Post-war settlements were always complicated, but the Duke and Duchess were constantly busy because they had to decide the fate of all the important figures of the Empire, which had been deeply rooted for 600 years. Especially when it came to decisions involving the grand nobles with many vassals under them, there were so many things to consider.
Duke Ganiello was likely to maintain his position, and many predicted that his status would even rise. But the rest of the grand nobles were likely to lose their titles.
Around the time Neris stopped experiencing morning sickness, the Duke and Duchess of Elandria were brought to White Swan Castle, bound. Surprisingly, Valentine Elandria had apparently escaped from Caten some time ago and his whereabouts were still unknown.
Unlike with Abelus, Cledwin didn't ask Neris to see them. He waited until his wife was busy with Diane on a walk and went down to the dungeon alone.
"Did you do as I instructed?"
He asked the warden at the entrance to the dungeon, who answered diligently.
"Yes, as you commanded, I imprisoned the Duke and Duchess in a place where they can hear each other's voices but not see each other. I put a gag on the Duke, and… well, the daughter of the Wells family too."
"Good job."
"But the son's condition is strange. He doesn't answer anyone and just keeps crying."
"I've been informed. Just make sure he's alive, don't worry about it."
His Grace the Duke was talking to him so much! The warden was moved. Cledwin patted his shoulder and entered Nellusion's cell with satisfaction.
The cold stone walls and floor were so cold that even standing still would make you shiver, as autumn deepened. The only light was the dim yellow glow of the torch that seeped in through the bars. The only furniture was an iron bed with some straw piled on it, just so the prisoner wouldn't freeze to death in his sleep.
Nellusion Elandria was sitting there, crying.
The beautiful silver hair that he and his sister had boasted about was dirty and stained. The old prisoner's clothes were thin and small, barely covering his body. The elegant and confident young Duke was nowhere to be seen.
Nellusion glanced this way at the sound of the door opening. He looked at Cledwin's face and his expression was one of confusion. Cledwin snorted at the expression, quite different from the one he had seen in Camille's secret room.
Cledwin stood with his back to the door and looked down at Nellusion for a moment. Then he muttered to himself.
"I wonder what she saw in you."
Nellusion in his previous life did live a more dignified life than he does now. But was that enough to earn her love?
Nellusion looked as if he didn't understand. Of course he wouldn't. It wasn't meant for him to understand.
In Cledwin's eyes, Nellusion Elandria was ugly, low-ranking, insidious, weak, and cowardly trash. It might be criticized that his standard was himself…
'Of course my wife's man's standard is me.'
He thought shamelessly, then suddenly realized something.
'My wife is too kind.'
Yes, that's why he treated that thing like a human being, with respect. That trashy life.
He couldn't imagine that some people could pretend to love and use others.
Gentle, kind, and fair to everyone, yes, like a pure angel…
His thoughts continued. If others knew what he was thinking, they would doubt their ears, but he didn't care. No one could hear his thoughts.
Of course, even if they could, he wouldn't care.
Nellusion trembled his lips and asked.
"Your, Your, Your Grace. Where, where, where are we?"
"Your Grace?"
Nellusion casually used the title that was naturally used between people of equal rank, or, to be precise, a rank like Abelus's in the past. As if he were of a higher rank than a Duke. So…
Like a king or a crown prince of a country…
Cledwin's eyes narrowed menacingly. Nellusion finally saw his Jewel Heart and widened his eyes.
"What? …Your Grace, does His Highness the Crown Prince know about this situation? My, my, my brother… Ugh."
Nellusion grabbed his head and groaned, as if his thoughts weren't working properly. The moment Cledwin clicked his tongue.
A voice that shouldn't be heard in this prison was heard.
"What are you doing?"
Ugh.
Cledwin flinched and turned around. Neris was standing outside the prison bars, her eyes narrowed, looking up at him. Her expression was one of, 'I know what you're thinking, and if you confess everything right now, I might let you off the hook a little.'
"Diane McKinnon?"
"She agreed that it was suspicious that you willingly sent me and Di on a walk alone and went to Sir Joyce. I'll ask again. What are you doing?"
Damn. Cledwin clicked his tongue inwardly. Neris's eyes went over Cledwin's shoulder and landed on Nellusion's face.
"Neris…? Neris, how…? You were supposed to be dead…"
Nellusion jumped up and approached. Cledwin raised his arm to block Nellusion. To prevent Neris from seeing that ugly face any more than necessary.
Neris's sigh could be heard behind Cledwin.
"I know what you were trying to do. Move aside."
There was no way he could refuse her order. Cledwin moved aside. But he didn't let her enter the prison. Knowing something would happen?
Nellusion stared at Neris for a long time. He stood rooted to the spot, then burst into tears.
"Neris, Neris. I was so sad to hear you were dead. You're alive."
"Yes, I was alive."
This made it clear that Nellusion was confusing his memories of his previous life with his current memories. Was it a side effect of Palos's power being released? Neris, too, seemed to have realized this from Nellusion's strange behavior, and she spoke to him coldly, using honorifics.
Nellusion pushed past Cledwin and tried to get out of the prison. When Cledwin blocked him, he raised his voice in protest.
"Move aside, Your Grace. Do you think Elandria will stand idly by after you treat a prince like this?"
Nellusion's voice was now clear and no longer stammering. Cledwin thought he was doomed, glancing at Neris, who was scanning Nellusion with a very interested look.
It was fine for her to see Abelus. He wanted her to feel better. He wanted her to see firsthand how that bastard who treated her like that was ruined, and he wanted her to be able to say whatever she wanted to say.
But Nellusion… didn't she love him?
He knew that Neris loved him now. But Cledwin still wished she wouldn't even glance at Nellusion for a moment. He really hated it…
The two men waited for Neris's reaction. Cledwin waited for Neris to slap Nellusion's face, and Nellusion waited for Neris to tell him to get him out. And after a while.
Neris smiled. A very calm and icy smile.
"Nell, is it really you, Nell?"
"Yes, Neris. What's going on? It's really you, isn't it? What's with that look? I'm glad you're alive. Get me out of here, Neris. It was all a misunderstanding. Now is the time. It's time for us to be happy together."
"What? You mean we'll be happy together?"
Nellusion's eyes shone brightly with enthusiasm. His words flowed smoothly, as if he had been practicing for a long time.
"Listen, declaring independence while you were in the Empire was something I couldn't help. I opposed it until the end. At least while you were believed to be a hostage, the Imperial family wouldn't kill you. See, you're alive and well."
Neris's lips curled up slightly more than before. Nellusion pleaded affectionately.
"Come with me. You're an Elandria too. Valentine wants to be the Crown Princess so badly, so tell her to live with His Highness the Crown Prince. I'll get you out. We'll go to our country and live as royalty. Our whole family will live happily ever after."
"Ah… but will everyone want me?"
"Of course. How much did you contribute to our becoming royalty?"
Cledwin was so dumbfounded that he almost wanted to rip open Nellusion's throat. He wondered what kind of oil was in there, that he could spout such nonsense without even wetting his lips.
Neris chuckled. She stared at Nellusion for a long time, then spoke kindly.
"You're just as good at spouting nonsense that even a dog wouldn't bite, then and now, Nellusion."
Nellusion looked as if he was questioning his own ears. Neris took a step back and smiled. It was a smile as absolute and cruel as a goddess in a pagan temple, but at the same time, incredibly gentle.
"You didn't know that Valentine took Joseph and tried to kill me? You think I'm stupid enough to believe that? I guess my life was foolish enough for you to believe that. You survived like a bug even through that war, you're disgusting."
Nellusion now looked as if he wasn't even sure if he was breathing. Cledwin glanced at the warden outside. Then he spoke to his wife as calmly as possible.
"It's not good for you to stay in this filthy place for too long."
"I understand. But I want to go out with you."
"Alright. Then just say what you have to say to this guy."
Neris shrugged, as if to say, "Do whatever you want." Cledwin growled menacingly at Nellusion.
"I know you're confused, but I have no reason to be considerate, so listen carefully. Your family has all been captured. Oh, no, your viper-like brother escaped. But how long can he survive without a whole bunch of servants and maids to protect him?"
Nellusion's eyes trembled. His eyes now lingered on Neris's belly.
"Your mother is imprisoned in another dungeon with the remaining scum of the Wells family, and your father is imprisoned separately. Normally, I would execute your entire filthy family, but… my wife is from your family, so I'll let you off. I'll save one, just one. Your brother dared to touch my wife, so he's definitely going to die, but one of the three of you will live."
"Wife? What…?"
"You can see, can't you? Decide. Who would you like to be the only one to survive? You? Your mother, who loved you so much that she scraped together everything left of her family for you? Your father, who cherished you as his heir?"
"That's ridiculous…"
"The decision and the execution are entirely yours. You were nice to my wife when you were in school, weren't you?"
The meaning of the words "execution" was clear.
If you want to live, kill the rest of your family yourself.
Nellusion let out a hollow laugh.
"You've gone mad."
Cledwin shook his head, looking sadly.
"What made you think I was sane?"
He couldn't forget the face of his wife, who had died in the world of memory. Every time he thought about what she had been through, he wanted to scream. To everyone who had tormented her.
You have to stay there.
You have no right to cry out for escape.
Just suffer there. Choke yourself, wield a sword until blood flows from your eyes and you fall, and roll in the mud because you have no legs to stand on. So that you can atone for the suffering you have inflicted on others, even a little.
But what can you do when even your death doesn't function as atonement?
Even if someone like you is beaten to death, the young lamb that is already dead will not come back to life.
"Then I'll combine the rooms soon, so do your best."
Cledwin patted Nellusion's shoulder once and left.
Leaving the dungeon, half-embraced by her husband, Neris whispered,
"Are you really going to make Nellusion kill the other two?"
"No way. Nellusion's words were heard by the other two as well. If I combine the rooms, they'll torment each other, but no one will die easily. And I don't intend to spare anyone."
The Elandria family had been killing innocent people for a long time to further their ambitions. Neris thought the verdict was right and nodded.
"Yes, then."