“You’re the Grand Minister, right? Do you know why I’m here, or why I ended up being incarnated into this body? It’s so frustrating. I just want to live for once, now that I’ve become rich. Why do problems keep piling up like this?”

“I also didn’t know the reason at first, but I recently found out.”

“Really? There was a reason! What is it?”

Ermeldin, who expected to hear the answer she had been contemplating for months, smiled brightly and waited for his answer.

“It’s because of you.”

“What?”

“Arvian said so. A white and sad soul, opposite to the dark and sad soul that was Sakhman.”

“What?”

The solemnity of the Empress disappeared from Ermeldin’s face, and her original, puzzled expression emerged.

“What are you talking about?”

“Your Majesty. If it weren’t for you, Trevian would have suffered from the epidemic for a few more years.”

“No, well, we did thorough quarantine…”

“That’s not it. I’m talking about the weakening of the curse, which was the origin of the epidemic.”

“Curse?”

Ermeldin’s eyes widened, and she, who had read the original novel, couldn’t believe that the end of the epidemic was due to the weakening of the curse.

“Yes. A curse, literally. The weakening of the curse, which was the origin, allowed the epidemic to end quickly. Of course, it’s a fact that you saved people from infection during that period with different infection and hygiene policies, but that’s not the point.”

“So, you mean the curse magic of Ermeldin disappeared, and that’s why the epidemic ended?”

“That’s the fundamental cause.”

“Then, am I here, going through this suffering to end the epidemic? Do you know how many times I almost died?”

“Yes. I know. I heard it from Louise.”

“Really, I may not have been a saint, but I wasn’t such a bad person that someone would want to kill me. So, it’s really frustrating. This situation.”

Feeling suddenly unfair, Ermeldin let out a big sigh, expressing her annoyance.

“Yes. I understand. I heard it from Louise.”

“Really, I mean, I wasn’t a saint, but I wasn’t such a bad person that someone would want to kill me. So, it’s really frustrating. This situation.”

Feeling suddenly unfair, Ermeldin let out a big sigh, expressing her annoyance.

Noktavius quietly approached her in that state and gently held her hand.

“You being here, and particularly being in this body, all have reasons.”

“So, what’s the reason?”
“That’s something I cannot know due to my inadequate abilities. The gods have granted me various powers, but the ability to foresee the future is not permitted.”

“Ah! Frustrating! So, even the Grand Minister doesn’t know?”

Looking at Empress Yun Hye-young’s face, where the solemnity she was forcing disappeared completely, and only the annoyance of an ordinary human remained, Noktavius let out a small laugh.

“Then why don’t you just leave?”

“What?”

“Haven’t you become rich? Just quietly leave for a foreign country, taking the money with you. If you depart from here, I will buy you some time for about a day.”

Though it seemed like a bluff, the gaze of Noktavius, who wiped away his laughter, was infinitely serious.

“Hah, I really want to do that if it’s possible.”

“Then do it.”

“How can I? There’s still Ferdinand in the capital, and I haven’t been able to save Helen’s mother yet.”

“They are irrelevant people, aren’t they? They were never your destinies from the beginning. Just leave without any concern, taking your wealth with you.”

Ermeldin, who let out a deep sigh, forcefully tapped her forehead and glanced at Noktavius.

“Do you think I’m not leaving because I don’t know?”

At Ermeldin’s words, a smile returned to Noktavius’s face.

“I am the first servant of the gods. I do not doubt the decisions of the gods.”

“Then please tell the gods! I just want to stop getting stabbed with a knife.”

“I will convey your words, but I cannot guarantee that there won’t be such an incident again.”

Watching Noktavius, who was smiling as if he was relaxed, Ermeldin’s voice became louder.

“Grand Minister!! Knife… No, what should I call it? Can’t you at least stop that much?”

“Unfortunately, I cannot. Every moment you’ve gone through has been a moment needed for the Empress. Not a single moment or connection has passed without reason.”

“Is even the hole in my ship necessary? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Yes. And this time, Arvian neatly patched up the hole, didn’t he?”

“Patching it up will solve it? Do you know how painful it is when a hole appears? Uhuhuhuhung… Ah… annoying… Really…”

Now lying flat on the floor in the prayer room as if giving up on everything, Ermeldin looked at Noktavius with a dissatisfied expression.

“I cannot stop the gods’ plan, but I will send Arvian to the palace as your exclusive priest. If another hole appears, we should be able to patch it up right away.”

Although it sounded like a joke, Ermeldin was quite relieved at the proposal of having a comrade who knew her situation, so she nodded while wearing an uncomfortable expression.

“Yes, I would appreciate that.”

In a dark and spacious room, Ermond sat in a relaxed posture on a chair covered with dense black fur, reading a letter.

Although the indoors were filled with the stench of dying people and horrific screams, Ermond’s leisurely expression seemed as if he were enjoying tea time.

“Hmm. Truly useless as a woman. Henri and Leopold show no interest either.”

Even though her father, Duke François, met a miserable end, the woman who provided useless information survived without paying any price and became a viscountess.

“Tsk. I sent evidence, but why does Henri still keep that woman alive? But still, she won’t be entirely useless. It seems she might be able to commit murder herself if pushed too far rather than just being a burden.”

After a brief contemplation, Ermond dipped the pen into ink and began writing a reply.

‘Push her further. The more seriously she misunderstands, the better. Inflate her expectations to the maximum. The more despairing, the more effective.’

Originally, unless Henri stepped forward, Ermond planned to eliminate Vallier himself.
However, her thoughts changed after hearing that Henri had pensioned off the woman who lost the child.

A wounded soul is easily tainted by evil, and the deeper the grudge, the stronger the curse becomes.

“I hope I won’t disappoint this time.”

“The king is looking for you.”

Ermond, handing over the official documents to the messenger, quickly wiped the relaxed smile from his face upon hearing the words of the royal guard.

Since the failed assassination of Ermeldin, the King of Prianthon had been incessantly pressuring him.

“Did he summon me?”

Despite Ermond’s courteous greeting, deep wrinkles still creased the king of Prianthon’s forehead.

“The curse? When will the curse be complete? How long do I have to endure the sight of that detestable lineage ruling like an emperor!”

The king, already looking towards old age, had deep vertical wrinkles like burdens on both cheeks.

“A large-scale curse cannot be accomplished overnight. It requires many ingredients and a lot of time.”

“As for ingredients, haven’t they already overflowed in the warehouse?”

“Of course. However, it’s still premature. We must wait for Leopold to start his actions and the military forces at the border to move towards the capital.”

“Is the curse certain to be activated?”

“Yes. I’ve devoted considerable effort to it. However, in case anything goes wrong, I am thoroughly prepared.”

“Prepared?”

At the king of Prianthon’s question, a cruel and sharp smile appeared on Ermond’s face.

“Yes. When the time comes, Trivian will crumble both from within and outside.”

Ermond’s ashen eyes, recalling that day, emitted a chilly light, shining with an icy glint.