“Calis Argen, the disgrace of the Valont Kingdom, make a grand apology!”

Reporters and residents of the Valont Duchy lined up in front of Duke Argen’s mansion, seeking accountability. The dawn chorus was not the crowing of a rooster but the roar of people. In an attempt to uncover the whereabouts of the reclusive duke, some determined residents invaded the mansion. Since there were no guards to protect the front gate or servants to guard the mansion, there was nothing to fear.

There were no servants who wanted to work for the disgraced duke, so the spacious mansion was as quiet as if it belonged to ghosts. The windows were covered in dust and grime, and a musty smell permeated the mansion.

“Ugh, it’s like a beggar’s den…”

“What’s this smell, exactly?”
The residents wrinkled their noses at the persistent foul smell that pierced through their noses. It was the first time they had encountered such a stench, having been tormented by various odors. The smell worsened as they approached Duke Argen’s room. Even with handkerchiefs covering their noses, some couldn’t help but gag at the intensifying odor.

“Is this really the way to the duke’s bedroom? Why does it look closer to a barn…”

“Oh, yes.”

Among the group gathered to meet Duke Argen, there was even a former servant from the Argen Duchy. The leading servant, who had been at the forefront, stopped in front of the bedroom. Without exerting any force on the door handle, the door suddenly swung open.

A foul odor wafted through the crack in the door. It was the same odor that had disturbed their spirits throughout the corridor. However, the smell emanating from Calis’s room was much stronger than anything they had experienced before. The servant, who had tried to maintain composure, couldn’t endure it this time and retched violently.

“Ugh…”

Dripping saliva and showing signs of disgust, he raised both hands in surrender. A woman who had silently followed behind him pushed a farming tool, soaking the already damp door.

Silently taking the lead, she walked away, relying on a single lantern to navigate the dimly lit room.

“Ack!”

A scream suddenly erupted from the woman who had been silently roaming the room. After the terror-filled scream, she even groaned as if in pain.

The group that had been following her closely was surprised and rushed forward.

“What’s going on!”

In response, the woman pointed at something with a terrified face. Following her trembling fingers, people’s heads turned.

Instinctively, when they brought a candle to that spot, people began to panic.

“…!”

“What is this!”

Although it was an unfamiliar sight, they instinctively knew.

A cold and rigid face. Despite the commotion that had ensued, the body lay straight without a single movement.

It was a corpse.

A body with the cold and indifferent face of Duke Argen.

The death of Duke Argen shocked the world.

His lonely suicide without a single will garnered sympathy from the public, but even in death, he received blame and mockery. The castle of lies built up over a long period collapsed all at once, resulting in a great confession.

The imperial family willingly assisted in the duke’s funeral. The emperor, reflecting on the past mistake, and the emperor’s lover, reminiscing about the old love, offered condolences.

The appointment and dismissal of an honorable knight. The truth and suicide of the hero of the century. Shocking news relentlessly struck the world.

The hero of the century who brought peace to the kingdom and the empire.

The unfortunate hero who was sold to the royal family like a commodity.

Or the business mogul, the genius of fortune, or whatever various names he was called, he was now reduced to only one.

A deceased knight.
All the achievements accomplished, everything itself turned into ashes.

The funeral, which began as soon as the sun rose, didn’t conclude until nightfall. Many people came to the funeral to witness Calis’s end. Of course, it wasn’t a meaningful visit for condolences.

Feeling exhausted after just one day. Whether it was because of the fatigue of dealing with old friends they hadn’t seen in a long time or the journalists who incessantly bombarded with questions, even at the funeral.

Cloé rejected the consideration of the servants who offered to assist with condolences and went straight back to her room.

Kun, busy approving piled-up documents after the hunting festival, was expected to return to his bedroom at bedtime.

Cloé disliked the quiet bedroom and found it unfamiliar.

Since her clothes were dirty, she couldn’t lie on the bed, so she sat blankly in front of the dressing table. Occasionally, she glanced over the mirror, but even that was brief.

Knock, knock.

At a time when the passage of time was immeasurable, silence was broken. A few brief knocks filled the inside.

The only ones who would knock without stating their business were precisely two people from the palace.

Cloé, who had stood up with a rustling sound, opened the door.

“…Jane.”

In front of her, Jane was seen wearing clothes similar to hers.

Upon seeing Cloé, Jane immediately stretched out her arms. Despite her small stature, her two arms were surprisingly large, and Cloé was quickly embraced by her.

A scolding for wandering around so dangerously at this late hour. Concerns about whether she was okay. Questions about why she suddenly did something embarrassing.

Cloé didn’t ask anything.

“Yeah, Jane. It’s all over.”

Instead, she patted the other’s back with a brief murmur.

“We’ve been through a lot all this time…”