To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

[To Emmett.

Alright! I told Count and Countess Hamelsvoort, and they both liked it.

Why do those people like you, Emmett?

—Sent by Liv Hamelsvoort]

[To Emmett.

I arrived home safely.

The Lartman Ducal House was really amazing. I like the castle wall and falcon crest.

I also like the Hamelsvoort family’s swan and sword crest. In fact, I like everything pretty.

And the library of the Lartman Ducal House was really amazing. It’s more impressive than the Hamelsvoort House. Have you read all those books?

Oh, and the food was delicious too. It was my first time eating such delicious tomatoes.

—Sent by Liv Hamelsvoort]

[To Miss Liv.

I’m glad that the day spent at the Lartman Ducal House became a good memory for you, Miss Liv. I’m proud that my knowledge of your taste in food wasn’t wrong since you liked the food.

I haven’t read all the books in the library either. When I was young, I thought I would have read all the books when I became an adult. But I couldn’t do that after all.

The Marquis Arendt House, renowned for respecting knowledge for generations, is said to have the largest library in the Empire. I wonder if Marquis Arendt has read all the books.

Oh, I didn’t get a chance to tell you in person last time, but the pink dress you wore that day really suited you, Miss Liv.

—Sent by Emmett Lartman]

* * *

“Why does Duke Lartman seem so close to the fake Saintess?”

“There’s no way…”

“But look over there!”

“Could it be that he fell for that woman just by looking at her face? Even the Duke… I guess all men are the same.”

Whispers about Liv and Emmett being together could be heard, but they were all used to rumors.

There was something funny about the ‘Emperor’s Hound,’ a feared figure, meeting the ‘Fake Saintess,’ a subject of ridicule, but despite the rumors spreading like wildfire, the parties involved didn’t care.

“I finished reading ‘The Stormy Night.’ It was an interesting book.”

“I’m glad it suited your taste, Miss Liv.”

“But there was a part I didn’t quite understand. The gods are portrayed as too kind in it.”

“What? Shh, you shouldn’t say such things.”

“But there was also a part I could relate to. The protagonist Hannah’s fear of dying.”

“Death…”

Emmett pondered Liv’s words.

As he had felt before, Liv had a tendency to worry excessively about her own death. When going down the stairs, she carefully descended while holding the handrail for fear of falling. When eating, she chewed thoroughly in case the food choked her. And when she went up to high places, she never went near the windows.

It was hard to simply call it being timid. Yes, rather than cherishing herself, she somehow seemed to treat herself as a means…

“Miss Liv, are you afraid of dying?”

“Yes, I’m scared.”

“But in reality, the probability of a person dying while going about their daily life is not very high.”

Emmett said in a kind voice.

“Is there anyone around you who has passed away, Miss Liv?”

“No.”

“Sometimes death is exaggerated. Because each death is shocking, people tend to remember it for a long time. You’re probably the same, Miss Liv.”

“Death is exaggerated…”

“In reality, the chances of you suddenly dying are low, Miss Liv. Don’t worry too much.”

Liv nodded at those words. In fact, as far as she knew, she had only caused harm to others by dying once when she fell down the stairs. Perhaps, as Emmett said, she was being overly cautious…

Don’t worry, child. Last time, you died of an infectious disease, and we turned back time once.

And we erased the existence of the rude fellow who passed the disease to you from this world forever.

At those words, Liv became crestfallen. Death wasn’t exaggerated at all after all!

The danger of death was always lurking near Liv, and Liv might have caused harm to someone again. Moreover, due to time being turned back, Liv couldn’t even remember everything. To the victims who suffered for no reason because of Liv, she was no different from a walking disaster.

“But if I die, it will be a big deal.”

Liv said, pouting her lips.

“If I die… It’s hard to explain, but anyway, I can’t die.”

“Don’t even say such things. Why would you die, Miss Liv?”

“What if the world ends after I die?”

“Hmm…”

Emmett let out a short groan. Sometimes Liv’s words were really hard to understand. At first, he even suspected if Liv was mentally unstable and ill, but he couldn’t casually comment on it since he didn’t know how Liv lived in the slums before joining noble society.

“Miss Liv, death is not close to you, and above all, death is not that scary. It’s a process that everyone inevitably goes through.”

There were many words floating in Liv’s mouth. They squirmed in her mouth as if she would proclaim the truth of this world to everyone at any moment.

No, if I die, it will be a big deal. If I die, all the gods will be angry, and this world will collapse, and everyone will die.

If my blood even splatters, that person will receive divine punishment and suffer for a long, long time.

But if she spoke that truth, Liv would surely be branded as a heretic, so she couldn’t confide the truth to anyone…

As Liv’s expression darkened with a stifling feeling, Emmett quickly changed the subject.

“Miss Liv, by the way, do you know that His Majesty the Emperor is attending today’s banquet?”

“What? His Majesty the Emperor?”

At those words, Liv’s face turned pale, but Emmett didn’t notice and continued.

“Yes, you must behave properly in front of His Majesty the Emperor. First, you must not speak to him, you must not make eye contact, and you must not make loud noises.”

This is serious. She didn’t know this in advance.

Liv felt a stronger sense of anxiety than ever before and resisted the urge to bite her nails. Because in Liv’s head, the shouts of angry gods began to be heard.

How dare he mention that person in front of you?

He is worshipped despite being human. He is a rude one who dares to challenge the authority of the gods.

Hate him, Liv.

Liv didn’t know much about the person called the ‘Emperor.’ But he was someone she had heard about to the point of being sick of it from the gods, so she knew she shouldn’t be polite to him.

The gods never acknowledged the Emperor of the Holy Hilysid Empire as the ‘absolute ruler’ of this country and rather wanted Liv to behead the Emperor and offer his head to them on their behalf.

“In front of His Majesty the Emperor, you just need to show proper respect according to the procedure. I’ve taught you the etiquette so far, right?”

However, the man Liv loved was saying the opposite of the gods. It was clear which of the human word and the gods’ word was absolute, but there was a separate side Liv had to follow if she wanted to live in human society…

In the end, after groaning for a while, Liv asked Duke Lartman.

“Why do we have to be polite in front of His Majesty the Emperor?”

“It’s only natural since he is like the sun looking down upon the imperial citizens.”

Liv quietly nodded. The gods still seemed displeased with her facing him, and their angry voices rang in her ears, but still, Liv wanted to continue to blend into human society and gain the trust of the man she loved. She wanted to act politely in front of His Majesty the Emperor as he said.

“I understand, I’ll follow the etiquette.”

“Yes, I trust you, Miss Liv.”

Leaving those words behind, he moved to the entrance of the banquet hall to greet the Emperor, who would soon appear.

From what Liv had heard, even though they were from the same Five Noble Houses, the Lartman Ducal House had assisted the Steinberg Grand Ducal House since ancient times. It was also because the current Emperor had helped Emmett in the past, so he was even more loyal. So it was natural for Emmett to attend to him in the closest position to the Emperor.

‘I should make a good impression too.’

Since he was the one the person she loved pledged his loyalty to, Liv also wanted to make a good impression on ‘His Majesty the Emperor.’ However, when the person called the ‘Emperor’ appeared…

“His Majesty the Emperor is entering!”

Everyone bowed their heads before him. And at that moment, Liv felt an unbearable fear.

Kill that wicked one!

How insolent.

He dares to challenge my authority!

Never bow your head before him.

Her head throbbed as if it would burst. It felt like a huge thunderbolt was striking inside her head. It felt like a huge hand was kneading Liv’s brain.

And above all…

‘Ah…!’

The numerous stigmas deeply engraved in Liv’s bones flaunted their existence. It was painful as if her whole body was being pricked by sharp needles.

In the end, unable to endure any longer, Liv ran away from the spot.

“Miss Liv!”

“Is she crazy? How dare she do that in front of His Majesty the Emperor…”

“We must arrest her!”

Following Emmett’s shout calling for her, noisy voices of people could be heard from behind, but Liv left the place.

‘Why can’t I act like other people?’

Emmett’s words telling her to be polite in front of the Emperor came to mind. But Liv couldn’t do that. In the end, Liv had ruined everything again.

She turned her back on the Emperor to whom Emmett was so loyal and ran away arbitrarily. Perhaps her relationship with Emmett was over now.

It was too difficult for Liv to act like a normal person. Of course, she knew what was right and how to behave. But her situation didn’t allow it! Still enduring the noisy voices of the gods, Liv ran wildly. Tears fell on the floor at every place she passed.