Chapter 134

I thought an almost unbearable sight would unfold before my eyes.

I’m usually composed enough to witness even the most terrible scenes with a level head. When I once saw thousands of elves in the square snorting heroin en masse, I quickly regained my calm afterward. Since the atrocity was of my own making, panicking would have seemed odd.

But now, I couldn’t suppress my astonishment.

Leon Rothe Dale was somehow maintaining a semblance of dignity, contrary to expectations.

However, his death was certain.

“Huh! Huh! Hu…!”

First, the irregular breathing.

He rapidly gasped for air, slowed down his breathing, then quickened it again. This pattern repeated ceaselessly. At one point, for about twenty seconds, his eyes widened as his breathing abruptly stopped, only to return.

There were also other alarming signs.

His pupils were unusually dilated, sweat poured off his forehead nonstop, and his upper arm muscles twitched abnormally.

Even his ears were moving. Though this posture was far removed from dignity, I wasn’t mocking Leon.

At the moment, he was smiling.

His eyes were open wide, but there was an unstable smile tugging at the corners of Leon’s mouth. It was less a sign of indulgence and more an image of barely enduring some overwhelming intoxication. It almost seemed as if he was clinging to life in order to savor the moments a little longer.

‘Can he hear my voice?’

Likely not.

But just in case Leon remains conscious, the strategy I’m about to unfold might not be entirely distasteful to him.

Since I intend to gradually operate on Anais now.

This act is separate from Leon, part of a broader effort to eliminate the filth. However, his presence remains pivotal.

“Bono.”

“Yes…? Ah, yes, sir.”

“Tell the brigade commander it’s over.”

“Understood.”

Shortly after, Brigadier General Welkes, commander of the 10th Infantry Brigade, entered the infirmary.

Brigade commanders are not trifling positions in the Empire. Starting from the rank of colonel, many officers are themselves nobles or at least hail from notable families.

Brigadier General Welkes was no exception.

But at the moment, he was just a middle-aged man overcome by fear.

His complexion had paled after receiving the summons from Bono. Likely because of the catastrophic incident that occurred in his jurisdiction and because stepping into the same location as the perpetrator wasn’t exactly easy.

“What…?”

Welkes General widened his eyes in disbelief at the sight of Leon Rothe Dale.

I clicked my fingers to draw his attention.

“It’s over, Brigadier.”

“It’s over? You mean… what you’re saying?”

“What is there to say? I confronted the deserting soldier Leon Rothe Dale and advised him to surrender. Leon accepted the counsel, disarmed, and I acted on the authority granted to me by His Majesty the Emperor to execute him immediately.”

“But he’s still alive… No, according to military law, we must proceed with proper proceedings.”

“You want me to bring someone who paralyzed an entire province to the capital? And if an accident happens en route, who’s responsible? Are you, General? … I’ve merely swiftly dealt with an imperial threat.”

“Sir, forgive my words…”

The Brigadier trailed off, gazing exclusively at Leon.

Was he concerned that Leon might suddenly leap out of bed and kill everyone here barehanded? It wasn’t an unreasonable worry given the chaos Leon had caused over the past few days.

‘It’s odd that this person who deserted is dying so submissively.’

My purpose wasn’t solely to inform Leon’s death.

“Ah, of course, I gathered a statement from Leon.”

“A statement…?”

“I’ve understood the motives. Why the once dedicated Leon suddenly lost control and killed his superiors, and why he was intent on making his way to the capital. …Turns out it wasn’t solely Leon Rothe Dale’s fault.”

The brigadier’s expression gradually hardened at this statement.

He probably guessed I didn’t summon him just for Leon’s last rites. That Leon’s execution wasn’t the final chapter of this event.

But I pressed on regardless.

“I received a statement about the Third Imperial Princess.”

“Madway Comte…! No, Lord Comte, just a moment.”

“I admit, I was initially perplexed as well. Why did Leon suddenly go berserk upon receiving a letter of regret from the Third Princess regarding his drug addiction?… But after hearing from Leon Rothe Dale himself, I finally grasped why.”

“H… He…”

“Leon Rothe Dale claims he received an unjust request from Anais Your Highness. Prior to his punishment by transfer—when he was still a student at the Academy—he refused to comply with Anais Your Highness’s request. It was, after all, an act of treason.”

“…”

“Apparently, Anais Your Highness threatened to cut off his drug supply as retribution for his disobedience. Hence, Leon lost his mind and deserted. I realize this does not excuse the numerous atrocities Leon committed, but…”

At minimum, half the blame lies with the Third Princess.

Upon my firm declaration, the mood around me grew solemn.

Unavoidable. Regardless of her downfall, Anais remained the Third Princess.

Worse, she was now formally exonerated through an imperial decree, pardoning her for past offenses. She wasn’t someone to be easily challenged without evidence. Making accusations against her would constitute an act of impiety in itself.

And here I was, implicating Anais as another responsible party for desertion and mass murder.

I may have frightened the Brigadier, but I did have a task for him.

“Summon a magician to report this entire situation to the Military Affairs Ministry. That Leon Rothe Dale was pursued and executed, and that a statement about the Third Princess was collected. …I will personally report the detailed content to His Majesty when I return to the state.”

“…”

“Or would you prefer if I delivered the report myself?”

“No!”

The Brigade Commander, his face filled with consternation, followed my orders.

He did not ask what the statement I claimed to have received from Leon contained, or the exact nature of Anais’ command to Leon. Knowing the specifics would only increase his political liabilities.

‘A wise decision indeed.’

As I watched the swift movements of the Brigadier’s subordinates for a moment,

I turned my gaze back to Leon Rothe Dale.

“He’s just passed away.”

Even without Bono’s confirmation, I already knew.

The erratic breathing had ceased, and the convulsions in his arms had finally stopped.

The protagonist, despite inhaling twenty times the lethal dose of heroin and ten times the lethal dose of phenylacetone, had survived for quite some time.

Even in death, he still maintained a faint smile on his lips.

*

I secretly hoped that bastard would die right now.

Such was the thought that crossed the Third Princess Anais’ mind upon hearing the news that Alan Medoff had embarked on a pursuit of Leon.

The Third Princess herself did not have access to accurate information.

Her current state was such that she could not even leave her quarters freely.

News of Alan Medoff’s assignment to lead the pursuit force and his direct field operation to capture Leon were relayed to her by a messenger sent by her father.

‘What if he manages to catch him?’

Anais was fully aware that Leon had lost his mind to drugs.

Word had vividly reached her through letters from Siena while she was at the monastery.

And Alan was the only one capable of supplying more drugs. With the promise of heroin, Leon would certainly surrender willingly.

‘Still, anything could happen.’

Alan Medoff could overestimate himself and get killed, or Leon could be seized by delirium and start slashing. Even a seasoned knight like Alan Medoff might not withstand a blind swing from a drug-addled sword.

One blind slash.

That would resolve many issues—perhaps not all, but a significant portion.

‘The possibility is slim though.’

The most probable outcome was that Alan Medoff would successfully escort Leon back.

That would be Anais’ worst-case scenario.

Alan Medoff could use his drugged superior to turn against Anais herself once returned. Even hiding behind their father’s protection might not be sufficient. The looming image of the monastery already danced before her eyes.

“No…Not that.”

Even as she muttered to herself, Anais’ hands worked ceaselessly.

Needlework, naturally.

The embroidery design she was currently working on was based on a chrysanthemum motif.

It was said that the Empress of Chinguk, her maternal grandmother, loved chrysanthemums dearly.

Anais intended to craft a piece and have it delivered via courier as a gift to her grandmother. The embassy delegation was scheduled to return within a week, and she was in a rush.

This was one of her efforts to gain the patronage of the imperial court of Chinguk.

“Cannot afford to mess up.”

Fortunately, her skill in embroidery was a natural talent gifted to her by the heavens.

At the time, while in the monastery, she dismissed the praise from the respected nun with casual disregard, yet now it became apparent that exile hadn’t been entirely meaningless.

Even her father seemed to note her skills, exclaiming “She must have reflected on her past actions.” Believing his youngest daughter was quietly laboring and praying in solitude, reflecting on her wrongdoings. Although, it was simply her raw talent.

‘Need to build more allies. In any way possible.’

She wasn’t just trying to preserve her life.

For future endeavors, she needed to build a foundation now. Only then could she have a real chance at revenge. This time, things spiraled out of control beyond expectations, but next time…

“Anais?”

At that moment, that familiar voice reached her ears.

Turning slowly, she saw a silver-haired girl with a gentle smile standing there.

Siena Carlisle.

The wicked year that Anais couldn’t bring herself to call sister.

Just looking at Siena’s outfit showed she was still as crazy as ever. The lace decoration on her hat was unmistakably Anais’ own handiwork. …Where on earth had she gotten it from? It’s not like Anais attached name tags to her productions.

‘Definitely a provocation.’

However, Siena’s words were unexpected.

“Work harder. If you want to survive.”

With that, Siena vanished swiftly.

What was that about?

Anais stared blankly at where Siena disappeared.

She received news of Leon’s death some time later.

The news that Leon had left behind some statement before his death came at the same time.

The busy hands of Anais suddenly stilled.

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