Merem, clutching his chest as if it would burst, confessed again as if he were vomiting.

“I love you, Leo.”

This was an ecstasy as if lightning had struck. It seemed like he now understood why scholars around the world spent their lives searching for truth in the same field.

Although he believed he knew the truth that there was no one else in his world but her, it was not true. Merem admitted his arrogance and spat out very old self-loathing from deep within.

Since his god had forgiven his sins, he was now reborn with a renewed spirit.

After capturing the assassin Gabriel, things progressed rapidly. Sookrell first pointed out that everything he had done was at the behest of the Foreign Minister Gallahan. Of course, Gallahan vehemently denied it, but when Gabriel’s confession followed, he couldn’t hold out any longer.

In the politics happening in the palace, the severity of the crime was not essential. It was just a mud fight over who wins and who loses. Foreign Minister Gallahan was executed. His entire family had their assets confiscated, and they were all reduced to commoners.

As the official record of the Empress’s assassination incident, the temple side also quickly gave their testimony, although he would have to wipe out everyone associated with them later after I ascended to the throne.

Thus, the conclusion of this incident was reached.

“Thank you. Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“You’re welcome. However, be cautious as there may be those pursuing you. It’s best to cross the border as quickly as possible.”

“I will!”

And then, Sookrell secretly left the palace, having received some reward from me. With Shail’s help, he would safely escape through the chaotic eastern territories into the Seven Kingdoms.

The now somewhat organized Empress’s palace felt very empty.

“Maybe it’s because it was bustling for a while and suddenly everyone left.”

Shail was a person who couldn’t be in the Empress’s palace all along. There was too much to do, and there were too many people looking for him.

And that was the same for Merem.

Although Lydia was not yet so close to me, and considering the atmosphere still settling within the palace, she was not a suitable companion for various conversations.

Terrion, being naturally quiet and having difficulty waking up early in the morning, was challenging to see during the day. He had a habit of reading books until three or four in the morning, making it difficult to catch a glimpse of his face during the day.

Therefore, when everyone was busy with their respective tasks, it wasn’t so bad when Sookrell came and chatted, but now, where could this hostility be released?

“I’m here.”

The voice came from behind me as I absentmindedly looked out the window.

It was Pybel’s voice, low and locked.

“Are you back?”

“Yes. I put my hand in the boiling sulfuric water myself. It was fun to press down on the creature trying to crawl up.”

On the day of the execution, Pybel took leave.
Devils cannot attack humans as they please, but they are free to torment the souls of already deceased sinners in hell. Perhaps Pybel spent his entire vacation tormenting them as a way to vent his frustrations. If the assassin who killed Charlotte had even the slightest connection, Pybel couldn’t escape being the target of his wrath. Well… if they were truly innocent without any guilt, they wouldn’t have ended up in hell in the first place, so it could be seen as their just desserts.

“Then there are few obstacles left for you to become the emperor.”

“That seems to be the case.”

At Pybel’s words, I nodded casually.

“With the Foreign Minister dead in this incident, the emperor’s faction is in turmoil.”

“The nobles in the emperor’s faction will be busy for a while.”

“If you don’t want to get involved and die with them, you should learn the aesthetics of silence.”

All that remains are Enrique, Helene, and Belliforda. I’ve already thought about the stage for them. Belliforda even kindly sent an invitation.

“I’ll deal with Enrique in the Tarhan Marsh.”

So he can’t run around like a partridge anymore.

“Report that there is a demon lurking in the Tarhan Marsh. It needs to be eliminated because the demon enters the human body and mimics humans. I’m the only one who can recognize it.”

“Excellent judgment, Your Majesty.”

Pybel deeply bowed towards me.

I quietly tapped on the window.

‘Unexpectedly, I have too many things on my plate now.’

Without me, they would all be mercilessly cut down by the enemy’s blade. So, for now, I couldn’t return as a demon.

‘Human life is short.’

Leaving them and afterward…

Merem’s hair turning white, the once smooth skin now wrinkled, the firm waist bending slightly. Still, wouldn’t that be fine?

I closed my eyes, basking in the sunlight.

“I love you, Leo.”

Then, somewhere, I heard Merem’s voice.

Following that, the slender shoulders and the face with a trembling smile appeared in my mind.

Looking at him confessing sincerely towards me, I, too, realized.

That I couldn’t abandon this child.

So, in the end, I compromised.