Chapter 567: Beast of Grief

Kohei PoV

I sighed as I finished my work for the day. Being king now wasn't easy. The weight of responsibilities pressed heavily on my shoulders, each decision echoing with consequences that rippled through the kingdom. But today, as I set down my quill and rubbed my tired eyes, my thoughts drifted away from politics and toward my wife.

Exiting my office, I spotted one of the maids bustling down the corridor, a stack of linens piled high in her arms. "Excuse me," I called out, stepping to her side. "Have you seen Matsuyukine?"

She paused, glancing up at me with wide eyes. "Your Majesty, the last I saw of her, she was heading towards the catacombs."

A knot tightened in my chest at the mention of that place. The catacombs had become a somber refuge for her since we lost our child. I couldn't shake the feeling that she was drawn there by grief, seeking solace in the shadows where our hopes had been buried.