Chapter 131

“Waaahhh!”
“We won!!!”

The capital of Oswell was overflowing with cheers.
People filled the streets, celebrating the great victory.

News of triumph from the western front had spread throughout the Empire.
This was no ordinary battle—it was a war where the Emperor himself had marched to the field.

Everyone had believed in their new Emperor, yet they had still worried deeply.
If something had gone wrong, if he had fallen… the Empire’s fragile stability would have collapsed again.
But now, with the joyful news, the entire nation was filled with excitement.

“Haa…”

Hearing the news of victory, Anes rushed into Caron’s arms.

“Thank goodness… thank goodness. Truly… truly, thank goodness.”

Caron was a little startled when she suddenly hugged him, but he gently patted her back.
She began to sob softly.

“I was so afraid something would happen to my lady… what if she had been hurt? Hic…”

“It’s all right. Everything is fine now.”

Caron let out a small sigh as he comforted her.

“I, too, worried about His Majesty every single day… but now I can finally breathe again.”

The two of them held each other for a long time, sharing their relief.

When Anes calmed down, she shyly pulled away.
Caron looked at her, as though making up his mind about something.
Then he went down on one knee.

“…Sir?”

“I had promised myself… that when the news of victory arrived, I would do this.”

He pulled out a ring he had kept hidden for a long time, and slipped it onto Anes’s finger.

“I love you.”

Anes’s eyes trembled with surprise.

“Marry me, Anes.”

The ring sparkled on her hand.
Flustered, she stammered:

“B-but… you’re a noble, and I am just…”

She was only a maid of House Elemore.

But Caron shook his head.

“Until His Majesty took the throne, I was even less than a commoner. I survived working as a gardener in the palace, struggling just to eat.”

“No matter what, still—”

“Even now, I’m no different. Only my position has changed. If you are willing… if you will allow me…”

Anes’s eyes welled up again as he spoke earnestly.

“I want to be your husband and devote my life to you.”

She liked Sir Caron.
But she was Katrin’s maid.
When her lady returned, she had to prepare chamomile tea, help her dress in beautiful clothes…

If she married Caron, she would have to leave Katrin’s side.

Just as she hesitated, a servant’s voice called out:

“Miss Anes, a letter has arrived. From the young lady.”

Forgetting Caron was still kneeling, Anes quickly ran to receive the letter.
Caron couldn’t help but smile faintly as he watched her.

When she opened it and read Katrin’s familiar handwriting, her eyes trembled.

Letter:

To Anes.
I heard about the house from Heros. Are your injuries healing?

And if Sir Caron proposes to you, accept without hesitation.

Be honest with your feelings. Once love passes you by, it may never return.

Just as I always live making the best choices, you too, as my maid, must make the best choice for yourself.

Don’t overthink it, understand?

Even if you marry, nothing will change between us. You are still my friend, Anes.

“My lady…”

Anes’s hand trembled as she held the letter.
She took a deep breath, then walked back to Caron.

She leaned down and gave him a light kiss on the cheek.
Caron froze in shock.

But Anes smiled brightly and said:

“Let’s get married.”

I stood by the window, gazing at the night sky, and murmured to myself:

“She must have received my letter… she’ll do the right thing.”

It is the same everywhere—once social unrest is resolved, marriage rates soar.
If what Heros said was true, that things between them had already grown close, then with the excitement of victory, surely Caron would propose.

But I worried that Anes, foolishly devoted to me, might try to refuse.
That was why I had written those words in my letter.

“Maybe I overdid it… but the Anes I know would be foolish enough to reject him for my sake.”

Caron was a good man—both in the original story and here in reality.
I only wished she would never let him go.

Praying for their happy ending, I rose to my feet.

“Hm…”

Earlier, Etias had asked me to wait by this window.
But it seemed he was too busy to come.
There were countless matters demanding his attention—I understood.

So I turned and began walking back toward my room.

‘Still… I wonder if Gran Orden is being handled well?’

Some Imperial forces, under Camel’s command, were still stationed there.
With the Emperor dead, the ring that had controlled the Rift Wizards was gone.
Now the ruined capital was crawling with mindless monsters.

It had become nothing more than a zombie city.
Pitiful creatures—once ordinary citizens—now twisted beyond saving.

Like zombies, they could never return to being human.
The only mercy was to kill them.

But if the army stormed the city head-on, losses would be inevitable.
Another method would be wiser.

‘We’ll need more of the poison that works against monsters… and a way to spread it all at once…’

I paused mid-step, lost in thought.
Then I heard it.

“…This is…”

The sound of a piano.
A graceful, beautiful melody flowed into my ears, played with remarkable skill.
Who would be playing the piano so late at night?

Curious, I followed the sound outside.

‘It’s coming from the bell tower.’

Sure enough, faint notes spilled from the tower.
Almost entranced, I walked quickly toward it, clutching my dress in both hands as I climbed the stairs.

“Huff… huff…”

By the time I neared the top, I was out of breath.
But just a few more steps, and I would see who it was.

When I reached the final landing, I froze.

“….”

The sight before me stole my breath.

The full moon glowed softly above, silver light washing over the great bell.
And beside it—sat a grand piano.

At the keys was a man.

‘Etias…’

He glanced at me briefly, paused, then lowered his gaze back to the piano.
Without a word, he continued to play.

The sweet, trembling notes seeped into my ears, shaking my heart.

‘Etias… can play the piano?’

So even after reading the original story, there were things I didn’t know about him.