Chapter 26

I was expecting to die a gruesome death the moment I arrived in the castle, but contrary to my expectations, they tied my arms and left me to rot in the castle’s dungeons.

It was bigger than the dungeons in the estate and even seemed to have prisoners in other locations as well. From all around, I could hear voices crying out in agony from time to time.

They left me in such a gloomy place without food or water. And after some time had passed…

Eberhardt himself finally showed up, accompanied by a number of soldiers.

The soldiers he brought with him were waiting outside, and Eberhardt was the only one who entered the prison, which contained me alone.

“How are you feeling? You fake.”

“Do I look good to you?”

I thought I wouldn’t have to play as the villain against him anymore, but he didn’t seem pleased by what I said. The tip of his boot was buried into my defenseless stomach.

A crushing sound like ngh or gah or something like that vibrated in my throat, but before I could hunch over, Eberhardt leaned over and grabbed my hair, forcibly lifting me up.

The azure and golden eyes that I had been forced to meet, were scornful as though it found me unpleasant.

“Hmph. Your appearance is of Heinreid himself, but once I realize you’re different, I couldn’t shake the feeling of discomfort. I don’t find the idea of hurting you right now intriguing at all.”

”

”

“Then, just kill me at once. You don’t have the intention of waiting for me to die from starvation, do you?”

“I had planned on doing so, but… circumstances have changed a bit.”

Circumstances?

I had a bad premonition about my delayed end and frowned, but Eberhardt didn’t seem to want to elaborate on it, looking down at me in silence.

He was silent for a while, but then he suddenly tilted his head and crept his fingers around the nape of my neck. And when he found the teeth marks that remained there, he chuckled.

“Is this the one Craig Bauer had left on you? It’s also foolish of him to be enticed by you. Even if it was for the sake of manipulating him, you, who surrendered your body to a man, is even more so.”

“…I didn’t surrender it to him.”

I had hoped he wouldn’t draw such strange conclusions. I mean, I couldn’t really blame him for doing so after seeing teeth marks on my neck, but I absolutely wouldn’t do anything to defile that guy.

“Is that right? I heard you were the one who encouraged him.”

…Who the hell told him that? Was it Karl? Well, I know he got a bit involved with me more or less, but isn’t that an incredibly misleading way to report?

The way Eberhardt said it was as if I had intentionally seduced Craig.

…Well, even if that were the case…

“That thing, that was just a misunderstanding.”

It was similar to the so-called suspension bridge effect or something. He had probably been sensitive to the slightest change in a time of crisis. It should subside once he regains his presence of mind. It was just a temporary craze.

That was why I didn’t respond to his voice. Why I couldn’t take his hand.

“…Hmm. I see.”

When Eberhardt heard my words, he closed his eyes as if he was convinced of something.

And when he opened his eyes again… He smiled with a beauty like that of a Holy Mother, unbefitting of his title, the Extraordinary Tyrant.

“Say, you who came from nowhere [/literal translation: person of doubtful origin somewhere lol idk]. I suppose you’re trying to die to atone for Heinreid’s atrocities, but… aren’t you just being awfully vain?”

Hearing what he had uttered, I thought, that again? and narrowed my eyes at him. I only didn’t deny Eberhardt because I thought it would be easier for him to kill me if I were someone else, but… nothing I say would change his mind, so I decided to let him speak his mind.

“…I don’t care what you think. I know myself that I’m Heinreid.”

Even if no one else would accept it… I was the only one who knew it—this inescapable reality.

If they want to deny it, then so be it. But, I would never let go of Heinreid’s sins, no matter what they say. Yes, that was what I had decided.

I thought he would get mad at me for saying that, but his smile never faltered, and he replied with a calm voice.

”

”

“So you intend to atone for your sins with your own life? If that’s the case, why didn’t you turn on me for the same crimes? Even you must have some tricks up your sleeve, no?”

“You want me to order them to kill His Majesty, the King? There’s just no way I could do that. It’s like telling them to die.”

“Then you should have killed me first hand. I’d say that would have been more plausible. I would have been defenseless to a certain extent, thinking you were Heinreid, don’t you think? I would have drunk the poisonous liquor had you served it to me.”

I was about to say how ridiculous that was, but I swallowed my words.

…Certainly, now that I thought about it, it had always been just the two of us whenever he confronted me. Like when he visited me from the beginning, and even when he summoned me to the castle. If I had wanted to… I could’ve poisoned him the first time. And even if I hadn’t, we could’ve stabbed each other in the throne room, right…?

The ones controlling the fear in this nation were Heinreid and Eberhardt. Although there were other villains, they would’ve naturally met their downfall if these two at the helm disappeared at the same time. If that had been the case, then… there wouldn’t have been a need to take this detour just so I could die alone, would it?

I felt a chill down my spine.

“But to kill someone… there’s just no way…”

“You were going to let Craig Bauer kill you, weren’t you?”

“…”

I felt uneasiness well up inside me as if I were slowly being pushed to the edge of a cliff.

No. I don’t want to hear any more. I mustn’t listen.

However, the merciless tyrant had no regard for his prey’s fear and pushed me off the cliff without hesitation.

“Hehehe. How splendidly inhumane. After thoroughly indulging the pitiful guard and stealing his heart, you decided that it was just a misunderstanding and threw away that responsibility to him in the end. Are you just going to let the survivors clean up your mess and walk away so selfishly?”

You coward.

The words, spoken in a relaxed voice like telling a child an old tale, however, divulged the most vulnerable part of my heart and gouged it out.

The railings that had been supporting me, shattered when all the actions I had believed to be righteous and that they were my responsibilities, were denied.

I hadn’t been punched, kicked, or stepped on, but I had never felt so hurt since I woke up as Heinreid. No, even during my life before I got here.

After all, I… never meant to…

The throbbing pain in my chest became stronger and stronger. I couldn’t breathe well, and I didn’t even know if my body was shaking because it was distressing or because it was painful.

Contrary to me, who was stunned, full of despair, the Tyrant just smiled gently at me.

“Your Majesty.”

“I know.”

Eberhardt responded to the call from outside the prison and stood up.

At the same time, he made a small gesture, and the soldiers barged inside, forcing me to stand up from my kneeling position on the ground.

“Well, then. Come, you fake. Have no worry, I’m not as naive as your knight. I will make sure you pay for your crime… of pretending to be Heinreid.”

Eberhardt turned his back and left the prison. With my strength drained, I was pushed by the soldiers as I staggered after him.