To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

“Liv, I hear Miss Tschermak has locked herself in her room, half-crazed.”

“…It seems her condition is worse than I thought, so I feel a bit sorry. I shouldn’t do such things again.”

“I’m not blaming you. What method did you use?”

“I just…”

Liv hesitated before continuing to Emmett, who had brought news about Malea.

“I showed her the power of the gods. Just a tiny bit.”

“Does seeing just a part of the power cause that?”

“It seems so. But she’ll come back to her senses later. It’s just a temporary phenomenon.”

“I didn’t mean to scold Liv.”

Emmett said in a kind voice.

“I respect Liv’s will in whatever she does.”

As Liv’s eyes widened at those words, Emmett added.

“I’m rather pleased.”

“Why?”

“Because it seems you’ve learned how to deal with people who treat you carelessly.”

Emmett looked genuinely proud of Liv. So much so that Liv felt embarrassed.

“I’ve always been worried about Liv, but now I can feel a bit relieved.”

“Because I acted badly?”

“Yes, because Liv has been too kind until now.”

However, Liv immediately shook her head at those words. Because according to what the gods had been telling Liv…

“Good always triumphs.”

Because good is ultimately rewarded, one should always live righteously. Liv had heard this from the gods many times. The wicked will pay the proper price. The gods will never leave them be. That’s how the world’s principle works.

So even if there are wicked people, Liv just needs to keep pursuing good and live on as she is. Even if she doesn’t punish them directly, the wicked will eventually be struck by lightning.

When Liv told Emmett this, he nodded with a serious face.

“That may be so for Liv, who receives the love of the gods. You might be able to punish those who treat you badly. But…”

He hesitated before continuing.

“I don’t think the gods are equal to all humans.”

Well then, we will bestow our love only on our child.

The only one precious to us is our child alone.

Seeing the gods say that, Emmett’s words didn’t seem entirely wrong. As Liv was nodding, Emmett changed the subject.

“Liv, I’ve finished everything I needed to do here. I won’t need to come down here for the next year.”

“Then…”

“Yes, let’s go up to the capital now.”

At those words, Liv’s expression became subtle. She couldn’t tell if going up to the capital was a good thing or a bad thing. If she goes to the capital, she can see Hildegard and participate in more parties to meet people, but most people in the capital were hostile to Liv. And she didn’t know how to handle revealing her power there after doing so here.

As Liv hesitated, Emmett gently took her hand and said,

“It’s alright, Liv. As you said, good will ultimately triumph, and only good things will happen to Liv.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes, and most importantly…”

Emmett smiled and said:

“We need to go to the capital for us to get married, don’t we?”

* * *

Packing Liv’s belongings, Laga had a gloomy face.

“Now I have to say goodbye to you too, Miss…”

“Laga…”

“I’m really sad.”

Laga continued, pouting her lips.

“Of course, you’ll become the Duchess, so you’ll come back here later, but…”

“That’s…”

“Still, I won’t be able to see you for a while. If I had to serve someone, I’d prefer to serve someone like you.”

“Why?”

Curious about why Laga showed affection towards her, Liv asked, and Laga answered with round eyes.

“Because Miss is a good person!”

“Hmm…”

“And you’re a special person, aren’t you?”

“Huh?”

“Being able to use the power of the gods, when will I ever meet such a person again in my life? It’s an honor just to serve someone loved by the gods!”

As Liv was listening to Laga’s chattering voice, a familiar voice was heard through the half-open door of Liv’s room.

“Is that so?”

“Ah, Your Grace!”

Laga, who had been sitting on the floor organizing clothes, quickly stood up. Emmett, who had entered Liv’s room, cleared his throat and said:

“Your name was Laga, right?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“If you want to keep serving Liv, you can come with me to the Lartman mansion in the capital. Liv will visit the mansion in the capital often.”

“The capital? Great!”

Laga nodded vigorously with sparkling eyes. Although Laga had been territorial towards Becca who came from the capital, being able to go to the capital following Emmett meant being recognized by him.

“It would be an honor for me to be able to follow you to the capital!”

“Then I’ll tell the butler about it.”

After that, Laga packed Liv’s belongings even more enthusiastically, and finally, the day came for Liv to leave the Lartman Duchy.

Meanwhile, there was another person who really had to say final goodbyes to Liv.

“Take care, Hayden.”

Hayden had decided not to go to the capital. He said he would wander the Empire looking for comrades to help him. Hayden smirked at Liv and opened his mouth.

“You finally succeeded. I heard rumors about Tschermak, and I should say I’m glad you didn’t act stupidly like before.”

“Why do you keep calling me stupid?”

“You were always getting fooled stupidly in the capital.”

At that moment, Emmett’s voice was heard from beyond the door.

“Liv, it’s time to go now.”

“Yes, I’m coming out soon…!”

As Liv was about to leave the room, Hayden spoke in an indifferent voice towards her back.

“Do the same in the capital.”

“What?”

“Make the social circles there all yours too.”

Liv left without being able to answer those words. If she reveals her power, people’s attitudes might change like they did here… But Liv simply couldn’t imagine those people who had looked down on her so much suddenly becoming friendly towards her. There was too much that Liv had experienced in the capital to take it lightly.

When they came out to the entrance of the Ducal castle, among the carriages for servants and luggage, there was one particularly splendid carriage. It was the carriage they had ridden when Liv and Emmett came here. 

Although she was already tired at the thought of another week of uncomfortable travel, they had to return to the capital anyway. When Liv, holding Emmett’s hand, approached the carriage, many servants had already come out of the castle.

“Your Grace, Miss, have a safe journey!”

“See you next time!”

Emily, Julian, Mia, Philip, and others who had become close to Liv during her stay waved especially enthusiastically. Waving back at them, Liv boarded the carriage with Emmett’s help. As the servants continued to wave, the carriage departed. Liv just stared at the people with blank eyes.

“It seems you’ve made friends during your stay here.”

Emmett broke the silence and spoke.

“Emily, in particular, seemed to like you very much.”

“Really?”

“Yes, she said you’re very knowledgeable about mythology.”

“Ah…”

Well, Liv had grown up listening to stories about mythology every day in Abgrund, so there probably wasn’t anyone in the Empire who knew more about mythology than Liv.

“I do know some parts better than others.”

“You didn’t know other parts simply because you lacked experience. As you gain experience, Liv, you’ll be able to know everything that others know.”

Emmett’s words were comforting to Liv. Like Hayden said, Liv also thought she acted too foolishly at times.

Child, come to my sacred grounds.

No, come to my sacred grounds.

How about coming to the sea?

Even amidst this, the gods were being noisy, so Liv frowned. Since Liv had gone to the land of goats, the gods had been constantly telling her to come to their sacred grounds.

“Liv, is something wrong?”

“I have a headache. The voices of the gods are heavy.”

“Oh…”

Emmett also looked at Liv with a pained expression. It was incomprehensible why he was making a painful expression when it was Liv who had the headache.

“They keep telling me to come to the sacred grounds.”

“…Don’t you think about visiting other gods’ sacred grounds?”

“Well, they’re far away.”

Liv continued in a monotone voice.

“But I’m still scared of sacred grounds.”

“I see, there’s no need to push yourself. The day will come when you overcome it.”

Emmett spoke as if Liv would eventually go to a sacred grounds, so Liv stared at him. Was Emmett hoping for her to go to a sacred grounds? Although she was curious, she didn’t want to talk more about sacred grounds, so Liv decided to change the subject.

“Brother Walter is coming back, they say.”

“Walter… You mean Walter Hamelsvoort, the eldest son of the Hamelsvoort family?”

“Yes, that’s right. He originally went to the Merna Empire to study politics.”

“I think I’ve heard about Young Count Hamelsvoort too. They said he’s a smart person.”

“Yes, he probably is…”

Sensing Liv’s indifferent tone, Emmett carefully asked.

“Liv, do you perhaps not like Young Count Hamelsvoort?”

“No, because brother doesn’t like me either.”

“Ah…”

At those words, Emmett’s face showed immediate understanding. Considering the atmosphere in the capital and the Hamelsvoort Count’s household, it wasn’t hard to imagine what the relationship between Liv and Walter might have been like.

“If home is uncomfortable, you can visit the Lartman mansion often. Count Hamelsvoort will probably allow it.”

“Yes, they both seem to like you very much, Your Grace.”

“Hmm, that’s right… By the way, Liv. What are you going to do in the capital?”

“Pardon?”

“In the Duchy, you found the courage to show your power to others. Will you do the same in the capital?”

At those words, Liv pondered for a moment. The power of the god Lufasha lasted quite long, and Liv could still use his power. Of course, after a long time passes, she would need to gain power from the sacred grounds again. If she uses the power of the god Lufasha, she could prove herself to the people in the capital. But…

“I’m not sure yet. My head hurts.”

Because Liv said that, Emmett couldn’t press further. Keeping silent, Liv recalled her fears in the capital.

‘The Emperor is in the capital.’

Just thinking about Abgrund makes her body tremble involuntarily. She never, ever wanted to go back there.

* * *

A week passed, and finally, their carriage entered the capital. Seeing the familiar scenery of the capital, Liv sighed, feeling somewhat suffocated.

“Liv, what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing, just…”

Liv spoke slowly.

“Coming to the capital makes it hard to breathe.”

“…It will be alright, Liv.”

“Will it really?”

“Yes, I promise.”

He looked at Liv with a determined face.

“Starting from Edelburg, now things in the capital can change too.”