This was the first time Cabelenus had ever revealed that truth to the public.

In the heavy stillness, Cabelenus fixed his gaze on Jerpeneus.

His golden eyes burned with open hostility, unapologetic and fierce.

Jerpeneus, sensing the shift in the air, instinctively clenched his jaw.

At that moment, a presence stirred behind him.

“So, you have finally arrived.”

The voice came from behind, breaking the emperor’s forced composure.

His carefully maintained smile wavered.

Standing at the end of his gaze was Hermann, the High Priest, dressed in pristine white robes, accompanied by a retinue of temple priests.

“…What brings the High Priest here at this hour?”

Jerpeneus’s voice dropped into a cautious whisper.

“A mere servant of the gods has come to deliver the divine will.”

Hermann stroked his beard and let out a hearty laugh.

His aged, hollow eyes—reminiscent of gnarled, ancient wood—glinted with barely concealed greed.

“This is not your place, High Priest.”

Jerpeneus’s warning was laced with thinly veiled irritation.

“There is no place I cannot go if it is to deliver the will of the gods.”

Unbothered, Hermann stepped forward and placed himself before the amplifying orb.

Below the platform, the sea of gathered people held their breath.

“I, Hermann, a humble servant of the gods, have come to bless the Grand Duke of Schwarhan upon his triumphant return. And from this day forward, I shall pray for him.”

The moment he placed a hand over his heart in a gesture of reverence, murmurs spread through the crowd.

Everyone knew of the ongoing power struggle between the Imperial Court and the Holy Temple.

And Cabelenus had always been one of the most notorious imperial loyalists.

In fact, the High Priest had never once attended his previous victory celebrations.

To suddenly offer his blessings now—it was more than suspicious.

“The gods have finally given us a revelation in response to the prayers of their faithful.”

Hermann’s voice carried through the square.

“The disasters plaguing the empire are the result of one who defies divine will.”

Jerpeneus was unfazed, even as the priest glanced his way.

Instead, the emperor simply waved to the crowd as if none of this concerned him.

But to Hermann, who had lived far longer than Jerpeneus, the act was almost amusing.

No matter how well Jerpeneus played his part, he still looked like an overgrown child in the eyes of the High Priest.

“A blasphemer who dares to seize a throne that does not belong to him.”

The words rang clear and sharp.

“The Holy Temple will hold him accountable for his sins—and ensure the rightful ruler takes his place.”

Hermann extended a hand toward Cabelenus.

Cabelenus smiled.

Jerpeneus clenched his fists.

“For this is the will of the gods.”

He had not named anyone outright, but the implication was clear enough.

The gathered crowd needed nothing more to fuel their gossip.

Hermann’s gaze swept across them with fondness.

Anticipation, curiosity, fear.

Such emotions were always delightful to watch unfold.

***

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

The moment they were alone, Jerpeneus grabbed Cabelenus’s shoulder.

Cabelenus glanced down at his brother indifferently.

“The preparations are complete. I’m simply moving forward.”

“So you plan to overthrow me? Using that greedy old bastard’s power? Do you really think you can control him?”

“As long as it means destroying your empire, I don’t care.”

“My empire? And whose fault do you think it is that—”

“Don’t shift the blame. You never intended to hand over the throne to me in the first place.”

Cabelenus’s lips curled into a sneer.

“What are you talking about? I was merely holding your place until you—”

“Then why do the experiments continue?”

The horrific experiments that had begun under their father had supposedly ended after his death.

Yet the laboratories had never been dismantled.

“That’s… that’s just…”

“Spare me the excuses. I know exactly what you’re after.”

Cabelenus brushed his brother’s hand off his shoulder and stepped back.

“And you’re fine with that?”

“You will accomplish nothing, Jerpeneus.”

Jerpeneus’s golden eyes darkened.

“Nothing?”

“Your ambitions will crumble in my hands.”

Under the bright chandeliers, Cabelenus’s golden eyes gleamed with something unhinged.

The madness that had been festering inside him for eight years was no longer something he tried to hide.

“You’re the one who can’t do anything. Do you even realize whose hands your life is in?”

“And how long do you think that leash will hold me?”

“…What?”

“I finally found a way.”

“What are you talking about?”

Cabelenus did not answer.

Instead, he drew his sword and pressed the blade against his brother’s throat.

“You can’t harm me.”

“Leashes are meant to be broken.”

Cabelenus smiled.

Jerpeneus shuddered at the sensation of warm blood trickling down his neck.

“…What have you done?”

“I sold myself.”

Just as you sold a child that hadn’t even been born.

Cabelenus’s grip tightened.

Jerpeneus’s lips trembled at the pressure of cold steel against his skin.

“You couldn’t pay the price, but I did. I spent the last eight years ensuring it.”

“You made a deal with our enemies?”

“Who is my enemy?”

“…What?”

“I no longer know who my enemies are. Everyone only ever seeks to use me.”

Jerpeneus’s stomach twisted.

“You’re still shackled to that woman.”

“Watch your tongue.”

“She was only with you for a few months. How could that still—”

“You made sure I would never forget her. By killing her, you carved her into me.”

Cabelenus laughed coldly.

He dreamt of her every night.

Drenched in blood, sobbing.

Reaching for her—only to watch her slip further away.

“You always told me to be the best. Fine. I will be. And I will destroy everything you built—until there is nothing left.”

“You think I’ll let you?”

“Fight back. Struggle. I want to watch you try.”

Cabelenus sheathed his sword.

A red mark remained on Jerpeneus’s throat.

“Aren’t you generous.”

“Your death is not enough.

I will rip out the rot at its roots.”

Cabelenus smirked.

The true game had only just begun.

***

“Are you all right?”

“This much is nothing.”

Cabelenus wiped his mouth roughly. Dark, crimson blood stained the back of his hand.

“The curse isn’t completely broken yet. You should be careful.”

“That’s what makes it convenient. If it were fully intact, I might have killed him on impulse.”

Cabelenus exhaled deeply.

The backlash from even a few drops of blood left him nauseous, as always.

It was disgusting.

Still, this time…

“This isn’t bad. It’s proof that it’s possible.”

Even that old bastard still had some strength left.

Once, Cabelenus wouldn’t have been able to lay a single finger on Jerpeneus.

But today, he had drawn blood.

“You shouldn’t rely on it too much. The High Priest has no intention of fully lifting the curse.”

“Of course not. He won’t break it—he’ll only change its master from Jerpeneus to himself. That’s the only way he can turn me into an obedient dog.”

“Then we have to end everything before he gets the chance.”

Gajev smiled faintly and handed him a handkerchief.

“Are we gathering evidence that the High Priest fabricated the disasters?”

Cabelenus wiped away the blood, nodding absentmindedly.

“Yes. Everything is being recorded.”

“Then we’ll also need to monitor the rumors about Your Grace. That old man’s greatest talent is manipulating public opinion under the guise of divine will. He’s undoubtedly already set his plans in motion.”

“All accounted for. Once the imperial family is dealt with, we can move directly onto the temple.”

“As soon as the High Priest bestows you the title of the Divine Regent, we begin. The Empire, the Temple—everything will be beneath your feet.”

Cabelenus clenched his fist.

His long-awaited goal was within reach.

Yet, it didn’t bring him the slightest joy.

He halted in his tracks and closed his eyes.

Eight years had passed.

And yet, he could still see her crying face, more vividly than anything else.

The thought alone left him parched.

“…Not much longer now.”

“Ah, come to think of it, her memorial is soon.”

Gajev forced a smile, but the heavy atmosphere refused to lift.

Cabelenus stared blankly ahead before lowering his head.

“Have you ever heard of Lubertain?”

“Lubertain? What is that?”

“A land I can never reach.”

Cabelenus stared at the bloodstained handkerchief.

Alicia had spoken of Lubertain as the sacred land of the righteous.

His hands were far too stained to ever set foot there.

And yet, sometimes…

A foolish thought crept into his mind—

That if he begged hard enough, perhaps a merciful god might let him step upon it just once.

Even though he didn’t believe in gods.

Cabelenus scoffed at himself.

He raised a hand to cover his eyes.

His lips, hidden beneath his fingers, were twisted downward in quiet despair.

***

“What kind of parenting is this?!”

“Why are you so upset, madam? Did my child do something wrong?”

“Look at his face! Do you see this? What are you going to do about it?!”

Alicia blinked at the sight of the two children before her.

Mikael looked relatively unharmed, but the other boy’s face was swollen as if he’d been stung by bees.

“I—I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? You think that’s enough? I demand to know what you’re going to do about this!”

“I’ll cover the medical expenses.”

“That’s the bare minimum!”

Maren, a stout woman with a temper to match, shoved Mikael roughly.

Alicia frowned.

“Your son isn’t the only one injured.”

“Are you serious? Just look at them! Clearly, my child suffered more!”

Maren grabbed Mikael and shook him.

Alicia narrowed her eyes.

“Yes. I see that. But did you even bother to ask why?”

“…Why?”

“The reason they fought.”

“Why does that matter? Look at his face! He’s a mess!”

“Mikael.”

“…”

“Come here.”

Alicia reached out, gently grasping Mikael’s wrist.

His gray eyes—so much like hers—stared up at her.

“It’s okay. Come here.”

At her reassurance, Mikael hesitantly stepped forward.

Alicia pulled him into her arms, her grip firm and protective.

“What are you doing? You should be scolding him!”

“If my son did something wrong, I’ll reprimand him then. But only if he actually did something wrong.”

“What?!”

“Mikael, tell me. Why did you fight?”

“….”

Mikael hesitated, glancing up at her nervously.

His small hand clutched at her skirt.

Alicia gently wrapped her fingers around his, offering silent reassurance.

“It’s okay. Tell me.”

“…Chris was teasing me.”

“Teasing you? About what?”

“…He called you a runaway concubine.”

The air turned frigid.

Alicia let out a slow breath, pressing her fingers against her temple.

“Mikael, do you even know what that means?”

“No. But he said it was dirty. That his mother told him. He kept saying it.”

“So you fought?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize.”

Alicia smiled and turned to Maren.

Maren’s face had gone pale.

“Madam, before you criticize someone else’s parenting, perhaps you should mind your own words first.”

“I—I never said that! Do you have proof?!”

“Your precious son just provided it.”

Alicia leveled a cold stare at Chris.

Chris, unable to meet her gaze, shrank back.

“I don’t know what you intended by spreading such gossip.

But don’t you feel even a little ashamed that your child is already parroting such filth?”

“…”

“I have never done anything to bring shame to my son, nor will I ever.

So keep your disgusting words out of his ears.”

If I hear another word of this filth, I won’t let it slide.

Alicia’s eyes burned with warning.

Maren instinctively stepped back.

She had always dismissed Alicia as a frail woman—

Yet, when faced with that piercing gaze, she felt an unexplainable fear.