Successfully, all the survivors in the mansion hurriedly packed their belongings and dispersed.

Although they couldn’t bring many things, everyone carried a neat bundle of belongings and asked me, “What will happen to us now, Your Excellency?”

They, too, felt fear from the zombies covering the barrier and damaging it. Moreover, the barrier was gradually crumbling. The falling fragments of the barrier above my face were evidence of that.

“As I mentioned, we will move through the portal gate. We’ll go through the gate at the north gate and escape directly outside.”

“Outside…!”

As soon as they heard the word “outside,” the expressions of the survivors brightened. It was no different from the estate’s servants who worked for me.

“We had to live isolated in the capital. I’m relieved. Then, what will happen to Agatha when we leave the capital?”

Dozens of pairs of eyes emitted light in the dark air. Between the zombies above and the people filled with the desire to escape this hellish place below, I felt dizzy.

“…There is a high probability of a bombing.”

If we leave, other lords will join forces to launch a coordinated attack to prevent zombies from spreading across the continent.

‘This was already discussed. It was a plan that was postponed because of me, the remaining survivors, and Sienna…’

Now that it had come to this, it was necessary to take measures to prevent zombies from crossing the capital’s walls and scattering throughout the continent.

The butler and housekeeper walked around the Kitton mansion without saying a word, whispering to each other.

“…This place where I dedicated my youth will be the last now. Like this, pitifully… I never thought it would end like this.”

Patrick felt sorry for the place filled with precious memories that was about to be destroyed.

“Your Excellency, would it be alright for you not to take more precious items inside? I was going to tell the maids and servants to take a lot, but… you said to gather what’s necessary for survival.”

Lady-in-waiting Miliana worried about me. Despite my attempts to stop her, she had packed several of the most precious items from the mansion into her bundle.

“The country… no, the world might perish because of zombies. In situations like this, things like clean water, food, and emergency weapons are more useful. So Miliana, right now, it would be better to discard those precious items…”

“No! I can’t throw this away. Until the day Your Excellency safely concludes this matter and builds a new mansion, I can’t afford to lose even this much.”

Like a mother’s sensitivity to protect her child, Miliana was desperate. She was burning with a sense of duty, believing that she needed to prepare the dowry, even if it meant doing it herself, in case I got married after all.

‘Anyway, I’m a person who will return when all this is over.’
I don’t need such things. Perhaps by the time I return, the physical body of Elizabeth Kitton will face an unknown death.

If that happens, the precious items that Miliana and the maids desperately gathered won’t be important to me. Items that I can’t take with me have no value to me.

But their sentiments were appreciated.

“Miliana. And the maids.”

“Yes, yes!”

“Thank you for your thoughts for me. However, if you manage to keep those precious items safe, it would be better to use them for yourselves.”

Upon my words, Miliana, Emily, and Rose gasped.

“Huh? Even just this necklace alone is worth a fortune. Enough to buy several mansions in the capital…”

“Sell a few mansions in the capital using the value of this necklace to rebuild your footing. That would be more comfortable for me.”

“Yo-Your Excellency…”

“You’ve all worked hard. I think you deserve such an incentive.”

While it was true that Kitton’s mansion had many expensive and rare treasures, it didn’t concern me. The influence of Kitton’s mansion extended beyond this place, including the estate and the upper regions, so I had no worries.

‘I should write a will just before I disappear. Use all the property for the surviving people.’

Armed with a wooden club imbued with unfamiliar divine power, crossbow, and gun, fighting zombies.

For them, I had no regrets about things that wouldn’t be spared.

“Will you listen to me? If you do so, I’ll allow you to take those bundles with you.”

“Your Excellency…! Uhuhuh.”

Unaware of my feelings, Hanyang and the maids bowed gratefully to me.

“We swear to live, worshiping only Your Excellency until death.”

“No, don’t do that. How difficult it must be for you, who experienced zombies directly. Retire and live happily with your family in a cozy and lovely mansion, the best happy ending…”

“For us, it’s more important to spend our lives by Your Excellency’s side, who saved us.”

“…”

Hearing those words, it felt like tears were about to fall.

When I was young, right after losing my parents, these were the words I most wanted to hear.

It’s okay, stay by my side. You are not alone.

Such small but powerful words.

“…Do as you please.”

But I never heard such words growing up.