“I didn’t intentionally wait to tell you. I’m only saying it now because I could give you accurate information after observing the developments following your trial.”

That was the truth. Even in the midst of being busy without being able to investigate properly, he had confirmed the movements of Count Cromwell and Shaim.

And whether Count Cromwell truly wasn’t exterminated had to be watched over time.

Throughout the journey, he received messages from the informant tied to Shaim. Even after five days, the king of Shaim had not harmed the Count.

She asked slowly, confirming once again.

“Can I… believe it? Is Count Cromwell… really… *cough* alive?”

“Believing is up to you, but if I were to swear on the Emperor’s name. He’s not just alive, but seems to be doing well.”

He even swore on the Emperor’s name.

If really, if by any chance those words were true.

What meaning was there in Mercedes resigning herself to life?

She begged the judge to let her die. Having achieved all her final goals, there was no reason to live.

‘But… he says he’s alive.’

And doing very well at that.

Why hadn’t she thought of it? Her father was a man who would somehow find a way to survive. Even if by clinging to someone.

‘…He didn’t die. He’s alive and well.’

She wanted to fall into hell together. That was her only wish.

She heard the news that one hadn’t been fulfilled.

It ignited a fire in her chest, where she had been spending time not eating anything, wanting to die.

She was none the wiser.

“Ah… ah.”

She let out a single moan.

Something seemed to be welling up in her chest. Though she had struggled desperately to die, the being who had abused her was alive. The headache that had disappeared after killing Richard returned once again.

She had nearly lost her life alone and everything would have ended.

“Aah…”

Carlos’s face stiffened slightly as he listened to Mercedes’s low voice.

The face of a despairing person was not very pleasant to look at.

A tear fell from Mercedes’s eyes.

She slowly straightened her back. At the same time, Carlos changed his expression, furrowing his brows as if sympathizing with her sorrow.

Mercedes spoke, shedding tears. They were not tears of sorrow. They were tears flowing out unable to contain the anger filling her chest.

“Why… did Your Majesty. *cough* Why. Save me. Why did you… *cough* bring me… out of there? And why… *cough* are you giving me. This information.”

“…It pains me to say I fell in love at first sight with you who is suffering so much now.”

Carlos said in a solemn voice.

“You… fell in love?”

“Yes. That’s what happened.”

“If… that’s the case… Did you. Save me. *cough* Do you intend. To take me? Is that why. You intimidated… Shaim?”

“Is taking you something that deserves a ‘mere’? That’s not a good thing to say.”

“…”

“Whether to take you or not is not my choice. That depends on your choice. I tend to detest forceful things.”

Mercedes did not answer.

Choice, he says.

What a ridiculous word. From the moment she was saved by Carlos, she had no choice. Nothing but to listen to his words and obey.

Or just suicide. It was a familiar affair.

She believed she had made a choice this time, but even that choice betrayed her. Cromwell is alive.

“…Choice, you say.”

“The reason I saved you and gave you this information is simple and clear. You, live on.”

Looking at Mercedes shedding tears, Carlos calmly suggested.

“Live on, and take revenge by my side. Then you will find life.”

However, it didn’t resonate with Mercedes.

Find life? It was nonsense to her. How would she know how to find it if she hadn’t lived a life worth living? Her entire life had only been about learning how to hold her breath.

“I will help you with whatever you do.”

“Why… do you. Go that far… *cough* For me. Your Majesty… I’m not… someone. Worth. Falling in love with…”

Carlos let out a small sigh at Mercedes’s answer.

“Who could have treated you like this? I won’t tell you to raise your self-esteem right away. Instead, I’ll let you know slowly.”

“…We. Have only met. Twice. And one of those… *cough* was just. *cough* A greeting…”

“That’s why it’s strange. I’m not one to be swayed by emotions.”

Carlos chuckled.

“Anyway. Trust is built over time. Revenge is best savored slowly, the more drawn out the better. There’s plenty of time. I’ll wait until you come to believe my words. Mercedes.”

It was the first time.

For the first time, Carlos called Mercedes by her name. Mercedes looked at him and wiped away her tears.

Her body was a mess, so her vision was still blurry.

But she could tell that the man sitting in front of her was giving her an infinitely gentle gaze.

A gentleness so unfamiliar it felt unpleasant.

“Then… truly. You’ve fallen for me, *cough*… and will help me… with revenge?”

Mercedes asked the same question again. It should be tiresome, but Carlos was receiving her emotions.

“Yes. Love makes a man foolish.”

His attitude is gentle. But the man in front of her didn’t seem like someone who would do foolish things because he fell in love.

He didn’t even spare her a glance at the trial where he saved her.

‘Falling for me and helping with revenge, how ridiculous.’

She doesn’t believe in love. No, she can’t trust anyone. That’s why she raised her guard.

Mercedes has nothing left to be taken away. So why is this man doing this?

However, the Emperor’s favor had value for Mercedes to use.

She had to take the Emperor’s hand, if only to find out information about the Count Cromwell family.

Meanwhile, the Emperor’s words continued familiarly.

“Hmm. I can be impulsive at times. You are beautiful. It’s not a boast, but you are the first to shake my heart. Ah, of course it’s not just because of your beauty. I felt some attraction to you. How embarrassing.”

“…But if you’re impulsive… *cough* You might kill me again.”

“That could be one way to interpret it.”

Carlos chuckled. Somehow, he looked like an unaffected young man.

“Then shall we make a promise?”

“…”

“I won’t kill you for trivial reasons.”

Carlos’s attitude really seemed to like Mercedes.

If not love, it felt like he was fond of her and wanted to be casual with her.

That made it more suspicious, though.

“Ah. In fact, I’m not sure if you’ll welcome this, Mercedes. But you’ve become my possession. Because I took your life from Shaim.”

Carlos finished speaking in a playful voice and held out his pinky finger.

It was a large hand that seemed to be twice the size of Mercedes’. The thick and firm joints on each finger looked like the hand of a warrior who had trained for a long time.

“What, a promise… *cough* A promise? With this… thing?”

“Is it funny? Haha. I think it’s interesting. Well, anyway, you can’t die recklessly. If the promise is difficult and you keep wanting to die, think of it as fulfilling your duty as my possession. I am, in my own way, the hegemon of the continent, so I’d like you to listen to my words.”

This isn’t even child’s play, what is this?

Mercedes was bewildered even as she was wary of him.

To such a Mercedes, Carlos held out his finger a little closer.

“Come on, hurry. It’s okay to be wary all you want for now. You can trust me later. This promise is for you, so won’t you hook your pinky finger for now?”

‘Whatever it is… it’s not a difficult thing.’

For her purpose, even a pinky finger was nothing.

“Promise.”

“…Promise.”

Mercedes hooked her finger with his with a resolute face.

After going to the capital, this emperor might treat her like Richard did. But it doesn’t matter.

Their fingers tightly entwined each other. Especially his long, large finger seemed to grab her like a snake.

“An emperor’s promise is precious, so I hope you’ll believe it. Then shall we head to the capital of Room for now? As I said earlier, even if it’s difficult right now, the time you spend with me will build our trust.”

“What? *cough* Weren’t we. Already… on our way. To the capital?”

“Your condition wasn’t good, so we were held up.”

“Ah… Yes. I’m. Sorry.”

Mercedes nodded.

As Carlos gestured towards the outside, food and medicine came into the carriage.

“Drink some warm water first. Will you accept it now?”

Mercedes took the water bottle that Carlos had been holding all along. Her eyes were no longer empty.

“Then eat comfortably.”

“…Yes.”

Mercedes felt hunger for the first time in a very long while.

And like someone who had never learned noble etiquette, she roughly grabbed bread and chewed, gulping down soup. With a fierce look in her eyes.

Carlos, who had been watching her for a moment, got out of the carriage.

As he closed the carriage door and turned his back, Carlos’s expression instantly turned cold.

* * *

Mercedes’ health recovered in three days.

Although she no longer refused meals and medicine, it was an unbelievable recovery rate for someone who had been on the brink of death.

“Well. Contrary to my thoughts, it seems… you weren’t originally weak in health.”

The imperial doctor reported to Carlos, sweating in bewilderment at Mercedes’ condition.

Carlos just nodded with an expressionless face. As if he felt no question at all.

Thus, the procession that had been held up began to move again.

As if the wasted time had disappeared like a lie, they were able to arrive at the capital right away.

It was a return ten days after leaving Shaim.