"It was because I was lacking and foolish that I lost precious lives. In the end, it was all due to my own lack of virtue. The lives lost cannot return, and even if I atone to them for a lifetime, I cannot be absolved of my sins."
"But you were deceived as well, Lord Heinley."
In that moment, Heinley gazed steadily at Aneli.
"The one who deceived me was...."
Originally, he had no intention of speaking this far. After all, saying it would only reveal his own foolishness.
However, once the topic arose before Aneli, he found himself unable to resist the urge to confess everything.
"The one who deceived me was your letter."
"Pardon?"
"A fake letter crafted to imitate your handwriting. I was played for a fool because my romantic feelings were discovered."
The Heinley of that time was younger, more full of vigor. That was also the driving force that made him harbor unnecessary hope.
"So what a shameful defeat it was. I became a lord who couldn't even dare to lift his head before his subordinates."
Everything was shameful. It inevitably took time for Heinley to summon courage toward the throne once more.
He had to overcome not merely the humiliation of defeat, but also the deep self-loathing and shame contained within that process.
"...I truly didn't know they would use even me."
"Of course, I know you had no connection to it. I don't blame you."
Even at Heinley's words, Aneli remained silent for a long while. A faint anger emerged on her cold, hardened expression.
Heinley grew curious. Was the anger she felt now born from pity for his situation?
If that were the case, could he hope for the beginning of emotions stemming from sympathy toward her?
'To lose innocent lives from being infatuated with emotions and still not come to one senses.'
As Heinley subdued his gloomy heart, Aneli's low murmur reached his ears.
"...You told me to be angry when I'm angry."
"Hmm?"
Aneli inhaled deeply as if resolving something. Then suddenly raising her gaze, she spoke to Heinley.
"Someone defined me as a villainess. Yet they call themselves the protagonist."
"The protagonist? Who is this?"
"Can't you see the twisted aura is extraordinarily severe? Calling themselves the protagonist, they must be immature."
"What does that mean?"
At Aneli's words, which he couldn't quite understand, Heinley wore a bewildered expression.
"If someone intentionally selected roles to complete a story they themselves determined, and thus suffered a one-sided defeat in a fight they could have won, what would you think?"
At Aneli's words, which seemed to indicate she knew something, Heinley narrowed his brows. After a moment's pause, he answered slowly.
"...No matter who intervened, the fact that I was defeated due to my own incompetence doesn't change."
"So you're accepting the results?"
"Regarding past events, yes. But the future is different. If I come to know who it is, I'd want to repay them."
As if it were the correct answer, Aneli smiled with curved eyes. It was a beautiful and intense smile that captivated his gaze in that moment.
"Then that's fortunate."
Through lips curved more brilliantly than ever, a cold voice flowed out.
"Since our intentions align, we just need to repay them properly."
* * *
After the Empress's tea time, the gifts coming to the palace doubled. However, because the gazes of the noble ladies encountered during the tea time didn't leave my mind for a while, I wasn't particularly pleased even when seeing the gifts.
There was also the fact that I had already taken as much money as I could, so it didn't seem particularly important.
More than that, what I desired was the authority to roam freely through the Imperial Palace. Yet the Emperor dismissed my proposal to find the twisted aura with a smile.
It seemed the Imperial family didn't take the 'twisted aura' I mentioned very seriously.
According to the mice roaming the Imperial Palace, Count Pendelon was supposedly submitting memoranda almost daily urging to 'immediately request the Resurrected One to find the twisted aura,' but it wasn't being accepted.
It was truly regrettable that the Emperor ignored my warning.
Crows had noticeably increased above the Imperial Palace, and apparently he didn't grasp the seriousness from swarms of rats continuously emerging from somewhere. The cat sounds echoing every night were the same.
'After all the trouble I went through to win them over, it's quite unrewarding.'
I didn't want to be forceful, but still.
"Crow."
The crow, thoroughly immersed in the joy of receiving all sorts of jewels, had flown in today once again, declaring it would help me of its own accord.
When I brought out a particularly large raw sapphire, it made quite a fuss as if offering its very heart.
"I'd like you to deliver just one message outside."
[I have many acquaintances. I can deliver anything!]
"I know a certain avian. I want to convey a message to that avian. It would be even better if you brought them here. I can tell you where they live."
I worried what if it refused, but the crow, blinded by the sapphire, accepted without a second thought.
'Well, it's bold enough to flutter about nonchalantly before a caged Dullahan, so of course.'
After sending the crow off, I left the detached palace.
My destination was the Black Tower. I wondered if I had missed something.
Thanks to Heinley, who accompanied me, keeping the palace attendants away, I was able to search through the tower's interior without hindrance.
However, despite venturing forth enthusiastically, what I gained was only pale dust covering me completely.
'There's nothing...'
The impression I felt when first arriving here remained unchanged. The interior had long been abandoned, merely old and full of dust, with no particularly useful clues visible.
This is a tower that was closed 40 years ago.
If the interior contents were removed 40 years ago, there's also a possibility the key isn't in the Imperial Palace... Is there no way to know the situation from that time?
Ultimately finishing the search of the tower's interior without any particular results, I looked up at the shabby exterior before the entrance.
Standing with arms crossed, lost in thought, Heinley who was beside me spoke up tentatively.
"Wouldn't it be better to officially establish yourself as God's Resurrected One and act accordingly?"
"Why would I do that?"
"Because all the world's talents would gather to help the Resurrected One. If you have an organization that opposes you, wouldn't it be convenient to have someone to command? Whatever you desire, you could find it quickly."
Looking at Heinley with puzzlement, I tilted my head slightly.
"For whose benefit?"
I asked because I was genuinely curious, but Heinley seemed to think there was an underlying meaning to my words. He, who had stopped speaking in fluster, soon lowered his voice with gravity.
"Of course, you may not like the current Imperial family, but I will certainly reclaim it. I will strive to ensure the Imperial family doesn't exploit the Resurrected One's influence."
Ah, so he thinks I'm not taking in subordinates because of the problem of staying in the Imperial Palace.
"You seem to misunderstand. It's not that I dislike 'only' the Imperial family, I dislike the Imperial family 'as well.'"
"The Imperial family as well?"
"I dislike people. If there wasn't something I needed, I wouldn't have remained here."
As strength entered my arms, my body naturally shrank.
Especially here, there are too many people. People who fear me, people who killed me.
I wanted to finish my business and leave as soon as possible.
"I prefer being a guest who can leave at any time, not the head of some group belonging to any organization."
"Still, wouldn't it be good to establish a few trustworthy people?"
When I gazed at Heinley without answering, he smiled awkwardly and averted his gaze.
"I won't deny that there's some hope that it might be me."
"I'm sorry. I don't trust people."
The answer came without needing deep contemplation.
"That's why a relationship where we don't need to exchange such things is best."
At my words, Heinley fell silent for a moment. Then suddenly he asked back in a dark voice.
"Do you really not trust?"
"What do you mean?"
I looked at him with puzzlement, but he didn't add any particular explanation.
Was it perhaps because I had asked Heinley for help? But agreeing to lend strength to his political power was, in the end, closer to a transaction.
"Of course, I trust transactions based on understandable mutual interests. I think my transaction with Lord Heinley is like that as well. What I'm saying is..."
"No, I understand."
Heinley, who had been looking at me with vague eyes, cut off my words very firmly. His expression, which had been dark for a moment, returned to his usual gentle and peaceful look.
"If that judgment is fair to everyone, then I'm fine with it."
Just as I was about to question further because something felt unresolved about the answer, something black suddenly poked its head out from the bushes right next to the Black Tower.
[Boss?]
Along with an address that had now become too familiar.
[Is it you, Boss?]
"...Good heavens."
[It is you, Boss.]
"Why is that?"
At my suddenly frozen figure, Heinley wore a puzzled expression. After moving my lips for a moment, I took a shallow breath and calmly turned to look at Heinley.
"Um, could you please check the surroundings for a moment?"
"The surroundings?"
At my sudden request, he still had a bewildered look, but upon discovering the suddenly appearing animal, he let out a low exclamation as if realizing something.
"Ah, I'll do that."
While confirming Heinley's retreating back, the animal emerged completely from the bushes and stood before me.
[Boss, it's good to meet you like this.]
The animal was a cat with jet-black fur and a sleek physique. The cat, raising its long tail, looked up at me with yellow eyes.
"No, where on earth did you pop out from... You're a Dullahan, right?"
[I greet you. I am the fourth knight, Minte, searching for my lost head.]
If Minte, it was that very Dullahan Bark had spoken of.
To think there were two Dullahans sleeping in the Imperial Palace. Good heavens, wasn't the Empire's Imperial family actually destined to fall? Am I really the savior of the Imperial family?
"Where exactly were you sleeping to appear now? How did you transform and enter? Didn't you get caught by other humans?"
[I awakened in the forest outside this capital. I came after hearing the story that you were here.]
Heard the story that I was in the Imperial Palace?