I Will Live for Your Death - Chapter 133

There’s nothing more thrilling than catching humans in the act of cheating.

He entered with a smirk, like someone who had witnessed an amusing sight.

“I deeply apologize for interrupting your fun.”

“You! Who are you? How does a foreigner know about this place!”

“That’s not the issue right now. Did you know your fiancée is furious?”

The situation unfolded more interestingly than expected. Apparently, he had enjoyed a tryst with a new woman he met at the ball, despite having a fiancée.

“You garbage! You said you were single!”

The woman shouted. The man’s pleading voice could be heard, but it was useless. Soon after, a slap rang out – a perfect ending.

Awen stepped aside from the doorway. The sound of an angry woman storming out followed.

“Why are you glaring at me? Being too greedy will only bring you trouble.”

The man was seething, so agitated he couldn’t even properly fix his loosened waistband. It seemed his pride was especially wounded hearing the truth from another handsome man.

“It looks like quite an interesting scene unfolded outside. If you don’t leave now, you’ll miss it.”

Awen shrugged and tossed out the words casually.

This was also directed at the other couple still in the room. Awen’s sunset-colored eyes flashed sharply towards the wall on the other side.

‘They hid their presence quite well, but…’

It wasn’t quite enough to escape a sorcerer’s detection. A blue light entered Awen’s leisurely gaze as he scanned the wall.

‘Oh ho, it’s that gentleman from the jewelry shop.’

The bold man who had approached the Empress first to request a dance.

It was exactly as Lindein had said. There was a formidable opponent in the Empire.

Since becoming sworn brothers with Lindein, Awen felt his brother’s agitation for the first time. He could still vividly recall the tension in Lindein’s eyes when he told him to watch the mercenary captain who had danced with the Empress.

And it was unexpected that the person with him was the Empress. To think they would be together in such an enclosed space, just the two of them, hiding their presence.

‘I can pretty much guess what kind of relationship they have.’

Lebel slowly exhaled, wary of the suspicious Eastern sorcerer. He was grateful for the incident at the jewelry shop, but now he had to be careful not to let any words slip out.

The eyes of the two men sizing each other up – one trying to hide, the other trying to uncover – were comparable to predators.

Eventually, Awen turned around pretending not to notice and left the secluded room. His laughter floating over their carefully concealed presence was an added touch.

Lebel muttered as he listened to the fading footsteps.

“He’s gone.”

“…He doesn’t seem to be leaving us alone though.”

“I apologize. Please wait until he’s completely gone.”

He didn’t need to be so cautious. Perhaps Lebel wanted to savor this moment a little longer under the pretext of the suddenly intruding Awen. Ilarid held her tongue and leaned into his embrace.

“…I don’t mind if I’m discovered. But for Your Majesty, it’s not time yet.”

Lebel desperately offered an excuse. If by chance the scene of Ilarid with an unfamiliar man was discovered, she would fall into scandal in an instant.

And recently, his ability to conceal himself had weakened considerably. He wanted to avoid causing trouble for Ilarid due to a lapse in concentration.

Ilarid gently patted his back to reassure him.

“It’s alright now. By the way… when did you hide a weapon?”

It was an innocent question. She casually placed her hand on Lebel’s thigh, thinking it must be a weapon used for assassination jobs without giving it much thought.

But Lebel flinched in surprise and pulled his body away.

“Lebel”

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty…”

His expression, which had been on guard until now, crumbled in an instant. Lebel lowered his gaze and then bowed his head all the way to the floor. For some reason, his ears were turning redder and redder.

“It’s… not a weapon.”

“Then, what on earth…”

Only then did Ilarid realize she had touched something incredible with her hand. How could that exist in that location?

A few seconds passed. She sat down in front of Lebel, swallowing a scream in the silence. A hot sensation mercilessly seared her palm.

But burying her face in her hands wouldn’t undo what she had done.

Ilarid barely managed to apologize in a small voice.

“I’m sorry… I really didn’t know…”

“…It’s alright.”

She couldn’t have imagined it would be in such a place. To exaggerate a little, it was like having an extra leg on his thigh.

Only after looking away and fanning herself a few times was she able to calm her cheeks that had flushed from the embarrassing situation.

“I should go out now. It seems something has happened outside.”

Could the Empress Consort have arrived? If so, it was a very opportune time. People would be adequately intoxicated, and Cledius would likely have finished his discussions and come out by now.

“It would be better to leave with some time in between.”

“Right.”

The words flowed naturally, but their eyes could not. The embarrassing incident scattered their gazes here and there.

Lebel was barely able to calm himself by looking at the green flash shining on Ilarid’s neck.

The great events to unfold in the future, moments that could become trials. He had to keep recalling the honor of being able to wield a sword while staying by Ilarid’s side.

And the love Ilarid had given him, full of warmth.

He took a shallow breath and went ahead of Ilarid to open the door for her.

As Ilarid stepped outside, she lightly grasped Lebel’s hand on the doorknob.

“…I’ll wait.”

It was still too regretful to part like this. Lebel left a brief kiss on her lips, as if signing above the promise.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ilarid kept looking back. Her hesitant steps gradually quickened, and soon she moved forward vigorously, growing smaller and smaller in the distance.

Now he was left alone in the empty room.

The commotion that was said to have occurred outside was likely related to the Empress Consort, as Ilarid had mentioned.

There were issues with the Gloria Foundation to resolve, as well as matters that had returned to square one.

After today, he would have to go out briefly to contact members of the Ash Hawk and receive reports on the foundation’s situation. And with the new figures that had appeared from the Eastern Continent, it was uncertain how they would become entangled…

Cough.

A thick cough erupted along with sudden pain in his chest. Lebel naturally covered his mouth with his hand as he sank down.

And the moment he removed his hand, his face turned pale.

A dark red bloodstain was clearly visible on the black glove.

Damn it. He clenched his fist tightly. Why? He tried to find the cause, but what reason could there be for an illness? Perhaps the accumulated time had made Lebel sick.

If not that, then he may have been exposed to a toxic substance without realizing it.

Lebel barely suppressed his wavering emotions. It’s not time yet. Just a little more, even if only for a short while, he needs to hold on. He wiped his reddened mouth as he stood up.

Now it’s time to follow Ilarid again.

**

It was the height of the ball. The Empress Consort’s sudden appearance was enough to shock people.

There were even rumors that she had been confined, but what was this imposing stance? Though she looked a bit thinner than before, it was nothing thanks to her makeup and jewelry.

Behind Selina, the Viscountess of Geminia followed, barely suppressing her joy with twitching lips.

Selina, adorned in splendor, entered the center of the ballroom. Her white dress, prepared who knows when, shone more brilliantly than anyone else in the hall.

She began to imagine the praises that would soon come her way as she trampled each murmuring sound.

“Your Majesty the Emperor.”

Cledius’s face immediately crumpled upon seeing Selina enter. When had the Empress’s confinement been lifted? He had thought she would be locked up in the Empress’s Palace at least until the ball, but it seemed Ilarid had no such intention.

Selina lightly ignored Cledius’s displeasure and offered a proper greeting.

“…So the confinement has ended.”

He muttered glumly and turned away from the Empress Consort. He had neither words nor feelings left to say or stay any longer.

Selina raised her chin as she watched the Emperor’s indifferent back. The Viscountess of Geminia behind her took the lead first.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty the Emperor!”

At that signal, Selina stepped forward to match the Viscountess’s words.

Everyone looked confused, but some seemed to have grasped the situation and hurriedly prepared to come forward.

“The Empress Consort is with child!”

It was a bombshell announcement. The ballroom was engulfed in shock and astonishment. Cledius’s steps, which had been moving away without much interest, came to an abrupt halt.

“…What?”

It couldn’t be. A massive crack appeared in Cledius’s once-perfect world.

But the tone and eyes of Selina and the Viscountess of Geminia were by no means false. Selina slowly walked towards the frozen Cledius. Her signature innocent smile spread across her face.

Lindein, who had been watching this noisy commotion, narrowed his eyes as well.

The Empress Consort. She wasn’t a figure he had particularly kept in mind.

It was natural, given that the Empress Consort’s existence was more for the social affairs and pleasure of the imperial family rather than political purposes.

But if such an Empress Consort had conceived an imperial heir, the situation would flow differently.

He had heard that the current Empress had been unable to conceive for several years.

‘An Empress Consort with an heir in this situation.’

And he had heard that the pro-Emperor nobles were rallying around the Empress Consort’s father, Duke Diobe. Now they would become even more tightly knit around the Empress Consort.

Then Pegeia would have to make different plans as well. Where would the next power in the Empire be directed?

The nobles of the Empire also busily racked their brains. And they looked around, searching for Duke Diobe, the Empress Consort’s father.

Now it was clear that the flow of power would revolve around Selina and Duke Diobe.

“What’s going on?”

At the elegant voice, those gathered parted like the sea.

At the end stood Ilarid.

The Empress who would no longer have any power due to the Empress Consort’s pregnancy. Look at those gloomy black clothes. An unfortunate figure living a lifetime in sorrow, with life covered in the color of death. Selina gazed directly at Ilarid with a sneer.

‘The only people left by the Empress’s side are all like broken baskets.’

The daughter of a fallen noble family, a sister who was practically expelled from the Diobe family, and the second daughter of a meritorious family who entered as the Empress’s backing.

And even that gloomy, unpleasant mercenary.

None of them would even come close to Cledius and Selina’s fingertips. Ilarid would probably watch with a shattered expression. Selina was fully prepared to vividly witness the Empress’s crumbling face.

“Empress Consort…”

Ilarid, who had been murmuring quietly, approached Selina. The Empress’s face, which had seemed blurry like a foreign substance before her eyes, gradually became clearer.

“Congratulations, Empress Consort!”

Ilarid exclaimed in a highly excited voice. And she hugged the Empress Consort tightly. A joyful scream pierced Selina’s ears.

‘What…?’

Faced with this sudden expression of delight, Selina had to awkwardly hug the Empress back. Then Ilarid embraced Selina and gently patted her back. It was unmistakable kindness.

“The Empress Consort has done a great thing. To conceive an imperial heir, it’s a celebration for the imperial family and a joy for the entire empire.”

Now Ilarid was on the verge of tears. Her lower eyelashes were already moist with tears.

Selina couldn’t add any words. The Empress’s reaction of delight was sincere, without a trace of falsehood.

Ilarid hugged Selina again and looked at Cledius standing stunned on the other side.

Despite the nobles’ congratulatory words, Cledius was just pale, like someone whose world had crumbled beneath his feet.

‘Come on, Cledius.’

A chilling smile involuntarily spread across Ilarid’s lips.

‘The event you so desperately didn’t want has happened. How do you feel?’

Ilarid gradually distanced herself from Cledius in her position as Empress.

He might try to deny and prevent it, but how could he take back what had already happened? It all stemmed from his own misguided greed.

‘Welcome to hell.’

No one else could create it. It was the perfect abyss Cledius had made for himself.