To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

“Haah…”

Emmett sighed after reading the letter. He could almost hear Liv’s voice through this letter. He was even going mad as her image seemed to flicker before him. He wanted to run to Liv right now and embrace her.

Meanwhile, the part that Emmett found most strange in this letter was…

“Why isn’t she coming?”

It was about time for Liv to arrive. However, she still hadn’t come. Thinking that he should investigate Liv’s whereabouts, Emmett’s expression hardened.

The atmosphere in the Empire wasn’t good these days. Rumors were spreading everywhere that ‘a witch using divine power will appear and burn down the Empire.’ It was clear who these rumors were targeting. The source of the rumors was also obvious. But more problematic than that was…

‘August.’

He, who had always only whipped the nobles, started offering carrots to the nobles for the first time. He was recruiting nobles by mentioning the existence of ‘new meritorious families.’ Because of that, quite a few people had left Emmett’s faction.

Since they hadn’t explicitly exposed the plans for rebellion to the imperial faction, Emmett wouldn’t be immediately accused as the rebellion’s instigator, but it was still dangerous that public opinion among the nobles was wavering.

Liv needed to return with the cooperation of the Merna Empire as soon as possible. Thinking of Liv, Emmett squeezed his eyes shut.

* * *

The noble from the Holy Hilysid Empire who was said to be helping Dante was gradually increasing her presence in the Merna Empire. So it wasn’t strange that people were wary of this noble. However, no one expected that a member of the imperial family would directly request a meeting with her.

[Liv Lartman.]

The 1st Prince glared at Liv with eyes full of hostility.

[Yes, I hear my younger brother is relying on you quite a lot.]

Liv, sitting across from the 1st Prince, remained silent. Although he was a member of this country’s imperial family, he wasn’t someone Liv had to serve. Since Liv would be in a similar position when she returned to her home country, she didn’t need to bow down to the 1st Prince first.

[I became curious about what kind of person you are, so I looked into your background.]

[I see.]

Liv answered in a calm voice while sipping the tea in front of her.

[I heard that your family, the Hamelsvoort family, was recently exterminated. I also heard that Walter Hamelsvoort and Hildegard Hamelsvoort fled.]

Liv still maintained a calm expression. It took a long time for rumors about a noble family from another country to spread here, and Walter had acted so nonchalantly here that she thought there would be more time… Well, they finally found out.

[But Lord Walter Hamelsvoort is in the Merna Empire now. Oh my, what should I do about this?]

The 1st Prince said this while trying to create an atmosphere to threaten Liv. However, it wasn’t at all threatening compared to August’s fierce demeanor. Seeing Liv’s unflinching appearance, he seemed to be getting a bit irritated.

[What should you do? You should do as you wish.]

[Do you know what I want?]

[Well, how could I know Your Highness’s inner thoughts?]

[Such insolence…]

The 1st Prince glared at Liv with a face boiling with anger.

[For me, it would be better to hand over the Hamelsvoort children to the Holy Hilysid Empire.]

[Why? You have no reason to do so.]

At Liv’s nonchalant voice, the 1st Prince’s face became a bit flustered.

[The Holy Hilysid Empire can’t influence the Merna Empire at all. If it were the other way around, maybe. Wouldn’t it be better for Your Highness to keep this secret and continue threatening us?]

[This…!]

Liv continued speaking in fluent Garcian. As the gods had guaranteed, she had a talent for easily mastering human languages.

[No matter how high-ranking a Duchess you were in your home country, since your family has been exterminated, your position will soon become precarious. What makes you act so insolently towards me?]

[Yes, as Your Highness says, I have nothing. But…]

For a moment, Liv’s eyes flashed as she looked at the 1st Prince.

[Aren’t you curious? How the 4th Prince died, and why the 2nd Prince became the culprit?]

[It can’t be…!]

The 1st Prince’s face became agitated as he stood up with a scraping sound.

[I thought at best the 2nd Prince had done it to cut off his limbs, but are you saying it was a false accusation!]

[Well…]

Liv still had a calm face while holding her teacup.

[I’ll stop here. Then, I’ll take my leave.]

As she stood up, Liv confirmed the 1st Prince’s agitated face. He was clearly wary and afraid of Liv. Yes, if things go like this, probably…

* * *

Today was the day Liv was meeting the 1st Prince. The 1st Prince had requested a private meeting with Liv. He seemed to have sought out Liv, who was known to meet often with Dante recently, wary of the 5th Prince’s growth. Liv rose from her bed with a calm face, roughly guessing the 1st Prince’s intentions. But somehow her body felt stiff, so she frowned and lifted the blanket. However, there were no traces of blood or anything like that.

‘Then…’

In this case, there was only one thing to guess. Liv looked up at the empty air with a faint smile.

“Did I die again?”

It was very painful, my child.

“Did the 1st Prince kill me?”

As always, the gods didn’t answer specific questions. But it was obvious who had killed Liv. Originally, Liv’s plan for today was to ‘provoke the 1st Prince and make him kill her.’

“Is he receiving divine punishment now?”

Yes, he’s being torn apart alive by wild dogs.

We will tear him to pieces.

My child, we can do anything for you.

Yes, everything went according to Liv’s plan. Liv opened the door while wearing her outer clothes. Just then, she saw Hayden approaching her room.

“Master…!”

“Hayden, is it news about the 1st Prince?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Hayden answered in a polite tone.

“They say some wild dogs appeared in the 1st Prince’s palace and killed him. It’s a situation that’s completely unimaginable in the Empire, so they’re investigating how the wild dogs got in.”

“I see, so that’s what happened…”

As expected, the culprit who killed Liv was indeed the 1st Prince. It seemed that the future Liv had succeeded in provoking the 1st Prince according to plan.

Liv hurriedly contacted Dante. It was to tell him to use the information she had provided in advance to frame the 3rd Prince as the culprit. Liv knew in advance that if her future self successfully carried out the plan, the 1st Prince would meet with disaster this morning. Thus, she had even made arrangements for the 3rd Prince to visit the 1st Prince’s palace at the right time. So that the 3rd Prince could become the culprit.

“Now I can go back.”

“Pardon?”

“We’ll be able to go to the Holy Hilysid Empire soon.”

Saying this, Liv recalled the face of her beloved. Although she wasn’t sure if Emmett would be waiting for Liv, at least Liv was missing him. It was time for her to return to the embrace of the one she loved.

* * *

[5th Prince Dante, step forward and receive the sword.]

Receiving the sword from the Emperor was the most important part of the ceremony that the Crown Prince of the Merna Empire undergoes at the coronation.

Only three members of the imperial family participated in the Crown Prince’s coronation. The 1st Prince and 4th Prince had lost their lives, and the 2nd Prince and 3rd Prince were punished and confined to their palaces. The 1st Princess had left after marrying into the Kingdom of Reboer. Thus, only the 2nd Princess and 3rd Princess, who hadn’t taken sides with anyone, and the 5th Prince Dante, the protagonist of the Crown Prince’s coronation, were standing in their places.

[My goodness, it ended up like this after all.]

[Who would have expected the 5th Prince to become Crown Prince?]

[By the way, what exactly happened to the 1st Prince and 4th Prince? There was no evidence at all that the 5th Prince assassinated them!]

While the nobles were whispering in low voices, the Crown Prince’s coronation continued. Since the Emperor’s illness had worsened and he couldn’t participate in the coronation, the Prime Minister handed over the sword instead.

[5th Prince Dante, do you swear to fulfill your duties?]

[Yes, I swear.]

[Do you swear to always put the great Merna Empire first?]

[Yes, I swear.]

[Do you swear to devote yourself to your people?]

[Yes, I swear.]

After the three questions and answers were all finished, the bell rang. It was the sound announcing the birth of a new Crown Prince.

Liv stood with a blank expression watching this scene. She couldn’t believe that she had finally made Dante the Crown Prince.

‘I could do it…’

Yes, when she didn’t run away, there were so many things she could do. As Liv was lost in thought looking at Dante’s back, she heard a voice speaking to her from beside her.

“Why are the princes here so foolish?”

“What?”

Liv turned her head to look into Walter’s purple eyes.

“Well, isn’t it funny? After the 2nd Prince, even the 1st Prince tried to kill you. Who would have known they would self-destruct like that.”

“Well, it’s hard to see it as complete self-destruction.”

Liv started explaining in a calm voice.

“I induced the 1st Prince.”

“…What?”