To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

“Liv Lartman has been hit by ancient magic, so she will soon die after gradually wasting away. Therefore, you should inform people that the rumor of your sister being loved by God is false. And frame your sister as a witch and put her on the stake with your own hands. She’s a woman who will die soon anyway, so you don’t need to feel guilty.”

Walter thought for a moment. If Walter did that, the Emperor would then attack Hildegard or cut her off from Hamelsvoort. Then the temple would have no reason to protect Hamelsvoort anymore. It seemed the Emperor’s intention was to weaken the relationship between Hamelsvoort and the temple before bringing down Hamelsvoort.

In other words, if he followed the Emperor’s words, it would ultimately mean bringing down Hamelsvoort himself.

“I cannot do that.”

“Is there a reason?”

“Have you forgotten that I am also a Hamelsvoort? Your Majesty’s proposal will ultimately be poison to Hamelsvoort.”

At those words, the Emperor’s face became displeased, but soon, as if he had changed his mind, he raised his voice to call a soldier. Soon, a soldier entered the prison. He flinched when he saw the other soldier who had lost his life, but managed to maintain his expression as he stood before the Emperor.

“Release this person and send him back to the Hamelsvoort family.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

As the Emperor started to behave in an unpredictable way, Walter recalled several possible scenarios. Then, the Emperor whispered to him.

“You’ll return alive this time, but your current actions will bring about the downfall of all of Hamelsvoort.”

Ah, is that how it will be. Well, it doesn’t matter either way.

…No, does it really not matter?

* * *

“Oh, God, thank you!”

“My goodness, thank goodness, really thank goodness…”

The Emperor declared that he would show mercy to Walter just this once and sent him home. When Walter returned home, the Count called out to God, and Lady Hamelsvoort sat down in tears. Liv stood in the back with Hildegard, awkwardly watching the scene.

“Oh my, your face has become half of what it was…”

Lady Hamelsvoort carefully caressed her son’s face, then called the servants.

“Prepare some warm water. And tell the chef to prepare a meal.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“I’m really fine, Mother. There’s no need to worry.”

Walter just smiled gently among them with an upright posture, unlike someone who had been imprisoned. It was a perfect face that could be used as a model for nobility, but that rather felt strange. The Hamelsvoort couple didn’t seem to notice this point and continued their conversation with sad faces.

“Walter, how could I not worry about you… I thought I had lost you…”

“How did you get out?”

When the Count asked that, Walter said in a casual tone.

“I persuaded His Majesty well. I was released through dialogue. Of course, as our family has fallen out of His Majesty the Emperor’s favor, such crises could occur again in the future.”

“Oh, God…”

The Count clutched his head and leaned against the sofa. He seemed to have fallen into despair again, thinking of the crisis that would soon come.

“What should we do… How can we deal with the tyrant August…”

“Shh, dear!”

Lady Hamelsvoort hurriedly covered the Count’s mouth and looked around nervously. The servants averted their gaze as if they hadn’t heard anything.

“W-Walter. Go in and wash up and rest now. Let’s see each other at mealtime soon. I need to have a word with your father for a moment.”

“Yes, Mother.”

The Lady’s whispers to the Count to be careful with his words could be heard as she dragged him away.

“O-Oh, Brother, I’m so glad you’ve returned safely.”

“Yes, Hildegard. Thank you for worrying.”

As Hildegard awkwardly exchanged greetings with Walter, and Liv was about to return to her room after checking the situation, at that moment.

“Liv.”

As Walter called her, Liv turned her head creakily. It was an unnatural movement that anyone could see.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“Ah, I’m fine…”

Even though Liv hadn’t used her healing abilities herself, the power of the god Aslan that Liv had recently accepted was gradually healing her. From Liv’s perspective, it seemed this curse would be completely nullified soon. Then Louisa would find out that the ancient magic didn’t work on her… She might think the curse didn’t work because she received God’s love. In a way, that’s correct.

“When do you plan to return to the Lartman mansion?”

“Um… I think I’ll return after this meal.”

“Is that so? Then can we talk for a moment?”

“What? Yes…”

Liv was a bit flustered, but Walter’s face was calm. Hildegard glanced at them with an uneasy face.

Liv followed Walter to the library.

After opening the door of the library, Walter inhaled the air of the library as if he had missed it, then turned to Liv with a gentle smile.

“You say you’re feeling alright?”

“Yes, I’m really fine.”

“Well, I heard that you’re going to die soon.”

It seemed he had heard the story from the Emperor while he was imprisoned. Since there was nothing to hide from Walter, who had already received divine punishment, Liv decided to tell the truth.

“It’s okay. As you know, I have the gods.”

“…I worried for nothing.”

“Pardon?”

“No, I have something to tell you…”

Walter came to stand in front of Liv.

“His Majesty the Emperor proposed to me. To frame you as a witch and help put you on the stake.”

“Ah…”

“Of course, I refused. But it’s clear that His Majesty is targeting you, so be careful.”

“The reason you’re telling me this…”

“…Then it would be better not to stay in this mansion and return quickly.”

As Walter spoke in a still cold voice, Liv responded in a small voice.

“Don’t worry. I’ll disappear for you soon…”

“…Is that so? That’s good then. Let’s see each other for the last time at mealtime.”

Walter said that and left without giving Liv time to respond. Only Liv, left alone, had a dumbfounded face.

‘Why did Brother protect me?’

If he had accepted the deal offered by the Emperor, Walter could have escaped the Emperor’s hatred and killed Liv who had been bothering him. So this was a good opportunity… Why on earth didn’t he kill Liv? Or did he decide not to kill Liv like this because he thought he should give her terrible pain instead of a peaceful death?

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t find an answer, and Liv became confused.

* * *

“Louisa!”

The moment her father burst into the room calling her name, Louisa sensed that something had gone wrong. A forgotten feeling of fear came over Louisa.

Louisa knew that expression. She couldn’t forget what happened when her father made that expression when she was five years old…

Slap!

“Ah!”

A large palm struck Louisa’s cheek, and Louisa collapsed to the floor. Fortunately, her father didn’t hit Louisa anymore and just panted heavily. It felt like blood had burst in her mouth, but Louisa was grateful it ended with just this much.

“One more person knows the secret of your birth. Where on earth did it leak from?”

“W-What?”

Louisa doubted her ears, but looking at her father’s expression, it seemed to be true after all.

“W-Who on earth…”

“Hamelsvoort. Walter Hamelsvoort knows your true identity.”

“Ah, how…”

“That’s something even I don’t know!”

“W-What do you plan to do with Walter Hamelsvoort?”

Louisa’s face became frightened, which was rare for her. She was terribly afraid of someone discovering her true identity.

This was partly because she disliked situations where her father got angry, but also because she was afraid of not being able to become Emperor. Louisa had lived her whole life looking at the Emperor’s position and had thought she wanted to ascend to that highest position more than anyone else. It had to become her rightful place. If she ascended to the throne, it felt like she could be compensated for all the time she had suffered under her father until now…

“I will completely destroy the Hamelsvoort family, so don’t worry about it.”

“Yes…”

She answered her father obediently like that, but after he left, Louisa sat on the bed with shining eyes.

“I must not leave someone who knows the truth alone…”

At that moment, an hourglass in the corner of the room shattered with a loud noise. The floor became a mess with sand. Seeing this, Louisa made a despairing expression.

“Why on earth!”

The ancient magic used on Liv Lartman had been broken. It wasn’t a spell that should break so quickly and easily… Could it be because she is loved by God?

Somehow, she had an ominous feeling. Liv Lartman was someone she couldn’t control, and bad things could happen to Louisa because of her. It felt like Liv Lartman was ruining everything.

“Joy!”

“Y-Yes!”

“Find out everything about Liv Lartman. Especially about her past before she was adopted into the Hamelsvoort family.”

“Yes, understood!”

Watching her informant disappear quickly, Louisa gritted her teeth.

She had to become Emperor.

And to do that, she had learned from her father to cut down everything that stood in her way.

And Louisa was a person who acted as she had learned.