While Maryon was receiving sponsorship, he was paying back the sponsorship, so even if he succeeded in research as a high-level magician, the money he earned would be used to pay back the sponsorship.

In the meantime, with the emergence of zombies, the cost of living has skyrocketed, making it difficult to buy food.

“Is it okay if I catch that zombie? If it’s a zombie that Marquis is reluctant to catch, just hit it three times the zombie’s pay!”

‘It’s been a year since my nephew was born.’

「It’s the love of the aunt, love.」
I felt relieved seeing Marion, who was more concerned about the food offered as compensation than the fact that the zombie was a prince.

“Sure, I’ll handle it. I’ll triple the reward.”

With my pot that swells to double when food is put in, it was not a burden at all.

“Thank you!”

Marion smiled brightly and raised his hand.

『Lightning spear, pierce through the enemy.』

After memorizing the spell, a flash pierced through the head of the zombie prince.

“Grrrr…!”

Thud.

With the scream of the zombie prince, a neat hole appeared on his forehead, and he collapsed to the ground.

“Oh, that was a clean shot.”

Lus exclaimed and even applauded.

“…Direct hit.”

Aston confirmed the kill with a somewhat complex expression.

Although he had already finished checking with his keen eyes, Aston walked over to see the corpse of the prince unnecessarily.

“No, no! Sister! Is this okay?”

Nadia asked me anxiously, but there was only one answer I could give.

“Then, is it truly the right choice to leave him as a zombie and not let him go to heaven?”

“…No. I misspoke.”

When the story about heaven came up, Nadia closed her mouth. Viscount Nigel, Celeste, unintentionally heard that the zombie prince harmed Elizabeth’s father and didn’t say anything.

‘I’m more comfortable this way.’

If I had to kill the prince, I would have had to endure criticism like “villain of the world,” but luckily, no one said such things to me.

“Now let’s continue our move.”

“Yes!”

Leaving the corpse of the zombie prince where it was about to leave, Aston made a request to me with a calm voice.

“Marquis Kitten.”

“Yes, Duke Whitewood.”

“Just a moment… Can I stay here? It’s enough if it’s five minutes, no, three minutes.”

Aston murmured, looking down at the corpse that had become gruesome, lacking the glamorous beauty of his lifetime.

It was a very small voice, but strangely, I heard it very clearly.

“…Is this the outcome you wanted to face by casting me out of the palace? Because you didn’t want me to die, because you despised me so much and sent me to a frigid land, spreading rumors that I was plotting, betraying, because you didn’t want to see me die like this… Tell me, brother. Why did you do that to me? Why did you make me the abandoned prince, why…”

The voice imbued with long-standing anger and despair found nowhere to go and seeped through the eyes to the ground.

Emotions of resentment and regret, not mourning, flowed through Aston’s pupils that had become dull.

“Why did you make me an abandoned prince, why…”

After a while of this brief time for a lament, Aston rejoined the group.

Instead of mourning, a short moment of lament and resentment passed, and Aston, with eyes that had lost the brilliance that his once beautiful appearance might never be found again, rejoined the group.

It was already a chilly wind like a cold winter breeze, but after seeing the zombie prince, it became even colder.
“Ironically, among the imperial family, only Aston, who was disgracefully expelled, managed to survive.”

It would be difficult to accept, judging by the painful expression he made.

His cold temperament, which seemed indifferent to any event, felt strange when he shook uncontrollably.

‘Ah… I’m not really a fan of meddling in other people’s business. Ugh.’

Should I do this or not?

Except for me, the rest of the party kept their distance from Aston.

Michel, Lus, and Benedict, who were fellow party members, seemed to have sensed that there was a painful past that should not be touched and left Aston alone.

‘I guess it’s just me…’

I approached Aston confidently and offered something.

“…Marquis Kitten. What’s this?”

“It’s candy. When your heart hurts or your mood is dirty, eating sweet things makes you feel better.”

When facing danger, go towards “danger.” Following the nutritional fact that consuming a lot of sugar interferes with nutrient intake, I knew it wasn’t good, but eating something sweet temporarily lifted the mood.

I reached out the chocolate bar made under the strict supervision of the chef, and unexpectedly, Aston took it.

“Eat that and cheer up.”

When someone who had caused emotional pain had died, it was time to forget, even if it was for one’s own sake.