Liv didn't know why he wasn't telling her he loved her. Perhaps he didn't know his own feelings, or there might be some other reason. But the important thing was that Emmett clearly not only trusted Liv but loved her.
A person's eyes don't lie. And Emmett's eyes were speaking of clear love.
Before she knew it, tears were flowing down Liv's cheeks. Liv thought she had been crying quite often lately. But these tears were different from before. Liv now fully understood human emotions. These were tears flowing from joy and happiness.
"Emmett..."
His name felt sweeter than ever before. It felt like walking on clouds rather than in a forest.
Liv always felt like only unfortunate things happened to her. When one misfortune left, another came. She thought she would have to live struggling in misfortune like that forever.
But now Liv was no longer afraid of life. Just knowing that Emmett loved her made her feel like she could overcome any adversity.
'I thought it was okay to just love alone.'
Yes, in fact, it seems Liv wanted to receive as much love as she gave. Although she learned love from the gods, in the end, Liv was only human. She needed love too.
As if reflecting Liv's emotions, fireflies suddenly floated up beside Liv. They lit the way for Liv.
Liv would end up living a life victorious through love, just like any character in the legends she had heard until now. Love completed Liv.
Liv walked through the forest with her head held high, tears flowing but a bright smile on her face.
* * *
"Phew..."
After repelling all the soldiers, Emmett sat down and caught his breath.
As the standoff with Emmett didn't end, the soldiers seemed to think they weren't enough on their own and ran away with their tails between their legs. They might bring more soldiers, but it would be fine since Lartman's forces would be there if they went further from here.
Emmett quietly stared at the forest where Liv had disappeared. He was so worried about Liv that he could hardly bear it.
In fact, Emmett didn't want to tell Liv to go alone either. On the contrary, he always wanted to be by Liv's side. But he knew that acting separately was better for Liv right now.
Above all, Emmett now had to return to Lartman's knights. With the current momentum, they might be able to storm into the imperial palace and capture the Emperor. He should leave beheading him for Liv.
"Did you see those guys running away?"
"Yeah, no one can stop us!"
People chattered happily about defeating the soldiers.
"Hey, look over there!"
At that moment, a loud voice was heard among them, so Emmett raised his head. People were murmuring while looking at one place.
Of course, where their gaze was directed was the Devil's Forest. The entire Devil's Forest was shining dazzlingly.
"Lady Gracia must have performed another miracle!"
"She'll definitely become Emperor!"
Everyone here believed without doubt that Liv would become Emperor. Seeing this, Emmett smiled faintly.
'Liv...'
Emmett had boasted to Liv in Abgrund. That once she got out of here, she could live receiving people's love. However, what Liv faced when she came out into the world were people pointing fingers at her, calling her a 'fake saintess'.
Emmett was unbearably troubled that he had lied to Liv. So he had promised to make everyone like Liv.
But now that was becoming reality.
Liv will become an Emperor loved more than anyone else.
* * *
The dream-like time of meeting Liv again and being together was over. It was time to return to cold reality. Emmett stepped into the boundaries of reality.
"Your Grace, you've come!"
Philip welcomed Emmett, who had returned to the camp, more warmly than ever before. When Emmett looked at him with strange eyes, he ran up to Emmett and began to report what had happened in the meantime.
"Lord Schulze is completely crazy! Do you know what happened while you were gone?"
When Emmett nodded as if to say tell me, Philip babbled on.
"He employed an unbelievable tactic! Lord Schulze fought like a man with no tomorrow!"
"Did it succeed?"
"Yes, it succeeded, but..."
Hearing the answer, Emmett smiled slightly. There was a reason why Emmett entrusted the commander's duty to Hayden, knowing that Lartman's soldiers would rebel.
Hayden had experienced more than anyone else while living as a wanderer, and thanks to his studies at the Wolfe viscounty, he was also well-versed in tactics. He had even lived with mercenaries directly. Moreover, he was also a person with the strongest will of all. So there was no way a unit commanded by Hayden would lose in battle.
When Emmett showed little reaction, Philip cleared his throat as if embarrassed and continued speaking.
"More importantly... there are too many nobles rushing to lend us their strength now. It's also a task to sort out the spies mixed among them."
"How are the ordinary imperial citizens reacting?"
"Ah, that's the same! Rumors about Madam must have spread in the capital, as citizens are coming to enlist in our army."
"Then we should ride this momentum."
Emmett sat down and slowly began tapping the desk with his hand. What should we do?
Of course, the answer was simple. Pushing the imperial family with superior forces.
The fight between those with a goal and those without is different. The imperial soldiers just follow the Emperor's orders, with no benefit falling to them as a result. On the other hand, Lartman's soldiers had the goal of driving out the tyrant and establishing a new Emperor. If they lose this fight, all their heads would fly, but the expectation of a new era instilled a strong desire in them.
Anyone could see that the advantage had shifted to Lartman's side. But Emmett decided not to let his guard down.
'August is not to be underestimated.'
Until the imperial family changed, the closest confidant of the Gracia family was Steinberg. Although he overthrew the country based on that trust, August was also capable as the head of the Steinberg family. Since becoming Emperor, he seemed like a fool who lost his reason and enjoyed his power, but if a situation came where his power would be taken away, he would certainly not act foolishly.
After pondering for a long time, Emmett gave an order to Philip.
"Please call Marquis Arendt and Lord Schulze."
"Yes, Your Grace."
Although Marquis Arendt couldn't fight, she remained in this battlefield as a strategist, being wiser than anyone. If even Marquis Arendt and Hayden Schulze agree to his plan...
'I can bring a gift to my wife.'
* * *
Meanwhile at that time, August was not just excited as Emmett had expected. Since ascending to the throne, his head was cooler than ever before. He finally accepted that it was no longer time to just vent his anger on his subjects. He was cornered. If things continue like this, he would lose the throne and be defeated.
"Marquis Schmidt."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Do you think there's a way for me to win?"
The imperial family was completely surrounded by the rebels. Even if they tried to contact soldiers stationed in other regions, it wasn't easy because Lartman's soldiers surrounded the capital. As Liv Gracia's appearance became known to the world, the nobles also didn't want to help August. No matter how much they could become meritorious families by achieving merits, no one was foolish enough to jump into a fight with an obvious outcome.
"How about announcing that if anyone brings Lartman's head, regardless of status, I'll take his daughter as the Crown Prince's consort?"
"Your Majesty, that is..."
"I know. Many have already sided with Lartman..."
No matter how much he thought about it, there seemed to be no way for him to win. As if to prove this, even Marquis Schmidt, who always presented him with answers, was keeping his mouth shut like a mute who had eaten honey. He had already raised his hand for Steinberg and unlike other nobles, couldn't turn to Lartman, so they were in the same boat.
"...Will even you betray me?"
Of course, if he opened the doors from inside the imperial palace and cooperated with the rebels even now, Marquis Schmidt might be able to save his life.
"Your Majesty, I-I haven't thought of such a thing..."
Marquis Schmidt denied it, stammering, but August only looked down at him with a cold gaze. He didn't trust people, but there was no one left to replace. August took his eyes off him and sank back into thought.
Although it was a situation one step away from his complete defeat, August had no intention of submitting to his fate yet. In fact, hadn't he become Emperor himself, moving away from the position of being close to the imperial family? He had never submitted to God, to his fate, for even a moment.
'Usually at times like this, the solution is simple.'
Grab the weakness of an opponent you absolutely can't give up on, hold it in your hand and threaten them.
However, Liv Gracia was loved by God, and he could never grasp and shake her with his own abilities. Even if he tried to take those around her hostage, except for Emmett Lartman, he had killed all those Liv Gracia loved. He didn't know the whereabouts of Hildegard Hamelsvoort and Walter Hamelsvoort, and their parents and maid had their necks cut by his hand.
"Tsk, if I had known this would happen, I should have left one alive."
If so, it would have been enough to threaten her by now.
"Your Majesty, how about the citizens?"
At that moment, Marquis Schmidt opened his mouth in a crafty voice, as if wanting to gain his trust.
"I mean to set fire to the slums. So that Duke Lartman has no choice but to stop fighting."