Hersis extended his arm, casually touching the opponent’s sword. Due to the sweaty hands, the Duke almost lost his grip on the sword.

“You probably thought you knew all my weaknesses.”

He touched the sword again, and the tense Duke reacted more than necessary. The tip of the sword shook awkwardly.

In that moment, Hersis, who had been wriggling like a devil, suddenly fixed his gaze.

“But did you know that?”
“…….”

“As much as you know me, I also know you.”

In the blink of an eye, he grabbed the Duke’s left elbow.

“You have a weakness here……”

The Duke reflexively wrapped his elbow, and Hersis seized the opportunity to stab between the ribs with the tip of his sword.

“Next is here.”

As the Duke struggled with the empty defense, Hersis adjusted the blade to face the body.

“And finally… here!”

He cut off the Duke’s nerve.

“Ugh!”

The Duke groaned, dropping to his knees. The abandoned sword clanged as it fell to the stone floor.

Hersis pointed the tip of the sword at the Duke’s Adam’s apple.

“I wanted to teach you about yourself at least once. But the chance never seemed to come.”

“…….”

“Now, the opportunity has finally arrived.”

A happy smile appeared on his lips.

“Sorry for teaching you so late.”

The Duke, breathing heavily like a wounded beast, had a pale face, sunken eyes, and bloodstains on his dry lips, making him appear ten years older.

After making a grim face and rough breathing, he suddenly grabbed the blade aimed at his neck. Then, with thoughts of self-harm, he pulled it towards himself.

However, due to the exhaustion of a considerable amount of strength, the blade did not get any closer to his neck.

The Duke shouted in a cracked voice, “Hurry up and kill me. Why hesitate? Just kill me!”

“I will kill you.”

Hersis spoke with a calm voice that sharply contrasted with the Duke’s. “Not with this sword. With a larger one.”

And he added again, “In front of more people.”

For a moment, the Duke’s confused eyes turned red.

“You… You will…”

“Yes. I’ll put you on the public execution stage.”

Hersis said the words that the Duke couldn’t say.

“I told you. I will kill you in the cruelest way possible.”

“…….”

“That’s the way.”

Although he wished to tear him to pieces, that was precisely what the Duke desired.

It was far better than having his neck miserably cut in front of the commoners he despised.

Therefore, public execution was the most fitting method of execution for him.

The Duke’s hand weakly dropped from Hersis’s sword.

As Hersis lifted the sword, he said, “Farewell.”

“…….”

“Before that, think about how you’ll apologize to my parents.”

Hersis’s eyes, mentioning his parents, were somewhat tinged with sorrow. It almost seemed transparent.

Soon, he threw the sword away.

Clang.

Before the metallic roar hitting the floor died down, Hersis turned his back.

Then, finally, he took in the situation in the hall.

The attendants were still paralyzed with fear. Some had even fainted. Perhaps they mistook the flying head of the statue for their own and were shocked.

‘How do they perceive me.’
Hersis licked his lips and looked at Ishar.

Ishar was right in front of him. Although his complexion looked pale, his face was generally calm. And now, it had transformed into a face scolding him.

‘Why didn’t you give your full power earlier?’

He conveyed the message with his eyes.

Hersis wondered how Liz would react. Would she scold like Ishar, or would she lose consciousness like the elders, or maybe…

Would she shed tears, saying it’s fortunate that he’s alive, and embrace him with relief?

Thinking about Liz’s reaction brought a comforting smile to his face.

He wanted to let her know as soon as possible that everything was over.

And most importantly, he wanted to say, ‘I love you.’

Hersis took steps with a joyful face.

Ishar felt relieved, knowing that Hersis didn’t have to go to the royal palace due to the current situation…

“……!”

Ishar’s eyes behind Hersis widened.

Hersis also looked at Ishar’s face. Ishar was expressing dynamic astonishment unexpectedly.

Your Majesty!

Ishar shouted with his eyes. And…

“Let’s go together, Hers!”

With the lively voice of the Duke, Hersis could feel the sharp blade splitting the air…

“What on earth happened?”

For several hours, Liz had not stayed still and wandered around the royal palace.

In the end, they didn’t take Bernard with them.

Perhaps it was out of consideration for his fragility, or…

“No. It can’t be.”

She didn’t want to think about other possibilities.

Hersis undoubtedly had another proof that the Duke wasn’t the blood relative of the Sun Emperor. Therefore, judging that there was no particular need to expose him to the public, who he might not be well-received by.

He was a man who didn’t hesitate to use any means, but he was a man who received recognition, especially for the weak.

But still, news should come.

“Rosa.”

For the hundredth, or perhaps more, time, Liz called Rosa.

“What time is it now?”

“It’s three o’clock… Ma’am.”

Even in Rosa’s voice announcing the time, there was a faint sense of anxiety.

This made Liz even more uneasy.

If Rosa, who never lost her composure in any situation, was so shaken, Liz was sure that it wasn’t because of her nervous sensitivity.

“I think I should go and check.”

She couldn’t stay still anymore.

It happened to be near the stone stairs leading to the entrance of the royal palace.

Liz grabbed the railing and stepped forward. Rosa firmly supported Liz with her other arm.

Of course, she knew that going outside was originally impossible, and helping Liz was for that reason.
At the entrance, two sturdy palace guards were standing watch, and beyond the door, it was expected that other palace guards would be on duty.

Liz was aware of the limit of her exit. She knew that, besides loitering in front of that boundary, there was nothing else she could do.

However, not doing even that felt maddening.

Breathing in the air flowing through the open gate, she felt reassured, thinking that she was connected to the living Hersis.

Then, suddenly, voices were heard from outside the door.

It was the sound of conversation between the palace guard at the entrance and someone who had just arrived. The voices seemed to be somewhat hushed.

After the conversation paused and a brief silence followed, there was a creaking sound, and with it, the light and wind from outside slowly poured into the room.

Finally, someone stood beyond the wide-open door.