Ferdinand gripped Rolf’s neck until the butler’s face turned a deep, bruised purple. Only then did he hurl the man to the gravel. [Rolf] "Cough, ack! Cough!" Rolf gasped for air, his lungs burning. Ferdinand knelt low before him, looming like a street thug ready to shake down a victim. A mocking grin twisted Ferdinand's face. Though he was a high-ranking nobleman and a Transcendent, he carried the undeniable stench of a common criminal. [Ferdinand] "Now, give me your excuses.

Before that day arrived, Ferdinand's actions for the week followed his usual, destructive pattern. On Monday, he lost a fortune at the gambling tables. The loss ruined his mood. On Tuesday, he belatedly read the news about Charlotte's adoption. Rage toward the Count consumed him. In his fury, he shattered several glasses at Wolfgang's casino. On Wednesday, he complained to his only poker friend, Viscount Köndel, about his father's blatant disrespect. Köndel, acting the part o

She covered his eyes. She didn't want to meet his gaze. The fear that he might brainwash her during the purification gnawed at her. Their lips met. Instantly, a wave of light surged from her body and poured into him. It washed away his pollution like a rising tide. So this is why they call it purification. Though this was her first time performing the act, Odette instinctively knew what to do. Small scratches on his cheeks vanished as the light deepened. His rigid muscles rel

[Pope] "I can't trust the Saintess alone. I will contact you after another physician examines my condition. I will reach out through the Marquis." With those final words, the Pope departed from the carriage. Zion sent him back in his usual secretive manner and recalled the coachman. He then sat across from Odette, occupying the seat the Pope had just left. He acted as if he had heard nothing. Arrogant old man. He will inevitably choose to attack Raphael. How dare he take such

Before she could even ask, Zion opened the carriage window and addressed the guard. [Zion] "I am Marquis Kleist. I seek an audience with the Emperor. Open the gates." [Guard] "Yes, My Lord!" The guards avoided looking inside. They didn't dare ask about the figure hidden under the coat. As the Emperor's watchdog, Zion could bring anything or anyone into the palace without question. Whatever he carried remained a state secret. The carriage passed through the gates without a sin

Odette boarded his carriage with a short greeting. Her lack of resistance surprised him, who had worried she might refuse. Joy seized him. This felt like a massive step forward. [Zion] "Where are we going?" [Odette] "To the Imperial Palace. I wish to see the Crown Prince." The joy vanished instantly. That loathsome name ruined the moment. Zion reflexively recalled the way Odette looked at Johan. In reality, her expression had simply softened, but his mind distorted the memory

Odette sat alone on the sofa after sending Lize away. She studied the papers one by one. The report revealed a treasure trove of information. Raphael bought arsenic regularly. While the detective, Müller, failed to grasp the meaning of these purchases, the truth stood out clearly to her. She knew the events of the game, The Only Savior, better than anyone. I was right. Raphael killed the Pope in my previous life. She had suspected him because the timing of the previous Pope's

Malea had been kneeling on the floor beside the sofa even before Odette arrived. Since entering the room, Odette hadn't spared her a single glance. She simply flipped through the boutique's catalog, the pages rustling in the quiet room. Malea knew the rules. To earn Odette's recognition, she had to endure this cold silence. [Malea] "I begged Lize for this meeting." Odette dropped a sugar cube into her coffee. She stirred the cup slowly, showing no interest in the woman on the

Malea had been kneeling on the floor beside the sofa even before Odette arrived. Since entering the room, Odette hadn't spared her a single glance. She simply flipped through the boutique's catalog, the pages rustling in the quiet room. Malea knew the rules. To earn Odette's recognition, she had to endure this cold silence. [Malea] "I begged Lize for this meeting." Odette dropped a sugar cube into her coffee. She stirred the cup slowly, showing no interest in the woman on the

Agony seared through the Count, and his vision turned white. When he finally regained consciousness, he found himself slumped against a wall, his head throbbing from the impact. He glared up at Ferdinand, who stood over him. [Ulrich] "You monster! Have you lost your mind?" Ferdinand didn't answer. Instead, he strode forward and wrapped both hands around the Count's throat. Even as a D-class, he possessed the strength of a Transcendent. The physical gap between him and an agin

Count Albrecht, the head of the pharmaceutical company, denied that 'Morel' caused the illnesses. However, as the number of noble patients grew daily, Imperial chemists launched an investigation. They soon discovered the source of the problem: a common weed had replaced a core medicinal herb. Those seeds were the ones Ferdinand had brought home two years ago. The seeds he provided to replace the herbs lost in the laboratory fire lacked the volume for immediate distribution. I

Rosalyn wore a tunic identical to the one Charlotte had displayed on 'Victory Day.' Looking at the painting, her thoughts naturally shifted toward her rival. I set the stage for her and Rolf to join forces. I provoked them...... Even so, she hadn't expected Charlotte to decide on the adoption so quickly. [Odette] "You are still a commoner. You are merely scheduled to enter House Albrecht." When she had said those words, she assumed the "schedule" would take at least a few mon

The Count still desired Charlotte. Even if Odette returned, she had declared war, so she would never help the Albrecht family. Having a real, cooperative Purifier would be a dream. However, Charlotte's sudden interest in adoption after two years of refusal was strange. [Ulrich] "Personal opinions prove nothing." [Rolf] "Saintess Charlotte has a condition. She wants Paula, a former maid here, as her personal servant." He frowned. [Ulrich] "Paula? How does she even know her?" [

Odette sat on the railing of Merhen Bridge, facing Viktor. Her dress fluttered in the wind, and rain doused her hair. She pressed the barrel of a gun against her temple. [Odette] "You know, I suffered quite a bit." Her voice trembled, sounding like a confession held back for far too long. [Odette] "I despise myself so much that the hatred of others barely stings anymore." Tears streamed down her pale cheeks. A dam, held steady for years, finally burst. [Odette] "The entire Em

How funny. A woman who has never apologized in her life. Charlotte finally stood in a position where she had to offer a humiliating apology before others. She likely gathered the High Priests to witness her political theater, but unfortunately, they could no longer take her side. They simply stared at the floor with uncomfortable expressions. You should have sent the High Priests away sooner, Charlotte. Because the High Priests remained, Charlotte couldn't escape this moment.