“What in the world is this sudden calamity!”

A commotion erupted within the imperial palace.

The palace staff had felt relieved, believing that with Ileon as Emperor, no more assassinations would occur.

However, two high-ranking ministers who had followed Ileon were found dead at the same time, in the palace garden.

The ministers trembled in fear.

If the two most prominent figures had been killed, then perhaps they would be next.

“Who on earth could have committed such a mad act all of a sudden!”

The knight, who had been staring at the corpses for some time, shook his head and spoke.

“It seems somewhat unreasonable to assume this was murder.”

At the knight’s words, the ministers could not hide their outrage and shouted.

“How can that be? Two perfectly healthy men yesterday are now dead—surely they weren’t murdered?”

“One of them was even the hunting tournament champion! Speak up if you have a mouth! Would such a man take his own life?”

“This autopsy is utterly ridiculous! Summon Duke Calypso immediately!”

The knight replied, pressing one hand to his forehead in visible discomfort.

“There are no stab wounds, nor any signs of poison. There isn’t a single injury on the bodies—how can you call this murder?”

“What nonsense! Even Her Majesty the Empress and the Crown Prince didn’t think so! There’s clearly a vicious murderer roaming the palace!”

The ministers shouted in heightened voices.

“What is all this commotion?”

A soft voice rang out, and the ministers instantly fell silent.

Ileon, unlike his usual composed self, approached slowly, accompanied by his aide, his face worn with exhaustion.

“We greet the radiant sun.”

The ministers, as if grasping a lifeline, rushed toward Ileon.

“Your Majesty, two days ago the Marquis and the Count were alive and well, yet now they are both dead! What are we to do?”

Ileon had already received a report from his aide and was not particularly surprised.

Yet, knowing full well, he had deliberately delayed his arrival.

To Ileon, the deaths of mere ministers were not what mattered now.

After all, only one person could have done this.

‘Dietrich.’

He must have known what Ileon would do, and sent another warning.

To kill without even using a blade—such insane talent was beyond belief.

Wasn’t he imitating Arthur’s method of killing exactly?

‘What kind of man is he?’

Ileon frowned in displeasure.

The ministers felt a chill down their spines as they saw the icy cold glint in Ileon’s pale eyes.

“Was there anything found on the bodies?”

Ileon abruptly asked the knight.

“No, there was nothing inside.”

“Hm.”

Ileon pressed his fingers against his tired eyes. Lately, his composure had been rapidly deteriorating.

He resented even having to spend his time on such trivial deaths.

This one and that one—all equally incompetent. It infuriated him.

‘Can’t they handle things on their own?’

Feeling the need to replace the ministers, Ileon spoke words he didn’t truly mean.

“Bury the bodies in a proper place. We cannot further degrade the dignity of imperial ministers.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The knight bowed deeply and began to remove the bodies.

“…The dead cannot speak. Return to your duties. I will inform you once matters are settled.”

“Your Majesty! Thank you! We place our trust solely in you.”

The ministers repeatedly expressed their gratitude as they withdrew.

Ileon’s brows drew together as he watched their retreating figures.

If he had been as worthless as the previous Emperor—indulging in lust and neglecting his duties—the ministers would never have come to him with such pleas.

Seeing the ministers disappear from sight, Ileon returned to his chambers.

Ileon turned to his aide.

“Replace the ministers with capable individuals.”

A single sentence was enough to initiate the purge.

“And bring Duke Calypso before me immediately.”

The Emperor’s audience chamber.

Ileon lounged sideways on the golden throne. Behind him, countless shadows flickered.

These shadows belonged to his ever-present attendants.

Soon, Dietrich, clad in black armor, entered the audience chamber.

His hair, black as ebony, displeased Ileon.

But more than that, it was Dietrich’s deep, crimson eyes that disturbed Ileon the most.

Eyes impossible to read.

Dry, indifferent eyes that seemed to care for nothing.

Compared to others, whose thoughts were transparent, this man’s mind remained utterly impenetrable.

Granting him the dukedom had been a fatal mistake.

‘Damn that curiosity.’

The fascination of watching a piece that had no place on the chessboard slowly crawl its way up.

That curiosity-born interest was now slowly strangling him.

If he could go back in time, he would never have granted the dukedom.

Even if it was merely in name, even if Dietrich had possessed no land, the title Ileon had bestowed made Dietrich a Duke.

Ileon looked down at Dietrich standing below the dais.

“Why did you do it?”

Ileon abruptly asked.

“What do you mean, Your Majesty?”

Dietrich’s counter-question twisted Ileon’s mood.

“Do you take me for a fool, Duke?”

“I have no idea what Your Majesty is referring to.”

Ileon rested his chin on his armrest, a faint sneer curling his lips.

“You imitated Arthur’s actions exactly—did you think I wouldn’t know it was you?”

Ileon suddenly stood up from his seat.

“From this day forth, I strip you of your dukedom. Since I gave it, I take it back—surely you have no complaint.”

“…Are you anxious?”

Dietrich raised his head. At that moment, Ileon was speechless.

Not because of Dietrich’s words.

But because, in those usually dry crimson eyes, an emotion appeared that Ileon had never seen before.

Calmness. Peace.

Eyes like still water, undisturbed by even a breath of wind.

Dietrich already possessed what Ileon had desired his entire life but could never obtain.

An unshakable tranquility.

It was also what the prophecy-believing Ileon could never possess—something he craved but would forever remain beyond his reach.

“Does my existence now pose a threat to Your Majesty?”

Dietrich’s words struck the core.

“Even without today’s incident, weren’t you planning to strip me of my dukedom soon?”

Opposite Dietrich’s serene expression, Ileon’s face twisted in agony.

“For your insolence, I shall not only strip you of your dukedom, but also your position as Commander of the Imperial Knight Corps.”

Even as Ileon continued to speak, Dietrich did not change his expression.

“What exactly are you afraid of, Your Majesty?”

The one taking, and the one being taken from.

Between the two, it was the taker who was afraid, while the one losing everything remained calm.

Just as Dietrich said, Ileon was afraid.

But this fear was of a different dimension from ordinary terror.

Ileon knew exactly where this fear came from.

“What exactly do you see through me?”

Those crimson eyes, red as blood, gazing down from above.

Looking into them, Ileon recalled the prophecy passed down from the first Duke Gredrick.

In pitch darkness, a demon with crimson eyes appears.

Before him, no one—not even the longest-lived—can escape death.

It will cover its eyes, block its ears, consume everything, and ultimately bring about destruction.

The demon’s bodily fluid can heal the dying—thus, it is the cure-all elixir.

Until now, no one had managed to interpret this prophecy.

In truth, there had been many with red eyes before Dietrich, yet none possessed any special ability.

Ileon had been certain that the crimson eyes in the prophecy were metaphorical, not literal.

But now.

Only now did Ileon realize the prophecy had come true.

“You are…”

Ileon’s pale eyes flashed sharply.

“You dare…”

Dietrich had deceived everyone. No one had noticed. Not even the late Emperor had known Dietrich possessed the power of healing.

He was not a piece missing from Ileon’s chessboard.

Dietrich had been standing atop Ileon’s head from the very beginning.

And this realization completely shattered Ileon’s normally cold logic.

Ten long years. A decade in which Dietrich played the Emperor’s mad dog, crawling on the ground, solely to bring about Abelon’s ruin.

Ileon had known Dietrich was only pretending to be the Emperor’s mad dog—but only now did he realize it had all been an act to deceive Ileon himself.

“Was it you who deliberately placed me on the throne?”

Dietrich did not deny Ileon’s words.

“After the Crown Prince died, you refrained from rebellion—was it to keep me trapped in the palace? Was it all calculated so I wouldn’t leave for my domain?”

Ileon let out a bitter laugh.

A deep sense of defeat surged over him like a tidal wave.

To have been manipulated by such a man.

With bloodshot eyes, Ileon issued an order to his subordinates standing behind him.

“Bind him at once.”