"...What?"
As Emmett questioned in disbelief, Liv continued speaking with a face that showed no surprise at all.
"I realized it while wandering the world after parting from you. There are things in this world that can be understood without being expressed in words. I just couldn't help but realize it the moment I saw your eyes."
Liv placed her hand on top of Emmett's large hand.
"I believed. That you loved me."
"Ah."
At those words, Emmett could no longer hold back. A stream of tears was already flowing from his eyes. He thought he had cried a lot in front of Liv recently, but Liv seemed to have a talent for making him cry.
He had hurt Liv, but Liv trusted him instead. That fact made Emmett love Liv even more.
"Liv, from now on, from now on I'll do better... I... I'll make sure this never happens again."
"Don't worry. I believe in you."
Emmett grasped Liv's hand firmly and gently rubbed it. Liv's hands, which used to be soft, had become rougher while traveling the world.
Then, Emmett realized another fact. He could say he loved Liv. That meant...
"Liv."
"Yes? ...Ah."
Soft lips met. As he moved his tongue to enter deeper, something hot and soft touched. Emmett wrapped it with strong force as if to swallow it.
In the past, even when their bodies intertwined, they sometimes felt emptiness. But now he could embrace Liv while telling her he loved her.
The white slip Liv was wearing fell to the floor. Perhaps because they had just bathed in different bathrooms using the same fragrance, their bodies had a similar scent. Thinking about what this scent might be, Emmett buried his face deeper into Liv's nape.
As his hot breath touched her, Liv trembled and tried to push Emmett away, but he held her tightly.
"I should have told you I loved you long ago."
"Even now... um, I'm fine."
Their bodies had somehow tilted onto the bed. Perhaps because it was a guest room, the bed wasn't very large. Emmett frowned, thinking he would have to narrow his range of motion.
"Today, I'll tell you, sufficiently, that I love you."
"No, wait..."
Liv seemed flustered as if she had read something from those words, but Emmett had no intention of letting her go.
A long night followed.
* * *
In the dark night, in the forest connected to the capital. It wasn't exactly an appropriate place to enter in the middle of the night, but now gasping breaths were echoing there.
"Huff, huff..."
The boy ran frantically.
The soft shoes he was wearing were not suitable for running on the ground for long. His feet were blistered and scraped, covered in blood, but the boy didn't even feel the pain.
"How could this happen..."
The mental shock was greater than the physical pain.
"My place..."
The boy, Julian Steinberg, looked back towards the direction of the imperial palace with empty eyes.
His adoptive father, the Emperor of this country, August, had been captured. When noisy sounds invaded the imperial palace, Julian had managed to escape hurriedly through the secret passage. It was the very same secret passage the knights had invaded through, but he had used it in reverse.
The shock from the fall of August, the unshakeable tyrant who seemed like he would never collapse, was too great. Julian had no doubt that he would succeed his position. He thought all that was left for him was the power to enjoy as Emperor...
"Liv Gracia..."
Julian murmured that name. Now that Gracia had returned, it seemed unlikely that he could aim for the imperial throne again.
Julian felt so wronged. To think that the reward for flattering under August would end like this. If he had known this would happen, why would he have acted so obediently under him?
Putting aside the fact that the imperial throne was now out of reach, he could no longer live as an ordinary noble either. The collateral branches of Steinberg, who had lived in luxury as members of the imperial family, were bound to fall now that Gracia had won. The new Emperor would never leave seeds of danger. Therefore, even if he surrendered to the new Emperor, he was likely to lose his life.
"It can't end like this..."
In fact, this hatred should have been directed at August. It was August who had used him after all. But in his mind, August was still too enormous and frightening a being. That anger naturally turned towards the seemingly weak being, Liv Gracia.
"That thing stole my place."
August had always recited to Julian about what they had lost due to Gracia. August's efforts in that regard shone at this moment.
"At least I can't let Gracia inherit the throne."
If he failed, another Steinberg should inherit the throne. Then...
He had to kill Liv Gracia.
* * *
The morning of the coronation day dawned.
By then, the imperial palace had somewhat regained its operational system. The servants from the Lartman mansion had become servants of the imperial palace, and as people impressed by the news that the Gracia family had reclaimed the throne volunteered to work at the palace, servant positions were quickly filled.
Especially good at commanding the servants was Hayden, and everyone followed his will well when they learned that the loyal Schulze family had worked behind the scenes for Gracia's return.
All that remained was to reorganize the parliament and select maids to serve Liv, but for now, the priority was the coronation ceremony to announce the emergence of a new Emperor to the entire empire.
"The preparations are proceeding without a hitch, right?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The servants called her 'Your Majesty'. Liv still felt awkward with that title, but well, her titles had always changed quickly. From miss to fake saint, madam, and now Your Majesty.
"The crown and scepter?"
"They have been prepared."
"The orchestra?"
"They are standing by."
"The soldiers?"
"They finished the rehearsal yesterday."
Without a head maid and maids, Liv and her servants had to work together to prepare for the coronation. While preparing for the coronation, Liv thought of Laga. If only she could have seen this. She even missed the Hamelsvoort couple who always fussed and made her feel burdened.
She had heard that when August ascended to the throne, many nobles who opposed him were absent from the coronation ceremony. Although August later retaliated against them.
Anyway, unlike then, there was no one opposing Liv's ascension now. The revival of the Gracia bloodline, which was thought to have been cut off, was that remarkable, and at the same time, the nobles had suffered for so long under the tyrant August that they welcomed the ascension of a new Emperor. Even the people were excited about the fact that one chosen by God would become Emperor. There seemed to be no obstacles to this coronation.
At that moment, a servant came running breathlessly and shouted.
"Your Majesty, Julian Steinberg has been captured!"
"He's been caught."
It was fortunate that he was caught before the coronation, as there had been no news for a long time and it had been worrying. For Liv, everything was going so well that it was almost unsettling. Her life had never been this smooth before.
"Duke Lartman is taking him to prison right now!"
"There's no need for him to do it personally."
As the Emperor's husband, he too was supposed to participate in the coronation ceremony and receive a crown.
Since Emmett had taken action personally, Liv couldn't just sit still either. Liv followed the servant's guidance to where Emmett was said to be.
The place where Emmett had imprisoned Julian was not the underground dungeon. It was a small room used for temporarily holding those who had committed minor crimes. Considering that Julian was Liv's political enemy, it was generous treatment.
"Liv, there was no need for you to come here... Isn't today your coronation?"
"The same goes for you, Emmett. I came for a quick look because I heard you were here."
The boy sitting bound in front of them was in a terrible state. Although it had been less than a week, his escape must have been arduous, as his clothes were in tatters and there was even a wound on his cheek.
"I bear no grudge against you."
Liv said in a low voice, standing in front of Julian.
"You were merely adopted by August Steinberg. I have no other regrets, so I have no intention of killing you."
At those words, Julian slowly raised his head.
"But if I leave you alone, my position will become difficult too. Originally, for treason, it would be right to exterminate all blood relatives, but since past events have been determined to be August's unilateral actions, I won't do that. Instead, all those of Steinberg blood must live under surveillance after giving up their family name. Also, those blood relatives must not set foot in the capital."
"I..."
The boy said something, but his voice was so faint that it was hard to hear. Liv frowned and leaned closer to hear his words.
At that moment, Julian shouted explosively.
"I cannot accept this!"
Simultaneously, Julian, whose whole body had been tied up, opened his mouth wide and bit down hard on something. There was a cracking sound of something breaking inside his mouth. An unknown smoke rose from his slightly parted lips.
"What is this..."
"Liv, stay back! I'll check!"
Emmett pushed Liv back, then knelt down to examine Julian. Julian had rolled his eyes back and was trembling violently. He looked like he might breathe his last at any moment.
'Did he commit suicide?'
Did he try to kill himself by biting his tongue? Even though Liv had promised not to kill him?
At that moment, Emmett's expression became serious as he opened Julian's mouth.
"A pill... He bit something like a pill. It seems to be poison..."
"Was he trying to commit suicide?"
"But I don't understand. Why would he commit suicide when his life was guaranteed... Liv!"
Emmett suddenly stood up, ran to Liv, and embraced her. Before Liv could ask why, his large hand covered her nose and mouth. Although it was hard to breathe, Liv didn't move, thinking Emmett must have some reason. Emmett covered Liv's eyes with his other hand.
After a while, Emmett's hands fell away from Liv.
"Emmett? Why..."
Just as Liv was about to ask that, Emmett collapsed weakly to the floor.
"Emmett? Emmett!"
Blood was flowing from his nose and eyes. When he covered his mouth and coughed, blood stained his hand.