It was a Political Marriage, But I’m Being Loved - Chapter 71

Just from the sound of her clicking heels, he already knew who it was. Valter stepped out from the shadows, eyes fixed sharply on the figure approaching him.

“Philozena.”

“I greet the Master of the Black Heart. How was your encounter with the Tower Lord? Did you, by any chance, feel the urge to kill him?”

Philozena was a mage who had been cast out from the Mage Tower. Though some mages had stood by her, barely saving her life, she never let go of her hatred for the Tower Lord, Achilles.

“If I could’ve killed him, I would’ve gutted him long ago. Why do you think I went through all the trouble of luring him away from the princess?”

Valter glared at her, irritated. She was one of the most valuable people he had ever recruited—someone Achilles had been foolish enough to let slip through his fingers.

Philozena looked at Valter as though staring into a beast trapped in a cage. Thankfully, the magic carved into his body didn’t seem to be the Tower Lord’s. Since Eliza had been the one to transfer him, it was probably her doing.

“So, are you leaving this cell now?”

“No. This prison gives me the perfect alibi. There’s no reason for me to leave.”

“Hm… I imagine the members of the Black Heart will be disappointed.”

“And why should I care about that?”

Even though he had been thoroughly beaten by the Tower Lord’s magic and was now locked away in a prison cell, he didn’t look like a defeated man. That part of him—his unwavering pride—was something Philozena admired. It made her want him for herself.

“Of course. We never betray our master.”

“Good. There’s something I need you all to do.”

Valter motioned her closer and gave her instructions to pass on to the rest of the organization. Philozena memorized every word, then slowly stood up. Just before she turned to leave, she paused and asked, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

“Who do you see me as right now?”

She was using two spells at once—one that distorted reality and perception, and another, her signature spell, that made her appear as the person the other most longed for.

“Do I really need to answer that? Get lost.”

At Valter’s cold reply, Philozena smirked to herself and turned away. His reaction alone was all the answer she needed.

Who would’ve thought you’d fall for the princess so deeply, especially now?

The woman he loved was likely still in the arms of the Tower Lord. Philozena still wanted Valter for herself—but if he ended up holding the princess, that was fine too.

As long as it tore Achilles’s heart apart.

With that cruel satisfaction, she walked away into the darkness, thinking of the man who had once humiliated her.

Valter stared into the torchlight, as if trying to quiet his thoughts. The heavy shadow cast beneath the flame felt too much like himself, and so he pushed the thought away.

When he snapped his fingers, a blue flame burst forth. The glow spread across the room, lighting up the floor and revealing a large magical circle. Iaoros frowned deeply.

It was a classic binding seal. It had clearly been carved by priests from the temple. Designed to restrain a high-ranking demon, the divine power emanating from it was uncomfortable—even from the top of the stairs.

At the center of the circle, a boy with long, flowing white hair knelt, bound in chains.

“Lord Cernadis.”

From atop the stairs, Iaoros gave a respectful bow to the red-eyed demon. As he began descending, he spoke again.

“It’s been a while.”

The white-haired demon tilted his head, his youthful face thoughtful. After a moment of recognition, his eyes lit up.

“Iaoros… It’s you, isn’t it? What brings you here?”

“That’s what I should be asking you, Lord Cernadis. For a demon of your rank to end up like this—chained up and captured by humans—it’s hard to believe.”

At Iaoros’s words, Cernadis let out a dry chuckle.

“Why not? It’s actually kind of fun hanging around humans. You’d be interested too if you heard what they’re doing with the power I gave them.”

He lifted his cuffed hands and stretched out with a lazy yawn. The chains connected to his wrists and ankles rattled with his movement.

Iaoros now understood how the Black Heart organization had managed to get their hands on Xeramatz poison. If Cernadis had helped them, it would’ve been nothing for him to create it.

“If you’re talking about the attempt on the Crown Prince’s life, it’s already failed.”

“Really? It was just the Crown Prince and not the Emperor? How boring~. I thought he’d go for someone more ambitious.”

“Even Viscount Bianchi, the master of this estate, has been arrested and thrown into a dungeon. This place won’t last much longer. If the imperial family finds you, they’ll alert the Church. You should escape before it’s too late.”

Cernadis scratched his head as if thinking it over. But the truth was, he wasn’t afraid of the holy seal that held him. If he was willing to take a little damage, he could break free easily.

“Hmm~ but I’ve only collected eight souls so far… what a shame.”

Then he turned and looked straight at Iaoros.

“You’re after him, aren’t you? Valter Bianchi.”

“And are you also interested in him, Lord Cernadis?”

“Not really. I thought it’d be nice to have him, but I lose interest in souls that take too long to corrupt.”

Besides, Valter Bianchi’s soul wasn’t easy to claim. Every time Cernadis met him, he tried to lure him into darkness—but Valter had resisted more than expected.

“I believe he might be the one—the vessel for Him.”

Cernadis’s eyes widened slightly at Iaoros’s quiet words. He knew that many demons still longed for the ancient master and were doing everything they could to bring him back.

“You really miss Him, huh, Iaoros? I get it. I’d like to see Him again too. But Valter’s not going to be an easy vessel. He’s cunning—very cunning.”

“This time, I think we have a real chance. He desires the princess, but he’s trapped. He’s facing someone he can’t overcome, and now both he and his family are about to fall.”

“Hmm~ is that so? But he still hasn’t called your name, has he?”

Cernadis was right. Valter hadn’t said Iaoros’s name—not once. He hadn’t even thought about summoning a demon or making a contract.

But Iaoros didn’t think things were hopeless. The royal investigation hadn’t truly begun. Once it did, they’d surely torture Valter to extract every last bit of information.

“Once the royal family starts their interrogation, his mind will change.”

“Maybe~. But to me, Valter looks like he’s tired of pretending to be a noble. I think he’s ready to burn everything down. The Empire won’t be able to keep him locked up for long.”

“…What?”

Iaoros blinked, clearly startled. Cernadis gave him a knowing smile.

“Instead of waiting, why not tempt him? He still doesn’t know how glorious it would be to become His vessel.”

Cernadis waved his hand like a mischievous child inviting a game. Iaoros stepped cautiously closer to the edge of the magic circle. Cernadis may have been able to sit inside it unharmed, but if Iaoros so much as touched it, it could burn him alive.

Cernadis whispered his plan. Iaoros listened, then slowly nodded.

News that Viscount Valter Bianchi had been arrested and imprisoned in the imperial dungeons shocked high society once again. Reports followed that Duke Bianchi had also been accused of treason, dragged off by imperial knights, and locked away for interrogation.

The Bianchi estate had been thoroughly searched by countless knights, and the Duchess was said to have been confined to a storage room in the mansion.

As one of the major noble houses, the Bianchis had ties to many other powerful families. Some made quiet moves to help them, while most simply stayed silent, watching.

Since the Emperor had specifically pointed to the Bianchi family’s private army as the issue, other noble houses were tense as well. It was no secret that nearly every noble family maintained a private force—few were clean on that matter.

At the same time, word spread that the princess had returned to the palace. She walked boldly back to her quarters, escorted by none other than the Tower Lord himself. Rumors ran wild—people whispered they looked every bit like lovers.

It had been centuries since contraceptive rings were widely used across the Empire. The days when chastity before marriage was considered a virtue were long gone. Most nobles quietly assumed the princess and the Tower Lord were already sharing a bed.

The Emperor made no move to silence those rumors. After all, the princess would soon marry him anyway. And it was more useful to shift attention to that relationship than to let everyone fixate on the Bianchi family’s alleged treason.

Princess Charlize stood before a mirror, wearing her wedding dress and inspecting the design. It was better than she had imagined—there seemed to be no need for further alterations.

But the lead designer wasn’t finished yet. They presented her with a new design, filled with additional embellishments, and asked for her approval.

“Isn’t the dress going to be too heavy?”

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