But August shook his head at those words.
"No, we don't know what miracles Liv Gracia might perform again. And..."
Recalling the young face that had looked at him as if seeing a god, August smiled slightly.
"Emmett Lartman grew up watching and learning from me. I know him better than anyone."
"Pardon?"
"He resembles my ruthlessness. He'll value the victory he can present to his wife more than the deaths of hundreds of slum dwellers."
"Your Majesty, even so, the lives of the people are at stake..."
"I'm the one who knows him well."
Looking at the face of old Marquis Schmidt who knew nothing, August leaned back on the throne. During the time he lived as the 'Emperor's loyal dog', Duke Lartman took on all sorts of dirty work for August. At that time, he had no doubt about his role, and to him, August was like the sky itself.
However, now that the person Duke Lartman follows has changed, he would be able to trample on anything for Liv Gracia.
'That fool's stupid love is the problem.'
Emmett Lartman and Liv Gracia loved each other too much. That makes their bond even stronger.
So the way to solve the problem was simple. It was to separate the two of them.
Of course, there was no time now to be sowing discord. For example, even if he chose to use a beautiful woman as bait, how could he use that method on Duke Lartman who was in the midst of fighting? He's not the type to fall for such things either.
Then the remaining option was...
"Marquis Schmidt, are you still on my side?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. I am..."
"Then I need you to spread a rumor."
As if generously entrusting a task to Marquis Schmidt, August continued speaking while quietly murmuring.
"Yes, how many people did he kill for me?"
Emmett Lartman had stained his hands with the blood of dozens of people for him.
And among them, there must surely be someone who could provoke Liv Gracia.
* * *
Liv did not stop her steps. The Devil's Forest didn't feel frightening at all, and she was able to pass through it with comfortable steps as if embraced in the arms of God. After breaking through the Devil's Forest, Liv met the people of the capital again and heard surprising news.
"Lartman's soldiers have surrounded the imperial palace?"
"Yes, Lady Gracia. Now if only the gates are breached, the rebellion will succeed."
The people of the capital already knew about Liv, and they treated her with the utmost hospitality, just like the other imperial citizens who had been following the procession.
"How..."
Of course, she had heard that many nobles and commoners had sided with Lartman, but she didn't know they would advance to the imperial palace in such a short time. As Liv looked bewildered, the people surrounding her explained the situation.
"Duke Lartman fought really hard at the forefront. Seeing that raised morale a lot."
"Is that all? Above all, the imperial soldiers turning their backs was huge."
"The imperial soldiers turned their backs?"
"Yes, the former head of the knightly order appeared."
At those words, Liv's eyes widened. She thought the former head of the imperial knightly order who had protected the Gracia family would naturally have died when the Steinberg family took the imperial power.
"He's someone who went into hiding after the late Emperor passed away. But when he suddenly appeared like this, the knights who had worked under him in the past were shaken."
No matter how powerful August was, he couldn't replace all the imperial knights. It's not easy to find well-trained knights, and replacing them all would be like admitting there was something to be wary of. The knights who remained in the imperial knightly order even under Steinberg's rule met their former commander whom they had served in the past.
"When Duke Lartman found that person and brought him, it's said that the knights fell into confusion and internal strife broke out. After that, Duke Lartman promised not to kill them if they surrendered, so the knights eventually withdrew, you know."
"Ah..."
"Now only a much smaller number of soldiers are guarding the imperial palace. The palace will probably be breached soon."
After hearing those words, Liv felt something welling up in her chest. She felt refreshed, proud of Emmett, and above all...
'He did all this for me.'
Her chest grew hot feeling that Emmett was doing his best for her.
Liv vowed that when she met Emmett again, she would whisper her love as she always did. And she would tell him. That she knew he loved her.
Thinking that, a smile naturally appeared on her lips. Liv's steps towards the imperial palace became faster than ever before. As before, people formed a procession and followed behind Liv.
After walking for a while like that, Liv was able to meet Hildegard and Walter again.
"Liv."
"Sister!"
They, who had brought the people Liv had been leading from outside the capital, stuck close to both sides of Liv as if escorting her.
"I knew we could meet you if we walked like this."
"What about those soldiers?"
"Duke Lartman handled them well."
But their expressions were somehow strange. Hildegard seemed to fidget somewhat while looking at Liv, and Walter had a stiffly set face without his usual gentle smile. It was as if they were hiding something from Liv.
"Did something happen?"
When Liv asked that, Walter sighed deeply and then opened his mouth.
"This won't do, Liv. It seems you should know after all."
"What? What is it?"
"The Emperor spread rumors by sending people to the capital. And according to those rumors..."
Liv's senses warned her of something ominous, so she became alert. Finally, shocking words flowed from Walter's mouth.
"They say Duke Lartman killed Viscount Wolfe in the past."
"What?"
The image of Viscount Wolfe with his always indifferent face came to Liv's mind. He seemed to lack motivation in everything, but he shed tears when Liv's identity was revealed. Seeing him trying to give her even a little bit more of everything, Liv thought this must be what it would feel like if she had a grandfather.
However, the most memorable thing about Viscount Wolfe was the story of his son. Hendricks Wolfe, the former Viscount Wolfe and son of the current Viscount Wolfe. He lost his life while digging into the secrets surrounding the death of the Gracia couple until the very end.
Because of that, the old Wolfe who had passed the viscountcy to his son had to take it back. The family line was cut off, and all that remained for that family was extinction. Liv recalled the dark Wolfe viscounty that seemed devoid of hope.
And above all, the reason Liv couldn't help but care about Hendricks Wolfe was...
-Is anyone there?! I am Viscount Wolfe!
-Don't worry! I will save you!
She couldn't forget the voice that shouted like that in front of Abgrund. It was the second human voice Liv had heard, except for Emmett's.
To Liv, who was trapped in Abgrund and cut off from the outside, a person came first. How much meaning that held for Liv. Wait a moment, but the person who killed him was Emmett?
Liv tried to recall the voice that had spoken to Hendricks Wolfe in front of Abgrund, but she couldn't remember well because she was unskilled at distinguishing people's voices at that time. She could only remember that it was a low male voice.
...Since Emmett did everything according to August's orders at that time, it wouldn't be strange if it was Emmett. But Emmett never mentioned anything about Hendricks Wolfe to Liv. He didn't say that he had killed him. But did Emmett really...
"Is it true?"
When Liv asked that in a trembling voice, Walter put his hand on Liv's shoulder and patted it gently.
"Liv, don't worry about it. It's clearly a scheme to drive a wedge between you two by saying that Duke Lartman killed someone who sided with the Gracia family in the past."
"That's right, sister... Of course, I feel sorry about Viscount Wolfe too, but that was when the Duke was deceived by the Emperor... A-Anyway, now the Duke cares for and loves you more than anyone, right?"
The two tried hard to console Liv. Walter continued in a cool voice.
"Hmm, it looks to me like a ploy to tarnish the reputation of the Lartman ducal family. It's true that the Duke was August's loyal servant in the past, so they're trying to use that point. But people's desire to drive out August is greater, so there won't be much damage to our forces."
No. That's not the intention.
Liv could tell. August was just... he was just trying to separate Liv and Emmett. He was trying to make Liv distrust and hate Emmett. His intentions were so transparent, but even though she knew it in her head, Liv felt her emotions being shaken.
Of course, there would never be a time when Liv wouldn't love Emmett. Even if Emmett were to become corrupt one day and ruthlessly kill innocent people, Liv was confident she would still love him. Love that never wavers at any time. That was Liv's way of loving.
But whether Liv trusted Emmett was another matter. Emmett was an unknowable person. He said he loved her but didn't tell her everything until the end, and when he first received divine punishment, he didn't honestly say he had gone to the past. And now with the Viscount Wolfe incident...
Liv became confused about whether the Emmett she knew was really his true self. If he didn't tell her, Liv couldn't know.
"No, this isn't right."
Liv, who had come to her senses with a start, shook her head violently.
"I love Emmett. If you love, you must trust unconditionally..."
They said that when you love, you should naturally trust and be devoted. So even if there were things Emmett hadn't told Liv, at least Liv should believe in Emmett.
"But..."
No. It's no longer possible.
Because now Liv...
'I guess I've become too human.'
Although her love remained unchanged, trust could be shaken.