You are at the End of the Downfall

The secretly mobilized experts were dumbfounded and excited, saying they should raise a toast, but the Grand Duke of Lusenford, who had ordered the precise location of the mine to be investigated, remained calm.

He looked rather tired. Perhaps because he was in the midst of wedding preparations.

“The scale is enormous.”

“For now, keep it hidden and start mining in utmost secrecy. What happened to the first diamonds that were mined?”

Instead of answering, Sir Wilberk opened a large box he had brought in front of Peon.

“We’ve cut 4,300 carats into a total of twelve diamonds.”

The craftsman secretly employed to carefully cut the enormous raw stone had lost a lot of weight, they say. Peon looked down at the twelve huge diamonds that the Emperor would surely covet.

This mine would be a great boost to Lusenford’s finances. Sir Wilberk cautiously predicted that the other three mines the Grand Duke had ordered to be investigated might all be of tremendous value as well.

Around the time Her Majesty the Empress collapsed, the Grand Duke of Lusenford, whom he served, had changed somehow. Though he didn’t know exactly how, the Grand Duke seemed to have more confidence and composure.

“Good. And?”

The report was quite long and very secretive. It included ongoing surveillance of Lady Ravalley’s movements, suspicious regular visits to Soleil Palace, and an investigation into Lusenford’s internal affairs.

The last investigation was truly incomprehensible, but Sir Wilberk, along with Sir Renard, was virtually Peon’s right-hand man. He simply carried out orders and reported quietly.

“…Thus, all of Lusenford is taking the news of Your Highness’s marriage quite shockingly.”

“A marriage forced by His Majesty the Emperor, you mean.”

“Yes.”

Though uncomfortable, Sir Wilberk had to answer truthfully. In his previous life, Kaela had arrived in Lusenford already branded as the Emperor’s person from the moment of marriage.

Peon knew well how closed-minded the northerners’ high pride could be. He also knew they were much more unrefined than the capital.

“Still, they should properly prepare to welcome the bride.”

Sir Wilberk watched as Peon rose from his seat. He had grown thinner in recent days, his face gaunt.

Serving Peon closely, he knew that Peon wasn’t eating or sleeping properly. He was clearly troubled by Her Majesty the Empress’s collapse and the marriage issue on top of that.

“If I may be so bold, will you go through with the marriage?”

It was nauseating. Peon couldn’t stand how nauseating he found himself. No matter how hard he looked for a way out, he was most disgusted by the fact that he couldn’t avoid the marriage in this situation.

“I heard a bastard should marry a bastard’s daughter.”

“You’ve heard such things?”

“How could I not hear about a marriage being pushed for me to hear about?”

The Emperor, though he appeared to be smiling, was a sinister man.

He prevented the House of Ostein from marrying foreigners, and while he fulfilled his duty to the Empress’s beloved child to some extent, he ultimately mocked them by binding bastard bloodlines together. He was sneering at them. Peon, particularly sensitive to insults, couldn’t miss it.

“The princess is hearing words she shouldn’t have to hear because of me.”

Peon muttered as he closed the box containing twelve diamonds. Sir Wilberk immediately noticed the respect and courtesy towards the Princess of Ostein in Peon’s words. At the same time, there were no memories built up since childhood.

“Even if the engagement period is short, we must prepare everything properly. Tell them to prepare thoroughly.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I will not tolerate any foolish games.”

“Yes.”

The Emperor was driving the Grand Duke of Lusenford like herding sheep or pigs, ensuring he wouldn’t dare marry Beatrice or come up with any other plans.

The date had been arbitrarily announced, and Peon knew that this marriage was, coldly speaking, beneficial for Lusenford and himself. Knowing this made it even more painful.

Then what good was there for Kaela? A husband who would respect her sufficiently and divorce her later as promised?

The noble Princess of Ostein needed a better man than that, not one who had already spread rumors with another woman.

He had returned this time to take proper revenge, but now the happiness of Kaela, which he had destroyed himself, weighed on his shoulders. Revenge still needed time, and rebuilding her happiness would take time too.

Peon covered his pained face with his hands. He didn’t have the face to shamelessly confront the light.

****

When Kaela went to the royal palace, she could see people gathered in corners or beyond corridors, whispering as they saw her.

This was common even before she died. She was used to it now, being the unwelcome intruder who broke up the famous love of the century.

Her father was preparing for the wedding, but Kaela didn’t care.

She merely mechanically attended to the palace affairs the Emperor had entrusted to her after the Empress collapsed. She had already been seriously ill for a few days, so she needed to make an appearance, even if briefly, today.

“Hello, Countess.”

“Hello, Your Highness.”

“The weather is nice today, Your Highness Princess Ostein.”

“Indeed it is, Marchioness Thulenang.”

Still, when facing people, she had to exchange greetings. She also received congratulations on her marriage. ‘Ah, yes, thank you. Yes. Busy with preparations. Yes.’ She walked on, mumbling formal responses without sincerity.

Leaving behind the noble ladies gathered to pray for the Empress’s recovery, Kaela continued deeper inside with an indifferent expression. Seeing that this was happening even after dying and coming back to life, it seemed that marrying the Grand Duke of Lusenford was Kaela’s destined fate.

‘And then I’ll die. How comfortable and easy.’

Having died once, she could die better next time. Thinking this as she walked, Kaela encountered the Duchess of Monde sitting in a chair by the doorway.

“Hello, Duchess of Monde.”

Proper greetings among nobles were basic, and Adeo had especially taught his daughter to greet elders properly. It was a natural greeting.

But the Duchess of Monde looked at her coldly, then closed her eyes and turned her head away sharply.

Kaela looked at the Duchess for a moment before turning to continue on her way.

What good would it do for a fool like her to argue? It was better to just stay quiet. Besides, she was tired. As she walked, she somehow felt like she had been slapped hard across the face for no reason, belatedly.

It was a feeling she could skillfully brush off due to familiarity, but one she couldn’t forget.