In Benjamin’s own mind, he was never tender nor healthy. Not in body, but in spirit or mind. If he had been a tender or healthy person, he would not have harbored such feelings toward Yuri Hsien.

‘I should have… I should have seen.’

The face that smiled as if having the world with a small bouquet of flowers, the mouth that instantly closed when holding hands, the eyes struggling to choose a dress for the longawaited date.

‘I should have been there in every moment when Yuri Hsien Agate Windsor became Yuri Hsien, simply in love.’

How could one with such low and filthy possessiveness and a dark desire to monopolize be tender and healthy?

His love was never pure. If Benjamin was really good and kind, he wouldn’t have told Yuri Hsien the truth in such a painful way.

‘If I had been a little more mature.’

Perhaps he might have left Yuri Hsien to live happily ever in a white lie or protected her from knowing the truth.

Even if it were deception, willingly, if it makes Yuri Hsien happy. Because it doesn’t deny the saying that selfsacrifice through devotion is beautiful.

‘I don’t care if you curse me as vicious.’

As if admitting to himself, Benjamin was cruel. But Yuri Hsien’s love for Heathcliff, mistaking him for Benjamin for the past 15 years, was solid. Benjamin’s love for Yuri Hsien for the past 15 years was just as solid.

The depth of affection held for 15 long years and the depth of obsession held for 15 long years could not easily be compared. The misguided heart had rotted the soul. No matter how much he prayed to the God of Greewishion, the corruption was not washed away.

‘Instead, my thirst for her only deepened.’

The moment he risked his life to save the girl he loved worked as a trigger for her to mistake and love him as someone else.

[Was this place a place of union? A banquet of joy? We have lost the Queen Mother. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has lost his biological mother. This is a place of mourning. We have gathered to share grief.]

The image of Yuri Hsien, speechless at the Empress’s funeral, protecting the Crown Prince, was deeply etched in Benjamin’s retina.

He thought about that image all day long. The gratitude turned into longing, then quickly into fondness.

He said Yuri Hsien would come to the winter tea party. Benjamin was down with a severe cold due to weakened body by poison, but he wanted to see Yuri Hsien, so he snuck out avoiding Calley’s watch. He came out without even knowing what he wanted to say.

It was too shameful to say thank you. It was too impressive to be just embarrassed. He just wanted to see her face. Then he thought some words might come out.

But what Benjamin saw there was not the wideeyed surprise, not the graceful bowing greeting, not the clear laughter at a fluttering word but…

Splash[Dash]!

It was Yuri Hsien sinking to the bottom of the castle’s lake.

He didn’t know what came over him. He had to save her. That was the only thought. He jumped into the lake without a plan, even though he never learned to swim, and shared his breath with her pale, blanched face.

‘Looking back, I wonder where the strength came from to swim holding Yuri Hsien’s hand.’

His body had been so weakened by poison.

[Crown Prince, Your Highness!]

If Calley hadn’t taken Benjamin to the priestess right after pulling Yuri Hsien out of the castle’s lake, he would have died on the spot.

Shortly after Benjamin was out of his delirium, he fled to the temple under the pretext of recuperation. The cruel beast that killed the Emperor and Empress was certainly reaching out to him too.

Fortunately, the temple was a very independent and secluded place. Thanks to that, no one could harm Benjamin, but at the same time, he was completely cut off from the outside world. Benjamin was curious about the outside.

Specifically, Yuri Hsien.
I need to gather my strength. Cali, help me.

Your Highness the Crown Prince, I will serve you to the end of the path you tread.

Not simply surviving through brute force, but to be able to rule. Not to be protected by standing next to the great Windsor, but to be equal. So that Windsor of the Soljeoleon Empire can be safe.

Being a common wizard seemed insufficient. This was why he had taken on the austerity of growing his magic power instead of commoners.

Once Benjamin had recovered his health to some extent, he eradicated the dark house rats that were no longer concerned with the royal palace. This was also when he began to check the empress’s autocracy.

Mitchel and Ivan, the commanders of the 2nd division of Eloniak who were disguised as mercenaries and secretly managed the public order, met at that time.

Mitchel spoke frankly to Benjamin, who had become noticeably robust.

Your Highness, I did not know that you would grow so splendidly. If the Soljeoleon Empire falls into the hands of Her Highness the Empress, in the end, there is only hell. Please allow me to follow you.

Thus, the dark guild Copelador, with wizards, priests, and mercenaries, was founded.