From the moment Aster appeared, Rose’s face, which had been filled with anxious unease thinking “surely not,” turned ghastly pale in an instant, as if it would soon rot and decay.

The spectators who had been throwing trash at Kasallin and pouring out criticism began murmuring that it was impossible.

Shallen, unable to understand the words that had just come from Aster’s mouth, staggered forward like someone standing in the middle of a fierce storm.

“What are you suddenly saying? Just because you have a mouth doesn’t mean you can babble nonsense, Lord Aster.”

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. There are not just one or two witnesses.”

“What?”

When Aster gestured toward somewhere, Logia, who had been mixed among the crowd, carefully stepped forward.

“His Majesty the King confined Miss Kasallin to the tower out of misguided greed, not wanting to send her to His Imperial Majesty of Renel. The Queen, knowing this fact, planned to stage a self-directed drama to frame Miss Kasallin.”

As Logia continued speaking with a clearly nervous but simultaneously resolute voice, the complexions of Shallen and Rose changed for the worse.

Logia continued.

“I was concerned about the Queen heading to the tower alone, so I secretly followed her and witnessed the Queen hanging from the railing alone and falling.”

“Then why didn’t you say so during the royal trial?”

When a nobleman in the front row expressed doubt, Logia answered immediately as if she had expected such a question.

“In a trial setting controlled by the Queen’s servants and close nobles, where everyone naturally determined Miss Kasallin as the culprit, I alone could not give testimony.”

Logia was Rose’s maid.

She came from a relatively low-ranking family, had no experience in notable social activities, and was a maid who silently worked hard at her given tasks.

At least in other people’s eyes, she was absolutely not someone who would present exaggerated or distorted testimony.

That fact alone could have a much more excellent effect than the testimony of ten passing strangers.

“This maid’s words are correct.”

Like spurring a running horse further, several soldiers also raised their hands and stepped forward.

They were personnel reinforced by the royal court for thorough security, but in fact, some of them were spies intentionally planted by Parnes.

“That day, the Queen gave me money while I was on duty. She said she had business at the tower and told me to act as if I had seen and heard nothing. I was very flustered, but I couldn’t accept such things, so I turned my steps toward the tower to return them. That’s when I witnessed the same scene this maid saw.”

The spy of Parnes disguised as a soldier placed an elegant pouch and gold ornaments where everyone could see them.

That pink pouch with yellow patterns was something Shallen had glimpsed once or twice in Rose’s room.

Shallen shook his head unconditionally like someone who knew the last remaining rope was rotten but couldn’t let go.

“No. That can’t be. If what you say is true, then it means the Queen staged this ridiculous fraud to frame her sister Kasallin as a criminal.”

“Sister… Well, I wonder if she can truly be called a sister.”

Parnes muttered words of unclear meaning while tilting his head slightly toward Rose.

Rose was not so oblivious as to not understand the meaning of that simple and clear gesture.

When she had previously sent Aster to investigate Nelson’s whereabouts, Rose now realized why Nelson had continued to stay in the Renel Empire.

The mastermind who had given him the position of temporary gamekeeper and had been moving her biological father Nelson from behind.

The truth of her bloodline, which could be called her greatest weakness, was in the grasp of none other than the Emperor.

Parnes was now telling Rose with his eyes.

That it would be better for her to admit her guilt herself before he spilled all her secrets here.

“There’s a simple method, isn’t there, King Shallen.”

Parnes continued speaking while still fixing his brilliantly shining gaze on Rose.

“Just demand an answer from Queen Riche about what she thinks of the circumstances raised so far, whether she admits them or not.”

Rose, who realized that the last gateway to a new tomorrow was a path leading to a swamp, panted as if she would burst into tears at any moment.

Only then did Shallen’s gaze slide to Rose’s shoulders, which were trembling as if they would shatter into a thousand pieces.

“Queen.”

“I, I am, that is…”

“Hurry up and either shake your head saying no or protest – do one of the two!”

Shallen roared, raising his voice.

The nobles who had only been stirring in confusion until just moments ago also looked at Rose in unison with expressions wondering how such a terrible thing could happen.

It felt like the hostile gazes that had changed from allies to enemies in an instant became sharp spears flying and embedding throughout her body.

If she denied it to the end, Parnes would immediately expose the secret of her bloodline, and at the same time, Nelson’s existence would be revealed to the world.

“I… seem to have… made some mistake…”

The scales had tilted, and Rose made her choice.

Since the fact that the baby in her belly had inherited the blood of a lowly beggar being known by Shallen was a greater disaster for Rose, she chose the path of burning her own dignity and honor.

Hearing her utterly futile answer, Shallen gradually showed a hollow laugh, then burst into mad laughter like a crazy person.

“Haha…!”

Shallen didn’t want to believe this situation.

His relationship with Rose had crossed a river from which there was no return.

Only the baby, who would be sleeping soundly in the womb knowing nothing, remained in vain.

His dignity and honor as a king had collapsed, and above all, Kasallin was said to become the Empress of the Renel Empire.

He wished everything had been a dream.

“Kasallin. Think carefully. Do you think your life will change dramatically or become happy by doing this?”

With blind obsession that he must hold onto at least Kasallin now that things had come to this, Shallen spoke pleadingly.

However, Kasallin’s face was only cold as ice and didn’t waver in the slightest.

“Empress, you said? You becoming an empress? You becoming a mother of a nation? In all my life, I’ve never heard anything more ridiculous than…”

“If you move your mouth any further, I won’t let it slide.”

Parnes, who had been quietly maintaining silence, pointed his blade at Shallen’s neck in the blink of an eye.

“She’s no longer a woman you can treat that way.”

The coldly sharpened blade flashed, reflecting in the sunlight.

Shallen drew in a sharp breath.

Soldiers rushed to protect him, and the Imperial Guard of the Renel Empire also drew their swords with sharp metallic sounds.

In the urgent situation where the two countries faced off directly as if a war would break out at any moment, Parnes quietly continued.

“You probably won’t know even in death. How many tears that child, who appears to have no blood or tears on the outside, has swallowed behind the scenes.”

“…”

“What are you all doing? Hurry and escort the woman who will become the great Empress of the Renel Empire.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Something amazing happened.

The Imperial Guard of the Renel Empire, wearing splendid plate armor, walked forward in formation, then knelt before Kasallin and offered their utmost respects.

The audience was turned upside down once again.

People watched with wide eyes, dumbfounded, witnessing an important event that would make a mark in history.

But the one most shocked at this moment was still Shallen.

At first, he couldn’t properly recognize the situation, but when Kasallin leisurely received an escort from the knights, he finally recognized reality and collapsed.

“She’s really becoming the Empress of the Renel Empire…?”

Shallen muttered the word “empress” several times like someone who had forgotten its meaning.

He had thought she would at most become a mistress.

He had never once imagined that Kasallin would become someone’s wife, and moreover, the Empress of the Renel Empire.

‘Because she can’t have children.’

Shallen could guarantee that there wasn’t a single foolish man in this world who would place a woman incapable of producing an heir on the throne of empress.

Wasn’t the ultimate purpose of imperial and royal houses primarily to continue the succession stably?

Then Kasallin must be deceiving Parnes right now.

‘Actually, I can have children. Everything the world says is all lies.’

She must have lied like that with that bewitching voice.

To somehow become empress and rise to power.

Shallen clenched his trembling fists tightly.

Meanwhile, Parnes sheathed his sword and climbed onto the execution platform without hesitation.

When their eyes met, Kasallin and Parnes smiled brightly at each other without anyone going first.

Since they had come such a long way, there was some sign of fatigue.

“Sorry for being late. I came to get you as promised.”

“I was waiting. Your Majesty.”

“I have so much to say…”

Parnes’s gaze deepened as he carefully examined Kasallin’s thin shoulders and pale face.

“But it won’t be too late to share that while heading to the Renel Empire.”

Parnes respectfully knelt on one knee before Kasallin, who was still standing barefoot on the wooden floor.

Then he placed a pair of shoes finished with white, soft satin.

Kasallin put on the shoes and firmly grasped Parnes’s outstretched hand as she came down from the execution platform.

The knights of the Renel Empire, having arranged their formation, respectfully escorted and followed Kasallin.

“Stop there! Where do you think you’re going without my permission as king!”

Kasallin slowly stopped walking.

And turned to look at Shallen.

Still that arrogant gaze that couldn’t accept this situation.

From his shameless expression that didn’t even know what was wrong or what he had done wrong, it seemed Shallen still hadn’t come to his senses.

“Have you already forgotten what you said at the royal trial? Didn’t you promise to grant any request I wanted if it was revealed that I was innocent?”

“What?”

“What I want is just one thing. From today, I will completely sever ties with the Khan Kingdom. It means Your Majesty can no longer have any involvement in my life. Now we are complete strangers.”

Only then did Shallen seem to fully recognize the gravity of the situation as he continuously shook his head.

“No. Strangers. That can’t be.”

“It was unpleasant being together all this time, and I hope we never meet again. Well then, stay healthy.”

Cutting through the slowly blowing wind, Kasallin gracefully passed by Shallen’s side.

“Kasallin, wait! I haven’t finished saying everything yet!”

Kasallin suddenly thought.

She had felt some déjà vu, and this was just like the day she received notice of the broken engagement from Shallen.

Of course, the positions were completely reversed from then.

“I find it regrettable.”

“I don’t want to hear such words from you. First, calm down and let’s talk calmly. I will apologize. I’ll also provide formal compensation for damages…”

“Your Majesty. The more you do this, the more unseemly it becomes. Please stop now.”

Kasallin recited exactly the harsh words he had said to her that day.

Shallen seemed to doubt his own ears, fallen into great shock.

“Didn’t Your Majesty say this to me on the day you announced our broken engagement? That the country was much more important than someone like me. So please take care of Rose, who is sitting there dazed, and properly settle the disturbed hearts of the people.”

“No. Stop there, Kasallin!”

“Don’t cling so pathetically. Nothing will change by doing this.”

Those were Kasallin’s last farewell words.

Kasallin proceeded outside the opening castle gates with Parnes’s escort.

Without an inch of lingering attachment or hesitation, she boarded the carriage and disappeared beyond the hills, becoming a small dot in the blink of an eye.

But who could have known until this moment?

That the persistent ill-fated relationship with Shallen and Rose, which they thought had been completely concluded, would truly begin from this day forward.