To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

“Speak your command.”

Though Emmett had once thought he would do anything for Emperor August’s sake when pledging his loyalty, most of August’s orders involved harming others. Having resolved to commit no more meaningless evil acts, Emmett feigned composure. Soon, August’s command fell upon him:

“Retrieve an artifact imbued with ancient sorcery from the Duchy of Lartman.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Fortunately, it was neither wicked nor overly difficult, retrieving an object, requiring no harm to others. Moreover, if that object resided in the Duchy of Lartman, it would be all the easier.

August had tasked Emmett with matters concerning ancient sorcery before.

According to legends passed down in the Holy Church, ‘artifacts imbued with ancient sorcery’ referred to objects containing divine power. They earned that name from ancient sorcerers who had studied harnessing such powers, now extinct. Their research records had survived to the present day, monopolized by August himself.

August utilized these artifacts to display miracles, protecting himself from his enemies. Based on their power, he claimed divinity stood by his side.

Though reluctant to provide anything aiding August’s authority, Emmett had already delivered several such artifacts before, so this task seemed manageable without issue. In fact, lacking any need to harm others left Emmett greatly relieved by this relatively innocuous command.

* * *

“Ho ho, have a safe journey, Liv.”

“Sister, I will write you letters.”

Seeing Liv off were Hildegard and the Countess, as Liv boarded the Lartman carriage on the promised day of her departure to the Duchy. The journey was quite long, leaving Hildegard concerned for Liv. But Liv harbored little fear of the unknown, only anticipation for the new place she would soon encounter.

The Emperor’s permission for the Lartman-Hamelsvoort union had come easily. Emmett had nonchalantly informed her of receiving approval the day after visiting the imperial palace. Expecting to directly face the Emperor herself, Liv had felt a touch bewildered – she had imagined being summoned to the palace.

Well, whatever happened, it was fine by Liv. All that remained was meeting the Lartman Duchy’s vassals.

As the carriage door closed and the Hamelsvoort manor receded from view, Liv asked Emmett:

“How long will the journey take?”

“Around a week. We will stay at appropriate village inns each night.”

Though traveling by horse would be swifter, Liv couldn’t ride, and they had no need to rush and endure such hardship. Emmett worried the lengthy carriage rides alone would be taxing enough for Liv, having prepared plush blankets and cushions to ease any discomfort.

“Speaking of which, Duke will need a bed to sleep in, won’t you, Your Grace?”

At Liv’s casual remark, Emmett asked with a perplexed expression:

“What?”

“Since I can sleep in the carriage without a bed, I thought perhaps it was for your sake.”

“You… see me as too frail, don’t you…”

“But is that not the truth?”

“Not at all. If needed, I too can sleep on the floor. Staying at inns is solely for your sake, Liv.”

When Liv replied with an innocent ‘But I’ll be fine?’ Emmett regarded her with a solemn expression:

“Liv, I wish for you to grow more accustomed to being accommodated.”

“But I never received such treatment before…”

“Because from now on, this will be your life.”

Though his meaning eluded her, Liv nodded anyway. Well, if she became the Duchess of Lartman through marrying Emmett without major issue, perhaps she would indeed grow accustomed to such things as he said.

The architectural style was uniform across the Holy Hilysid Empire, rendering the capital’s scenery visible through the window quite dull. As Liv sat in pensive silence, Emmett mentioned Hayden’s name to change the subject:

“It is fortunate that vile Hayden Shultze didn’t follow us here. He was truly annoying.”

“Why so?”

“He is a dangerous man.”

“Still, the fact that Hayden nearly faced punishment was my fault. I feel I should bear some responsibility for that.”

Those words seemed to vex Emmett.

“Liv, you should occasionally blame others as well. For instance, I would be cursing the Emperor for everything by now.”

“Hmm…”

Liv simply blinked quietly. According to Emmett, the Emperor was no longer a sacred figure, but…

‘I’m not so sure.’

For reasons unknown to her, Liv felt no hatred towards the Emperor – even now that she understood what had been taken from her. Perhaps it was because Liv lacked any greed? Or did the gods rage in her stead?

Though uncertain of the exact reason, Liv still didn’t resent the Emperor. Having never truly loathed anyone deeply, she could scarcely comprehend such an emotion.

“You are too kind, Liv. Too innocent…”

Emmett spoke as the carriage rumbled ever onward.

Apart from the nights, they spent the entire week’s days together in the carriage, allowing much conversation, such as:

“Blue is truly a peculiar color. I don’t dislike it, for it was a hue my former self could never have imagined, coming as a fresh shock to me.”

“I see.”

“I will never forget the first time I beheld that sky… Ah, but the blue of the sea doesn’t sit well with me. Seeing it fills me with dread… So blue is a color of contradictions for me.”

“The Rilano Sea bordering the Holy Hilysid Empire is the largest and deepest. In fact, one could say the color of the sea leans closer to black than blue. But Liv, have you heard of the Teiran Sea?”

“Ah… The sea in the center, I believe?”

“Correct. It is located to the south of the Ein continent, bordering the Lebor Kingdom and the United Valeno Kingdom. That sea is mild and warm, with waters taking on a pale blue hue.”

“Have you been there before?”

“No, I haven’t. But I’m told the Teiran and Rilano Seas differ greatly. Perhaps you would come to like the Teiran Sea, Liv. There may be beautiful seas that don’t instill dread in you.”

“Thank you for telling me that. Hearing such tales reminds me of when you explained the Empire’s geography to me long ago.”

In the past when together in Abgrund, Emmett had provided an overview of the Holy Hilysid Empire’s geography to situate the Duchy of Lartman for Liv – even teaching her cardinal directions.

“Those were good times.”

Liv closed her eyes, reminiscing on those days. Though confined in the dreadful space of Abgrund, simply having Emmett’s company had rendered those memories happy for her.

Yet when she opened her eyes again, Emmett seemed to have his face buried in his hands, unmoving.

“Emmett?”

“Just… regretting myself…”

Whenever Liv brought up the past in that manner, Emmett seemed tormented. For some reason, he appeared consumed by excessive guilt… But over what?

Even as Emmett suffered, the carriage continued its journey until finally:

“We have arrived at the Lartman Duchy.”

“Ah…”

The sight beyond the carriage window caused Liv’s eyes to widen.

Towering stone mountains encircled the Duchy, their peaks obscured by clouds revealing their immense height. Though those massive mountains appeared imposingly threatening, the dwellings clustered beneath seemed all the safer for it.

“There is so much green in the Lartman Duchy!”

“Yes, as it is surrounded by mountains to protect our land from foreign invasion.”

Emmett gestured towards the tall peaks as he added:

“The mountains provide an ideal environment for fortresses.”

“I see…”

As Liv nodded in awe, a vast castle gradually came into view beyond the window. Rather than ornate or elegant, the castle’s rugged form seemed solidly fortified in stone. For a moment unsure of its identity, Liv soon realized there could only be one such castle in these lands.

“The Duke’s castle!”

“Yes, correct.”

“It’s incomparably grander than the Duke’s manor in the capital!”

Liv exclaimed, craning her neck out the window. Her eyes landed on an unfamiliar long green plant unlike any flower or tree she had seen.

“What is that…?”

“Vines enveloping the castle walls – the ones I mentioned to you before, Liv.”

“Ah, vines! So I finally get to see them!”

To Liv, vines seemed like wondrous plants. How could vegetation climb to such heights?

The carriage then came to a halt, and the door swung open. The coachman bowed towards them.

“We have arrived, Your Grace.”

Emmett disembarked first before taking Liv’s hand to help her alight. Instead of the paved roads in the capital, her thin noble shoes met the uneven texture of stone and soil. As Liv gazed around the castle in rapture, its gates abruptly opened and several people came running out.

“Your Grace!”

A brown-haired man led the way before slowing before Liv, bowing before Emmett.

“You have arrived.”

“Yes, it has been too long, Phillip.”

The man named Phillip raised his head to regard Liv carefully before bowing again.

“The lady accompanying you, My Lord. We are honored to welcome you to the Duchy.”

“Ah, Liv – this is Phillip, my aide who has acted in my stead governing the Duchy.”

“Pleased to meet you…”

When Liv offered a soft greeting, Phillip’s face brightened. But before he could speak, a white-bearded elder arrived behind him.

“Your Grace, I have safeguarded the castle in your absence.”

“And you seem hale as ever, butler.”

“Yes. And appropriate punishment has been meted out to the guards recently expelled from the Duchy.”

“Thank you.”

After concluding his exchange with Emmett, the butler’s gaze fell upon Liv, his face inexplicably filled with wonder.

‘What is it?’

Though accustomed to scorn as the ‘Fake Saintess’ in high society, Liv saw no trace of malice in their eyes. As she stood bewildered, the last to arrive was a middle-aged woman with a kindly demeanor.

“Mia!”

“Oh, Your Grace…”

The woman called Mia gazed at Emmett and Liv with moist eyes.

“So you have finally…”