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Felix’s funeral was a magnificent one. The fact that he was a Chamberlain played a part, but more than that, everyone expressed their sincere condolences for his death.

There was an endless procession in memory of Felix, who was neither a hero nor a great saint.

So many flowers were sent from all parts of the Empire, filling the funeral hall and the streets. It was because only certain acquaintances of Felix and famous entities could attend the funeral.

However, all the way from the palace to the temple and from the temple to the cemetery, it was crowded with people on every street joining the funeral procession.

Every single one of them voluntarily gathered here because they admired Felix’s affable personality or felt sorry for losing him before he could even blossom.

Word circulated among the people that the Empire’s rising star had fallen. In my heart, I believed that people wanted to call him the sun, but the sun was a symbol of the emperor, so they tried to change the expression.

Although Felix was mercilessly lost, he would remain in our hearts forever.

……the atmosphere was something like that.

As I was attending the funeral with a light heart, I couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat.

I didn’t expect Felix’s influence to be this great…….

Of course, I had a rough idea. I was confident in my knowledge of his character.

However, Felix only appeared in the novel as the heroine’s brother, so it was only possible to realize this intense sense of reality after experiencing it. It was frightening for some reason.

The funeral would firstly be held in the palace and then the temple. After that, the fake remains would be transported and buried in the cemetery.

I had a very strong premonition that during the proceedings, I would meet the people I knew, as well as other characters in the novel.

It could be either an opportunity or a crisis. In any case, I planned to treat it as a blessing in disguise.

I tightened the black veil over my head more firmly.

I would have been in big trouble if I didn’t use this. My expression would have revealed that I wasn’t genuinely grieving over his death.

It was hard to suspect that Felix was still alive.

Lucas was just a fool, so he didn’t matter.

Benjamin had wits that reached the heavens. It was hard to tell what was in his mind until he opened his mouth, so I had to be careful.

Constantine, honestly, I wasn’t sure. According to the novel, he wasn’t tactless, but I hadn’t met him in person yet.

At least he knew how to imitate people and valued face and honor so he wouldn’t talk to me in this place without notice.

I secretly whispered in Claudia’s ear, pretending to wipe off tears with a handkerchief.

“Chloe, are you good at acting?”

Now was the time to act.

“I’m confident in pretending to be fine.”

No matter how helpless she was, her acting skills were surprisingly not too bad since she once reigned as the flower of the social world.

“Heuk-heuk, brother…….”

Claudia, who had hesitated for a while, trembled and pretended to cry in a weak voice.

No. That was not it. You would definitely get caught.

No matter how helpless she was, her acting skills were surprisingly not poor because she once reigned as the flower of the social world.

However, such a reaction suited the original heroine and did not match the current Claudia.

I recalled the reaction she had when she first heard Felix’s decision and when he returned alive.

“I think it’s better to be angry.”

“Angry?”

“I’m so mad at Felix for carrying and sacrificing himself. I’m angry at myself for not knowing anything until he made that decision.”

She actually said that herself.

Of course, Claudia also scolded me for not telling her about it earlier.

I reflected on my actions……. I shouldn’t have thought she was the weak heroine from the original.

Then, after a moment of silence, as if lost in thought, she hesitated and asked me, “Would I have done that if my brother was dead?”

It felt like she was trying to get permission to show signs of anger at the funeral.

I believed it was possible. Who decided that one should cry when sad or in pain? Each person had their own way of swallowing and enduring one’s vacancy.

Besides, no one would know what had been going on between the person and the deceased.

Of course, that didn’t mean they could be violent at the ceremony.

“Please show me how Chloe will react if Felix is really dead and you can never see him again. That will be enough.”

“Okay.”

This time, unlike before, a clear answer came back.

She looked so relieved, as if she had made a decision, and somewhat nervous, but she would be fine.

……. It would be okay, right?

* * *

After riding in a carriage along the line of the funeral procession, we got off at the imperial palace and headed to the funeral hall.

The sea of the crowd I saw on my way was still remarkable.

If people from other countries saw it, they would think that the hero who saved the Empire had passed away.

“My brother should have seen this.”

I was sincerely sorry to those who came to mourn his death, but I also thought it was spectacular.

I suddenly wondered how far he would have flown and how brightly he would have shone if Felix had been able to live as Felix for a long time.

Although, it was a meaningless curiosity now.

It was why I couldn’t give up my lingering regret and kept pondering about it.

“He must be watching from heaven.”

It was a voice that sent chills down my spine the moment I heard it. I slowly turned my head to the source of the eerie voice.

Lucas was standing right behind Claudia and me with an expressionless face.

“With so many people mourning his death, the road to the afterlife would not have been boring. Since he lived his life in good faith with all these people, God will keep him by his side and cherish him.”

His remarks were despicable.

Wow, I guess this was what you called a beast with a human face. That man’s guts were full of unrecyclable rubbish.

If those words were from someone else’s mouth, I wouldn’t say so, but there was not even a trace of conscience. Fortunately, Felix was alive. If Felix had actually dead and he really showed up saying that, I would have stabbed the Crown Prince.

He pretended to be solemn, but he couldn’t hide his indifferent eyes devoid of any emotions.

And it was Benjamin and Constantine who followed Lucas like goldfish poop.

‘The three useless brothers!’

It was the three useless brothers!

I almost pointed my finger and screamed at them but managed to bite my lip and suppress the urge.

As expected, these humans came to make a move while Claudia was saddened by losing Felix.

“Why the hell did you follow me? I have something to say to Claudia, so get lost.”

Lucas looked around the crowd and said. Only then did the innocent nobles flinch and scatter like Moses parting the sea.

Me, Benjamin, and Constantine, who Lucas really wanted out of his sight, just remained in our spots and stared blankly at him.

I did not obey it either, but I found it amusing that other subjects would also blatantly ignore an imperial order.

‘Is the Crown Prince…….’

……was he the neighborhood drum¹?

I didn’t feel it to this extent in the novel, but it did seem like he was the one who got hit the most among the three brothers.

It was a wonder how someone with the highest authority ended up treated like this.

Benjamin said, not hiding his bitter feelings, “I know what you’re thinking of, but I can’t just let it go.”

“Let it go. Can’t you just let it go sometimes and not interfere in every matter? I’m sick and tired of it.”

“You can’t hate the player², Your Highness. Doing things behind the scenes – you’re sly.”

“Are you done talking?”

“Hmm, well, I’ll just keep an eye on you today,” Benjamin said so, taking a step back and grinning.

It seemed like he had no intention of intervening at all today.

When Benjamin, whose existence itself was harmful, smiled innocently, Lucas stared at him with a look of disgust.

Then he sighed and said, “Hah, Sir Constantine, step aside as well.”

Subsequently, Constantine frowned at the situation as if he didn’t like it and replied without a blink of an eye.

“I don’t want to.”

“…… ”

Indeed, he was the neighborhood drum.

It was evident that those two were distinguished men who each ruled a district which imperial powers could never pressure. Benjamin had the underworld, and Constantine had the temple.

The three brothers quarreled and were not united at all. Did they really decide to work together?

Nevertheless, all three of them were perfectly flawless in their appearance at the funeral.

Benjamin, who was likely to smoke even when he fell asleep, did not bring out a cigarette. He was dressed neatly in a jet-black suit.

It was quite a surprise to think that he was the same shameless and self-indulgent man.

‘That’s why it’s even creepier…….’

He came to the funeral of the man he killed in a neat suit. And then offhandedly said words that seemed to pray for Felix’s soul.

Where the hell was this psychopath come from?

In fact, wasn’t he actually a demon crawling from the bottom of hell? If I reported this to the temple, would I be rewarded?

As my head throbbed with these sizzling sarcastic thoughts, Claudia sprang to her feet.

And she stood in front of Lucas.

‘Huh?’

I couldn’t respond to the unexpected situation and blinked blankly, watching her. At the same time, Claudia raised her fist.

It was a fist.

‘No, don’t tell me…….’

Paaak–!

Lucas’s head turned horribly at the painful sound of bones colliding.

Ugh, treason!

* * *

T/N: Ah, Claudia in action. How exciting! (Also I cracked up at the description “Benjamin and Constantine who followed Lucas like goldfish poop.” XD) Anyway, see you next week, everyone! I hope you have an amazing weekend o(^∀^*)o

^{1. The idiom “a neighborhood drum” is someone who gets easily teased by many people or someone who is often blamed for things. In this case, it’s the former i.e. Lucas is everyone’s punching bag.↩}

^{2. “Don’t hate the player (hate the game)” is a saying that means to not blame the individuals that operate the system/activity if you face frustrations with the system/activity.↩}

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