Merely getting back at them wasn’t enough.
‘Philome, how could you… betray me like this?’
I was so sad that tears filled my eyes.
“I share the same intentions as the Empress.”
Nadia was ready to do anything if it meant she could take revenge on them.
“Since the Third Prince shares the same intentions as the Empress, we are truly on the same side, aren’t we?”
“Lady Nadia, I…”
Winston knew very well that the current situation was the calm before the storm. He couldn’t postpone things any longer.
The Emperor was currently healthy and in good shape, so things were quiet. But if something were to happen to him, the Empress would move to overthrow the Crown Prince and make Winston Emperor.
In that process, dealing with Kaien, who was aligned with the Crown Prince, was unavoidable.
In the past, Winston might have denied Nadia’s words. But now…
“Philome Bonita.”
Philome, Mel.
Winston couldn’t ignore her. He felt a desperate urge to seek out Philome and confirm things for himself.
And Nadia smiled as she watched Winston, who could no longer deny it like before.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Emon belatedly realized that he was walking aimlessly toward somewhere.
‘This place…’
It was the basement of the palace where his family was imprisoned.
Although it was a serious crime, as high-ranking nobles, direct family members were given the opportunity to visit. However, Emon had never visited his family even once until now.
But Emon could no longer hold back.
Emon felt that the ruin of his life was entirely due to his family, so he thought that if he could at least vent his resentment toward them, it might alleviate his cowardice and shame.
He clutched his aching ribs and headed toward the palace basement. The knights recognized who Emon was and did not bother to stop him.
Emon stood in front of the prison where his family was held.
It was a clean prison, free of filth and dust, but in just a few days, their appearances had changed significantly.
The Marquis of Kevan, who had been so fat that his belly protruded, had become gaunt, while the Marchioness of Kevan and Ethan were shivering under blankets, suffering from withdrawal symptoms.
“E-Emon?”
The first to spot Emon was the Marquis of Kevan, who was staring blankly into space.
“Emon? Is that you, Emon?”
“Emon has come?”
The Marchioness of Kevan and Ethan, trembling from the cold, hurried toward the door upon hearing his words. The door had a small window the size of two palms, and they pressed themselves against it.
“Emon! Why did you come now? Your father is suffering like this!”
“Emon, can you at least bring some medicine? I’m really struggling here. I need to take some medication.”
“Emon, while you’re getting Mother’s medicine, bring some for me too. Okay? I feel like I’m going crazy!”
Their shouts echoed loudly in the basement.
“Medicine? You’ve both forgotten why we’re here! Emon, instead of medicine, get me out on bail first. It’s only right that the head of the family gets released first.”
“Dear, what are you saying? It’s too cold. Getting rid of this cold is the priority.”
“That’s right, Father. I feel like I’m going to die from the cold.”
They began to bicker among themselves.
The Marquis of Kevan shouted at them.
“Shut up, all of you! Emon! Getting me out on bail is the priority! Understand?”
“……Father.”
For the first time since entering, Emon spoke.
“That’s impossible.”
“What?”
“There’s not even a single penny left at home, let alone bail money to get you out!”
If he had known this would happen, he should have examined the documents properly and inherited the marquisate. He searched through the Marquis of Kevan’s office and bedroom, but he couldn’t even find the slightest emergency funds.
He even tore apart the walls, but there was no safe.
“How on earth have you lived like this? How could you not leave me even a single penny?”
“What do you mean… Could it be that you…?”
The Marquis of Kevan pointed an accusing finger at Emon.
“You… have inherited the marquisate?”
“Yes. Your title is no longer valid. I am now the Marquis of Kevan.”
“What do you mean? I’m here, perfectly alive; how can that be?”
The Marquis shouted with a red face but soon broke into a harsh cough.
“Emon, tell me again. How could you, not even the heir, inherit the marquisate?”
At Ethan’s words, Emon chuckled.
“Thanks to you, brother. You tried to distribute drugs at the banquet. How could you talk about inheriting the marquisate when you’re a drug addict?”
“You…!”
Emon reached through the window and grabbed the Marquis of Kevan by the collar.
“Gah!”
“Father, I will grant you one last mercy. Where did you hide the emergency funds or the safe?”
“…If you promise to get me out, I’ll tell you.”
“Ha!”
Emon let out a hollow laugh.
“Do you know who caused all this… who? It’s all your fault… all your fault! I wish you were dead!”
“Emon! How could you say such a thing…!”
“It’s all your fault. My life is ruined…”
Emon slid down to the floor.
Just a moment ago, he had been thinking of how to use the jewelry that Philome had thrown to somehow revive the family. He had nothing left, but he couldn’t give up his noble status.
However, seeing his family like this, that hope vanished.
Debt collectors came twice a day, turning his already dilapidated mansion upside down and leaving. The servants and vassals had fled.
All the furniture in the mansion had already been sold, so they took whatever they could, even tearing off the gold decorations.
‘Should I run away too, again…’
But living on the run was truly difficult.
Moreover, the debts were not small, and the creditors could chase Emon to the ends of the earth.
Furthermore, they…
‘You have no money? That’s fine, my lord. You’re still in good health.’
Emon shivered at the memory of the debt collectors’ eyes.
He could hardly hear his family’s shouts as they echoed around him. Lost in his own misfortune, Emon blinked blankly, completely dazed.
At that moment.
“There you are.”
At the familiar voice, Emon turned his head sharply.
A person stood there, who he didn’t know when they had arrived. They wore a robe and had an androgynous voice, making it hard to tell if they were male or female.
“You…!”
It was the person who had given him information about the child between Philome and Kaien.
Emon jumped up to argue but quickly shut his mouth. He knew who was behind this person.
“…What on earth happened? I was told it wasn’t a child between them! I trusted the information you gave me!”
“Ah, it seems that a child wasn’t born between them after all.”
Emon’s anger surged at the nonchalant tone.
“Do you know what humiliation I suffered because of them…!”
“In that case.”
The robed figure bowed their head.
“Do you want to take revenge on them?”
“Of course!”
At that, the other person grinned.
“Good. Then let’s take revenge.”
Emon knew very well that it was practically impossible. So he hesitated, biting his lip.
“But that means…”
“Oh, don’t worry. You’ll be with us.”
“That means the Empress…”
“Yes.”
The figure’s slightly revealed lips curved into a smile.
“She asked us to do something quite interesting.”
After gauging the time, the figure beamed.
“Things must be going crazy right now. We just need to finish our preparations during this opportunity.”
The figure extended a hand to Emon. It was a rough, scarred hand.
‘That person may not be trustworthy… but the Empress is someone I can rely on.’
Having made up his mind, Emon finally took the hand.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
In the hallway leading back to the banquet hall, Kaien stopped.
“Since quite a bit of time has passed, let’s just head back.”
“Yeah. I’m feeling a bit tired anyway.”
Philome, who had felt drained after meeting Emon, nodded in agreement.
Just as they were heading toward where the carriage was waiting, they overheard a conversation through a slightly open lounge door.
“I heard the news.”
“They say a prophecy was revealed at the temple.”
Kaien and Philome had no choice but to stop in their tracks.
‘The temple?’
Long ago, during the time when monsters were rampant, the temple held significant power. It was recognized as an independent entity and possessed a saint capable of defeating monsters.
However, after the saint sacrificed her life to subdue the monsters, the temple rapidly lost its power. The saint never appeared again, and the temple quietly faded into history.
There were even murmurs that the deity had completely withdrawn their power from them.
thanks for the chapter