Chapter 41: Of the same kind

Perda had a dream.

It was not a blurry and chaotic flow, but a dream of memories, a reminiscence based on recollections.

For Perda, it was something that had happened a long time ago.

But it was so insignificant that he had simply left it abandoned deep within his memory.

The scenery of that trivial memory began on a balcony.

Beyond the balcony, black smoke rose from various points within the empire’s walls.

The bombs that had been planted in the empire had finally exploded, and everywhere, marches of rebellion were emerging.

There was a woman watching it all.

She stood on the balcony railing, observing it with an absent expression.

Like a tragic woman.

— The empire is burning. It burns intensely…

Perda looked at her in silence.

— Are you happy now?

A question directed at Perda.

As if all of this had happened because of him, there was resentment in her words.

Perda let out a scornful laugh at such audacity.

“They are dying because of you, Olivia Arken. If you hadn’t intervened, they wouldn’t have had to suffer like this.”

Olivia Arken.

The most beautiful woman in the empire and a devout believer of Alte.

The one who was called the embodiment of purity was precisely the one who had raised a sword against the empire.

If she had not led everything, within those enormous walls, screams would not have echoed.

— I thought it would work.

She said in a faint voice.

— If I managed to manipulate my little brother and rally the people yes, it was something that could be done. That way, the rebellion would have ended easily.

She turned her head.

Blonde hair, blue eyes.

Olivia Arken smiled brightly.

— But… you, an absurd man, broke the balance.

However, despite that radiant smile, red stains covered her face.

Blood.

It was not Olivia’s blood.

It was the blood of the owner of that room, the first prince, who lay dead on the bed with his pants lowered.

He had died by the dagger she held.

The first prince died at Olivia’s hands.

The second prince became a traitor, and if this rebellion failed, he would be executed publicly.

And Olivia would not die.

— Instead, I will become the emperor’s toy. They will put me in a cheap auction and use my body as currency to obtain loyalty.

Like what happened to my dear sister.

Olivia murmured in a low voice.

— So I will make you an offer.

She extended her hand.

The silk gloves that fit her skin were soaked in red blood that dripped down.

— Before I end up in that filthy auction… do you want to hold me?

Perda did not respond.

He did not hesitate.

It simply was not worth answering.

After holding her hand out for quite a while, Olivia gave up.

— In the end… do you hate me?

It was true.

Perda hated Olivia.

From the first time he saw her, and every time they crossed paths, he had felt it clearly.

— Why?

That feeling did not come from forced hatred or jealousy.

“You are like me.”

It was a rejection born from affinity.

Perda hated the Rosnova who cast him out.

And Olivia hated her own blood.

Her life, so similar to his, disgusted him.

Perhaps even back then, deep down, Perda already knew that something in him was wrong.

— I see. Then, for being the same, we are destined to run forever in parallel worlds.

Olivia resigned herself.

But even so, the smile on her face did not disappear.

That smile was her mask.

A thick mask created over many years to hide her resentment and her thirst to kill.

Something that would never break, not even in death.

— What a pity. I thought it would be fine with you.

Her smile twisted with sadness.

— Truly.

Her body tilted backward.

And she let herself fall into the burning empire.

***

When Perda opened his eyes again, he was greeted by an unfamiliar and luxurious ceiling.

When he turned his head, he saw the interior of the imperial palace.

And around him, the imperial guard and high-ranking knights.

“Oh, you’re awake.”

A sweet voice welcomed him.

A blonde-haired woman closed the book she had been reading and smiled at him.

Olivia Arken.

As the most beautiful woman in the empire, it was enough to see her smile for it to seem as though dozens of flowers surrounded her.

Perda sat up and asked her,

“How long was I unconscious?”

“Hmm, about three hours.”

“Three hours…”

It was strange.

For three hours to have passed, his body felt far too good.

Not even when Ruri had treated him had he felt something like this.

“Is this your first time receiving treatment from our Order of Alte?”

“Yes.”

“Hehe, I see. The priests within the palace are all of bishop level. If you receive their healing through His light, you’ll be able to move as if you had a new body.”

“I see.”

The reason he reacted that way was because, even in his past life, Perda had never left his treatment in the hands of others.

He trusted no one, and would rather die than allow someone to touch his body.

‘Now I understand why the priests’ healing is considered the best.’

He even thought about whether he should keep resident priests in his own territory.

“According to the reports from the rescue team…”

Olivia shifted the topic to the sealed warehouse.

“It is said that the magical investigator, Yuren, died, and that you were seriously injured.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know the details, but Yuren’s body was holding an ice grimorio, and also showed the skin changes typical of a contractor of Marbas. Did he fall into the temptation of a demon?”

Perda nodded.

“That’s right.”

“I see… to think that someone like an investigator would fall into the temptation of a demon… You were fortunate to survive.”

With a deep gaze, Olivia gently placed her hand over Perda’s.

Perda lowered his eyes to her hand.

His own was already small for someone from a knightly family, but hers was even thinner and smaller.

“As you say, the magical investigator Yuren fell into corruption and attacked me.”

Perda raised his gaze and looked at her.

“But the causality is wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“He didn’t attack me because he fell. From the beginning, he intended to kill me, and did not hesitate to corrupt himself to achieve it.”

“Uh… are you saying that from the beginning he intended to assassinate you?”

Her eyes showed confusion.

But Perda knew.

She already understood the entire situation.

Because the only one who desired that was Olivia.

“Yes. From the beginning, he took me to the sealed warehouse with the intention of attacking me.”

“Why?”

“To kill me. To create the excuse that he couldn’t resist the temptation of the warehouse and had to kill me.”

Upon hearing that, Olivia’s eyes widened.

“Kill someone…? How could he do something so cruel? What would he gain from killing you?”

“Who knows.”

Perda smiled faintly and asked her,

“Could you tell me?”

Olivia’s face stiffened for an instant.

Their blue eyes met for a long moment.

More than a simple exchange of glances, it was a probing of each other’s intentions.

After that prolonged silence, Olivia raised her hand.

“Captain.”

“Yes.”

“Could we speak in private? I would like to be alone.”

“Alone…?”

“Yes. Just the two of us.”

The captain showed discomfort.

Olivia looked at him with moist eyes.

“Please?”

The captain, as if bewitched, blushed and nodded.

“Very well. As you wish, princess.”

“Thank you very much…”

The imperial guards left the room together.

The blue eyes, once full of softness, blinked once.

In that instant, the flower of the empire, the embodiment of purity, disappeared completely.

“I…”

Olivia’s sweet voice dropped abruptly.

Even Perda felt a chill at the change.

“Do you think I was the one who ordered Yuren to assassinate you?”

She was a perceptive woman.

It wasn’t just reputation, she was truly intelligent.

Perda had thought she would try to evade the situation, but instead she gave the best possible answer.

For someone who sought to hold her responsible and unleash chaos, it was an unexpected move.

“It’s the first time I speak like this with someone. Especially with a man.”

“Then tell me, princess.”

Perda emphasized his tone with sarcasm.

Olivia was no longer smiling innocently.

“To begin with, yes, I had a connection with Yuren. He did many things for me.”

A magical investigator could enter and leave the sealed warehouse.

There, forbidden magic, black magic, and also dangerous information were stored.

Among that information were things that could become weaknesses of the empire.

“But if I say that his actions were a deviation caused by an excess of loyalty… would you believe me?”

“I am someone who was on the verge of death just a moment ago.”

Would he believe something like that?

Olivia nodded calmly.

“Once, I spoke with him about how we could strike a great blow against the empire or rather, how we could shake the emperor’s authority. How we could…”

She smiled softly, like a girl with an old dream.

It was an expression born of pure emotions.

“Kill the emperor.”

A normal person would feel chills at such a twisted way of expressing it.

But Perda empathized with her.

He felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

“To use the Grand Duchess… yes, that was one of the scenarios I had considered. He was already deeply disappointed with the Arken family, wasn’t he? If we disappointed him once more, even if the emperor bowed before him, it would be difficult to survive.”

“Then, if I died, it would be perfect.”

“Of course not.”

She tilted her face slightly forward.

A soft scent, as if it were part of her body, spread.

“And now, seeing you like this in front of me, I am convinced that plan was wrong.”

“Why?”

“Because you hate me.”

A sharp perception shone in her eyes.

“I’m sorry. Deep within you, you despise me. From the very first moment we met. It’s not that you pretend not to show your emotions like a child… you truly hate me…”

She smiled faintly.

“You don’t like pure women? The kind who are a bit foolish, who can’t do anything on their own. Men usually love those kinds of women.”

Perda did not respond.

Olivia did not seem to expect an answer and leaned back slightly.

“There are many people willing to give everything for me. But no one sees who I truly am.”

Perda hated her.

And precisely because of that, he did not fall for her gestures or her words, but saw her as she truly was.

“I need someone like that. Not a slave, but a companion.”

“Wouldn’t slaves be more convenient?”

“Yuren was my slave. The excessive loyalty of slaves always causes problems. Many times they act ahead of themselves trying to please me with things I didn’t even ask for.”

Olivia sighed as if she had a headache.

“A provincial noble, to prove his worth, sold all his possessions and brought a million roses.”

Quite the romantic of another era.

“Who was it?”

“I don’t know. I executed him before asking his name.”

And, without a doubt, the most miserable of all.

“I don’t want someone who sells his surname and turns his subjects into slaves just because he desires me. For my final objective, they are of no use.”

At first glance, it seemed like she was speaking in favor of the people.

But Perda knew.

Olivia would start a rebellion in which many people would die and suffer.

“And even so, you tried to raise black mages within the empire?”

“Oh my, did you also suspect that of me?”

She covered her mouth while blinking.

It was obvious.

She desired the fall of the empire.

“Hmm, if you put it that way, I feel a bit offended. Then I have no choice but to show you how sincere I am, right?”

With the hand she had placed over Perda’s, she tilted her head.

Mana began to circulate through Olivia’s body.

It flowed skillfully to her right arm and concentrated there.

At that moment, something surprising happened.

Perda could see it clearly.

On the back of her hand, a white symbol shone.

“Do you know what this is?”

“…It’s a divine stigma.”

The stigma of God.

A blessing that the deity grants when a believer makes an absolute oath, granting them great power.

It is not given lightly, only to those who possess intense will and the necessary qualifications.

“This is called the Oath of Vengeance. According to Alte’s doctrine, vengeance should not be directed toward those under the light, but toward those who satisfy their own desires and go against the will of the light.”

Those she had to protect were the people.

And those she had to take revenge on were the emperor and her brothers.

That also proved that she had no connection to black magic.

If she were involved with black mages, that stigma would not shine like that.

“Lately there are too many agitators accused of being black mages, so the meaning has been distorted, but true black mages are like insects. I don’t even want to use them.”

“I see.”

“And if I wanted to destroy the imperial family, I wouldn’t use such a superficial method as black mages. Even if they make noise, they only harm civilians, and that only strengthens the emperor’s power.”

Olivia played with her lips as she reflected.

“If someone benefits from black mages being inside, it is probably my younger brother.”

“You mean the second prince.”

“Yes. He is the one who most desires to strengthen military power. He goes out to conquer territories to gather more forces, and if the need for external influences is justified, he will not be able to prevent his connections from entering.”

Hearing her, Perda could not help but admire the depth of her thinking.

He already knew she was not foolish, but even so, it impressed him.

If Perda had not intervened in the empire, he was certain she would have killed the emperor.

“In any case, as proof, I will make sure that you are not held responsible for Yuren’s death. I will also take care of the book that was lost during the confrontation. Isn’t it enough that I continue to prove my sincerity?”

As expected, she already knew.

That Perda had also entered the sealed warehouse with a purpose.

“Would you let someone capable of becoming a black mage go free, being a bearer of a divine stigma?”

“Oh my the god of light, Alte, prefers conviction over suspicion. We don’t know how that information could have leaked, but to suspect without evidence a regent who sacrifices himself for the people would go against the doctrine.”

In other words, as long as it was not investigated, there was no problem.

“So, could you cooperate with me from now on?”

Olivia Arken made her proposal.

“I know that regional lords do not like the emperor’s behavior. And in the far east, which has been abandoned, the situation is even worse. I am sure that you also feel that way. If you cooperate with me, I, Olivia Arken, will guarantee you support and a voice in favor of that region.”

She tightened slightly the hand she was holding.

A seductive nuance appeared on her face.

“I’m sure we could be good allies… or even something more.”

The temptation intensified.

Perda could understand a little why men could not resist women.

He knew everything was calculated, and even so, it stirred instincts.

“Alright. Then this time I will act.”

“Thank you. But… what do you mean by you will act?”

At the same time Olivia asked, the hallway began to fill with noise.

— Intruder detected! Level one alert! All to combat positions!

They arrived quickly.

Perda withdrew his hand from Olivia’s and got up from the bed.

Suddenly he remembered something and asked her.

“You said I don’t like pure people, right?”

“Huh? Ah… yes.”

“I like pure people.”

Having said that, Perda left the room.