To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

Although Liv and her group decided to side with the 5th Prince, Count Lester, who supported the 2nd Prince, still provided them with a place to stay. However, there was a sense of wariness towards Liv’s group, so they were continuing an awkward cohabitation.

Then one day, during breakfast, Leopold opened his mouth.

[…What do you think about the 5th Prince?]

At those words, Liv, who had been looking at the mashed beans on her plate, raised her head. The fact that he was asking like this meant…

[I think the 5th Prince is wise. Probably the wisest among the princes and princesses.]

Walter answered Leopold’s question without a moment’s hesitation. Leopold was silent at that answer.

[Why, are you thinking of switching sides too?]

[To be honest, yes.]

To Walter’s playful question, Leopold answered as if it was obvious. Liv was a bit surprised at those words, but thinking about it, it wasn’t that surprising. She had heard that many nobles were approaching Dante these days.

[The new science and technology announced by Prince Dante yesterday was quite revolutionary. Many people are interested.]

[Ah.]

Dante had a broad perspective on diplomacy and politics, but the field he knew best was science. He had explained famous scientists’ works to Liv in simple terms, and also confided that he had devised new technology himself.

Encouraged by Liv’s support, it seemed Dante had really announced some decent technology.

[Thanks to the Prince, transportation methods will likely develop further. Actually, I don’t understand it well, but scientists are enthusiastic.]

[So what about the 2nd Prince?]

[I chose the 2nd Prince because he was wiser than the 1st Prince… but if someone even wiser than the 2nd Prince has appeared, I can change my mind anytime.]

Leopold’s attitude as he said this was nonchalant. After quietly observing this, Liv asked:

[I’m curious about Count Lester’s view. In your opinion, what is the 5th Prince’s greatest weakness?]

[Well, I don’t know the 5th Prince well, but…]

He answered naturally while picking up a knife to cut his toast.

[He doesn’t seem to be a cruel person.]

[Do you think someone who will become Emperor needs to be cruel by nature?]

[To survive here, it’s necessary. At least the 1st Prince and 2nd Prince are like that.]

At those words, Liv fell into thought. Is cruelty really necessary for an Emperor? Then should Liv become cruel too?

But Liv had no intention of doing so. She didn’t want to become the same kind of person as August. Liv couldn’t be cruel to those who weren’t her enemies. That was what she had learned from the gods.

Yes, until then, that’s what Liv had thought.

* * *

When she woke up, Liv felt her whole body was heavy.

‘Is it because I went to bed late?’

It seemed to be because she had stayed up late studying the art of kingship yesterday. Looking out the window, the sun was already high in the sky. On the contrary, this heaviness might be because she had slept too late.

Then suddenly Liv thought this sensation was familiar.

‘This heavy feeling is…’

And the moment she realized what this sensation was, Liv covered her eyes with her hands and sighed.

“No…”

That thing had happened again. The thing Liv wanted to avoid more than anything.

Our beloved child.

The familiar voices of the gods were heard. Liv asked in a resigned voice.

“Did I die again?”

Yes, you died last night. So we inflicted divine punishment and turned back time.

Our beloved child. We will never leave those who harm you unpunished.

Without Liv knowing, she had died, and the gods had inflicted divine punishment on the one who killed her while turning back time. Thus, in this timeline too, Liv had greeted the morning without having died.

“Ah, who on earth…”

What on earth had happened at night for Liv to have died? Had she fallen down the stairs in the middle of the night? Or… As Liv’s mind raced quickly, the gods delivered shocking news.

An assassin came through the window and killed you.

You lost your life by his knife.

“An assassin?”

That was really unexpected news. Who on earth would assassinate Liv? Surely not August all the way here?

That assassin has completely disappeared from this world.

We set fire to the one who handed the sword to the assassin.

He is burning now.

If it was indeed August who tried to kill Liv, then Liv had dealt with August without lifting a finger. Then she should be happy, but…

No, something was strange. August, who knew Liv could never die, wouldn’t try to kill her. Just as Liv was pondering this, she heard someone knocking on her door.

“Master, may I come in?”

There was only one person who called her that. It was Hayden.

“Yes.”

Hayden, who entered as soon as the door opened, immediately spoke.

“There was a fire at the 4th Prince’s palace last night.”

“What?”

“The source hasn’t been identified yet… but there are rumors that the fire started from the 4th Prince’s body. The fire has been extinguished now, but the 4th Prince has died. People are talking about how strange it is, but I know someone who can make such strange things possible.”

Hayden looked at Liv with a mysterious light in his bright brown eyes. Liv slowly nodded.

“That’s right, it was probably divine punishment inflicted by the gods because of me.”

“It’s too weak for divine punishment.”

Hayden seemed displeased. Rather than thinking it was weak compared to the divine punishment he had experienced, he seemed dissatisfied that the person who harmed Liv had received only that much punishment.

“Maybe the culprit will feel the pain of burning eternally even after death. Divine punishment wouldn’t end with just that.”

However, Liv couldn’t guess at all why the 4th Prince had tried to kill her.

“Why did the 4th Prince send an assassin to kill me?”

“The 4th Prince… is on the 1st Prince’s side.”

The 3rd Prince and 4th Prince were supporting the 1st Prince, and the 1st Princess was supporting the 2nd Prince. The 2nd Princess and 3rd Princess were married and out of this power struggle.

In fact, the probability that the 4th Prince had acted independently was not high. Probably…

“The 1st Prince must have ordered it?”

“Yes, it seems so.”

No matter how powerful a prince is, he can’t be free from suspicion when another prince dies. Moreover, if the assassinated target was a prince who had been in the spotlight until recently, the imperial palace would be turned upside down and everyone would be subject to investigation. Even if Dante was annoying, directly killing him was too risky. Instead, the 1st Prince decided to kill someone around him.

For example, a noble from the Holy Hilysid Empire who had recently become Dante’s advisor, someone like Liv.

“Does the 1st Prince know about my identity?”

“The 1st Prince doesn’t know that you are Gracia. That’s why he tried to kill you. If he had known, he would have passed the information to August and joined hands with him.”

“That’s right…”

Liv fell into thought. Suddenly, she thought it would be better if fewer people knew she was Gracia.

People who know Liv is Gracia but are not on her side. Count Lester and the 2nd Prince. At least Count Lester wasn’t hostile to Liv, but as long as Liv continued to help Dante, the 2nd Prince was likely to become hostile to Liv. Then he might sell Liv out to August.

“Rather, the 1st Prince isn’t very dangerous. He doesn’t know much about me, and all he can do is try to kill me.”

“Then…”

“The 2nd Prince is much more dangerous. Because he has information about me.”

At that moment, Liv realized why Leopold had said one ‘needs to become cruel.’ For Liv to survive, she had to kill innocent people. She had to attack first without waiting for the other side to attack.

‘I didn’t want to do this, but…’

As Liv chewed her lip, lost in anguish, Hayden grabbed her hand with a worried face.

“Master, you’re hurting yourself…”

“…My head is complicated.”

“What’s the problem? Think simply.”

Hayden looked at Liv with a face that would follow anything she said.

“Whatever you do is right, Master. Don’t set too high a standard for your own actions. You have the right to do so.”

“No, I have to. That’s my repayment for the love I received from the gods.”

The gods had various doctrines, but they weren’t without commonalities. They all aspired to a good life.

“But eliminating enemies is natural for someone in a high position…”

Somehow sensing Liv’s inner thoughts, Hayden said in a subtle tone. Those words made Liv’s worries even more complicated.

‘To go the safest route, it would be right to eliminate the 2nd Prince. But the 2nd Prince hasn’t done anything evil enough to deserve death.’

If she asked the gods, they would unconditionally side with Liv. They were infinitely generous to Liv. But even so, Liv didn’t want to make the gods who loved her violate their own doctrines…

“Sister, are you not up yet?”

At that moment, Hildegard’s voice was heard from outside.

“No, you can come in.”

It wasn’t just Hildegard who entered when the door opened. Walter, who was standing next to Hildegard, frowned at Hayden kneeling in front of Liv.

“Why are you in another woman’s room first thing in the morning? You must know my sister is already married.”

Hayden answered in a brazen tone, unconcerned.

“She’s my master.”

“Haah…”

While Walter was sighing, Hildegard made eye contact with Liv and tilted her head.

“Sister, do you have something on your mind?”

“Something on my mind? Yes, I do…”

Finally, Liv began to speak in a slow voice. That the 4th Prince had killed Liv last night, that the 2nd Prince was now more dangerous to Liv than the 1st Prince, and that she was deeply considering eliminating the 2nd Prince because of this.

Walter was the first to speak.

“How do you plan to eliminate the 2nd Prince?”

“It’s not difficult.”

Liv said, lowering her eyes.

“We just need to blame the fire at the 4th Prince’s palace on the 2nd Prince.”