His reputation, the family’s honor—nothing would be left for him in this inevitably miserable death.

It was only natural for someone facing an undesired death to want to hold onto any chance to live, even if it meant grasping a vile hand. After all, living would give him a chance to recover his reputation.

Didn’t he obtain such an opportunity in the original and eventually achieve the independence of the Valdemion Duchy?

“But Ishar.”

Liz, looking at the petal or piece of stationery, handed him a piece of the hidden potion, saying as if speaking to him.

“Unfortunately, that chance won’t come. The moment you grasp that hand, my friend’s blade will pierce your neck.”

Just then, a breeze blew, making the petal or piece of stationery tremble. It seemed as if it understood and reacted to the words.

“So, please make a wise choice.”
With violet eyes becoming even more transparent in the sunlight, and the black spots around the pupils becoming sharper, Liz spoke.

“Please make a choice true to yourself. That’s… how you can survive.”

It was a silent room. Due to the well-soundproofed iron door, due to the weather outside, due to him not moving, it was an even more silent room.

The sunlight that came in diagonally through the iron grating and the trapezoidal shadow on the floor created by it had disappeared for a long time.

It was time to turn on the lamp, but Ishar didn’t. He sat there in the thickening gray space, relying on the remaining light, reading and rereading the note.

“Don’t fear death.”

It was sent by Liz. Actually, it was somewhat depressing writing.

What did I expect?

Did I want to believe that the secret admiration I secretly harbored wasn’t something only I had?

“Crazy bastard.”

There was a time when Hersis, with hands and feet shriveled, had said that he became foolish and pitiful.

Now, Ishar was so self-loathsome that he seemed to be incredibly great compared to back then. What was even more repulsive was that, despite knowing how pitiful his actions were, he repeated them.

Ishar looked at the note again. As if scrutinizing it as if seeing it for the first time, he stared at it carefully. By doing so, it seemed as if another hidden message would magically appear…

But no matter how much he looked, only the writing “Don’t fear death” was visible.

It was an encouraging word given to someone facing death, like saying “Take courage” to someone going into a magic duel. There was no meaning beyond that.

Ishar finally put down Liz’s note. Then, he unfolded another note.

There were far more characters written than the previous note, but it was a message that didn’t require several readings. It was a clear content that needed no further interpretation.

“This is the last chance. Accept my proposal.”

His heart wavered at the last line.

Because it was a simple demand, it wavered even more.

Even though pushed into a corner like this, the proposal that would make him accept it was by no means ordinary. The conclusion was that Ishar was constantly being pushed back by the hypnotic power he applied to himself.

What can I do with just a hundred soldiers?

Even if well utilized, can I do anything other than making someone play the role of a spy? And Hersis is not an easy human to be tricked, right?

“Hoo…”

Ishar let out a long sigh, lowering the note. Two pieces of paper were placed side by side before his eyes.

Glittering silver hair, the genetic traits of the Valdemion family, flowed before his eyes.

“The splendid prince of the Valdemion Kingdom will have his head cut off in front of everyone.”
The Duke’s words suddenly pierced through his sternum and deeply penetrated his heart.

Ishar touched his hair. His fingertips were trembling slightly.

Suddenly, a vivid scene unfolded in his mind: his hair rolling on the ground amid everyone’s mockery.

“Darn it.”

The fluff twitched. It felt like he could already hear the laughter of the imperial citizens.

Expressions that seemed to say there wasn’t much difference from the honorable empire’s high official were seen.

His hand, gripping the hair, gradually tightened. Before this hair turned into a bloody mess, he wanted to pull it out.

At that moment.

“Ishar.”

A voice suddenly emerged from his memory.

“Ishar Rodem.”

“This is…!”

It was the voice of his late mother. In her warm tone, Ishar slowly let go of his hair.

“My proud son.”

A charismatic figure, respected by everyone after the empress, a warm and affectionate mother.

The memory of such a mother comforted Ishar.

“Don’t forget. You are the first prince of the continent’s first civilized nation. It’s incomparable to a lineage like Hersis, the orangutan.”

“……!”

Ishar’s eyes, which were gradually softening, stiffened again.

The sudden reprimand reminded him of something long forgotten.

“Ah, right. This was my mother.”

The memories of the deceased tend to be overly idealized at times.

She was the esteemed Duchess of Valdemion that everyone admired, but when it was just Ishar and her, she was quite honest.

She endlessly envied the empress and belittled Hersis, urging him to become the best for her sake.

But discerning Ishar wasn’t brainwashed by his mother’s words.

He swore allegiance to the royal family like his father and sincerely followed Hersis. Even more so, he did this to avoid being foolish and disloyal like his mother.

But looking back now, maybe…

Perhaps his mother wasn’t as foolish as he thought.

“Hersis is quite cunning, Ishar. Don’t ever give everything to that guy. When a crisis comes, he’ll abandon you to save himself.”

At least it seemed like she saw that much.

Gradually, the confusion in Ishar’s mind cleared.

His expression became stern, and his lips closed firmly. Gripping both hands with interlocked fingers, he alternately pressed the joints of his thumbs, lowering his gaze.

“Don’t fear death.”

“This is the last chance.”

Ishar stared silently at the two notes placed side by side for a while. Then, he firmly picked up one of them.

Not far away, there was a pen, an ink bottle, and blank paper. The guards, in their own way, had brought them for him, but Ishar had never used them until today.

But today, he finally used them.