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A considerable amount of time had passed, but Lucy still remembered him vividly.

-How amusing.

The voice that broke the silence of the audience chamber was devoid of emotion.

When Lucy looked up, she saw a nobleman with long black hair that reached his shoulders standing there. His intelligent and neat face, beautiful obsidian eyes, and the aura of dignity around him made it clear that he was no ordinary man.

And even young Lucy knew who he was.

William Ruelberta, the head of the Ruelberta Family, known as the most feared man in the country and said to wield power surpassing even the Imperial Family. He coldly looked down at Maxime, who had just breathed his last, and muttered.

-Is your child precious to you?

Lucy touched her left chest.

Maxime had stabbed her chest with a dagger. The blood that had flowed from her chest still pooled on the floor.

It was undoubtedly a wound that should have led to death. But her chest had completely healed, leaving only a scar.

It was the effect of the unique magic passed down through the Meikhael Family—the “Miracle of Certain Life.” A magic that could only be used once in a lifetime, it was a miracle of both certain life and certain death.

Maxime had killed, revived, and killed again his only daughter, Lucy, on William’s orders.

Lucy looked up at William, who had driven her father to his death. She engraved the image of that wicked man in her mind so she would never forget.

You killed our father. I can’t forgive you. I will never forgive you.

There were many things she wanted to say to him, filled with hatred. But the words that actually came out of Lucy’s mouth were far from hatred.

-Are you… going to kill me too?

Lucy was weak. At that moment, the fear of being killed by such a man outweighed the hatred she felt for the man who had killed her father.

William, who had boldly marched into the Imperial Palace and killed even the Imperial Guard Knights and the Emperor. She was afraid of him. So afraid that she thought she might go mad. It was a despicable thing, but she wanted to live. She wanted to survive in that slaughterhouse by any means necessary.

But William gave no answer to Lucy’s fearful question. He simply looked down at Maxime’s lifeless body.

Eventually, William flicked his finger. At that, the maids guarding him all disarmed themselves. As if it was all over now.

William left, leaving Lucy, who was sitting helplessly, behind. His retreating figure, disappearing into the darkness, seemed somehow hollow.

That was Lucy’s last memory of William.

*

For several days, Lucy and Luna did not step out of the barracks that Ariel had prepared for them.

The reason for this seclusion was, of course, because they had learned the truth.

That day… at the Castle of the Duke, the two had witnessed the truth of the “Autumn Tragedy.”

The truth was utterly devastating.

Until now, it had been believed that their father, the late Emperor Maxime Meikhael, had tried to prevent the tragedy. But that was a complete fabrication. In fact, Maxime had been the one who caused the tragedy.

The truth was so brutal that they wanted to turn away from it.

Kyle, the Duke of the Frontier, who had refused Maxime’s orders, had been framed and met a gruesome end.

Even now, they could hear the screams of the innocent northerners being burned alive by the Imperial Army.

The North had not been destroyed by demons. It had been thoroughly ravaged by the Imperial Army and perished amidst their screams.

And in that tragedy, the two had witnessed the life of a man who had gone mad.

Their father’s enemy, the man she could never forgive… William Ruelberta. Until now, her hatred for the Ruelberta Family had been entirely because of that man.

In her heart, Maxime had been an unjust victim, and William had been the mastermind behind the tragedy.

But the truth was the opposite.

Having witnessed Maxime’s true nature before their eyes, Lucy and Luna were deeply shocked. The man they had believed to be a caring father and a fair emperor was, in fact, a despicable human being. It took them several days to come to terms with that fact.

And today, having finally made up her mind, she went to see Tristan.

“A story…?”

Tristan crossed his legs and sat across from her. It was an arrogant attitude to take in front of the Emperor, but strangely, it didn’t seem arrogant when he did it. It just seemed natural. It must have been second nature for him to be above others.

“Yes… I have wronged you until now.”

“Wronged…?”

He looked at her with a chin resting on his hand, his attitude dripping with arrogance.

Luna unconsciously avoided his gaze. She simply couldn’t bring herself to look at his face.

“Didn’t you see it too? The truth of this country that has been hidden until now… The atrocities committed by the previous generation… Didn’t you see it all?”

“……”

“My father committed unforgivable acts. The ‘Autumn Tragedy’ is an atrocity that this country can never condone. No matter what reasons are given, it cannot be justified. It is a massacre and an unforgivable sin. As the daughter of a man who committed such acts, it is only natural that I cannot be free from that responsibility… So I will apologize to you.”

“I don’t know where your usual dignified demeanor has gone.”

Though Tristan’s face was not visible, his voice carried a mocking tone towards her.

“It feels like just the other day you were desperate to kill me.”

“……”

“And now you come to apologize to me?”

“…Yes.”

“Don’t you think it’s too late?”

“……”

At that remark, Luna bowed her head.

She had expected this level of humiliation.

Luna and Lucy had decided who would go to apologize to Tristan.

For the Emperor to bow her head to a subject was a humiliating act. The one who volunteered for this was none other than Luna.

After all, it was Luna who had been pushing Tristan until now. She judged that if she, the de facto Emperor, did not bow her head to Tristan, it would be meaningless.

But no matter how dignified Emperor Luna was, in front of Tristan, she was treated like a child.

“Luna Meikhael. Answer me.”

“I…”

She was about to say she didn’t know, but she stopped. Not knowing was no excuse.

After all, Tristan had also been unaware of William’s past. Yet Luna had condemned and vilified him.

She had certainly played a part in branding Tristan as a villain in this country.

“…I won’t make any more excuses. I know it’s already too late. So I won’t ask for your forgiveness.”

Luna finally raised her head.

“The Empire is finished. I am not qualified to rule this country. Therefore, I intend to hand this country over to you.”

“…What?”

“Hmph… You would be able to rule this country as you please. Perhaps that would be better than me ruling it.”

Luna smiled bitterly.

At least for the last time, she would not grovel like the Emperor of this country.

“I hope my death can serve as some form of apology to you and many others.”

As soon as those words ended, Luna pulled out a knife from her bosom. The same knife that Maxime had used to kill her long ago, his keepsake.

She had chosen to commit suicide as an act of apology.

That was the conclusion Lucy and Luna had reached.

This country had committed atrocities, killing far too many people. Not only that, but it had also created a hideous false history to hide those atrocities. Truly, it deserved to die a hundred times over.

Just as Luna was about to plunge the knife into her chest…

“Don’t do anything foolish.”

Tristan grabbed her wrist tightly.

“Why… are you stopping me?”

“Do you think people will think well of me if you die in my carriage?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve already left a will for those who follow me. You won’t be implicated in any trouble.”

“You know one thing but not the other. Do you think they’ll believe your will as it is? They’ll surely claim I forged it and brand me as the Emperor’s assassin.”

“N-no! They will believe my letter and follow it! They won’t mind if you rule this country-.”

“Have you forgotten? I am the worst noble in this country, a villain who will resort to any scheme for power. Didn’t you teach them that? If I say I will rule this country, they will surely follow.”

“Ugh?!”

Luna finally dropped the knife she was holding.

“Then what… should I do? How can I apologize to you and everyone else?”

“There is no such way in this world.”

“!”

“Seeking forgiveness from the dead is impossible.”

Everything Tristan said was true. Seeking forgiveness from the dead was indeed impossible.

“But I do understand that you are apologetic enough to take your own life.”

Tristan said while still holding Luna’s wrist.

“Since I just saved your life, your life is now mine. You can no longer die as you please. Understood?”

“…Are you keeping me alive to humiliate me?”

She had overlooked one thing. Tristan was not an easy man to deal with.

Luna couldn’t shake off his grip.

He had no intention of letting her go. His plan was to keep her in torment as long as she lived.

“Fine… Do as you will. I am as good as dead now. You can torture me or make me a slave. Do as you wish.”

“…That might be good.”

Tristan grabbed Luna’s chin and examined her face as if appraising her.

“Indeed, it would be a waste to make you a slave. You’re rebellious and need a lot of etiquette training, but I could make you obedient in about a month.”

“……”

Luna tightly closed her eyes.

If she, the Emperor, were to be reduced to a slave of this wicked man… Just imagining it was horrifying. The thought of being trained to suit his perverse tastes made her think that dying earlier might have been better.

But the words that reached her ears were completely different from what she expected.

“However, I have no such hobbies.”

“Huh?! Wh-what…?!”

“I said I have no such hobbies.”

Tristan released her wrist and sat back down.

“I have no reason to sit on the throne in your place or to rule this country. It’s just a bother to me.”

“But still…! I have committed grave wrongs…!”

“Those were your father’s deeds, not yours.”

Luna swallowed hard.

“B-but I condemned you! I accused you of things you didn’t do…!”

“Yes. You should apologize for that. I’m just saying you don’t need to apologize with your life.”

Tristan seemed calm as he spoke.

It didn’t seem like he was lying, and there was a sincerity in his words, as if he was speaking from the heart.

“Then was that why you did it back then too?”

Luna asked in a trembling voice.

“You didn’t let Ariel kill me back then. Don’t you hate me? Don’t you resent me and the Imperial Family? Why did you stop me from dying?”

“Death is nothing but an escape. If you truly want to apologize, choose a method other than death. If you look hard enough, you’ll find a way to apologize. That’s all I can say to you.”

Perhaps, as Tristan said, she had been trying to escape. From all that responsibility.

“I see… You’ve taught me a good lesson.”

“If you really can’t think of anything, you can become my slave. I’ll teach you a way to apologize deeply.”

“Ugh?! Y-you… What are you saying?!”

“It’s a joke.”

Tristan chuckled and picked up a strategy map beside him.

“If you understand, then leave. I’m a busy man.”

“…You are a mysterious man.”

Suddenly, Luna muttered.

The man she had defined as evil and condemned.

The man she had thought must disappear for the future of this country, Tristan, now somehow felt reliable.

Before coming here, Luna had been prepared to die. But now, for some reason, her heart felt light. She hadn’t been forgiven, but she felt like she could see a glimmer of an answer.

As if her feelings were of no concern, Tristan clicked his tongue.

“…Has your address for me changed from ‘you’ to ‘you, sir’? It’s hard to get used to when you say it like that.”

“…Hmph. It’s my heart’s desire to call you whatever I want.”

Luna quickly flipped her robe over.

If she hadn’t, he would have seen her flushed face.

“I will go now.”

“Good. Leave quickly.”

The two had returned to their usual selves as if nothing had happened. And the moment Luna opened the door… she froze in place.

“Oh my…?”

A silver-haired woman was standing at the door.

It was Princess Bella Izakhel.

Meeting her at the worst possible timing, Bella narrowed her eyes as she saw Luna’s hair peeking out from under her robe.

“…A woman?”

“N-no…”

Flustered by Bella, Luna tried to back away to escape from this place. But she was caught by a tall woman behind her.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“L-let go…! I, I am… N-no. I am…!”

“Well done, Blanshe. I don’t know who that is, but if they’re trying to run away, they must have something to hide.”

“That’s not it…! Let go of this first…”

“You look suspicious. What were you two doing alone in the carriage?”

“That’s…”

“No need for excuses, let’s see your face.”

“W-wait!”

Without giving Luna a chance to stop her, Bella mercilessly pulled off her robe. And when she saw the face revealed underneath, she was shocked.

“…Y-your Majesty?!”

 

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