor if she was afraid—such a thing should have been impossible.

But I could do it.

Only Tristan Ruelberta could do it.

Because I was the only man in this room who could afford to be arrogant.

“You… you insolent fool!”

As expected, the Imperial Guard Knights protecting the Emperor were the first to react to my words laced with ‘pride.’

A knight, full of vigor, pointed his sword at me and shouted.

“No matter how great you think you are, how dare you spout such nonsense in front of His Majesty!”

“I am great. Very much so.”

“Huh?!”

Clang.

The young Imperial Guard Knight’s sword fell to the ground.

“Hot…?!”

The knight wore a look of confusion. In his hand, black ash was faintly smoking.

Helga, with a bright smile, spoke.

“I told you, didn’t I? If you take even one step closer, I’ll literally turn you to dust.”

Knowing Helga’s abilities, I understood.

The intense heat from her lightning had completely burned the hilt of the man’s sword.

Yet, the man wasn’t electrocuted—likely because she had successfully controlled her strength.

Since receiving my eyes, she had nearly perfected her control over magic power.

“But I’m generous, so I’ll let it slide this time.”

“Shut up! How dare you threaten—!”

“You shut up. Zulai.”

A low, emotionless voice interrupted. It was Marco, the Imperial Guard Captain.

“His Majesty is in the middle of a conversation. You have no place to interfere.”

“C-Captain…”

Marco stood beside the screen, staring down at his subordinate with an expressionless face.

The young knight, called Zulai, stepped back with a look of frustration.

Silence resumed.

The ministers and knights waited for the Emperor’s next words.

No one could see the Emperor’s expression behind the screen.

But her silence was anything but light.

I could tell.

The Emperor was suppressing her anger.

As someone who wielded ‘wrath,’ I could feel the deep anger she harbored.

Soon, the Emperor’s voice rang out.

“Arrogant fool.”

Her voice was chillingly cold.

But her next words were unexpected.

“Fine. I grant the Count a private audience.”

“Your Majesty?!”

The ministers and the Imperial Guard turned their gaze toward the screen.

“I’ll accept. To dare provoke me like this…”

Though only her silhouette was visible behind the screen, I could feel her staring directly at me.

“If you’ve come to waste my time with nonsense, your life ends today.”

The Emperor spoke in a cold tone. Her words were no bluff.

She had the ‘ability’ to kill me if she wished.

I calmly replied.

“Do as you please.”

“Hmph. Let’s see how long you can keep up that confidence. Everyone except the Count, leave.”

At the Emperor’s command, the ministers finally snapped out of their daze and protested.

“Y-Your Majesty! This cannot be!”

“It’s too dangerous!”

“I don’t want to hear it. Marco, escort everyone out.”

I saw Marco glance at the Emperor through the screen.

It took less than three seconds.

In that short time, Marco seemed to realize there was no way to dissuade the Emperor and spoke.

“…Understood, Your Majesty.”

Marco left the Emperor’s side and approached where I stood.

“Captain…!”

“Quiet. It’s His Majesty’s decision. Everyone, leave without exception.”

The Imperial Guard Knights, sworn to protect the Emperor, hesitated but had no choice as their captain led the way.

The once tense knights eventually sheathed their swords.

Only then did Helga and Blanshe lower their guard.

“Count…”

“Don’t worry. Wait outside.”

“…Yes.”

Helga, obediently leaving, kept glancing back at me until she exited the audience chamber.

The ministers and knights also filed out. Just before the doors closed, I locked eyes with Blanshe.

Her worried gaze lingered before disappearing behind the closing doors.

The audience chamber, once filled with people, now held only the Emperor and me.

I was finally having a private audience with the Emperor of the Meikhael Empire.

The Emperor was the first to speak.

“Did you ask if I was afraid?”

Her silhouette rose from the throne.

“On the contrary, I want to ask you. Tristan, aren’t you afraid of death?”

“I am.”

After possessing the doomed villain Tristan, I had faced death countless times.

Each time, I struggled desperately to escape death’s grasp.

“I am afraid of death.”

But what I feared more than my own demise… was this world I loved so much heading down the path of destruction once again.

I stared at the Emperor beyond the screen.

Lucy Meikhael, who had ascended to the throne at a young age after the untimely death of her predecessor.

In a way, she was a character quite similar to Tristan.

Having seized power at a young age, she was surrounded by those who coveted her position.

And their methods of dealing with opposition were also similar.

Tristan, who mercilessly assassinated his opponents. Lucy, who executed all who rebelled against her.

Both had walked a path stained with blood.

And in the original story, these two, bound by fate, clashed.

The result was Lucy’s demise.

Tristan, true to his villainous nature, succeeded in eliminating the Emperor without dirtying his own hands.

So I thought.

If the original Tristan could overpower the Emperor, so could I.

With a mocking tone, I spoke to her.

“But you… I’m not afraid of you.”

Creak.

The screen separating us slowly lifted.

“Your words are contradictory.”

The first thing revealed was the hem of a black dress.

Gradually, the frilly black dress came into view.

“If you fear death, then you should fear me.”

Her slender waist, her prominent chest, and finally, her face—or rather, the silver deer mask covering it.

Behind the mask, crimson eyes stared at me.

The Emperor, known as the Cruel Empress, Lucy Meikhael, spoke in a solemn voice.

“I am death itself.”

I couldn’t think of a more fitting analogy.

She was the only one in this game capable of instant-death magic.

—

**Character Profile:**

Name: Lucy Meikhael

Age: 17

Occupation: Emperor of the Meikhael Empire

Personality Traits: Certain Kill, Certain Life, Duality

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Clack.

Lucy Meikhael approached me.

“Count. With your intelligence, you must already know about my magic. One spell from me, and you will surely die.”

Yes. That was no bluff.

One spell from her, and anyone would meet their end.

Her trait, ‘Certain Kill,’ was a cheat that guaranteed death.

Even I was no exception.

With a flick of her finger, I would be doomed.

Lucy spoke to me with a mocking tone.

“So, you should fear me. Especially a man like you, so full of arrogance that you don’t value your own life.”

Behind the mask, her crimson eyes curved like crescent moons.

She was making it clear who held the upper hand.

But I slowly shook my head.

“You’re lying.”

“Do you think my ‘Certain Kill’ magic is a lie?”

“No. That’s undoubtedly true. Your magic can certainly kill me.”

Even if it were a mountain-sized dragon or a powerful Demon Lord, her magic could kill anything. But I didn’t back down.

I knew the ‘flaw’ of her instant-death magic.

“But because of that, you can’t kill me.”

“What…?”

“Because you’re afraid. Death is something you fear too.”

I looked down at her with a mocking smile.

“If you use that magic to kill me, you’ll die too.”

“……”

This was the weakness of her instant-death magic.

The moment she used it, she would die as well.

Her magic, which could only be used once, required her life as the price.

Lucy, struck at her core, didn’t seem as panicked as I expected.

No, she was deliberately maintaining her composure.

She spoke in a slightly stiff tone.

“Hmph… If you know that much, then you must also know that I could easily decide to share my fate with you if you keep running your mouth.”

“Still trying to lie, huh?”

Lucy couldn’t continue.

Her elegant hand, clad in black nylon gloves up to her elbows—I had grabbed her wrist.

“…?!”

“Don’t hide your fear. If you want to talk to me, you need to be honest.”

Startled by my sudden move, Lucy tried to shake off my hand.

But I didn’t let go.

“You…! Let go of me this instant!”

“If you truly aren’t afraid, then take off that mask and show me your face.”

“You dare… insult me! If you don’t let go right now, I’ll call the Imperial Guard!”

“No. You can’t do that.”

I whispered softly, careful not to touch her body.

“Isn’t that right? Luna.”

“…!”

In that moment, I didn’t miss the flicker in her eyes behind the mask.

“What nonsense are you spouting now?”

“There’s a student named Luna who doesn’t exist in the school records.”

Her unease was transmitted through her hand.

“It’s strange, isn’t it? A student who doesn’t exist in the records is attending school openly.”

“Let go…”

“More importantly, I initially thought the ‘name’ was wrong. Because ‘that child’ isn’t Luna.”

We were so close our faces were almost touching.

I spoke to her, avoiding my cold gaze.

“You’re Lucy. And… you’re Luna, aren’t you?”

I reached for the mask covering the Emperor’s face.

“Are you ready to be honest now? Luna Meikhael.”

I removed the mask.

—

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