The Monster Duke Mistook Me for His Wife Chapter 140

Time passed quickly, and just like that, a whole month had flown by since he began living with Ria.

It had felt long, yet to Dillian, it was only a fleeting moment.

Because he wasn’t living within that time—he was simply walking in the footsteps of memories.

Some days felt endlessly long, others passed in the blink of an eye.

Even as he let himself drift in the fast-flowing current of time, like water in a river, Dillian never took his eyes off Ria—not even for a moment.

“My lord, I think spring is coming. New sprouts are budding.”

Even the wildflowers on the road, which people would normally step on without a glance, made Ria light up like a child, excited that spring had arrived.

‘She hasn’t changed at all.’

He smiled at the way she cherished life so dearly.

But that smile vanished the moment Ria opened her mouth.

“My lord, I think it’s time for you to return.”

“Ria. That again?”

“You must become emperor. It’s my job to lead you to the throne.”

Grasping his hand tightly, Ria spoke with earnestness.

“You can’t waste any more time here.”

Her constant attempts to push him away made him chuckle.

It reminded him of how she had tried everything back in Wilhelm to send him back to the capital.

‘Didn’t think even this part would be the same.’

And that wasn’t the only thing that was.

“You scoundrel! Get away from Ria right now!”

Seeing him alone with Ria, Nathan flew in like the wind, glaring.

‘This relationship hasn’t changed at all.’

It was so familiar, it was hard to believe it had been a thousand years.

“That guy’s eyes are filled with impure—mmph!”

“Nathan! What is with you these days?”

“Hmph, I’m telling you, he has wicked intentions toward you.”

“Oh, come on! It’s not like that. I’m sorry, my lord.”

“But it is.”

“What?”

“Nathan’s right.”

Ria blinked in confusion at his confession, as if she hadn’t quite understood what she just heard.

Dillian had thought he’d made his feelings clear over the past month—but maybe it hadn’t been enough.

“Ria, come with me to the capital. I want you by my side.”

“Ah…”

“If you truly want me to be emperor, then I’ll become one.”

He intertwined his fingers with hers and smiled.

“In return, please stay by my side. If I become emperor, that seat next to me will be yours.”

Of course, it was a complete lie.

He’d always intended to become emperor, whether it was Ria’s wish or not.

He only pretended to follow her will—to deceive her.

To win her heart, no matter what.

He was starting to understand why Nathan and Tippy always said he hadn’t changed at all when they looked at him.

‘I guess I really do think the exact same way. It’s almost disgusting.’

But Ria, unaware of that, didn’t know what to do.

Her cheeks, already tinged with pink, turned a deep red. The color spread like paint, completely covering her face.

Flustered, Ria suddenly jumped to her feet.

“Oh no, look at me—it’s already lunchtime! I’d better get going!”

Without even properly looking at his face, she rushed to speak and then bolted away.

Left all alone, Dillian turned his head.

Toward Nathan, who had stayed behind.

“That’s surprising. I thought you’d follow after Ria.”

“Are you really planning to go with Ria?”

Nathan, now calm and collected unlike his usual noisy self, looked straight at him.

“If you’re trying to toy with her feelings, I suggest you stop.”

“Toying with her… If only I were that light-hearted. If I were, I’d have left this castle and returned to the capital long ago.”

Dillian leaned back and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

‘I should’ve left two weeks ago, really.’

He had fully recovered within a week of meeting her. The snowstorm had long since passed.

But he kept making excuses to stay in the castle. Ignoring the logic in his head that told him he needed to return.

He played dumb to Ria’s hints, asking if it wasn’t time for him to go—just so he could be with her a little longer.

“My goal is to become emperor. It’s been my dream all my life. But lately, I find myself thinking I’d be okay giving it all up, if I could just stay with Ria.”

“You…”

“It would be ideal if Ria came with me, but I know it won’t be easy.”

“……”

“And yet, the thought of leaving her behind… I just can’t bring myself to go.”

Dillian murmured as he glanced at Nathan, who stood there frozen, jaw dropped.

“If I kidnapped you and took off for the capital, do you think Ria would come after us?”

“W-what kind of lunatic are you?! That’s not how you win a woman’s heart!”

“I don’t think she’s entirely uninterested.”

“Y-you…!”

You little—! You’re not even listening to me! Nathan puffed up, bristling in fury.

“Good grief, what did Ria ever do to deserve meeting someone like you…”

“She’s the one who picked me up. Who are you blaming?”

“Agh! I really can’t stand you!”

To Nathan’s exasperated outburst, Dillian laughed loudly.

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

‘I’ll make you emperor.’

Ria hadn’t lied when she said that.

Lysandro had unified a broken kingdom, piecing together a shattered land into a single empire, but the people, overwhelmed by the rapid changes, were filled with confusion and fear.

What if the nation fell again? What if another war broke out?

The people awaited a ruler, but at the same time, they feared one.

And Ria silenced all that unrest and controversy in an instant.

Ria was the First Saint, chosen by the One God, Obellus.

And he was the one chosen by the First Saint.

‘Lysandro Roheim. He is the sovereign my father has chosen.’

If Ria’s will was God’s will, then no more needed to be said.

“Your Majesty.”

“I thought we agreed not to call me that.”

“…Lysandro.”

He smiled in satisfaction at the sound of his name slipping cautiously from her lips.

Ria rolled her eyes at that smile.

“I’ll never call you by your name in front of others. What do you think people would say if they heard me casually call the emperor by name?”

“They’d think we’re lovers.”

“That’s exactly the problem. And don’t speak formally to me either. You should be using informal speech.”

Ria pouted, worrying about appearances.

Finding her both cute and cheeky, he bit her lips in punishment.

Only after thoroughly teasing her did he finally let her go, grinning as he looked at her flushed face.

“Speaking informally to the Saint—how scandalous.”

“Still…”

“You promised to stand by my side if I became emperor. Have you forgotten your promise to become my empress?”

“…Lysandro. I told you before—I can’t marry. I’m a saint.”

There was no law that said a saint couldn’t marry, but Ria stubbornly refused his proposals.

She had stood at the forefront, proclaiming the oracle and making him emperor.

But if she married him now? The meaning of the divine message might be tainted.

That could easily put the emperor’s legitimacy on the chopping block.

She knew Lysandro Roheim wouldn’t crumble over such a thing, but she didn’t want even the smallest blemish on his reign.

“That’s why… you should marry a noble lady from a distinguished family—”

“If it’s not you, I won’t marry anyone.”

“What are you talking about?! An emperor must have an heir!”

“I’ll find a good child from a side branch of the family and raise them as the successor.”

He had no intention of marrying anyone but Ria.

“You’re really…”

“If you hate it that much, then just become my empress.”

But in the end, Ria never accepted his proposal.

Still, that was fine. They never held a wedding, but they were no different from husband and wife.

Dillian pulled Ria close in his arms and kissed her forehead.

The desire to raise an heir quickly and pass on the throne grew stronger within him.

He had once longed for the position of emperor more than anything, but after meeting Ria, all of it felt meaningless.

Rather than living as an emperor, he wanted to live as Ria’s husband—or the father of a child who resembled her.

He dreamed every day of a future spent by Ria’s side.

And he firmly believed—that day was not far off.

“Don’t go. Please… don’t leave me.”

He never imagined he would be the one to leave her behind, so suddenly, so helplessly.

 

 

 

*****

 

 

 

He had already heard from Ria that sealing the darkness had cost him his life, but—

“Where am I?”

He was certain he had died.

He’d felt the pain of death vividly—so how could this be?

A grey-tinted, empty space that felt almost like…

“Void.”

At the sound of the unfamiliar voice, Dillian’s senses sharpened instantly.

“This is the cursed space you brought back from the darkness.”

Dillian instinctively knew the identity of the being who had appeared before him.

“Obellus…”

“You shouldn’t speak the name of a god so carelessly.”

Though he said that, there was no sign of displeasure in his tone.

‘Quite the taste he has.’

Dillian frowned without meaning to at the childlike smile full of mischief.

“You don’t really think this is my true form, do you?”

“Hardly. I just think it’s a sick hobby. Keeping the form of a child at your age? Who knew a god could be such a creep.”

At Dillian’s blunt criticism, Obellus burst out laughing.

“Well, this form makes it easier to lower people’s guard.”

His round face suddenly leaned in close.

“See? Even you, the one they call the Iron-Blooded Monarch, got caught off guard.”

A small hand stretched out and tapped Dillian lightly on the forehead.

It didn’t hurt. It wasn’t even unpleasant.

It was just… surprising. It had happened before he could even react.

“Shall we take a walk?”