To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

Dante admitted that he was the one who assassinated the late Emperor. Liv then looked at Dante with a coldly hardened face.

[He was your father.]

[Yes.]

[And you killed him?]

[Yes. Is that a problem?]

At those words, Liv’s face became even more bewildered. The duty between parent and child was something Liv had heard about endlessly from the gods, and above all, it was said to be something that every human being observes.

[How could you kill your own father?]

[But Lady Liv…]

Dante began speaking in a pleading voice.

[There aren’t only parents who devote themselves to their children in this world. Sometimes there are parents who are better off not existing for their children. I’m planning to deal with the late Empress soon too.]

[There are times when it’s better not to exist?]

[Yes, there really are such parents…]

Liv didn’t understand his words, but having learned that it’s better not to add to things she doesn’t understand, she kept her mouth shut.

[Dante, even so, can killing the Emperor who was powerless in his sickbed be justified?]

[But… you dealt with people for my sake too, Lady Liv!]

[They were enemies I had to fight.]

[My father was also an enemy to me.]

Unable to refute any further, Liv felt somewhat empty. In fact, thinking about it, Dante’s words weren’t entirely wrong. Perhaps Liv had been too caught up in the idea of a ‘normal life.’ Not everyone’s parents can be precious to them. Now Liv could understand Dante’s decision in her own way.

Liv recalled what Walter had said about Dante. The absolute and overwhelming monarch of the Merna Empire… It seemed he would gradually change from now on. Well, that wasn’t something Liv needed to worry about.

[…I’m returning to the Holy Hilysid Empire in a few days. Will you keep your promise to support me?]

The moment Liv said that, Dante’s eyes changed. He stood up from his seat and knelt before Liv. Then he began speaking in a serious tone.

[I, Dante Louis Münster, Emperor of the Great Merna Empire, swear before Liv Gracia of the Holy Hilysid Empire.]

He raised his head and made eye contact with Liv.

[I will mobilize all the soldiers of the Great Merna Empire to prevent August Steinberg from trying to harm Liv Gracia. I will declare my support for Liv Gracia, and even if national conflicts arise in this process, I will use all means to help Liv Gracia.]

Dante, reciting exactly what Liv had requested, seemed to speak sincerely while wearing the necklace symbolizing the Supreme God.

However, what followed from Dante was something Liv never expected.

[And I, Dante Münster, have something I want to ask Liv Gracia.]

[What is it?]

[Would you consider marrying me?]

[…Cough, cough!]

Surprised by those words, Liv ended up coughing violently as she choked.

Liv was taken aback and lost for words, but soon regained her composure and answered in a calm voice.

[I’m sorry, that would be difficult.]

[I see, as expected.]

Dante nodded, speaking in a plain voice.

[Then I’ll respect your wishes.]

[No, before that, why on earth…]

[Just, it’s presumptuous, but I was convinced that if I married you, I could nurture this country well. And I’ve become someone who can give everything to you, Lady Liv.]

Dante whispered as if trying to persuade Liv.

[If you marry me, you’ll become the Empress of the Great Merna Empire, the most powerful country in the world. There’s nothing you can’t have. Even emperors of other countries would have to bow their heads before you. If you still want to be an Emperor, I can give you a country to rule in your name.]

[…You know. I have to carry on the Gracia name. That’s my duty.]

[Of course, if that’s what you think, I’ll respect that too.]

Dante stared at Liv with somewhat wistful eyes.

[But if my proposal appeals to you, please tell me anytime. I’ll be waiting.]

[That won’t happen. Although it might seem small compared to the Merna Empire, the imperial throne of the Holy Hilysid Empire is the greatest and most valuable position to me.]

Understanding her words, Dante quietly nodded. Liv continued in a calm tone.

[I’ll be leaving here tomorrow. I hope you become a great Emperor.]

[I won’t forget the favor I’ve received from you, Lady Liv, and the debt I have to repay.]

With this, the Great Merna Empire, the most powerful country in the world, had become Liv’s ally. Now, even if Liv returns to the Holy Hilysid Empire and becomes Emperor, no country will oppose her. August no longer has any foreign power he can rely on.

Yes, Liv has now met all the conditions she needed to reclaim her position as Emperor.

* * *

“Louisa.”

Louisa looked at the chair in front of her with trembling pupils.

A lonely chair, a sturdy rope tied to the ceiling, large enough for a person’s neck to fit…

And her father was looking at her with cold eyes. It was a face without a trace of affection that should be directed towards a daughter.

“Fa-Father…”

“I’ve decided on a new successor.”

Those words sounded like a death sentence to Louisa. Someone to replace Louisa had appeared. Now her value has completely disappeared. Even while hearing her father’s voice, Louisa didn’t feel shocked. It was just that what she had been anxious about for a long time had become reality.

“There’s a fourteen-year-old orphaned boy in a collateral branch. Isn’t he just right to be the Crown Prince?”

“…”

“Louisa, Liv Gracia has gained the support of the Merna Empire.”

At those words, even Louisa raised her head in surprise. Her father had originally planned to borrow the power of the Aila-Hora Kingdom to quietly deal with the noble factions within the Empire. However, now that the Great Merna Empire has intervened in this matter, no one else will try to meddle in the affairs of the Holy Hilysid Empire.

“In this situation, what do you think I should do? How can I make the new nobles for my faction and cut off the existing noble factions including Duke Lartman…”

“…”

“One, eliminate them with evidence that they were preparing for rebellion, and make the new noble families meritorious for eliminating them.”

Louisa looked at the dangling rope in front of her. Then the meaning of this rope is…

“Two, use ancient magic to prevent Liv Gracia from returning to the Holy Hilysid Empire.”

“By ancient magic, you mean…”

Maybe then there might be a chance to keep her alive? Louisa pinned her hopes on that, but what came from her father was a despairing statement.

“There’s a relic we couldn’t use.”

“Ah…”

Among the relics left by ancient sorcerers, there was one they dared not handle because it required enormous power. A great sacrifice was needed to activate it.

“Louisa, you need to activate it.”

At those words, Louisa finally squeezed her eyes shut. To activate that meant…

“You’re telling me to take my own life.”

Blood shed by a noble person taking their own life. After all, Louisa had blood flowing through her that was considered noble as part of the Steinberg family, and if she took her own life…

Louisa didn’t think of pleading with her father. She knew he wasn’t someone who would spare her life even if she did.

“Louisa, you know what will happen if you don’t kill yourself.”

Her father would probably torture Louisa horribly. Until she’d rather take her own life. The best choice for Louisa was to end her life right here. Louisa knew how cruelly her father could torment people.

Finally, Louisa climbed onto the chair with trembling body. The rope dangling from the ceiling was now at her eye level.

“Ah…”

When it came to actually taking her own life, fear washed over her. However, what was more terrifying to her was the presence of her father waiting across from her.

Hot tears rolled down Louisa’s cheeks before she knew it. Facing death, resentment began to smolder in a corner of her heart. That resentment shifted not to the one who had always been strong in Louisa’s eyes, but to the one who seemed weaker than herself.

Liv Gracia, that is.

“Gracia…!”

Yes, this is all Gracia’s fault. If it weren’t for her, Louisa would have continued to maintain power and would have become Emperor. But Liv Gracia was interfering with Louisa’s affairs at every turn. Ah, when she realized her identity, instead of daring to think of joining hands with her, she should have immediately captured her and dragged her to the imperial palace.

With a tear-stained face, as she put her neck into the rope, Louisa thought of Liv until the very end.

Liv Gracia, I’ll properly interfere with you.

It’s unfair to die alone.

I should at least take you with me, shouldn’t I?