CH 463

"Airi said that the psychological counseling for the refugees who arrived this time will likely be completed within three days. They'll probably organize their personal information and bring it soon."

"Ah, I see."

Although they didn't know when the next refugee transport ship would arrive, the succubi's management of the refugees was steadily improving.

Initially, they had overly relied on their power to control dreams, causing the refugees to become too infatuated with the succubi.

When sadness and despair turned into an obsession with the succubi, both the succubi and the refugees suffered.

Psychiatrists usually avoid building deep relationships with their clients.

The succubi were novices in such matters. They weren't skilled but had no choice but to perform their duties.

However, as time passed, such problems were occurring less frequently among the succubi.

For those with severe symptoms, the succubi periodically visited them after they left the temporary shelters, exchanging updates and managing their well-being.

It was a place that took care of not only the practical issues but also the psychological ones.

On reflection, it seemed like a rather nice place.

Of course, the bitter truth was that all they were doing was cleaning up the mess caused by me.

As Harriet and I walked down the hallway, Antirianus suddenly appeared from one side, as if he had been waiting for us.

"Ah!"

Harriet let out a small scream and covered her mouth. Antirianus had a knack for surprising people by appearing out of nowhere.

Harriet knew that Antirianus was the second most cooperative member of the Council of Elders after Eleris.

However, just like me, Harriet couldn't bring herself to trust him.

Who could trust a subject who tried to cure one's sense of insecurity by kidnapping the king in the middle of the night?

Antirianus removed his hat and bowed deeply before me.

"Your Highness, how did you find the state of the kingdom through your own eyes?"

"About what you'd expect. It was a sight for sore eyes."

He must have wanted to see me despair upon witnessing it firsthand.

Antirianus' reaction to my response seemed somewhat bitter, his lips slightly twisted.

"What a wretched old man," I thought.

"Have you considered a way to bring the princess back?"

"I'm not sure yet. I'll have to think about it."

"Perhaps, if you discreetly request her return, they might release her easily? That is if the empire truly wants to protect the princess."

I nodded at Antirianus' words.

"Yes, I have considered that option."

It's possible that Bertus might release her if I ask.

"However, the empire will have a hard time justifying the disappearance of the princess. Ultimately, the empire will be in trouble. It's important to bring Charlotte back, but I cannot cause greater chaos in the empire."

The princess's disappearance would attract much attention.

The people would not easily believe the announcement of her sudden disappearance. There's already a considerable amount of distrust toward the royal family.

Rescuing Charlotte is not merely a matter of saving one person.

If the wrong approach is chosen, it might result in a massive riot. Having seen the restless state of the Empire firsthand, I could imagine the scale of such a riot.

Whether the Empire collapses due to the riot or slaughters the rioters, the situation is dire.

The former refers to the downfall of the Empire, and the latter to the long-term downfall of the Empire brought about by a large-scale massacre.

Thus, I must approach this issue with more caution than usual.

It is not that I necessarily wish for the empire to remain intact.

But neither do I wish for its outright destruction.

The empire must exist until the Gate incident is completely resolved and the monsters on the continent are wiped out.

That is why I do not hastily judge this seemingly simple issue that could be easily resolved if approached casually.

Antirianus subtly smiles at my cautious response.

"What about the issue of the Duke of Sarkegaar and the Lord of Wednesday... What do you plan to do about them?"

"…"

Antirianus touches on my predicament.

Those two.

Charlotte is Charlotte, but I still haven't been able to recover the two of them who are still detained in the empire.

—---

That night.

As usual, I was in the bedroom with Harriet, summarizing the day's events.

I had visited the Empire and talked with Antirianus, which had somewhat dampened my mood.

I had not even thought about rescuing the still living Lucinil and Sarkegaar.

There was too much to do.

No, it might just be an excuse.

I declared that if the empire killed Lucinil and Sarkegaar, we would become enemies. But I don't know where they are or how they are being treated.

I can only guess that they are under strict management in the imperial palace.

Antirianus conducts espionage activities in the imperial and royal territories, but he has no information about their whereabouts.

The fact that I still don't know their location is a clue in itself.

In future negotiations with the Empire, which could happen anytime and in any manner, they will serve as cards that the Empire can play.

Can I bring them back in exchange for protecting Charlotte?

It was a problem I couldn't approach recklessly.

"They'll both be safe."

At Harriet's words, I silently nodded.

But I couldn't help but doubt it.

"As you know, Sarkegaar was the mastermind behind the abduction of the Imperial princess and Empress during the last Great Demon War. I don't know about Lucinil, but… Sarkegaar could be dead."

The empire would now know about what Sarkegaar had done.

So, it's not impossible that they killed Sarkegaar for his actions.

And because I employed Sarkegaar, who did such a thing, their hatred towards me as the Demon King might still persist.

Sarkegaar.

More than anyone else, he wished for the reconstruction of the Demon World.

But I had no intention of fulfilling that desire.

Without Sarkegaar, I had become the king of a world that, albeit imperfectly, included demons.

I wondered what Sarkegaar would say if he saw this sight.

He might explode in anger at how we could live mixed with humans, or he might be deeply moved by the somehow rebuilt world.

I wanted to show this world to Sarkegaar, who had always been a loyal and faithful subject.

The fate of the world always hung in the balance, but I still wanted to show him the world we had somehow created.

It's fine if he criticizes me or rejoices.

I wanted to show Sarkegaar this sight, but the thought that he might already be dead made it feel like I was suffocating.

I could postpone thinking about my people whose deaths had been confirmed.

But when I thought of my people whose fates were uncertain, I felt like I was going mad with anxiety.

I had to save them.

Should I be doing this?

Can I keep putting off this task because there's too much to do?

I couldn't tell if she sensed my anxiety, but Harriet came to my side and wrapped her arms around my shoulder.

"We're always doing our best."

"…Our best might not be enough."

"Even so, we have to believe that it is."

At Harriet's words, I clenched my teeth.

The problem that needed solving but remained unresolved, Lucinil and Sarkegaar.

The new problem, Charlotte.

Could I solve these issues?

It was as if I had tried to save the world, only to cause its ruin.

Could I say with certainty that I wouldn't fail this time?

I had to do something, and so I did, and I had to move forward, so I moved forward.

But the fear brought on by the terrible failure still lay dormant within me, consciously avoiding confronting that fear.

Once again, the fear that my very existence could ruin everything was undoubtedly inside me.

I didn't know what to do or how to proceed.

But I had witnessed the reality of the empire with my own eyes, and now it was time to decide cautiously which method to choose.

At this time, Harriet would always sit on the bed, read a book, and fall asleep.

So when I woke up in the morning, I would see her asleep in a crouching position, the book open in her hands, as if she had fallen asleep without realizing it.

But today, Harriet sat hunched on the bed, doing nothing.

Seemingly deep in thought.

She didn't seem to be showing her feelings, but her eyes held a hint of sadness.

I had a feeling I knew what she was thinking.

I had visited the empire.

The empire.

The land of humans.

In the end, I had been discovered as the Demon King, but I had returned safely.

So naturally, Harriet couldn't help but think that if I could do it, perhaps she could too.

Harriet had as much to do as I did, if not more.

So it was only natural for her to think about what she had left behind.

The Three Traitors.

The names of the three who betrayed humanity.

Olivia Lanze.

Liana de Grantz.

Harriet de Saint Owan.

Harriet's situation was different from the other two.

Olivia had no family, and Liana's only family, the Duchess, was living quietly in Edina's villa.

Harriet couldn't help but think about and feel guilty about what she had left behind in the land of humans.

So, about the Saint Owan Duchy.

She must have been thinking about her family, including her father.

The daughter who betrayed humanity.

She couldn't help but think about and feel guilty for the Saint Owan Ducal family, who were experiencing real problems because of her.

So, even though Harriet appeared to be fine and even worried about me, she might have been the most tormented of all.

It was clear that her family, not herself, was paying the price for her choice to side with the Demon King.

Although Saint Owan Duchy had suffered tremendous damage, the capital Arnaca was safe under the protection of the Duke, as Harriet had said.

And now, the Duke was dedicating himself to the empire in place of his daughter who had betrayed humanity. The Duke had to prove that it was his daughter, not himself or the Duchy, who had chosen the Demon King.

Thus, the Duke, who was engaged in the war that determined the fate of humanity, was being punished in order to atone for his daughter's sins.

But even that might not have held great significance for the survival of the Ducal family.

The masses needed a scapegoat.

The Archduke of Saint Owan is now buying indulgences by being involved in the Gate incident due to the needs of the Empire and humanity.

However, once the Gate incident comes to an end, Saint Owan Duchy is highly likely to be the first to be sacrificed due to the wrath of the Empire's populace.

One of the three traitors who betrayed humanity, the Archduke of Saint Owan.

It's not that they're being sacrificed because they deserve it, but because they're the easiest target for sacrifice.

No matter how much Saint Owan Duchy contributes to the resolution of the Gate incident, the masses remain ignorant of such things.

That's why Harriet must be thinking every day that her actions must be accounted for not only by herself but also by her family and her people.

Perhaps even more than me.

Harriet may have been in more pain.

But Harriet never said a word to me about such issues.

She must have thought I was going through more hardships than she was.

I have visited the Empire.

So, Harriet must have wanted to see the situation of the Saint Owan Duchy firsthand.

Although she knew it was safe, she wanted to know the reality of the capital city of Saint Owan, Arnaca.

How her family, including the Archduke, were faring.

She would have wanted to confirm it with her own eyes.

"Mm."

"…Hmm?"

Harriet looks at me.

"Do you want to go to Arnaca?"

"Wha-?"

At my words, Harriet shudders and asks again.

She must not have expected me to say such a thing suddenly. I have many things to do, but in the end, I went to the Imperial Capital, just like I did.

There is no reason why Harriet and I cannot go to Arnaca for just one day.

Although my visit to the Imperial Capital left me with a terrible impression, I still went in the end.

There's no reason for Harriet not to stand on the path of returning home, even if it will only leave her with regrets.

My words must have been quite shocking, as Harriet's eyes wavered.

"Now that Lazak is on track, we can spare a day or so. So, if you want to go... we can take a day. No, what's a day? We can spare a few days."

Harriet's family, especially the Archduke, might try to confine her and not let her go.

But Harriet has been working for me for a long time.

Shouldn't Harriet, who has been suffering in silence without showing any signs, have the right to choose at least that much?

Whether to meet her family or not.

Harriet bites her lip and falls silent, deep in thought at my words.

It is Harriet's choice whether to meet her family or not.

But there is no risk in watching Arnaca with her own eyes.

The present situation of her hometown.

Isn't it possible to at least see that for herself?

"Will you... go with me?"

Harriet looks at me with trembling eyes.

Just as Harriet has protected me until now in case of any emergencies,

It is only natural that I follow her to protect her in case of any emergencies.

"Of course, I will."

At my words, Harriet finally covers her face with both hands and bursts into tears.

"Thank you... Reinhardt..."

What on earth is she so grateful to me for?

I've always been the one who should be grateful.