After My Dead Ending

“… Just stop staring at me.”

“Hehehe.”

Ektra chuckled ominously.

“Mrs. Stang, because of you, I can’t focus on my meal.”

I eventually put down my fork and knife and retorted.

“I was curious about what kind of conversation you were having in the carriage yesterday, giggling and whispering like that. It kept me awake all night. Just when the carriage arrived…”

“If you’re going to disturb the meal, then leave.”

There was nothing more to hear, so I gave the order to leave.

It was a relief that Ektra hadn’t been dismissed earlier, given that she followed us even to the dining table, babbling nonsense. I quickly reviewed her performance in my mind.

‘Indeed, she shouldn’t be dismissed.’

Ektra was a troublemaker, but she was exceptional. That’s why she held such an important position, bridging the gap between the Imperial capital and the Katam.

“Hey, Master. Please listen to me. Just as you wish! That’s all you have to do. This Ektra Stang is unquestionably on your side.”

Whether she knew she was just about to be dismissed or not, Ektra placed her hand on her chest and made a desperate expression.

Hmm.

“What does your master want?”

Leaning back on the chair with a relaxed posture, I asked, observing how far Ektra would go.

“Even without saying it, this Stang… understands everything. Wouldn’t the lord want to take the handsome, young, and noble Lord Diazi, as your husband, my lord?”

I had casually mentioned the status of a Norma to Mrs. Stang. After that, the impudent behavior of the servants had decreased to some extent.

I pondered deeply. Was Norma young? Technically, he was nine years older than me. Of course, time had been frozen for him, so his physical appearance might be younger than mine.

But that wasn’t the problem…

“Listen, Stang. You guys still haven’t fixed that habit. Why do you go crazy and can’t leave me alone whenever you see someone? Please stop gathering and reading romantic novels. Looks like old folks always have plenty of time. Should I find more work for you personally?”

I grumbled irritably while sipping my wine.

“Well, that damn bull, no, that damn bull Norma doesn’t suit you, my lord! Everyone thinks the same way!”

Ektra said forcefully. Her voice seemed unjustly indignant.

“Why doesn’t he suit me? My face may not be as pretty as a flower, but I have a well-proportioned body, a tall stature, and despite being a little foolish, I have a charming personality. Can anyone be more perfect than this?”

Ektra’s face quickly darkened. It seemed that the face of that damn bull Norma, which made people feel powerless just by looking at it, came to mind.

“The greatest advantage of the damn Norma is his stupidity and small ambitions. Why? Because I really like my fiancé.”

I smirked and chuckled.

“I told you. There will be only one successor. My husband will be chosen as someone who is thoroughly advantageous to the Archie. So, they must have intact limbs, a high family reputation, and be stupid and useless as an ant’s urine. Has there ever been a more suitable candidate than the damn Norma? How did I choose that guy?”

At my firm attitude, Ektra burst into tears. Whether she cried or not, I hummed, lifted my fork and knife again, and began cutting the meat.

“No matter who you bring up, I won’t break off the engagement. If you’re upset, try assassinating him or something. But don’t dare suggest someone even worse.”

Then I chewed the succulent meat. Snap! The juice burst inside my mouth. The taste of the meat for the first meal was exquisite.

“I won’t accept anyone worse than the damn bull! We’re tolerating that damn bull!”

Ektra shouted in frustration. Her kind face turned angrily red. I didn’t understand why she hated Philip Morph that much. Even if it’s a marriage of convenience, it’s me who’s doing it.

“Haha, that’s why you shouldn’t mess with my ‘precious fiancé,’ Philip.”

I teased Ektra and playfully spun the knife around.

It was true. Philip Morph was a somewhat precious fiancé to me. When it came to the Archie, there were no better conditions than Philip Morph.

That’s when it happened. Someone missed the door handle and made an unpleasant sound.

Both Ektra and I turned our gaze towards the door simultaneously. The door slowly opened annoyingly to both sides.

“Lord Diazi!”

The door opened, revealing a nomad standing there. Ektra exclaimed his name in surprise.

“Lord Diazi? What are you doing standing there?”

“…Lord. Good morning.”

Norma, who appeared somewhat unnatural, casually greeted us. Ektra looked at him affectionately.

‘Stang called him.’

I glanced at Ektra with a knowing look.

* * *

Norma dined with great elegance. Not a single sound of chewing or the clinking of utensils touching the plate could be heard. His demeanor was extremely mysterious and reverent, and I couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Does this person even defecate?’ But I didn’t ask.

Ektra, who finished her meal, remained seated and simply observed Norma, who continued to eat as if he was enjoying a treat. I felt burdened by the lingering gaze of longing in Ektra’s eyes.

Occasionally, the nomad responded with a refreshing eye contact to Ektra’s pleading gaze.

“Aren’t you going to work?”

“My Lady is still in the middle of her meal. How can I leave my seat? Take your time. I too will have dessert after a long time.”

I snorted in amusement. Well, that’s Ektra for you, always busy and rushing through meals. But now she suddenly wants to have dessert? It was too transparent.

That’s how we silently resumed our meal.

“So, My Lady had a fiancé.”

Suddenly, Norma muttered an unexpected remark. It seemed he had overheard my voice from outside the door.

Upon hearing the nomad’s words, Ektra dropped her knife with a start. I glared at Ektra, who reacted uncouthly.

“I’m twenty-five years old. Of course, I have a fiancé. Don’t tell me I wouldn’t.”

I wiped my mouth and responded as if it were obvious. And it was indeed obvious.

Ektra, who had been looking at me anxiously, suddenly had a hopeless expression on her face. I found her so amusing that I couldn’t help but observe her, unaware of the hardened expression on Norma’s face.

With the sole intention of teasing Ektra, I happily opened my mouth again.

“Isn’t it more unusual to still be unmarried? Most people get married once they pass adulthood and turn twenty. I’m on the late side. If it weren’t for this chaos, I might have had a wedding this winter or next spring.”

Chuckling, I spoke while looking at Ektra.

As if denying what I said, Ektra desperately fumbled for words and eventually covered her forehead. She looked incredibly frustrated, and I was thoroughly delighted.

“It’s been about five years since I got engaged, so I should be getting married soon too. Even Diazi hasn’t gotten engaged—”

I shrugged my shoulders and was about to continue blabbering when I abruptly stopped.

‘Darn it. I made a mistake.’

Hastily, I turned my gaze to check Norma’s expression. Our eyes met. Norma blinked with an expression I couldn’t decipher.

‘Damn it, I must have really lost my mind if even the screws are loose these days.’

Norma had a fiancée. The princess of the doomed empire who died shortly after their engagement. Princess Caliphesse, the first princess. She was Norma’s fiancée. Norma was a man with an extraordinary scale of engagements.

The deceased Princess Caliphesse was famous among the nobles. Infamous, to be precise. I had also heard about her exceptional qualities since childhood.

Of course, among ordinary imperial citizens, she was known as “Our clever princess who will become the holy emperor!” But the reality was somewhat different. In the aristocratic society, she was renowned for her cruel temperament and excessive greed. At the same time, there was no dispute about her extraordinary intelligence.

She resembled the Emperor himself and monopolized his affection. That was none other than Caliphesse.

After being granted the position of princess, she rose to become the greatest manipulator. It was right after her engagement with Norma.

The Emperor believed in Caliphesse’s shining brilliance and turned a blind eye to her despicable nature. With the Emperor’s firm support, if she had just lived on, she would have easily become the next Emperor.

Even if she hadn’t driven herself to despair longing for her missing fiancé.

The tragic story of the princess who fell ill due to her deep love for her fiance became widely known throughout the empire. It was also famous as a tragic romance between the princess and a holy knight.

However, this was only the content announced by the “Imperial Court.” The reality was completely different.

Princess Caliphesse suffered from madness due to a curse and took her own life. She was still a young age, unable to reach adulthood.

The reason why the curse was particularly dangerous was that it would rebound on the caster in the same manner. Most people didn’t even know that the “Alfo’s Curse Law” existed, so Princess Caliphesse, known for her intelligence, would have been unaware of it as well.

Surprisingly, the target of the curse cast by her was none other than Norma’s close friend and a knight of the Imperial Order. Someone had manipulated the princess into cursing Norma’s friend, causing her to suffer from madness as well.

It was an incident where the princess committed heresy and died. Those who knew this fact were few within the empire. The Emperor completely buried this fact.

In my case, it was when I accidentally intruded into the imperial secret while tracing whether Nyx was truly dead or, if not, where he was during my investigation.

It was because Nyx used to be a high-ranking priest who assisted Princess Caliphesse in her weekend prayers.

Oddly enough, the princess had an intimate relationship with one priest, and that person turned out to be Nyx.

Nyx was the one who informed the princess about the curse, and he also approached Norma’s friend, who fell into madness due to the princess’s curse.

I couldn’t understand why the princess would curse Norma’s friend from the inside. It is not revealed in <Ophelia and the Night>.

One thing was clear: Caliphesse’s curse ultimately targeted Norma.

On the way to Katam, I occasionally told Norma about Nyx. I briefly explained about the Imperial Court, and the reasons why I pursued Nyx, so I couldn’t help but mention Norma’s fiancée, Caliphesse.

Despite hearing that his friend had suddenly gone mad due to the actions of his own fiancee, who had been deceased for over a decade, Norma’s reaction was remarkably calm.

‘I suspected that the princess was involved in that incident.’

That was all. So there have been times when I thought that they must have had their own desperate circumstances and let it go.

I didn’t know exactly what Caliphesse’s intentions were, but it was clear that she was the instigator and the starting point of the tragedy that occurred between Norma and his friend.

‘To make such a mistake.’

“I’m sorry, Lord Diazi. I was thoughtless.”

I quickly apologized, setting down the dishes.

“No need to apologize. Although Caliphesse was my fiancée, we never even properly faced each other. It was no different from being strangers. So…”

Norma pursed his lips as if he wanted to say something more but stopped.

“You don’t have to force it. It’s my mistake. Please forgive my rudeness.”

I apologized once again with a stern face, and Norma smiled as if to reassure me. Ektra, not knowing what to do, exchanged glances with me and Norma.

That’s when it happened.

“Lady Stang! No, M-Madam! There’s urgent news!”

One of Ektra’s maids rushed into the dining area.

“Gasp, gasp. The knights who went on reconnaissance have returned!”

The reconnaissance team, whom I thought would arrive tomorrow morning at the earliest, returned a day early.

“All of them!”

And not just some, but all of them.

…The plan was beginning to unravel.