Heinri's voice was light, as if he had heard something utterly trivial.
"I hadn't realized you still couldn't accept the Roam family's position. I had thought the Duchess of Roam was quick with her calculations."
"My, isn't that rather presumptuous of you?"
The Duchess of Roam smiled and lifted her chin. She knew Heinri's momentum was stronger than that of the disappointing Maxel, but she still held the firm belief that he was, after all, the First Prince.
If he desired the Crown Prince's seat, the support of the nobility was essential, and among them, Roam was a great noble house with many retainers, even while cornered in this predicament.
Moreover, wasn't it a family with deep, generational ties to the imperial family!
The Duchess of Roam's gaze sharpened.
The long-standing relationship between the imperial family and Roam was not built on mere sentimental bonds. Theirs was a relationship of practical interests, and such relationships typically involved the exchange of various secrets.
"It seems you have no idea how closely Roam has maintained its ties with the imperial family all this time."
"As a member of the imperial family, how could I not know?"
Seeing Heinri's completely unperturbed face, the Duchess of Roam struggled to maintain her composure.
*That composure must stem entirely from ignorance.* She was convinced of it.
He thinks he knows everything, but he undoubtedly knows nothing at all. What makes a great noble house a great noble house?
The seat Roam occupies is deep and vast, far too much for this young prince with his petty tricks to fill.
"You will not be able to bear Roam's absence."
"Hmm, it seems the Duchess is overlooking something."
Heinri clicked his tongue as if troubled and pressed his index finger firmly between his brows. Yet, his leisurely demeanor did not change in the slightest.
"The seat Roam occupies... does not necessarily have to be filled by Roam."
The Duchess of Roam's eyelashes fluttered.
"Your current attitude is reckless. It seems you have no one by your side to offer wise counsel."
"That sounds more like a remark suited to you, Duchess. To think you would attempt to spirit away a criminal."
"I have done no such thing. I merely bid a final farewell, if only for the sake of the familial affection we once shared."
"Save that story for the investigators."
At Heinri's words, the Duchess of Roam let out a hollow laugh. Her eyes widened as if she had heard something absurd, and she raised her voice.
"Are you saying you will hand me over to the investigative unit?"
"Is there any reason I should not?"
"I am the Duchess of Roam."
"Indeed. I'm glad you are well aware of that."
Heinri, who had maintained a relaxed expression throughout the conversation, slowly wiped the look from his face. Staring coldly at the Duchess of Roam, he spoke in a composed tone.
"That name will become your shackles."
*The name Roam, a shackle?*
Unconsciously, the Duchess of Roam recalled Lilia's final cry.
*「Roam will be trampled, crumble, and burn to ashes! Do you hear me? It's all over!」*
That terrible curse.
"Take her away."
The knights restrained the Duchess of Roam.
Unable to hide her humiliation, she contorted her expression. But this time, she could not shake off those rough hands.
* * *
[Captain, I can't see Soana!]
At Zigore's clamorous shout, Mori also began looking around anxiously. Nadav, though he said nothing, also seemed to be searching for Soana.
Having tidied the spot where we slept last night, I looked impassively at the Dullahans.
Before I could even say a word, Nadav seemed to guess something just from my face and let out a long sigh.
[I'll quickly look around the area!]
Zigore flapped his wings busily. It was Nadav who stopped him.
[That won't be necessary.]
[But Nadav, Soana is...]
[Zigore.]
At Nadav's firm call, Zigore halted. Only then, as if realizing something, Zigore turned to look at me.
I, who had been listening to the Dullahans' conversation with a subtle gaze, swallowed a sigh and placed Mori into the silk pouch.
Under the pretext of securing the pouch at my waist, I could avoid meeting Zigore and Nadav's eyes.
"She wished for it."
Even after tying the knot firmly, I fidgeted with it unnecessarily, stalling for time. I couldn't bring myself to look Nadav and Zigore in the eye.
"Too much time had already passed to delay any further. So last night, I granted her peace."
As I finished my last words and glanced up, Zigore flinched in surprise and nodded.
[......I-I see. That's... good. Soana has found peace, truly...]
There was no hint of congratulation in his trembling voice. But Zigore likely had nothing else to say. Nadav subtly nudged his head toward Zigore.
Zigore perched on Nadav's head, curled his body into a ball, and buried himself in the mane.
Just seeing his bowed head was enough to know how heartbroken Zigore was now.
*'Only three Dullahans remain now.'*
Mori, quietly coiled inside the silk pouch; Nadav, walking ahead in silence; and Zigore, sitting sullenly on his head.
Once I lose them all, my own end will be decided as well.
"So, where do we go now?"
While I was conversing with the Dullahans, Xenon had been discussing the upcoming schedule with Samuel.
Perhaps because so few Dullahans remained, Xenon's expression had grown quite dark as well. Perhaps he was even contemplating his own death.
After all, he said he would follow me in death once I found peace.
"There is a bridge connecting the main tower to the rear ramparts. Climb up there, cross the bridge, and a path will lead you over the ramparts."
"Over the ramparts?"
Xenon, listening to Samuel's explanation, frowned with a puzzled look.
"According to the map, the rear of Veladia Castle is a cliff."
"Correct."
Samuel, who had been talking with Xenon, turned his gaze toward me. Come to think of it, for some time now, Samuel's gaze had been excessively calm and detached.
"That is the final destination."
The cliff behind Veladia Castle...
Somehow, it felt like a place I knew.
Imagining the final destination we would reach, I quietly met Samuel's eyes, then tilted my head at a belated question.
*'When the final authority is realized, what will become of Samuel?'*
* * *
The main tower was the primary living space of the former Captain.
However, it was not lavishly decorated like the interiors of typical noble castles.
Perhaps whatever decorations there were had decayed and vanished with the flow of time...
But more than that, it seemed from the start to be a practical place furnished only with what was necessary.
Fortunately, the ceilings were high and the corridors wide, making it sufficient for Nadav in his horse form to pass through.
As soon as we entered, the path forked in two directions. Samuel took the lead and chose the direction.
[Do you remember this place?]
Zigore, who had been sullen, subtly addressed me.
Glancing at Zigore, I answered in a nonchalant voice.
"I remember you running across here and taking a spectacular tumble."
[Eek, why do you remember *that*?]
Startled, Zigore flapped his wings. Perhaps he dug his claws into Nadav's mane in the process, as Nadav let out a small groan of pain.
[My body is frailer than Mori's!]
Mori, who had been waiting quietly inside the pouch, poked his head out at the sudden exclamation.
[W-what's that all of a sudden, Zigore?]
[I am the valiant knight Zigore, Captain!]
[Zigore, stop plucking my fur.]
Nadav's sighing voice seemed to fall on deaf ears. A few strands of his long mane fluttered to the floor.
Watching the Dullahans causing a small commotion eased my heart a little. Perhaps because their numbers were few, it reminded me of the early days of our journey.
Right after I gained that ridiculous title of the Resurrected One and set out on a journey, declaring I would go somewhere, anywhere.
*'Those were good times.'*
It was laughable to think of it now. Meeting a Dullahan who abruptly asked me to find its head, and a sparrow introducing itself as a terrifying knight—right at that moment.
How peaceful I was then. Even if I gathered my entire life before death, there was no time as comfortable and free as that.
Lost in that feeling as I walked, I stopped when my path was blocked by a large figure.
"Sir Samuel?"
Samuel, having reached the end of the corridor, had stopped before a large door.
Staring silently at the firmly closed door, Samuel slowly began to speak.
"This hall was used as a banquet or dining hall as needed."
He wouldn't be explaining the interior structure of this main tower now without reason.
Xenon, who had been watching Samuel strangely for not opening the door readily, sensed something and stepped forward to open it first.
"...It's wider than I thought."
As Xenon said, it was a spacious area. Such a space would have been well-suited for flexible use as a banquet or dining hall, just as Samuel described.
Thinking this, I stepped into the hall and suddenly halted.
It was truly a vast space.
Large enough to be suitable for sword fighting.
"Ha..."
Here, I would grant peace to another Dullahan.
Only three Dullahans remained now, and among these three, who would it be next...?
Nadav and Zigore passed by me, standing dumbfounded, and entered the hall alone. As if all their bickering had been a lie, both were quiet.
"Nadav, Zigore."
At my call, both turned to look at me simultaneously.
"Who is it?"
Neither answered. They would find out anyway, so why keep their mouths shut?
Gritting my teeth, I parted my lips to ask again.
"Here, will it be..."
But I couldn't finish the question. Struggling to produce a voice that wouldn't come, I finally grimaced and lowered my gaze.
A fierce headache struck. It wasn't from using my authority or anything like that.
This was pain that had been accumulating all along. A pain learned through constant repetition. Though I had tried hard to ignore it, the feelings I had harbored all along became an awl, piercing my insides.
"That's enough now."
Wouldn't it be okay to stop now?
A faint murmur escaped between my tightly clenched lips.
"I don't want you all to..."
...disappear.