The remains of the queen and Lou were discovered in the underground passageway.

With a single sword piercing through them both, Lou passed away peacefully, cradling his queen.

Lou asked me to give him a moment to settle everything, and I decided to grant him that.

I had expected it.

I wondered if I should have stopped him. However, when I thought about Sheila’s impending demise, my arrogance made me think that perhaps it’d be better if he died.

Besides, I felt that Lou had some twisted feelings towards Sheila. Hence, I wanted to respect whatever choice Lou made.

After the death of the queen, the second prince of Elda became the new king.

Under his leadership, Duke Yanei and other leading nobles were either executed, exiled, or stripped of their titles.

The orphanage built by the queen was to be used as a school for commoners. It was a special cram school that required reservations so that commoners could study while working.

The orphans who were scheduled to move there were returned to their original orphanage, while the staff members were introduced to new workplaces.

“If the prince of Elda becomes the new king, will we face any changes?”

“Nothing will change, Yang, at least for Lowenberg. The next morning, we’ll wake up and return to work as usual. That’s all.”

The aristocrats who received punishment called me various words such as ‘traitor’ and ‘deserter.’ Since that was precisely what happened, I neither denied it nor feel slighted.

As I waited my punishment, Prince Milan told me.

“The betrayal of a loyal subject is the fault of the country that caused it. Therefore, the loyal subject isn’t to blame.”

Moreover, he even told me to, “Continue striving for the development of the country as I had been.” As a result, I couldn’t stop.

“Although I will do my best for the development of this country, I wonder it’ll go in the direction he intended.”

“Did you say something, Your Excellency?”

“It’s nothing, Yang. Now, let’s get to work.”

“Understood.”

◇◆◇

“That was unexpected.”

“What?”

The post-mortem had been completed and I had handed over the matter to my younger brother. It was time to return to Elda. Inside my carriage, I searched for Iris so I could have one last look at her.

When I stared at her back as she left with a man named Yang, my desire to stay by her side surfaced.

“I thought you were going to take Iris home with you?”

Noei, my milk brother, spat out some ruthless words.

“If I could, I would. But I don’t make a habit of caging up free-flying birds.”

“So, you’re going to give up?”

“Not a chance.”

That was never an option in the first place.

“Right now, I’m just letting her roam free.”

“Doesn’t that contradict what you just said?”

“Not at all?”

“Didn’t you say that you didn’t want to confine her?”

Noei couldn’t understand my words.

“I just have to avoid giving the impression that she’s being confined. There are many ways around it.”

When I said that, Noei let out an exasperated sigh.

I turned my gaze away from Noei and looked in the direction Iris left.

“Iris Lowenberg, although only for the moment, it’s time for us to part. Make sure to attach a bodyguard to her to keep weird insects at bay.”

“Can you even call that a bodyguard? I already dispatched someone.”

Satisfied with the response from my capable aide, I headed home.

~fin.

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***T/N: Special thanks to everyone who followed this story until the end! Your comments were so much fun to read! I hope you will continue to read revenge story picked by Yours Truly, who definitely doesn’t have that kind of fetish.

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The Death of Princess Charlotte

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