Chapter 32: “Instead of forgiveness, enlightenment.”

Viella was ultimately driven out.

The ‘forgiveness’ that Rossel spoke of was never achieved.
It was pitiful.

Not only was she abandoned by the person she had followed like a moth to a flame, but she was also cast out, tears and snot all over her face, with no dignity left as a Baroness.

Rossel, having witnessed Viella being thrown out of Esil’s room, took her back into his office.

I won’t forgive you. So leave.

P-please..! I beg you..!

I don’t want to forgive you.

I’ll do anything. Please….!

…Then live with regret for the rest of your life.

Ah…! Please, anything but that…!

The conversation between the perpetrator and the victim could be heard in the darkness.

The punishment of “live with regret for the rest of your life” suited the pure and delicate Esil well, and Rossel smiled contentedly.

The perpetrator who had pushed him into the horrors of the underground prison was not someone who wished for the same kind of cruel physical punishment.

Instead, he hoped for a punishment where she would live in endless regret, which was a fitting fate for a person like Emilia.

“Yes, Emilia was that kind of woman.”

He had briefly forgotten.

Even though she had collapsed into ruin, she was still a kind, warm, and fragile woman.

And Esil’s remarkable recovery made him proud.

He was so moved that he almost felt it was an accomplishment, seeing Esil overcome his fears for the sake of his promise.

Of course, he felt uneasy about Viella not receiving forgiveness.

It was a sense of responsibility, perhaps, since he had “watched” everything happen, knowing it all.

Since all his focus was on Esil’s future, he had no choice but to remain a bystander in Viella’s fate. Deep down, Rossel had hoped that Viella could receive

forgiveness.

If Viella had been forgiven, he would have shown her the same mercy he did with Sregon, but of course, Sregon’s true nature had been exposed, leading to his end.

And if Esil had desired Viella’s death, it would have been carried out.

After all, even with all the responsibility Rossel felt, he would never reverse his choice on the day of the social debut.

For Esil’s fate, Rossel would even give up his own heart.

Well, anyway.

If Esil’s decision was to be respected, Rossel would not mention further punishment to Viella, who had been cast out of the room, crying.

Viella had strong survival instincts but was not very cunning.

She knew what choices she had to make to stay alive.

That was why Rossel did not imprison her like Sregon.

More importantly, unlike Sregon, Viella had no substitute.

The relentless pursuit of a father who had lost his daughter could create unforeseen variables, so imprisoning her was not a good choice.

Especially in the current situation, if emotions influenced his decisions, it could jeopardize the larger mission.

Instead, Rossel had used the “Mark of Subjugation” to prevent any accidents in the future.

The Mark of Subjugation was only legally valid for slaves, but it did not force total obedience or brainwash someone.

It was simply a mystical power that made the individual aware of their situation.

Fortunately, Viella did not reject it.

She had realized how to bend to survive.

“Esil probably hasn’t forgiven you yet because his heart hasn’t completely healed.”

“Sniff… I’m sorry…”

Viella, who had once been in love with Rossel, was now a criminal, but she did not feel unjust.

She was just miserable.

She could no longer love him.

Rossel watched Viella, trembling.

He knew she had mocked Esil to avoid feeling guilty.

Despite this, there had been some anger towards Esil at the time, but it was all in the past now.

Although the confession obtained through the Record Object was undeniable “evidence,” Rossel no longer wished to show any further anger.

It was a sort of mercy for having overlooked Viella’s fate.

After all, living with regret in a “non-forgivable” manner was a punishment in itself, so he chose not to press her further.

“…Alright. Since I respect Esil’s choice, I’ll let you go. But don’t do anything you’ll regret.”

“Sniff… Ah, I won’t do it again… I’m sorry…”

“And there’s one thing you should know.”

“Y-yes…?”

Viella, wiping her tears, looked up at Rossel.

Now, he was too high to even dare approach.

“65 days.”

“…What?”

“That’s how long Emilia endured countless tortures and fear in the underground prison.”

“Y-yes…? Torture…?”

“Sleep deprivation, sensory deprivation, waterboarding, starvation, and so on. She underwent all kinds of brutal tortures.”

“Her lips were torn, her molars shattered, her eyes filled with broken blood vessels, and her entire body covered in scars. She endured this for 65 days.”

“B-but… no scar…!”

“I erased them all. I wanted to free her from the terror of that day.”

“Ah…!”

Viella’s pupils widened in shock.

Having heard Sregon refer to it as ‘your work’ at the banquet, she had somewhat guessed.

But seeing no visible scars, she could not have imagined that such “harsh torture” had taken place.

She had only expected some form of mental brainwashing.

That’s why Viella had to cover her mouth, her jaw dropping open.

And once again, tears fell.

“Ah… Ahhh…!”

How…

How could she just be chased away, telling him that she didn’t want to forgive him, after enduring such horrific tortures and pushing someone into that hell?

It was as if losing a boyfriend.

Compared to what Emilia went through, this was an unbelievably lenient punishment.

At the very least, shouldn’t she have faced the same kind of torture and despair? No, shouldn’t she have been slapped at the very least?

Even if she would live with lifelong repentance and regret, it would still feel like a mere scratch compared to the horrific 65 days of torture Emilia suffered.

“How… how could…”

That’s when it hit her.

Yes, she had forgotten.

No, she had tried to erase it on purpose.

Emilia was that pure, kind, and fragile a woman.

“Ah… Ahhh…”

As the image of Emilia enduring those horrific fears for 65 days clearly resurfaced in her mind, Viella ultimately fell to her knees.

Esil’s determination not to forgive had completely broken Viella’s resolve.

Of course, even if she could go back to that day, she would not reverse her choice to betray Emilia.

She wanted to live.

She wanted to eat delicious food, feel love, and experience happiness.

When you die, everything becomes meaningless.

That’s why, even if she regretted that choice, she would not undo it.

After all, it was that very choice that kept her alive now.

She was only deeply grateful to Esil.

For giving her, the cowardly and weak one, a chance to live.

And she felt so sorry.

For intentionally shouting at her to cover up her guilt, calling her a traitor with lies until the end.

And she felt deeply ashamed.

For finally admitting to the truth after insisting on lies, facing Esil’s image recorded in the Record Object.

Perhaps… she should have told the truth from the start.

“Sniff… I’m sorry… Emilia…”

Thus, Viella, carrying the memory of Esil enduring the terror of 65 days, wept endlessly.

Kneeling before Esil’s magnanimity, who did not punish the betrayer with death and fear, she cried.

“Think carefully about what you should do to gain Esil’s forgiveness.”

“Sniff… Sniff…”

Like a lost child, Viella cried pitifully as she walked toward somewhere.

The mansion’s servants occasionally passed by and stared at her, but she didn’t stop crying.

It seemed like, as the price of betrayal, she had instead received a grace.

And she realized it.

It wasn’t Emilia who had been played in the well-crafted play, it was herself.

“Sniff… Thank you… Emilia…”

Thus, wiping her tears, Viella arrived at the stable. She then climbed onto the horse that had pulled her carriage.

“Viella!”

At that moment, Viella’s father, Delmaron, rushed toward her in his sleepwear.

Behind him, the butler Eliat was hurrying to catch up.

“W-where do you think you’re going?!” Viella!!

“…Father.”

Delmaron stopped the horse and looked at Viella’s stained face in shock.

“W-what happened? Didn’t you say you were going to see Duke Rossel?!”

“I met him.”

“Did… did the Duke harm you?”

“…No, that’s not it.”

“B-but why are you riding out at this hour?!”

“…I have somewhere to go. Please don’t stop me, Father.”

Delmaron couldn’t easily step aside.

It was dangerous to leave the estate at night.

Even though he was a member of the heroic party that saved the kingdom, in his eyes, she was still nothing more than a naive girl.

But as soon as he saw the smile on Viella’s face, he was left speechless.

It was a smile more mature than any before.

“I have to go. Dad.”

“W-where are you going? At least tell me your destination so I can stop worrying!”

At her father’s question, Viella cast her gaze toward the north.

Her destination was, in fact, the mansion of Gregos Gel Daltan.

To the one who had led the betrayal more than anyone—Daltan.

Now, she understood.

Which side she should stand on to survive.

Hee hee hee!

With determination, Viella gripped the reins and immediately headed that way.

She now understood what Duke Rossel meant by, “What must be done to gain forgiveness.”

“Haha, this is something.”

“…What’s going on?”

“Well, I’m a bit moved, or maybe it’s more sorrowful. But I’m relieved. It seems that Lady Viella truly feels remorse.”

Rossel mumbled as he rolled the magic stone of the Record Object in his hand.

His gaze was slightly misty.

“…She has not been forgiven yet. Living with regret for life, that is the sentence Esil gave today. Still, your efforts were significant, Laphelon.”

“Haha, no. It’s all thanks to you, Duke Rossel.”

“I’ll make sure to reward you for this contribution. I promise.”

“It’s alright. After all, I’ve been granted my life, what more could I ask for?”

Laphelon stood up from his seat.

He was simply happy.

Happy that the actions done for his comrade Emilia had been successfully completed.

Of course, Daltan and Gleon still remained.

For some reason, he felt that as long as he was with Rossel, success was certain.

“Well then, I’ll be off. The Duke of Black Flame.”

“The Duke of Black Flame.”

Knowing it was a playful nickname Rossel sometimes used, Laphelon smiled at Rossel.

“Where are you going, servant of the Red Flame?”

And whenever they joked like this, Rossel would tease Laphelon by calling him “servant of the Red Flame” due to his red-dyed hair.

They were that comfortable with each other.

Laphelon smiled back at Rossel.

“Going home, of course.”

Rossel stood up with him.

“Where are you going, Duke?”

As he passed Laphelon and walked toward the office, he spoke.

“Follow me. You should at least greet an old comrade before you leave.”

“Ah.”

“He’ll probably be quite happy to see you.”

As Rossel thought of Esil’s joyful face upon seeing Laphelon, he smiled warmly and opened the door to his office.