Chapter 14 – A Past That Was Not Peaceful
Ignes gently pulled his hand out of Frederick's grip.
The movement was smooth—
Like someone who had done it many times before.
Without saying anything, he walked to a nearby chair and look down.
On his chair, he took out a thin magical wand he had been using like a hair stick.
With practiced ease, he tied his long white hair into a half-up bun.
Elegant.
Effortless.
Alistair looked at him curiously.
"Igna… did you know Frey in your past life?"
Ignes nodded.
"Yes, we did meet."
He paused.
Then hesitated slightly.
"…But…"
He glanced at Frederick.
"He is the brother of someone who was also my fan."
"She broke into my house once… and tried to kill my boyfriend."
"So I sent her to jail for attempted murder."
He added calmly,
"We didn't meet after that."
"I thought he would resent me for sending his sister to jail."
"…I think he died that same year."
Frederick raised his hand slightly.
"Yes… I was actually going to ask for forgiveness."
"For what my sister did."
He scratched his head awkwardly.
"But before I could… I got hit by Truck-kun."
Ignes waved it off.
"It's fine."
"I always knew some fans would go crazy."
"I was prepared."
"There wasn't any real danger."
He paused.
"…Well, she tried to kill me instead of my boyfriend."
"Her logic was—"
"'If you can't be mine, then you can't belong to anyone else.'"
Ignes sighed faintly.
"My boyfriend got angry and made sure she stayed in jail for a long time."
Frederick nodded seriously.
"…Then she deserved it, your not just a star but a talent that country cherished ."
Ignes looked at him.
"Wow."
"You really don't have any sibling affection."
"If it were my brother…"
He leaned back slightly.
"He might kill both the star and his boyfriend together."
He added after a moment,
"…Actually, my boyfriend might do the same."
Frederick blinked.
"…For what reason?"
Ignes replied simply,
"Jealousy."
The four Dukes, who had been silently listening, finally reacted.
They exchanged looks.
Alexander spoke first.
"Igna… Frey…"
"You both said your world was peaceful."
He frowned.
"How is this peaceful?"
"You were almost killed."
"And you… died because someone killed you."
Ignes looked at him calmly.
"It is peaceful."
He paused.
"It's just that… too many people loved me."
"That some of there love is crazy kind of love."
"And love is blind."
"They don't follow rules."
"So even in a peaceful world…"
"It doesn't always stay peaceful."
He leaned back slightly.
"That was the day I realized something."
"People like me… hide their relationships."
"I should have done the same."
A brief silence passed.
Then—
Ignes continued.
"As for how I died…"
"I was fighting the Zombie King."
"It was the last battle."
"I was about to kill it."
He looked forward, expression calm—
Too calm.
"But at the last moment…"
"It tore my heart out."
"And crushed it."
No one spoke.
"I still destroyed it."
"I cut its brain into pieces."
"And removed the nucleus."
Ignes exhaled softly.
"It took four to five years for the apocalypse to end."
He closed his eyes for a moment.
"…Apocalypse stories are fun to read."
Then opened them again.
"But not to live in."