The Roma in the mirror had an indescribable color.

Chaotic like mixed oil. Harmonious like a rainbow in the sky. Her colorful face kept moving and changing colors as if shedding paint.

Just like the descriptions of Amor, the god of love, from countless books.

And like the arm that was strangling the man’s neck in the painting underground.

“Since when did you notice?”

Roma smiled nonchalantly and rested her chin on the glass display case. Ansi swallowed dryly and placed the mirror on top of the case.

“…I had a vague feeling that something was strange before… But especially this time, coming to the south, suspicions sprouted. How you knew everything. How you so easily found places that wouldn’t catch Kardian’s eye.”

“Yes. Well, I actually expected to get caught someday. I interfered too much. Originally, I only observed, never did this much before.”

Roma sighed and wrinkled her nose.

Since the contract with Lubelsa, she really had never interfered this much. Their contract did not state that Amor would unconditionally help Lubelsa.

Stepping in without the human’s request and without compensation like this was a violation of divine rules.

Just with what had happened so far, Riento, the main god of Belgader, had thrown such a fit. If she interfered more, the penalty might make it so she could no longer mingle among humans.

If only this child before her eyes wasn’t so likable, even now she would have only existed as an observer.

Ansi took a step closer to her.

“Are you… Amor?”

It was a more direct and bold question. Roma grinned.

“So what if I am? Are you going to tell the world?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“I have… a request.”

Ansi’s eyes shone with determination.

Even being told the woman before her was a goddess, she had an expression different from surprise or curiosity. In Ansi’s eyes right now, she was merely a being with the ability to grant her request.

Roma raised an eyebrow. Her eyes were tinged with interest.

From early on, numerous people filled the splendid hall.

The desire to look good to the opposite sex and the lust for power to catch the emperor’s eye were mixed together, making the atmosphere of the assembly very excited.

Especially with rumors of a rift between Orphega and the emperor, it was even more so.

Who would become the emperor’s new supporter? For all those who wanted to take that position, this masquerade was not a mere light amusement.

Damion also knew of that atmosphere.

That was why, at this moment, he chose this place.

Damion, who had been waiting for the right time, gazed at the emperor. As their eyes met, the emperor gave a small nod.

This was something agreed upon with Emperor Ludkaos.

Damion had known for a while that Ludkaos did not want Kardian’s methods.

Ludkaos’ political leanings were the opposite of Kardian’s. He was closer to a revolutionary. He felt limitations and deep aversion to following Kardian’s ways, and those aspects were coming to the surface now.

So Damion made a proposal to Ludkaos.

In exchange for suffering a light wound, would he not topple Orphe?

The deal was made. After shooting the emperor here, Damion would be arrested for treason. The emperor would bring about Orphe’s downfall as a natural and rightful course of action.

Even if he were to be beheaded, it would not be now anyway, but after some time had passed. So even if Ansi saw his death, she would not be able to prevent it anyway.

If she could not prevent his death, her lifespan would not decrease either.

Using that fact, Damion decided to carry out the deed.

Damion took a step towards the emperor.

At that moment.

Someone silently grabbed Damion’s arm.

Damion turned around.

It was a woman wearing a mask that covered her entire face.

But the eyes beyond the mask were clearly visible.

Meeting the blue eyes, Damion’s gaze wavered.

“…Don’t do that.”

He shook his head and uttered a desperate murmur.

“No, not now. Looking at me like that now is against the rules.”

No matter how much of an illusion it was, he did not want to show such an appearance to Ansi. Not the sight of him shooting the emperor or being pathetically arrested… He only wanted to show her the fall of Orphe.

Damion removed Ansi’s hand. But she grabbed him again. The hand tightly gripping his forearm was trembling.

Damion slowly raised his gaze.

As their eyes met, she opened her mouth.

“You can’t go to the emperor.”

A quiet but firm voice reached his ears. It was too clear. Her trembling felt on his arm, and this voice ringing in his ears. As if it was not an illusion. As if she existed before his eyes.

Doubt crept onto Damion’s face. Even while thinking he shouldn’t harbor false hopes, he couldn’t stop it from welling up.

“Let’s go out together.”

Ansi whispered and pulled Damion. He took a step closer to her without resistance.

At that moment, Damion’s thoughts halted. The faint and sweet flower scent unique to Ansi lingered at the tip of his nose. It was a fragrance he had not felt in the illusions.

As if swallowed by a huge wave, Damion could do nothing.

Ansi turned her back like that and left the banquet hall. Damion could only follow her, led in a daze.

One of Ludkaos’ eyebrows went up. Damion was leaving the hall with a woman. His gaze was fixed on the lady as if entranced.

It was clearly different from the plan. Originally, Damion should have shot at Ludkaos now.

Whether he became scared when faced with the reality, or regretted not spending much time with women… Damion did not seem to intend to act according to the plan now.

It was truly an irresponsible action.

But… it was rather a relief.

Ludkaos had always wanted to escape from Kardian’s shadow. For him, Damion’s proposal was definitely tempting.

However, he felt uneasy. Even now, entering the ballroom, he had doubts about whether this was the right method.

So if Damion gave up first, it was rather fortunate. There must be other ways to sever ties with Kardian.

“I shall take my leave now.”

Ludkaos turned his body and left the hall.

In the deep garden under the moonlight, the scent of grass was abundant. When no one’s presence could be felt anymore, the lady who had taken a deep breath turned around.

The rippling blue eyes turned to Damion.

“Ansi.”

Damion tried calling her.

Damion still could not be sure of the situation unfolding before his eyes. Those blue eyes that surged towards him and eventually devoured him. Even though the person possessing them could not be anyone but Ansi, he could not believe it.

Damion reached out his hand. His fingers gently touched the string of the mask. He slowly removed the mask.

At that moment, he abruptly held his breath. It felt as if his heart sank to the bottom.

The woman standing in front was indeed… Ansi.

“How… How are you here?”

A dazed voice escaped. But Ansi did not answer this and threw a sharp question.

“Are you crazy?”

Ansi seemed angry. She searched inside Damion’s jacket. Damion grabbed her shoulders.

“What are you doing?”

“What are YOU doing?”

Ansi took out a gun from his chest. And glared at Damion while tightly gripping it.

At that moment, Damion knew.

If he had shot the emperor like this, for whatever reason, he was meant to die on the spot.

Ansi had seen that scene. With that damned power of Lubelsa, she had seen his death and came all the way here.

Realizing that fact, Damion’s face hardened.

The fact that Ansi had prevented his death. In other words, it meant her lifespan had decreased.

Damion shook his head. It felt as if all the blood was draining from his body.

“…You should have just let me die or not.”

“Don’t say nonsense.”

“No, you really should have. You shouldn’t have come here.”

Anger was embedded in the low voice. He truly could not understand. If left alone, it could have brought about the result Ansi wanted.

Why would she shorten her lifespan and risk revealing herself, breaking the peace, just to stop it?

“In the future you saw, did the emperor say he would stick with Orphe whether I died or not? Not keeping his promise?”

“You conspired with the emperor, saying you would die so he should topple Orphe! How could you do such a thing?”

“If you knew that, if you expected it, you should have just left it.”

“How could I just watch that?”

“You could have fulfilled your wish. There’s nothing good for you in stopping me, so why did you come here? You can’t achieve revenge, and your lifespan will decrease!”

The words were filled with great emotion. Even though he lowered his voice as no one should hear, he could not hide the deep anger and impatience.

“I don’t care. Whether my lifespan decreases or not, this is my choice. It’s not for Damion to…”

At that moment, the sound of someone walking came from over there.

“…!”

Damion pulled Ansi into an embrace and hid behind a large tree.