Chapter 10

Back at the palace, Alice frowned at Ena’s mischievous smirk.

 

“Did you enjoy your date?”

 

“What date?”

 

“Oh, are you shy already?”

 

Alice didn’t feel like correcting whatever fantasy Ena was spinning, so she simply flopped onto the bed. It had been a long, eventful day.

 

‘Still, Edwin said he’d save Michael.’

 

Nothing felt as reassuring or reliable as Edwin’s help.

 

‘Michael, just wait a little longer… and Evan, don’t worry.’

 

Edwin would rescue him soon!

 

The image of Evan’s tearful face flickered in her mind. Thinking of him losing his brother made her heart ache.

 

“How do you use this gun?”

 

Meanwhile, on one side of the room, Ena was inspecting Alice’s custom-made weapon, asking how to operate it. Alice didn’t answer.

 

‘But what kind of wish is Edwin planning to ask for?’

 

She let Ena’s voice drift through one ear and out the other as she pondered.

 

She couldn’t predict it at all.

 

A wish Edwin would ask of her?

 

What if he asked for her heart?

 

But the ‘heart’ wasn’t something she could just give away on command; it didn’t move according to her will.

 

What if he asked her to stay by his side?

 

She was already by his side anyway…

 

‘Could it be… marriage?’

 

No, surely not.

 

Blood rushed to Alice’s face at an alarming rate. As her imagination spiraled toward him proposing, she violently kicked the blanket. “Aaagh! Aaagh!”

 

“Goodness! What is wrong with you all of a sudden?!”

 

Ena, who had been focused on the fascinating new weapon, jumped in shock at Alice’s sudden fit.

 

“I just got so embarrassed thinking about something!”

 

Alice blurted out her inner thoughts without thinking. Ena, trying to piece together the context of the sudden outburst, asked, “Hmm… were you thinking about something… naughty?”

 

“That’s not actually that embarrassing,” Alice said firmly. She had long since grown accustomed to those kinds of fantasies.

 

Returning to the main point, Alice felt like she was losing her mind. What if Edwin really asked for her hand in marriage as his wish?

 

“What if that’s really it…?”

 

After hearing the whole story—minus the part about Michael’s kidnapping—Ena looked at her as if she were worrying over nothing.

 

“Then you just get married.”

 

“Is that really such an easy decision to make?”

 

“Don’t you two like each other?”

 

“That’s…”

 

Alice hesitated. Did she like Edwin?

 

She did like him.

 

In fact, she had liked him since she first read the future through her powers.

 

But that was the kind of affection one felt for a fictional character or an idol—not necessarily romantic love or pining. She hadn’t thought of it as a romantic attraction… at least, not until he confessed his feelings to her.

 

“Do you still not know your own feelings?”

 

Ena saw right through her. Seeing Alice’s nose twitch, she knew her intuition was correct. Ena sat down on the bed next to Alice and spoke seriously.

 

“Then it’s simple. Just imagine what it would be like to kiss the Young Lord—Ack!”

 

Ena tumbled off the bed and onto the floor as Alice suddenly punched her arm.

 

“How could I imagine that! I’m too embarrassed!”

 

“And you hit me for that?!”

 

“Oh, right. Sorry. Did it hurt?”

 

“My Lady, does the Imperial Palace provide workers’ comp? The Duchy did… I think my arm is broken.”

 

“I didn’t hit you that hard.”

 

Alice eventually helped the fallen Ena up. Despite her exaggeration, Ena was perfectly fine. She grumbled while glaring at Alice.

 

“Don’t pretend you don’t like him.”

 

“When did I ever do that?”

 

“If you’re too embarrassed to even imagine it, it means you like him. Your face is already bright red.”

 

Like a teasing older sister, Ena lightly poked Alice’s burning cheek with her finger. Alice protested the definitive tone.

 

“Is that really proof?”

 

“How much proof do you need for a feeling?”

 

Seeking proof for a feeling… it did sound a bit contradictory. Seeing Alice shut her mouth with a speechless expression, Ena gave a sly smile.

 

“If imagining it is too hard, go see him again. And if you still can’t imagine it even when you see him…”

 

Ena trailed off, letting out a low chuckle.

 

“What, are you going to tell me to just go for it in person?”

 

“You’re quick on the uptake for things like this.”

 

Her face turning crimson again, Alice couldn’t contain her embarrassment and slapped Ena’s arm once more.

 

“Ow!”

 

Ena tumbled over again just like before. This time, Alice didn’t help her up, choosing instead to bury herself in the bed.

 

 

***

 

Today, Alice was warming up at the private hunting grounds while waiting for Edwin.

 

“I wonder when Edwin will get here…”

 

She kept glancing toward the entrance. Edwin was busy handling the Duke’s paperwork at the palace, making him hard to see.

 

However, Alice absolutely had to see him today for several reasons. Despite being exhausted from wandering around all day yesterday, she forced herself out to the hunting grounds for this very purpose.

 

A short while later, she spotted Edwin walking toward her with a face as cold as an ice statue.

 

“Edwin!”

 

Alice greeted him with a brighter smile than ever before.

 

“Edwin, good morning.”

 

“Yeah, good morning.”

 

The moment Edwin spotted her, a charming smile spread across his face. Seeing that smile, Alice faltered mid-greeting.

 

‘In a situation like this…’

 

Her heart went *thump-thump*. Her heart pounded uncontrollably every time she saw that face. Feeling embarrassed by her own simple-mindedness, she cut straight to the chase.

 

“Edwin… how is the investigation into Michael going?”

 

This was the question that had kept Alice awake since the early hours of the morning.

 

Seeing her blue eyes shimmering with anxiety, Edwin’s eyes momentarily darkened with jealousy, but he skillfully masked it.

 

“The outline is mostly clear.”

 

Actually, it wasn’t just an “outline.”

 

Edwin had already discovered overnight that Michael was in the Emperor’s hands, where he was being held, and exactly how he was being treated.

 

However, the fact that Alice’s first words to him were about Michael Elga irritated him to the point of a sinking mood.

 

No, it wasn’t just a shallow irritation.

 

A dark inner voice, fueled by a feeling of being gnawed at from within, whispered to him: “Why not find him and kill him before the Emperor does?”

 

Despite his promise to her, his heart kept leaning toward the urge to eliminate Michael Elga.

 

But Edwin didn’t show it. This wasn’t a promise he had made to himself.

 

It was a promise to Alice.

 

Edwin took her innocent promise and swallowed it whole. Like a monster waiting under a fruit tree for the perfect moment to catch the falling fruit.

 

Even though he hadn’t eaten anything, he felt a phantom sweetness in his mouth, as if he had just bitten into a ripe fruit.

 

“That’s a relief.”

 

Unaware of his inner thoughts, Alice was simply happy to hear there was progress. She then asked with a tense face, “…Then, do you know who it is?”

 

“I haven’t confirmed it for certain yet, but it should be clear very soon.”

 

“I see…”

 

She was slightly disappointed but didn’t let it show. If she had tried to find Michael’s whereabouts on her own, she would have been lost and helpless, stuck waiting for news.

 

“Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”

 

Edwin comforted her gently. Alice felt grateful to him. At the same time, she firmly resolved that if he brought Michael back safely, she would grant him any wish.

 

‘But what if he really proposes?’

 

Alice’s face heated up again at the thought. Why was she thinking about that at a time like this!

 

To hide her flustered state, she deliberately stroked the horse beside her and spoke boastfully.

 

“Oh, by the way, I’m getting really good at riding now. Want to see?”

 

Without waiting for his answer, she put her foot in the stirrup and hopped onto the saddle.

 

“Impressive.”

 

Edwin praised her as she sat steadily atop the horse. A small glint of surprise showed in his red eyes beneath his long lashes. Alice shrugged and laughed at the sincerity in his voice. Hehe.

 

This was the result of many mental rehearsals while watching knights ride from her window.

 

“But Edwin…”

 

“…?”

 

“Could you… help me down? I haven’t learned how to get off yet…”

 

Alice said sheepishly. Edwin approached and easily caught her body as she descended. Alice was amazed at how effortlessly he caught her. While still in his arms, she asked, “Am I not heavy?”

 

“Not at all. You’re light as a feather. You need to eat more.”

 

True to his word, Edwin lifted her up and down as if she truly were a feather. A flash of worry and anxiety crossed his gaze as he looked at her. She was so fragile, it felt as though she might break if he gripped her too hard.

 

“Being this light makes you vulnerable to illness. I made sure the prescribed diet was correct; perhaps the chef measured the portions wrong.”

 

Edwin spoke, recalling the time Alice had fallen seriously ill. Alice’s eyes went wide. What did he mean, prescribed diet?

 

‘I did think there was an unusual amount of meat lately…’

 

Could it be that Edwin had been tampering with her meals?

 

“I’ll have to tell them to increase the portions further.”

 

She was right. He had been managing her diet.

 

“No! My current portions are plenty! If I eat any more, I’ll literally burst and die.”

 

She figured he could only say such things because he didn’t see her eat. Alice waved her hands in protest.

 

“Die?”

 

Burst and die?

 

Edwin’s face stiffened at her exaggerated expression. His gaze became serious. Just how small was her stomach that she would burst from those portions?

 

However, looking at the small, slender woman in his arms, he found himself forced to accept that possibility.

 

“I understand.”

 

Edwin nodded.

 

Alice felt a deep sense of relief at his easy compliance. Leaving food behind was a grave sin—at least, according to her personal creed as a food lover.

 

 

***

 

 

Time passed, and there were only four days left until the end of the Water Spirit Festival. It had been three days since Michael’s disappearance.

 

‘What should I do?’

 

What if something happened to Michael in the meantime?

 

…What if he died?

 

Edwin said there was no way he would die, but how could he be so sure when they didn’t know his exact location? Alice felt the time slipping away, and her anxiety grew.

 

“My Lady, it’s time to get ready to—is something bothering you?”

 

Ena, who had come in to tell her it was time to leave, looked puzzled at Alice’s expression. Alice shook her head. She didn’t want to infect Ena with her worries.

 

Furthermore, since the Emperor was the prime suspect, it was dangerous to mention this to anyone other than Edwin. If this news reached the wrong ears, it would likely get back to the Emperor immediately.

 

“We’re going to be late.”

 

Alice stood up from the bed. Ena looked at the box containing the Spirit Stone with dissatisfaction.

 

“Why do we have to leave the Spirit Stone behind? It seems safer for you to keep it with you, My Lady.”

 

“The members of the Imperial family who were hit by that gust of wind complained. They said if something like that happens again, it will interfere with the ceremony.”

 

The Ritual of Offering, one of the festival’s scheduled events, was a ceremony only for the Imperial family, much like the previous banquet. Still, having the Spirit Stone had been oddly reassuring…

 

Alice pouted at the Spirit Stone, which hadn’t spoken since that day.

 

‘Just because I didn’t feed it morning dew for a bit because it was a hassle, it’s going to sulk?’

 

Soon, the maids entered the room to help her dress. Alice tilted her head as she looked at the unique design of the garment they brought.

 

It was an entirely white dress, looking much like a bride’s wedding gown.

 

“What kind of outfit is this?”

 

One of the maids helping her answered.

 

“It is a custom-made garment for today’s ritual. Everyone participating in the offering wears white like this.”

 

“Really? Is there a reason?”

 

“Since it is a ritual offered to the gods, one must show a pure appearance to honor them. This is for the spirits, but the procedure is the same.”

 

“Does the Duchy of Wigmund have such a custom?”

 

“Not as far as I know.”

 

Alice swallowed a sigh. Ena, standing behind her, seemed to be thinking the same thing as she let out a quiet breath.

 

‘The Emperor is really going all out.’

 

Not content with splitting the festival into two parts, he was forcing his own rituals into the schedule. It was a blatant display of power, showing that the Duchy was firmly under the thumb of the Imperial family—or more accurately, the Emperor.

 

She didn’t feel comfortable participating in a ritual so heavy with political intent; she would have preferred to stay in her room.

 

Despite her feelings, Alice finished dressing and put on her outer coat. Since almost all members of the Imperial family were attending, it was impossible for her to be the only one absent.

 

Once ready, she boarded the carriage as usual.

 

Edwin was busy today, so other knights were handling the escort.

 

Without Edwin there, Alice’s anxiety felt even more acute. It felt as though something was about to happen.

 

 

***

 

 

The ritual for the Spirit Festival began in a sanctuary specially prepared within the Imperial Palace. Since the ceremony was strictly for members of the Imperial family, Alice stood awkwardly in the crowd, a stranger among her own kin. She barely spoke, offering only polite nods to the occasional relative who greeted her.

 

From the moment she woke up until she arrived here, a strange sense of dread had been gnawing at her.

 

‘I wish Edwin were here.’

 

Today, his absence felt particularly heavy.

 

After a short wait, the high priests in charge of the Imperial rites appeared. They were dressed in plain, snow-white robes, carrying ornate staves and ceremonial swords.

 

‘Are they going to slaughter an ox with those swords?’ Alice wondered.

 

Traditionally, Imperial sacrifices began with the slaughter of an ox that had been raised on premium grass by professional herdsmen for ten years. But even as time passed, no ox appeared. The nobles began to whisper in confusion.

 

“How strange. Shouldn’t the ox be stationed at the altar by now?”

 

“Indeed. What is going on?”

 

A moment later, the Emperor, having received a whisper from a servant, nodded with a satisfied smirk.

 

“Today, I have prepared a very special sacrifice for this rite.”

 

He raised a hand adorned with glittering rings and signaled to the high priest. The priest entered the inner sanctum and dragged out a man.

 

Alice’s heart hammered against her ribs. A frantic, irregular pulse thundered in her ears. The man was dragged onto the altar, bound in heavy iron chains. He looked as though he had already lost consciousness.

 

Alice’s blue eyes widened in horror. The ‘sacrifice’ lying on the altar was…

 

‘Michael.’

 

Seeing his frail state—looking as if his breath might stop at any moment—Alice’s heart sank.

 

“Your Majesty, that man is…”

 

Grand Duke Wigmund looked up at the altar in shock. The man lying there possessed a face so handsome it seemed carved by a god, yet his complexion was deathly pale.

 

The Emperor grinned at the gathered royals. “Have you ever heard of a Holy Power possessor?”

 

“Gasp…! Could it be him?”

 

The Emperor’s smile deepened as he watched the shock on their faces. One of the royals spoke up: “But wasn’t Holy Power lost three hundred years ago?”

 

The Emperor replied arrogantly, “I thought so as well. But is he not right before your eyes?”

 

“Beautiful silver hair and such refined features… it is no exaggeration to say he is blessed by the gods.”

 

The royals marveled at Michael’s beauty. Alice felt a cold sweat break out; she felt weak, as if the strength had been drained from her limbs. No one else seemed to find it strange that a human being was being offered as a sacrifice.

 

Alice’s lips trembled as she spoke. “Your… Your Majesty. Is it not morally wrong to use a person as a sacrificial offering?”

 

The Emperor’s gaze shifted to her. Alice flinched as their eyes met. His eyes were already consumed by madness.

 

“Normally, yes… but this time is an exception, child.”

 

The affectionate tone, slurred by intoxication, felt more terrifying than any threat. Alice knew her expression was hardening into a mask of horror, but she couldn’t hide it.

 

“Oh, dear. Are you upset that I kept such a fine prize for myself?” the Emperor asked with a wider grin.

 

“……No.”

 

“Haha, I know your heart, child. Just wait a little longer. I shall give you a wonderful gift.”

 

A gift? Alice couldn’t even guess what it was, but she wanted nothing to do with it.

 

Before she could speak, the Emperor signaled the eldest priest, who brought over two goblets of what appeared to be wine. He handed one to the Emperor and one to Alice. Dazed, she took the glass, unable to tear her eyes away from it. A chilling, ominous wind seemed to blow through her soul.

 

“This is a truly precious draught,” the Emperor’s voice drifted over her, thick with excitement.

 

Alice cautiously brought the glass to her nose. It smelled of rich grapes, like ordinary wine.

 

‘Was I overthinking?’

 

Perhaps the gift was simply a high-quality vintage. Even as she tried to convince herself, she couldn’t bring herself to take a sip. She looked closer. The liquid was too dark to be mere wine—it had a murky, reddish tint.

 

As if it were mixed with blood.

 

“If you drink this, you will experience a miracle,” the Emperor smiled.

 

“What kind of… miracle?”

 

Alice felt a surge of nausea as she realized what he was about to say. An insult clawed at the back of her throat.

 

‘You crazy old man.’

 

“It is the elixir of eternal youth.”

 

“……Did you draw Michael’s blood?”

 

“Hmm, so you already knew him?”

 

It was as good as a confession. Alice felt a violent impulse to throw the wine in the Emperor’s face. The Emperor looked at Michael with blurry, unfocused eyes.

 

“I thought he looked familiar. He’s the one.”

 

He remembered that Michael had been her first debutante partner. A strange light flickered in his dull gold eyes.

 

“Ho? Is this not a marvelous twist of fate?”

 

The Emperor’s smile grew, but Alice couldn’t mirror it. He was suggesting that her bringing Michael to the palace was a blessing from the gods.

 

‘What a load of rubbish.’

 

If such a god existed, the world deserved to end. She wanted to scream at him and rip out his remaining hair, but she suppressed her rage.

 

‘Endure it.’

 

Showing hostility now would ruin any chance of saving Michael. But seeing the Emperor drinking Michael’s blood as if it were a luxury beverage was almost too much to bear.

 

“Your Majesty, if you kill a citizen and use them as a sacrifice, the people will live in terror.”

 

The Emperor laughed as if she had said something absurd. “He is a possessor of Holy Power, a servant of the gods. Should I not help him return to the side of the gods? I am merely doing my duty.”

 

He spoke as if the citizens would understand and respect him for it. Alice was speechless. There was nothing more dangerous than a man who had lost his mind but still clung to his own twisted logic.

 

She realized she couldn’t reason with him. There was only one solution. To save Michael, she had to bring Edwin here.

 

Alice made an excuse that she was feeling unwell and stepped outside, not having touched a drop of the wine. But the man who should have been guarding the entrance was nowhere to be found.

 

‘That’s right… he said he was busy.’

 

Panicked, she realized his absence too late and rushed back into the sanctuary. She had no Spirit Stone and no Edwin, but she couldn’t risk the sacrifice starting while she was gone.

 

Inside, the royals were chatting excitedly, holding the same wine as the Emperor.

 

“Is this really the elixir?”

 

“If it’s the blood of a Holy Power possessor, it must be true! Hahaha!”

 

Alice recoiled in disgust. Not a single person here seemed sane. Her eyes scanned the room until they landed on one man who wasn’t drinking.

 

‘Grand Duke Wigmund.’

 

He held his glass with a look of distaste, a strained smile plastered on his face. Alice approached him like a drowning person reaching for a straw.

 

“Grand Duke, don’t you think this is wrong?”

 

Looking into his hazel eyes, she saw a clear sense of hesitation. He, too, was uncomfortable with this. A ray of hope flickered in Alice’s heart. She couldn’t stop this madness alone, but if the Grand Duke—a powerful figure among the nobles—stood with her, the ritual could be halted.

 

“Using a person as a sacrifice is indeed difficult to understand, both logically and humanely,” the Grand Duke whispered, looking at Michael on the altar.

 

Alice assumed he had been silent only because of the Emperor. “Then please, help me stop this ceremony.”

 

Wigmund struggled to keep his face neutral. The Crown Princess was moving exactly as he had intended, almost too easily. His hazel eyes gleamed like a snake that had just swallowed a large rat, but the moment he made eye contact with her, that predatory look vanished.

 

“How do you propose we do that?”

 

Alice didn’t realize that her very suggestion was part of the Duke’s plan. Relieved that he seemed to agree, she looked at him with newfound admiration. In a room full of blood-drinking monsters, he seemed like an angel.

 

“I’ll tell the Emperor that the sacrifice isn’t in good condition and we should postpone it. While I distract him, you take Michael out of the sanctuary.”

 

“Won’t His Majesty notice?”

 

“He’s very drunk right now. He likely won’t.”

 

Alice glanced at the Emperor. He didn’t look flushed, but his eyes were completely vacant. The Grand Duke finally nodded.

 

Feeling a surge of hope, Alice approached the Emperor.

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

“Haha, child. Have you returned? Have you finally decided you want this elixir?”

 

Alice suppressed her fury. “Actually, the sacrifice looks to be in poor health. It might be better to postpone. Surely the gods prefer a perfect, blemishless offering. A sacrifice with such a sickly face might… invite their wrath instead.”

 

“Hmm……”

 

The Emperor’s hazy face seemed to consider her words. Alice quickly signaled the Grand Duke. But he wasn’t looking at her; he was looking toward the entrance.

 

‘He needs to take Michael now!’

 

She was about to call out to him when a loud shout erupted from where the Duke was looking.

 

“Your Majesty! The Holy Knights have invaded!”

 

The sanctuary descended into chaos. The Imperial guards were pushed back by Holy Knights as they retreated into the room. Acting on an anonymous tip that a Holy Power possessor had been kidnapped, a faction of the knights had infiltrated the palace under the Pope’s orders. They had chosen this moment to strike.

 

The Imperial guards were overwhelmed by the unexpected assault. The royals, terrified by the intruders, fled toward the back of the sanctuary in a panic.

 

“Protect His Majesty!” the Grand Duke commanded. His knights formed a protective circle around the Emperor.

 

Alice noticed something strange about the Duke’s calm demeanor.

 

‘He looks as if he’s been waiting for this.’

 

She tried to dismiss the thought, but the unease lingered.

 

“There is no need to protect the Emperor. We have only come to retrieve what was stolen from us.”

 

Alice froze at the familiar voice. The Holy Knights parted, and a man in white papal robes stepped forward.

 

“Those are… the robes of the Pope.”

 

The Emperor, shaken into temporary sobriety by the noise, glared at the man. But the person standing there wasn’t the Pope Gabriel he knew; it was a young man he had never seen before.

 

“Has Gabriel died?” the Emperor demanded.

 

Evan met his gaze with a steady smile, but Alice could see the icy rage in his eyes. She had never seen him this angry.

 

“You needn’t worry about Brother Gabriel. He is merely unwell and resting at the temple.”

 

Evan’s voice was calm yet firm. He looked the Emperor up and down.

 

“It seems the Emperor of Elgorth requires rest as well. Believing in superstitions and drinking an innocent man’s blood—you must be quite ill.”

 

The atmosphere turned frigid. The Emperor began to laugh as if it were all a comedy.

 

“Ho? Do you know where you are standing, boy?!”

 

Evan’s smile vanished. He knew that if he let his emotions take over, more innocent blood would be spilled.

 

“Emperor. Stop this now and release that innocent man, and we shall leave.”

 

“And do you think we would just let you walk away?” The Emperor stroked his white beard, grinning.

 

Alice realized then that to the Emperor, the people of the papacy weren’t humans—they were mere entertainment or insolent animals.

 

“Then, do you intend to fight here?” Evan challenged.

 

Alice realized she had to intervene before things turned deadly.

 

“Your Majesty, fighting the papacy here is a mistake! It’s the festival following a long war. A battle inside the palace will only cause fear and unrest!”

 

“Elizabeth, do you think you have the authority to stop me?”

 

Alice flinched at the eerie, malicious light in the Emperor’s eyes.

 

‘He’s completely gone…’ Logic wouldn’t work on him now. Not on a man who had lost his reason to drugs and madness.

 

“Kill every last intruder,” the Emperor commanded.

 

Immediately, the clash of steel filled the room.

 

Clang!

 

The sanctuary became a battlefield. Alice, hiding in a corner, looked toward Michael. He was still chained and unconscious. She began to creep along the wall toward the altar. With the chaos of the battle and the retreating royals, no one noticed her.

 

She reached Michael, but the Emperor spotted her.

 

“Kill anyone who touches the sacrifice!”

 

‘What?’

 

Alice wanted to ask if he had truly lost his mind, but she already knew the answer.

 

The Imperial guards of the Second Division—the Emperor’s mindless puppets—closed in on her. A knight raised his sword, the sunlight reflecting off the blade with a terrifying glint.

 

Alice closed her eyes tight.

 

‘So this is how I die…’

 

But the pain never came. Instead, a sudden silence fell over the sanctuary.

 

The silence was even more terrifying than the screams. Alice trembled, but she didn’t open her eyes. She was too afraid of what she might see.

 

Then, a presence approached her quietly.

 

“Alice.”

 

The man’s seductive voice drifted over her. Even without opening her eyes, she knew it was Edwin.

 

“I’m sorry. I’m a little late.”

 

She kept her eyes shut and whispered, “Did you save Michael…?”

 

“Yes. He’s in one piece and breathing fine.”

 

She should have felt relieved, but she couldn’t speak. Edwin looked down at her feet. The floor was soaked in a liquid the same color as his eyes. When the knight had tried to kill her, Edwin had eliminated him instantly, forgetting for a moment that she was right there.

 

Edwin leaned down to meet her gaze. “Alice, are you okay?”

 

Feeling his breath against her face, Alice snapped her eyes open. Seeing him so close took her breath away.

 

“I-I’m fine,” she managed to stammer.

 

Edwin smiled, looking satisfied. It was a devastatingly beautiful, alluring smile. For a moment, Alice was mesmerized, but then she looked around.

 

The room was a disaster zone, though the area where she stood was strangely clean. Beyond his shoulder, Evan and the Holy Knights stood with grim expressions. Michael was free of his chains and being held by them, though still unconscious.

 

‘But… where are the Emperor and his people?’

 

There were no bodies. Edwin had ordered his subordinates to clear everything away before she opened her eyes to spare her the sight.

 

“Where did everyone go?” she asked, trembling. Given the amount of blood, it was impossible there were no casualties. She looked up at Edwin.

 

“I sent them where they wanted to go.”

 

If the Emperor wanted eternal life so badly, Edwin had simply sent him to a place where he could never die.

 

Alice realized the truth. The Emperor was dead by Edwin’s hand.

 

Edwin reached out to her. As she took his hand and stood up, he gave her a brilliant smile.

 

“I kept my promise. Now, it’s Alice’s turn to keep yours.”

 

 

***

 

 

The Spirit Festival ground to a halt following the Emperor’s death. Every Imperial knight present in the sanctuary had been eliminated. Although the surviving royals and members of the papacy had witnessed the bloodbath, they remained silent.

 

The papacy, having successfully rescued their Holy Power possessor, had no reason to complain. As for the royals…

 

‘How could anyone speak up in front of Edwin…?’

 

Protesting against a man who had slaughtered over a dozen knights and the Emperor in a single breath was no different from asking for death. Having seen his lethal efficiency with their own eyes, they kept their mouths shut. Consequently, rumors began to spread that the Emperor had been struck down by divine punishment for attempting to sacrifice a holy individual. Despite the ignoble circumstances of his death, he had ruled for thirty years, so a large-scale state funeral was prepared.

 

‘It’s only been a month.’

 

Alice looked troubled as she realized the deaths of both the Duke and the Emperor had occurred barely a month apart—and both at the hands of the same man.

 

Meanwhile, the Holy Knights quietly returned to the temple with Michael. However, Evan and a small escort remained at the palace. Ever the principled man, Evan insisted on apologizing for entering the palace without official notice, even if it had been to rescue a kidnapped comrade.

 

Alice, acting as a temporary regent in the Emperor’s absence, invited Evan to the Crown Prince’s palace. She waited for him alone in the drawing room, sipping tea. Soon, Evan entered, dressed in his priestly robes.

 

“Evan!” Alice rose, greeting him warmly.

 

“Your Highness, it is good to see you again.” Conscious of the guarding knight, Evan used her formal title. He then bowed deeply. “I cannot find the words to thank you enough. You saved Michael. I don’t know how I can ever repay this debt.”

 

“Raise your head and please, sit down, Evan. I didn’t do much. If you feel indebted, repay Edwin.”

 

“I see. I shall do so.”

 

As he sat, Evan’s green eyes clouded with a complex emotion. Alice understood that look better than anyone.

 

‘I know that feeling…’

 

To save a brother, he had accepted help, but that help resulted in the deaths of others. Given Evan’s nature, he couldn’t simply rejoice over such a violent outcome. Alice, too, felt a strange weight in her heart whenever she thought of the blood Edwin had spilled for her sake.

 

“How is Michael?”

 

“A bit anemic, but otherwise stable. Elian’s wounds were deep, but he survived thanks to Holy Power. It’s a miracle.”

 

“I’m so glad things worked out.” Alice breathed a sigh of relief. Being a Holy Power possessor seemed to grant a remarkably fast recovery.

 

“This was all my responsibility,” Evan said, rubbing his tired face. “I should have protected Michael at the temple from the start.”

 

“I think it’s time you told me everything, Evan.”

 

Evan’s eyes flickered with conflict, but he finally sighed. “Taking down Gabriel, who held the papacy for thirty years, was no easy feat. Many were sacrificed. I almost gave up under the weight of that guilt, but eventually, I ended up in this position. Yet, the papacy remains dangerous. I’ve been Pope for less than a year, and Gabriel’s followers haven’t been fully purged or won over.”

 

Alice was quick to catch on. “You thought those followers would target Michael?”

 

Evan nodded. “Yes. If they held Michael’s life over me, I would have no choice but to step down. That would mean failing the brothers and sisters who helped me.”

 

“…What did you mean by ‘harm’ earlier?”

 

“Gabriel is a man who can be infinitely cruel for his own benefit.”

 

It was chilling to think that even a place dedicated to the gods was no different from the shark-infested waters of the palace. Evan gave a weak smile, as if reading her thoughts.

 

“But how did you find out Michael was here?” Alice asked.

 

“An anonymous tip. To be honest, Alice, I even learned about the details of this ritual through that same source.”

 

Alice froze. “Wait. That means the informant already knew Michael would be used as the sacrifice?”

 

“Correct.”

 

Alice thought back to the ritual. The shock on the royals’ faces had been genuine; they clearly hadn’t known Michael would be on the altar. If even the high-ranking nobility didn’t know, how did an anonymous informant?

 

There was only one person who hadn’t looked surprised when the Holy Knights stormed in.

 

Valerian Wigmund. There were too many strange things surrounding that man.

 

 

***

 

 

Ena was in a state of total shock after hearing the news from the palace servants. First the Duke, now the Emperor? People were already whispering that the palace was cursed.

 

“This place is cursed! We have to run away, My Lady!”

 

“Calm down, Ena.”

 

“How can you be so calm?!” Ena cried. “The palace people are all suspicious of you!”

 

The Grand Duke’s faction was already demanding Alice be thrown into the dungeon. They weren’t brave enough to point fingers at Edwin, who had actually held the sword, so they targeted Alice as the “mastermind” of the rebellion.

 

‘Well, they aren’t entirely wrong…’

 

Edwin had killed for her, after all. Seeing Alice’s silence, Ena slumped into a chair, looking dejected.

 

“I’ve already taken measures,” Alice explained, trying to soothe her. “The rumors will die down soon.”

 

“What measures?”

 

Alice recalled her meeting with Edwin earlier that morning. He had approached her with a casualness that bordered on terrifying.

 

“Should I just kill them all?” he had asked, offering to hunt down everyone who started or spread the rumor.

 

Alice had realized then that if she didn’t act, something terrible would happen. But she didn’t want another bloodbath.

 

“Can you just… threaten them? Without killing?”

 

Edwin had agreed. And as it turned out, Edwin’s “threats” were the most effective silencers in the empire.

 

“The royals turned out to be quite responsive to force,” Alice told the bewildered Ena. “The effect was… killer.”

 

However, a new problem had surfaced. Alice began having nightmares—distinct from her prophetic visions—where Edwin would step over the corpses of the nobility to hand her the Imperial Crown.

 

“Alice, now this is yours,” he would say in the dream.

 

She would wake up drenched in cold sweat. The problem was that Edwin was exactly the kind of person who could—and would—make that dream a reality.

 

‘Maybe I should just tell Edwin to take the throne himself and I’ll retire,’ she thought. She had no desire for power; she just wanted a peaceful life with good food.

 

Determined, Alice stood up. “I need to see Edwin.”

 

 

***

 

 

In a sun-drenched garden, Alice sat across from Edwin. She was too nervous to even touch the cooling tea on the table.

 

“Edwin, I want to be clear. I have no ambition for the throne. I think there might be a misunderstanding.”

 

Edwin took a slow sip of tea. “I see.”

 

“So… you don’t need to go through all this trouble to put me there.”

 

Edwin smiled. “I was doing it for myself. I don’t like anyone looking down on you from above, Alice.”

 

“…Aha.”

 

Alice didn’t know how to respond to that. She had experienced the helplessness of being powerless during the conflict with the late Duke and Emperor.

 

“Then what should we do, Alice?” Edwin asked. “If you don’t want to be Emperor, I can only think of one other solution.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“If you won’t take the throne, I’ll just kill every high-ranking noble except you. That way, no one will have enough power to stand above you.”

 

He said it with such a handsome, glowing face that Alice felt like crying.

 

“Then what happens to the throne?”

 

“Who would dare sit in a seat that isn’t yours?” His red eyes flashed with a lethal intent.

 

Alice’s face fell.

 

‘How is that any different from me taking the throne?’

 

“Is there… a more peaceful way?”

 

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure they don’t suffer much when they die.”

 

Just then, the palace chef arrived with a spread of lavish desserts. The conversation paused as Alice took a large bite of strawberry cake. Her blue eyes sparkled.

 

“It’s delicious…”

 

For a moment, she thought staying in the palace wouldn’t be so bad if she could eat this every day.

 

‘Alice! Don’t let your stomach rule your head!’

 

She noticed Edwin wasn’t eating.

 

“Aren’t you having any, Edwin? Let’s eat together.”

 

She pushed a plate toward him, but then hesitated.

 

‘Wait, Edwin hates sweets.’

 

Before she could pull the plate back, Edwin caught her hand. “Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

 

He began to eat the cream-covered cake. Alice watched him in a daze. In the original novel, he had once cut off a chef’s hand just because a dish was slightly too sweet. Now, he was eating sugar-heavy cake with a smile.

 

‘Did his tastes change?’

 

Alice felt a wave of guilt. Had he been suffering in silence while watching her eat desserts all this time?

 

“We should eat together more often,” she said firmly.

 

“I’d like that,” Edwin replied, looking genuinely happy.

 

Alice felt even worse. She had judged his tastes without even asking! Meanwhile, Edwin was delighted to have another excuse to spend time with her. He still hated sweets, but for Alice, he could eat far worse things.

 

As the plates were cleared, Alice finally broached the subject she had been dreading.

 

“So… what do you want for your wish, Edwin?”

 

Edwin set down his fork and picked up his tea. His red eyes were unreadable behind his dark lashes. Alice’s heart raced.

 

‘What if he asks for marriage?’

 

Suddenly, her face flushed hot. She didn’t even have Ena there to hit to vent her embarrassment.

 

“Alice,” Edwin said slowly. “Together with me—”

 

“W-wait!” Alice blurted out, cutting him off. Her heart was thumping uncontrollably. The look in his eyes was far too intense.

 

‘This atmosphere is too much!’

 

It felt like a proposal was imminent.

 

‘Marriage is too soon! We need to take things slow!’

 

“Edwin, why don’t you think about it a bit more? Our relationship… it hasn’t quite developed to *that* point yet, has it?”

 

The air in the garden instantly turned cold. Edwin’s eyes darkened significantly. Alice avoided his gaze, panicking.

 

‘Did I say something wrong?’

 

“That point?” Edwin repeated slowly. His red eyes flickered with a turbulent emotion. “Tell me, Alice. What kind of relationship do we have?”

 

He looked… hurt. Alice felt like a criminal. She realized her words might have sounded like a cold rejection.

 

“I-I just mean… marriage is a bit early for us!”