Chapter 7. Human or Devil

If the past seasons spent with someone linger like ghosts and are unforgettable, what expectations should one have for the remaining life?

All precious things are left in the past.

Inside the dimly lit bedroom where not a single candle was lit, Enrique, who had even let the curtains fall, sat on the edge of the bed, clutching his head.

“Your Majesty, it seems that your body is not in good condition, so I have prepared warm tea and medicine.”

Even now, his trembling body reveals that his condition is not good.

Currently, the only person who could enter the Emperor’s bedroom was the loyal court physician, Elbert.

“What on earth happened there?”

“…….,”

Worries were written all over his wrinkled face. However, Enrique didn’t say a word.

What could he possibly say?

Should he say that his first deceased wife has come back by his own hands?

Or should he say that the demon he sent to hell has resurrected?

Or perhaps, the one he betrayed has reappeared with the face of the Empress.

None of them make any sense.

‘Since when.’

There was only one sentence floating around in Enrique’s mind.

‘Since when was the Empress Astaroth?’

Certainly, she was not at the beginning of the marriage. Not only could he not feel the scent of magic, but she seemed to be a different being altogether.

He became aware of the Empress’s change a few years ago, after the summit meeting where he presented a dagger in the desert country.

However, even then, the magical scent was not as strong as it is now.

‘Did she put on the Empress’s body to regain her strength?’

In theology, demons were beings higher than demons, not just creatures.

They lived based on the demonic realm, ruling over demons and using special powers.

Hell, a prison of seven layers existing in the demonic realm, was said to be governed by the seven most powerful overlords among the demons.

Each layer of hell was filled with sinners, and their souls suffered endlessly. The overlords, at the level of lords, tempted humans to drop more souls into hell to satisfy their never-ending torment.

‘Basically, demons fulfill desires through contracts with humans and take souls as compensation.’

Enrique knew how much Leonarda loved him. He also knew that this love had degenerated into hatred, suspicion, jealousy, and envy.

He knew, but he didn’t care.

After all, she would soon die, whether or not he had a puppet sitting in the Empress’s seat.

He had never seen Leonarda as someone who survived.

Even with her overlapping with him, it seemed no different from chopping wood.

He carried out his duties without emotions, leaving Leonardo, who was struggling to breathe, outside the door, and the moment he stepped out into the hallway, he forgot about the Empress.

It was only that much significance, and only that much value.

So, he never looked deep into the Empress.

It was a clear mistake.

Everything she accomplished in the Empress’s palace was not something ‘that Leonarda’ could have done in the first place.

“……Ha.”

Hooduk.
Raindrops poured outside the window. Enrique, who had been sitting still, stiffened and shuddered at the sound of rain, shaking his shoulders until the tea brought by the court physician cooled.

‘If it’s really Astaroth… what should I do?’

He wanted to deny it. He wanted to believe that Astaroth was merely showing great intentions to the Empress.

But how could he forget the lingering scent of cinnamon that clung faintly?

It was a scent that had always come from her.

“Your Majesty, I apologize for disturbing your contemplation. The Saint has arrived.”

At the call of the court physician, Enrique lowered his hands powerlessly.

With bloodshot eyes, he headed towards the door.

Helene.

Yes, there was Helene.

She instigated her to betray… the culprit.

“Tell her to leave.”

He didn’t want to meet her now.

Because he couldn’t even estimate how angry he would get just by looking at Helene’s face.

“Step aside. I have something to say!”

“But Her Majesty said she won’t meet. Lady Saint. Lady Saint!”

“Step back. How dare you lay a hand on my body!”

Bam!

At the sharp cry, the door was forcefully thrown open.

Ignoring the opposition of the court physician, the woman who appeared had hair like spring flowers but a face that had turned pale like a corpse.

“Enrique! How could you do this to me!”

“……We were supposed to meet tomorrow, Helene.”

“For a week, you disappeared without a word… is that what you have to say to me now? I didn’t even know where you went. I just had to wait for you endlessly!”

Thud, thud.

Tears fell like beads from her large eyes.

Even though she cried so pitifully with her frail body, Enrique didn’t move.

Because he didn’t feel any reason to get up and hug her or console her.

“We are each other’s only ones. Even if we have new lovers, we promised to prioritize each other.”

When Enrique didn’t move, Helene cried even more pitifully.

The courtiers, who didn’t know what to do, eventually closed the door and left at the Emperor’s gesture.