Second Life, I’m Dying Soon Chapter 30

 

Chapter 30

The knights were thrown into panic at the crown prince’s sudden visit.

Even without explicit orders, everyone dropped what they were doing and rushed over. As nearly a hundred knights gathered, a solemn spectacle unfolded. Layers of tension permeated the air.

Alexis swept his gaze over the knights who had swiftly formed ranks. A faint trace of irritation appeared on his face as he rested both hands on his waist. The face he was searching for was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is Maxwell?”

Claude quickly turned to ask the vice-captain, who was also busy searching for the missing Rocco.

“Well… He’s probably in his quarters. But why hasn’t he come out…?”

Even though His Highness, the Crown Prince, had arrived, there was no sign of him. The vice-captain was at his wit’s end. He shot a glance at the nearby knights. Catching on quickly, a few broke from formation and hurried off to fetch Rocco.

However, they returned not long after, their faces filled with alarm.

“He’s not inside.”

“What do you mean? Then where did he go?”

Unable to report it outright, they whispered among themselves. But Alexis, ever keen, immediately noticed.

His sharp gaze swept over the assembled knights and the training grounds. A situation spiraling out of control within the palace, especially within the knight order, was something he could not tolerate.

“Find him.”

A short command was given. The elite knights moved swiftly and methodically.

They immediately split into search parties. No matter how vast the palace was, if the elite knights were mobilized, they could sniff out even a rat hiding in the sewers.

About thirty minutes later, news arrived—they had found Rocco.

The problem was that he had been discovered in an entirely unexpected state. Deep within the palace grounds, on an abandoned forest path where even sunlight barely reached.

Alexis stood before the limp body, hanging from a tree branch.

During his five years in the Black Forest, he had seen more corpses than he could count. Many of those deaths had been far more gruesome than this.

But never before had he seen such a pitiful, wretched corpse. The terror of his final moments was etched onto Rocco Maxwell’s pale, contorted face. How much pain and fear had he endured?

“I apologize, Your Highness. I should have been more vigilant… I will accept any punishment.”

“Take the body down immediately.”

Alexis bit his lip. Keeping the scene undisturbed until his arrival was understandable, but he could not tolerate leaving a man who had taken his own life to hang there any longer.

At his command, the knights hurried to assist. A thick rope was cut cleanly, and Rocco’s body was laid gently on the ground, covered with a white cloth.

As they handled the corpse, a heavy silence settled over the knights. Guilt weighed on them for having driven a comrade to such an end.

“A letter was left behind.”

Claude handed over a piece of paper. While Alexis read its contents, Claude scanned their surroundings, his face heavy with concern.

“What should we do with the body?”

“Summon an examiner. Seal off the area and verify the cause of death once more.”

Though it was clearly a suicide, Alexis ordered an autopsy. He had to rule out even the slightest possibility of foul play.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Claude immediately carried out his orders. The knights swiftly moved again, following his directives.

Even though this was a secluded spot, it was still within the imperial palace.

News of an unprecedented suicide spread like wildfire. As a crowd gathered, pushing against the knights blocking entry, one figure approached—Cecil, his face deathly pale.

“…Is he really dead?”

“I’m sorry, Lord Cecil. You cannot enter.”

The vice-captain spoke politely but held his arms firmly in front of him, making his strict vigilance clear.

“Move. I must see for myself.”

“There is nothing to gain from viewing the body.”

“I said, move.”

Cecil’s voice was neither raised nor agitated, yet it carried a sharpness that left no room for refusal. The vice-captain hesitated before lowering his arms.

Cecil walked straight past and approached the gathered knights around the body. The examination was underway, and the white cloth had been pulled back, revealing Rocco’s corpse in full.

“…….”

The sickly blue tint of his skin, the deep rope marks on his throat, and the grotesquely protruding tongue—it was more surreal than expected. But Cecil forced himself to take it all in.

Even as his clenched fists trembled violently, he did not avert his gaze. Once the examination was finished, Claude gently closed Rocco’s bloodshot eyes. Only then did Cecil finally turn his head away.

His gaze landed on a man standing beneath the tree, exuding an unmistakable presence. Their eyes met—it was inevitable.

Alexis had been watching Cecil the entire time, making their eye contact unavoidable. But Cecil did not shy away. He met Alexis’ gaze directly.

It was Alexis who moved first. He stepped toward Cecil and handed him the letter.

“You should read this.”

“…….”

Without a word, Cecil took the letter and read it. The rough scrap of paper contained Rocco’s final words to the world. It was both a plea for understanding and an expression of guilt toward Cecil.

[An insignificant man dared to lay a hand on one of noble blood. Though Lord Cecil chose to overlook it, I could not bear the crushing guilt. I can only hope to repay this sin with my death.]

Cecil closed his eyes tightly before opening them again. Having finished reading, he handed the letter back to Alexis.

“…So, it has come to this.”

Alexis observed Cecil intently. His complexion was deathly pale, yet his expression was unreadable, making it impossible to gauge his emotions.

“Were you close with him?”

“No.”

“Then why did you care so much?”

When Alexis pressed further, Cecil let out a hollow laugh.

He was exhausted by this conversation. More than anything, it was far too late to discuss this now. Rocco was already dead. What meaning did it hold anymore?

“There’s nothing you need to know, Your Highness.”

His disrespectful retort made Claude bristle with anger. No matter how noble he was, the crown prince outranked Cecil. He stepped forward, ready to reprimand him, but a firm hand stopped him.

Alexis signaled Claude to stand down before continuing.

“Rocco Maxwell had not yet been officially knighted, but he will receive a burial befitting a knight. His family will also be properly compensated.”

“…….”

Cecil stared up at Alexis before exhaling a long, weary sigh.

“Do as you wish. It no longer concerns me.”

As he turned to leave, his legs wobbled, nearly giving out beneath him. Alexis instinctively grabbed his wrist. The warmth of his touch was unmistakable. Cecil slowly pulled his hand away before turning his back without hesitation.

Alexis opened his left hand, staring at it. After everything that had happened, Cecil avoiding him was only natural.

In fact, he had expected this outcome. Yet, an unsettling heaviness lingered.

 

***

 

After Rocco Maxwell’s suicide, Cecil’s actions took a noticeable turn.

Around Alexis, Cecil was nowhere to be seen. The people he interacted with were limited, mostly consisting of the Empress’s close aides.

It wasn’t strange. In fact, it was only natural—this was the way Cecil Adrian had always been.

Empress Elizabeth rejoiced, believing Cecil had finally come to his senses. She had long been frustrated by his absurd devotion to Alexis, chasing after him and playing the role of an ill-fitting subordinate.

“I hear the Minister of Ceremonies recently made a great profit from a gold mine investment.”

Tristan cautiously relayed the information he had gathered to the Crown Prince.

Selecting and reporting rumors circulating in social clubs that could benefit Alexis was one of the chief advisor’s primary duties.

Alexis responded with an indifferent chuckle.

“Quite the talent.”

“Surprisingly, it was Lord Cecil who recommended the investment.”

A story that had barely piqued his interest suddenly struck him like a hammer to the skull. His smile vanished in an instant.

“What would he know?”

“At first, most people had the same reaction. But strangely enough, every tip he gave turned out to be a golden opportunity. The Minister of Ceremonies took a gamble and invested as a test, only for it to yield massive success. Now, the nobility is abuzz with talk of him.”

“……”

“They say he’s more sought-after than even the best financial advisors. Every casual remark he makes seems to turn into money.”

“And you’re telling me that’s possible?”

“Rumor has it he must have received divine revelation or something…”

Alexis scoffed in disbelief. Nonsense. It had to be a coincidence, or he must have received information from the Empress in advance.

From what Alexis had observed, Cecil was far from a fool. In fact, if he put his mind to it, he could be dangerously persuasive, capable of enthralling people with words. Despite his youth, he handled others with an uncanny finesse. Alexis was certain that this was the real Cecil.

“So, he’s finally dropped the act.”

Now, the only question was—how would he play his next move?

“Dig deeper. From now on, I want to hear every piece of news concerning Cecil.”

“Understood, Your Highness.”

Tristan then moved on to other matters of importance, but Alexis’s thoughts remained fixated on the previous conversation.

His gaze settled on the empty desk before him, unmoving. It had been easier when Cecil was within reach, where he could keep an eye on him.

Now that he was gone, the absence clung to him like a stubborn hangnail—insignificant yet impossible to ignore.