Resting his chin on the window frame, Levanfell merely stared blankly into space.

I still didn’t know how Levanfell became an experimental subject in the Ferdiac experiment, or who made him that way.

But seeing him react to the name Generba every time, might it be related?

It didn’t seem unrelated to Levanfell’s mother that Jaerim told me about last time either.

Jaerim learned Levanfell’s secret later than me. That means he didn’t know until before I arrived.

That meant that something had definitely happened to Levanfell since that time, at least since Clint returned to the territory, and Jaerim was unable to contact Levanfell.

I wish he would just spill it all to me.

‘He never talks about himself, so I’m always confused.’

That man, who says everything becomes meaningless without me breathing in the world, doesn’t allow me into his world.

What he thinks, what happened. He says nothing. And yet, he claims that everything is meaningless without me.

It makes no sense. I let out a heavy sigh without realizing it, and Levanfell, who was staring into space, turned his gaze.

“Teriella. I have a worried face.”

See that? Again, hiding everything inside and smiling? How can I trust that man?

“I’m not worried about Levanfell, but the children there.”

I puffed my cheeks in a childish manner and sulked unnecessarily. Despite my sulking, Levanfell still smiled pleasantly.

“It’s good to hear.”

“Me worrying about the children?”

“No. Calling my name.”

Oops. I accidentally called him by his name, having gotten used to calling him Levanfell outside.

“……Your Majesty.”

“Why Your Majesty again? I liked it. You’ve already called me many times. Just call me Levanfell.”

“……. ”

It feels more embarrassing to call him that when he keeps asking me to.

“If you want to go back, we still have a long way. Your Majesty when we’re alone, name outside. You want to keep confusing the titles? If you make a mistake at a crucial moment……. ”

“Ah, okay! I’ll call you Levanfell!”

“…… You even speak informally in one go. Cool, isn’t it?”

Oops. I accidentally let my informal speech slip out with the name.

“I’m, I’m sorry.”

“I prefer informal speech. The empress and I got married because we wanted to. Plus, if you want to hide my identity outside, speaking informally is certain.”

That was true. If everyone who looked like a noble was fawning over Levanfell, anyone could deduce that he was the emperor.

“You can treat me comfortably. That seems quicker for remembering me, too.”

“Huh?”

What does he mean, quicker for remembering me? I tilted my head, but Levanfell closed his mouth with a smile, not intending to answer.

“……Alright, Levanfell.”
It seemed like I was tangled in his schemes, but I sighed and comfortably called his name.

It felt strangely nostalgic, like calling an old friend. Calling each other by name gives a curious sensation.

“Don’t worry, Teriella.”

“Huh?”

I was annoyed by an unpleasant memory that came to mind, but… it’s not enough to break me down. You’re beside me, after all.”

An unpleasant memory. What memory could Levanfell be holding onto? If I could look into it, even just a little… could I console him?

Instead of asking about the memory, I reached out and patted the back of Levanfell’s hand, as if to bury that bad memory.

“……the paths we’ve come along.”

Levanfell looked at my hand on top of his and murmured quietly.

“The children sold here must have looked at these landscapes with terror.”

I thought he was just stunned all along, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. I tightly shut my mouth at Levanfell’s profound words and slowly nodded.

The dirt road I had looked at so carelessly. The bright blue sky.

The children who were sold must have looked at these landscapes with terror. With that thought, a corner of my heart stung and hurt.

And it was more and more unforgivable. Those who made the children suffer.

Just as Levanfell was about to say something, the smoothly rolling carriage stopped abruptly. The sudden halt of the carriage startled us, but only for a moment.

From beyond the window, Clint approached and swiftly relayed the situation.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness. From here on, it’s all stony paths, so the carriage won’t be able to go. The slope is too steep for the horses, so it looks like we’ll have to walk.”

“So it seems.”

This was something Jerim usually did. Since Clint joined, it seemed the roles had been divided, and Jerim added in a more relaxed tone.

“Stop the carriage, leave the horses, and walk. A few will stay here to watch the horses.”

“As you wish, Your Majesty.”

Levanfell was about to stand but looked at me with concern.

“……The mountain will be rugged. Are you alright?”

“The children were sold there, right? That means the children also walked over it, didn’t they? If they went, why can’t I? I’m fine. I can do it.”

I nodded my head as I opened the carriage door. Levanfell smiled and said I was indeed incredible, then opened the door.

The knights, Jerim, and Clint seemed taken aback that I was going with them, but they couldn’t stop me.

We began to climb the rugged mountain path together. It was as if someone had artificially blocked the way with jagged rocks.

But the climb wasn’t difficult. The rocks had been shaped so that people could step and climb on them.

It wasn’t deliberately carved; it naturally transformed that way. I wondered how many children had scraped across these rocks and headed beyond.

‘Wretched beings.’

I gritted my teeth and followed the path the children must have walked towards the mountain village.

And after overcoming the tough rocky path, the sight that unfolded was beyond the worst; it was hell.

“……What is…….”

“……Ha.”

Levanfell let out a hollow laugh without realizing it, and Jerim twisted his face and blocked his nose and mouth with his sleeve.

It was filled with bodies to the point that it couldn’t even be called a village.

The corpses all looked the same. Devoid of pigment, shriveled, and twisted.

There were plenty of rotten corpses mixed in as well.

This place was nothing less than a location used for Ferdian experiments.

And the surviving children stood in this corner of hell with blank expressions.

As if this horrifying sight was all too familiar.