Side Story 3

The Harvest Festival events had concluded successfully, but the capital was still steeped in a festive mood. This was because the celebrations lasted for three days starting from the first day of the harvest. There were exhibitions showcasing all sorts of award-winning produce from regional agricultural competitions, as well as events where people could taste or buy dishes that had won first place in local cooking contests.

 

Additionally, since there was the “Piglet Catching Contest”—a traditional event exclusive to the capital—people spent their day fully occupied with watching various matches and festivities.

 

As night fell, a night market was scheduled to open, drawing in everyone from commoners to nobles. Leticia, naturally, decided to join the crowd.

 

‘A night market!’

 

While night markets were held in Duke Lyon’s fief, the one in the capital was on an entirely different scale. Having met her friends at the harvest ball and promised to hang out with them at the festival the following day, Leticia informed Terdis of her plans. He looked as if he had lost the world.

 

“You’re not going with me?”

 

“I-it’s just for this time! I promise I’ll go to the night market with you, Ter…”

 

Leticia had been so busy catering to Terdis’s whims lately that she hadn’t been able to contact her friends at all. They must have heard the rumors about her involvement and significant role in that incident; she felt guilty for not reaching out to her worried friends.

 

Thus, she had impulsively made a promise to go sightseeing with them the day after the ball. Terdis wore a dissatisfied expression.

 

“Without even consulting me…”

 

“I’m sorry! I’m really sorry… I’ll definitely make it up to you later.”

 

“Hmm?”

 

That “compensation” would likely take place in bed, but Leticia offered her apology nonetheless. Terdis still looked displeased, but he eventually nodded.

 

“…Fine. It’s a promise.”

 

Leticia nodded back, though she worried about what kind of embarrassing thing Terdis might make her do later.

 

 

***

 

 

Unlike the other nobles enjoying the festival, Cesare was immersed in work even on this holiday. While they had prevented the catastrophe of Entinus’ resurrection in the capital with the help of Leticia’s party, he still had to track down how such a thing was even possible.

 

While officials under Cesare’s command traced the owner of the mansion where the ritual site was located, the guards reported finding a mansion filled with monsters.

 

That mansion belonged to Marquis Vincent Larkin. As suspicions of a connection to the Entinus incident grew, those searching the premises succeeded in finding evidence that Marquis Larkin was indeed the owner of the ritual mansion and had ties to the Sachsen Empire.

 

Upon receiving this report, Crown Prince Edward ordered a full-scale investigation into Vincent Larkin—who he associated with, who he met, and who his friends or lovers were.

 

This put Cesare in a difficult position, as he knew his former fiancée had once been Larkin’s mistress. According to their contract, if such information leaked, the House of Valentine would have to pay a massive indemnity to the House of Tesseia.

 

However, the House of Tesseia had no reason to keep quiet. They hadn’t included any clauses in the contract regarding matters that would inconvenience them.

 

The House of Valentine was relying solely on the honor and faith of the House of Tesseia. Because of this, Olga had been unable to act rashly at the previous night’s harvest ball, constantly walking on eggshells around the Tesseia family. It wasn’t just her; the entire Valentine household was on edge.

 

‘I want to avoid causing her harm if possible, but…’

 

The fact that Olga had been dumped because she was Larkin’s lover was known only to members of the Valentine family, Aaron, Cesare, and a few of Aaron’s close associates. Cesare had told Godfrey, but he had kept it a secret from Sebastian.

 

He knew that if Sebastian found out, he would undoubtedly seek retaliation in some form or another.

 

‘It can’t be helped. This is a matter of state.’

 

He didn’t want to personally spite Olga. He felt a slight sense of debt toward her.

 

However, he couldn’t cover this up just because he felt sorry. There was a possibility that Vincent Larkin had extracted information while acting as Olga’s lover.

 

‘They met regularly, but I never mentioned information regarding the Crown Prince or the Imperial Family.’

 

Therefore, he didn’t think Vincent would have gained much through Olga. Furthermore, Duke Valentine was not a key figure in the Imperial court.

 

Of course, thinking this way made him wonder if it would be better not to mention Olga’s relationship with Vincent… but she was royalty. Someone with access to the Imperial Palace. He couldn’t hide it.

 

It hadn’t been confirmed yet what Vincent might have done using Olga.

 

Having made his decision, Cesare immediately sought out the Crown Prince. Edward seemed momentarily flustered by the topic but understood Cesare’s difficult position.

 

 

***

 

 

The Harvest Festival continued for three days. Since the Imperial family held official ceremonies on the first day, that day was traditionally considered a time solely for the commoners. It was rare to see nobles in the streets as most were inside the Imperial Palace.

 

However, on the second day, the nobles also came out to the streets. This was when the atmosphere truly became lively, as nobles tended to spend money freely.

 

Though Olga hadn’t been able to act as boldly as she wished during the Harvest Festival, she was somewhat satisfied. This was because Leticia, rather than acting like the queen of society above her station, was busy playing with her husband.

 

Although several young ladies challenged her position, Olga didn’t think she had defended her status poorly. Even without the title of Cesare’s fiancée, she was confident that she shone brightly.

 

“Are you… Lady Valentine?”

 

Imperial knights approached her just as she was moving to a café after strolling through the festival streets with some acquaintances. They showed the Imperial crest and informed her that Crown Prince Edward was seeking her for urgent official business.

 

“Seeking me? If His Highness calls, of course, I must go.”

 

Though somewhat flustered, Olga asked for the other ladies’ understanding and boarded the carriage brought by the knights. Although she was of royal blood, she was not an intimate relative like the House of Tesseia, so this was her first time riding this particular carriage.

 

‘What could it be?’

 

There was no reason to call Olga for official business. Her father, Duke Valentine, was also a man far removed from politics.

 

‘Could it be Cesare? Did the Crown Prince call me at Cesare’s request?’

 

It was a wild imagination, but her only connection to the Crown Prince was Cesare. The Crown Prince had very few people he considered friends, and Cesare was special to Edward.

 

Olga blamed herself for hoping for Cesare again as she waited to arrive at the palace. It took some time as they had to take a detour due to the festival crowds.

 

She eventually made it into the palace, but the news waiting for her was shocking.

 

“I have obtained information that the Lady was in a romantic relationship with Marquis Larkin.”

 

“Pardon? That… what does that…”

 

Cesare was not present at the interrogation. Crown Prince Edward told her to be grateful he had her brought in privately to save her face, considering her royal blood.

 

“If you are looking for Cesare, he cannot be here. Is he not your former fiancé? As soon as he learned of your involvement, he was removed from this investigation.”

 

While that was actually Cesare’s own request, Edward framed it as if he had forced him out. He thought it would be better for Olga not to misunderstand.

 

“A large number of monsters and mangled corpses were found at the Larkin estate. Marquis Larkin’s body is likely among them.”

 

“……”

 

“I don’t believe the Lady cooperated with him willingly. You were likely unintentional or deceived by him. Everything said in this room will be kept secret, so you have nothing to fear.”

 

The Crown Prince whispered that he would give her one chance for Cesare’s sake and told her to confess everything. Every meeting, every time, every method, and every conversation shared with Vincent Larkin—he ordered her to reveal it all.

 

Having never been treated this way as a member of royalty and a high noblewoman, Olga was furious.

 

The Crown Prince made it sound like Cesare wasn’t the one who provided the information, but with everyone at the Larkin estate dead, the only people who could have leaked it were those from the House of Tesseia!

 

‘Cesare… You stab me in the back like this?!’

 

While outwardly pretending to cooperate quietly with the Crown Prince, she harbored a deep desire for revenge against Cesare and the House of Tesseia.

 

 

***

 

Leticia was delighted to meet her friends after such a long time. Aside from Leticia, only one other among them was married; the rest were all unmarried young ladies. Except for two who had recently broken off their engagements, they all had fiancés.

 

“Where should we go first?”

 

“Let’s just go from the entrance all the way to the end!”

 

“But there are so many forks in the road.”

 

With two married women, six young ladies, plus their escort knights and maids, they had become a large group. They split into two teams and sent the maids off to enjoy the festival separately. Paying for things themselves while wandering the festival was easy enough for them.

 

Leticia basked in the joy of hanging out with friends her age for the first time in a while. The knights escorting them hid their flustered expressions as they recognized familiar faces.

 

‘What are they doing?’

 

Even at a distance, the faces were unmistakable. Among them were the husband of Leticia—the most important person to be escorted—and the fiancés of the other ladies.

 

Terdis, hidden in an alleyway, made eye contact with an escort knight and gestured for him to turn his head away. It was unclear if he understood, but the knight awkwardly averted his gaze.

 

“Do you think we’ve been caught?”

 

“The knights definitely saw us. If they didn’t have that much skill, they’d be disqualified as escorts. As long as Tisha and the other ladies don’t notice, it’s fine.”

 

Terdis, who had appeared to let Leticia go obediently, had been unable to endure it and had bolted out the moment she departed. Knowing he’d face a lightning strike of anger if he were caught following her alone, he had recruited accomplices.

 

They were the fiancés of Leticia’s friends and sons of vassal families. Since Terdis had long ago distanced himself from idiots who badmouthed their wives or fiancées in public, these men shared a similar temperament to his.

 

Outsiders mockingly referred to them as the “Devoted Husbands Club,” but Terdis didn’t find the term embarrassing at all.

 

‘What’s wrong with me loving my wife?’

 

He had no interest in those who made uncomfortable faces at the sentiment. He had enough people to fill his circle without them. These men were also highly capable, as Leticia had carefully vetted them to ensure they were good matches for her friends.

 

“She looks so happy,” Emil murmured, sounding a bit neglected.

 

At this, Terdis also narrowed his eyes and watched Leticia. While he was glad she was having fun with her friends, it was slightly upsetting to see she could be so happy without him.

 

‘But this is unavoidable!’

 

A person couldn’t live their life interacting only with their spouse and blood relatives. As a Young Duke, he knew he had his own social life to maintain.

 

However, separate from logic, his emotions felt slighted.

 

“If we join them now, will we get glared at?”

 

“I’m not exactly not thinking about that, but…”

 

Terdis looked at Leticia’s back with a worried expression. If he did that, the compensation he was promised would surely vanish.

 

“What if we make it look like a coincidence? Like we just happened to run into them while we were here to see the festival.”

 

“Do you think they’ll believe that?”

 

At Ruin’s point, everyone fell silent. Emil, still staring intently at his fiancé, bit the tip of his thumb and whispered.

 

“To think she’s smiling with such a cute face out there, and we’re not even married yet. If we don’t hold the ceremony as soon as possible…”

 

Crunch, crunch.

 

No one expected the sound of a thumb being bitten to sound so ominous. Watching Emil radiate a dark aura, Terdis and the other young men moved away, wearing expressions that said, ‘I’m not that extreme.’

 

Suddenly, Emil turned his head and said with a bright, refreshing face:

 

“How about saying we came looking for them because we were curious how they were playing? If we say we’re just dropping by to see their faces and then leaving, they might be suspicious, but they’ll accept it naturally.”

 

“But then we actually have to leave after just seeing them.”

 

Emil scowled at Marcus’ remark.

 

“Is being unable to even get close better?! Once we’re stuck to them, we can just make up any excuse to stay together!”

 

“Be mindful that you’re in front of the Young Duke,” Ruin said, exasperated.

 

Emil looked flustered and bowed his head to Terdis. At this moment, his face was quite gentle.

 

“I got a bit excited for a moment, Young Duke.”

 

“Uh, yeah, I’m fine. Carry on.”

 

When Terdis gestured that it was alright, Emil turned back to Marcus with a demonic expression and shouted.

 

“Is this okay with you?! Are you really okay with this?! She’s clearly!! Because she’s cute! Trash who doesn’t know their place will approach her!!”

 

‘The gap between his face and his words is too much.’

 

Normally, Emil had a faint, delicate face that seemed to lack presence. But when it came to his fiancée, Daisy, he displayed the presence of a crazed stalker.

 

“The escort knights are there…”

 

“If the opponent is a noble, there’s a chance the escort knights won’t be able to intervene easily.”

 

Terdis countered Ruin’s point. Since Leticia was quite well-known in society, anyone who approached her despite knowing her face would likely be a low-ranking noble who couldn’t attend Imperial events… and among such men, there were plenty of scumbags looking to change their fortunes by getting a noble lady pregnant.

 

Though contraceptive magic tools were advanced, there were still those who would remove the tools and use the power of drugs to commit such crimes.

 

“So, we’re just going for it?”

 

When Marcus asked, Ruin now wore a face of resignation. He also felt neglected that his fiancée was only playing with her friends, so he intended to tag along.

 

‘My thick skin should handle any awkwardness.’

 

Terdis also seemed to have reached a point where he no longer cared about the consequences.

 

“Let’s go!”

 

 

***

 

 

The interrogation ended in a matter of hours. Olga was well aware of what a significant privilege that was, but her insides were boiling with a sense of betrayal toward Cesare.

 

In her mind, Cesare should have kept his mouth shut about that fact until the day he died. Considering what he had done to her, she believed he absolutely owed her that much. The Crown Prince had promised that the details of the interrogation within those walls would not leak, but Olga didn’t believe a word of it.

 

A “truth” this provocative was bound to find its way onto people’s tongues. Everyone was already curious about the reason for Olga and Cesare’s broken engagement, pouring out various speculations. Until now, most of those reasons had been far from scandalous… but if her relationship with Marquis Larkin were revealed, the narrative would change.

 

‘Cesare… how could you do this to me!’

 

Even his absence from the room felt like he was avoiding the scene out of guilt. Olga was consumed by fury, contemplating how she would take her revenge.

 

Now, her family would have to pay a massive indemnity, and her father, Duke Valentine, would surely insist on taking that amount from Olga’s dowry. He had already warned her of such a thing. Even as a Duke’s daughter, without a title of her own or a large dowry, catching a good marriage prospect was practically impossible.

 

She loathed Cesare and the House of Tesseia with every fiber of her being. She felt wronged by her father’s incompetence in signing such a contract and was infuriated that the Tesseia family had gained even more prestige through their recent deeds.

 

‘Leticia, that stupid, low-born thing made a marriage far above her station.’

 

She hadn’t realized that seeing the latter half of Leticia’s life turn out so well would incite such jealousy. The fact that Leticia was actually Duke Tesseia’s biological daughter and not a bastard meant nothing to Olga. To Olga, Leticia was forever a lowly girl who should be groveling at her feet. The world had already established that gap between them.

 

The fact that she dared to step out of that place and become someone everyone looked up to was an unbearable insult.

 

Though the Crown Prince had arranged for Olga to return in an Imperial carriage, she requested to be dropped off with her escort knights at the café where she had left her friends. If she took the Imperial carriage all the way to the estate, her father or mother would certainly pry.

 

‘It will reach my parents’ ears eventually anyway… but I don’t need to be the one to tell them.’

 

What she needed to do now was come up with a countermeasure for what was to come. And, if possible, she wanted revenge on Cesare and the House of Tesseia.

 

“Shall I call for a carriage, My Lady?”

 

“Wait… just a moment.”

 

Olga felt a faint thrill as she spotted Leticia’s group on a street that had been opened up for the festival. She was with other young ladies, but her formidable protector—her husband—was nowhere to be seen.

 

‘How stupid….’

 

How could she be so foolish, being a Saint, the daughter of the House of Tesseia, and the wife of the Young Duke of Lyon? Even with so many people targeting her.

 

‘The Pope and the people of the Order left the capital before the Harvest Festival began.’

 

The Pope seemed to have suffered some kind of damage related to the failure of Entinus’ resurrection. Publicly, it was announced only as a matter of “health reasons.”

 

Olga looked at her escort knights. She dismissed most of them back to the estate, leaving only two who were loyal enough to know her secrets.

 

‘This is a truly great opportunity.’

 

Leticia was almost never seen without her husband, Terdis. Perhaps this was the one chance for revenge granted to Olga before her life became miserable.

 

‘No… I won’t become miserable. Her scandal will swallow mine.’

 

Whether Leticia became wretched or lived in unhappiness for the rest of her life was of no concern to Olga. She would simply be paying the price for the sins her brother committed.

 

‘Blame Cesare.’

 

Olga’s eyes flashed as she recalled what she needed.

 

 

***

 

 

When she had been pushed into a corner after her engagement was broken, Olga had visited the Larkin estate once to see Vincent. She wasn’t dressed as a noble lady but in a maid’s outfit, and a gatekeeper who recognized her face let her in. The mansion felt strangely empty, yet guests were being accepted.

 

At that time, a young woman named Nina appeared, claiming she would host Olga in Vincent’s stead. She entered the drawing room with an intrigued expression.

 

‘You are Lady Valentine?’

 

Olga didn’t believe for a second that she was Vincent’s relative. She glared at her, assuming Nina was the new lover Vincent had taken in after breaking her engagement with Cesare. But Nina seemed completely unfazed.

 

‘It is truly unbelievable that Young Duke Tesseia would act so despicably. How could someone like me dare to fathom the feelings of someone as noble as you…?’

 

Nina, who spoke to the Lady with impudent ease, introduced herself as a foreign noble and a distant relative of the Larkin family. Olga, not believing a word of it, was certain that Nina’s entire family introduction was a lie.

 

However, her curiosity was piqued when Nina pulled a mana stone from her bosom.

 

‘I will give this to you as a gift, My Lady.’

 

‘A mana stone?’

 

Mana stones were essential for crafting magic tools, but they were largely useless to an ordinary noble lady—especially an unprocessed one.

 

‘This is no ordinary mana stone. It is a very special stone that will soothe your resentment toward the House of Tesseia.’

 

‘Ridiculous.’

 

Olga spoke coldly and glared at her, but the moment their eyes met, she felt a bit entranced. Because until that moment, she hadn’t told anyone about her resentment.

 

‘The usage is simple. Drop a single drop of your blood onto the stone. Then, feed that stone to someone you find useless or someone you hate.’

 

‘Feed them a mana stone?’

 

‘Then, give the command. Tell them to kill Cesare. A command to destroy the House of Tesseia would be even better.’

 

Seeing the woman’s face stretch into a long, satisfied grin, Olga felt a surge of fear. She fled the place as soon as the woman left the drawing room. Naturally, even though she thought it safer to leave it behind, she had brought the mana stone that was on the table back with her.

 

‘I didn’t think I would ever use such an ominous thing….’

 

Too ominous to throw away and too ominous to keep in her room, Olga had been carrying the stone with her. She had intended to dispose of it as soon as the opportunity arose. But as if possessed, she couldn’t bring herself to discard it—and now, an opportunity to use it had appeared.

 

“Wh-why are you doing this, sir…?”

 

A man dragged into the alleyway looked around with a terrified face. He had been wandering around drunk, looking for someone to pick a fight with. Originally, he intended to go into the festival streets to harass women and extort money, but he had been kicked out by the guards. He was already out of the booze he’d bought with his last bits of money and was looking for a target for his frustration.

 

He was looking for a child or an old person who wouldn’t be able to report him even if he beat them. A young, defenseless girl would have been even better. While peeking into secluded areas, he had made eye contact with Olga’s knight. The man quickly lowered his head and feigned ignorance, seeing the knight’s broad shoulders and clear military bearing.

 

However, the knight had knocked him down in an instant and brought him to this alley. It was the alley where Olga waited with another escort knight.

 

“Hold him tightly.”

 

Olga instructed and pulled a leather pouch from her bosom. She felt strange as she took out the mana stone, but at the same time, she felt a sense of relief. She could finally be rid of that stone.

 

“Wh-what’s going on? My Lords, My Lady… I’m sorry…. If I caused any discomfort without knowing, I apologize…. Mmph?!”

 

The mana stone was shoved into the mouth of the drunkard, whom she normally wouldn’t have gone near. Since the man couldn’t budge while being held by one knight, she could have ordered the other knight to do it.

 

Yet, Olga pushed the stone into the man’s mouth herself. Though she wiped her hand, which was stained with his saliva, with a handkerchief, even she thought her behavior was strange.

 

She expected the drunkard to spit it back out… but the man swallowed it with a gagging sound. Seeing the whites of the man’s eyes turn black, Olga’s escort knights wore shocked expressions.

 

“You can let go now.”

 

“……”

 

The man stood in place with a blank expression. Olga approached him. Being a commoner from the lower class, she didn’t think he would recognize the face of Leticia, Lady Tesseia.

 

“If you go out to the main street, a group of noble ladies will be moving together. Among them…”

 

 

***

 

 

The man was moving frantically. The scent of alcohol still clung to him, but unlike before, he didn’t stumble or glare at people who came near. Perhaps because of this, the guards protecting the festival streets didn’t block him. Unfortunately, the guards who had kicked him out earlier had already been relieved by another team to meet their wives and children.

 

‘A woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a blue jacket embroidered with a red bird!’

 

He wandered the streets looking for the person in that specific outfit. The streets were wide and long, and since there were so many people coming and going, it took time to find her.

 

The woman was laughing along with other young ladies, not even suspecting the horrific event that was about to occur. Soon, that face would be distorted with terror. Thinking of tearing apart the screaming woman, the man pushed through the crowd toward her.

 

“What the?!”

 

“Don’t push!”

 

People he bumped into snapped in annoyance, but he acted as if he couldn’t hear them. His movements seemed to draw the attention of the escort knights surrounding Leticia and the other ladies. He saw them turn in alert, hands reaching for their sword hilts, but the man let out a chuckle. He was no longer who he used to be. The past self who had to grovel before nobles or knights had already melted into the darkness.

 

「Kill that woman!」

 

Only Olga’s voice, ringing clearly in his head, became his will. He burst into a cackling laugh, and in an instant, his skin tore open. A monster with the body of a giant lion, eagle wings, and three pig heads erupted forth.

 

“Aaaaaah!”

 

In an instant, people screamed and fled in all directions. Though they were in a wide square, the crowd that had filled it surged away to the sides. Leticia’s group also tried to flee, surrounded by their escort knights, but…

 

Slash!

 

It was as if light had pierced down from the heavens. Someone who had flown in instantly severed the monster’s three heads and wings. At this, the fleeing people stopped in their tracks.

 

“Huh?”

 

Standing beside the monster was a young man holding a glowing sword. No one had even seen him swing it. They had only vaguely seen the flash of blue sword energy.

 

Terdis confirmed that not a single drop of monster blood was on the blade before sheathing it. Pashanoi slid into the scabbard, sparkling as if delighted by its first action in days.

 

“Tisha!”

 

He ran toward Leticia with quick steps. Among the crowd that had stopped fleeing, whispers of “Who is it?” and “Who is that person?” began to spread. Then, someone identified them. They said they were the nobles who had recently received great rewards and praise from the Emperor—the Young Duke Lyon and his wife, Lady Tesseia.

 

“Ohhh…!”

 

“Wooooooooh!”

 

Leticia and the others were startled by the sudden, thunderous cheers from the crowd. The fiancés, who had been looking for a chance to “accidentally” run into them alongside Terdis, also rushed to their respective fiancées. It was to calm them down after being startled by the incident.

 

“Young Duke.”

 

The highest-ranking officer among the guards rushing to the scene acknowledged him. Terdis accepted his greeting and asked if there were people to handle the monster’s carcass.

 

“If we ask the nearby shops, they’ll send workers. For now, it’ll make for a good spectacle, so if it’s not dangerous, we can leave it be.”

 

‘That?’

 

Leticia wondered if such a thing could be a “spectacle,” but people were already swarming around to look at the monster’s remains. She suddenly realized that in this world, there were few things to see besides plays. Even during public executions, crowds would gather like clouds. Leticia had never gone to see such a thing, though.

 

“I’ll leave it to you then.”

 

It was the guards’ job to find out why such a thing had suddenly appeared. Terdis, who vaguely suspected that the monster was targeting Leticia, spoke.

 

“Let’s stay together now, Tisha. It’s dangerous.”

 

As Terdis, who was already holding Leticia in his arms, said this, Leticia nodded. She had only tried to see the festival without Terdis for a moment, and a monster had appeared.

 

‘But why did a monster like that suddenly appear in the capital?’

 

 

***

 

 

Olga was not there. After feeding the mana stone to the drunkard and giving him his instructions, she had returned immediately to the Valentine estate as soon as she saw him depart.

 

She had worried that having either of her parents at home would be a nuisance, but both were away attending noble banquets. Her younger brothers had gone out to see the festival streets and had yet to return. Olga did not worry for her brothers; the only one she had ordered to be killed was Leticia.

 

‘But still… what if someone else gets killed…?’

 

What of it? Revenge inherently required sacrifice. While she didn’t believe her own kin deserved to die, she knew they would eventually enjoy and inherit more than she ever would. Thus, she chose to cast her worries aside. Ever since her engagement to Cesare was broken, even her younger brothers had begun to look down on her.

 

“My Lady! From outside…!”

 

When news arrived via a messenger running errands between the house and the city, Olga felt that the moment had finally come. However, the news was worlds apart from what she had anticipated.

 

The heavens were still not on her side. Instead of a tragedy, the event had only served to further elevate the reputation of Young Duke Lyon. Olga listened to a servant prattling excitedly about Terdis’s heroic deeds—stories gathered from festival spectators—until she finally erupted in a fit of rage.

 

“Is that so important that you must cause such a stir! Everyone, get back to your stations this instant!”

 

At the Lady’s shriek, the servants scattered in an instant. Her face contorted with uncontrollable fury, Olga grabbed a decorated vase from the table and hurled it to the floor.

 

Smash!

 

Looking at the shattered porcelain shards, the scattered bouquet, and the spilled water, she thought it looked exactly like the rest of her life. She proceeded to overturn the table and throw the ornaments from the dresser in a violent tantrum before storming up to her room.

 

 

***

 

 

Duke Valentine attempted to summon her once, but Olga did not go. Even when the Duchess herself came to her door and asked her to open it, she remained unmoved. She stayed locked inside, submerged in despair.

 

She had committed a crime, yet she held nothing in her hands. Even accounting for the exceptional skill of the escort knights provided by Duke Lyon, she had expected—at the very least—that a horrific scar would be left on Leticia’s face. Or that she would be killed.

 

‘No. I didn’t truly believe it would succeed. That girl was too heavily guarded.’

 

She had simply sunk herself into a deeper quagmire. While her two loyal escort knights would keep their mouths shut, she was terrified that someone might have witnessed them.

 

‘If I had known it would end like this, I wouldn’t have used that mana stone… I should have thrown it away the moment I left his mansion….’

 

They say there is always a bottom below the floor, even when you feel you’ve already fallen endlessly. Olga was certain that this deed would eventually be uncovered and that she would fall into an even more wretched state.

 

“Why did you do such a thing? Weren’t you a woman who wouldn’t lift a finger for anything that put herself at risk?”

 

At the sudden sound of a voice, Olga jerked her head around. Her bedroom window was closed but not locked. But it was broad daylight…

 

“Vincent.”

 

Olga was surprised by her own reaction as she uttered the name of the man who, like Cesare, had become an object of her hatred. She felt quite glad to see him alive. She had assumed he was dead; the Crown Prince had certainly spoken as if he were.

 

However, she did not let that joy show on her face. She looked at Vincent with a cold expression.

 

“You… you were alive?”

 

“That’s not what’s important right now. The Imperial family will realize the truth soon, and a proper investigation into you will begin.”

 

It was clear that she would face an interrogation that would make today’s questioning look like child’s play. At Vincent’s words, Olga turned pale.

 

“I… I couldn’t help it! I looked into that woman’s eyes and something went wrong! That woman… she must have cast a spell on me!”

 

“You know the Imperial bastards won’t care about excuses like that,” Vincent said in a soothing, gentle tone.

 

Olga felt like slapping his face, yet simultaneously felt the urge to cling to his arm and scream for help.

 

“Then what do you want me to do! The deed is already done….”

 

At Olga’s words, Vincent stared at her intently for a moment before speaking bluntly.

 

“Come with me.”

 

It was a proposal she hadn’t even imagined. Expression vanished from Olga’s face in shock. Vincent watched her piercingly, as if determined not to miss any reaction within her. Finally, Olga’s face flushed.

 

“I cannot live the life of a fugitive….”

 

“I know. I couldn’t drag you into such a lowly life. I am leaving this country.”

 

Ever since Vincent Larkin inherited his father’s secrets, he had always prepared for the worst-case scenario. Even his closest associates were unaware that he had made preparations to leave the Empire and start over in another country.

 

“For now, stay and rest at a villa I’ve prepared. It’s a resort outside the country… the kind of place that would suit your tastes. I will become a noble of another kingdom within two years and come back for you….”

 

“Are you serious? Are you… are you in your right mind?”

 

“Of course I’m not in my right mind. I’m doing the kind of thing only fools in love do.”

 

Olga looked at Vincent Larkin, who was gazing at her with shimmering eyes. Inside her head, warnings blared about how dangerous it was to follow him and how worthless she currently was to him.

 

“Choose me. Cesare, that fool, couldn’t see your true value.”

 

As Vincent approached and took the back of her hand, his hot fingers sent a jolt through Olga’s heart.

 

“Only I truly understand you. With me, you will be able to spread your wings freely. The House of Valentine might have been your fence, but it was also your cage.”

 

“I, I….”

 

“If you refuse, I will never appear before you again. Olga, look at me. Do I look like I’m lying?”

 

It was the first time her heart had raced like this for a man other than Cesare. As he said, Vincent might be the only one who loved her while knowing exactly what kind of person she was. Even before her parents, she had never revealed everything.

 

But Olga knew reality. Even if Vincent was capable enough to make all that possible, his past could one day catch up to him. Olga did not want to fall with him when that time came.

 

‘The thing I’ve done now… my father and mother can cover it up. I am of royal blood, and with their connections, it should be possible.’

 

Of course, she would suffer hardships. She accepted that as unavoidable. Her family would suffer great damage, and she could no longer expect a prestigious marriage. Her high pride would have to fall below the floor many times over.

 

Still, despite everything, Olga could not throw it all away.

 

“I am Olga de Valentine.”

 

At that single sentence, Vincent backed away. He didn’t even say he would regret it, as petty men often do.

 

“Farewell, Olga de Valentine.”

 

As he opened the window and leapt out, Olga ran to the windowsill. When she looked out at the garden, he was nowhere to be seen. She burst into tears, and her sobbing was the only consolation left for Vincent.

 

 

***

 

 

“Aren’t you glad I tagged along?”

 

Terdis said, clinging tightly to Leticia regardless of the surrounding eyes. Their wedding was scheduled for the spring, but the public already treated them as a married couple. Thus, no one found fault with Terdis embracing Leticia so openly.

 

“Tagged along? You were following us the whole time?”

 

When Leticia asked with wide eyes, Terdis realized he had slipped up. His body had simply moved on its own when the person near her mutated into a monster. It was the natural thing to do, and thanks to him, there were only a few minor injuries in the square—mostly people who had been pushed or tripped while fleeing, and they were quickly treated by the temple after the guards requested help.

 

Now, the people gathered in the square were treating the monster’s carcass as a new spectacle. The mages from the guard and people from the temple had confirmed the monster was dead and verified that no toxins were being released. Still, as a precaution, a safety line was installed, and the body was scheduled to be cleared before the night was over. An investigation into how the monster appeared was also required.

 

At Leticia’s question, Terdis nodded while gauging her reaction. Having planned to use today’s events as an excuse to get plenty of “compensation” from Leticia, Terdis swallowed back tears of regret.

 

Contrary to his expectations, Leticia didn’t look angry at all. Terdis noticed this immediately, and his eyes sparkled.

 

“You’re… not mad?”

 

“Thanks to you, no one was hurt, and my friends and I are safe. …Though I can’t say Ter was completely good for sneaking around.”

 

Leticia reached out as if to pinch his cheek but ended up just lightly rubbing it. Terdis felt an impulse to lick or bite her fingertips but restrained himself. If he did that in the middle of the street, Leticia would truly get angry.

 

“I’m just glad you’re safe.”

 

“Yeah. It’s all thanks to Ter.”

 

Leticia spoke in a relieved voice from within Terdis’s arms as he pulled her even closer. She hadn’t expected to use the magic tool she had been carrying since her relationship with Sebastian had recovered to a “somewhat awkward acquaintance” level.

 

‘I’m just glad no one was hurt.’

 

Because the monster’s head happened to be that of a pig, the people—for some reason—seemed delighted, thinking it fit the festival’s theme. Leticia, however, couldn’t help but think about the fact that it had originally been a human.

 

‘Who on earth committed such a deed?’

 

But that was a matter for the guards and the Imperial family to investigate, not for Leticia to worry about. Having experienced a frightening event and reunited with their respective fiancés or spouses, the group concluded their outing by continuing to explore the festival streets together.

 

Needless to say, Terdis and Emil were very satisfied. Ruin, seeing Emil finally become peaceful by Daisy’s side, muttered that it looked like an evil spirit had finally found salvation.

 

 

***

 

 

It was sheer luck that the incident on the festival street did not turn into a tragedy. The guards and the Imperial family did not overlook this. While it took time to find witnesses and gather clues, they eventually discovered that the culprit behind the incident was Olga of the House of Valentine.

 

At this, Crown Prince Edward, who had previously treated her with courtesy due to her royal blood, was greatly incensed. Cesare, who had worked behind the scenes to ensure Olga wouldn’t face a harsh interrogation, felt the same. It was clear that her actions were intended to harm his sister, Leticia.

 

However, she was royalty. When the Emperor was informed that Olga was the culprit, he ordered that the matter not be blown out of proportion.

 

“It would not be good for the public to know that a member of the royal family committed such a deed. Remove the ‘de’ from Lady Valentine’s name and punish her with exile for the time being.”

 

If she committed another wrong after this, she would be punished with true severity.

 

This was also the result of Duke and Duchess Valentine exhausting all their connections. During this process, the reason why her engagement with Cesare was broken was also revealed, forcing the House of Valentine to pay the massive indemnity demanded by the House of Theseia.

 

Olga remained composed throughout this process of ruin. She did not get angry or scream; she showed a facade of genuine repentance that left those who knew her true nature puzzled.

 

While Duke Valentine had bitterly condemned Olga when the incident first came to light, he ultimately did his best to save his daughter by using every connection he had. He was truly enraged by the tarnishing of the family’s honor, but seeing Olga’s resigned attitude, he couldn’t stay angry for long.

 

She was sent away to the provinces before winter passed and spent three years in a quiet, death-like existence at a remote castle owned by the Imperial family. The Emperor had practically forgotten about Olga, but as her exile neared its end, he granted her permission to return to the capital at Duke Valentine’s desperate pleading.

 

 

***

 

 

“You will have no choice but to marry someone of significantly lower status compared to the Empire’s high nobility. Even with your flaws, a Lady of Valentine cannot remain unmarried.”

 

Duke Valentine’s voice was full of confidence, so Olga immediately realized her father had already found a suitor. Judging by the Duchess’s attitude, she seemed to be in the know as well.

 

“Is it someone who knows nothing of my rumors?”

 

When Olga asked this, the Duke of Valentine furrowed his brows in disapproval. He seemed to want to act as if those events had never happened by never mentioning them.

 

“Indeed! He is a noble from a kingdom at the northwestern tip, so he won’t know about events from that long ago. We plan to hold a simple ceremony here and then a grand one there, so watch your mouth!”

 

He spoke as if the wedding preparations were already complete. He had likely selected guests who were discreet enough not to mention Olga’s “past.”

 

Olga, who hadn’t even seen the man’s face yet, felt uncomfortable. Having once tried to possess Cesare after seeing his face, her aesthetic standards were still high.

 

“What does he look like?”

 

“See for yourself.”

 

Without making any excuses, the Duke immediately showed her a portrait, confirming to Olga that the suitor was quite handsome. The Duchess signaled for the portrait to be brought forward…

 

Olga realized she was disappointed as she involuntarily thought of Vincent. The portrait was obviously not of Vincent. Her parents knew Marquis Vincent Larkin and believed him dead; if they had seen his face, they never would have permitted the marriage.

 

‘He resembles Vincent somewhat.’

 

He was a very handsome man. So much so that it felt suspicious that such a man would want to marry her.

 

“Is he to your liking?” the Duchess asked as Olga stared at the portrait.

 

Olga nodded. He wasn’t Vincent, but she liked that he had features resembling him.

 

“I will marry him.”

 

“Good! That’s my daughter!”

 

The groom, a Duke, was reportedly so busy with wedding preparations that he could only arrive on the day of the ceremony. The plan was to hold the wedding here, depart immediately, and then hold a grand celebration in his kingdom. Her parents were also scheduled to depart with her that day, so with people from both sides, it would be a massive procession.

 

‘It will be a wedding truly befitting my status.’

 

She no longer thought of Cesare’s face. The face she had thought of far more often over the years was Vincent’s.

 

Olga found that even as her wedding day arrived, she wasn’t happy at all. This remained true even though her fiancé had spent an enormous amount of money gifting her a wedding dress and a tiara.

 

‘Why do I feel this way? I decided to forget Vincent. He said he would never appear before me again….’

 

To soothe her somber heart, she smiled even more radiantly. The carefully selected guests spoke only in praise of Olga and the House of Valentine.

 

The groom, Duke Rodrigo, did not come to the bridal waiting room to see the bride beforehand. The ceremony began under the officiation of High Priest Orlando… and she entered the hall to the music.

 

The man standing before the priest looked even more handsome than in his portrait. Usually, portraits were heavily beautified, making the real person a disappointment, but he was better than his picture.

 

Despite this, Olga could not feel joy. She simply stood by his side, armed with a public smile, and received the blessings.

 

Finally, when the moment for the kiss came, Duke Rodrigo stepped forward. She had expected a light peck, but he reached out and pulled her waist close.

 

‘This… this feeling is…?’

 

Just as she was about to snap her eyes open at the sense of déjà vu, hot lips overlapped hers. In a lingering kiss with their tongues entwined, Olga recognized who her partner was in an instant. As Olga stared in shock, Vincent narrowed his eyes.

 

“You…! How did this happen?”

 

She tried to raise her voice but ended up demanding an answer in a hushed tone. Vincent laughed.

 

“Plastic surgery magic has become quite excellent lately. Does this face suit your tastes better now?”

 

Liar. Vincent’s face didn’t resemble Cesare’s in the slightest. However, it was true that he had become handsome enough to be compared to Cesare, so she decided to let it slide.

 

“Becoming a Duke of a small nation wasn’t quite to my liking… but what could I do?”

 

A Duke. He was now a Duke. It was the position Vincent Larkin had desired so much. It was also a position that Olga felt was worthy of her status. Olga’s face flushed red with joy, and Vincent noticed.

 

“Let’s continue this in the carriage. You’ve remained chaste for three years for my sake, haven’t you?”

 

Seeing Duke Rodrigo kiss her once more after whispering to each other, High Priest Orlando wore a troubled expression.

 

‘…Do they know each other? …It looks like the bride isn’t seeing the groom for the first time.’

 

Curiosity spread among the whispering guests, but that was it. No one could link the Duke Rodrigo before them to Vincent Larkin. While Olga had been Vincent’s lover, the relationship had never been public knowledge.

 

“Ahem…”

 

Duke Valentine let out a dissatisfied cough, but the wedding ended harmoniously. They departed for the northwestern kingdom with a massive procession, where a grand wedding that satisfied even Duke and Duchess Valentine was held. A few nobles who, as important relatives of the House of Valentine, had the chance to attend the wedding, praised the ceremony for a long time to come.