To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

Emmett’s knees were touching the cold marble of the Sun Room. Next to him, he could see the bloodied corpse of a servant whose breath had ceased.

‘He seems to be in a bad mood.’

August would vent his anger on servants like this whenever he was even slightly displeased. When even the servants who had applied to the imperial palace for money began to run away every night, unable to endure the Emperor’s tyranny, the soldiers strengthened their guard even more thoroughly to prevent their escape.

As a result, the imperial palace inevitably became a prison filled with people who had been brought in with their lives mortgaged for money. There was even a saying that the soldiers in Bysight Palace existed to prevent internal fugitives rather than external intruders.

While he was silent, August’s voice finally fell from above.

“So, did you finish the wedding safely?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

It was August’s habit to start with other topics before getting to the main point. It was also proof that he was maintaining at least minimal rationality.

“Did you have a good wedding night?”

Although he felt disgusted by August’s snickering laughter, Emmett suppressed his anger and answered. Patience was his greatest weapon.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Well, you’ve fallen for a young and pretty woman in the end…”

“…”

“Well, an innocent and obedient woman is better than haughty nobles. What does it matter if her status is low?”

Emmett just kept his eyes down, trying to let August’s words go in one ear and out the other.

“She has nothing, so there’s no worry about her cheating.”

“…”

“Shall I tell you how to capture its heart completely? A way to make it never leave you.”

At those words, Emmett raised his head, and August continued with a smirk. His eyes were so unpleasant that one might think he was drunk at first glance, but August never drank during the day.

“After all, she’s just a fake Saintess from the slums, so she’ll be completely rejected by the nobles. The only protection she has is the Hamelsvoort family and you.”

There was somehow a sinister malice in August’s voice as he said this.

“So if the Hamelsvoort family disappears, she’ll have to rely completely on you.”

“…What?”

“Yes, how about this?”

August tapped the armrest with his large hand and said:

“If you want, I’ll kill the Hamelsvoort Count and Countess for you. They’ve been irritating me anyway. The sight of them worshipping that formless thing called the Supreme God…”

“What are you…”

“You still don’t understand?”

August seemed pleased by Emmett’s confused appearance.

“To capture the affection of a young thing, you must kill its parents. Without the Hamelsvoort Count and Countess, your fiance is nothing.”

At those words, Emmett stopped breathing for a moment. How could a person possibly come up with such an idea? He felt his teeth chattering, but Emmett continued as naturally as possible, trying not to show it.

“…My wife isn’t loved by the Hamelsvoort couple anyway. She already has no one to rely on but me, so Your Majesty doesn’t need to worry.”

It was an attempt to divert August’s attention as much as possible.

“Hmm, well, she’s been called a ‘fake Saintess’ for a long time, right? The Hamelsvoort family would be even more disgusted. Then you’ve already brought in the best bride.”

August’s eyes sharpened as if recalling something.

“I should have brought in such a bride early on. If I had, there would be an Empress in the Empire now.”

The Empress had lost her life to illness when Imperial Princess Louisa was young. According to the law that one cannot remarry if there is a child, August couldn’t bring in a new Empress after that. But his words seemed to imply that there was something else to the Empress’s death.

‘I heard that Her Majesty the Empress wasn’t of a submissive nature.’

Then is it possible that August poisoned the Empress who went against his will? His mind became complicated, but Emmett tried to erase it from his mind. Finally, the main point came out of August’s mouth.

“I hear your wife showed a miracle at the wedding.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that fact in advance? It’s surprising that you’ve started to hide things from me. Well, have you grown that much now…”

From those words, Emmett realized that August had now begun to doubt him. It was not a good sign.

“I knew my wife was sensitive to divine energy, but I didn’t know she received God’s love.”

“‘Receiving God’s love’… That’s an interesting phrase.”

August smiled faintly, then threw the dagger in his hand behind Emmett.

Thud!

The dagger stuck into the wall with a sound. But Emmett remained kneeling in his place without moving.

“Your Majesty, my wife will be of great help to you.”

Emmett lowered his posture and said, trying not to offend him.

“While those temple people are going against Your Majesty’s will at every turn, my wife and I promise to stand by Your Majesty’s side to the end.”

“Ah, yes, the temple…”

August seemed to be thinking about something. Meanwhile, Emmett recalled that Liv had agreed to show her power in front of everyone soon. When that time comes, August would eventually realize that they had sided with the temple, so this was essentially a lie with an expiration date. But for now, he needed to buy even a little time…

“Then can your wife use her power at will? As you know, there’s a water purification ceremony soon.”

“No, my wife doesn’t have such abilities. My wife has no power she can use at will. Only the Supreme God bestows blessings according to the right time.”

“I doubt whether I should believe those words.”

“My loyalty is the only thing Your Majesty can trust.”

As Emmett prostrated himself with his forehead touching the floor while saying this, August finally erased his murderous intent towards Emmett.

“Well, I’ll let it go this time. I have to prepare ancient magic, there’s so much to prepare…”

“I’ll report to Your Majesty immediately if I find another relic.”

August, seeming to have lost interest, signaled Emmett to withdraw. But Emmett knew that he could change his mind and touch Liv at any time. Rather, it was more ominous that August didn’t act right away, because he had a habit of saving interesting toys for later.

His mind was so complicated. He had to protect Liv. But besides that, another thing that disturbed his mind was…

-To capture the affection of a young thing, you must kill its parents.

Emmett’s expression froze coldly as he left the Sun Room.

When he heard those words, Emmett felt a sense of deja vu. Because it seemed to imply the relationship between the Emperor and himself. After the death of the previous Duke and Duchess, Emmett had relied on the Emperor more than anyone else. The Emperor was the only one who helped Emmett when he was still young. But…

‘…What if there was a real culprit?’

What if the Emperor intentionally killed the previous Lartman Duke and Duchess to gain Emmett’s loyalty? They died in a carriage accident. And at that time, the culprit was revealed to be one of the collateral branches of the Ducal family, but… In fact, that too might have been orchestrated by the Emperor. Emmett, who maintained a stiff expression all the way back to the Lartman mansion, immediately ordered the butler.

“Contact Philip and tell him to reinvestigate the death of the previous Lartman Duke and Duchess.”

“What? What do you… Wasn’t the truth already revealed?”

“That’s uncertain. Check if the collateral branch that staged the crime… might have been bribed.”

“…Understood.”

The butler seemed to question Emmett’s words, but for now, he faithfully followed Emmett’s orders.

“And…”

Emmett added hesitantly.

“The fact that I’m investigating must not reach anyone else’s ears. Especially not His Majesty the Emperor.”

The butler’s face also turned pale as he realized the meaning of those words.

It was time to confirm the truth that they might have been unaware of for years.

* * *

“Madam, a letter has arrived.”

[To Mrs. Liv Lartman,

From Elena Luther.]

“What’s this?”

Liv examined the envelope of the letter that had come to her. The only person who would send her letters was Emmett at best, so who could this letter be from?

“Luther, Luther…”

It somehow seemed like a familiar surname. As Liv was searching her memory, Hildegard, who had come to visit the Lartman mansion, tilted her head. These days, noble young ladies were sending invitations to Hildegard instead of directly inviting Liv, and Hildegard, who was buried in invitations, was coming to the Lartman mansion almost like escaping every afternoon.

“What’s wrong? Is the sender of the letter someone you don’t know?”

“Yes, someone named Elena Luther.”

“Ah!”

At those words, Hildegard seemed to realize something and hit her palm with her fist. When Liv looked at Hildegard with eyes demanding an explanation, she opened her mouth.

“She’s a young lady from a family famous for being devout. I know that family has produced a huge number of theologians.”

“Ah…”

Come to think of it, she seemed to have heard the name ‘Luther’ at a banquet too. However, the fact that Liv didn’t know her well meant that she didn’t wield much power in noble circles. Most influential young ladies, including Zibel, had criticized and attacked Liv.

And Liv could guess why she had sent her a letter. Being from a devout family, she probably wanted to meet Liv.