I Became The Wife Of The Cursed Grand Duke Chapter 146

“How did you know about that?”

Flustered by the sudden question, Deborah froze as if yanked by an invisible string.

 

“You sent that letter without the manor staff’s knowledge.”

 

She’d anticipated this confrontation.

But now that he was directly accusing her, nervous tension made her jaw twitch.

 

‘Calm down. Stay composed.’

 

Swallowing dryly, Deborah finally spoke: “It was just… a simple greeting.”

 

“A simple greeting?” Kalian’s fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest.

 

Deborah focused on those moving fingers rather than meeting his gaze. ‘If I look into his eyes, I’ll betray myself.’

 

“Yes. I merely thought we should become acquainted since we’ll be living together soon.”

 

Despite the flimsy excuse, Kalian’s stare never wavered. Though Deborah maintained outward composure, fear coiled in her gut.

 

‘There’s no need for intimidation – this man already wears his guilt like a shroud.’

 

Part of Kalian wanted to dismember her and feed her to dungeon demons, but he restrained himself.

 

‘She’s just bait for Babel.’

 

With deliberate calm, Kalian placed the envelope from Deborah’s letter on the table. While its contents remained unknown, the mere display made Deborah assume he’d discovered everything.

 

‘Or maybe not…’

 

“What is this…?” Her green eyes darted nervously.

 

When Kalian remained silent, Deborah tried again: “You’re not blaming me for her disappearance, are you?”

 

Kalian shook his head. “Of course not. Her leaving is ultimately my fault.”

 

“Then why are you looking at me like that?”

 

He offered no answer, maintaining a silence more threatening than any interrogation. Deborah’s breath hitched as if he was mentally compelling a confession.

 

An eternity seemed to pass before Deborah finally cracked.

 

“Fine! I merely suggested we’d spent the night together! What’s the harm in that?”

 

“…What?” Kalian’s demeanor turned glacial.

 

Seeing his reaction, Deborah’s face paled. She scrambled for justification: “I was simply warning her about the inevitable! How was I to know she’d overreact?”

 

‘He should be shouting at me. This silence is worse.’

 

Gaining false courage, Deborah pressed on: “Besides, we’re divinely ordained mates! If you’d let some petty rumor, come between us—”

 

Kalian’s self-control shattered.

 

“Divinely ordained?” His voice dripped with contempt.

 

“W-what?”

 

“How can you be certain the gods chose you?”

 

Deborah’s cheeks flushed at his unprecedented rudeness. “The oracle confirmed it! I even broke the orb’s defensive magic!”

 

Tears welled in her reddened eyes, but Kalian remained unmoved.

 

“Oracles can be forged. Especially when delivered by Julius – the traitor who murdered the emperor.” He leaned back; arms crossed. “I question any ‘divine’ messages from such a man.”

 

“You’d deny the gods because of some woman?” Deborah shrieked.

 

Kalian didn’t hesitate. “Any god who permits false oracles and human suffering isn’t worthy of worship.”

 

“What?” Deborah gaped, struggling to process this blasphemy from the devout Guardian.

 

‘We even look alike! What makes her so special?’

 

“You loved me enough to get the potion for me!” she insisted.

 

Kalian massaged his temples as if pained. “I obtained that potion to make you useful, nothing more.”

 

‘Bastard!’ Deborah thought, but Kalian continued coldly:

 

“Your only purpose is to heal the plague victims and prove your so-called divinity. Until then, I won’t acknowledge you as any saint.”

 

 

* * *

 

Evelyn hesitated outside Leon’s vibrantly colored medical center, overwhelmed by the crowd of nobles lamenting its impending closure. 

 

“You can’t leave! What will we do?”

“Don’t worry. A far more skilled councilor will take over your care.”

“But where’s the Count?”

“Apologies, but circumstances force our departure.”

“How dreadful! Reah was like a daughter to me…”

 

Though exiles, Leon and Reah had lived in Litchev since childhood. Watching the tearful farewells, Evelyn regretted disrupting their lives.

 

‘If I’d known this would happen…’

 

But staying would have guaranteed Kalian finding her. This painful separation was necessary to disappear completely.

 

‘I’ll never endanger them again.’

 

After lingering near the building, Evelyn finally turned away, pulling her hood low. While her robes didn’t stand out in this commercial district, she worried about recognition.

 

‘The discomfort will pass.’

 

Her body ached strangely since dawn – feverish chills alternating with burning heat. Though she considered seeing a doctor, the nearby newspaper stall changed her mind.

 

Her portrait stared back from the front page beneath the headline: <WANTED – GRAND DUCHESS OF ORPHEUS>.

 

‘From runaway to wanted criminal in one day.’

 

“I explicitly asked him not to look…”

 

The bounty announcement didn’t surprise her. Kalian’s pride would demand retaliation for her unilateral decision.

 

‘He’ll rage for a while.’

 

But imperial duties would soon consume his attention. The thought almost made her smile as she walked through the summer warmth.

 

‘I must move forward.’

 

Between the pregnancy, betrayal, and now indigestion, everything felt overwhelming. Yet she reminded herself:

 

‘This is nothing compared to bleeding out from curses.’

 

Her mother, though fragile, had raised her alone. She’d do even better for her child.

 

“You’ll only know love.”

 

Lullabies at bedtime. Birthday cakes. A home filled with sunlight rather than shadows.

 

As these thoughts warmed her, Evelyn realized her nausea had faded. An odd hunger emerged instead.

 

‘How strange.’

 

Moments ago, food seemed impossible. Now, she scanned the street for restaurants, the baby’s first craving guiding her steps.