Chapter 86
The harder life became, the more people clung to God’s power to endure each day. God was like their last hope. But if even that crumbled at the edge of a blade… what else was left to hold on to?
“I have served my lord for eight years. But it seems the one I once called my lord no longer exists.”
Camille’s voice trembled. Her tightly clenched hands revealed a face not just empty, but deeply sorrowful. Only then did Cyrone’s eyes meet hers. Rolling the pen between his fingers, he let out a low, bitter chuckle.
“How touching is your loyalty to me. Repay it with death.”
Without hesitation, Cyrone pulled a dagger from his side and tossed it down. It was an action without any doubt.
“Cut it yourself.”
Cyrone’s expression was colder than the blade itself. Camille, staring at the dagger on the floor, and also Nielsen who was quietly standing, both looked incredulous.
“Your Highness!”
Unable to contain himself, Nielsen shouted. But Camille only stared blankly at the dagger before her.
“I finally understand. I can accept it now.”
She muttered as if lost in a daze. It seemed the time had come to accept the truth she’d been denying: Cyrone was no longer the lord Camille and Nielsen had pledged their unwavering loyalty to. Was he truly just a demon consumed by a devil’s soul?
“Your Highness has never been one to easily abandon those who’ve stood by you. But now… now…”
Camille’s voice trailed off, and she bit her lip, gripping the discarded dagger at her feet.
“Camille!”
“I have lost the lord I pledged my lifetime loyalty to! I have no reason to live anymore.”
Just as Camille raised the dagger to her wrist, a sharp, cold sound sliced through the air, and her head was turned forcibly.
“…!”
The stern grip brought her back to full awareness. Nielsen struck Camille’s cheek with more resolve than ever before and spoke coldly:
“Do not disgrace yourself before your lord. Get lost.”
Slowly raising her head, Camille’s hollow eyes glared at Nielsen. She took a deep, shaky breath, then slammed the door as she left.
Silence fell over the room she had just left. Suppressing the surge of emotions within him, Nielsen turned to look at Cyrone.
Cyrone’s red eyes, calmly observing the scene, were chilling. So cold they hardly seemed human.
“Your Highness, Camille has pledged her lifetime loyalty to you. Please, listen to her counsel and show her mercy.”
Without letting go of the ink-stained pen, Cyrone replied coldly.
“I don’t keep hunting dogs that bite their masters.”
A faint smile crossed Cyrone’s lips as the sun poured a deep red light, sinking toward the horizon, a shade remarkably like his own eyes.
“Execute Camille and display her head to the knights.”
He spoke briefly and then looked back at the documents. Without hesitation, he dipped his pen into the ink and sealed the papers with his signature.
The war that would lead to ruin was set to begin. Nielsen bit his lips tightly, watching the scene unfold.
“That’s the kind of loyalty I demand.”
Cyrone slowly raised his head, his expression icy cold.
* * *
“…Phew.”
Camille repeatedly wiped her gaunt face. Rather than dulling her senses, drinking seemed to sharpen her mind. Nielsen sat across from her in silence, looking at Camille with pity.
“He is no longer our lord. Isn’t it obvious to not only me but also to you, Sir Nielsen?”
Camille asked agitatedly. But Nielsen only shook his head calmly.
“It’s not that I don’t know. But right now, we have no proof, no method.”
Of course, Nielsen had already sensed the truth. The Cyrone before them was no longer their lord. Yet it was only suspicion, no evidence, no clues, no way to act rashly.
“I vividly remember following His Highness to the very edge of the continent for the first time.”
Recalling the past like this made Camille’s eyes welled up with tears. When she first swore fealty to Cyrone as a knight, when she followed him to the continent’s edge, when he proudly wore the crown of Crown Prince. Those memories became all the more sad.
Camille was about to pour a generous stream of wine into her glass again when.
“Give it here!”
Nielsen, who had been silently watching Camille, quickly removed the cup. Camille glared at him fiercely, but Nielsen didn’t return the glass.
“His Highness told me to die, didn’t he? I’d rather drink and die peacefully!”
With a loud bang, Camille slammed the wooden table and shouted. Nielsen tried to calm her down in a low voice.
“You already know it’s not really our lord’s will.”
At Nielsen’s words, Camille pouted.
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