Chapter 7
“Thank you for everything, Kurtz.”
Lying on the bed, Artesia gave a faint smile.
However, the light was gradually fading from her eyes.
Her amethyst pupils were already unfocused.
“You served me more diligently than anyone else. You understood the pride and aspirations that the Eisenhud family has upheld for generations, and remained unwaveringly loyal to me until the very end.”
Turning her face toward Kurtz, she tried to move her left hand slightly.
But Artesia no longer had the strength to extend her arm.
“…It was the only way I could repay you for taking me in, Lady Artesia.”
Being taken in by Artesia had saved Kurtz.
Once just another starving pauper, scouring for scraps to stave off hunger day by day, he was taken in by her.
Given a life befitting a human as a live-in servant, taught to read, write, and gained much knowledge…he learned of the Eisenhud Ducal family she was born into, the aspirations upheld through generations, and the ideals she had shouldered alone.
So Kurtz strove to become worthy of standing by her side.
Without Artesia, he would never have made those efforts or even conceived of devoting himself to someone – he would have simply wasted away as just another pauper on the streets.
Quite literally, Artesia was his everything.
And yet, that everything was fading away.
No longer able to return his grip, the warmth leaving her hand.
Still, she did not let her faint smile falter.
Even as death approached, her dignity and convictions remained unshaken.
Befitting the head of the Eisenhud lineage.
“Kurtz…your resolve remains unchanged?”
“Yes. After all, I was mentored directly by the head of the Eisenhud.”
Showing the signet ring passed down through the Eisenhud heads, he spoke.
It was set with the Philosopher’s Stone that the Eisenhud had long safeguarded.
The current head would imbue it with their Innate Magic, allowing it to be inherited by the next head in times of need, she had explained.
“If you [return] to the past …… will greatly shorten your lifespan…”
“I do not mind. This is my own will, and even if you tried to stop me, my choice would be the same.”
“Haha…you would really disobey me?”
“Yes. Even the words of the head.”
“What a naughty child…I feel like spanking that bottom of yours.”
“You never once did that.”
“No…you were too stubborn for that.”
As she spoke, the strength continued to leave her hands.
The tears falling on their joined hands went unnoticed now.
“Kurtz—allow me this one moment of weakness?”
With that, Artesia trembled her lips, as if to keep that final flickering light alive.
“The truth is…I was so terribly lonely. After Father and Mother died, everyone around me…everyone I tried desperately to save passed away too. I was left all alone.”
Speaking not as the Eisenhud head, but Artesia the young girl.
“But being with you, I was reminded that I wasn’t wrong. Because the time we spent together was so happy and joyful.”
Recounting those mere seven years that felt so short to her.
“So I could believe my choices were right. Just as I felt that happiness, I could believe those I saved could live in peace and joy too.”
That had been her wish.
Her one and only desire.
‘For everyone to live in peace and happiness.’
To grant that childlike wish, Artesia had sacrificed everything – herself and her family’s legacy.
It was the founding principle of the first Eisenhud head.
“So thank you, Kurtz—”
Mustering what little strength remained—
“Thank you…for being with me.”
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With those words, the grip on her hand went completely slack.
The same faint smile lingered on her face.
But…a solitary tear streaked from her closed eyes.
A tear shed not by the Eisenhud Duchess, but by a lone young girl.
And so—Artesia Eisenhud quietly passed away.
One week after the regular council meeting at the Imperial Palace.
After submitting the necessary paperwork to the Emperor for reparations to House Blaskas—
“…Ugh!!”
In the study of the Ducal mansion, Zervis slammed his fist onto the desk in silence.
Though his hand throbbed dully, Zervis’ rage showed no signs of abating.
“…Where did I go wrong?”
He was certain he had made no mistakes.
The existence of the Philosopher’s Stone beneath the Felmund lands had been thoroughly kept secret, with the utmost caution taken when retrieving it for research.
The nature of that research had also been a closely-guarded secret passed down by successive Ornament heads – it should never have been divulged.
And yet—the Felmund lands had been taken from them.
“…Who was it?”
Devoid of vigor, his eyes flickering like an otherworldly spirit’s, he muttered under his breath.
“Who dared… sabotage me…?!”
There was no doubt another Ducal house was involved.
Only one of their ilk could have so seamlessly orchestrated the events without arousing suspicion.
Someone had undoubtedly been operating in the shadows.
Feiyu Blaskas’s abduction, the uncharacteristically stubborn stance of the merchant league Mercator which got them involved, the fire at the auction venue, the date and timing of the council meeting, being able to infiltrate the Imperial Palace grounds despite the heavy security by someone clearly knowledgeable of the palace layout…
While the regular council meetings and palace layout could be known by others, the Ornament family’s plans would only have been privy to a select few.
Perhaps even—
“You called for me, Duke Ornament?”
With the usual practiced deference, Fidel entered the study with a bow.
A member of the Jade household that had devoted itself to serving the Ornaments.
“I apologize for the delay in—”
Cutting off his words, Zervis swung his arm, and—
The floor and walls of the study began to writhe like living creatures.
The surfaces undulated like snakes, violently slamming Fidel against the wall and binding his limbs and neck as if crucifying him.
“Gah—?!”
“You have served me well all this time, Fidel.”
Glaring at the trapped Fidel, Zervis’ voice shook with fury.
“Was it all to bring about this moment?”
“Wha…what are you…?!”
“You leaked information about our plans, didn’t you, Fidel?”
Fidel was privy to everything – not just this recent incident, but all future plans too.
And Zervis could surmise the motive behind his betrayal.
“Were you disgruntled because I ordered you to kill your own foster parents, to ensure the Jade family’s succession?”
The former Lord and Lady Jade had trouble conceiving, so prioritized the household’s continuation by adopting a promising child as heir.
But if a natural-born child arrived, the inheritance rights would pass to the blood heir, stripping Fidel’s status.
Taking advantage of this — Zervis had Fidel kill his foster parents.
There was good reason to have them killed.
“Unlike the foolish former Lord who recklessly spoke of publicizing the Philosopher’s Stone against my wishes…I thought I saw true greed and devotion to the Ornaments in your willingness to kill your own parents. How disappointing.”
“I…I don’t understand your meaning, my Lord…!!”
Struggling desperately, Fidel forced out the words.
“My report…was about that Elf still being alive…and the Sylvayu nobility allied with us being arrested because of it—!”
Trying to protest his innocence, but Zervis just snorted derisively.
“Hah…indeed. I should have realized you knew everything from the start, being the one who conspired with Mercator to help that Elf escape.”
“What are you…saying, my Lord?!”
“Attempting denial at this late stage…I must commend your audacity.”
And so Zervis declared—
“You had already betrayed me two weeks ago when you came to make that report, hadn’t you?”
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