It was a Political Marriage, But I’m Being Loved - Chapter 124

“Achilles isn’t a bad man, from what I’ve heard. He truly cares for Lize. She’ll manage just fine at the Tower.”

“She will so long as she plays it smart and maintains the relationship well.”

Roxana was a beloved empress who had long held her position with grace and strength. But she had never been someone who placed her faith in a man’s affection.

She had seen enough of the Tower Master’s temperament to know: what worried her wasn’t now—it was what might happen if things ever soured between him and Lize.

“If the day comes when Lize has to choose between you and him, and she chooses what’s best for herself… don’t blame her. You’re the one who sent her into that closed-off place.”

As long as Lize hadn’t run away recklessly and had acted with a plan, Roxana would accept her decision. She understood that Lize had no choice but to support Achilles’s intentions.

It wasn’t as if she could cancel the marriage even if she wanted to—not anymore. The Emperor had made sure of that.

Seeing her turn her back on him, her gaze cold, the Emperor found himself at a loss for words.

“All this work for the Empire, only to be scolded…”

But the truth was, he’d broken the agreement first. He was the one who’d handed over Roxana’s cherished child—their only daughter—to the Tower Master without her consent.

“But Lize… she’s all we have.”

Not the crown prince.
Only her.

Even though Roxana had already left the office, the Emperor muttered it aloud—more to himself than anyone else. He thought it was a simple truth.

But if Lize ever heard it, she wouldn’t think it so simple.

“She probably knows this is how I think.”

It was never easy to balance the interests of a man, a monarch, and a father. He always made decisions first as the Emperor, then as a husband—and only lastly, as a father.

“No wonder she chose the Tower Master over me.”

Still, he couldn’t help but feel a sting of bitterness.

“…My plan hasn’t changed. Once the Tower Master and the princess are married and leave the capital—once they’re far enough away—we strike.”

“You idiot.”

Cernadis flew through the sky at a leisurely pace, lost in thought. Valter Bianchi’s greed and his inability to know his place were fitting qualities in a contractor, sure. But the real problem was that the woman Valter wanted was engaged to someone far too powerful.

“If it comes to it, I’ll just abandon him and run. Still, it’s a shame—it was almost finished.”

Valter’s plan wasn’t entirely foolish. He’d nearly succeeded in killing the crown prince before. If Achilles hadn’t interfered, things likely would’ve gone exactly as planned.

“He’s not even trying to stage a full coup. Just kill the crown prince and the Emperor, and it’s done.”

What complicated things were the added details—like kidnapping the princess. Valter needed Lize to legitimize his claim to the Empire.

Without her, he’d just be paving the way for someone else to benefit.

Cernadis was currently searching for Iaoros’s secret base. Even though Iaoros was dead, he had possessed more fragments of the Demon King—and…

“…he might have left clues about where Arcade is hiding.”

Arcade, another high-ranking demon like Cernadis, had used Iaoros as a puppet to orchestrate the Demon King’s resurrection.

Unlike Cernadis—who treated the whole prophecy like a faraway fable—Arcade truly believed in it.

Lesser demons worshipped “His Grace” and prayed for the Demon King’s return. But Cernadis? He’d seen that so-called ‘grace’ with his own eyes. He had once served him directly.

And he knew better.

“Wanting to raise him just so they can be enslaved again? Only weaklings think like that.”

The Demon King wasn’t a benevolent figure who protected his own. He was a tyrant who threw demons into chaos and destruction, demanding sacrifice for results.

Yes, countless demons would die. But under the Demon King’s power, even more would be born—enough that no one would notice the losses.

“I don’t care if other demons die. But if the Demon King returns to this world… I’ll be in trouble.”

He had too many sins to answer for.

Still, it didn’t matter. Cernadis would choose obliteration over returning to the Demon Realm. As long as he didn’t go back there, he was fine.

Slipping past city patrols, he quietly entered a nearby town. For demons, setting up shop in cities was common practice. After all, there was no better place to trade in souls.

“Full of greed and filth. Just the kind of people I like.”

Grinning, Cernadis mused about where Iaoros might have built his lair. As a mid-level demon, Iaoros had possessed an unusually refined, even pretentious, taste.

Despite not being human, he loved elegance and played the part of a noble. He feigned humility while pretending to mingle with aristocrats.

Cernadis, on the other hand, enjoyed rolling in the mud with lowlifes, watching them get dirtier and more twisted. That was his entertainment.

This city was said to be one that Cernadis always chose as a stopover during his travels.
He hadn’t heard this from Cernadis himself, but had discovered it through torturing a demon who had once been close to him.

“Let’s see… There’s no obvious presence of people, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely empty. A noble’s mansion, tucked away out of sight, rarely visited by its owner.”

From a high vantage point, he spotted about four suspicious mansions. Of those, three were clearly abandoned. Only one had staff actively working and visible security.

“Cernadis, it’s a blessing you’re so predictable.”

With a crooked smile, he flew toward that mansion. He landed in the garden, having passed through the front gate, and was soon approached by a doorman who gave off an odd air.

“W-Who… are you?”

The man was clearly nervous, but managed to stay composed. His demeanor suggested he was somewhat used to this kind of unexpected visitor, which made Cernadis smirk.

“He doesn’t seem to know anything… Should I just kill him?”

“Is the steward inside?”

“H-He is insi—”

Before the man could finish his sentence, a barbed tail shot out from the shadows and pierced his throat. Cernadis stepped past the man as he collapsed, blood bubbling from his mouth, and made his way to the mansion.

The front door was already open. A man dressed as a steward bowed deeply and respectfully.

“It has been a while, Lord Cernadis.”

The moment their eyes met, Cernadis could tell he was a demon. A lesser demon serving a mid-level one — not unusual in their world.

“Right. He always had a thing for this kind of arrangement.”

This man hadn’t been born a demon. He was a human transformed into one by Cernadis himself. Nothing more than that. He didn’t have extraordinary power, nor had he gained immortality.

“Humans making foolish choices isn’t exactly rare, is it?”

Cernadis entered the mansion with a graceful smile. He was very curious about what Cernadis had hidden in this place.

The Magic Tower didn’t just reach the clouds — it pierced straight through them.
As they ascended to suffocating heights, the cold made their bodies shiver. Achilles surrounded them in a magical barrier and adjusted their speed.

He steered them toward the central tower’s garden. As they neared it, the faint shimmer of a protective barrier surrounding the tower became visible.

Achilles skillfully deactivated a section of the barrier and flew inside. As they landed in one corner of the garden, mechanical dolls began to approach.

“Welcome home, Master.”
“Welcome, Your Highness.”

The dolls, dressed as maids and all sharing the same face, greeted them in unison. At first, Charlize had found them eerie and frightening, but after her time at the northern castle, she had grown used to them. In fact, when Lewein and his knights had attacked, it was thanks to these dolls that she had survived. It didn’t feel right to keep fearing them.

“Hello.”

As Achilles helped her down, Charlize gently stepped away and greeted them. At Achilles’s signal, the dolls came closer.

“We’ve prepared your room.”
“Would you like a bath first? Or shall we serve your meal?”

“Meal first. What’s for dessert?”

This wasn’t the Imperial Palace, so she didn’t need to follow strict etiquette. There were no prying eyes here, and the freedom to do as she pleased was already lifting her spirits.

“We’ve prepared melon cake and tea, Your Highness.”
“If there’s anything else you’d like, please let us know.”

“Anything I want?”

She suddenly turned to stare at Achilles. He stepped beside her and tilted his head slightly to meet her eyes.

“Am I what you want?”

“…Maybe a little?”

“Would just a little be enough?”

His golden eyes sparkled, and for a moment, Charlize felt as if her heart had stopped. But she quickly composed herself. She needed Achilles — but not in that way.

“N-No! That’s not what I meant! You said you’d be gone for ten days, leaving me here alone. So, I just…”

She turned her eyes away, cheeks burning. They hadn’t spent a lot of time together, but this would be the longest they’d ever been apart.

“I just wanted to stay with you until then.”

Achilles reached out and gently brushed her flushed cheek with his thumb.

“I won’t be gone the whole time. I’ll be returning to the Tower on occasion to check in. And I’ll contact you at least once a day through the crystal orb.”

He couldn’t promise frequent visits. They still didn’t know how far Valter Bianchi had gotten. But Achilles was certain of one thing:

“That man hasn’t left the Empire.”

He was sure Valter still had a plan in motion — one that involved Charlize. The fact that he had stayed imprisoned, despite having the power to escape at any time, could only mean one thing: he was waiting for a chance to reach her.

“So, please don’t feel too lonely.”

He whispered the words as he kissed her forehead, and Charlize leaned into his embrace. Holding her close, Achilles made a silent vow:

The agreed time was ten days ,
But he would find and kill Valter Bianchi within six.

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