KMPEG 72

Chapter 72

“Delphine, please be careful. A great storm is coming.”

“…You too, Tiago.”

At my words, Tiago nodded.

‘Of course. A great storm… After all, a duke’s daughter, the Crown Princess candidate, just died. The imperial palace will be thrown into chaos.’

I felt anxious about what lay ahead. Maybe my worry showed on my face, because Tiago briefly placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, then let go.

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

With a short farewell, Tiago quickly left the room.

“……”

Only Frederic and I remained in the silent chamber. Charlier’s breathing was so faint it was barely noticeable.

I glanced at Frederic. His eyes were fixed on the floor, shoulders slumped, his entire body heavy with sorrow.

‘Frederic…’

Suddenly, I remembered what Frederic had told me earlier—that he always wanted to protect me.

‘It was sincere. I believe you, Frederic.’

I truly believed his words had been genuine.

—Throb.

A sharp pain pulsed in my chest.

Now, seeing the situation before me, everything became clear.

Frederic was a good man. Outwardly blunt and rude, but inside he had a warm heart. He wanted to protect the people he cared about, and he would do everything he could for them.

‘But… the person you want to protect the most is Charlier.’

I had always known this, but deep down I’d tried to deny it. Now I had to admit it.

To Frederic, the most important person was Charlier. If there were ever a choice between saving me or saving her, he would choose Charlier.

In fact, he already had—by hiding from me the truth that Charlier had cursed me.

Watching Frederic holding Charlier’s hands and praying, I admitted it to myself:

‘Yes, it’s time to accept it. Frederic is my friend. Nothing more, nothing less.’

—Throb.

The ache returned to my chest. It felt like an unspoken love, one that had never even begun, had already ended.

My heart hurt. It was the same hollow, painful feeling I often got when I looked at Frederic—as if I’d lost something that was never mine to begin with.

‘Haa…’

But strangely, there was relief too. It felt as if a tangled knot that had been tightening inside me for so long had finally unraveled.

From the bottom of my heart, I wished Frederic happiness.

‘Thank you, Frederic.’

And with that, I said goodbye forever to my confused feelings for him.

Edward Wakes Up

“Ugh… ngh…”

A groan slipped from Edward’s lips as his brow furrowed and his eyes opened.

He looked around.

‘My room…?’

Propping himself up on his elbows, he touched his face with both hands. Smooth. No scars.

He threw off the blanket and rushed into the washroom. The mirror reflected his face—unmarked.

“Ah!”

But the pain was still there. Edward yanked his hand back from his face in shock.

‘Illusion magic. The scars aren’t healed—just hidden.’

He scowled at his reflection.

Cautiously touching his lips, he felt the sting of split skin.

‘Very convincing. Only a handful of people in the palace can use magic like this.’

In truth, only two: Edward himself, and Tiago.

‘And I’d never cast it on myself…’

So it had to be Tiago.

Edward opened a drawer, revealing rows of potions in glass bottles. He grabbed the brightest red one.

‘I didn’t think I’d have to use this.’

He popped the cork with a soft pop, faint smoke rising from the bottle. Tilting his head back, he poured the liquid down his throat.

It burned as it slid down.

‘Ngh… strong stuff.’

The taste was metallic, bitter. Plugging his nose, he drained the last drop.

Then he checked the mirror again, touching his face.

‘Hmmm…’

The pain was gone.

Edward smiled in satisfaction.

‘Much faster than expected.’

Still holding the bottle, he hurled it at the floor.

—Crash!

Glass shattered everywhere. He ground the shards beneath his heel.

—Crunch.

Even so, his anger wasn’t cooled. His eyes roamed the washroom until they landed on a rare porcelain vase from the East—a gift from his father on his 20th birthday.

Edward strode over and shoved it hard.

—Bang!

The vase shattered into worthless pieces, far louder than the potion bottle.

“……”

He stared at the ruined shards of what had once been priceless.

‘Tiago. Delphine. Frederic.’

His lips curled into a sinister smile.

‘I’ll break you all like this.’

He stormed out of the washroom, snatched his coat, and swung it over his shoulders.

‘That young lord… his name was Leo, wasn’t it?’

Edward slammed the door behind him.

Leo’s Anxiety

Leo sat at his desk, fidgeting nervously with the corner of a parchment.

That morning, he’d heard the news of Michaela’s death.

Her maid had only reported that Michaela was dead, but Leo had immediately guessed the truth: a curse orb was behind it.

Since then, his anxiety had grown unbearable.

‘What if this blows back on my family?’

He barely touched his breakfast, pacing in his room, racking his brain for a solution. But no matter how hard he thought, nothing came.

‘The best thing would be to erase all traces of my family’s dealings with Tiago. But how…?’

His head throbbed with the pressure. He dipped his quill in ink, then pulled it out, over and over, without writing a word.

—Knock, knock.

A sudden knock made him jump. He turned toward the door.

—Knock, knock.

Impatient knocking followed again.

Leo asked cautiously, “Who is it?”

“Edward.”

‘Edward? The imperial mage?’

Leo hid his confusion and opened the door.

Edward strode inside immediately, ignoring all etiquette. Normally it would have been unthinkable, but neither man cared for courtesy right now.

Edward glanced around the room, then introduced himself.

“This is our first proper meeting. I’m Edward Trinity, the empire’s official mage.”

“Leonard Marbo. Eldest son of the Marbo family.”

Edward disliked how Leo emphasized eldest son. He himself had lived all his life as a second son. But he let it go.

‘Sometimes you have to work with people you dislike to get rid of bigger enemies.’

They sat across from each other at a low table.

Before Leo could speak, Edward started.

“Surprised I came unannounced?”

Leo shook his head. In truth, he had been startled, but he didn’t want to show weakness.

Tension filled the air between them.

Edward chuckled at the pointless hostility.

“No need for suspicion. I want to work with you.”

Leo frowned. “On what terms?”

Edward actually liked that—direct and to the point.

“I’ll keep your family safe from what’s about to happen.”

“…Meaning?”

“I’ll erase all evidence of your family’s dealings with Tiago.”

Leo’s eyes widened. He tried to act calm, but the relief on his face was obvious. It was exactly what he needed.

‘Hah, child.’

Edward smirked inwardly, mocking Leo for being so easy to read.

‘Still, a naive kid is easy to use.’

Edward grinned. “Well? What do you say?”

Leo answered without hesitation.

“Good. Let’s join hands.”

News Reaches the Prince

The last person to learn of Michaela’s death was Prince Alexander.

Just as Edward had instructed, Michaela’s maid pretended she had overslept. Only much later did she finally run to call a physician.

The physician tried various measures before confirming death. He didn’t dare announce it too soon—if Michaela somehow revived, he would be ruined.

While he struggled, the maids whispered and spread the rumor quietly. Soon, most of the young lords—including Leo—already knew.

Only once the physician concluded Michaela was beyond saving did he dare to head to Prince Alexander’s chambers.

Entering with his head bowed like a criminal, he found the prince calmly eating breakfast.