Chapter 110: They Knew All Along

He left! Didn’t even look back!

A heavy silence descended. I subtly rolled my eyes, gauging the Marquis’s reaction.

What on earth did he want to talk about? I was too afraid to turn around, fearing it was bad news, when a refined voice struck my eardrums from behind.

“Are you upset that I acted on my own?”

“…?”

“You seem upset. But whether it’s anger or a conversation, it’s only polite to look at the person’s face. Even if meeting my gaze makes you want to kill me.”

Is he joking? He has to be joking! Kill? Who’s killing whom?!

There’s no way I could kill the ‘real Hero’ anyway. Startled, I turned my head to see the Marquis smiling calmly, a stark contrast to his murderous words.

“Shall we take a walk? Or is there somewhere you’d prefer to go?”

“…How about the outdoor banquet hall?”

Surely, even if things go south, he wouldn’t try to kill me where there are so many people. He doesn’t seem the type, but you never know.

…My throat is parched, and I desperately need something to drink.

“The banquet hall… Well, alright. If that’s what my junior wants.”

It wasn’t exactly the best place for a private conversation, but he seemed unfazed as he led the way.

I trailed behind him, mindlessly following his steps that were both graceful and silent. Before long, we arrived at a brightly lit area.

—The outdoor banquet hall. Well, it was definitely the outdoor banquet hall…

‘…Damn it.’

It wasn’t just the lights that greeted me there. I felt a wave of attention wash over me, mentally berating myself.

‘I was trying to avoid this by moving!’

Am I a goldfish?

The nobles were focused on the two Heroes together. They glanced our way, whispering amongst themselves, their curiosity piqued about our relationship and conversation, inching closer. They weren’t directly interrupting, making it awkward to call them out.

Stigma took care of it. He didn’t say anything in particular.

He merely glanced at me, then took a deliberate step forward. His head held high with an almost arrogant confidence, yet it suited him perfectly. He wordlessly scanned the nobles. The brown irises, so vibrant under the light, held an unexpectedly chilling gleam.

Like the tide receding, the nobles dispersed.

“Wow…”

“What is it?”

“Oh, nothing. You have brown eyes.”

The last words slipped out without thinking.

Green hair and brown eyes. For some reason, the colors reminded me of trees, something I hadn’t given much thought to…

“Indeed, a very common and vulgar color.”

“…?”

“Would you like a glass of wine?”

I accepted the offered glass, my expression still bewildered. Confusion washed over me.

What was that about? His tone was casual enough to almost miss it, but that was it, wasn’t it? The socialite’s way of adding a barb to their words! Common and vulgar color? Did my mentioning his brown eyes trigger that? Why…? Ah.

I’m screwed.

‘Stigma Primiero was a bastard.’

I’d heard he was born from a maid. Were the brown eyes inherited from his mother?

…Just smooth things over. I don’t know if it’s even possible, but I have to try.

“Marquis.”

“Call me Stigma.”

He’s offering his name at a time like this? Isn’t he angry?

The liquid in the wine glass sloshed precariously. The unsettling movement reflected my own unstable feelings. I quietly set the glass on a nearby table and faced him. The anxious turmoil within me subsided the moment my eyes met his ever-present smile.

I was certain now.

‘He’s not angry.’

There was no need to agonize over whether to apologize for my slip-up or pretend it never happened.

He had already smoothed things over himself. I just needed to play along with his intention of changing the subject by offering wine.

It was an unexpected act of consideration.

I picked up the wine glass again. Casually swirling the wine, I spoke nonchalantly.

“Then… Stigma-sunbaenim.”

“…”

“…?”

Why isn’t he answering?

I subtly tilted my head up and met Stigma’s gaze. Why? Why?

“I may have called you ‘junior’ first, but I didn’t expect you to actually call me that…”

He tilted his head slightly, muttering as if looking at something incomprehensible. It sounded like a soliloquy, but I heard it clearly.

…You were the one who called me ‘junior’ first. I just went along with it, so why are you like this? Seriously?

I stared at him with a distinctly cold gaze, but he seemed to have come to some conclusion, straightening his posture and flashing a pleasant smile.

“…I suppose having one junior in my life wouldn’t be so bad.”

“…?”

“I expected someone as ruthless as the infamous Demon, if not worse, but you have this innocent side. Clearly, rumors can’t be trusted.”

“I can hear you.”

“Oh dear, then what was the reason you called me over?”

I know you’re trying to change the subject…

But since I was the one who was rude first, I should let it go. This is why you shouldn’t speak without thinking.

Freshly realizing that ignorance is a sin, I obediently spoke.

“His Majesty declared the cessation of hostilities today. When did you propose the matter concerning the Barbai to him?”

“I visited His Majesty right after you had your private audience and voiced my opinion. It was almost like pushing my agenda… But the outcome is good, isn’t it?”

“Pushing your agenda…?”

To the Emperor?

“…You’re incredible.”

The Emperor might cherish talent, but acting on that belief and pushing your own agenda is a different story altogether. How can he do that?

Stigma chuckled softly at my genuine admiration.

“Hardly. As you know, His Majesty is particularly fond of those who resemble him. This is a level of persistence he’s likely to overlook.”

“Pardon?”

“Why the surprise? You’re one of the most special among those he ‘cherishes.’ My guess is that he’d tolerate a certain level of impudence from you, as long as you don’t cross the line.”

“Excuse me?”

“…Surely you knew?”

“Huh?”

“Goodness… Shall I explain it then? You should know. His Majesty has a particular fondness for those who resemble him among his talented individuals.”

The prerequisite being ‘talented,’ of course.

I brushed aside his muttering. My eyes widened as I stared at him.

So, what he’s saying is that I resemble the Emperor?! In what way?! If this goes wrong, I could be charged with insulting the Imperial Family!

“But… I don’t have blonde hair… Nor golden eyes, and what’s more…”

“It’s not about those things. Shall we use our Heroes as a point of reference to make it easier to understand? His Majesty is particularly fond of three out of the four official Heroes.”

Three Heroes… General Nemesius and Stigma would be included, and if what he says is true, then that means me…

Frankly, I find it hard to believe. My memories of him are filled with psychological torment. When I saw him before, he seemed to dislike Cruel, so I’m sure it’s not him… Could he be mistaken and think he favors two Heroes instead of three?

Unaware of my doubts, Stigma held up three fingers. He folded them down one by one as he explained.

“One who rose through the ranks based on their own merit.”

He’s talking about General Nemesius.

“One who doesn’t acknowledge their own position and is obsessed with proving themselves.”

I’m not entirely sure, but this sounds like Stigma himself.

But doesn’t the Emperor not acknowledge himself as the Emperor? As I was questioning this, his voice continued.

“—One who killed their own family with their own hands.”

“…”

I swirled the wine in my glass.

His brown eyes were fixed on me, as if not wanting to miss a single change in my expression. I met his gaze and brought the glass to my lips.

“His Majesty favors you the most, you know. And I, too, find you quite fascinating. How you come up with such ideas.”

The alcohol flowed down my throat.

“Wouldn’t you like to discuss this further with me?”

My memory cut off.

***

The Emperor raised a gloved hand and pressed it irritably against his temples. Stress was a constant in his life, so he shouldn’t be surprised, yet here he was, suffering from extreme stress.

Deon Hart seeking him out was one thing, since he had summoned him first. Even Stigma Primiero, he could understand. But now Starbe Illuster? Even if it had been a while since his return, this was too much.

However, he couldn’t simply ignore the situation he was facing. He moved his hand to press on his brow, his voice laced with annoyance as he spoke the name of the irritating individual.

“Yes… What brings you here, Duke Illuster?”

“I came to ask Your Majesty a question…”

The answer wasn’t immediate.

Duke Illuster hesitated, his gaze falling on the Emperor’s gloves, before a natural smile graced his lips as he refocused on the Emperor’s face.

“Is your hand alright?”

For a fleeting moment, the Emperor’s fingertips twitched almost imperceptibly.

“…That’s not why you’re here.”

“I was merely curious. I understand that those who possess fragments of the Hero also have a healing ability that surpasses the average.”

“Duke.”

At the warning tone, the Duke shrugged and took a step back.

“Yes, then I shall get to the point.”

“…”

“It’s not a heavy question, so please relax. You seem rather on edge lately; aren’t you tired?”

“If you continue to speak such pointless words…”

“It seems it’s time for you to pass on that seat.”

The Emperor, mid-growl, stared at the Duke, momentarily forgetting his anger at the blatant display of ambition.

His expression blank, as if he had forgotten how to make one, the Emperor’s eyes met the Duke’s silent laughter.

“You’ve had your fun with territorial disputes, haven’t you? The war with the Demon Realm is on a different scale than the wars within the Human Realm. So, it is my sincere wish that you would yield gracefully before things become too difficult.”

“…You’ve been unusually hesitant today. So this is what you were leading up to.”

Judging by his tone, it was as if he had assassins waiting nearby.

But the Duke wouldn’t do that. Even during this precarious conversation, the Emperor was absolutely certain that there was nothing present that could harm him.

Because, the Duke.

“I wish to resolve matters peacefully. Your Majesty knows this.”

Not once.

“You know that I have been lenient.”

Because he had never done anything that would ‘definitely’ kill or overthrow the Emperor. At most, it was pressure and demonstrations demanding the crown.

It wasn’t that the Duke couldn’t. He clearly had the means. He was the leader of the noble faction, held a strategic advantage in swaying the Empire’s populace through the Salvation Church, and had ties to the Revolutionary Army. Not to mention, one of the Empire’s four Heroes was under his command.

Yet, he restrained the nobles from crossing the line by involving the Crown Prince and Princess. He manipulated the public sentiment only to elevate his own image and diminish the Emperor’s, stopping short of inciting outright rebellion. He even managed to tie the Revolutionary Army’s hands, preventing them from taking decisive action.

The Emperor couldn’t understand it.