LDAD 78

Chapter 78

The door through which Aaron had left closed. Hearing the sound, Amelia absentmindedly rubbed her still-wet face with her hands. The face that had been twisted from constant crying was now expressionless, as if nothing had happened. The contrast was chilling enough to be frightening.

“I’ll make sure you never have to see the emperor smiling because of a marriage, just as you wished.”

After a long silence, Aaron finally spoke. Amelia’s hatred had ultimately been triggered by his proposal, so he promised that she would never have to witness his wedding.

“I’ll have your child recognized as crown prince when he turns one.”

“He said there was no proof.”

To suddenly demand that the crown prince be declared early—there was no reason for Ivan to accept such a thing.

“Of course, for now.”

Aaron, too, acknowledged the lack of evidence. There was no way to prove that Ian was Ivan’s child. Unless both Amelia and Ivan admitted the truth, their relationship would never become a “complete” truth.

“I’ve sent men to Ricky’s true hometown.”

“…Hometown?”

“Recton, I hear. If he’s still alive, he should know something.”

There was a possibility Ricky was alive, and Aaron was tracking him down.

“And truthfully, even if he’s dead and there’s no evidence, it doesn’t matter.”

Ian’s existence was already a weakness for both Amelia and Ivan. Aaron knew this very well.

“……”

Amelia rose from her seat and found a notebook hidden near the window. As Ivan had told her, she carefully recorded the date, her agreement with Aaron, and the conversation they had shared.

Within half a year. The suddenly shortened time loomed before her eyes, and her pen hovered over the words, unable to move.

“Rodan.”

“Yes.”

When Rodan saw Ivan calling him, he was reminded of a lion that had just feasted—so satisfied did Ivan appear.

“How goes the search for the mansion I told you to find within the capital?”

Rodan hesitated, having completely forgotten about it.

“The residence for Amelia.”

Ivan reminded him of the order he had given. Rodan couldn’t answer immediately. He had started looking into suitable mansions, but after the debacle at the envoy’s reception, everything had been put on hold.

“I haven’t pursued it, given the… troubles.”

Rodan admitted honestly. Hadn’t the false prophecy driven their relationship to the brink of ruin? Truthfully, Rodan had thought it fortunate that Ivan hadn’t executed Amelia outright. Though they had reconciled, it was only temporary. Given her betrayal, he hadn’t imagined Ivan would ever keep her by his side.

“Find one.”

Ivan’s command caught Rodan by surprise.

“Your Majesty.”

“She agreed to become my mistress.”

Rodan tried to dissuade him, but Ivan wouldn’t listen. This time, he insisted, Amelia had finally understood her place and chosen not to covet more than she should.

“To let her die when I can save her—would that not be excessive cruelty?”

And was it not far too harsh to simply discard the woman who had shared his bed, borne his child, and brought him victory? Ivan’s words sounded almost compassionate—unbelievable coming from him.

“The people will not tolerate it.”

Rodan carefully warned. If the truth came out, Amelia would become a fraud who had mocked the world, a woman scorned and cast onto the streets. Even if Ivan granted her land, a house, and servants, she would not even be able to step outside freely.

“……”

Perhaps she would gain only the disgrace of being remembered as the wretched temptress who seduced the emperor with her body. Laden with dishonor, once Ivan’s favor cooled, she would be discarded miserably. After that, who would even know if she was alive or dead?

Could such a ragged existence be called life?

Rodan thought absolutely not.

“Find one anyway.”

But Ivan was adamant. He had always been self-centered—whatever he desired, he must hold in his hands.

“And what of the new recruitment for the Imperial Knights and patrol units?”

He cut Rodan off, shifting the subject so he could not protest further. Rodan had no choice but to accept his will. He was, after all, sworn to serve the emperor, and there was no way to break Ivan’s stubbornness.

“The ban on private armies and the proposal for an Imperial Academy have also been prepared alongside it.”

Rodan could only hope that everything would unfold more smoothly and comfortably than expected.

Beneath a gloomy, twisted sky, the gates of an abandoned castle creaked open. A pitch-black carriage without a single family crest rattled its way inside. Long ago, the land had been stricken with plague, all its inhabitants wiped out, and it was branded cursed before being abandoned.

“You’ve arrived, my lord.”

As a man stepped down from the carriage, his hat pulled low, the head butler of the estate appeared. He was a man whose presence was faint, like air itself.

“Yes.”

Duke Russell removed his hat with a curt reply.

“You’ve been well?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Though the land was rumored cursed and its name erased from maps, it was nothing more than a long-standing lie fabricated by House Russell to drive people away. In truth, the duke had purchased the land and castle through intermediaries and had been secretly using it ever since.

“How are the subjects being managed?”

“For now, as before. Any exceptions are being used in the experiments.”

Nodding, Duke Russell entered the dilapidated mansion. This castle had long served as a place where priestesses secretly bore children and recuperated. Yet the reason it was emptied of its residents wasn’t solely for that purpose.

“Watch your step, my lord.”

The butler opened a hidden door and descended with a lamp. Duke Russell leisurely followed him down. Slowly, a place concealed in secrecy for ages revealed itself.

“……”

Deep underground, it was damp and dark—yet people lived there. The stench of rot and blood hung in the air. Most striking, however, was that the majority of those living below had black hair. On their faces, not a trace of hope remained.

It was only natural. This was no place for humans. It was nothing but a breeding ground, meant to produce boys to serve as Amelia’s “partners.”

“The experiments?”

“My apologies. None of the subjects have succeeded.”

It was also a site for human experimentation—an attempt to surpass human limits, to find a way to achieve immortality, to halt the process of aging. Those without Amelia’s blood, those who lacked black hair and black eyes, were used here.

“Very well. What has been impossible for ages won’t succeed in a single attempt.”

“……”

“They may yet become unnecessary, but…”

The duke trailed off. At first, and until recently, all of this had been to research a way for a single Amelia to live long. But since he had become emperor, he wondered if such studies were meaningless.

Yet upon reflection, immortality was even more vital to him as emperor. He had not claimed the throne merely to live a few years, then hand it to his heir.

“No. Continue the experiments until they yield meaningful results.”

“Understood, my lord.”

With arrogant command, Duke Russell held the power of life and death over those beneath him as if he were a god. The butler bowed deeply, vowing obedience.

“There is nothing more to see here. Shall we go back up?”

At his suggestion, Duke Russell nodded readily. The butler, lamp in hand, climbed first. The duke followed the light up the stairs.

Just as they reached the surface, a pained scream burst out from the open door below. Their master had departed, which meant the cruel experiments had resumed.

“My apologies.”

The butler swiftly shut the underground door with an apology.

“I’ll be staying here tonight.”

“Then I’ll prepare your meal while you rest.”

Because the duke had sent word in advance, his chambers were already cleaned and stocked with food. The butler, well prepared, hurried to see to the arrangements.

Duke Russell watched his diligent servant’s back before heading to his chamber. As if to praise his choice to stay in the castle rather than the nearby village, rain began to pour down in torrents, lashing the outer walls.

True to the land’s cursed reputation, sorrowful groans seeped from unseen places, circling the castle like wails. Reclining deep into the sofa, Duke Russell closed his eyes, savoring the cries disguised as the sound of rain.