RVMPT Chapter 115

Chapter 115 

‘He’s lost it.’

Harold realized the truth behind the emperor’s words about progress in immortality. Now he understood what the emperor had been doing with the people he’d taken from the empire.

He already knew the emperor was jealous of his own son and found him displeasing—but this was madness beyond reason.

If you’re going to grow old, do it with dignity, Harold thought. The emperor clinging to an impossible goal was the most pathetic he’d ever looked.

“If Your Majesty truly desires it that much, I suppose I cannot keep my mouth shut as a loyal subject. I’ll tell you how I overcame my illness.”

“Now you’re making sense! Speak, Duke!”

The emperor lit up with joy. Harold calmly pointed at a small window through which the clear blue sky could be seen.

“It was a miracle.”

The emperor’s expression immediately hardened. But he quickly softened his face again, trying to coax Harold further.

“If we find the key to immortality, it’s not just for me. You could share that eternity, too, Duke.”

“I’ve already told Your Majesty the truth. If you don’t believe me, you can take my life.”

So, he intends to keep up this attitude to the end.

It was the right move to arrest him on charges of treason, the emperor thought.

Even under these circumstances, Harold wouldn’t cooperate. Had he been summoned peacefully, he’d surely have left, claiming miracles again, and prepared for the worst. With the Baisen family’s influence and Harold’s talents, even the emperor would have struggled to suppress him if he were ready.

The emperor reassured himself that he’d done the right thing by cutting Harold off from his household and all connections. He gave Harold a firm pat on the shoulder.

“Rest your mind here and think it over. What truly benefits you.”

With a chuckle, the emperor turned and exited the interrogation room.

As the door closed, Harold silently watched. Then, a woman who hadn’t followed the emperor, Jaina, stepped forward.

Her footsteps halted, and the blue diamond necklace gifted by the emperor sparkled in front of Harold.

“You’re really not interested in immortality, Duke?”

“I don’t believe in nonsense.”

“That’s hard to understand. You, of all people—someone who recovered from an incurable disease—how can you not believe in immortality?”

“Then why not believe my recovery was a miracle?”

“If you want me to believe it’s a miracle, then tell me how it happened.”

“It just… came to me. On its own.”

He was telling the truth, but Jaina clearly didn’t believe him. Her lips tightened as she pulled out an empty syringe from her coat.

Harold watched her warily, not sure what she planned. Without warning, she inserted the needle into his arm and drew blood.

After collecting enough, she looked down at him.

“I hope that miracle comes again—before you’re too tired to speak.”

With that, she left the room.

***

Three days passed. The interrogation and blood-drawing continued.

As the round moon shone through the tiny window one night, Harold heard a noise outside. The guards in front of the heavy iron door collapsed silently—no screams, no struggle.

Then, with a click, the thick door opened.

It was the person Harold had counted on.

“Duke, are you safe?”

“This is the first time I’ve ever been glad to be in the same boat as Your Highness.”

“Since you’re still talking, I guess you’re fine.”

Andrew casually spoke while scanning Harold’s condition. Aside from the injection marks, there were no signs of torture. He finally relaxed and gave a small shrug.

“What did you do with the guards?”

“Nothing big. I used a colorless, scentless sleeping drug. If they wake up before dawn, they’ll just think they fell asleep.”

Their eyes met—Andrew’s vivid crimson and Harold’s sharp navy gaze. There was much to say between them. Harold spoke first.

“Any word from the people I sent to the Tatum family?”

“Not yet.”

“I see. Your Highness, I’ve discovered the emperor’s true goal.”

“What? Are you serious?”

Harold explained what had happened—the emperor’s desire for immortality, the human experiments, and the reason behind his own arrest.

“He arrested you just to find out how you recovered from illness? That’s how desperate he is? And he thinks your recovery is the key to eternal life?”

“You can’t find reason with a madman.”

Andrew let out a laugh full of disbelief and rubbed his face.

“…He’s truly disgusting. I never imagined my father would sink this low.”

He already knew the emperor no longer cared about the people and abused his power. But to experiment on citizens in pursuit of immortality? The very thought made his stomach turn.

Before Andrew could fully compose himself, Harold calmly spoke again.

“But it’s not all bad.”

“How can you say that? You haven’t been tortured yet, but they might if you don’t talk.”

“I’m aware of the risks. But the emperor won’t kill me—not until he hears what he wants.”

Harold had observed the emperor’s attitude for the past three days. He was certain of this.

“I’ll keep the emperor distracted. I’d like you to act in my place on the outside.”

The situation wasn’t hopeless. Now that they knew the emperor’s goal and had a hidden card ready to turn things around, there was still a chance.

Harold shared his full plan with Andrew. When he finished, Andrew spoke about the situation outside.

“Then I should tell you what’s happening at the Baisen estate.”

***

Three days had passed since Harold left for the imperial palace.

Diana stared at the ceiling from her bed, facing the fourth morning without him.

Even under the gaze of the watchful guards, she pulled the blanket over herself. The scent of soap and the faint smell of Harold’s cologne made her chest ache.

“He’s okay, right…? They say no news is good news…”

She understood that a charge as serious as treason would take time to investigate. But the anxiety wouldn’t leave her.

She wanted to help prove Harold’s innocence, but she and everyone in the mansion were forbidden to step outside until the charges were cleared.

Harold’s close aides had been isolated. Even Diana had three female guards rotating around her, watching her even in private.

“I can’t just lie here like this.”

Diana slapped her cheeks and sat up. With Harold gone, she was the only one left to lead the household.

She had to act like a head.

To calm herself, she imagined good things—Harold returning safely, everything going back to normal.

With that vision in mind, she went to see the servants. Though she didn’t speak much, her calm and confident demeanor reassured them. And seeing their relief comforted her in return.

She walked through the entire estate and eventually stood at the entrance, looking out toward the gate.

The main gate hadn’t opened since Harold left.

“It’ll open again when Harold comes back, cleared of all charges, right?”

She stared at it for a while before turning to go back inside. At the same time, Anna was about to do the same when—

“Oh? My lady! The gate—it’s opening!”

“What?”

Just like Anna said, the gate slowly opened, and a carriage rolled in.

Is it Harold…?

Diana rushed toward the stopped carriage, heart pounding. The coachman opened the door—and someone stepped out.

“Diana, are you here to greet me?”

With gentle, curved eyes and red irises, Kaiden stepped down from the carriage.