“What does that mean?”

After contemplating for a while, the words I managed to utter were just that. Saying more than that seemed like it would provoke anger.

In the first place, it wasn’t crucial that the Former Emperor was not in a state to make proper judgments. What mattered was how many sacrifices were made due to that judgment.

The Former Emperor’s judgments not only created many victims, including my family, but also turned them into adversaries, facing each other with weapons.

Now, even if I complained about not being in the right mind, to me, all of that sounded like feeble excuses.

“My elder brother was the one who carried out everything, pretending to be the will of the Former Emperor.”

“…….”

“Of course, it’s just a conjecture for now.”

The Emperor had a mischievous smile on his lips. It was his usual light attitude.

However, the gaze looking at me was quite serious.

Just by looking at the expression, it was difficult to definitively distinguish whether the Emperor’s previous statement was true or false.

“For now, Calix and I believe it firmly.”

“…….”

“Calix is siding with me because of that. He’s using me to catch my brother. He still hasn’t forgotten the events of that day.”

He hasn’t forgotten.

I bit my lips. Although the Emperor spoke in a roundabout way, it wasn’t difficult to understand what he intended to convey.

I, too, was in a similar position.

What he hadn’t forgotten was for the sake of revenge.

“But why are you telling me this only now?”

“I needed time to gain trust. Besides, there was no need to put firewood into someone like you, who already burns with the desire for revenge. Now, I can trust you.”

“Well, whether to congratulate you on this or not, you’ve passed my test splendidly. Although you were at risk of being swept away by emotions, in the end, you made a rational judgment.”

“…….”

“Thanks to you, it made me look forward to what comes next.”

The Emperor laughed, but I couldn’t.

If I were truly rational, I wouldn’t have inflicted wounds that didn’t need to be inflicted.

In my gloved hands, the wounds pierced by fragments of a torch were still present.

I didn’t make a rational judgment; I only pondered on how I could make the other suffer.

“Isn’t that so?”

“I’ll leave that part to Your Majesty’s imagination.”

“What a dull answer. Honestly, I thought you would show more anger.”

“There won’t be any.”

“None? Why?”

“I can’t afford that.”

Looking at the surprised Emperor, I twisted my lips.

I hadn’t come here to joke around.

“I have something I would like to propose to Your Majesty.”

“A proposal?”

“In the future, I hope you can mediate the sale of items for me.”

“Why would you need the Emperor’s mediation to sell something?”

“I can’t tell you right now.”

“So you want me to mediate the sale of an item whose identity you can’t reveal to me?”
“Mediate the sale of an item whose identity cannot be known?

The Emperor squinted, but the eyes visible through that expression were filled with curiosity.

“It’s not a bad proposal for Your Majesty.”

“How am I supposed to believe that?”

“Didn’t Your Majesty say so yourself? Trust has been formed between us.”

“To use it like this, it’s tricky.”

Contrary to his words, the Emperor slightly bent his waist with an expression that wasn’t at all awkward. As usual, it was a demeanor filled more with curiosity than embarrassment.

“If you assist me in this matter, Your Majesty will obtain what you desire.”

“Do I even know what I desire?”

“You already mentioned it.”

“If what I think aligns, it will certainly spark interest.”

The Emperor always hoped for the survival of Duke Pheiren. Initially, his interest in me was for that reason.

“All right, then. Step in. What do you want from me?”

“I want to advance the plan.”

“I thought you were making rational judgments, but it seems not.”

“It’s a pity.”

“A pity? What for?”

“After all, people don’t live forever, do they? And at this very moment, our lifespan is decreasing.”

“What does that have to do with it being a pity?”

“As lifespan decreases, the time available to endure suffering also decreases.”

It can’t be easily dismissed. To the extent possible, they must suffer more and be tormented.

I smiled, hands neatly clasped together.

Having become too accustomed to emotions boiling within me, my mind oddly became calm.

“The reason I didn’t get angrier isn’t because I’m not angry. It’s simply because there’s no need for that.”

“No need?”

“I’m already angry, very much so, without having to force it.”

After learning the truth about Merial’s death, I thought deeply.

How can I inflict the greatest pain on the murderer who killed my daughter? And, finally, I arrived at that conclusion.

I must sell off the valuable pawn, my husband.

To the best of my ability, in the most dreadful way.

“Lady Hovan is late.”

“If it’s just being late, you should consider it fortunate.”

Countess Pheota extended her lips with a blunt expression.