Epilogue
“…”
A quiet silence filled the meeting room.
“It seems like you both enjoyed your trip. Both of you look much better.”
I stared blankly at the two men sitting in front of me. How long has it been? It feels like a couple of months at least.
“Haha, trip? Let’s call it a preliminary inspection before opening the resort island.” The emperor answered me with the utmost respect.
Look at that glowing skin. Even though time seemed to have completely passed him by, his complexion was much better. I felt unfairly like I had aged all alone during that time.
“Isn’t that right, Duke Felicite?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. The sea surrounding the resort island was so clear that I felt the location was chosen perfectly. Haha.”
The emperor and Duke Felicite smiled at each other as if recalling fond memories.
They’re smiling? My eyebrows began to twitch.
My initial goal of escaping this world had long since been abandoned. But that didn’t mean anything had changed. In other words, I was still a person in this world, though my status was lower than theirs…
“Do you find this amusing now?”
“Ahem, ahem.”
When I put down my pen, their shoulders flinched. It wasn’t like they had left their sense at the resort island.
“You know that the opening has been significantly delayed from the original schedule, right?”
Since the so-called ‘Judgment Day,’ I had implicitly held the highest position in this empire. Ultimately, it meant there was no one left on this land for me to be cautious of. Being in power is truly the best.
“While you two were leisurely fishing, I was signing invitations every night until my wrist was bandaged.”
Having decided to accept this reality and fate, I was pouring everything into making the resort island a success. I had even personally selected the Norma illustration cards to be included with each invitation.
“So from now on, let’s move beyond those sentimental remarks and get into actual work and promotion.”
In other words, the newlywed couple’s operation.
“First, we need to find a couple who can stimulate a desire to purchase and act as models…”
Following my words, the gazes in the meeting room turned to the list.
“As you know, there aren’t many options. With the fall of the Grand Duke Benio family and the families that followed them, half of the high society has been purged.”
“How about Viscount Lot from the west, who recently got engaged? I heard the proposal he prepared was quite romantic and well-received.”
“Hmm, I’m not sure. I met the viscount in person, and his appearance isn’t particularly…”
From Juyong’s expression, it was clear. His looks wouldn’t draw much purchasing power. As if she were part of my soul, her standards were very high and picky.
“What about Lord Renaste? The lord is already guaranteed to create a buzz.”
“But he hasn’t officially promised his future to his current lover. Given his history of infidelity, it’s a rather precarious relationship.”
“Then they’re out too.”
As we went through the list, it became increasingly difficult.
“Ha, this is harder than I thought…” Looking down at the unhelpful documents, I reconsidered.
A relationship that had both visuals and a buzz, plus a romantic narrative, and could end cleanly even if they broke up. This was like finding a fictional contract lover in a novel…
What? Contract lover? Wait a minute. As I shifted my thinking, a good idea seemed to emerge. I had plenty of talented individuals around me who were bound by ‘contracts.’
“Come to think of it, we have the Norma.”
“The Norma?”
“They’re models who can produce results more reliably than anyone. You’ve all heard the rumors about the illustration cards included with the invitations being auctioned off, right?”
Thinking of the Norma basking in the resort island’s sunlight cleared my vision immediately.
“But then, who would be the female model…”
“I can do it.”
“What?”
The answer was right in front of me.
Who would be good? Having made my decision, I thought of the Norma one by one.
Vallentin? No. Vallentin was the king of a kingdom, so his influence would be enormous.
Francis was acting as a strategist, so it would be hard for him to also model.
“Hmm, it would be best if Inein and I do it.”
That left only one answer. Besides, Inein was as much of a pragmatist as I was, so we could focus solely on the results.
“Actually, the best fit for a romantic concept would be Redian, but…”
But that would be, if the two of us went to that quiet island, we’d be doing anything but work… Ahem, anyway.
“As long as it looks perfect for the promotion, that’s all that matters.”
“…”
“There won’t be any personal feelings mixed in between Inein and me, so it’ll end cleanly.”
It seemed like a reasonable method, but there was no response. Instead, when I looked up, I saw an oddly cold atmosphere.
“…Why? What?”
I was momentarily speechless at the looks directed at me. What were these reactions, as if they’d seen a ghost?
“Unfortunately, I will remain silent from now on. One never knows who might be listening.”
“Ahem, me too.”
Who’s listening…?
“O great and beautiful master of my lord.”
At that moment, someone addressed me in a title I never got used to.
“How can you guarantee it will end cleanly?”
It was Ipos who was attending the meeting in place of Redian, who was out scouting.
“If you wish to keep Inein close, you’d be better off not doing this.”
Even among the devils, who had their own hierarchies and distinct personalities, there were those who were difficult and those who were easy. Ipos, in particular, was one of the unreadable ones.
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
Although everyone was mingling now, devils still stood out due to their otherworldly appearances.
“Of course, this applies to anyone you keep close, not just Inein.”
His low voice made it seem as if a storm was about to hit.
“I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”
“What exactly have you seen?”
At my question, Ipos paused, staring at me. His eyes, with their faint and translucent colors compared to humans, exuded an inexplicable tension.
“The suffering and misfortune they endure.”
Who are ‘they,’ or rather, what had Redian been up to behind my back…?
“What did your lord do to make you say that? Explain clearly.”
An interesting silence fell.
“Yes. My lord was very…” Ipos furrowed his brows as if recalling a vivid memory. “Pathetic.”
Huh?
* * *
It was after the so-called Judgment Day. Grand Duke Benio died on the spot, and his followers were all beheaded or imprisoned. Luna Lev and Ash Benio were no exception.
As time passed, people began to remember that day similarly. The darkness was lifted, the lord of light descended again, and peace returned to the world. However… Ipos’s memories were different. He had faced what happened in the darkness behind that light.
“What about master?”
“Asleep.”
It was a day when the early darkness arrived due to the constant rain.
“…I see.” Redian, who was looking at documents, muttered while removing his monocle. “That’s a relief.” His voice, cutting through the pouring rain, was calm.
For Ipos, it was the first time in a long while that he heard his true voice.
“And those two?”
“As ordered, they’re temporarily imprisoned in the great temple. They are scheduled to be transferred to the western and northern monastery at dawn tomorrow.”
“Dawn tomorrow…”
For a moment, a faint smile crossed Redian’s lips.
“Then today is our only time.”
His voice remained lazily indifferent, but there was a hint of mockery in his tone.
“Moreover, my Nia will be deeply asleep by now.”
Redian stood up and took out a jet-black robe from deep in the closet. It was the robe he had worn when he first went out with Siani, still bearing traces of her touch.
“I guess I’ll have to make the final farewell on her behalf.”
“Yes? You will go to them yourself, Milord?”
“Of course.”
Ipos hesitated momentarily at that response. It was unexpected for Redian to personally deal with a mere couple of humans…
“After all, they were once by my master’s side.”
Redian was already smiling brightly.
“So I must kill them myself.”
As if he was genuinely amused and entertained.
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