I Became The Wife Of The Cursed Grand Duke Chapter 131

“A special relationship…?” Evelyn asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

“As you might imagine. They were in love, and it’s an open secret among the temple officials that Helene bore the demon’s child,” Erze replied, her voice weak but firm.

 

“How in the world could that…?” Evelyn covered her mouth with her small hand, unable to process the revelation.

She couldn’t believe it. Of course, she couldn’t be sure Erze was telling the truth, but whether it was or not, it was a shocking statement.

 

When Evelyn remained silent, Erze coughed to catch her breath, then stared off into space as if searching for a memory.

“But their child died shortly after birth, due to a tangle of magical forces within their body, perhaps incompatible with their lineage.”

 

Evelyn’s silence deepened as Erze continued.

“And the child’s body was kept in the temple’s basement until now.”

 

‘Helene and Babel’s child is kept in the temple’s basement?’ Evelyn’s mind raced.

“Should I believe this…?” she murmured, her voice barely audible.

 

After a long moment of contemplation, Evelyn finally spoke.

 

“Even if it’s true, what does their child have to do with… having the Guardian and the Purifier born at the same time?”

 

Erze snorted at her question, as if it were foolish.

“It’s not stupid… The child is half Lindbergh anyway, and Babel is using the Purifier to resurrect their daughter perfectly.”

 

“Their… daughter?” Evelyn’s voice faltered as she suddenly remembered Kalian’s words.

Kalian had told her that Babel could never be resurrected. But then, who were they trying to resurrect?

 

‘No way…’ Evelyn shook her head vigorously, trying to clear her thoughts.

“So, Babel sent the Transcendent Purifier into the world to… use the Purifier’s body as a vessel to fully resurrect their daughter?”

‘If that was true, then everyone had played into Babel’s hands.’

 

Erze’s voice grew weaker.

“I don’t know the details. Regardless, I took you to the Purification Ritual every full moon because I needed the regenerative power in your blood.”

 

‘The sky sang…’ 

 

Evelyn’s mind echoed the phrase as the scattered pieces of the puzzle finally fell into place.

‘The healing power that had been the only respite for Kalian’s battered mind and body. The prayer that created a light large enough to destroy Mors the Plague. The cleansing power that extinguished the magic of a tainted land that even a saint couldn’t purify. Why a holy object that only responded to strong spiritual power responded only to me. Even my maternal grandfather’s last cry, pleading with me to flee with him, began to make sense.’

 

“I’m the one who can awaken Kalian and help him destroy Babel…!” Evelyn realized, her heart pounding.

She also understood why her mother had been both threatened and protected by someone. 

 

‘They couldn’t hurt her because she was the one who would give birth to the descendants of Babel, the one they worshiped. But it was strange that jealous Louise had allowed me to come into the world in the first place. That is, if this is true…’ 

 

A chill ran down Evelyn’s spine at the shocking realization. 

 

She clutched her chest, her face pale with anger. The fever, which had been slowly improving, surged again.

 

* * *

 

Since the Saint’s return, the shrine has held a Blessing Mass on the fourth day of every week. 

 

Ever since rumors spread that she had gone on a pilgrimage to a holy site on another continent due to her weakened health, she had not attended. But today was different.

 

‘In the absence of the High Priest, I am the one who can have the greatest influence on the shrine,’ Deborah thought, her mind filled with greed and insecurity. 

 

‘I don’t want the priests to be bribed by the grand duchess and convinced that I can’t have his child. Furthermore, this oracle is only passed down through the Orpheus family line, so it cannot be divulged. No one will know, and it would be too easy to pretend it never happened.’

 

“We can’t let that happen!” Deborah whispered to herself, her anguish evident as she attended the consecration mass.

 

A gleam of disdain flashed in her eyes as she stood on the high platform and surveyed the congregation gathered like a swarm of ants.

‘The stench stung my nose…’ Deborah finished the mass, satisfied with herself that she had been able to offer a blessing for the barbarians despite being unwell.

 

Mass was followed by a meeting. 

 

Frowning, Deborah walked into the vast conference room, where the high priest who had been delegated to preside spoke.

 

“We will now begin our meeting. Today’s agenda is about the trust.”

 

Since her appointment as a saint, Deborah had worn the holy relic for one week each month. 

 

But every time she did, her head ached as if it were going to break. 

 

So, at some point, she naturally stopped wearing it. The priests took issue with this and delayed confirming the trust.

 

“The grand duke’s age may be a bit late for an heir, but the Saint is not yet in good health. It is impossible for her to give birth in such a state…” one of the priests began.

 

“What, impossible?” Deborah’s brow furrowed.

The people in the temple who knew she couldn’t have sex secretly ignored her, not outwardly, but subtly. They worried that she might sully the temple’s name by speaking up.

 

“How do I explain that my body is intact?” Deborah asked, her voice sharp.

“By confirming that you can use your spiritual powers, of course,” the priest replied.

 

Deborah flinched for a moment, but she had only one option now.

 

With the High Priest captured, the temple could fall at any moment. She had to find a way to live under the grand duke’s protection as soon as possible. To do that, I must…

 

Steeling herself, Deborah swallowed hard.

“Bring me the orb. I’ll perform a defense spell on it right now.”

 

* * *

 

“An underground drainage ditch,” Kalian muttered as he stood at the mouth of the massive archway.

A black shadow stretched out from his grasp, leading through the darkened basement of the temple and into the drainage ditch.

 

Benjamin, who had followed him, squinted his unshielded eyes.

 

“So, you’re telling me that the women of Lindbergh are being held there?”

“Yes. If I’m not mistaken,” Kalian replied, his voice steady.

 

With that, Kalian loosened his grip and sheathed his sword. Benjamin’s face remained grim as he followed him.

“Will it be all right?”

“Why not?” Kalian replied confidently.

‘Today is the day of the consecration mass. With all eyes on the saint, it couldn’t have been a more perfect day to track down the presumed processing room.’

 

“After Mass, I’ll hold their attention with the excuse that she’ll be removing the shields from the relic,” Kalian explained.

 

The necklace is said to be densely woven with protective spells that no one can break. It’s said that tampering with it will curse you and kill you instantly. But that was just a lie to avoid potential harm and evil. 

 

Instead, it is enchanted with a very weak level of debuff enchantment, causing intense sparks whenever it is touched. This instilled extreme fear in those who knew the false secrets of the artifact.

 

“You’re a master at deceiving people, aren’t you?” Benjamin gave a thumbs-up, and Kalian smirked.

“I have not deceived anyone,” Kalian replied, his tone light but firm.

“By now, the holy woman and the priests will think you’ve cast a defense spell on the holy object.”

 

All Kalian needed was to have the orb recognized through official channels and take it north. 

 

So, he mixed the blood-red liquid with a large dose of painkillers and gave it to the saint, along with a magical scroll that could make many people hallucinate.

She would know the ritual Kalian had instructed her to perform, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, the priests would witness the wondrous spectacle of the necklace’s defensive enchantments being disarmed.

 

“I’ve taken full advantage of the situation. Enough small talk, let’s focus on finding the processing room,” Kalian said, his voice turning serious.

“Yes!” Benjamin replied, his determination matching Kalian’s.

 

And with that, the two of them made their way into the drainage ditch with the Popular Chuck dead. It was too cramped inside for the two giant men to fit through comfortably.

‘I wonder how many times they walked through the ditch with water dripping over their heads,’ Kalian thought.

 

“I think we’re here,” Kalian said suddenly as a large underground space was revealed.

At first glance, the entrance looked like an underground culvert, but it was actually another dungeon. 

 

In the lightless darkness, Kalian snapped his fingers. There, in the faint glow of a firefly, he spotted a familiar lock of hair.

 

It was the same sight Evelyn had described. Silver hair and green eyes. 

 

Women in drab off-white robes and numbered nametags lay sprawled on the stone floor, their skulls pierced.