Upon the Elder Council chambers, the Seventh Elder marched down the corridor, a scowl carved deep into his face.
No matter how far he walked, the fury wouldn't fade.
The High Elder’s words kept echoing in his mind.
“—you wouldn’t expect a mouse to grasp a lion’s plans. It’s only natural you can’t fathom the minds of those stronger than you. Don’t strain yourself.”
How dare he say that?
That arrogant bastard looked down on him just because he’d reached Aura Master first.
“Damn it… Damn it!”
His teeth ground together with a noise sharp enough to draw attention. Blood seeped from clenched fists as nails dug deep into his palms. His reddened eyes burned with fury.
“Filthy bastards… You dare look down on me…?”
Louis Berg? That whelp? Stronger than him?
Ridiculous.
Sure, the boy had some strange Aura cultivation technique. In fact—he'd been the first to notice it.
That’s why he’d tried to steal it. If he could make it his own, if he could master that technique, he too would ascend to the realm of an Aura Master.
If only I had it... I could’ve become a Master too!
The Seventh Elder bit his lip, his eyes bloodshot with desire.
Even if he gave the boy every benefit of the doubt—fine, say the brat had talent.
From what he’d seen during that spar with the Grand Duke, if the kid abandoned archery, there might be a sliver—no, a needle’s-eye chance of him reaching Master rank someday.
But that wasn’t now.
No one in history had ever reached Master so soon after coming of age.
To even have a chance, one needed excellent talent, a rare Aura cultivation technique, and an exceptional mentor—three stars aligned in perfect harmony.
Which meant the High Elder’s words were nonsense. Laughable, even.
But even if they were nonsense, being mocked wasn’t something he could let slide.
If they dared belittle him, they would pay for it.
“…Fine. If they’re going to look down on me, I’ll just have to show them.”
His eyes dropped to the sword at his hip.
It wouldn’t be easy to kill that brat, Louis Berg—but it wasn’t impossible.
If no one saw it happen… If he lured the boy away, isolated him…
And with a promise of mercy, a fake show of compassion, he could extract the Aura cultivation technique before ending his life. That would be the perfect outcome.
His hand slid to the hilt.
One week later, the moment the Grand Duke left for the Demonic Realm… the brat would die by his blade.
And after that?
He’d wring that old bastard High Elder’s neck with his own two hands.
“Heh… hehe… hehehehe…!”
The Seventh Elder laughed, a chilling, unhinged sound.
Once he mastered the boy’s Aura cultivation technique, everything would fall into place.
* * *
The day after returning to the Duchy of Praha.
“…I’m tired.” I sat up in bed, dragging my hands across my face.
Normally, I’d stretch and savor how light my body felt after a good rest. But today, only an irritated sigh escaped me.
“Ugh… my head’s pounding.”
This was all thanks to that senile old fool of a High Elder. We’d barely spoken the other day, and yet it had felt like an eternity.
I should’ve just acted crazy and slapped him or something.
I sighed again, heavier this time.
Judging by the way he’d looked at me yesterday, this wasn’t over—not by a long shot.
“…Should I send Kai?” I muttered as I exhaled.
Not that Kai could kill an Aura Master. If he got caught, he’d be tortured to death.
Might be smarter to call in Death Veil instead.
Or just hand Death Veil over to Kai entirely.
With future knowledge on our side, we could make it work. Maybe.
“Hah…”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a sore need to clear my head. Staying holed up here would only make me go mad.
I gave my face a quick rinse with the warm water an attendant brought, then adjusted my clothes until they sat just right.
Lately, I’d started to wonder—but in the end, wasn’t a noble’s honor supposed to matter more than life itself?
Appearing disheveled in public would only invite headaches later.
“…Still such a pain.”
I’d never gotten used to noble decorum. Probably a habit from living like a mercenary for too long.
Tsk—
Clicking my tongue, I turned to head outside when—
Poke.
Something cold pressed against the back of my shirt—a playful touch, like the brush of a delicate finger.
I turned around, puzzled by the sensation.
There she was, crouched like a child playing hide-and-seek, a pair of pale, jade-white fingers just visible.
“…Lea?”
“Ah, caught me.”
It was Lea Praha. My fiancée and the North’s most gifted swordswoman.
She smiled, eyes bright with mischief.
Heave-ho—!
She rose to her feet with a small grunt that, I think, she considered a battle cry.
As I stood there, lost in idle thought, she clung to my arm and asked, “Are you going somewhere?”
A soft floral scent drifted from her hair.
“...Just going for a walk.”
“Oh? A walk?” She leaned in closer.
We’d grown a little more comfortable since the engagement, but this felt… too close.
I tilted my head back as far as I could and said, “Yes.”
Why was I acting like this?
No idea. It just felt right.
Lea pouted. “But you weren’t going to come see me?”
She sounded hurt, though she looked more like a sulking puppy than anything else.
I kept my tone flat. “Why would I?”
“Wow… harsh. I am your fiancée.” She puffed out her cheeks. I felt an irrational urge to poke them.
…Would that be allowed?
Probably.
I eyed her cheeks and sighed faintly.
Despite my deadpan expression, my lips twitched. Somehow, the tightness in my chest loosened with a sudden whoosh. Even the fatigue seemed to vanish.
“Ha. So what do you want?” I asked.
“Oh! You smiled.”
“Right, just answer the question.”
“What’s there to answer? This is my house.”
Right. This was her house.
I nodded. “You’re right.”
“…Are you stupid?”
“Quiet.” I shut my mouth and looked away, trying to hide the flush in my face.
Lea snickered and let out a sigh of relief. “Phew… at least you’re not hurt.”
“…You were worried?”
“Of course I was! Seriously, who just charges into danger when a Lord-class entity appears? You should’ve called for help—or at least informed your family. And another thing—!”
And with that, the nagging began.
I watched her, and a memory stirred.
Did this ever happen before…?
In my past life, even when I was married to Hera, she never spared me a second glance. Every day had been suffocating. Every moment a slow death.
But now… I got to be with someone who cared.
…Guess it doesn’t feel so bad.
I’d chosen her for revenge. And yet, here I was, wanting to make her happy.
After everything I’d been through, all the betrayal I’d endured, my heart still ached to love again.
How foolish.
I listened to her scolding and smiled faintly.
Now that I thought about it, Hera Artezia and Lea Praha were so different, it was almost laughable. In fact, comparing them at all was an insult to Lea.
Hera never saw me as anything more than a loyal dog.
Looking back, I don’t think I ever wanted her love. Just her attention and nothing more.
It’s true—I gave her everything. My pride, dignity, and heart. All to win Hera Artezia’s favor. To claim I didn’t love her would be a lie.
But she betrayed me. Burned my house to the ground. Wiped my family from existence. Even after marrying me, she made a routine of sleeping with other men.
Remembering her now felt like a betrayal of Lea.
Well, not that it mattered. She was someone I had to kill.
I swallowed the rising heat of bloodlust as the past clawed its way back in.
Just then—
“Are you listening?” Lea’s voice snapped me out of it.
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
“Honestly… Think about the people you’d leave behind. Don’t you realize that everything is over if you die?”
“I’ll be careful.”
“You say that, but the moment something happens, you’ll rush in again, won’t you?”
…She wasn’t wrong.
My every move was still guided by revenge.
Seeing her worried expression, I gave a crooked smile. “Don’t worry. I won’t die.”
“…As if that’s something you can control.”
“Also true.” I nodded and shifted the topic. If I wasn’t careful, I’d fall for her completely.
“By the way. Aren’t you spending time with His Grace? The expedition’s in a week.”
“Oh, Father? Ehm… it’s fine. We’ll see each other in the Demonic Realm anyway.”
…What?
I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard. “What did you just say?”
“Huh? That we’ll meet in the Demonic Realm—”
“What do you mean you’re going? Are you aware how dangerous it is?”
My voice rose in alarm.
But Lea, calm as ever, replied, “After Father departs, they’re forming a second expedition force.”
“…Who is?”
“The High Elder. I know he’s our political enemy, but what choice do I have? If I want to protect Father, I have to act.”
That crazy piece of shit!
Heat surged through me. My jaws tightened despite myself.
I considered storming the Elder Council and snapping that old man’s neck.
The intent was unmistakable.
Spies would be planted within the expedition forces, and as soon as they crossed into the Demonic Realm, “accidents” would unfold.
They’d lose supplies—or fall into traps that could decimate half their number. There were countless ways to sabotage them.
In fact, in my previous life, I’d worn down Praha’s forces using nearly the same tactics, so this was a certainty.
But back then, Lea Praha hadn’t joined the expedition forces. She likely hadn’t recovered from her illness yet, which explained her absence.
Either way, I couldn’t let this continue.
“When is the second expedition scheduled?”
“Uhm… About six months from now, I think?”
Damn it…
I had six months to either kill the High Elder, or get Lea off that list.
There are ways… Yes.
My eyes flickered as I devised a solution.
There were options indeed. Whether it involved leveraging the emperor or using Death Veil...
Silently, I revised the plan. Before I could take down Artezia, I had to cleanse the Elder Council.
Sure, a new power might rise in their place. But it’s better to swap out rotten apples for ones that are only bruised.
And I’d be the one to pick those bruised apples myself.
“…I’ll have to make one more stop at the capital,” I murmured quietly, Lea at my side.
A storm was gathering, ready to tear through the family once the Grand Duke departed.
* * *
Time passed, and the day of the Grand Duke’s departure arrived.