To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

‘I thought wrong.’

Liv’s mind worked quickly. Liv had thought the Emperor wanted a deal with Hamelsvoort, but in fact, the Emperor didn’t want anything from them. The Emperor hadn’t imprisoned Walter to get something from them.

The Emperor was simply trying to raise Walter as a loyal subject who would obey his words well. Even to the point of making him betray his parents. Just as Emmett was once the Emperor’s loyal subject.

Having heard Hayden’s story, Liv knew how cruelly the Emperor tortured people. If he inflicted pain, Walter would soon abandon his parents. From the beginning, it was questionable what value his parents had for Walter, who had already half transcended the human heart.

“A new obedient Hamelsvoort will be created, the Duchess who receives God’s love will die. The docile Saintess will be kept alive. In the end, everything will go according to His Majesty the Emperor’s will.”

“…”

“But I could save you too.”

“…What do you want?”

“It’s simple, take my side. You’ll officially become a dead person, and help me. I think you’ll still be useful.”

…I thought wrong. Louisa wasn’t completely on the Emperor’s side. She was an independent, third force.

As Liv had a blank face, belatedly realizing this fact, Louisa stood up and opened her mouth.

“This love of God isn’t much. I used ancient magic on you, but no punishment has come to me.”

Child, let us tear that thing apart and kill it.

Even now, Liv was holding back the gods’ anger, but she didn’t bother to speak up.

“Ah, and dealing with Duke Lartman will be a bit tricky, but I’m looking into obedient figures on that side too. Everything will go according to His Majesty’s will. Haha, of course, I won’t always move according to His Majesty’s will.”

However, the moment Louisa mentioned Emmett, Liv unconsciously clenched her fist. And she thought.

‘I wish it would all collapse.’

Even if the world tramples her, she has a love that she can never give up. Even if she has to walk a thorny path, there’s a love that allows her to endure it.

So for the sake of protecting her love, Liv might be able to bring down the Steinberg imperial family.

Liv opened her eyes again, which had been colored with confusion, and stared straight at Louisa in front of her.

* * *

After Louisa left, Liv felt her head throbbing even more and her vision spinning. She felt like she needed to go to her room right away and lie down to regain her senses.

But what stopped her as she was about to climb the stairs was the desperate cry of the Count.

“Damn it, internal division has occurred in the temple!”

The Count was shouting while clutching his head. As Liv, who didn’t know what had happened in the meantime, widened her eyes, Hildegard explained with a tearful face.

“The temple wants an obedient Emperor. Someone docile who will listen to them well while being worthy of becoming royalty in place of Steinberg. So there’s conflict within the temple over who to make Emperor.”

“Ah…”

Yes, it was an issue that could easily divide factions. It seemed the Count had failed to gain cooperation from the temple because of this.

“Hildegard, who do you think should become Emperor?”

“If one of the Five Noble Families becomes Emperor… Duke Lartman is the most likely. But the temple doesn’t want someone with strong power as Emperor…”

Liv imagined Emmett becoming Emperor. Of course, Liv believed Emmett could do well. He was rational and reasonable, but also had a warm heart.

But what was important now was that things had become even more complicated due to the division in the temple. How on earth could she and her family stand against the Emperor?

‘I could just cure this illness myself, but…’

Liv couldn’t bear to see Emmett participate in the rebellion, get caught, and meet his death. It was only a matter of time before Walter, who had suffered in the imperial palace, betrayed the Hamelsvoort couple.

Liv had no idea how she could maintain the current peace.

* * *

Walter was tied up in a dark underground prison. Only torches hanging here and there illuminated his vision. In the darkness, his senses other than sight were working more acutely. For example, he could feel the ominous sound of metal along with the cries of prisoners, the smell of blood vibrating from all directions, the taste of his own blood flowing down his cracked lips, and the cool sensation of the chair under his bound hands.

After killing time in the darkness for a long while, his eyes adjusted to the darkness and he began to see things around him. For example…

“Aaaaaagh!”

The prisoner tied up right next to Walter screamed in pain. He had been brought in to intimidate Walter and was faithfully fulfilling that mission.

Giggling at the sight, the Emperor stared intently at Walter. His face seemed to say it would be your turn next. Of course, he wouldn’t be able to torture Walter. Rationally, that is. He couldn’t harm the future head of one of the Five Noble Families for unproven insults to the imperial family.

But surrounded by those being tortured, the fear that he might be tortured next overwhelmed Walter. Perhaps the Emperor wanted Walter to break down psychologically. Perhaps if it had been the previous Walter, he might have succumbed in the end in this cruel scene. Yes, but…

“Your Majesty.”

When Walter smiled brightly, inappropriate for the place, the Emperor looked at him with eyes as if seeing something interesting.

“Your eyes are still alive. Then…”

“Your Majesty, my mind won’t break down this easily.”

For the first time, Walter thought there was something good that came from Liv. At the end of the divine punishment, Walter had gained a mind that wouldn’t break down to anything. No, his mind was already half broken.

Walter had countless experiences in dozens of lives. He had been a close aide to the Emperor, killed the Emperor and been imprisoned and executed, and married Louisa. And through those experiences, Walter had learned something.

“I feel sorry for Your Majesty. You must have wanted to pass the throne to your child…”

Walter opened his mouth with a gentle smile.

“Princess Louisa is not Your Majesty’s biological child, is she?”

At those words, the Emperor looked at Walter with a disturbed face for the first time. His face was mixed with anger at being dared to be insulted, and fear that a truth that should never have leaked had flowed from someone else’s mouth.

“What nonsense are you talking about!”

Knowing that he would behead him for insulting the imperial family if this was really nonsense, Walter continued in a leisurely tone.

“Isn’t that why Her Majesty the Empress died? You beheaded her in anger after learning the truth.”

“How dare you…!”

“You must have regretted it afterwards. The only person who could prove that the Princess is not your biological child disappeared, so you couldn’t annul the marriage, nor could you bring in a new wife to have an heir. And if you brought in a relative who wasn’t your child as an heir, it would damage your honor, so you’ve been keeping silent all this time.”

After saying that, the moment he saw the Emperor’s face, Walter was certain that he had hit the mark. It was an expression that didn’t suit the ‘Tyrant August’ at all. Even if Walter died now, it was certain that the Emperor would never get over today’s anger.

“How…”

“Your Majesty, there are no eternal secrets in this world.”

The Emperor, whose face had reddened with anger, suddenly laughed out loud like a madman.

“How foolish. Do you think I’ll let you live now that it’s revealed you know that secret?”

“Of course, you won’t let me live.”

Walter continued in a calm voice.

“But from today on, Your Majesty will become afraid. You’ll worry about where the secret leaked from, how many people know this fact. And in the end, you’ll regret killing me.”

“Hahaha!”

The Emperor laughed out loud again, but it wasn’t a refreshed laugh.

“Yes, you’re threatening me at the cost of your life.”

“That’s right, Your Majesty.”

“Yes, what should I do with you…”

Then, the Emperor drew the sword from his waist. And then…

Thud…

He beheaded the soldier who had been standing next to Walter with a face trying to suppress his agitation. The soldier who had overheard the secret lost his life on the spot.

Walter raised his head to look at the prisoners who had fainted from pain. Probably all the prisoners here will soon have their heads cut off too.

“Yes, I’ve decided.”

The Emperor lowered his head towards Walter. His wrinkled eyes came close to Walter’s purple eyes.

“I’ll let you live.”

“It’s an honor.”

“But you will die someday. After I figure out who knows this secret, I’ll kill them all.”

Walter didn’t answer those words and just smiled faintly.

“However, there’s a way for you to save your life too. Do you want to hear it?”

“Please speak.”

“Your sister, Liv Lartman, will die soon.”

At those words, Walter’s expression cracked for the first time.