“Ahem. The concerns are significant.”

As the Tüterga incident concluded, the nobles expressed their worries.

“Of all times, during this period when monster activity is starting……”

“They say it’s treason?”

“The head of the family suffered from madness, hmm, nothing good comes from entangling with the imperial family. One should die gracefully, even if old.”

The Tüterga incident was concluded as treason.

Black magic was also a crime akin to treason, and a forbidden art by imperial law, so it wasn’t a lie.

The imperial family had continued the throne through bloodshed for years,

The Tüterga incident was handled by the imperial advisors and intelligence officers.

This matter was quietly buried.

Instead, the few who knew about the internal affairs of the imperial palace were in agony.

“They say black magic manifested. Isn’t that a forbidden art? How much impurity will they carry when buried in the earth……”

The old advisors who were handling the incident groaned in pain.

Black magic bordered on death.

What an impious tale this was!

If one were to die, they should die gracefully in old age.

[This is the timeline separator]

“The Tüterga incident is regrettable.”

And so, the Tüterga incident was concluded.

“This matter will be quietly buried.”

Hanelli dismissed it briefly.

The temple also helped with handling the situation, burying the Tüterga incident.

“It’s right to bury it.”

Charlotte murmured softly, putting aside her thoughts.

“It’s a natural course of action, as the empire cannot afford this chaos right now.”

Charlotte was visiting the temple to finalize the Tüterga incident.

“The Tüterga situation has been concluded, and we can wrap it up here.”

This incident ended with only a few old advisors knowing about it.

“Are you returning to the palace now?”

“I’ve been away for too long, so I should return. Outside, someone……”

Soon, the ordinary priest left, saying he would send word.

“The temple people are mostly quiet.”

“Maintaining dignity is also a virtue of priests, so there’s no need to act carelessly, is there?”

The prayer room door closed again.

Hanelli, straightening her white priest robe, asked Charlotte.

“Do you know why black magic was shunned?”

Charlotte tilted her head and answered.

“Because of death, I suppose.”

“That’s right. Death is an instinctive fear humans have.”

And, black magic governs such death.

“Monsters and black magic are the next issue. The essence of black magic is death. People fear the realm beyond death. Since ancient times, people have believed that if a soul is tainted by black magic, that soul cannot be saved.”

Hanelli spoke while lighting a candle.

“The nobles won’t get involved in this matter.”

Hanelli was already certain.

“They’ll fear their own deaths too. The higher the noble’s status, the older they are, the more sensitive they are to their own death.”

It was a direct manner of speaking, far from befitting the position of High Priest.

“…Because of the belief that it touches death?”

“Strictly speaking, it’s because of the superstition that they won’t be saved after death. Who knows? The dead don’t speak. If someone were to say, ‘Ah, my soul wasn’t saved,’ after death, who would hear it?”

It was quite a realistic perspective.

However, it wasn’t the kind of talk one would expect from a High Priest.

“No one would hear.”

At that moment, Hanelli looked directly at Charlotte.

“Didn’t you hear?”

“……”

“Hmm, my tongue nearly got cut off.”

Hanelli bled from her mouth.

“There are many restrictions on speech due to the taboo. Consider it the shackles of the temple.”

“……I should be careful.”

“Please keep this from His Holiness the Pope. Lately, his blood pressure has been rising, and he often seeks blood pressure medication. He’s suffering a lot in his old age. It would be nice if His Holiness could go somewhere sunny for recuperation, but……”

Hanelli packed concern and worry into one mouthful with her irreverent speech. The conversation ended there.

“Take care as you go.”

The priest who had left earlier returned.

“May God’s protection be with you.”

[This is the timeline separator]

“No one hears, huh……”

“What do you mean?”

Catarina, who had accompanied as a guard, asked.

“I wonder who hears the stories after I’m dead.”

“After death, isn’t that the end?”

“I thought so too, but……”

I thought it would end when I died. There’s nothing I can do after that.

On that day when I faced death, I think I told myself the same thing.

However, death wasn’t the end.

If death were the end, the presence of Charlotte standing here couldn’t be explained.

“Your Majesty. Your Majesty?”

The carriage had arrived. The horses stopped in front of the imperial palace, and the carriage door opened.

The guard extended his arm, saying the step was high.

“Are you alright?”

“……I’m going to His Majesty.”

The head chamberlain poked the sides of the attendants, and one attendant ran to the emperor’s office to announce their arrival.

Charlotte followed them.

‘Haa.’

She seemed to know what was waiting at the end. The avoidance so far had ended, and now it was time to face it herself.

−Click

The office door opened.

“The rest of you, close the door and leave.”

Benjamin, who had been listening to the strategist’s report, put down the documents.

“It seems you have something urgent to discuss, is that alright?”

Charlotte steadied her breath. Her breath slowly stopped, and her gaze fell on the documents placed on the side table.

‘House Beber.’

She seemed to have seen the writing.

“House Beber……”

It was so careless.

Full of gaps, and if the perspective had been broadened just a bit, the result might have been different.

I, who had no reason to die, died there.

‘What did you do to me.’

Her fingertips turned pale.

She clenched her whitened fists tightly.

Her nails dug into her skin with a grating sound.

“May I see it?”

Benjamin pushed the documents towards her.

[Traces of House Beber’s head/sub-head have disappeared.]

House Beber’s traces had also disappeared.

Charlotte slowly put down the documents.

“Have you finished?”

Benjamin covered the documents. He flipped over the file folder with a straight hand, hiding it from Charlotte’s view.

“……Did you track House Beber?”

“Hmm. The mistress of House Beber died of illness twice. The first wife died a year after giving birth to the sub-head, and the second wife also died of illness shortly after the wedding.”

Benjamin narrowed his eyes.

“Both mistresses died with stiffened bodies, and their deaths were easily buried.”

Benjamin came closer and cupped Charlotte’s chin.

“Charlotte.”

Their gazes locked firmly.

She felt captivated. It was hard to erase that feeling.

“Take a deep breath.”

“……”

“There’s no one here who will harm you.”

He spoke as if he knew something.

[This is the timeline separator]

More time passed. Though intelligence officers spread out to various places, the traces of those people were still not found.

The criminals dealt with black magic,

Finding black magic users who had gone underground was beyond human capability.

“The current situation has been settled for now.”

Rosquella reported, putting down the documents.

“For black magic to fully manifest, it will take more time.”

“How much more time is expected?”

“The effective period would be as long as the covenant holds. If they had broken the covenant, it wouldn’t be this quiet. Black magic, by its very existence, disrupts norms.”

Rosquella carefully asked.

“How is the Empress?”

“She’s fine.”

“Is she really fine? By ‘fine’, you mean……”

“She’s not showing it.”

She killed her emotions.

It was natural, as she had always been.

“She resembles you.”

“Who?”

“Your Majesty. She’s similar yet different.”

Rosquella carefully asked.

“Will it be alright?”

“……”

“They are direct blood relatives.”

He spoke gravely, putting down the documents.

“Black magic is not a light crime. It’s a practice strictly forbidden by both temple doctrine and imperial law. According to past imperial regulations, it’s a crime punishable by the extermination of three generations and the denial of one’s existence.”

House Tüterga was branded as heretical. House Tüterga was the Empress’s direct family.

Even if the Empress wasn’t registered with House Tüterga, there was enough reason to hold her responsible along with the family.

“Even if she’s left the family register, it’s still the same.”

That’s how blood ties work.

“Rumors will follow in parallel.”

It wasn’t time to stay quiet. It wasn’t a matter to keep silent about.

“What do you plan to do?”

“The imperial family should be the pillar that maintains the balance of the empire correctly, and such a pillar should maintain its center. If the imperial family loses its center, the outside chaos will be amplified.”

The weight of that crime is heavy. The national law is strict, and the punishment should be heavy as well.

“We should kill the criminals to uphold the norms properly.”

The Empress is maintaining her center well. There’s not even a slight waver.

She just looks a bit lonely.

She has fully fulfilled her duty as Empress.

“She’s acting too nonchalant.”

Benjamin waved his arm.

Having finished his work in the office, Benjamin took off his glasses. Time continued to flow. He pressed his eyelids firmly.

Fatigue gradually crept in. As if telling him to wrap up for the day and tidy up, fatigue pushed at his back.

The imperial palace lobby was quiet.

Benjamin stood still in the lobby.

He silently followed someone.

A long corridor stretched out in the imperial palace lobby.

Charlotte was standing there.

A red carpet was laid out in the corridor, and several attendants were passing by.

When Benjamin waved his arm, the attendants left as well.

“Charlotte.”

He familiarly called Charlotte’s name.

“Why again.”

Why are you doing this again,

He swallowed the rest of his words.

Somehow, it felt like he was scolding the Empress.

The corridor stretched straight, and the nearby presences left one by one.

The two just stared ahead silently.

Then, a shallow sigh escaped from her red lips.

“My ankles feel heavy.”

“……”

“I just walked for a bit.”

She trailed off.

“It must have been my imagination.”

Charlotte shook her head slightly.

“Why did you send the attendants away?”

“I thought it would be more comfortable for you.”

“To be alone?”

“Why do you talk as if you’re alone when I’m here beside you?”

She took slow steps.

The red carpet stretched out long.

Her thin body was as light as a feather. However, that didn’t mean her steps were light.

Charlotte tilted her head languidly. Her small lips mumbled to herself.

“Somehow, my ankles seem to be getting heavier……”

As she walked out on the red carpet, the blanket draped over her shoulders fell limply.

“Charlotte.”

Benjamin called out to her from behind.

“Charlotte Visennov.”

Charlotte turned her head to look back at Benjamin. Benjamin, who had come close, draped the blanket over Charlotte’s shoulders.

“Hold on.”

“……”

“Don’t walk alone.”

Benjamin gestured with his chin, pointing to his hand.

“Where do you want to go?”

After a brief silence, she asked back.

“……You seem to know something, yet not. Why don’t you ask?”

“You’re looking at me with an expression that suggests you might burst into tears at any moment. It doesn’t make sense for me to pry into you.”

Charlotte shook her head.

“Right now, you look like you’re about to shatter yourself into pieces, and if you’re going to die, you’d drag them down with you.”