To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

“Liv!”

While the people of the Hamelsvoort family were anxiously waiting for a reply from the temple, Emmett arrived first. He had gone down to the Arendt Marquisate and returned at an unbelievable speed.

When Liv, who had spotted him riding on horseback through the window, went down to the entrance, Emmett ran up and embraced her.

“Why are you out? When you’re not feeling well.”

“I just look unwell… I’m actually fine.”

“Your forehead is hot.”

Liv could only remain silent as Emmett said this while touching her forehead. In fact, her physical condition was not good. Although she had pretended to be fine because the atmosphere in the Hamelsvoort family was so grim.

The ones who approached Emmett with even more welcoming faces than Liv as soon as they saw him were the Hamelsvoort couple. Liv glimpsed desperation in Lady Hamelsvoort for the first time. It was hard to believe that she could make such an expression.

“Duke, have you heard about Walter?”

“…I heard about Young Lord Hamelsvoort after entering the capital.”

“We need your help, Duke.”

The Count said this while grasping Emmett’s hands. Although the Count’s hands were wrinkled, they were gripping tightly as if he would never give up on rescuing Walter.

“We have already requested help from the temple. If the temple and we join forces, we can start a rebellion and save Walter.”

The Count’s face showed that he firmly believed Emmett would help them. At those words, Emmett released the Count’s hands and, while supporting Liv, changed the subject.

“I’ll have a talk with Liv first.”

“A-Alright. Liv, you want your brother to return safely too, right?”

“Yes…”

Hearing the Count’s desperate voice, Liv went into the room with Emmett. After laying Liv down on the bed, Emmett placed his hand on Liv’s forehead again and began to speak.

“I didn’t tell the Count directly, but making the rebellion succeed… might be difficult.”

“What? Why?”

“The military power of the army held by the imperial palace is far superior to that held by the temple. Of course, if we bring knights from the Lartman Duchy, there’s a chance… but seeing the movement of troops, the Emperor will first ask other nobles for help. Then they will walk a tightrope between the imperial palace and the temple, and some nobles will side with the Emperor. A civil war will break out.”

“Ah…”

“Above all, as long as Walter Hamelsvoort is held hostage, Count Hamelsvoort cannot come to the forefront. Right now, the priority is to retrieve Walter Hamelsvoort through any deal.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to convey this fact to the Count right away?”

“Right now, the Count doesn’t seem to hear anything.”

Liv nodded, recalling the Count’s excited face. He firmly believed that the rebellion would succeed. It seemed he wouldn’t be able to think rationally right now.

“Of course, I’ll advise the Count… but it might not be entirely bad for me to help them start a rebellion now.”

“You said it would fail. Then why?”

“Because we’ll have to overthrow the Emperor someday anyway.”

“What?”

“Now that Count Hamelsvoort has no choice but to cooperate, it might be wise to achieve the task with the help of the Count’s family and the temple.”

But Liv couldn’t understand his words.

“Why… why do you want to overthrow the Emperor?”

“…We have no choice. Didn’t the Emperor cause you pain?”

“But I’m really fine!”

For a moment, the writing of her parents flashed through Liv’s mind. But soon Liv shook her head.

“I really hate it when you’re in danger… Don’t do this, okay?”

“…I’ll think about it.”

As Emmett didn’t seem like he would listen to Liv, Liv finally cried out in frustration.

“Emmett, you’re quite stubborn too!”

“…What?”

Emmett looked at Liv with a genuinely surprised expression, but Liv continued speaking with tears welling up in her eyes and a flushed face.

“I really… I’m fine living like this. I don’t want you to die doing something reckless…”

However, Emmett shook his head as if denying her.

“Liv, we can’t live like this anymore. From the moment you revealed your power, our situation changed from before.”

“…”

“I’ll think more about whether to help Count Hamelsvoort and let you know. Now rest comfortably.”

Watching him lightly kiss her forehead and leave the room, Liv fell into contemplation. Is that so? Has it really become impossible to live as before now? Is Liv destined to take revenge on the Emperor?

* * *

The next day, Lady Hamelsvoort called Liv with a flustered face. Liv thought someone from the temple had come to see them, but the face waiting for Liv was unexpected.

“L-Liv, Princess Louisa has come to see you!”

“What?”

“Speak carefully. Nothing should be revealed.”

Because they mustn’t reveal that they were gathering forces for rebellion, the Hamelsvoort couple repeatedly cautioned Liv to keep her mouth shut before letting her into the reception room.

When Liv opened the door of the reception room and entered, Louisa with her pale face turned to look at her. Only then realizing that her attire was a mess, Liv greeted her with a flustered face.

“I greet Your Highness the Princess.”

“It’s been a while.”

“I apologize for my messy appearance as I came out in a hurry.”

“It’s alright. I don’t care about such things.”

Louisa gestured for Liv to sit down as if she truly didn’t mind, and Liv sat across from Louisa. As seen previously at the wedding, Louisa had a kind face unlike the daughter of the tyrant August.

“Really… the weather is terrible as always.”

Louisa muttered, looking out the window as if Liv wasn’t even there.

“I wonder when the sun will ever shine.”

The Holy Hilysid Empire was famous for its mostly cloudy weather. It wasn’t particularly unusual weather, but Louisa was needlessly talking about the weather. If this was the roundabout way of speaking typical of royalty, then soon…

“I heard the weather in the Merna Empire, where Young Lord Hamelsvoort visited, is just as bad, and I wonder which is worse.”

When Louisa mentioned Walter, Liv stiffened. It seemed she would soon mention the reason why she had come to see Liv.

“Why is the Duchess Lartman staying at the Hamelsvoort mansion?”

“Ah, because I’m not feeling well…”

Come to think of it, she was going to return to the Lartman mansion, but she missed the timing as Walter was captured by the Emperor. If Liv said she was returning to the Lartman mansion now when the Hamelsvoort mansion was in chaos, it would look like she was trying to avoid this situation. Emmett understood Liv’s position, but he seemed to want her to return to the Lartman mansion as soon as possible.

“Hmm, then you must know well about what happened to Young Lord Hamelsvoort.”

“…Yes.”

Finally, the main point came out of Louisa’s mouth.

“Duchess, the reason I came to see you is because there’s something I want to let you know in advance.”

“Something you want to let me know…”

As she was saying this, she felt something rising in her throat, and Liv hurriedly took out a handkerchief and coughed. The handkerchief was stained with blood. It was rather fortunate to show this appearance in front of royalty. They would think August’s curse had worked.

However, the situation flowed in an unexpected direction. After watching Liv cough, Louisa smirked.

“First, you will die soon.”

“What?”

“You’ve been hit by ancient magic. Of course, there’s no evidence.”

Listening to her words, Liv suddenly thought her voice was strange. On the surface, it seemed like a very kind attitude… but if observed closely, one could detect a strange pride and triumphant air mixed in her voice.

“It wasn’t His Majesty the Emperor… but Your Highness the Princess who did this?”

“Yes, I did it myself without telling Father. Now Father knows too.”

She continued speaking with a face that seemed to have no malice at all.

“I thought you would die early, but you’ve endured for a long time. But it won’t be long now.”

…What kind of person is Louisa? She’s not the blatant type whose intentions are transparent like the nobles who bullied Liv or the Emperor. On the surface, she looks very kind like Hildegard. But Louisa’s malice is the faintest among the people Liv has seen so far, and at the same time, one of the most insidious.

When Liv remained silent, not knowing how to respond to her words, Louisa smiled faintly.

“Two, the Count and Countess Hamelsvoort will die soon too.”

“…”

“His Majesty will use Young Lord Hamelsvoort’s help to brand them as heretics. It’s the principle that heretics are executed.”

“Brother Walter will help His Majesty the Emperor?”

“Yes, he will end up helping. You don’t know our Father well yet, Duchess.”

Louisa spoke in a casual voice as if discussing how to have dinner.

“By now, Young Lord Hamelsvoort must be suffering in the imperial palace. He won’t be able to endure without cooperating with His Majesty, right? In the end, he will sell out his parents to survive.”

“But even if Hamelsvoort is branded as heretics, the temple won’t acknowledge that.”

“Ah, that’s right. The temple wouldn’t abandon Hamelsvoort…”

Saying this, Louisa gently curved her eyes. Her green eyes shone as if pleased.

“But between the young Hamelsvoort who will become the new head of the family, and the old Hamelsvoort, it’s obvious which one they’ll choose if they have to pick one, right? And surprisingly, it’s very easy to brand someone as a heretic. Because the temple can’t ignore public opinion.”