The Extra Wants To Live

Carl said, "Yes, Adrian has something to do. And you can talk comfortably."

"… … ."

He told her she could talk freely, but Camilla didn't respond.

"Do you want to know what Adrian's role is?"

"… Are you going to tell me…?"

Camilla hesitated and tried to speak calmly, but her words ended up trembling.

"Yes, because you are mine."

"… ."

"Adrian must lead those who follow him and kill Aric."

Camilla didn't answer, but Carl spoke coolly. He said he would kill Aric, who had done so much for him and had Lilly placed in the imperial tomb.

"So I must give myself a reason to draw my sword. After I cut off Adrian's head, I will eliminate Adrian's followers, and while the divided nobles are fighting and weakening their power, I will sit on the throne and seize absolute power."

"The nobles won't just sit back and watch… right?"

At Camilla's rebuttal, Carl smiled. Camilla averted her eyes at that truly angelic smile.

"If we combine the power of the Laurel Union in the eastern part of the Empire, the army being raised in Hilfin, and the Marquisate of Gasto that we plan to take over, it will be enough.

The wealth and military power from the silver mines of Hilfin are entirely mine, and I promise to strengthen the forces of the Marquisate of Gasto and Dabron, the mainstay of the Laurel Union, in the name of giving great strength to the border."

"…Are you thinking of going to war with Tumaria?"

Camilla asked with a slightly trembling voice. Carl smiled, narrowing his eyes. To Camilla's surprise, it was a genuine laugh from Carl.

"I told you to speak comfortably."

"… … This is comfortable."

Camilla's tone became more rigid. Carl turned his eyes to the box full of letters he had exchanged with his mother and smiled sadly.

It was only a moment, but Camilla didn't miss it, and her heart thumped.

"It is not for war, but to prevent war."

"It's almost as if you're certain that a war will break out."

"Yes, war will definitely break out."

"Why?"

At Camilla's question, Carl's expression changed once again, and he smiled gently. The expression on his neat and beautiful face clearly did not belong to a being living in this world.

"I will kill all the heirs to the throne, cut off the head of Emperor Azgoth, and then I will take the throne myself."

"… … ."

"The justification Adrian gained by killing Aric is only used to spread the civil war. After killing all the royal family members except me, there will be no need for any more justification."

"…Why… … ."

Carl spoke with a smiling face, only moving his lips.

"Because I cannot allow Azgoth's existence."

After saying that and checking again to see if it was correct, Carl slowly nodded his head as if satisfied with his own words. Then, in a detailed voice, he whispered affectionately.

"If you're going to be a traitor who killed your father anyway, it would be more efficient and rational to rule everything with blood and fear."

"… … ."

Camilla didn't know what to make of Carl's words. It's hard to say that he's been ruined because he originally had a cruel and ruthless side. But to say that he was like that from the beginning, what she felt from Carl now was too, too… … .

"… … ."

Carl stared blankly at Camilla, who hesitantly raised her hand, as if something was blocking it and she couldn't bring herself to approach him.

"Again, you're trying to comfort me."

"… … ."

Carl snatched the hand away and held it tightly in his own.

"Did the time I spent with my mother seem happy to you?"

"...Yes…."

"Was your mother happy too? Like me, when she was with me, she smiled sincerely and rejoiced… Was that so?"

"Yes."

Camilla's confident voice.

"Yeah. That's fortunate."

Carl smiled sadly, as if relieved. And after letting go of Camilla's hand, he walked over, carefully sat down in the seat where his mother had been sleeping, and looked out the window.

"We will form an alliance through marriage with the Marquisate of Gasto."

"… … ."

Camilla thought to herself, 'So what?' But the very fact that she thought that way meant that she was already very conscious of it, and she realized a beat later that she had been so surprised that she had stopped breathing.

"Gather information about Marquis Gasto and his daughter without letting Adrian find out. The rumors floating around aren't enough, so do it yourself if possible."

"...Yes…."

Carl didn't turn around even at Camilla's frustrated voice.

"With that power, you can approach without being detected?"

"Yes."

"Is it the power of the Master?"

"Yes. … … No, not necessarily, but… ."

Among the Masters, there are often those who gain strange abilities. They have many limitations, but they are powerful. Camilla's ability to melt into the shadows must be due to that kind of power. But what does it mean that this isn't necessarily the case?

Carl waited for her to continue, but Camilla hesitated and remained silent. Is it because she can't completely trust Carl? Or maybe there was some hesitation in the order he gave? In the end, neither Carl nor Camilla said anything. Camilla quickly disappeared into the shadows.

"… … ."

Carl whipped his own mind, which was about to become weak. He was so sad that his mother passed away, he just wanted to lean on something. He just couldn't stand the situation where he had to hold back his anger and revenge against Azgoth. It's just a momentary impulse. This moment will pass and disappear.

Crunch.

Carl held tightly to the necklace his mother had given him and was left alone to caress the spot where his mother had been sleeping. It seemed as if his mother's warmth still remained, but it was only his own warmth that had seeped in through Carl's touch.

So Carl wandered around the room endlessly, looking for traces of his mother. In search of warmth that doesn't remain, voices that don't remain, scents that don't remain. And feeling an unbearable, overflowing love that never fades away.

***