Chapter 76
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Return (4)
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“...Ah.”
“Then, that Lady Jane is now one of the Seven Deadly Sins Seats...?”
A nod.
To them, the story between Yujin and Jane—now one of the Seven Deadly Sins Seats—felt like a perfectly crafted tragedy.
The process of a boy abandoned by everyone finding precious people on the battlefield, only for Yujin to lose them one by one, as if happiness itself was forbidden.
And in the end, he even lost the person he loved... only to reunite with her in the worst possible way.
Waak—
Unable to hold back her sorrow, Irene threw her arms around Yujin.
“Hic... Hnng...”
“...Why are you crying?”
“Hic... Because it's sad.”
Your childhood, where you never got to feel true happiness, is so heartbreaking.
You, who have lived carrying the pain of losing those precious to you, are so heartbreaking.
You, who must now face the one you loved as an enemy, are so heartbreaking.
Irene's heart overflowed with pity and love for him.
Lucia and Lua felt the same. They gently embraced Yujin from both sides, sharing a warm moment for a while.
About a week passed, and the engagement ceremony was finally upon them.
This engagement ceremony was unprecedented in imperial history.
Not only were two women getting engaged to one man at the same time, but each came from outrageously prestigious families.
Yujin might be a bastard-born, but he was the epitome of success, having risen to duke. Lucia and Irene represented the empire's traditional power holders.
They were daughters of a ducal house and the imperial family, after all.
Thus, this engagement drew massive attention not just from the empire but from foreign nations as well.
The union of the Banus, Arkabella, and Argentus houses meant the empire's political power was consolidating in one place—a sign of internal stability.
The great tiger, battered by war and civil strife, had finally healed its wounds and risen again.
No one knew where that tiger would swing its claws next. Only its master did.
Any nation with sound judgment couldn't ignore it.
And on the day of the engagement,
“...The clothes suit you perfectly, Your Grace.”
“Thanks.”
Yujin was dressed in a tuxedo. Exaggerating a bit, he could head straight to a wedding like this.
Engagement ceremonies weren't usually this grand... but considering who the protagonists were today, everyone nodded in understanding.
Lua blushed slightly at the sight of Yujin so sharply dressed.
‘...I'm jealous of Lady Lucia and Lady Irene.’
She never imagined she'd think that.
...It meant she had fallen for this man that deeply.
As Lua looked a bit downcast, Yujin approached and pulled her into a hug.
Deopseok—
“Eut, Your Grace?”
“Don't like it?”
“N-No, it's not that. It's just... so sudden, I'm flustered...”
No words of refusal came from her. Being in Yujin's arms felt good.
Moreover, thinking that the man getting engaged to other women today was holding her gave her a strange sense of illicit thrill—
‘W-What am I thinking?’
Ugh.
She must be crazy.
Having stepped down from the papacy and lived freely, had she finally gone mad with love?
Oblivious to her turmoil, Yujin hugged her a bit tighter to comfort her.
Then, grand music filled the air, and the engagement ceremony began.
Yujin, Lucia, and Irene stood on the platform, pledging their futures to each other.
They didn't exchange rings, but to onlookers, it was like a miniature wedding.
It was that splendid, with the brides and groom looking the part.
The Arkabella Duke and the Emperor approached them.
It was the day their daughters were getting “married(?)”, so both made time to attend. The Second Prince and the duke's sons who came along waved at Yujin.
Especially Jay, who had received what was called a spar but was really a lesson last time, showed fervent respect and goodwill.
“Congratulations on your engagement, Duke Banus.”
“Take good care of my daughter.”
They heard the Arkabella Duke's plea to treat his daughter well and never let tears fall from her eyes, and the Emperor's simple wish for her happiness.
The speeches were so long that Lucia and Irene had to step in to stop them.
“That aside... this is the first time I've seen her like this.”
The Emperor and Arkabella Duke's gazes turned to Lua. She wasn't part of the engagement, yet she stuck to Yujin like she was.
“What should I call you?”
“I'm just an ordinary human who's stepped down, so call me whatever.”
“Former Pope feels off... I'll just call you Lady Lua. That alright?”
She nodded in affirmation.
The Emperor rolled the words “Lady Lua” around in his mouth a few times before addressing everyone.
“Hm. Since we're all gathered, let's move somewhere and talk.”
They entered a space where no one could eavesdrop: Yujin, Lucia, Irene, Lua, the Arkabella Duke, and the Emperor.
“First off, sincere congratulations again on the engagement, Duke Banus.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“No need. I should be the one thanking you for taking my daughter.”
“......?”
Pisik—
“Even if it doesn't show, my daughter can be quite the tomboy—”
“Father?”
Lucia smiled with her lips but not her eyes, cutting off the Emperor.
“When have I ever been like that?”
“...Ahem.”
“We gathered because you had something to say, right? We're basically newlyweds now; this lack of consideration is disappointing.”
“Treating your father like this wounds me.”
The Emperor shook his head.
‘...I'm curious.’
What had she done for the Emperor to call that Lucia a tomboy?
But his curiosity went unsatisfied.
“Since my daughter insists, let's get to the point.”
The Emperor's expression turned grave. The Arkabella Duke's demeanor grew heavy as well.
“We've finished compiling the report you gave us, Duke Banus.”
“......!!”
Naturally, the empire's master was the Emperor. And Yujin's liege.
Thus, even personal matters tied to the greater good had to be reported—it was Yujin's duty.
He had fulfilled it, albeit late, and it allowed them to set a stance on Pandemonium going forward.
“I plan to join forces with the Holy Kingdom to eradicate Pandemonium more aggressively than before. And intervene in foreign nations where necessary.”
“......!”
“As expected.”
Lua nodded as if she knew it all along.
The Emperor she knew wasn't foolish enough to ignore threats for petty interests. Not that he was a philanthropist.
But Yujin's feelings grew complicated.
Eradicate Pandemonium? Of course.
But if so...
‘...Jane.’
What about Jane?
Would he have to kill her... with his own hands?
‘......’
“Thus, I am dispatching you, Duke Banus, to the Eternal Desert—more precisely, the Kara Kingdom there.”
Everyone's eyes widened.
“Y-Your Majesty. You're sending Yujin to the Kara Kingdom? Then what about us...”
“No need to worry. I'm not so heartless as to separate you right after your engagement.”
The Emperor permitted Lucia, Irene, and Lua to accompany Yujin outside the empire.
He wasn't concerned about their safety.
They were borderline Archmages individually—what was the issue?
With Yujin and escort knights besides, there were no problems.
Plus, it showed off the empire's spare military might.
“The Kara Kingdom has requested our aid. They've reported abnormal temperature rises in the desert, food shortages, and attacks from unusually strong monsters.”
Deducing from the situation and info, it pointed to Pandemonium.
Wrath—Jane—was in the Eternal Desert, per the intel.
And considering Pandemonium's goal of securing the Four Knights, one might be sealed there.
Thus... someone had to go to the Eternal Desert to stop Pandemonium and Wrath.
“What say you? Will you go?”
This was tantamount to ordering him to kill his loved one.
Everyone held their breath, watching Yujin. They knew his relation to Jane now.
As if easing his dilemma, the Emperor spoke.
“Oh, by the way, neither I nor the empire will care what happens to Wrath there.”
In other words, even if Yujin publicly “killed” Wrath but kept her alive in secret, they'd turn a blind eye.
Of course, that meant breaking her constraints and using every method possible...
...
At least, trying wouldn't hurt.
Even if he had to kill her, it should be by his hand. That was the courtesy owed to his loved one—and the knight who once devoted herself to the empire.
A metallic, bloody taste lingered in his mouth.
“...I'll go.”
Thus, Yujin's dispatch to the Kara Kingdom was decided.