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“…It seems like only we managed to escape.”

After thoroughly scanning the surroundings, Ariel concluded as such.

The space they were in moments ago shook, causing Ariel and Luna to fall. Though they landed on their backsides, fortunately, they weren’t hurt. The place they fell into was Kyle’s study… In other words, they had escaped from that mysterious space.

Even she, a professor who teaches magic at the university, couldn’t comprehend what that place was.

To put it simply, it was a space similar to a barrier that cut off the outside world, but its vastness and labyrinthine complexity made it hard to believe it was created by human hands. That left only… the Sage, the pinnacle of magicians, or a transcendent being like a god.

It couldn’t be the Sage. The Sage of this country had disappeared over a hundred years ago.

On the other hand, gods fundamentally don’t interfere in human lives. Unless it’s an event that shakes the world… something involving a hero or a demon lord, they never reveal themselves in the human world.

Even if that mysterious space was created by a god, why would they create such a place? And why, of all things, the past of the Ruelberta family…

Ariel, her mind tangled, quietly closed her eyes.

After a good cry, her heightened emotions had somewhat settled. Though her heart was still torn to shreds, her mind felt oddly cold.

“Father…”

Even after escaping the mysterious space, Luna was muttering to herself like a madwoman, clutching her head.

Ariel had no doubt.

Everything the Imperial Family had done so far was right, and even if some actions were less than honorable, they were necessary for the sake of the country.

But the Roelgreen family, once renowned as one of the Empire’s Seven Stars, who had protected the northernmost part of the Empire for generations… Those who had devoted themselves to this country and the Imperial Family were absurdly annihilated by the very Imperial Family they had pledged loyalty to. Not only that, but Kyle and Ariel’s child was also killed by the Imperial Army.

Now, Ariel even doubted everything the Imperial Family had done. No, she now found them despicable. The Imperial Family, this country… everything.

Only then did Ariel understand.

“William… must have felt the same.”

After the “Autumn Tragedy,” William never came to see Ariel. The only news that reached her was that he had become the head of the Ruelberta family.

At that time, Ariel didn’t have the energy to care about such things. She was submerged in despair and sorrow over losing her family. It took her a considerable amount of time to stand back up. And by chance, she had once run into William.

William had completely changed.

The shy, frail young man who used to call Kyle “brother” and Ariel “sister” was nowhere to be found. In his place was a man colder than the northern winter, crueler than the blizzard that buries the frozen.

But now she understood.

Unlike Ariel, who had risen from despair and sorrow, William couldn’t.

The William she knew died that day alongside Kyle. In despair over this country, the Imperial Family, and everything else, he had broken.

Unaware of this, Ariel had resented William all this time. Not only that, she believed that only the Ruelberta family posed a threat to the country’s survival. She foolishly thought that because they had turned their backs, Kyle and her child had died.

Ariel felt like she would go mad from the overwhelming guilt.

“…Do you resent me, Ariel?”

Turning her head, Luna was looking up at Ariel with hollow eyes.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Ariel and Luna had lived driven by a desire for revenge against the Ruelberta family. They had been sharpening their blades of vengeance, waiting for the right opportunity. But now, their blades had lost their direction.

“Of course, you must resent me… It wasn’t the Ruelberta family who took everything from you, but my father…”

“……”

But Ariel’s vengeance had only changed direction.

“If you wish, you can hit me until your anger subsides. I’ve done unforgivable things to you. If that’s not enough…”

Luna picked up the staff that had fallen at her feet and handed it to Ariel. Her hand showed no hesitation, as if ready to accept Ariel’s vengeance.

“You can take my life. You have every right to.”

“…No.”

As Ariel shook her head, Luna looked puzzled.

“Why…? I won’t hold you accountable for anything you do. You can burn me alive if you want. If that’s not enough, you can torture me. If it eases your heart even a little, I’ll gladly endure it.”

“No. I won’t do that.”

“…I don’t understand. Didn’t you want to kill me?”

“If I said no, I’d be lying.”

Just moments ago, Ariel, consumed by rage, had tried to take the life of Luna, the Emperor.

But Tristan stopped her. Despite the heat of the magical energy, his face, holding the staff, looked sorrowful.

It was as if he was saying that no matter what she did, her precious people wouldn’t return, and she had no choice but to collapse on the spot.

“…Your Majesty. I feel a deep sense of disillusionment with this country, which has taken so many lives through lies and fabrications.”

Ariel placed the staff back in her arms. As if she had no intention of harming Luna. No, as if it wasn’t even worth it.

“I cannot forgive this country that took everything from me, nor the Imperial Family that drove Kyle, who devoted himself to the peace of the north, to his death with their pointless ambitions. But…”

Swallowing her rising emotions, she bit her lip.

“…What I can’t forgive the most is myself… for resenting the Count, William, and their family without knowing anything.”

The image of William, whom she had hated and resented so much, desperately trying to save Kyle, flashed in her mind, forcing Ariel to hold back her tears.

‘I’m so sorry, William…’

Until now, Ariel had thought William had forgotten Kyle. But the moment she saw the man who had become the new head of the Ruelberta family after William’s death, she realized William had never forgotten Kyle.

And now, having confirmed Kyle’s final moments, Ariel understood that William had also never forgotten Kyle’s promise.

“…I have no right to condemn Your Majesty.”

“……”

“Nor do I have the right to take Your Majesty’s life.”

“Then what… what am I supposed to do now…?”

The dignity of the Emperor was gone from Luna’s voice. All that remained was a clumsy girl, consumed by guilt, unsure of what to do.

“How can I atone for my father’s sins…? How can I wash away that guilt?”

“I don’t know.”

“What…?”

“Whatever Your Majesty does now, the sins committed by the previous Emperor won’t disappear. All those people won’t come back to life.”

“Then, then…?”

“But at the very least, a sincere apology is necessary. Your Majesty must already know, right? That there are still people we need to apologize to.”

“……!”

“That’s all we can do now. Whether they forgive us is up to them.”

At Ariel’s words, Luna bowed her head, her face pale.

The thought of having to apologize to Tristan, whom she had considered her mortal enemy, must have been terrifying for her.

Whether he would accept her apology, after all the contempt and disdain she had shown him, was uncertain.

“Then let’s call for help.”

Ariel brushed off her knees and stood up.

“If we don’t want to live the rest of our lives in regret without even apologizing.”

—

*Crackle.*

When I opened my eyes, I was standing in the middle of that nightmare-like day.

“Save me!”

“I don’t want to die!”

“Please! I’ll do anything, just spare my life!”

“My children are waiting for me back home! Please stop!”

The Imperial soldiers, thrown alive into the fire by Aslan. They each pleaded before falling into the pit of flames. But the members of Aslan, who were like puppets, had no intention of listening to their pleas.

“It’s hot! Ah! It’s hot!”

“Ah! God!”

“Someone help meeee!”

Turning my eyes away from that horrifying scene…

“Fun, isn’t it?”

A man in a black coat… Aidan Ruelberta was smiling as he watched the pit of fire.

“Those who were killing innocent northerners just moments ago are now begging for their lives when it’s their turn.”

With his neatly combed hair, he was quite handsome in appearance. Unlike William or Tristan, who had more androgynous features, Aidan exuded a more masculine aura. If he smiled, many women would likely find him attractive.

But seeing Aidan, with such an appearance, genuinely enjoying the sight of people burning was utterly chilling.

“Surely they never thought they’d end up the same. But what’s even more amusing…”

Aidan pointed with his staff, grinning…

“Ruelberta! We’ll curse you even in death! We’ll curse all of you…!”

“Die, die, dieeee!”

“His Majesty will kill every last one of you!”

“May you all be cursed and die! The Ruelberta family!”

The Imperial soldiers, burning alive, were hurling curses. Their resentment and hatred were as fierce as the flames.

Even as their skin melted in agony, they shouted with the sole determination to curse. Though it was just a phantom of the past, their gazes seemed directed at us.

“Every human is born with a spark of anger. Look at the flames of anger they’ve ignited in their final moments. Isn’t it beautiful? The way they rage and rage until the very end.”

Even as he was showered with curses and resentful gazes, Aidan still wore a smile on his face.

“But our Ruelberta family’s ‘wrath’ surpasses even that. The ‘wrath’ we possess is more ferocious than any flame, and it has never been extinguished.”

Aidan looked at me. In his eyes, there was a blazing fire.

“Our family began with ‘wrath,’ Tristan.”

“Don’t make me laugh.”

Shaking off the cursed gazes, I barely managed to speak.

“The Ruelberta family could have been happy like everyone else. They could have been saved.”

“Then do you know the meaning behind the name Ruelberta?”

“What…?”

I was left speechless by Aidan’s sudden question.

“Ruelberta is a name with a profound meaning. Yes, in the demonic tongue, it means this. Agrita vie Yudiba… Agrita vie Mementia…”

The phrase he sang out sounded elegant. But the meaning it carried was a terrible curse.

“‘Born in wrath… and destined to die in wrath…’ Truly despairing, but that is our fate… Tristan.”

“?!”

Suddenly, blood began to flow from Aidan’s mouth.

In the blink of an eye, the location changed.

I was in the Ruelberta family’s study. In the dimly lit room, I had somehow taken on William’s form.

And the sword in my hand had pierced Aidan’s chest.

It must have been the moment when William, driven mad by wrath, killed Aidan.

“Now you understand…?”

Aidan looked at his son, who had stabbed him with a sword, and muttered in a dry voice.

“The only thing that can save us from ‘wrath’ is an even ‘greater wrath.’”

 

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