There is a place in the imperial palace where no one approaches.

It was located deep underground, where not a single ray of sunlight could enter, and there was always a cold, unpleasant, and damp atmosphere.

However, people came into that quiet space for the first time in a long time.

The sound of people’s footsteps echoed softly along the walls of the long passage.

The sound of trudging footsteps was urgent and gave off a strong nervous feeling.

-Crackling

With a small noise, a roaring, burning flame soon lit up the dark passage. 

At the end of the passage, Lionel lit a torch he had brought with him and hung it at the entrance of the iron gate. 

“It’s like a bloody grave.” 

With words rolling out of his mouth, his hand grabbed the handle of the iron door and pulled it. The iron door, which had not been opened for a long time, made an unpleasant squeaking sound as it scraped against the bricks on the floor.

Lionel’s eyes scanned the wide space inside. 

“Whose coffin is it?”

At that moment, an unknown voice came out from behind Lionel. It was sudden, but Lionel didn’t was not shaken at all and answered naturally. 

“A sinner’s coffin.”

“A sinner’s coffin. From what I heard, the execution of the former Empress Dowager by the current Emperor, Lionel Ulysses Woodberg, is quite famous.”

Melanie, the owner of the voice, approached Lionel’s side. 

“I heard you burned the body and dumped it in the field to feed the beasts, but it was here?” 

Melanie, who was staring at the side of Lionel’s face without an answer, followed his gaze and looked at the coffin. 

It was too old and unsightly to be considered a coffin containing the body of someone who was the most noble woman in the country when she was alive.

‘Is it because it’s a sinner’s coffin?’

The lid of the old coffin was firmly nailed with dozens of nails.

Melanie thought that Lionel must have really disliked that person, seeing the state of the coffin.

“Well, that’s none of my business. “Why did you call me?”

Melanie stopped pretending to be interested and asked about the original purpose. Melaine enjoyed using provocative language, but now there was something he was more concerned about.

“Why are you telling me to come when I’m busy?”

“Didn’t you already know this?”

Lionel’s eyes finally turned to Melaine. The cold, dead eyes were too soulless to be considered human.

Melanie got goosebumps without realizing it as if he had made eye contact with a corpse.

“If it wasn’t about Lindel, there’s no reason for me to look for you.”

You wouldn’t have had a reason to come here either.

Melanie’s eyes sank, but Sionel paid no attention and continued speaking.

“You’re quite capable, too. You’re so worried about Lindel that you’re not only hanging around the Imperial {alace, you’re even investigating me.”

“You knew?”

“It hasn’t been long since I ordered the knight to bring you. But you came to me as if you had been waiting for it, so how could I not know?”

Lionel responded as if it was nothing. The feverish voice was monotonous and mechanical, like reading a book.

“It must have been a very difficult task for you, who is not interested in human affairs, to even look into matters related to the Empress Dowager.”

“You.”

Melanie’s face hardened fiercely, feeling the sense of déjà vu he had felt before.

“What on earth are you?”

Lionel did not seem like an ordinary human being. The power he had seen before was surprising, but Melanie was more concerned about other things.

It wasn’t to this extent when I was with Lindel. Maybe it’s because she isn’t here. Everything about Lionel smelled too shady and dangerous to be simply dismissed as the majesty of an emperor.

“You’ve been talking like you know me well for a while. I never forget what I’ve seen once, even if I’m not interested in humans.”

Especially those eyes. Melanie felt that those dark eyes were ominous. Even though it is clear that he is an ordinary human being.

“Especially those eyes of yours. If I had seen something like that, there’s no way I would have forgotten it.”

Lionel was relaxed even though he knew Melanie was wary of him. No, he didn’t seem interested to be exact.

“That’s right. You’ve never seen me. But is that really that important?”

“The reason this crazy bastard keeps getting on my nerves is-”

“The important thing is Lindel.”

For the first time, emotion flashed across Sionel’s face. He muttered irritably, not hiding his displeasure.

“Don’t keep changing the topic. What is important to ‘us’ is ‘Lindel.’”

Lionel’s white finger pointed to the coffin.

“Check if there’s a soul in there.”

“Are you afraid that a long-dead corpse might come back to life?”

“Then I’ll just kill it again.”

As Melanie spoke sarcastically in growing irritation, Lionel rolled his eyes. A cold, lifelike glow was reflected in the bright blue eyes.

“But it’s a different story if Lindel becomes dangerous.”

Check it. Right now.

Even without saying anything, Melanie could read Lionel’s gaze urging him. It hurt his pride to have to listen to the words of a mere human, but this was a problem related to Lindell

Melanie came here unwelcome because the memory of a dragon that resembled him lingered in his mind like a thorn.

‘You said the owner of the coffin put a curse on that child, right?’

To be precise, he heard that Lindel received a curse on behalf of the emperor.

Although he wanted to destroy it all at once, Melanie followed Lionel’s words for now.

Melaine’s pupils were torn long vertically as she examined the soul of the sinner.

“Doesn’t exist.”

His eyes were tired after using power he shouldn’t have for a short moment.

“That thing is definitely dead. It’s impossible to come back to life.”

“Then that one.”

Lionel’s fingers pointed, this time, at the back of the coffin. 

An old jar with mold everywhere that was as ugly and dirty as the coffin. 

“What’s that?” 

“Is there a soul left over there?”