I Became The Wife Of The Cursed Grand Duke Chapter 145

Unsure of where to go, Kalian headed straight for the palace. 

 

He had been about to visit Duke Parminion’s estate when he remembered the duke would be at the palace for the emperor’s funeral. 

 

Perhaps due to sleep deprivation and excessive use of traveling spells, Kalian found himself so disoriented he couldn’t even recognize the duke’s residence from just days before.

 

“What brings you to see me?” Duke Parminion asked, unsurprised by the grand duke’s sudden appearance. 

 

He sneered at Kalian’s disheveled state as if he’d anticipated this moment. 

 

“It’s amusing how you could leave the grand duchess behind to bring that holy woman here, insulting your own wife.”

 

The blatant sarcasm barely registered with Kalian. His hand paused momentarily as he reached for a glass of water before continuing the motion.

 

“Somehow, I always felt you two weren’t meant to last,” the duke added, his expression twisting at Kalian’s uncharacteristic behavior. 

 

“I warned the grand duchess – that poor child wasn’t meant to be tied to a damned family like yours.”

 

Kalian set down his glass with a heavy sigh. “Is that why you helped hide her from me?”

 

“Don’t misunderstand. Had she come to me, I would have helped. But she never did.”

 

“I know a Top carriage entered the Grand Duchy the day my wife disappeared.”

 

“Do you infer from that alone that I was involved?” The duke deliberately overreacted, hoping to make the grand duke doubt his suspicions.

 

In truth, the grand duke’s guess was partially correct. 

 

The duke knew Leon had used the Top carriage to help Evelyn escape, but he had no knowledge of her subsequent whereabouts. 

 

He owed Evelyn everything – without her, Paminion Top would have gone bankrupt. Whatever happened, he intended to keep silent.

 

But Kalian’s mood darkened further. “No, but I understand your wife has been in contact with the duke regarding Top matters.”

 

“So?”

 

“I came thinking that even if she’s cut contact with everyone else, she might still be connected to you.”

 

“You’re mistaken.”

 

“Apparently so.” The resignation in Kalian’s voice made Duke Parminion study him closely. 

 

Many things in the empire were changing, but he’d never expected to see grand duke Orpheus transformed like this.

 

Upon closer inspection, Kalian’s eyes looked eerily empty yet desperate, as if searching for something lost. 

 

The duke barely recognized the merciless man who showed no quarter to demons or humans alike.

 

‘Your bloodline must be terrifying indeed. The day has come when even the cruel grand duke appears pitiful.’

 

Kalian’s haggard face showed the toll of his frantic search. His bloodshot eyes seemed ready to erupt into violence at any moment.

 

“Hmph.” The duke had planned to remain composed and simply send him away but seeing that desperation weakened his resolve. 

 

“Grand Duke,” he said slowly, realizing anew how love could render even the strongest powerless.

 

Leaning back against the sofa, the duke continued: “Respect the grand duchess’s decision. Whatever she chose was likely for the best.” 

 

This was the woman who had loved the grand duke so deeply that even her final wishes had been for the North’s safety.

 

“But like all of us, what’s ‘best’ is simply the choice that leaves the fewest regrets.”

 

Kalian opened his mouth as if to speak in Moorish, then closed it with a shuddering breath. The duke wiped a hand across his own face, uncomfortable with this unfamiliar vulnerability.

 

“I promised Evelyn one thing – that I would grant her any single wish.” His mind wandered. Though he didn’t understand the full situation, seeing this arrogant man so broken moved him. “If she came to me in distress, her request would take precedence… but I’ll hear your case as well.”

 

“Please, Your Grace. I hope you can convince her to see me.”

 

The duke nodded, genuinely hoping this would benefit Evelyn. “I doubt she’ll come to me, but should the opportunity arise, I’ll do what I can.”

 

 

* * *

 

 

Walking alone down the palace corridor, Kalian clutched Evelyn’s abandoned ring and leaned heavily against a windowsill.

 

Dizziness threatened to overwhelm him, as if he might collapse at any moment. No amount of clutching his head could alleviate the stabbing pain that felt like a thousand needles.

 

“Your Grace!” Benjamin’s voice echoed from the corridor’s end as he came running. 

 

Kalian couldn’t tell if this was reality or another hallucination. Part of him wished it were all over – that if he fell gravely injured, Evelyn might feel enough pity to return.

 

‘If only pity could bring her back…’

 

With a bitter chuckle, he shook off the thought and waved away Benjamin’s supporting hand. “What news about my wife?”

 

Benjamin produced a newspaper from his coat, watching carefully as his master straightened with sudden focus. 

 

Kalian’s eyes darkened as he took it, the rustling paper revealing a portrait of his wife beneath the headline: <The Missing Grand Duchess of Orpheus>.

 

Evelyn gazed up from the page, her eyes gently curved in that expression he adored – the one she made when he cupped her cheeks, unable to hide her emotions. 

 

Kalian’s breath caught painfully at the memory of that shy, endearing smile.

 

Suddenly, the newspaper image seemed to shift – her bright expression twisting into one of fear. “Ha!” Kalian recoiled, clutching his chest.

 

“My apologies, Your Grace,” Benjamin said quickly. “The investigation continues, but with no traces left, it may take time.”

 

Kalian squeezed his eyes shut, then looked again. The portrait had returned to normal. “Am I going mad?”

 

No, this was punishment. 

 

Punishment for deceiving his wife to ease his own conscience. 

 

If he couldn’t tell her she was the true transcendent, he should at least have revealed the saint’s falsity. 

 

Instead, he’d fed her anxieties while binding her to him with declarations of love.

 

‘I never meant to hurt her, yet I’ve inflicted the deepest wound of all.’

 

Taking a shuddering breath, Kalian ordered: “Double the search parties. No, increase them tenfold. Comb every inch of the continent.” If nothing else, he needed to know where she was.

 

“At once, Your Grace.” Benjamin hesitated. “Also… the Saint awaits in your office.”

 

“The Saint?” Just hearing the title exhausted him. But he couldn’t avoid this forever. 

 

With a short sigh, he lifted his sunken eyes to the window. The sunlight stung, making Evelyn’s absence feel surreal. Steeling himself against the changing seasons, he strode forward.

 

 

* * *

 

 

In the throne room overlooking the flowering gardens, Deborah waited. 

 

Though Kalian had repeatedly refused her requests to meet, her expression showed only affectionate concern as he entered.

 

“You look unwell,” she observed. “Between the Emperor’s affairs and losing the Grand Duchess, I can only imagine your distress…” She trailed off, struggling to suppress a smile.

 

‘Everything went exactly as planned! Just when I thought she had some sense, she leaves on her own!’

 

Her triumphant thoughts faltered when Kalian’s golden eyes locked onto hers. 

 

Even in daylight, their predatory gaze sent chills down her spine. Mistaking her shiver for attraction, Deborah deliberately exposed her collarbone.

 

“Come closer,” Kalian said lazily, his gaze sweeping over her.

 

Heart racing, Deborah pretended to demur: “But my aide Aicham is present…” She made a show of adjusting her position.

 

Kalian’s voice turned icy. “I heard you sent my wife a letter.”