It was probably the longest three days of his life, Creed thought.
At the same time, it was also the three days he had longed for most.
He believed without a doubt that if he took just one more step forward, he would be able to reach the level he desired.
Filled with anticipation, he left his bedroom.
Normally, he would wake up around the time breakfast started, but today, he had woken up early and decided to go for a walk.
“Lady Eleonore, did you sleep well last night?”
“Oh, Lord Lyard.”
Creed approached Kyle, whom he encountered in the hallway, with a bright look in his eyes, arms open in greeting.
Kyle was, after all, a man who was almost like a lucky charm to him.
And yet, despite it being quite early, Kyle was already walking around the castle.
It seemed he had quite a diligent nature.
Once a person starts to view someone positively, they tend to see nothing but good in them.
Creed was no exception to this, as he looked at Kyle, believing that his eyes had not been mistaken, and greeted him.
“I wonder if you slept well yourself.”
“Since today is the most important day for you, I slept quite well.”
“Haha, you’re quite the person.”
Although it was a mere pleasantry, it was truly a nice thing to say.
For Creed, who typically didn’t trust outsiders, it had been quite a while since he had met someone he liked this much, and he looked at Kyle with a satisfied expression.
Perhaps deciding to shake hands with the man before him had been one of the most crucial decisions of his life.
“I’ll prepare it right after lunch, so please come to your daughter’s room.”
“Sure, I will.”
Since he had just been told by Hecate that she would visit around that time, Creed nodded with satisfaction, thinking the timing was perfect.
Sometimes, it’s hard not to suspect that things are aligning too perfectly, but with his desires tainted by a grim hope, he couldn’t bring himself to entertain that thought.
“Then.”
Kyle bowed respectfully and disappeared from his sight, his back resembling an actor bowing to the audience after a play.
Creed felt a fleeting sense of mystery but quickly shook off the feeling, dismissing any sense of discomfort.
The sun had just risen outside the window.
It was unclear whose sunlight it was meant to shine upon.
Following Kyle’s instructions, Creed waited for Hecate to bring the sorcerer from the Dawn’s Eye after lunch in his study.
Minutes passed.
Srrrk.
“You’ve been waiting for a while, Creed Eleonore.”
“It’s fine. You arrived just in time.”
As Hecate appeared from the shadows, Creed bowed his head and greeted her.
Beside her was a mysterious figure cloaked in a robe, who appeared to be quite tall, likely a man.
“It’s nice to meet you. I am Creed Eleonore.”
“……?”
Though he wasn’t in a position to greet someone first, Creed lowered his pride and greeted the silent figure.
But when there was no reply, he glared at the figure with an uncomfortable expression.
Hecate, who had been watching them, intervened.
“Forget it. He doesn’t speak to others. Now, where do we go?”
“Oh, I didn’t know… I apologize. This way, please.”
Assuming there were internal rules or reasons within the Dawn’s Eye, Creed led them toward Sylvia’s room.
He had never felt how far apart the rooms were in the castle until now.
Squeak.
When he opened the door, the first thing he saw was his daughter, lying soundly asleep on the bed.
The next thing he heard was a voice from someone he hadn’t expected.
“You’ve come, my dear.”
“My love? How…?”
For some reason, his wife Marianne was standing by the door, as if waiting for him.
Since he hadn’t informed her of today’s schedule, Creed was naturally taken aback.
Could it be that Kyle had told her?
As he began to feel suspicious, Marianne’s explanation followed.
“Sylvia told me. She said that you had invited a talented sorcerer to fix your sight today.”
“…I see.”
Hearing this, Creed felt a sense of relief.
At the same time, he realized that Sylvia must trust him quite a lot, as Kyle had mentioned.
According to his testimony, Sylvia had hesitated to return to the castle, unable to trust him.
Creed didn’t know how Kyle had persuaded her, but the fact that she had changed her attitude and was quietly waiting indicated a significant amount of trust had already been built between them.
“I wondered what was so important on your anniversary, and it was this. You should have given me a heads-up.”
“With your health not being well, I figured you’d worry, so I planned to take care of it and tell you afterward.”
“Is that so?”
“…Yes.”
Avoiding his wife’s gaze, Creed, accompanied by Hecate and the sorcerer, approached the bed.
Even when the three of them came near, Sylvia seemed to be sound asleep.
At that moment, Creed felt for the first time that his daughter’s existence was endearing.
The existence of his daughter, who seemed to be there to fulfill his selfish ambitions, was, for the first time in his life, something he found admirable.
“Yes, this is your purpose in life.”
He didn’t know when the seed he planted would bear fruit, but at least until then, he wished her a peaceful life, offering an unspoken blessing to his daughter.
Then, he glanced at Hecate, signaling with his eyes that they could start.
As the sorcerer’s hand moved toward Sylvia’s right eye, Hecate’s lips parted.
“Creed Eleonore.”
“Yes.”
“Was that position so sweet that you were willing to betray the wife you swore to love forever?”
“What on earth are you saying….”
At the chillingly cold question that carried a murderous intent, Creed’s eyes flashed.
He threw his gaze towards Hecate, whose eyes were hidden beneath her robe, and locked eyes with her for a long time.
Then, as a single drop of cold sweat trickled down his back, sending a shiver through him, he abruptly stood up and pointed a trembling finger.
“Y-You! Just what are you… Kugh!?”
But before he could even finish his sentence, an unknown pressure suddenly crushed him from all directions, freezing him in place like a statue.
What in the world just happened?
Before he could even process it, the door suddenly burst open, and someone rushed in with a desperate expression.
“L-Lord! The military police have stormed in! They demand to take you immediately…!”
“What…! T-The military police?! What nonsense is this?! Bring me the overseer at once…!”
“That would be unnecessary.”
Clench.
Just as Creed, baffled by the sudden intrusion of the military police, was about to demand an explanation, a rough hand grabbed the nape of his neck.
At the same time, a familiar voice echoed from behind.
It was undoubtedly Hecate who had seized him, yet, strangely enough, the voice coming from within was that of a man.
Creed’s eyes widened as he processed this realization.
“Did you have a sweet dream, Sir Eleonore?”
“Y-You…! Kyle Lyard!”
As the figure threw off the robe, revealing himself fully, Creed’s expression twisted in shock.
Standing before him was none other than Kyle—someone Creed had never doubted would stand on the same side as him.
It was only then that Creed realized he had walked into a trap. Grinding his teeth, rage boiled inside him.
“How dare a mere wretch like you deceive me…!”
“Deceive? That’s quite an odd way to put it. You, who sided with a band of traitors, deceived your wife and precious daughter—have you never once thought about that?”
The words stung. Yet, Creed still clung to hope.
After all, the claim that he was connected to Dawn’s Eye was merely Kyle’s one-sided testimony.
At this point, denying everything and buying time was the best course of action.
And if there was anyone he needed to win over first, it was obvious.
“A band of traitors? Ridiculous! My love, don’t believe this nonsense! Quickly, summon the guards and arrest this—”
“…That’s enough, dear.”
“E-Enough…? What do you mean?”
Creed desperately poured out his words, playing the role of a falsely accused husband. But the firm reply left him momentarily speechless.
It was as if his wife had already decided that everything was over.
Now that he thought about it, something had felt off.
Despite the urgency of the situation, his wife remained eerily calm.
As if she had foreseen this entire outcome from the very start.
Rustle.
Then, Marianne pulled something out from a small paper envelope hidden at her side.
As soon as Creed saw it, his pupils dilated in shock.
It was a stack of documents—documents related to Dawn’s Eye that he had locked away in his magically sealed safe.
And the only person capable of opening that safe besides him…
Was his wife, Marianne Eleonore, who had inherited his magical energy the moment she bore his child.
“You… don’t tell me…”
“That’s right. I cooperated with Lord Lyard.”
“T-That’s absurd…! You handed over your own husband to some lowly noble brat you barely know? Why? Did you finally realize your body’s still young and crave a taste of a younger man?”
“How… How could you say something like that?”
Marianne covered her mouth, eyes filled with pain as her husband’s vulgar words exposed the depths of his depravity.
Kyle, too, felt a strong urge to rip out that wretched tongue, but there were still things he needed to hear before handing him over to the military police.
And then—
SLAP!
“And you still… And you still dare to call yourself the father of two daughters?! The husband of a woman?!”
“S-Sylvia…”
Originally, Sylvia had planned to feign sleep until everything was settled.
But unable to hold back her fury any longer, she struck Creed across the face.
“Mother gave you every chance! You threw it all away, and that was your own choice!”
“Gave me a chance…?”
Creed frowned in confusion at his daughter’s words—until a thought struck him, making his eyes widen.
Three nights ago.
His wife, strangely enough, had insisted on celebrating their wedding anniversary.
She had always said anniversaries weren’t important, that just being together was enough.
But that night, she had seemed different—almost mournful.
Perhaps it wasn’t sadness, but grief.
If he had accepted her invitation that night and held her hand, perhaps he could have at least found a path to redemption.
But by turning away, he had crossed a river from which there was no return.
Marianne must have realized this before anyone else.
As this painful truth settled in, Creed turned to face his wife, eyes hollow.
“I truly loved you, Creed.”
For the first time in years, she spoke his name with the tender emotions of their youth.
“That’s why I wanted to believe in you. That you could still come back to us.”
She tried to keep her tone even, but her trembling lips betrayed the sorrow she could not hide.
“But after speaking with Lord Lyard and seeing you three nights ago, I understood. We—our daughters, our family—no longer exist in your heart.”
“……”
“We didn’t abandon you, my love. You abandoned us.”
A blade of cold truth pierced Creed’s chest.
It was an undeniable reality.
And truth, above all else, was the most merciless and unforgiving thing in the world.
Especially to villains like him, whose lives had been built on lies and mistakes.