To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

“Ancient magic…”

“Damn it!”

Emmett shouted in anger. He carefully held Liv to prevent her from slipping off the horse and helped her down to the ground. Liv immediately buried her face in the dirt. While Liv groaned and suffered for a while, Emmett remained silent.

“Liv…”

He called Liv’s name, but Liv couldn’t answer. The world was spinning and her mind was in chaos.

A moment later, only after the pain subsided could Liv raise her head. Emmett reached out and wiped away the tears that had gathered in Liv’s eyes.

“Liv, I’m sorry…”

“What? Why, Emmett?”

“I… I’m sorry.”

Emmett apologized for an inexplicable reason, and Liv just looked puzzled. Emmett bowed his head and kissed Liv’s eyes.

“It will be alright. We’ll win in the end…”

Although Liv usually remained silent at those words, this time Liv gave a sharp look upon hearing them. For a moment, Emmett thought he saw God beyond those eyes.

“Yes, we’ll make it so.”

Emmett looked a little surprised at her answer, but he didn’t question Liv further.

They started riding again. Because they had been riding for days without proper sleep in bed, both Emmett and Liv were in a state where they could collapse at any moment. They had to sleep outdoors and beg for food in villages.

Then, they heard the sound of someone else riding a horse ahead. Liv and Emmett reflexively tensed, wondering if soldiers sent by the Emperor had caught up with them. And what they saw was…

“Hilda!”

Liv called out the other person’s name, almost crying. Liv saw Hildegard riding a horse with Walter.

“Sister Liv!”

The horse carrying Walter and Hildegard came to a stop. Walter helped Hildegard off the horse, and Liv also got off with Emmett’s help before running to them.

“You’re alive, you’re alive…”

Liv had only thought they were imprisoned in the dungeons of the imperial palace. To meet the two of them like this, having escaped the imperial palace. Ah, she thought she had lost everything, but there was still something left for her…

“Yes, we escaped…”

Hildegard, wearing clothes close to rags, said with a sob.

“The Count and Countess… sacrificed themselves for us…”

“Ah.”

Hildegard’s voice seemed to reveal all the sorrow she had felt until now. Although Hildegard usually acted mature, in this state she still showed signs of youth. While Liv hugged Hildegard, Walter, unlike his usual self, watched Liv with a disheveled face.

“Liv, I’m glad you escaped safely too.”

“Yes… Are you alright, Brother?”

“I’ve already experienced the death of my parents several times, so…”

He replied as if it really didn’t bother him, so Liv bit her lip hard and changed the subject.

“…By the way, where were you two heading?”

“Sister Liv, we were going to Viscount Wolfe’s domain. It’s the only place we can trust now… Then we were planning to cross over to the Merna Empire.”

In the end, they were heading to the same destination.

“Liv, are you hurt anywhere?”

Walter asked kindly, and Liv nodded.

“No, I’m really fine. But because of me…”

As Liv’s complexion darkened, Emmett placed his hand on Liv’s shoulder. Then he looked at Walter with a strange gaze.

“Liv, let’s not think about that now.”

“Yes…”

“By the way, I’m not sure if we can enter Viscount Wolfe’s domain like this.”

Hildegard said in a worried voice.

“Hmm, I don’t know if Hayden is here now either. There was talk of him leaving for the Kingdom of Reboer for a while.”

At that moment, there was a rustling sound from the grass. And a familiar red hair revealed itself.

“What, everyone?”

“Hayden!”

“Yeah, I heard the news and was waiting here, knowing you’d come.”

Hayden, leaning against a tree, looked relaxed. Liv felt a little more at ease seeing him like that. Somehow, it seemed Viscount Wolfe would accept them. Well, as long as the last descendant of the Gracia family was here, Viscount Wolfe probably couldn’t abandon them either.

“Duke, you look a mess?”

When Hayden said that as if mocking Emmett, Emmett replied in a slightly irritated voice.

“Yes, well, that’s how it turned out.”

“Well, since everyone looks tired, I’ll guide you to Viscount Wolfe’s castle.”

“Is it okay for us to enter?”

“Yes, anyway, the Wolfe Viscount family is also a house that has risked extermination.”

Liv got back on the horse, and the horse started moving slowly. In that rhythmic vibration, Liv must have dozed off without realizing it, leaning against Emmett.

* * *

Viscount Wolfe showed little interest in them, telling them to stay in an empty room. Liv was only able to regain her senses after bathing and eating. After calming her mind, Liv opened her mouth looking at Emmett with a resolute voice.

“Emmett, I’ll go call the others.”

“Why?”

“I have something to say.”

After seeing the deaths of Laga and the Hamelsvoort couple, Liv finally made up her mind. It was a decision made only after paying numerous prices, but she hoped it wasn’t too late.

“Miss, why did you call us?”

Hayden asked glibly, while Walter and Hildegard sat in empty seats in silence. They looked tired from the arduous journey. Liv made eye contact with each of them in turn before speaking.

“I have something to tell you about myself.”

“It’s about your past, Sister.”

Hildegard was the one who immediately grasped Liv’s intention. She knew that Liv wasn’t from the slums.

“Yes, I’ve been hiding it from everyone except Emmett. But now…”

Liv’s eyes shone firmly with determination.

“I felt I had to speak now. Because I can’t hide anymore.”

Those present fell into doubt upon hearing those words. Liv was originally a mysterious being that humans couldn’t easily understand. They only knew that this mysteriousness was created by the gods’ love for her. But… did she have some kind of past?

“You know, haven’t you ever wondered why the gods cherish me?”

“Of course I have…”

Hildegard nodded.

“But how could we fathom the gods’ intentions? I thought we humans would never know the reason.”

“Hmm, I’ve never thought about that.”

“Why should I waste time worrying about such a thing?”

After hearing the reactions of Hildegard, Hayden, and Walter, Liv continued.

“The reason the gods consider me special is because I was born in the lowest place.”

“What?”

“The lowest place in this world.”

“I think I know where that is.”

Hayden’s expression hardened.

“People think the slums are the lowest place, but I think differently. The lowest place is where those who have committed crimes are gathered. I mean prison.”

“Close.”

When Liv said that, Hildegard looked surprised.

“I was born in the lowest place, and I grew up there until I was adopted by the Hamelsvoort family. The lowest place in this world, where no god’s grace could reach.”

“That place…”

“I lived in Abgrund from right after I was born until I came to the Hamelsvoort family.”

At those words, everyone held their breath for a moment. After a while, Hayden, looking unusually flustered, asked.

“A prisoner existed there in our era? No, can one even live there from birth?”

“I lived there. Because I had to.”

Liv said in a calm voice.

“During the time I was isolated in Abgrund, I never met a person even once. I learned about the world through the gods. So when I first left that place, many things were unfamiliar to me.”

“Liv, does that make sense?”

Walter asked, frowning slightly.

“So how did a child survive in that prison?”

“I could. Because the gods protected me, I never died even without any food or care.”

“…Then how could you die after coming outside?”

“Ah, that’s because as things the gods couldn’t intervene in increased… They changed direction to punishing those who killed me…”

After hearing Liv’s explanation, Walter looked dumbfounded, but Liv continued.

“Why do you think I was confined in Abgrund?”

However, they all still seemed unable to grasp it, so Liv answered for them.

“Because I was the worst prisoner for the Emperor. Because I was a being harmful to him just by existing.”

“What?”

“Because my mere existence threatens his imperial authority.”

At that moment, Hayden seemed to realize something and jumped up from his seat.

“It can’t be…!”

His mouth was open in great shock, and his pupils were shaking. Soon, his eyes reddened and he slowly knelt before Liv.

“Because I am Liv Gracia, the last descendant of the Gracia family.”

“Ah…!”

Hayden now began to shed tears, and while his body trembled, he bowed his head in greeting.

“Hayden Schulze, the last descendant of the Schulze family, greets our master Liv Gracia…”

“G-Gracia, you say?”

Hildegard seemed even more flustered than Hayden, but she looked like she had realized something.

“Gracia?”

Even Walter, who usually doesn’t get agitated, had shaking pupils.

“Gracia, so that’s why you have God’s love…. Now everything makes sense.”

Liv quietly looked down at Hayden and placed her hand on his head.

“I’ve decided. I won’t hide anymore. I’ll reclaim my place.”

Liv spoke in a more detached voice than ever before. No, now she looked just like a god…

“I’ll reclaim my place and become Emperor. So will you help me?”

Because of Liv, countless people had to shed blood. To repay their sacrifices, Liv had to oust the Emperor and reclaim her rightful place.

“Yes, Master. In the name of Schulze, I will obey…”

After Hayden swore with tears, Hildegard also bowed her head with a solemn face.

“In the name of the Saintess who serves the Supreme God, I will help our master.”

Walter watched this quietly, then slowly knelt before Liv.

“As a member of the Five Noble Families serving the Gracia family, I will help the Gracia family.”

Finally, Emmett also swore allegiance before Liv.

“As a member of the Five Noble Families, I will help the Gracia family. And as your husband, I will help my wife.”

On December 23, Imperial Year 487. Liv Gracia decided to reclaim her place.