“You’re an evil, cruel bitch!”

The Countess Phillies screamed furiously.

Artizea, the Marchioness Rosan, heard her words vaguely as she was being pulled by both arms.

On her way here, she was hit in the face several times with metal gloves.

Her mouth was torn, broken, and swollen, making it difficult for her to speak.

Even though she tried to walk at her own pace, the knights were forcibly carrying her.

Then, at one point, she injured her ankle. She didn’t know if it was broken or sprained, but it hurt anyway.

She could no longer walk, so now she had no choice but to be dragged.

Her broken arm hurt, too. The wrist that the knight twisted was swollen.

When the knights threw her to the floor, Artizea rolled on the cold floor.

“How could you kill Abe!”

The Countess Phillies screamed so loudly, she could vomit blood.

After shaking the arm of the maid who was holding her, she ran up to Artizea and slapped her on the cheek.

Needless to say, the pain was unbearable because her mouth was so badly treated.

Artizea rolled back onto the floor, feeling her gaze fade.

“What did Abe do to deserve that?! How could you kill your own nephew?! You’re a bitch, you must suffer the same fate!”

Artizea looked at the Countess Phillies with a blurred vision.

The Countess Phillies sobbing ran out the other side of the room. She intended to stab Artizea with anything she could find, whether it was a knife or a candlestick.

Emperor Lawrence, who had been watching the situation closely, approached her. He grabbed her lovingly by the shoulder and said.

“Calm down, Emma.”

“How can I be calm? She killed my child! How can Your Majesty be so calm? Abe is your son too!”

“Tia is my sister, Emma. There must be a misunderstanding.”

“I’m going to get revenge! I’m going to avenge my son!”

The Countess Phillies fell to her knees and began to cry loudly.

‘I see, Abe has been murdered.’

Artizea now knew what was going on.

She looked at Lawrence. He looked sad and downcast,

However, Artizea noticed a small sense of triumph in his eyes.

It was clear that a conspiracy had been prepared against her.

‘First, I will be blamed for murdering your son, making me a criminal. And then a series of accusations will follow one after another.’

In fact, she had actually committed many crimes, and Lawrence knew most of them.

So there was no need for him to create false accusations against her.

Clearly, the person who hatched this conspiracy was Emperor Lawrence himself.

The Emperor said.

“I can’t believe you committed such a crime, Tia. Did you really kill Abe?”

One could hear a certain joy in his voice.

Artizea tried to speak.

But before she could open his mouth, the Countess Phillies screamed loudly.

“After that bitch’s maid went to visit him, Abe suddenly vomited black blood and died!”

Lawrence raised his hand and the knights brought in another woman. She was Artizea’s maid.

The maid knelt down in silence, and Lawrence asked her.

“Is it true that the Marchioness Rosan ordered you to poison Abe?”

“Yes.”

The maid answered politely.

“The plan of the Marchioness Rosan was to kill Abe first, and then to kill His Majesty. That way, she would be able to take control of the empire.

Everyone in this room buzzed with shock.

Lawrence asked with a sad expression.

“Do you have anything to say about this?”

Artizea showed a dry smile.

What the hell was he thinking?

She had no intention of denying that she was evil. But being treated like a dumb person made her laugh.

“His Majesty the Emperor, you know what kind of person I am, don’t you? If I had wanted to take over the empire, I would have killed His Majesty, not Abe.”

What good would it do to kill Abe in such a careless way as to make everyone realize if Lawrence were still on the throne? It would only make him more careful.

If she had come up with a plan, she would have killed Lawrence first without anyone knowing.

“Tia, such words are useless. You’ll have to clear up what happened.”

What good are excuses and explanations at this point? Lawrence had already decided to kill me.

It was too late, no matter what I did, I had no way of surviving, since the emperor himself had decided to kill me for treason.

“I cannot believe it. Tia, how could you do such a thing?”

“Your Majesty the Emperor, you are the only authority in this Empire.”

Said Artizea.

Her mouth was full of blood, and her tongue was ripped apart by her teeth.

Still, if she could bear the pain, she could say a few more words.

“You now carry the empire on your shoulders, so you should kick the habit of blaming others for everything. That’s my last piece of advice.”

“Insolence!”

The knight hit her in the face again.

“Take the traitor away from here and lock her up!”

She exclaimed.

Artizea looked at Lawrence with her puffy eyes. However, he did not interfere.

Artizea did not clearly remember what happened after that.

She was tortured and forced to sign some documents.

She was then taken to court, which was attended only by the emperor, a handful of nobles and officials.

The accusers and witnesses presented one set of evidence after another.

Some were truly evil acts committed by Artizea.

Others were fabricated scandals, with horrible and perverse stories.

Artizea had a sharp mind and a strong will.

However, she did not have the physical strength to overcome torture.

When she was tried, instead of defending herself, she did nothing, she was half-conscious and dazed.

By the time the trial was over, she had become the worst villain in history, who had made a pact with the devil, in an attempt to rule the empire.

Lawrence lamented with a false sigh.

“Even though you are my sister, the crimes you have committed are too great to be forgiven.”

“You have harmed our country with your words, your tongue will be cut out so that you do not commit the same crimes again, and your hands stained with innocent blood will also be cut out as an example to others. But I will spare your life.”

As a result, Artizea was taken to the dungeon.

The punishment executed was more severe than the established ones.

Instead of being locked up in her house with her tongue and hands cut off, all her limbs were cut off and she was shackled in a deep, unfamiliar dungeon.

***

「 If your brother’s doing well, you’ll do well too.」

That’s what Artizea Rosan had been hearing all her life.

Her mother was the Marchioness Miraila Rosan, and her father was Marquis Michael.

Miraila was the lover of Emperor Gregor. All the aristocrats knew this.

The imperial laws were against polygamy and required that chastity be maintained before marriage.

Married men and women were forbidden to have love affairs with unmarried men and women.

The Emperor was a man who was exposed to everyone’s gaze. That said, it would be strange if such a powerful man was really a strict defender of monogamy.

It was simply impossible for him to hide the fact that he had a relationship with the Marchioness Miraila Rosan.

Michael Rosan was in a sorry state, old and dying. He had decided to exchange his own wife with the Emperor for a sapphire mine.

The Marchioness Miraila became the Emperor’s mistress and gave birth to a son.

That was Lawrence.

Everyone knew he was the Emperor’s son. However, no one called him a prince, but neither did they call him the son of the Marquis Rosan.

Miraila loved him, and so did Emperor Gregor.

On the other hand, given the time of the relationship, it was clear that Artizea was not the emperor’s daughter.

Artizea did not resemble the emperor, nor even Miraila.

Interestingly enough, she looked very much like Marquis Michael in his youth.

「 Be good to your brother. It’s all thanks to him that you’re still alive. 」

Miraila also told her.

「 How could we continue to live as the Marquisate Family if not for your brother? Since you were born, unpleasant rumors have spread about you being the daughter of Marquis Rosan. 」

Miraila’s words always ended like this.

「 You must live for your brother. We can only survive if your brother becomes the emperor. Do you think your brother will treat you badly once he ascends the throne? Your brother’s success is the way our family will be happy. 」

Artizea could not remember being loved by Miraila. Nor did she remember being happy.

Artizea was only praised when she did something that benefited her brother Lawrence.

From something trivial, like when Lawrence said the tea she made tasted good, to something bigger, like when Marquis Rosan’s wealth was beneficial to Lawrence.

Artizea was no fool.

She knew that her mother’s kindness would never be to her.

But the desire to be loved that had been planted in her since her childhood was hard to control.

She found it easy to invent reasons to justify it.

Lawrence, Miraila, and Artizea were linked by blood ties.

If Lawrence lost, they would all die. There has never been a case where someone, after winning the fight for the throne, left the family of his rivals alive.

To survive.

With that in mind, Artizea did anything.

She had a talent for evil acts and conspiracies.

She had falsely framed loyal subjects to provoke their death and ruined the state policy of the empire. She was also the one who made the citizens suffer and massacred countless people.

She committed many more evil and trivial acts in the palace, including a series of murders.

She was also the one who used the Saintess Licia, who was the hope of the people of the country, the hope of the empire, besides Artizea was guilty of her death.

It was all for the sake of Lawrence so that he could ascend the throne. Even though she knew it was an excuse, she committed many crimes with ease.

And so, at last, Lawrence was able to wear the emperor’s crown.

‘I knew this day would come.’

Artizea thought vaguely.

Although she was the one who contributed most to making Lawrence the Emperor, she stood by in silence, expecting nothing. The reason, she was afraid.

That’s why she also dissolved the intelligence organization she had spent so much time and money on.

She felt that after all she had done for Lawrence, at least he would let her live in peace.

But Artizea knew too much. She had committed many crimes for him.

So Lawrence cut out her tongue so she couldn’t speak and he cut off her hands so she couldn’t leave any records.

That’s how I must die for all the crimes I’ve committed.

When the hunt is over, the dog is boiled.

Artizea was Lawrence’s dog and this prison was her saucepan.

“Hn…”

After all, this is what I deserve. What other ending could I expect?

Considering everything I’ve done so far, I shouldn’t hold Lawrence or Miraila responsible for my actions.

Artizea laughed. Even without my tongue, I can still laugh.

Artizea was well aware of her evil acts.

Therefore, she did not think about being recognized as a good person or being forgiven.

But just once, she asked the Saintess Licia.

「 don’t you resent me? 」

It was a question she asked thinking that Licia naturally resented her.

However, Licia smiled brightly with her gaunt face.

「 Would you feel better if I resented you? Would that make you feel less guilty? 」

「…」

「 What can I do? I’ve already forgiven you. 」

Said the Saintess Licia with her pale white lips.

Artizea had threatened her and forced her to marry Lawrence, because the saint’s influence and symbolism were necessary to compensate for Lawrence’s lack of legitimacy.

The whole nation rejoiced to hear that the saintess would become the Crown Princess.

Sometime later, during Lawrence’s coronation, the flowers offered by the citizens to the empress piled up like mountains around the palace walls.

The empire covered her body with gold and furs, and spread silk under her feet.

A woman born in a poor barony on the northern borders became a person capable of possessing all the luxuries of the world.

However, she looked pitiful in comparison to when she attended events in social circles without a single jewel, or when she travelled through endemic regions with infectious diseases, wearing worn out clothes that could not stop the cold wind.

Her beautiful platinum-blond hair had lost its shine and was dry, and her light but lively skin was dimmed. Her thick red lips became pale and cracked.

Lawrence had always been a person with abusive tendencies. In addition, he was now sensitive to the issue of his legitimacy to the throne.

The combination of the two caused him to feel inferior and hate the acclaimed empress.

Artizea tried to protect Licia from Lawrence.

She was the one who dragged her into this hell, so at least she wanted to protect her. And she swore to herself that she would.

However, at best, Artizea was only able to stop him from assaulting her in front of her. But she couldn’t stop what was happening in the bedroom.

Licia was wilting, isolated and abused in a prison decorated with gold pieces from the south.

Licia’s sacred power was powerful enough to save a dying person from death. But she was useless against her own disease.

Still, Licia smiled at Artizea as she looked at her.

「Tia, I’m a much, much stronger person than you think. 」

「Your Majesty…」

「Despite everything you’ve done to me or the reason you did; in the end it was me who decided to marry His Majesty Lawrence. So it’s not your fault I’m here, but mine. 」

Licia said quietly.

「I know how hard it’s been for you to survive so far. While that doesn’t justify you hurting others… I’ve decided to forgive you. 」

「… 」

「So you can take my weight off the big load you carry on your shoulders, Tia. 」

It was Licia who was dying. However, it seemed more like Licia was comforting Artizea, she raised her hand and touched her cheek.

「Thanks for coming to see me. You’re the only one who really cared about me in this palace, except for the maids and the ladies-in-waiting. 」

「That is not true. Even now, countless citizens are outside the palace praying on their knees. 」

「Those people only know the Saintess Empress, not me. 」

After Licia said that, she asked hesitantly.

「Tia, can you hold my hand? 」

「Yes… 」

「I thought I’d be terrified when the time came for me to die. But I’m better than I thought. Is it because I’m going to be in God’s arms? 」

「Soon you’ll be able to get up. 」

Even though she knew that wouldn’t happen, Artizea couldn’t tell her.

Licia said with a smile.

「Can I ask you a favor? 」

「Even if you ask me to bring you the heart of an ice dragon, I’ll get it. 」

「Not exactly. Although… I hope this doesn’t happen either, if you should ever meet Cedric… 」

「Yes… 」

「Tell him that Licia lived and died without regrets. 」

「I will, I promise. 」

Artizea promised her. So, Licia held her hand tight.

「I’m sorry. I couldn’t save you… 」

「I… someone like me… 」

「If there is another world to live again, I would like you to just call me Licia. 」

Those were her last words.

Tap, tap.

Hearing the sound of footsteps coming down the stone steps, Artizea came to her senses.

She couldn’t tell clearly if she had been dreaming or if she had just been thinking about Licia.

‘How long has it been since I was locked up in this dungeon?’

There were no side windows with bars.

So she couldn’t even see when the sun rise and set. Artizea had almost lost track of time.

Once a day a jailer would bring her food. However, after a few days it was difficult to determine how much time had passed.

At first, she was half unconscious because of the wounds from the torture. Now, the bleeding stopped and the wounds healed a bit, but the pain was terrible because of the aftermath.

Her shoulders felt like they were about to tear, and the lower portion of her bloody body was covered in bruises.

She was cold, but she did not know if it was because the prison was cold or because her blood was not circulating properly in her body.

“You deserve it. You evil bitch.”

“Uggh…”

Instead of making an effort to talk, Artizea remained silent.

There was more than one person in the world who would want to see Artizea destroyed and dead. Among them, Venia would be able to sell her soul to the devil if she could stand in the front row.

Venia was Licia’s maid.

It was Artizea who devastated the village where Venia’s family lived. An epidemic broke out in that area.

It was Licia who saved Venia from death, after she lost her whole family. From then on, Venia dedicated her life to serving Licia.

All Venia’s loved ones died because of Artizea. It is natural for Venia to hate her.

When she saw that Artizea was staring at her in silence, Venia gritted her teeth and spat.

“Yes, I know you don’t have a tongue. Now you can’t spread your poison with your words.”

“…”

“Just as you are now, who could imagine that you were once the emperor’s great conspirator.”

Slap!

Venia slapped Artizea with all her might.

“It’s a pity that they have cut off all your limbs and your tongue, now I have nothing to cut.”

Slap!

“You’re a scum. Now you look at me with pity eyes?”

Artizea closed her eyes.

Venia was right. Artizea did not deserve to be pitied.

Venia was always loyal to Licia, even after her death.

After Licia’s death, she flattered the new empress and endured all sorts of things in order to remain in the imperial palace, with the sole aim of taking revenge on Artizea and Lawrence one day.

Venia slapped her on the cheeks a few more times.

Now, Artizea only had a few teeth left. Also, blood was spilling from her mouth because of the many wounds she had.

Venia pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the blood off her hand. Then she untied Artizea from the fetters that were binding her.

‘Why did you…?’

Artizea thought it was strange.

Venia said calmly.

“These are Cedric’s orders, although I wouldn’t be content to tear you to pieces here a thousand times. He probably wants to execute you with his own hands as revenge for the people you’ve killed.”

‘It can’t be.’

Artizea knew the Grand Duke Cedric Evron much better than Venia.

He was an honest and fair man, no matter what the reason, he would not go so far as to finish off a woman who had already fallen and been tortured.

Besides, if she escaped from the dungeon, Venia could not return. The Imperial Palace was not such a simple place.

It would soon be discovered that it was Venia who came down with the key and took her away.

Venia was a subordinate and spy for Cedric Evron who served the empress.

There is no way he would waste a chess piece as important as this. At least not on Artizea.

Maybe Cedric Evron gave this order for another reason. Probably not because he wanted to publicly execute a tongue-less conspirator, but because he wanted to save the maid who belonged to his beloved Licia.

Venia would not be willing to leave this place voluntarily without a reason.

However, Venia didn’t think that far ahead. After freeing Artizea, she took off her cloak and covered it up.

After months of torture and the loss of her limbs, Venia could easily lift and carry her body by herself alone.

Artizea was taken from the imperial palace in a laundry cart and then transported in a wagon.

The constant shaking caused the fever to rise in her already weakened body.

Halfway through, her consciousness became cloudy again.

Artizea knew she was being transported, but she didn’t know how.

When she regained consciousness, she was in a tent. Her severed limbs had been wrapped with a clean bandage.

The face of the old man who was caring for her looked familiar. He was Grand Duke Evron’s butler.

“You have awakened.”

Despite being the enemy, the butler spoke politely to her.

“You’d better eat something, if you can.”

Artizea blinked and shook her head.

“Don’t worry. The doctor also said you probably wouldn’t want to eat because of the state you’re in. I’ll make you some strong tea.”

Then the butler got up and left the tent.

Artizea turned her head and looked around.

There was nothing special about the tent.

There was only a pot of boiling water, the bed where she was lying, and an oil lamp.

The butler did not return alone. The cloth at the entrance to the tent opened and Cedric Evron entered.

Artizea looked at him in shock.

She hadn’t seen him in years, but he hadn’t changed. Only his vivid black eyes seemed deeper than before.

“It has been a long time since we last saw each other, Marchioness Rosan.”

“…”

“I heard they cut out your tongue.”

“…”

“The person who was once the greatest conspirator in the whole empire seems to have been unable to save herself, right?”

Artizea closed her eyes.

She lamented the stupidity of having committed all those crimes for Lawrence, knowing she would be betrayed.

But she didn’t feel guilty.

All the humans in the world are evil. Even more so those who come close to power.

That was Artizea’s firm belief.

But in front of two people in the world, Cedric Evron and Saintess Licia, she was not able to say that.

Artizea once destroyed the Ava River embankment to frame Cedric.

At that time, Cedric was returning from controlling the situation on the western border of the empire by order of Emperor Gregor.

The emperor notified him through an imperial emissary to return the command and control of the commander-in-chief of the army and to hurry back to the capital alone. 

It was then that Artizea destroyed the embankment.

Several cities and villages were swept away.

The number of people directly affected was estimated to be only about 30,000 at most. The paddy fields were also damaged, but since this was a good harvest year, there was no danger that the whole country would be plunged into famine.

In any case, the most beneficial thing for him would have been to leave the Ava River and return to the capital under the emperor’s orders.

But Cedric did not. He chose to use the army to minimise the flood damage.

However, since he did not return, but acted as commander-in-chief of the army, this aroused the suspicion of the Emperor.

Artizea did this because she knew that Cedric was this kind of person. The same thing happened when Artizea discovered and blamed a village for being rebels in the territory of Grand Duke Evron, or when he devised a plan to get rid of Grand Duke Roygar, and even when the epidemic spread. 

Even knowing what might happen to him, in the end he always chose to save the people. 

This cost him his position and he ended up becoming a fugitive.

“Please have some tea.”

The butler spoke politely and gave Cedric an iron cup.

Then he sat next to Artizea and he brought a cup of strong tea, full of sugar and milk, to her mouth.

Cedric sat down in front of Artizea, while he drank the tea. As if it was tea time.

Artizea looked at him blankly, thinking of Licia’s will.

「If you ever meet Cedric, please tell him that Licia lived and died without regrets.」

Deep down, Licia did not want Artizea and Cedric to meet again, as that would mean that he was finally defeated and taken back to the capital.

But now the situation was exactly the opposite of what she thought at the time.

Today, years later, Cedric and his forces were still alive.

It was Artizea who fell. Artizea was taken to Cedric’s camp and was now face to face with him.

Under these circumstances, Licia would have wanted her to convey the message.

But Artizea could not keep the promise she had made to Licia. Because she was not able to speak.

Cedric stood up when the butler finished pouring all the tea into Artizea’s mouth.

“Let’s go out.”

“…?”

Artizea awoke from her thoughts and looked at him incredulously.

Cedric approached her and gently lifted her up.

Artizea struggled to free himself from his grip, unlike with Venia. This time she was embarrassed.

But she couldn’t resist the strength of Cedric’s arms.

He picked her up in his arms and as he left the tent, knights in military uniforms rushed up to her.

The knights were all dirty from their constant running away.

“Your Grace.”

“Grand Duke.”

Where does he take the wicked woman?”

“I have unfinished business.”

“We will transport her.”

The knights held out their hands. Cedric turned to the side, avoiding their hands.

“Do not speak of people as if they were objects.”

“What is he saying? Your Grace is being too kind to the devil.”

“Stay here. I’ll go alone.”

“No way.”

The knights were scared.

“The Marchioness Rosan, she has no arms or legs, she could not harm me.”

“You can’t be so sure of that!” 

“That witch is capable of causing a disaster with her tongue alone.”

“Unfortunately, the Marchioness Rosan doesn’t have a tongue either.”

Said Cedric, clicking his tongue.

He strode across the military camp. Then he mounted Artizea on the horse and he climbed behind.

Because she did not have her limbs intact, he could not ride her in the back, so this was the easiest way to carry her.

Artizea shuddered. She’s never been this close to a man before.

The heat from her chest against her back caused her body temperature to rise.

Cedric rode out of the camp.

It was drizzling.

Looking at the mountains and the streams, Artizea realized that this was the Barquee region belonging to the Grand Duke Roygar.

Barquee was the granary of the eastern part of the Empire.

It could not be compared with the vast plains of the western, but the abundance of water and the mild climate, allowed all kinds of cereals and fruits to be grown here. 

The best wine in the Empire was also produced here. 

But now there was no trace of it left.

Smoke rose from the charred ground. While he was riding she could only see the remains of houses.

There were corpses everywhere, the vast majority being the bodies of men.

The city was also destroyed.

Only the rubble of the walls remained, and the survivors, crouched beneath the walls of their destroyed homes, looked up at the two of them with a glint in their eyes.

Artizea stared at the scene in a daze, not understanding what had happened.

What had happened while she was in prison.

There should have been no war in Barquee.

“This happened because a native of Barquee was found to have planned an assassination attempt against Lawrence with the Grand Duke Roygar 12 years ago.”

Artizea was breathless, his heartbeat accelerated.

This was an unnecessary massacre.

Lawrence was already emperor and had the imperial army at his disposal.

The imperial power was solid and stronger than ever. It was Artizea who made this possible.

Lawrence had to keep himself clean. So such things had always been Artizea’s responsibility.

That was the task Milera imposed on Artizea and she faithfully carried out her duty.

So now, without her, Lawrence could have become the perfect emperor.

Do you find that surprising and shocking? This is what you used to do too, Marchioness Rosan.”

Cedric said quietly.

“This was either necessary or unnecessary. I know that’s what you think to execute your schemes. Perhaps this is something that Lawrence considered necessary.”

“…”

“Or do you believe, Marchioness Rosan, that your judgment is absolute and Lawrence’s is not?”

Artizea was speechless.

“If so, no wonder you’ve been expelled.”

Cedric said, with a change in his tone.

***

Then Cedric formed a small, separate troop and moved from place to place. Artizea was taken on the butler’s horse and moved with the small troop.

There were many other places that had suffered a terrible fate.

No one took care of the plagues of locusts, the aftermath of the civil wars, or the restoration of the embankments.

Nor did the granary exist.

Every road was overflowing with wandering people and infested with contagious diseases. Carcasses that had not been collected were scattered everywhere.

The politics of the empire were not just a disaster in the last year or two.

Emperor Gregor was self-centered and selfish, a man who put his authority ahead of the lives of his people.

The struggle for succession ended up ruining the country, Artizea took the initiative to make that happen.

Artizea thought that once Lawrence became emperor, he would be able to restore the empire.

There was hope for the Empire when Licia was Empress.

Even after her death, there was an effort on Artizea’s part to do something to change the situation while she was at Lawrence’s side.

But now the imperial family seemed to have abandoned everything.

Artizea had already understood what Cedric was trying to tell her.

Instead of condemning her with his mouth as Venia did, he seemed to want to show her the consequences of what she had done.

“Miraila is dead. I heard that she was still scolding Lawrence on the subject of women.”

The day they arrived at the village of the rebels on the other side of the northern ridge, he broke the news.

Artizea was too exhausted to be surprised by the news.

In the village of the rebels, only the graves remained, with thousands of shadows cast by the wooden crosses.

This village was not really a rebel village.

It was the place where people fled when Emperor Gregor killed Cedric’s parents, accusing them of treason.

Later, the truth came out and the empire recognised it. The wanted list of those who fled was also lifted.

Still, they did not leave the village where they lived, trusting and supporting each other.

Licia was also from this village, and Venia’s family also lived in hiding here.

Cedric, who had no other blood relatives, found comfort among the villagers.

Artizea knew this.

This was a terrible thing.

Artizea had just learned about the construction of these tombs.

‘Did Cedric make all these tombs himself? Did he bring me here with the intention of making me reflect?’

Artizea thought.

After standing silently for a long time on the hill overlooking the whole village, Cedric took her back to the military camp with him.

“I don’t think you ever imagined that Lawrence would end up like this, Marchioness Rosan.” 

“…”

“I knew he was very bad and perverse. But if I had started fighting for the throne, I was convinced that defeat would have been worse than death.”

Artizea was anxious about another matter.

‘Why doesn’t he ask about Licia? Why doesn’t he ask how the Saintess died, who tried to protect him at all costs?’

So much so that Miraila was killed because of the women’s issue. Cedric should know by now how Lawrence treated women.

Therefore, it would be logical that he blame Artizea for taking Licia away from him and forcing her to marry Lawrence.

But he didn’t. His stiff face looked like a public statue erected in a town square.

“But I did not expect to see such tyranny. Why the hell is he doing this? Now that the Crates Empire belongs to him. Has he no desire to protect his people, to save and make this place great?”

In any case, Artizea could not answer because she had no tongue.

She looked down. She just wanted to know. Why was Lawrence like that?

“Devise a plan.”

Then she raised her head in astonishment at Cedric’s words.