To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

“V-Viscount Wolfe?”

From the way Liv awkwardly repeated that name, it seemed she didn’t know of this person either. Emmett racked his memories about Viscount Wolfe. The Viscount governed the border territory of Wolfe Viscounty – a rather insignificant, powerless noble family… And the reason the Wolfe family had been relegated to the borders was…

“H-How did you come here?”

Liv seemed to muster her courage, clenching her fist tightly as she called out towards the door. As if awaiting a response, an exultant male voice answered:

“My word, I was right! You really were here!”

“Who…”

“Don’t worry! I’ll rescue you!”

“Huh?”

Though unable to fully comprehend the situation, Liv’s face was etched with shock at being promised rescue. Having awaited a savior for so long, yet finding this unbelievable, she trembled as she placed her hand on the door.

“You really came to…”

The moment Liv tried to continue the conversation, an ominous silence fell from beyond the door. The previously exultant voice of Viscount Wolfe had abruptly cut off, causing Liv to inch closer, pressing her ear against the door in a sense of foreboding. Emmett stood beside Liv, who gestured for him to come closer, trying to discern the sounds from beyond.

Heavy footsteps could be heard through the door. After a moment, a voice different from Viscount Wolfe’s rang out:

“Are you Viscount Wolfe?”

“Ahh…”

The other party’s voice lacked any emotion, yet that very fact made it sound all the more threatening. In contrast, Viscount Wolfe addressing that voice seemed gripped by fear.

So a new figure had appeared here, one who instilled dread in Viscount Wolfe.

“What could this be…”

Liv whispered in bewilderment, unable to grasp the situation. But upon hearing the voice beyond the door, Emmett’s face had already drained of color.

For hearing that voice made him recall a ‘memory’ he had deeply buried.

How could he even begin to explain?

Yes, in accordance with the Emperor’s commands, Emmett had executed many over the years. With a new dynasty established, the palace was rife with those appearing loyal to the Emperor while secretly plotting rebellion. Simultaneously, the new Emperor’s cruelty made him a figure everyone feared, and many would directly deliver any signs of rebellion to gain his favor.

Amidst such circumstances, countless rebellions were incessantly attempted yet repeatedly failed.

From the moment he inherited his Ducal title, Emmett Lartman had executed rebels.

No, in fact, it wasn’t only rebels he had executed. Whenever the Emperor issued an order for execution, Emmett unhesitatingly followed without question. This was partly because standing by the Emperor was the stable choice given his trusted status. But more so, it was out of sincere gratitude and desire to repay the kindness the Emperor had shown him and his parents.

Of course, no matter how much it was for the Emperor’s sake, indiscriminately eliminating dissidents wasn’t a task Emmett relished.

Thus, after carrying out the Emperor’s orders, Emmett had always tried to forget those he had killed. Not that he could truly forget when directly faced with such situations. So…

The person now standing before Viscount Wolfe was none other than his past self.

“By His Majesty’s command, I will apprehend you.”

His past self spoke indifferently, in a tone stating the obvious.

“Ah… No, why… I have committed no crime!”

“For the crime of rebellion. You should have been more cautious. Did you not think standing before Abgrund, which the Empire closely monitors, would serve as evidence in itself?”

“Ha!”

Fear seemed to give way to indignation in Viscount Wolfe’s voice:

“Do you know what has been happening in Abgrund…!?”

However, Emmett’s past self continued without heeding Wolfe’s words:

“Ordinarily, rebellion warrants eradicating the entire family lineage. But since you haven’t yet acted, I will settle for apprehending you. I can’t guarantee your life, but if you obediently come along, I will spare your family.”

Those words also carried an implied threat – raise any objection, and his entire family would be exterminated.

After a tense silence, the moment Liv pressed her ear against the door in continued bewilderment…

An ominous sound like a blade rending flesh echoed, followed by something crashing to the floor. Simultaneously, red blood began seeping through Abgrund’s door towards them.

“Uh…!”

As if instinctively realizing she shouldn’t let her voice escape, Liv clapped a hand over her mouth as she sank to the floor, slowly retreating from the encroaching blood.

After a while, the sounds of something being dragged away grew fainter until vanishing. Emmett and Liv could only stand speechless at the grisly scene left behind.

“What… was all that?”

Pressing herself as far back into Abgrund as possible, Liv opened her trembling mouth:

“So… someone definitely came to rescue me. But then another person stabbed them and left, right…?”

Still unable to properly discern human voices, Liv didn’t seem to realize the voice from earlier belonged to Emmett.

“Just who was this Viscount Wolfe who came to rescue me? And who took Viscount Wolfe away?”

Emmett couldn’t bring himself to answer, too anguished by confronting his own past misdeeds.

While witnessing Liv’s imprisoned state in Abgrund had already left Emmett discomfited – by how callously he had mistreated her despite their connection, by how frustrated Liv must have felt at his lack of recollection – above all, he had felt remorseful that Liv had sacrificed her life for his sake, rewinding time.

But that was the extent of it. Since the woman he loved carried an unfortunate past, he had simply resolved to treat her better to make up for his shortcomings.

However, only today did Emmett truly realize the gravity of his own crimes in full.

‘I was the one who robbed her of a chance at escape.’

Solely out of loyalty to the Emperor, he had killed the one who came to rescue Liv. Oblivious to the fact that an innocent girl was imprisoned here, he had simply left. He had stolen Liv’s opportunity.

The anguish was unbearable, his head spinning, vision blurring.

Yes, he had to admit it. Emmett had lived his life the wrong way until now. No matter what kindness the Emperor had shown him and his family, it didn’t justify standing by the Emperor’s side and committing evil acts. There was no telling how many victims beyond just Liv had suffered from his actions.

Of course, the greatest victim he knew of currently stood before him. Liv stared vacantly, seeming unable to accept that the first person to come rescue her from this prison had died. Just like when Emmett lacked a physical form and Liv had been alone in this cell, her eyes were utterly devoid of light.

Ah, so he was indeed a sinner. The gods had rightful reasons for inflicting this divine punishment upon him. He had to face the evil acts of his former self…

Though he knew speaking the truth to Liv would be right, the words wouldn’t leave his lips. Explaining to Liv now would only cause her confusion. Even as he made such excuses, he realized he would likely be unable to reveal the truth to Liv even after returning to the original timeline. He was a far more cowardly and selfish person than Liv believed.

‘I need to atone to Liv.’

Yet no matter what he did, there seemed no way to absolve this sin. It might be better if Liv reviled and scorned him once he returned to the original time. For the last time he saw her, Liv had slit her own throat for his sake.

Liv should have left him to die at that moment. He didn’t deserve Liv’s love, nor to live among society acting as if he had committed no wrongs.

After standing wordlessly for a long while before the enormity of his own sins, Liv finally spoke in a dejected voice:

“So I can never go outside?”

“…You will be able to leave.”

Though he had already robbed her of one chance, Liv would ultimately make it outside in the end. Even if the first would-be rescuer had perished by his past self’s hands.

‘Then who could have…’

At that moment, a lightning bolt of realization struck him.

“Ah.”

“What is it?”

Though Liv worriedly asked at his exclamation, Emmett couldn’t bring himself to answer. For he had finally arrived at the truth.

-How foolish.

The god’s words had been accurate. He had truly been foolish. The god had imprisoned Emmett here to ‘rescue’ Liv from this place. Not in a metaphorical sense of comforting the suffering Liv and standing by her until she escaped, thereby ‘saving her soul’.

“Rescue her…”

They had told Emmett to literally rescue Liv from this Abgrund. Only now did he realize who the figure was that had helped Liv escape Abgrund in the past.

“It was me.”