The Emperor was waiting for us.
We greeted him, and the Emperor, who was staring at us expressionlessly, looked at us, then suddenly laughed loudly and advanced towards us with confident steps.
He hugged Leon enthusiastically.
“Sit down.”
He grabbed Leon's shoulders tightly and headed to the sofa.
I followed them, looking at their backs.
Although Leon was much taller, the Emperor's mysterious prestige made him shrink.
It was not because Leon was weak in strength, but rather a deep-rooted fear.
“You got into something annoying, didn't you?”
He looked at me with a condescending look as I sat down.
Is the death of a close follower just annoying?
I didn't like the Marquis, but I was shocked that a human being's death could be treated like this.
“Is the Duchess really not involved?
So I heard,” he asked, looking at me with sly eyes, a sly smile on his lips.
I looked directly at him and opened my mouth.
“You know, I had nothing to do with it.”
I really should have been uninvolved with them.
One encounter with Walter made me stand here now.
“You heard that he was sick and went to the villa?”
“Yes, that's true.
But later I heard that he was already dead.
I didn't see him and came back.”
“You should have taken Leon with you.
For a son-in-law to miss his father’s death...”
He said this in a regretful tone while clicking his tongue.
I frowned.
If Leon had gone to the villa, the Emperor would have found a way to implicate him.
This thought sent shivers through my body.
This man, who exterminated his brother and family for the sake of power, was no ordinary lunatic.
“By the way, why did the Duchess want to meet me?”
“I want to meet Walter.
I heard that Your Majesty has forbidden any contact with the outside, so I came to beg myf.”
The Emperor rubbed his chin and looked at me with his head raised.
“Why?”
“I just want... to say goodbye to him maybe for the last time.”
“Haha, you cut things as sharp as a knife.
Last time?
As if you were going to send them to the gallows right away.”
He scratched his chin and looked at Leon for a moment.
“Even without Marquis Suedon, I hope you will do your part well,” he said in a low voice to me.
I nodded.
I understood what he meant.
I felt Leon's gaze on me, but I couldn't look at him.
“Well, since Leon follows me as a father, I hope you will consider me a father as well.”
“Yes, thanks.”
“Since this is a special request of the Duchess, I will allow the young Marquis to visit.
Caseman!”
The Emperor called his servant and whispered to him.
The servant nodded and left the reception room.
“Are you going to see the young Marquis now?”
“Yes, if you allow it.”
"Well, I'm a busy man, so if there's nothing else, you two better go.
Take good care of Leon."
The Emperor smiled gently and patted Leon's shoulder.
“You idiot!”
Suddenly, Leon shouted.
I froze as I got up from the couch.
Oh my God, it's over.
I fell back onto the couch, my strength failing me.
“Belle Bell said I can say this to people close to me.
I am close to my uncle the Emperor.”
When did I say that?
Don't use my name as an excuse.
The Emperor stared at me with a harsh look.
When my eyes met his, he quickly averted his gaze and smiled sweetly again.
“Now I understand how you usually treat the Duke.”
I?
I waved my hand in confusion.
No, really, it's not.
“Anyway, be nice to him.”
The Emperor laughed maliciously.
“I'm sorry, Your Majesty.”
A long stay with the Emperor seemed like a bad idea.
I got up and pulled Leon.
Leon stood, following me.
I greeted the Emperor and quickly left the reception room.
The Emperor's laughter continued until we left.
We rode the car straight to the prison.
In the carriage, I stared at Leon with sharp eyes.
He avoided my gaze and looked into the void.
“When did I say you can say that to people you're close to?”
“Didn't you say so, Bill Bill?”
“You idiot!”
Leon, who was feigning indifference, frowned and looked at me.
“So, since I’m close to you, I can say this too?”
“Haha, should I say it too?”
"to stop."
I said firmly.
But the important thing is that Leon did not object to my describing him as a confidant.
Indirectly, I succeeded in putting him in my circle of friends.
“But we are not close.”
I failed.
"Doesn't that make us kind of close?
Friends protect each other to the death."
Leon quickly shook his head and turned his face towards the window.
I sighed deeply, realizing that there was still a long way to go.
The cart began to slow down.
“I will meet Walter alone.”
Leon nodded.
“Come back quickly.”
I said I would be back soon and went to Beni prison.
Perhaps because of the weather, my shoulders involuntarily shrunk from the ominous atmosphere.
I felt coldness from the stone walls.
"here."
I entered a small room containing only a table and two chairs.
Walter was waiting for me there.
His hands and feet were bound with chains.
He looked completely different after a few days.
His lips were covered in hardened blood, his cheeks were sunken, and his skin was pale and dry.
Faced with his miserable appearance, I closed my eyes and sighed deeply.
“…Why on earth did you come?”
He looked at me with emotionless eyes and asked.
“I heard my mother tried to frame me.”
“…I haven’t seen my mom since I got here.
I apologize on her behalf.
I’m really sorry.”
“If you stay like this, you will both die.
It may seem cruel, but at least one must live, especially the innocent.
What a seness death?
Who will be affected if you bear your mother’s guilt?
Do you think anyone will be affected?
It will just be a seness death.”
“I have killed my father countless times in my heart.
I am a murderer.”
“So, I would be in the other world by now.
Why are you pretending to be so nice?
Enough.
I didn’t come to say this.”
“Then, come back.
Never come back.”
“I will find a way to save you.”
“You're putting yourf in danger, so stop.”
He said that with a severe frown.
“We can't give you any more time.
Finish and get out.”
The guard knocked on the door violently.
I felt nervous.
I didn't have time for endless conversations.
“I'll tell you a few things.
Don't ask where I know.
Make a deal with the Emperor.
I don't want to, but you might be able to save your mother's life as well.
It depends on how you convince the Emperor, so act.”
Walter looked stunned, but silently listened to what I said in a low voice.
When I finished speaking, his eyes were incredibly wide.
“Bella, how did you know these things...?”
"I said don't ask.
Now it depends on you.
Either you die, or you live.
Life is too harsh for us.
Do what you can while you're alive.
I'll go now."
It was the last act of kindness towards Walter, who might have protected Bella in some way.
I got up from the chair.
Walter looked at me with complicated eyes.
I met his gaze calmly and then turned my head.
The guard knocked on the door again.
"…Thanks."
Walter muttered in a shaky voice as I turned around.
I didn't answer and opened the door.
The guard looked at Walter behind me.
I passed by him and got out of prison.
Leon was waiting for me outside the carriage, waving his arm vigorously.
“Bill Bill, here!”
I lowered my hand towards him, hoping that the heaviness in my heart would go away.