‘There’s something that bastard misunderstood.’

Though Tamil was dead, the torture did not disappear. The prison tower was still filled with torture devices said to have been developed by Tamil.

Even if there were no tools, what did it matter? Slowly driving a person to death was a very easy task for Cledius.

The order to arrest and detain Lebel was close to venting his anger.

He had intended to leave him be, since poison was spreading through his body. He’d die soon enough anyway.

But sitting still like this only fueled his rising anger. He felt like he needed to shove a red-hot iron poker into something to extinguish the flames building up inside him.

He would trample him thoroughly. Let him experience the maximum pain possible. Blue veins popped on Cledius’ forehead as he descended into the prison tower.

The torture chamber was still full of moisture. The dark marks left on the walls spoke of what had happened inside.

A brazier emitting an ominous heat in the center, and iron chains haphazardly woven and hanging from the ceiling. Lebel took in all the traces while tied to a chair.

A space where a beast worse than an animal did not treat people as people. Is this my future? He tilted his head back to look at the ceiling. He could fully sense the dark, stuffy torture chamber where not even a point of light properly entered.

Will a place like this someday disappear into history? Can it remain forever preserved as a blemish on the Astrid Empire?

As soon as Lebel was brought here, search personnel were also dispatched to the mercenary camp. They put everyone on the list of suspects, comparing weapons used by the mercenaries with records of outings and movements.

‘Luth…’

It was good that I deliberately put him to sleep. Luth’s already faint presence becomes even more blurred when he falls asleep.

Probably not only will he not be on the list of suspects, but even those who barged in for investigation will forget what I was doing and turn back.

‘I perfectly disposed of all the weapons used and clothes worn at the time.’

It probably would have been burdensome to even attempt without the help of the ‘Gray Hawks’. If I get out, I should thank them separately.

Of course, that’s if I can walk out normally.

As if sensing his inner thoughts, the iron-made door opened noisily and Cledius entered alone.

To think you would personally come to such a humble place. He gave a faint sneer towards Cledius. Though bound and sitting in a space where the smell of blood had not yet faded, Lebel looked rather dignified.

“… You probably know why you’ve been dragged here.”

He pulled a chair for himself to sit on and stood in front of Lebel. He genuinely admired the series of actions shown by the Emperor. Impressive, Your Majesty. You even volunteer for such troublesome tasks if it means properly trampling on one person.

Lebel barely suppressed the urge to sneer and answered in a calm voice.

“I don’t know what you mean, Your Majesty.”

“From last night to dawn. Where were you?”

Lebel did not answer this question immediately. His lips parted slightly as if hesitating, but no words came out.

This bastard clearly knows something. Cledius was certain and reached for the brazier in the middle.

Soon a red-hot iron poker was thrust in front of Lebel. Though the ominous heat came close to his face, he didn’t even blink.

“Did you kill him?”

“I don’t understand. Who died?”

“Don’t test my patience, Lebel. Tamil is dead.”

“I know that Tamil was the torture technician of the prison tower. But I haven’t seen or met him recently. On what grounds do you suspect me?”

Lebel was neither flustered nor indignant. His calm demeanor even evoked the innocent purity of someone who had done nothing wrong.

In contrast to his composed attitude, Cledius’ voice began to tremble with irritation and anger.

“Someone said they saw you leaving the mercenary camp. It was before ten o’clock in the evening.”

“… Last night after finishing evening training, I left the camp for a personal schedule.”

Ten o’clock was the time he went to the Empress’s palace. Fortunately, it seemed Cledius hadn’t tracked his movements after that.

Lebel dropped his gaze downwards, feigning indifference. As if unable to speak, his attitude only aroused the other’s curiosity.

“Personal schedule… Do you know whose presence you’re in to hide the schedule of a mere mercenary?”

“It is not for my lowly mouth to dare speak. Please understand.”

Rational thought had long since evaporated for Cledius. With a sneer, he glared at the mercenary captain who had become his love rival.

“Is that so? Whether you open your mouth or not will depend on what happens next.”

Lebel closed his eyes. It’s just familiar pain anyway. What difference will it make to his future if his body gets one or two more scars? Enduring and surviving is just like everyday life.

Just as the iron poker emitting an ominous heat was about to touch Lebel’s body, there was a commotion in front of the torture chamber door.

“Your Majesty. Excuse me for a moment.”

“… I thought I said not to let anyone in.”

“Well… Her Majesty the Empress has arrived.”

To personally come upon hearing that the ‘Shadow’ has been dragged in. If I torture this man in front of Ilarid, quite a spectacle would unfold. Cledius sneered and put the iron poker back into the brazier.

“I didn’t expect the Empress to come in person to interrogate a criminal. Do you wish to watch this man being tortured? It won’t be a pretty sight.”

“I heard urgent news that the imperial torture technician was murdered. I came because I was worried that Your Majesty seemed highly emotional.”

She was a woman who did not fit at all with the gruesome scenery of the torture chamber. Ilarid did not lose her light even in the dark space. She stepped calmly to stand in front of Lebel.

Cledius, watching Ilarid, suddenly scrunched up his face. The moment in the infirmary when she called Lebel ‘Shadow’ suddenly came to mind.

A cool voice flowed from her neat lips. At first glance, it was so chilly it seemed devoid of even emotion.

“Though Tamil tragically lost his life, to frame an innocent person as the culprit without evidence… Please judge rationally.”

“When I tell him to speak of that evidence, he keeps his mouth shut. He says it’s something he can’t speak of with his lowly mouth, so I intend to make him spill it by burning his body one by one.”

“… He probably couldn’t dare mention it in front of Your Majesty.”

Ilarid’s eyebrows trembled slightly, but Cledius failed to notice. All his nerves were solely focused on framing Lebel as the culprit in this incident.

“Last night, Captain Lebel fulfilled his duty to me as the ‘Shadow’.”

“… What did you say?”

“He was with me from last night until this morning.”

Ilarid finished speaking and turned her head towards Lebel behind her. Being a quick-witted person, he probably knows what words he should say.

Their eyes met and an unspoken signal passed between them. Soon Lebel bowed his head towards the Emperor and Empress.

“It is true, Your Majesty. That I could not detail it with my worthless and lowly mouth… Please bestow your mercy and understand.”

Since Lebel was the Empress’s ‘Shadow’, it was natural in a way.

Act invisibly and don’t stand out too much.

He did exactly as Cledius had instructed Kailem. He even kept his mouth shut so as not to upset the Emperor’s mood.

“Huh… Now you two are conspiring to deceive me.”

Cledius tried to stifle the laughter that erupted helplessly as he covered his mouth. However, Ilarid’s calm demeanor clearly contained the truth.

How many years had they lived together now? Cledius had always observed Ilarid with keen eyes. He clearly remembered the changes in her voice and trembling fingertips when she lied.

In the first place, she was not the type to harbor lies. Wasn’t she a calm and virtuous woman who disliked rough edges?

But what if everything he had observed about Ilarid so far was a lie? What if everything he prided himself on knowing and understanding was all fabricated?

Cracks slowly formed on his arrogant judgment. Even on her face that had always been expressionless, a diagonal line was drawn, revealing a side of darkness.

Ilarid was stronger than Cledius could imagine.

“Your Majesty. How could I possibly lie about any safety?”

She approached closer to Cledius. And whispered into his ear, quietly enough that Lebel couldn’t hear.

“Unlike some, he was gentle yet passionate. Shall I recite one by one how ardent my ‘Shadow’ and I were last night? Is that what it will take for you to remove your suspicions?”

She hadn’t thought such provocation could serve as an alibi. But judging by Cledius’ reaction, it seemed sufficient.

He grabbed Ilarid’s shoulders with a face turned deathly pale.

The red eyes that were always filled with a fishy gaze trembled. Though Ilarid didn’t notice, they even contained a hint of sadness and resentment.

“Ilarid!”

Cledius shouted as he pushed her away. Ilarid staggered for a moment at the rough touch.

He had rarely called her name directly since ascending to the imperial throne. Ilarid frowned but soon regained her balance and straightened her posture.

He picked up the red-hot iron poker from the brazier again. Now it seemed he would only be satisfied if he actually stabbed that into some part of Lebel’s body.

But Ilarid firmly blocked his way. She showed no sign of backing down even if Cledius threatened her.

“… Empress, step aside.”

“I will not.”

Only Ilarid maintained her composure. The two men in the torture chamber glared at each other with sharp tension, looking only at the one woman standing between them.

Their goals of not wanting to hurt her were the same, but the direction of protection was opposite.

Lebel called out to Ilarid in a low voice. A small voice whispering, No, Your Majesty.

In Cledius’ current state, he could easily harm Ilarid. If that iron rod touched her even slightly… He didn’t even want to think about it.

But despite Lebel’s anxious voice, Ilarid did not look back at him.

“The target of Your Majesty’s anger should be the unchaste Empress, so do as you wish.”

A quiet and firm voice. Not much different from the clear and bold voice that Cledius once held in his heart.

Why don’t you crumble? Cledius gripped the iron poker he was holding more tightly.

Usually, seeing such a sight would make one’s legs give out and collapse. Or they would wail and cling to the Emperor’s pant leg.

But Ilarid stepped forward, willing to endure such pain.

For the sake of the ‘Shadow’ who could die within the imperial palace without anyone knowing, perhaps for the sake of her own life that she had endured all this time.

Blood seeped from Cledius’ lips. It was a pitiful struggle trying hard to hold back a crumbling expression.

Soon he let out an indescribable cry and swung the iron poker in his hand. The heated iron was aimed precisely at Ilarid’s face.

“Ilarid!”

“Your Majesty!”

The anguished cries of the two men echoed inside the torture chamber. The smell of burning flesh filled the air as well.

Lebel struggled to free his arms tied behind him, but it was useless. Ilarid standing still in front and the red iron rod stopped right next to her were clear.

The three people remained motionless as if time had stopped. The ominous flames in the brazier flickered their red tongues, indicating that time was flowing normally.

Soon a few strands of silver hair fell at Ilarid’s feet. The hot iron rod had only burned a few strands of her hair, not even coming close to her face.

Despite the threat before her eyes, she stared at Cledius with unwavering eyes.

Those eyes devoid of any emotion. The bright and intense blue light he once wanted to hold in his hand. But now it had changed to a blue light that would open its mouth and devour Cledius.

Cledius immediately threw away the iron rod. With a loud noise, small sparks flew from the floor.

A painful groan escaped his lips. Ilarid calmly observed Cledius’ actions. It was absurd that the person who had wielded the weapon was instead struggling.

Cledius, who had been covering his eyes and steadying his rough breathing, grabbed Ilarid’s wrist and dragged her out of the torture chamber. Ilarid couldn’t even resist the sudden turn of events.