Chapter 23

“Treason… huh.”

“Yeah. The reason the imperial family announced the purge of the Adelian family is treason.”

“What happened to the Princess?”

“She’s missing. They’re tracking her, so she probably won’t die peacefully.”

“……”

Why does it have to be like this?

If there’s a god, this shouldn’t be happening.

***

The treason and downfall of Duke Adelian.

Remia Adelian is missing in action.

I just went through an ordinary day and fell asleep, but everything around me had changed drastically.

Honestly, it didn’t feel real.

Not even a single tear came out when I heard you might be dead.

When I was by your side, I poured out so much.

I thought it couldn’t be helped.

When reality hits you without giving you time to adapt, a mere mortal like me can only nod and pretend to understand.

What can I do now, even if I get angry, sad, or despair?

I’m not going to run away without a single servant and search the former Adelian territory alone.

If I can’t do anything in the end, it’s better not to move at all.

It’s not that I can’t feel emotions—I’ve just moved past them. That’s enough to console myself.

…It’s said that the one who reported the treason was Hans DiCardi.

When I heard that, my heart tightened.

It felt like someone was whispering, “I should’ve killed him.”

“This isn’t the time to care about that, Ariana.

If we’re not careful, we could end up in the same situation.”

“…But you said you joined Duke Kayan’s faction.”

“That’s not the end of it.

We secured our position in Adelian because of our long-standing achievements.

We were acknowledged for our usefulness, so now we have to prove ourselves twice as much.”

After the shock, reality hit me hard.

Wharton is a parasite.

What happens to fake nobles who deceive with their abilities when they lose their host?

It’s obvious.

They all get killed.

The fact that I managed to escape the mansion unharmed that day was entirely thanks to my sister’s wit.

She sensed something was off with Adelian and sided with Kayan, who was usually a rival faction. That foresight saved us.

Meanwhile, I was right there, clueless, just sleeping.

Now, all I can do is laugh.

I think I really started to believe the compliments about my talent.

But I was just pretending.

I’ve been deluding myself, thinking I’ve changed and can now contribute.

But in the end, I couldn’t do anything and let everything slip through my fingers.

I don’t even want to imagine how pathetic I must’ve looked to others.

My sister.

If it were my sister.

She would’ve been different.

She could’ve saved the Princess.

“…I guess it’s up to me.”

The fact that they sought me out, despite my incompetence, means they expect something from me.

I respected my father, but objectively, he was a calculating man.

…Even to his own family.

“Right. Your sister can’t move freely on the field, so you’ll have to do it.

Duke Kayan has a privately operated organization.

Join it and get involved in the projects nobles can participate in.”

If it’s Duke Kayan’s privately operated organization, there’s only one place.

I’ve heard bits and pieces about it.

A colossal entity in the underworld, connected to the Imperial Guard.

The dark side of the Empire’s most elite.

A place you should never touch if you want to stay in the light.

The only time I’ve been involved with them was when I needed large quantities of drugs and test subjects.

Most of the shady organizations that illegally distributed such things have been absorbed by them in recent years.

The organization was that much of a hellhole.

I doubt the internal environment is any better.

And he’s sending his own daughter there.

I knew right away.

Ah, so I’m the sacrificial pawn.

“Just three years. If you endure for three years, they’ll move you to a safe rear position.

Of course, it’ll be chaotic and you’ll feel resistant, but there’s no other—”

“I’ll do it, Father. Don’t worry.”

“…Alright.”

Not “send you back,” but “move you to the rear.”

Yeah, so I’m just material to be used.

It’s oddly clear, so it’s easy to accept.

I prefer this over false hope.

“…I’m sorry for burdening you. As a father, it’s shameful to leave everything to my daughter.

Sacrifice yourself for all those who are part of Wharton.

That is the duty of those who have taken the name of nobility and enjoyed its privileges until now…”

You’re laying it on thick, Father.

You don’t need to say all that—I already know.

My sister is the heir.

You can’t entrust dangerous tasks like this to her.

A second daughter, who’s like a spare rib, is the perfect tail to cut off in times like this.

I’d have made the same choice. I understand.

So, please don’t make that face.

Like you’re just like me.

Please don’t wear such a clumsy, shoddy mask.

You’re a far greater person than me.

You’re the real deal, not like me.

Please, just stay as the father I respect.

“I know. I’ll do it right away.”

“It should be fine, right?”

“…Yeah.”

“Please send my regards to my sister. It’s going to be tough. She hates annoying things the most.”

Without waiting for a response, I turned around. Even as I left the room, my father never stopped me.

After that, I exchanged goodbyes with my family a few times during the preparation period, but I don’t remember any of it. I didn’t even make eye contact with my sister, so it didn’t feel worth remembering.

All that’s left is the memory of crying a lot in the carriage as I left.

I don’t know why I cried.

Maybe it was because the truth about the princess came out too late. Or maybe I was hurt by my family. Or perhaps I just didn’t want to go.

…I wasn’t really curious.

***

The organization was surprisingly well-structured.

I thought it would be a hellscape where murder and rape were daily occurrences, but it was a tightly-knit group that faithfully followed a solid leadership.

Because of that, the tasks I could take on were pretty limited. During the first year of adjustment, I was stuck at the branch, torturing the creatures that came in.

It wasn’t much different from being in Wharton. The only difference was that sometimes, when uncontrollable creatures came in, I’d get hurt a bit more. It was just a mechanical job of extracting the desired information through torture.

Later on, I was also deployed to combat missions, utilizing my magical skills. While everything else became an experience, honestly, that part wasn’t a fond memory.

As time passed, nearing the end of three years, one day, the branch leader of my branch summoned me.

Alberto Kayan. The third son of the Kayan ducal family. A genius in magic who held a professorship at the academy despite his young age.

His trademark was his monocle and neat suit. I was nervous because such a big shot had called for me, but surprisingly, the task didn’t seem too dangerous.

“A dispatch… to the academy?”

“Yes, you’ll monitor someone, and if they show any suspicious behavior, torture them. Make it painful. The more persistent, the better, so they’ll never resist us again.”

“Is there really a need for torture? If they don’t obey, just…”

“We can’t kill them because there’s potential to use them long-term. It’s also difficult to intervene externally in the academy’s affairs. But they’re indifferent to issues between students.”

“…In that case, I’m the perfect fit.”

“Exactly. That’s why I like you, Ariana. You catch on quickly.”

“Who’s the target?”

“Ah, right. I should tell you. You probably know them.”

Alberto pulled out a photo from the drawer.

She looked a bit thinner and more frail than I remembered, but her beauty was unmistakable.

It was you.

“Remia Adelian. A familiar name, isn’t it?”

“…Ah.”

After more than three years, I was going to meet you again.

I should have been happy, but I couldn’t be. Because from now on, I had to torture you.

Why now?

Why in this situation?

Why in this relationship?

…Please, just take it easy.

***

What happened after that was predictable.

I had the worst reunion with you and committed sins I couldn’t even dare to speak of.

I made excuses while masturbating with a mask on. Repeatedly committing and regretting.

The excuses were varied. That the safety of my entire family was at stake, so I had no choice. That our past connection didn’t matter. That I was helping you so you wouldn’t be killed by the organization. That I believed, without basis, that you wouldn’t die.

Even after witnessing you choosing death, I only excluded the commoners and didn’t take any further action. I knew I was trying to hold onto both my family and you, even as they slipped through my fingers.

That mindset shattered when I drugged you in a private space under Alberto’s orders.

In your drug-induced ramblings, I learned the truth. I saw your unstable mind finally split in two. I realized the sticky emotions I had for you. I became aware that most of the excuses I made were illusions.

After you collapsed from exhaustion, I sat beside you, dazed for a long time, and finally let go of one of the things I was holding onto.

I let go of my family, of Wharton. I decided to betray the organization.

Even though I had been forcing myself to look away all this time, my heart changed in an instant.

I had already crossed a river I couldn’t return from. I couldn’t go back to how things were, nor could I be forgiven.

Even though I knew it was too late, I regretted it.

Why do I always end up like this?

***

The organization was surprisingly well-structured.

I thought it would be a hellscape where murder and rape were daily occurrences, but it was a tightly-knit group that faithfully followed a solid leadership.

Because of that, the tasks I could take on were pretty limited. During the first year of adjustment, I was stuck at the branch, torturing the creatures that came in.

It wasn’t much different from being in Wharton. The only difference was that sometimes, when uncontrollable creatures came in, I’d get hurt a bit more. It was just a mechanical job of extracting the desired information through torture.

Later on, I was also deployed to combat missions, utilizing my magical skills. While everything else became an experience, honestly, that part wasn’t a fond memory.

As time passed, nearing the end of three years, one day, the branch leader of my branch summoned me.

Alberto Kayan. The third son of the Kayan ducal family. A genius in magic who held a professorship at the academy despite his young age.

His trademark was his monocle and neat suit. I was nervous because such a big shot had called for me, but surprisingly, the task didn’t seem too dangerous.

“A dispatch… to the academy?”

“Yes, you’ll monitor someone, and if they show any suspicious behavior, torture them. Make it painful. The more persistent, the better, so they’ll never resist us again.”

“Is there really a need for torture? If they don’t obey, just…”

“We can’t kill them because there’s potential to use them long-term. It’s also difficult to intervene externally in the academy’s affairs. But they’re indifferent to issues between students.”

“…In that case, I’m the perfect fit.”

“Exactly. That’s why I like you, Ariana. You catch on quickly.”

“Who’s the target?”

“Ah, right. I should tell you. You probably know them.”

Alberto pulled out a photo from the drawer.

She looked a bit thinner and more frail than I remembered, but her beauty was unmistakable.

It was you.

“Remia Adelian. A familiar name, isn’t it?”

“…Ah.”

After more than three years, I was going to meet you again.

I should have been happy, but I couldn’t be. Because from now on, I had to torture you.

Why now?

Why in this situation?

Why in this relationship?

…Please, just take it easy.

***

What happened after that was predictable.

I had the worst reunion with you and committed sins I couldn’t even dare to speak of.

I made excuses while masturbating with a mask on. Repeatedly committing and regretting.

The excuses were varied. That the safety of my entire family was at stake, so I had no choice. That our past connection didn’t matter. That I was helping you so you wouldn’t be killed by the organization. That I believed, without basis, that you wouldn’t die.

Even after witnessing you choosing death, I only excluded the commoners and didn’t take any further action. I knew I was trying to hold onto both my family and you, even as they slipped through my fingers.

That mindset shattered when I drugged you in a private space under Alberto’s orders.

In your drug-induced ramblings, I learned the truth. I saw your unstable mind finally split in two. I realized the sticky emotions I had for you. I became aware that most of the excuses I made were illusions.

After you collapsed from exhaustion, I sat beside you, dazed for a long time, and finally let go of one of the things I was holding onto.

I let go of my family, of Wharton. I decided to betray the organization.

Even though I had been forcing myself to look away all this time, my heart changed in an instant.

I had already crossed a river I couldn’t return from. I couldn’t go back to how things were, nor could I be forgiven.

Even though I knew it was too late, I regretted it.

Why do I always end up like this?