By Zephyria 
A shadow of doubt darkened Claude’s brown eyes.
How many had fallen for that beautiful face and the slick, three-inch tongue? Even after hitting rock bottom, Cecile Adrian’s audacity remained unchanged.
“How can I trust you? What do you know about what I might do?”
“Do you really think I could harm you, the commander of the knights? With just a dagger?”
“…….”
“I’ve never held a sword in my life. If I’m going to die, I want it to be clean. I can’t stand anything messy.”
Claude ruffled his bangs. He didn’t want to admit it, but Cecile was right. Giving a weapon to a chained criminal would not result in any harm to him. If he were to be attacked, it would be a shame worth dying for.
Above all, he was curious. It was intriguing that Cecile, who had never opened his mouth under any interrogation, was now willing to reveal the truth.
“I promise to tell the truth.”
“I promise.”
Claude bent his legs and handed the dagger’s hilt to Cecile, showing him how to hold it.
“Here, you stab this part. Don’t hesitate; do it in one go. Even if the blade is only halfway in, it will reach the heart.”
The blunt hilt poked at a spot near his chest. Cecile’s frail body swayed easily from just that. He smiled weakly.
“Easy enough.”
“I’ll tell you since you promised, but if you think of doing something foolish like fighting a monster with this, you should stop. At your level, you’ll be torn apart before you even stab.”
“…….”
Cecile opened the sheath without replying. A sharp sound came from the small dagger. The blade sparkled brighter than jewels, boasting a keen light.
“Now it’s your turn. Tell me. Why did you act like a demon? What was it that made you torment Alexis? Why did you want to kill Yuria? Tell me everything without missing a detail.”
“Claude.”
Cecile sighed softly as he called the commander.
“Before I leave tomorrow, can I see Alexis?”
Claude’s bushy eyebrows furrowed at the unexpected request. It wasn’t long before he exhaled a long breath.
“Exiling a criminal is solely the role of our knight order.”
“Then you are the only one I can see for the last time.”
“…Do you have something to say to His Highness?”
“…….”
Cecile briefly pulled at the corners of his mouth.
“Forget it. You probably wouldn’t want to hear it anyway.”
“…….”
“I loved Alexis. That’s the only reason.”
“What? Huh, what?”
Claude’s eyes widened. It was clear how shocked he was, and Cecile couldn’t help but laugh weakly. Finally, he made a request with honorifics and politeness.
“Sir Claude Vandell. I hope you keep my feelings to yourself.”
“Wait!”
Cecile’s hand moved. The small dagger, redirected, aimed at the spot Claude had pointed out without a chance to stop it, heading straight for his worn silk shirt.
The sensation of the blade piercing through flesh was chilling.
Cecile looked down at his chest. With the blade properly embedded, an uncontrollable pain surged. The fabric quickly soaked, turning visibly red.
“Adrian! Damn it!”
Claude hurriedly grabbed Cecile’s hand, but the dagger was already piercing his heart. The fiercely determined Cecile Adrian pushed the blade deeper even amidst the horrific pain.
Claude forcibly pulled the dagger out. In an instant, blood gushed forth like a fountain.
“Damn it! This isn’t how it should be! You can’t die here!”
Claude pressed his large palm against Cecile’s heaving chest. The hot blood that surged up struck against Claude’s palm. Blood flowed down his chest without any meaning of stopping, pooling on the floor to create a red puddle.
It’s over! Claude sighed inwardly. It was already too late to save him. He could feel the light of life fading rapidly.
Step, step, step.
At that moment, bright torches flickered from the entrance of the underground prison, followed by the sound of orderly footsteps. Formal greetings directed towards the crown prince followed in succession. The precious footsteps gradually moved inward.
Ah, so you came after all.
In the end, I’m showing you my miserable state.
Cecile trembled and smiled faintly. As his consciousness began to fade, the pain was starting to subside.
His entire body was losing strength. He could barely lift his eyelids, and the thick smell of blood filled his nostrils. The only thing he could sense about the crown prince was the sound of footsteps approaching.
Perhaps this is for the best.
An opportunity to see him one last time had come, but in truth, facing his face was terrifying enough to make him shudder. He had no confidence in enduring the cold gaze, the almost contemptuous look.
Before long, Alexis stepped into the prison. The bloody scene welcomed the crown prince. Alexis, frozen in shock, immediately rushed to Cecile. He stepped into the mud without hesitation on his noble knees.
“What happened?”
The sound of grinding teeth reached Cecile’s ears. Amidst the fading consciousness, that voice, which sank to the ground, was clear. He was very angry.
“How dare you close your eyes peacefully within the palace?”
The voice, filled with indignation, echoed throughout the prison. Alexis shook Cecile’s shoulders, but his body, already devoid of the will to live, merely flopped helplessly.
Cecile smiled faintly through his sorrow.
Alexis, do you see my death as a peaceful end?
“You continue to insult me until the end.”
Alexis roughly grabbed Cecile’s chin, forcing their gazes to meet. Despite his pale face resembling that of a corpse, Cecile smiled, lifting one corner of his mouth.
His heart ached painfully. Whether it was from the blade embedded in him or from witnessing Alexis’s cold face, he couldn’t tell.
Cecile reached out with his blood-soaked hand. His fingers, devoid of nails and with no healthy skin, hesitated above Alexis’s beautiful platinum hair but ultimately fell down without touching it.
The emerald eyes that had always been proud and sparkling lost their focus, leaving only emptiness.
Cecile Adrian. His short life ended in the cold prison.
* * *
**”Cecile. My poor child.”**
A dreamlike voice, either male or female, or perhaps an old man, echoed like an illusion. A gentle breeze caressed Cecile’s nape, soothing his sorrowful heart. He slowly lifted his weary head.
He had thought he would surely fall into hell, but what unfolded before his eyes was a tranquil lakeside. The fantastic sky scenery reflected like a mirror on the endlessly stretched surface.
**”Foolish and pitiful one. You died without ever receiving love; what should I do with you?”**
No form was visible, only the voice could be heard. Cecile blinked his heavy eyelids. He instinctively knew who was speaking to him.
“…So there is a god.”
**”You complained that I did not listen to your prayers.”**
“What’s the use of that now? It’s all in the past.”
**”Do you regret it?”**
“…I regret it.”
Cecile smiled faintly. He hugged his knees with both arms, hiding his face filled with remorse.
“What’s the point of regretting something that can’t be reversed?”
**”Look.”**
With a short command, the goddess Gaia summoned the past. Cecile’s past mistakes vividly floated on the surface, which had been filled with clouds.
“…It’s terrible.”
Cecile grimaced as he looked at the evil deeds he had committed.
Having done such things, he had no right to complain about being scorned by everyone. It was only natural that he met a lonely death without anyone to love him.
But the goddess Gaia’s divine power did not end there. In an instant, fog thickened around him and then dispersed. Cecile hurriedly looked around at the suddenly changed location.
A familiar figure entered his sight. One he thought he would never see again.
“…Alexis.”
His voice trembled as it broke through his blocked throat. But Alexis seemed engrossed only in his duties, as if he couldn’t hear Cecile’s call.
In that moment, he realized. This scene was a future that Cecile did not know, one that came after his death.
In the dark, a lantern flickered. Half of Alexis’s features were covered in shadow, but he was easily recognizable. His handsome forehead, straight eyebrows, sharply defined nose, and lips that always spoke coldly—these were all things Cecile had loved dearly.
Cecile clenched his hand, which was trying to reach out recklessly, into a tight fist. Even though he knew he could never touch him, he lacked the courage to try.
**”Your Highness, the night is deep. You should retire to your chambers.”**
**”I can’t seem to fall asleep. I’ll stay a little longer.”**
**”But tomorrow is the coronation.”**
**”…Right, it is.”**
Alexis set down his quill and sighed heavily. His face was more troubled than usual.
“Finally, you will become the sun of the empire.”
Cecile smiled with relief as he looked at him.
Alexis, you will surely be a good emperor. This must be the last gift the goddess Gaia is giving me.
By showing Alexis’s future, she was telling him to let go of all his lingering feelings and old affections and to leave peacefully.
**”I don’t know why I’m so troubled.”**
**”Shall I pour you a glass of wine?”**
**”I would allow it.”**
For a moment, there was a flurry of activity. A servant brought a tray with wine that had been dipped with a silver spoon, and Alexis accepted it without suspicion.
**”Gack!”**
“…Alexis!”
The voices of the living and the dead echoed simultaneously.
Seeing Alexis, who had drunk the poison and was now coughing up black blood, fall, Cecile rushed over in shock. He tried to lift Alexis, who had collapsed on the floor, but his hands kept grasping at nothingness.
He was suffering right in front of him. With every spurt of black blood, Cecile’s tears burst forth as well. The pain tearing through Cecile’s heart was greater than when the blade had pierced it.
Before long, the scene transformed back to the lakeside. Cecile couldn’t forget the brutal future he had just seen and slammed his forehead against the ground.
“Ah, no! This can’t be happening!”
**”The one who killed the crown prince is the empress. Since you took your own life, she has vowed revenge. Many are suffering because of your choice. What should be done?”**
“Please! Do something! You are a god!!”
Cecile cried out. Without a doubt, Alexis’s death was not the future Cecile had wanted. His desperate cries summoned the goddess Gaia. A woman in a white dress walked barefoot across the surface of the water.
The woman knelt before Cecile, who was bowing his head.
**”Are you willing to bear the suffering of others?”**
“It doesn’t matter. Whether you throw me into the fires of hell or tear me apart, do as you wish. I’ll do anything! Please… just save Alexis.”
**”It will be very painful.”**
Cecile shook his head, saying it didn’t matter. His life had already been terrible enough.
**”I will grant my poor child a thousand days.”**
“…….”
**”I cannot know how much the predetermined future will change. If you reveal the secret, you will pay a harsh price. Everything depends on you. After the promised thousand days, return to my embrace.”**
The goddess Gaia briefly kissed Cecile’s wet forehead. The blessing of the goddess spread faintly across his brow.
**”I hope you enjoy a happy life, even if only for a short time.”**With the whispering words in his ear, Cecile closed his eyes. The world darkened as if it had been turned off, and his entire body crumbled. The ground beneath him sank deeply, and he quickly plunged into the water. It wasn’t frightening. Despite the temperature that felt like it could freeze him to the bone, a sense of comfort enveloped Cecile’s body.
At some point, his trembling eyelids suddenly flew open.
“Gasp!”
Regaining his senses, Cecile panted as he looked up at the ceiling. The white canopy and the intricately carved bedposts with leaves were all too familiar to him.
This was undoubtedly the Peridot Palace where he resided.