The man from the Obern Kingdom who had approached him had made a proposition.
In order to prepare for their independence, the Obern Kingdom wanted to maintain ties with both, the Elmark and the Ernes Empires for a longer period.
If Roer assisted them in achieving this, they had offered to heal the foot of his sister, Lizzy.
Roer was fully aware that this deal sounded too good to be true, but he accepted it anyway.
His previous attempt to gain the support of the Alfreds through a loveless marriage had failed.
However, even with the assistance of an external ally, there were no indications that things were going to become easier, and Roer was growing increasingly frustrated.
Fortunately, his concerns were put to rest when Prince Raymond announced that the Elmark Empire was plotting a war.
'Even if it's challenging to kill Ferzen with my own hands...'
He knew that Empress Gremory, the strongest human alive, would be able to penetrate Ferzen's defenses.
If he was able to kill Princess Elizabeth, whom he had brought against her will, and then perished at the hands of Ferzen, who would have arrived late, and when the warlocks interrogated his corpse, it would eventually come to light that the Obern Kingdom was his accomplice.
When this information would reach the Ernes Empire, they would likely seek retribution against the Obern Kingdom for their role in the crime.
However, would the Elmark Empire, which desired war, allow the situation to unfold without taking action?
Roer Poliana Claudia was knowingly stoking the flames of war and planning to eliminate Ferzen with the aid of Empress Gremory.
He understood that his current power was insufficient to even harm Ferzen.
"What a foolish idea you have."
"Foolish idea, huh..."
Roer's expression turned cold as soon as he gazed at Princess Elizabeth, who sat calmly in a chair, inside a warehouse filled with sparks flying in all directions.
"Don't be ridiculous. The Claudia family abhors the Imperial Family as much as we abhor the Bruteins."
"..."
"On that day, I'm sure we asked the Imperial Family to call a doctor. But what did you guys do? Didn't you just pretend to take a neutral stance, which was closer to rejecting our plea?"
Thump!
The warehouse's interior was set on fire and was starting to collapse.
The sparks scattered more vigorously, heightening the sense of danger to another level.
However, even in the midst of this chaos, Princess Elizabeth remained composed and spoke calmly.
"What about it?"
"What?"
"On that day, we certainly paid attention to Brutein's feelings and ignored the Claudia family's request. What about it?"
"..."
"Do you think that the Imperial Family would wield a blade equally to anyone?"
Princess Elizabeth giggled and crossed her legs provocatively.
"You people who cry out for justice from the Imperial Family, have you ever experienced that shallow justice?"
"..."
"The justice you guys ask for, while wearing the guise of vassals, has always been mundane and changeable."
"What a ridiculous attempt to appeal emotionally. Loyalty is not something that comes from coercion."
"Ahaha! You dismiss the way of a knight—raising their swords for their lord, for the weak, and for children—as nothing but romance… How can you say that?"
"..."
"Roer Poliana Claudia… Are you aware that in the long history of the Ernes Empire, there was no one but Brutein who cherished that romance until the end?"
So, how could the Imperial Family resist the allure of Brutein's influence?
"A long time ago, there was a time when a prince who was not even 10 years old had to ascend the throne."
Even though he was fully educated in the Imperial Family's way, the young prince still knew nothing.
And so, he lived a life of constantly being pushed around by the nobility.
All the nobles rushed to the ignorant prince with their greed disguised as loyalty and forced him to wear the Imperial Crown.
…Naturally, the head of the Claudia family at that time, in other words, Roer's ancestor, was no exception.
The one who stepped up to lead such an Imperial Family, which had a young prince who knew nothing as a regent. He was none other than the patriarch of Brutein at the time.
How could they ever repay such an enormous favor?
"That's why the Imperial Family is rather grateful for the unfortunate events that happened to you and your sister."
"Haha..."
Roer chuckled darkly as he clenched his fists so hard that the flesh on his palms was ripped.
"After all, we finally have something that we can use to repay the debt we owe to the Bruteins."
That's right.
From the Imperial Family's point of view, the misfortune that had befallen the Claudia family was not something that overly concerned them.
It was merely an injury to one young woman. And if it became a stain and scar for the Bruteins, the Imperial Family was willing to throw away their dignity to act as a dog, licking it hard, to cover it up.
"...I wonder if you would be saying those things had it been you who had suffered, and not my sister..."
Roer said so as he drew his sword and scanned Princess Elizabeth's body with his bloodshot eyes.
However, despite the murderous intent creeping all over her skin, Princess Elizabeth did not care.
"What a stupid question. Even if he destroyed my body, and violated me to his heart's content...No, even before that. I would willingly walk to his quarters and offer myself without hesitation."
"You're crazy."
"The only reason that the Imperial Family survived this long was because of the Brutein anyway. I just think that it wouldn't be so bad to be destroyed by them."
Princess Elizabeth smiled brightly as she looked up at Roer, who was walking toward her.
"All of this was so twisted because of you!"
The knight and the monarch, who should have formed a bond, ended up signing a contract before they knew it.
The path that they were originally supposed to tread, had become a mere romance in this era.
That's right. For a long time, no one gave the Imperial Family as much support as what they got from the Brutein.
So, it was natural for the Imperial Family to be loyal to the Brutein and show favoritism to them.
Grab-!!
Eventually, Roer's left hand grabbed a handful of Princess Elizabeth's fair platinum-blonde hair and forcibly pulled her slender body up.
"Anyway, this is not a place to listen to the lamentation of the Imperial Princess."
"I am aware."
Facing the face of Princess Elizabeth who held an unchanging expression until the end, Roer plunged his sword deep into her abdomen.
Then, her pure white dress started to turn bright red little by little starting from the hem of her skirt.
'Roer Poliana Claudia...'
He was undoubtedly the greatest stain on the Brutein family that had been made by Ferzen personally.
Since that was the case, with her sacrifice, the Brutein would be indebted to the Imperial Family.
'Ah...'
Oh God of Wisdom who has bestowed blessings upon me!
Why did you make me feel like it was an ill omen?
'After all...'
That future was not an ill one, but a fortunate omen.
Slid-!!
Roer's sword, which was stabbing into Princess Elizabeth's abdomen, slid out while being covered in her blood.
He then slammed the dying woman that was dangling in his left hand to the floor before wiping off the blood from the blade to prevent it from being damaged.
Rumble-!!
Boom-!!
At that time, the door of the warehouse that was located in the basement burst open with sparks flying in all directions...
Woosh-!!
From beyond the fierce flames that raged, a silver witch appeared and blocked it with beautiful, crystal-like ice.
Step-!!
Behind her, Ferzen appeared. He was dressed just like how he normally does.
"..."
Finally,
The only man that was invited.
The most hated guest of his life.
He had arrived.
In response, Roer unleashed his hatred and murderous intentions which he had kept hidden for so many years in the palm of his hand.
He pointed the tip of his sword straight towards Ferzen's heart.
War breaking out and Ferzen being killed by Gremory was only another plan of his.
If he could kill Ferzen with his own hands, right here right now...
...That would be the best finale ever.
It was for that reason he did not end Princess Elizabeth's life at once.
If Ferzen wanted to save her, he needed to leave this place quickly.
Which meant, Ferzen would fight him with a hurried mind. In that kind of state, he would surely find a gap to strike him down.
"Is there anything you want to say to me?"
The fire that was raging fiercely between them calmed down in an instant.
At Roer's question, Ferzen looked at Princess Elizabeth who had collapsed with blood all over the ground before quietly rolling his sleeves up.
"There's none?"
He was a dead man who walked along with his sin.
Yet, he vowed that he would become a villain who would live on with such a burden on his shoulders.
"I guess so. I am relieved that both in the past and now, nothing has changed... Ferzen Von Schweig Brutein."
Thump-!!
Roar-!!
The framing underneath the ceiling fell.
Because of that, the fire, which had been quiet for a moment, flared wildly once again.
At that moment, the flower of evil was one movement away from blooming fully.