To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

Liv examined her reflection in the mirror from various angles. Being small and thin, she wore a dress with a voluminous skirt to complement her figure. Dozens of layers of thin fabric were overlaid, creating a mysterious light as sunlight passed through them. At the same time, her arms and back were exposed, emphasizing Liv’s slender body line. Laga had certainly admired that Liv looked like a fairy from mythology, but could it be that Emmett found it unsatisfactory?

“No, that’s not it at all. I just… Haah.”

Emmett let out an incomprehensible sigh, then sat down opposite Liv.

“Laga, could you step out for a moment?”

“Yes, yes!”

As Laga quickly put down the accessories and left the room, Emmett’s face became serious as he opened his mouth.

“Liv, I’m not trying to interrogate you. I want to help you.”

“Pardon?”

“I heard rumors that Young Lord Kreppelin proposed to you.”

“Ah…”

At those words, Liv’s face darkened. So he found out quickly after all.

The reason Liv hadn’t told Emmett about this incident first was simple. She was ashamed of the fact that she was an insignificant person. Without Emmett, noble young ladies and young men still tried to look down on Liv and treat her carelessly. Revealing one’s flaws to a loved one wasn’t particularly pleasant.

“Yes, that’s right… I rejected the proposal…”

Liv nodded with a subdued voice. She felt Emmett bringing his face closer to her as she hung her head low.

“Liv, please look up.”

As Liv slowly raised her head, Emmett’s face was right in front of her. It seemed they would touch if either moved even slightly. Emmett’s hot breath hit Liv’s face directly. Feeling her face quickly heating up, Liv was startled and hastily pulled her face back.

“W-why?”

“I wanted to comfort you. Because I thought it must be hard for you.”

“What? Why would I…”

“I know that unwanted proposals are a burden. I fully understand how burdensome that proposal must have been for you, Liv.”

“Ah…”

Was he indeed sympathizing with Liv, or understanding her? It was hard to tell, but in any case, Liv felt her heart gradually calming down. Yes, she had already shown him many embarrassing and weak sides. Even if she showed more weakness here, nothing would change.

“Don’t misunderstand, I really have no connection with Young Lord Kreppelin…”

“Yes, I believe you.”

“Even in the past, he just forcibly followed me around.”

At those words, Emmett’s expression furrowed.

“He followed you around before too?”

“Yes.”

“Then why did I… When exactly did this start?”

“After I fought with you, Your Grace…”

“Ah.”

Emmett’s eyes widened as if shocked, then quickly closed tightly. He had the face of someone enduring something. After maintaining silence for a long while, Emmett looked at Liv with a kind face again and said:

“Liv, in any case, everything will work out. Don’t worry too much about Young Lord Kreppelin.”

“Yes…”

Whether everything would really work out well was uncertain, but Liv just wanted to believe Emmett’s words. It wasn’t because she was an optimistic thinker. It was simply that Emmett, saying those words, had a face that would make anyone believe him.

* * *

When Emmett heard the news that someone named Gert Kreppelin had proposed to Liv, he initially felt his head heating up. The idea of another man having feelings for Liv, other than himself, made him feel stuffy and uncomfortable, though he wasn’t sure if it was worth getting this angry. After pondering this unfamiliar emotion for a while, he finally had to admit that he was feeling jealous.

‘To think I would harbor such an ugly emotion.’

Yes, this Gert Kreppelin must have been used by the group of nobles who dislike Liv. What courage would he, from the Viscount family, have to propose again to the daughter of the Hamelsvoort family who is already engaged? This must be a ploy by the noble group to use him to tarnish Liv’s honor.

But while talking with Liv, he heard something strange.

-He followed you around before too?

But why didn’t Emmett know anything about this? Then, he could recall an old memory. This happened during the time when he had fought with Liv and thought he would never speak to her again…

“Duke Lartman!”

As he was looking around waiting for the Emperor to enter the banquet hall soon, a brown-haired man approached him. While he was wondering how to respond to this unfamiliar face, the man introduced himself first.

“I’m Gert from the Kreppelin Viscounty.”

“I see, Young Lord Kreppelin. I’m Emmett Lartman.”

Emmett learned of the existence of the Kreppelin family for the first time that day. This meant that Gert Kreppelin wasn’t particularly someone worth Emmett’s attention. He exchanged greetings simply out of courtesy, but Emmett had no intention of continuing the conversation. There were many nobles who wanted to gain favor and power from him. However, what surprised Emmett was the question that flowed naturally from him.

“Duke Lartman, are you no longer going to be partners with Miss Liv Hamelsvoort?”

This was the first time someone had asked such a rude question openly in front of him. Emmett answered in a firm voice, slightly frowning.

“I have no obligation to answer you, but I would appreciate it if you didn’t ask me about her in the future.”

“Ah… So you have no connection with Miss Hamelsvoort anymore.”

“That’s correct.”

It was a cold expression overtly showing that he wanted him to stay away, but Gert seemed unaware of this and kept smiling in front of that face.

“Then you won’t care about whatever happens to Miss Hamelsvoort in the future, right?”

“…What?”

“It’s nothing, then.”

Leaving those words, Gert disappeared. Anyway, since Liv would be someone unrelated to him from now on, Emmett decided not to look into it further.

After recalling that memory, Emmett felt a throbbing in his chest.

-After I fought with you, Your Grace…

After hearing those words, Emmett felt unbearably more distressed. Since he had fought with Liv, Gert had been pestering her. He even chased after Liv to the Hamelsvoort house to meet her.

‘…Surely he didn’t try to force physical contact?’

Although he thought it unlikely, Emmett couldn’t bring himself to ask Liv about that. He felt that confirming the truth would make him even more distressed, and if such a thing had really happened, it would probably remain a painful memory for Liv.

Gert’s pestering of Liv was partly Emmett’s responsibility too. In social circles, only Emmett had been protecting Liv, who was a ‘fake Saintess’ and a ‘child disowned by her family’. But when Emmett, her backing, disappeared, even these riffraff started to bother her. They might have even felt a baser curiosity towards Liv because she once had a connection with Emmett.

Emmett thought this situation was all his fault. He hadn’t anticipated what would happen after he fought with Liv. No, if he had just asked Gert in detail what he meant back then…

‘…I need to behave properly from now on.’

Emmett had no intention of letting others trouble Liv anymore.

Although he was in a position where he couldn’t even tell Liv that he loved her.

Still, he had to protect Liv.

That was the mission given to him by the gods, after all.

* * *

In preparation for her audience with the Emperor, Liv made thorough preparations as if she were going to a battlefield.

“Dear, His Majesty doesn’t like flashy accessories. Especially not flashy hair ornaments.”

“It might be better to go without anything in your hair at all.”

Count and Countess Hamelsvoort personally stayed by Liv’s side, helping her choose accessories.

“We should take off the ring too… It might scratch His Majesty’s body if you get close. Yes, let’s not wear anything except for the necklace. The color of the dress… we should avoid white.”

Countess Hamelsvoort’s hands moved busily, and each time, Liv quickly changed her clothes.

“It might be better to look harmless. We should avoid colors that are too dark. But we shouldn’t look too frivolous either… Yes, let’s go with a silk dress in a calm color.”

Finally, Countess Hamelsvoort chose a dark pink silk dress. It was an ordinary dress that girls of that age would wear, but it had a modest and gentle feel that suited the imperial palace.

“Since you’re about to get married soon, it might be better to braid your hair up in the back.”

Only after deciding on Liv’s hairstyle did Countess Hamelsvoort finally calm down. Although there was still anxiety lingering on her face.

“Liv, then you need to study imperial etiquette diligently until the audience.”

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

It was amusing that Countess Hamelsvoort, who had even stopped Liv’s home education, was saying this, but Liv obediently agreed. After they left and she was alone in the room, Liv thought about the Emperor.

“Gods, you don’t like me meeting the Emperor, do you…”

We don’t want to let that one brazenly show his face to you.

That one should only face you after becoming a corpse.

“But it can’t be helped. They say there are moments in life when you have to bow your head even if you don’t like it.”

Liv started to ponder how to safely complete the audience. From what she had heard, the Emperor was said to be an unparalleled cruel person. Since he holds the highest position in this country, no gift could satisfy him.

‘How can I safely… Ah.’

What came to Liv’s mind then was a relic containing ancient magic. Since it ultimately contained the power of a god, Liv could find it too.

‘If I find it and gain his favor, it might be okay.’

Having reached that thought, Liv closed her eyes and began to search for the energy. Finally, she felt an energy close to her.

‘This is…’

Something was strange. Usually, relics were said to be hidden in ancient ruins or mountains, but there were no such places in the capital.

Liv had a maid bring her a map and drew the location of the relic she sensed on it. Soon, her eyes widened.