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“The only thing I stole was kesnip! Everything else was false accusations!”
Professor Rachel even blamed Baikal for her own embezzlement. After being disciplined, he was stripped of his medical qualifications and expelled from the academy.
In addition, he was in debt because he had to pay for the medicines that the professor had stolen for years. The head of the organization who controlled the backstreet of 13th Street was the one lending him the money.
The head of the organization appreciated Baikal’s talent and demanded that he become a doctor for them. He also occasionally entrusted the sorting and production of medicinal herbs smuggled from the Khan Kingdom to Baikal.
Even though he knew that his action was a crime, Baikal had no choice but to join in. If he couldn’t pay off his debts, he and his sister would be sold to a worse place.
Most of all, the sorting of medicinal herbs was beneficial to Baikal. The boss gladly allowed him to take kesnip, which had no commodity value. Baikal collected them and made medicine for his sister.
“Isn’t the issue at the academy already over?! Why did you come to me all of a sudden

 Ugh!”
“Don’t raise your voice. You shouldn’t do something reckless.”
Luna warned Baikal and pressed on the nape of his neck. She already confirmed no one was near the workshop, but she couldn’t predict if someone would come when they heard the commotion.
“If you don’t keep quiet, I’ll break your neck.”
Baikal’s body hardened when hearing the voice filled with subtle killing intent. They weren’t empty words. She could really break his neck right away. Terrified, Baikal let out a hiccup.
“As you said, the academy issue is already over. But that’s not what I am here for.”
A white, thin hand slowly ran across the desk. Renato lifted the bundle of kesnip that Baikal had left out.
“Isn’t this a medicinal herb that can only be found in the Khan Kingdom? But as far as I know, the Frey family’s merchant guild has the exclusive distribution rights of kesnip.”
“Huff.”
Hearing Renato’s murmur, Baikal gasped. Smuggling was a felony. If he was caught here, he wouldn’t be able to get out of prison for at least a few years. Then he wouldn’t be able to take care of his younger sister.
“P, please spare me! Just, because of debt, I have no choice but to

 I have to take care of my sister, hic.”
Becoming anxious, he begged with tears in his eyes. Renato looked at Baikal indifferently when he begged him.
“Even if I turn a blind eye here, you will be arrested soon. The capital security force has already smelled this.”
“Pardon?”
“So tell me. What can you do if I help you?”
Renato slightly bent his upper body and whispered a question. He thought it was fortunate that he wore a robe. Had it not been for it, his face looking at Baikal with a distorted expression would have already been seen.
“I, I, what I can do is, I.”
Baikal could not easily answer Renato’s question. Why did they come all of a sudden to reveal his past, then tell him to work for them? Baikal was a man with extraordinary intelligence compared to others, but now that he was engulfed in extreme fear, it was of no use anymore.
“If you work for me, I will pay the debt for you. I’ll also ensure your sister’s safety. You’d better not think about turning it down.”
Renato pressed Baikal once more. Taking a loved one hostage was an effective way to pressure and shake someone who could even commit a crime for his family. Not surprisingly, as soon as he mentioned his sister, Baikal’s body shook as if convulsing.
“Are, are you threatening me?”
“It’s not a threat, it’s a suggestion.”
“How, do you know about me

”
“Well. Does that matter now?”
Renato asked, slightly tilting his head. He knew about Baikal because the man was Maximo’s exclusive doctor in his previous life.
Around this time, Baikal, caught as an accomplice in smuggling, happened to be spotted by Marquis Medus and became his assistant. After realizing Baikal’s genius talent, the Marquis paid off his debt and pulled him out of the organization, but also took his sister hostage.
From then on, Baikal worked under Marquis Medus, contributing greatly to the creation of the poison that killed Trudy. After the Marquis’ death, he was appointed Maximo’s doctor. Because he was the only person who could create what the Marquis had invented, Snake’s Breath.
Maximo, who did not receive the Fairy King’s blessing, was narrowed in position, so he had Baikal draw Renato’s blood from time to time to make Snake’s Breath. Then he disguised it as Fairy’s Tears.
‘I’m sorry, Your Imperial Highness. I’m really sorry.’
Baikal, who was weak by nature, could not stand the pressure on him. He eventually collapsed, unable to overcome the weight of his sins.
‘How in the world am I supposed to pay for this sin?

 I am a sinner. It’s all my fault.’
Whenever Baikal drew Renato’s blood, he cried and apologized. After repeating that dozens of times, one day, Baikal confessed the truth and sins that Renato came to know about.
‘I didn’t know that the medicine I made would be used like that. I, I only, hic, at that time, I only wanted to save my sister

 Hic, ugh. It may sound like a cowardly excuse, but

 I want to fix everything right now.’
Because of Baikal’s confession, Renato came to know that Trudy and Tristan were poisoned. But his confession was too late. Marquis Medus and Blanche died, and Maximo became a tyrant and wielded power at will.
After that, Baikal tried to tell the truth to other people other than Renato but was executed. His younger sister, whom he loved as much as his life, learned about what happened and also passed away.
“I can’t give you much time. Choose right now.”
“Can you really

 take me out of the organization without any problems? What are you planning to make me do

”
Baikal slurred his words and looked at the person in front of his eyes. The intruder wearing a robe was elegant in every word and movement.
Even the hand holding the kesnip was beautiful without calluses or blemishes, making it obvious that he grew up without knowing hardship. It was clear that this person was not an insignificant noble like Baikal, but a precious young master.
“I have something in mind for you, but it won’t be anything illegal. I promise.”
Baikal did not believe Renato’s words. Suffering in this hellish world, he knew how foolish it was to trust someone. The past two years had been a hellish time for Baikal.
“Even so, my sins wouldn’t go away, right? If even the capital security force smelled it, I might be arrested

”
Baikal was pessimistic about Renato’s words. As he sorted the smuggled medicinal herbs for the organization and received kesnip in return, it was also a serious crime.
He couldn’t guess how high-ranking the man in front of him was, but hiding criminals would also be a problem.
“That’s right. Your sins are not going away.”
Renato looked at Baikal with complicated eyes and murmured. To Renato, he was an enemy that killed Trudy and Tristan. However, now that time had gone back, he wasn’t anymore.
Baikal had yet to become Marquis Medus’ assistant, and Trudy and Tristan were still alive. Only Renato remembered his sins.
So he agonized. Whether he should kill Baikal here to prevent his future sins, or he should give the man a new chance.
After much deliberation, Renato decided to use Baikal. He decided to take advantage of his genius talent comparable to that of Marquis Medus.
“So help me with my matters, and I’ll let you make atonement for the rest of your life.”
“What do you mean

 Gasp.”
After finishing his words, Renato slowly took off his robe. Baikal looked at the face exposed outside the robe and gasped.
Clear skin without a single flaw, silvery-white hair that softly sparkled, mysterious eyes that seemed as if layers of lavender-colored petals were overlapping on them, and delicate facial features

 The person in front of him looked like a fairy that could only be seen in a masterpiece drawn by a famous artist.
“This is His Imperial Highness, Prince Renato El Fleurette. Show your respect.”
When Baikal could only look at Renato with a bewildered expression, Luna pressed the back of his head again.
Prince.
That word forced him to come back to his senses. The nobles in contact with the central power disregarded and disparaged Renato as Beta without the right to the throne, but to fallen nobles like Baikal or commoners, the Empire’s Prince was a high-ranking person that he could not even dare to look at.
“G, greetings to the successor of the noble blood. May the blessings of nature be with you.”
Baikal, whose body was bent, fell to the floor. Luna didn’t stop him this time. Looking down at Baikal who greeted him while trembling, Renato slowly opened his mouth.
“Raise your head.”
“Your, Your Imperial Highness.”
“What do you think? Is this enough to build some trust in me?”
“Yes, yes

”
Baikal nodded his head vigorously. Renato leaned slightly toward the man who seemed to be in a daze.
“I don’t trust you. Your sins are too serious for that. But if you keep your trust in me, I’ll guarantee your and your sister’s safety.”