“Just order it to be brought in the name of the emperor.”

“That’s plundering!”

“It’s also good to release the military to search all the temples in the country. Wouldn’t something come out if we search from the underground cellar to the spire?”

“That’s looting. Sigh…”

It was indeed a good thing that I didn’t speak to Nikolai first.

Messing with religious groups is so dangerous.

“Do we need to gather Moracian relics?”

“When I got the first relic, I received such a demand. So, I embarked on a treasure hunt that wasn’t in the palmistry.”

“The third and fourth too, I suppose…”

“I’m curious too.”

I grumbled, shaking my wrists, which were tense due to the rope.

Nikolai cut the rope for me.
Tearing off the kingfisher protruding from under the hem, as if plucking it off effortlessly.

He now keenly realized that Nikolai was no less skilled than Claudia.

Rubbing his wrist, he asked with pursed lips.

“If it weren’t for the white light, there wouldn’t have been this trouble. If it had possessed me, it would have ended there. Why give me a mission? What’s this about the soul annihilation flag?”

Righteous deceased.

That was the name the white light had given me.

It was true that in my past life, I had sacrificed my oxygen respirator to a child.

But it was just letting go of life with a feeling of reckless abandon.

No matter how you looked at it, it wasn’t a righteous death.

What was Moracenia thinking?

“It seems like you’ve been chosen by the goddess.”

Nikolai said in a serious tone.

“Only you can use the relic. It’s hard to explain unless a transcendent being interfered.”

“…This is the worst.”

“The goddess of healing is not as benevolent as the world thinks. Authoritarian, eccentric, and sometimes exploits others’ lives as she pleases.”

Nikolai’s voice lowered as if he were revealing an anecdote.

“The Sun Emperor defeated the underworld flower with the help of Moracenia, didn’t he?”

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch in the world. The same goes for the believers. I know it well. They demand a price more thoroughly than humans.”

“Did the Sun Emperor pay the price?”

Although I searched through many theological books, I had never read such history.

I had only praised the dedication of the Sun Emperor and the greatness of Moracenia.

“You dedicated your life, as well as your son’s and the lives of future generations, to the goddess. As a price for blocking and monitoring the underworld flower.”

The blood vessels on Nikolai’s neck became more visible.

Anger, resentment, frustration, and many other emotions flickered through his eyes.

“Your life, your son’s, and the future generations… Does that mean Nikolai and Franz? What does it mean to dedicate one’s life?”

I agreed a hundred times with the saying that there is no free lunch in the world.

The white light had treated me the same way.

Although packaged as a special reward, it was nothing more than a threat, saying, ‘If you don’t want to die, find the relic.’

Even so, I never expected the goddess to oppress the royals.

“I heard that the underworld flower disappeared, why is surveillance still needed?”

“That’s…”

“Could it be that the underworld flower might become popular again?”

Nikolai’s complexion turned pale.

I had seen this face before.

Claudia and Simon’s duel arena.

When I was standing by the fence and the duel resumed after it collapsed, he had the same expression as he does now.

“Could it be that Simon was affected by the underworld flower?”

Nikolai’s eyes twitched.

It couldn’t be ignored what that meant.

Simon’s death, which he didn’t even explain.

The fate of the royals who had to be swayed by Moracenia.

All of it hinted at the resurgence of the underworld flower.

“Is this why the white light chose me?”

A dizzying vertigo swept over me.

The reason for collecting Moracenia’s relics seemed vaguely revealed.

Soldiers stood in front of the Netton Marquis Mansion.

Although Douglas was currently on leave, the soldiers didn’t stop Claudia.

Even if a ban on visitors had been issued, it would be impossible to stop the newly promoted Imperial Star Knight Commander.

Douglas came out to greet Claudia in the garden.

“Your complexion doesn’t look good.”

Claudia spoke sarcastically before exchanging greetings.

Douglas responded with a subtle smile.

“It’s because of the tasteless food.”

“Is it because of Elizabeth?”

“Do you think I live my life thinking only about Elizabeth?”

“Wasn’t it?”

“Don’t underestimate me, Radia.”

Returning alone without Elizabeth would undoubtedly make him feel bitter.

Claudia, who still looked at Douglas only when he was looking at Elizabeth, felt bitter.

“It’s surprising that Her Majesty didn’t send you to the Ice Tower.”

“If Elizabeth hadn’t defended me, who knows what would have happened.”

“Neither Elizabeth nor Her Majesty belongs to the category of those who do foolish things.”

“Do you trust both of them?”

A shadow crossed Douglas’s expression.

Claudia frowned as if she felt uncomfortable.

It’s not blindly trusting.

“Just the fact that you said you would support me makes me happy.”

“What’s there to be happy about?”

“I can’t not be happy when my friend Radia is setting off on an adventure. Farewell to His Highness the Crown Prince as well.”

Douglas seemed relieved.

Claudia didn’t laugh at Douglas’s joke.

“What I want is reform. If Her Majesty is sincere, I will protect the Eberay Imperial Family.”

“If you make a mistake?”

“I will bear the sin of assassinating the lord for the rest of my life.”

“Now that Radia has made up her mind, I don’t have to worry about the future of the Empire. Farewell, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Douglas’s expression showed relief.

Claudia was uncomfortable with his consistent kindness and sincerity.

“Fool. If you want to take Elizabeth, it would be better to remove Her Majesty from the throne.”

“Am I so famous for being a fool?”

“Don’t joke, Douglas.”

“I sincerely mourn Elizabeth, Radia.”

I know.

So there’s no need to awaken those feelings with such a gaze again.

Claudia bit the inside of her lip.

Douglas’s gaze was too clear.

His feelings for Elizabeth were too straightforward.

And Claudia, envious of Elizabeth monopolizing Douglas’s love, was going crazy.

“Even if she doesn’t admit it, Elizabeth also dreams of reform. She hopes for the safety of Her Majesty and His Highness. I only wish for the same.”

“Pitiful.”

“That may be true.”

Knowing that she couldn’t have something truly pitiful, Claudia continued to look only at Douglas.

‘Douglas can’t assassinate Her Majesty to have Elizabeth. But for my goal, I can eliminate Elizabeth.’

Elizabeth, with both arms outstretched in a vulnerable state, came to mind.

The transparent skin with visible blood vessels and the slender neck.

It was also easy to imagine the blood spewing from that neck.