Come and Cry at My Funeral - Chapter 55
The duke’s wife, similar to Canopus?
The mercenary subordinate made a puzzled face at that answer.
It was an explanation fraught with several possibilities.
Because she was a ‘bastard’ like Canopus, or perhaps she was endowed with special talents by Adamant.
Seeing his perplexed expression, Canopus let out a short laugh.
“Ah, there’s no need to think so hard. I meant she’s someone whose life has been ruined because of Arcturus.”
“Lord Canopus…”
The mercenary’s face contorted in distress.
When the previous Duke of Arcturus executed the rebels, Canopus was only seven years old.
Had the half-mad previous duke, enraged by his wife’s betrayal, found him, he would have slit even a child’s throat.
At that time, this mercenary had escaped with the boy, ready to die if needed.
Not just the child, but the barely surviving remnants of their force. And now Canopus has turned twenty.
“This time, we will surely succeed, Lord Canopus.”
“Haha. Yes, we must.”
Canopus smiled, looking up at Adamant’s holy flame.
“But this time, it’s not about confronting with force openly.”
He hated his half-brother, but had to acknowledge his skills.
‘In the current situation, I’m more likely to be crushed.’
Thus, Canopus decided to shake the empire from the shadows.
He had already secretly killed the priest supposed to be dispatched from here to the capital. That position would soon be his.
He would sneak into the temple, waiting silently for the chance to bring down the empire and his damned half-brother, Izar.
“Adamant must have given me the power to control monsters for this very purpose.”
Rumble. Rumble…
Behind Canopus, who was dressed in priestly robes, a long vertical fissure opened. Through the crack, a six-eyed wolf slowly emerged, nuzzling Canopus’s hand.
“This year, I will cut off the lineage of the Betelgeuse Imperial Family.”
“Your Lordship will be aiming for both the Emperor and the Imperial Grandson?”
“The old man will die off on his own eventually, so let’s target just the young prince.”
Canopus let out a cold laugh.
The prince will die, ravaged by a monster that would appear in the middle of the hunting festival.
And surely, Izar Arcturus would also be there.
With the head of the Arcturus family present, unable to protect the Imperial Grandson, what a ridiculous scene it would be!
“……And then, um, what about your sister-in-law?”
Canopus smiled faintly, recalling their meeting.
The woman, praying for her family.
That bastard bride, her eyes sparkling with interest in theology.
‘Yes, we are similar in our origins.’
The atmosphere at the wedding was chaotic, perhaps one reason why his half-brother disliked her.
Because the word ‘bastard’ must have inevitably brought Canopus to his mind.
‘Well, it’s not yet clear if Izar cherishes his bride…’
Canopus smiled faintly.
‘Thinking about it, there’s no reason to bring a wife he doesn’t cherish to the neighboring domain.’
He hoped his half-brother would cherish the bride.
While someone had called love a shield that protects the heart, Canopus didn’t agree.
Love was the flame of madness that incited rebellion.
It was also the insane emotion that made a mother choose death following a lover over caring for her eldest son—the worst poison that could make even the strongest beg.
“…I implore thee, O Almighty Adamant.”
Canopus hoped the emotion his brother felt for that woman would be the last.
And if so…
“Sister-in-law, forgive me.”
Canopus whispered, smiling sadly.
If you become Izar Arcturus’s poison…
I will have to take your life.
* * *
Not long after, the day for Arcturus’s party to depart from the Deneb domain arrived.
Izar was at the front, bidding farewell to Marquis Deneb.
“I owe you a great deal, Marquis of Deneb.”
“Nonsense. It’s we who are in debt to you, Duke, for taking action yourself and saving us.”
There was no exaggeration in that exchange of pleasantries.
After the last bizarre wolf monster was eliminated, the reports of monster attacks dropped significantly.
And as Freesia was finishing her separate farewells with the Marchioness,
“Duchess!”
Albireo approached Freesia with a bright smile plastered across his face.
However, upon seeing her face, his steps faltered.
The fire had gone out from her sparkling eyes he had first seen at the spring.
His heart sank silently at the sight.
“…Sir Deneb.”
Her voice was still calm, but the vitality that used to be felt during their conversations had died.
“Thank you for your kindness during my stay.”
“Uh, um.”
He awkwardly scratched his neck.
Why did she look like a precarious candle flame about to be extinguished?
