I Became The Wife Of The Cursed Grand Duke Chapter 132

The women in the underground drainage ditch were quickly rescued. 

 

The stealthy knights moved in unison, carefully lifting the frail figures and carrying them to safety. 

 

Benjamin, who had been watching the scene keenly, spoke up.

“Perhaps we should escort them to the palace, where they can testify to the ugly side of the High Priest.”

 

Kalian shook his head, his eyes never leaving the women.

“No. For now, our priority is to get them to safety.”

 

Their bloodless faces and emaciated bodies were a grim sight. 

 

‘Their condition was not good at first glance. It reminded me of when I first met Evelyn at the Count’s estate…’

 

Kalian clicked his tongue, projecting Evelyn’s past onto them.

 

“It’s never too late to think things over after they’ve settled down.”

 

And even if they weren’t in a state to testify, there was already enough evidence to depose the High Priest. 

 

Kalian didn’t want to put them through the trouble of being taken to a strange place. There was one more thing to consider.

“Even if they were used to perform a cleansing ritual, the High Priest would find an excuse somehow.”

 

Benjamin realized what Kalian was implying.

“Well, the fate of the nation, the will of the sun gods… I’m gritting my teeth at the thought of what he’s going to blabber on about.”

 

Kalian smirked.

“The doctrine of the temple says something like this: If you can turn a disaster into peace with a sacrifice, do it. If you can weaken the world by moving away from the source of a curse, do your best.”

And the Lindberghs were already dead.

 

Benjamin nodded, finally understanding Kalian’s meaning.

“You mean to say that taking such women and using them in the temple is not a big deal to those who have worked so hard to keep the Sun God’s blessing.”

 

Kalian said nothing. 

 

Benjamin was right, but Kalian had his own reasons for wanting to keep the situation under control.

‘I don’t want to blow things out of proportion and have Evelyn’s true identity discovered.’

 

Rubbing his tired eyelids, Kalian let out a long breath as he searched his memory.

“When I touch the Grand Duke with the relic, the Guardian’s Mark will glow bluish. That is proof that I am a Transcendent, capable of bearing your child.”

At the same time, questions from his contact with Evelyn began to flood his mind.

‘When, exactly? The moment I’d sensed her danger in the Cabana Forest, and the time we’d ridden through the canyon on horseback. I’d seen the bluish glow of the Guardian’s mark on my chest, along with a faint burning pain, like a signal that someone I cared about was in danger. It was the first time the Mark of the Guardian had ever reacted to something, and I remember being terribly nervous.’

 

‘If the Saint is right, this is proof that Evelyn is a Transcendent. She can give birth to my child…’ 

 

The moment he thought that a chill ran through him.

‘For now, it didn’t matter if Evelyn was recognized as a saint or not. If it was known that one of the conditions to completely seal Babel was the sacrifice of an awakened saint, then… everyone would try to justify Evelyn’s sacrifice.’

 

He raised an eyebrow, and Benjamin, who had taken over for Kalian, suddenly looked back at him.

“By the way, I’m very curious to see how the Temple will react to this.”

 

If it was about him, Kalian had nothing to worry about. His expression grim, he replied with conviction.

“The Temple will have no objection if they find them missing.”

There would be no need to shatter the faith of the faithful by deliberately exposing their sinfulness.

 

Soon, the women were loaded into the carriage, and Kalian headed straight for the palace to meet with the High Priest. 

 

The emperor kept no guards in the dungeons. On the surface, this was a reflection of his social status, but the reality was different. 

 

Instead of guards, the prison was enchanted with evil magic, designed to slowly erode the prisoner’s mind, leading to death.

 

‘I wonder what the High Priest is like,’ Kalian thought to himself.

 

Just as he was thinking this, a dazzling blonde emerged from the innermost cell.

 

Shhh!

Almost at the same moment, a rainbow flew out of nowhere.

 

“…….”

Kalian dodged it with a slight tilt of his head, but he couldn’t hide his displeasure.

 

“Ohhh, you’re so nimble,” Julius said, shrugging as if he had expected Kalian to dodge. 

 

The corner of his mouth tilted upward.

“Well, I didn’t really mean to kill you.”

 

“You should have thought about it. You wouldn’t have touched me anyway,” Kalian retorted.

 

The High Priest cackled like a madman.

“No, not you, Dante.”

 

Instead of responding, Kalian yanked open the bars and stepped inside the prison. His golden eyes, flashing like a fierce beast, locked onto the High Priest’s flickering form.

 

“What is your purpose?”

 

“…Well, guess what,” the High Priest replied mockingly.

 

Puck, puck!

It happened in an instant. Kalian grabbed the High Priest by the throat and slapped him a couple of times across the cheeks before asking again.

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. For what purpose do you intend to resurrect Deborah?”

 

The High Priest didn’t answer, just looked up at him with eyes that seemed half-dazed. 

 

Perhaps he hadn’t expected Kalian to go that far. 

 

Instead of replying, Kalian clenched his fist, ready to crush the High Priest’s jaw. 

 

His other hand immediately wrapped around a dark purple power.

 

“!”

Fear flashed in the High Priest’s eyes, and he scrambled to get away, but Kalian was faster.

 

“Ugh!”

The shadow stretched out sharply and began to seep into the High Priest’s nose, ears, and mouth.

 

“Cuck, cuck! Kuk, kuk!”

Kalian stared at the High Priest with serene eyes as the energy that had penetrated his body began to stir his organs.

 

“Hmph, give it to me, give it to me!”

 

The torture was too much for him, and he began to drool, his eyes rolling back in his head as his mouth opened.

“Hmph, Ba-Babel…”

 

“Babel?” Kalian pressed.

 

“Chu, he said to collect the consecrated blood and supply it to De-Deborah periodically, Kuk!”

After speaking, the High Priest coughed up a mouthful of black blood.

“Let go of me, please, Kuluk!”

 

The horrified High Priest struggled with all the strength he could muster, but it wasn’t enough to push Kalian away. 

 

Kalian clenched his fists and thought for a moment.

‘Why was Deborah possessed by Babel, and not someone else?’

 

A story from the distant past flashed through his mind.

‘There’s a tale in Cardassian that’s passed down in hushed tones, a very private tale of an early saint and a demon. No way…’

 

Now Kalian was sure.

‘Deborah was very dear to Babel. So much so that she sacrificed countless women to ensure her resurrection.’

 

With his thoughts complete, Kalian’s eyes turned to the High Priest. A chill ran through the sun-bright gold of his gaze.

“If you want to live, tell me what you know about Deborah.”

 

The grip on his jaw tightened, and the High Priest’s feet rose into the air.

“My, my, that’s all I know! I’ve heard the whispers of the Devil since I was very young, and he’s…”

 

But the High Priest never finished his sentence.

 

“Cough!”

 

He coughed up another mouthful of blood, his whole body contorting grotesquely.

 

‘You’re getting worse.’ Kalian’s face contorted. 

 

At this rate, the High Priest would not survive the night. He loosened his grip thoughtfully.

“All this has happened because of your misguided beliefs, so you decide your own fate.”

 

The High Priest’s body fell limply to the floor. Kalian stared down at it with cold eyes.

 

“Will you remain a rare sinner who has committed an irreparable crime, or will you save your only son?”

 

* * *

 

Thud, thud, thud. 

 

When the heavy footsteps were completely out of earshot, Julius jerked upright.

“Damn you, madman, you almost killed me!”

 

He clutched at the ring on his finger, his mouth open and eyes wide in amazement.

“It’s all thanks to this ring.”

 

The ring had been given to him by a servant of Babel in the past. 

 

It contained the power to resist all manner of abnormalities. 

 

It was the reason why he was safe from the evil energies that were spreading everywhere now.

 

“Huh.”

Taking a deep breath, Julius gathered his thoughts.

 

“So the grand duke knows all about my plans.”

 

A shiver of fear ran down his spine at the thought.

‘Anyone would feel the same way if they were in the presence of such an overwhelming force, a force that could snap my neck at a moment’s notice.’

 

But as Kalian disappeared, the fear gradually dissipated, leaving Julius with a bizarre sense of elation and anger.

 

“What, an irreparable sin? You don’t know what you’re talking about, Grand Duke.”

 

The great festival is coming soon.

‘The blood of Lindbergh, the original spirit stone extracted and sealed from the souls of the dead, is the lifeblood of the Purger. The vitalized body of the Purifier, a man of transcendent power. A strange night, returning after centuries, when the red moon is swallowed by shadow. All preparations are complete. Once the ritual is complete, Deborah, the daughter of Babel, can be perfectly resurrected.’

 

“You are the one who sinned! I am the one who will bring immortal glory to this empire.”