To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

“Yes, I am the last successor.”

“Miss Liv, do you know this person by any chance?”

“No, I just met him today…”

At those words, Emmett’s expression grew even more frosty. He carefully set Liv down, then positioned his body as if shielding her behind him.

“What business did you have conversing with Miss Liv?”

“Well, you should ask Miss Liv that, shouldn’t you?”

Since Hayden smirked as he uttered Liv’s name, Emmett seemed to grow more displeased. However, he soon softened his expression and turned to Liv with a gentle face.

“Miss Liv, was there a reason you spoke with this man?”

“Um, he just started talking to me…”

After saying that, Liv glanced around, but the gods remained silent. Then perhaps…

“Actually, I’d like to talk more.”

“…More with this man?”

“Yes, I have things I want to ask him… If you could give us a moment…”

At those words, Emmett’s eyes widened, and Hayden flashed a smile tinged with a sense of victory.

“Miss Liv, do you truly wish to converse further with this man?”

“Yes.”

“…Very well, if that is what you desire.”

After saying that, Emmett started walking towards the carriage, but kept glancing back at Liv. His face was contorted with a look of defeat.

“Even the great Duke Lartman meekly retreats, eh?”

Since Hayden still seemed amused, Liv glared at him. While he couldn’t harm her, he didn’t seem particularly well-disposed towards her either. Then Liv had no reason to be courteous in return.

“I’ve been thinking about why the gods don’t dislike you.”

“Mm?”

“You tried to assassinate the Emperor.”

It wasn’t difficult for Liv to understand the gods’ way of thinking – it was her own fundamental mindset itself.

“You hold a grudge against the Emperor. The gods also dislike the Emperor. That’s why they don’t dislike you.”

“Aha, so you can communicate with the gods too?”

Hayden now regarded Liv with increased interest.

“You’re far more intriguing than I expected… Everyone said you were just a foolish fake Saintess, clinging to a single man, but it seems they were mistaken?”

His gaze shifted to where Emmett had departed.

“Not only was the ‘Fake Saintess’ claim wrong, the ‘foolish’ part was mistaken too… Rather, it seems the man is the one clinging to you.”

“Just answer the question I asked.”

Ordinarily, Liv spoke slowly and haltingly from bearing the gods’ weight, but strangely, the gods were quiet before Hayden. Thanks to this, she could speak more freely than usual.

“Um, yes. I do hold a grudge against the Emperor.”

Upon mentioning the Emperor, Hayden’s gaze seemed to grow somewhat more serious. No, ‘serious’ may not adequately describe the look in his eyes – they clearly conveyed…

“But I won’t try to assassinate the Emperor again. You don’t need to worry about causing a stir in high society for no reason.”

“Why did you change your mind?”

“Well…”

In an instant, any playfulness vanished from Hayden’s eyes, leaving only an unfathomable depth of resentment.

“It’s because I must inflict suffering worse than death.”

* * *

“Liv…”

Meanwhile, at that moment, Emmett couldn’t hide his unease. Awaiting the end of Liv and Hayden’s conversation, he sat slouched against the carriage, cradling his face in his hands. Just who was that man, for Liv, normally indifferent to others, to engage him in extended conversation?

‘Schulze… Since they were annihilated, I couldn’t have met him in high society.’

Then this was their first encounter. Yet Liv, unaccustomed to outsiders, had conversed so familiarly with him.

The more Emmett pondered, the more distressed he became, but he had no right to intrude upon Liv’s affairs. She was neither his lover nor fiance. Objectively, he had no relation to her at all.

‘Yes, this is my burden to bear…’

Recalling the sin he had committed against Liv, he squeezed his eyes shut. Even if Liv took an interest in that man, he had to support whatever was in her heart. She had no reason to love only him, and he was unworthy of her love.

* * *

“What did the Emperor do to make you resent him so much?”

When Liv asked that, Hayden gave a meaningful smile.

“Well, what do you think he did?”

“Um…”

In Liv’s mind was a catalogue of cruel acts humans could commit. According to what she had learned from the gods, one way to inflict unbearable torment was…

“Isolating someone in one place for a long time until they go insane?”

“Ha.”

Hayden’s face seemed to mock her words.

“That was the punishment your gods inflicted upon me. Humans don’t act in such a manner.”

“Oh… So what did the Emperor do then?”

Hayden slowly rose from his spot. His movements exuded an air of theatricality mixed with the wariness of prey fleeing a predator.

“I am intrigued by you, but I can’t reveal everything.”

It seemed Hayden wouldn’t divulge what the Emperor had done to him or why he had tried to kill the Emperor. Before leaving, he glanced back towards Liv and said:

“It’s interesting that the gods dislike the Emperor too. Is it because a mere human challenged his authority? Good information, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Liv watched him with a blank expression, but he continued speaking.

“In return, I’ll give you a decent piece of information too.”

“What is it?”

“Stay away from the Emperor from now on.”

For a moment, Liv thought she saw blazing flames in his eyes.

“Even if I’m imprisoned in Abgrund, I will assassinate the Emperor.”

Mentioning Abgrund, the most dreaded prison on earth for humans, was likely an assertion of his strong resolve. With that intense parting remark, Hayden simply left.

It was some time later that Emmett reappeared before Liv.

“Miss Liv.”

“Ah, Emmett. Sorry to have kept you waiting. Please, have a seat.”

The serious expression on Liv’s face vanished in an instant, replaced by a bright smile. When she patted the spot before her, Emmett awkwardly took a seat.

“Who… was that man earlier?”

To his cautious inquiry, Liv answered in an all too cheerful voice. Having Emmett before her, she had buried deep the questions that had occupied her mind moments ago.

“Ah, the Emperor’s would-be assassin.”

“…What?”

After a momentary pause of bewilderment, he asked again.

“Do you mean the assassin who killed His Majesty the Emperor on the day Miss Liv took her own life… and the day Miss Hamelsvoort and I returned to the past?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

He seemed at a loss for words seeing how casually Liv discussed such a grave matter.

“Miss Liv, that man is dangerous. You must never go near him again.”

“Well, a murderer is likely dangerous, but he didn’t seem overly aggressive.”

“There is no guarantee someone who has killed once will not kill again. You could be put in danger as well.”

“Um… but the gods didn’t seem to view him as much of a threat.”

“Still, I disagree. I dearly wish… for Miss Liv’s safety.”

Regardless of whether it was truly safe, receiving his concern was pleasing. With a warm feeling, Liv answered in a bright voice:

“Yes, I’ll be careful from now on.”

“Did you happen to learn why he tried to assassinate His Majesty?”

“No, he didn’t tell me that. He only said he underwent divine punishment and returned to the past to find me.”

“And the reason he won’t kill His Majesty this time?”

“He said to inflict suffering worse than death…”

“I see. While it’s unsurprising His Majesty has incurred resentment through his many misdeeds…”

For anyone else hearing those words, they might have doubted he was the same man – the Duke Lartman, one of the Emperor’s most loyal retainers, was speaking with surprising cynicism. He seemed deep in thought with a serious expression.

“The Schulze family was annihilated at the time of His Majesty’s ascension. The exact reason is unknown, but His Majesty charged them with a crime and had them exterminated.”

“So that’s why…”

Liv could somewhat understand why he resented the Emperor. Though the details were unclear, the ‘Tyrant August’ must have again abused his power.

Seeing Liv grow solemn in turn, Emmett suddenly softened his expression and spoke up.

“Miss Liv, shall we set aside such heavy matters and focus on our picnic instead?”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

Emmett picked up a stack of books. They were classic novels considered essential reading for young nobles.

“Then let us read together.”

Recently, Liv had been exposed to various books. For her, who had never received a proper education, books revealed much knowledge and emotion.

“‘Rounding the corner revealed a massive estate perched atop a cliff. Amidst the salty scent of the sea, the aged manor exuded an eerie atmosphere.'”

Drawn into the intriguing tale, Liv read smoothly onward.

“‘No longer do any cries come from that estate. A single wildflower bloomed atop the grave of the Kaylin.'”

After finishing to the end, Liv wore an expression of awe.

“So love triumphs in the end…”

Liv truly loved love. In every story she read, love had won.

With a hopeful voice, she spoke, and Emmett regarded her with a strange expression.

“Yes, love…”

“All the trials in the stories are overcome through the power of love. It seems love is what ultimately prevails in this world!”

“…”

Emmett hid his anguish as best he could, and so ended their picnic that day.