55The current Emperor had sown many seeds. Despite the death of most recognized royal family members, rebels aiming for the throne kept appearing. They flocked to Celestia, the most likely candidate, like moths to a flame.

And it was Zachary’s job to eliminate them.

“I don’t understand… with such power… why don’t you aim for the throne?”

A dying brother asked, unable to comprehend Zachary, who showed no interest in the throne and only followed Celestia’s orders.

“I don’t need such a position.”

“Then why do you help her…”

“Who knows.”

The royal family member with barrier abilities, who had collapsed gasping, seemed to have finally breathed his last.

As the dark barrier lifted, the blue sky slowly revealed itself.

“She said she’d give me what I want, so I simply didn’t refuse.”

Under the bright sky, a blood-soaked face appeared.

Surrounded by the stench of blood, Zachary smiled broadly for the first time.

“It seems you won’t be able to attend today’s coronation ceremony, brother. What a shame.”

“…”

There was no reply. Zachary ordered the gathered knights to clear away the bodies and walked away.

Several months had passed since he arrived in the Empire.

Thanks to Zachary’s covert movements in the shadows during this time, Celestia safely secured the position of Crown Princess. And now, thanks to Zachary completely cutting off the Emperor’s lifeline and eliminating most of those who opposed the succession to the throne, she was able to hold the official coronation ceremony.

‘I can finally go meet him.’

The Crown Princess’s coronation was special for Zachary too. It meant he could finally go meet Oscar.

To protect Oscar, Zachary had become Celestia’s hunting dog.

He knew that without power, he couldn’t protect Oscar either.

So Zachary chose. To place Celestia on the throne and kill all those who threatened her position.

Undoubtedly, he would be the only prince in history to have so much of his siblings’ blood on his hands. Perhaps that’s why. Lately, he would sometimes have memory lapses or lose his reason and commit unnecessarily cruel acts.

But now it didn’t matter. Everything was over, and all that remained was to return to Oscar.

“Congratulations on your coronation, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you.”

Celestia, having completed her coronation ceremony, looked as happy as if she owned the world. It was the throne she had dreamed of for so long. No one would dare disrespect her anymore.

“Now, keep your promise.”

Zachary held out his wrist. His wrist was carefully wrapped in a sorcery restraint. Celestia frowned, instinctively repulsed by the Serpentine sorcery restraint.

But Zachary paid no attention and undid the restraint.

His pale white wrist was revealed. The more he used holy power, the weaker the spell array became and faded. So Zachary’s body was no longer mottled with spell arrays as before. However, in the middle of his wrist was a golden contract array, different from the Serpentine spell arrays.

“I will go find my person. Right now.”

For the past year, Zachary had only one purpose.

He had agreed to the contract, believing in her offer to bring Oscar safely and completely to his side without any disturbance.

“Zachary, I too know how strong your power is. But do you think Oscar will really be safe if you rely solely on your power and directly ascend to the throne? Even if you establish strong imperial authority, Oscar will always be exposed to the threat of assassination. Listen, I have a good plan that will benefit both of us.”

“What you want is Oscar, not the throne, right? You want to live a quiet life with Oscar? If you help me, I’ll make sure no one’s attention is directed towards Oscar. No one will know that you want Oscar.”

He had wanted to go meet Oscar many times but held back, fearing his resolve might waver. But Zachary should have known. That in the end, his dead siblings and Celestia were the same.

“Poor Zachary, this day has finally come.”

The Emperor’s remaining illegitimate children, hiding like rats, were still lurking in the shadows, constantly targeting her life.

“It was difficult to tell you because I was afraid you’d get hurt.”

That’s why Celestia, by any means necessary…

“Oscar Serpentine abandoned you.”

Had no intention of ever letting Zachary go.

“…”

Silence enveloped the two. Zachary slowly closed and opened his eyes. Celestia was momentarily taken aback by his expressionless face that showed no sign of agitation.

She had deliberately said those words to shake Zachary, but he showed no reaction at all. As Celestia, flustered, was about to say something more, Zachary tried to leave the room without a word. Alarmed by his utterly cold demeanor, Celestia hastily added:

“Zachary. I was trying to help you too.”

Celestia spoke as if regretfully.

“But what can we do? The person you want to serve is living too happily without you now…”

“Do you wish to be recorded as an Emperor who lost their life just one day after ascending to the throne?”

“What are you saying!”

Zachary tilted his head. Then, narrowing his eyes to slits, he said:

“Young master could never abandon me.”

Seeing this, Celestia clenched her fist.

“Ha! It was difficult advice I gave for your sake. If you can’t believe my words, go and see for yourself. Let’s see if you can still say such things after seeing with your own eyes.”

Celestia spoke angrily, but Zachary paid no attention and turned to leave. He was clearly about to go meet Oscar immediately.

As she glared at the back of Zachary’s head, an aide appeared beside Celestia. The aide couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

“Your Majesty. If we leave him like this…”

“Don’t worry. He’ll come back anyway.”

Celestia smiled deeply as she looked at the golden contract array on her wrist.

Zachary cannot directly kill Celestia, and Celestia cannot directly kill Zachary. That was the taboo placed on the contract between the two.

Zachary’s contract was to safely place Celestia on the throne, while Celestia’s contract was to safely bring Oscar to Zachary’s side once he fulfilled the contract. However, that was…

“This is a contract without a time limit.”

The fulfillment of the contract depended solely on Celestia. She would eventually place Oscar in Zachary’s arms, but not now.

The aide sighed while admiring Celestia’s scheme. What could be done? Zachary, no different from a child who had just opened his eyes to the world, had rolled straight into Celestia’s belly.

“And do you know why I moved up the coronation date?”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“I hear they’re about to become a married couple.”

The aide, who at first didn’t understand what she meant, soon realized the implied meaning and widened his eyes.

“The wealthy Raven family must be preparing very grandly. Seeing the smiling face of the soon-to-be married couple, especially the groom, excited for their upcoming wedding, won’t my brother Zachary come to his senses?”

Anticipating Zachary’s despair, Celestia smiled.

***

Even while seeing it with his own eyes, he stupidly thought it couldn’t be true. He denied it several times, unable to accept it. But the scene unfolding before his eyes was reality.

The new groom Oscar, dressed in pure white wedding attire, slightly bows his body as if considering the person beside him. Then Genevieve naturally brings her lips to Oscar’s ear. As she whispers something, Oscar looks at Genevieve with round eyes and then smiles slightly as if she’s cute.

The whole process was so natural. Genevieve, accustomed to receiving Oscar’s consideration, and Oscar, carefully attending to Genevieve’s comfort and escorting her to the end.

“Don’t they look so good together?”

“Yes, even taking time for a rehearsal despite their busy schedule…”

“They smile so much when together, showing how much they love and care for each other.”

The words of admiration from the servants drifted to his ears.

“…”

Zachary silently stared at the two. Even forgetting to blink. Even to Zachary, they looked like a well-matched couple. A perfect, happy couple that couldn’t be more ideal.

‘There must be parts I don’t know about.’

Oscar had forcibly sent Zachary to the Holy Empire. But he had thought there must have been unavoidable circumstances, that Oscar’s affection for him must have been genuine. That was the only pillar that had supported Zachary until now. Zachary took a slow deep breath to calm himself.

Though not certain, he tried to think that perhaps Oscar and Genevieve had made some kind of deal. Because he occasionally glimpsed a strangely awkward atmosphere flowing between them, or vague attitudes as if hiding something.

That’s why Zachary tried to believe in Oscar until the end. But.

‘How can he smile like that?’

Wasn’t that face something he only showed to him?

He shows such a bright smile to others too, showing such openness. As if looking at a truly beloved partner.

Still, Zachary didn’t give up. Thinking there must surely be another reason, he secretly followed Oscar to his mansion. But what he found was…

“E-Erhan? Why at this hour…”

The fact that there was no trace of himself left in Oscar’s heart shook Zachary.

During their time together at the Serpentine mansion, Oscar had never once looked for Erhan or Genevieve. He called for Zachary even in his sleep, called his name first when he opened his eyes, and always said “Good night, Zachary” before closing his eyes.

But after sending him to the Holy Empire, Oscar had erased not only Zachary’s existence but every trace of him. Leaving nothing behind, completely. All those countless hours we spent together.

Seeing Oscar calling for Erhan in bed late at night, Zachary realized.

‘Was this the reason… you sent me back?’

Was I just a bothersome servant from the start?

This can’t be, Oscar. Since the day you reached out to me, you became my entire world.

Zachary’s self-deprecating laugh spread like crying.

‘I only…’

Everything was a mess. Indescribable extreme emotions welled up. The memories that followed were hazy.