He wanted to keep cursing the man with the affectionate and gentle face who called him. Despite cursing him for the past few days, it was still not enough. The anger had not subsided.

“Sly human!”

He saw Hyulrian in a dreamlike consciousness like a pearl-colored cloud.

Hyulrian was smiling pure and beautiful, just like then and now. And he nodded at everything I said.

“You are a hypocrite. Pretending to take care of me sincerely on the surface while peeping into my thoughts inside. So, you probably checked the familial relationship.”
Yulrian tilted his head, as if to say otherwise. It was as if he had harbored suspicions only because he had accidentally discovered physical features that could not come from the Belkmir lineage in his younger brother.

“If you truly intended to love me regardless of my bloodline, even if you had doubts, you should not have sought the truth.”

Yulrian lowered his head again. It seemed as if he had sought the truth not to confirm his suspicions but to rid himself of those doubts.

“You wretched human. Do you regret it too? Do you think you should have killed me when you found out the truth?”

Yulrian tilted his head once again, as if he didn’t regret anything.

“You despicable child. Acting innocent until the end.”

The Duke bitterly criticized.

“So, being deceived by a young sibling with pure blood. You deserve it even if you die. You… You…”

But his reproach gradually weakened.

It was because Yulrian’s figure was becoming increasingly transparent.

The Duke didn’t want to be left alone. He didn’t want to recognize his pitiful self abandoned in this gloomy ashy space. He wished Yulrian… could be a little closer to him, like when they were young.

“Are you okay, Damyeang? Shall I carry you, big brother?”

“Wow. Our brother is the best!”

Times when he knew nothing about schemes, ambitions, and hierarchy. Those were the days when everything was exciting and enjoyable…

“Everything was really good back then.”

Facing the now considerably faint Yulrian, the Duke revealed his vulnerable side for the first time.

“If I could be with you, I wouldn’t ask for anything. Even if I became desperately poor, I thought it would be okay.”

Only in the midst of his utter downfall did the Duke realize.

True happiness was in those moments, during that time, enjoying simple joys.

And he had shattered true happiness with his own hands, yearning for what he couldn’t have.

“Brother…”

He called his brother softly.

Yulrian’s figure now only remained as a faint trace.

But the Duke, with his barely functioning tongue, did his best to say,

“I… was wrong… I… should not… have…”

Tears of regret streamed down from his sunken eyes through the blurry vision.

Beyond the misty tears, Yulrian’s lingering figure seemed to nod.

“Yes… Yes… my little brother.”

He seemed to speak affectionately with a gentle smile.

“So, is this the place where the rebels almost attacked before four days?”

Standing on the platform and looking around, Liz’s eyes were full of suspicion.

The Grand Banquet Hall seemed too immaculate to be a place where a rebellion almost occurred, and in some parts, it had become even more splendid.

The pale full-body statues of the gods were replaced by elaborate and delicate golden tapestries decorating both sides of the walls.
Almost everything could have been believed to be false if there hadn’t been a public execution in the morning. Duke Montaner was executed in the midst of about ten thousand people at Mariard Square. According to the hearsay, he faced his death with the dignity befitting a high noble. No, he even seemed more majestic than when he sat at the pinnacle of power. He calmly confessed to all his crimes, and in his final words, it is said that he sincerely sought forgiveness from the current Emperor and the deceased Sun Emperor couple.

Liz couldn’t know what had brought him, full of venom, to a peaceful state, but she considered it fortunate. She had secretly worried that he might sow distrust in the hearts of the imperial subjects toward the imperial family by mocking the Emperor until his last breath.

“Everyone, listen.”

Suddenly, Hersis’s powerful voice rang out, awakening Liz from her thoughts. He was here today to hold Isar Valdemion’s coronation ceremony.

“As of this moment, Valdemion Duchy will become the Valdemion Kingdom, and Isar Rodem Nillgreed, the current lord, will ascend as the forty-fourth king of the resurrected kingdom. I hereby declare it to everyone.”

Since rumors had circulated well in advance, there wasn’t much surprise. Some elders expressed dissatisfaction with an unpleasant expression, but they couldn’t strongly oppose it. They knew how decisively Isar had subdued Duke Montaner just four days ago.

“Isar Rodem Nillgreed Valdemion, come forward.”

At Hersis’s words, Isar slowly walked out from the entrance of the banquet hall. He wore a black gown with golden shoulder ornaments, and a red sash, allowed only for lords, diagonally crossed his chest. He had always been like that, but now he looked even more dignified and noble. As he stopped in front of Hersis, kneeling on one knee, Clowin approached with the crown held on a red velvet cushion. The rubies decorating the crown sparkled brilliantly in the chandelier light.

Hersis carefully placed the crown on Isar’s head, who remained kneeling. “Now you are not my servant but a sovereign of a nation. A sovereign should not kneel lightly.”

At those words, Isar slowly stood up. Then, Clowin, holding the crown with the decorated rubies, approached Hersis. Hersis, with a cautious attitude, placed the crown on Isar’s head, who was now standing. When Isar lifted his head, he met eyes with Hersis. It wasn’t the same loyal gaze as before; instead, there was a newly arising respect and gratitude for someone in an equal position. Applause erupted from the crowd, wishing for the revival of the kingdom and a harmonious relationship with the empire. Even those who had frowned at Montaner’s death joined in the applause. Everyone was happy and delighted, except for one person.

“Oh… really awkward.”

Liz squinted her eyes in embarrassment.
It was applause wishing for the revival of the kingdom and a harmonious relationship with the empire. Even those who had frowned at Montaner’s death joined in the applause. Everyone was happy and delighted, except for one person.

“Oh… really awkward.”

Liz squinted her eyes in embarrassment.