I Became The Wife Of The Cursed Grand Duke Chapter 151

Claudia quickly glanced at Kalian, her eyes wide with surprise.

“How could you… know that!”

 

His lean, sharp jawline looked menacing, and his eyes, shadowed against the light, glowed with an animalistic glint.

 

“You want to know how I figured it out? Then how about this: you used a dimensional stone to summon a superlative demon to the Great Duchy…”

 

“That—stop, stop!”

 

Claudia, white as a sheet, plugged her ears as if she didn’t want to hear anymore.

 

“No, it wasn’t me! Why would I want to ruin the family name that my ancestors spent their lives building? But…”

 

She sank to the floor like a heroine in a tragic play and began sobbing.

 

“I couldn’t stop… I couldn’t stop, for fear that if I didn’t do as I was told, I would be abandoned by the one I loved…”

 

“Love.”

 

Kalian’s voice was low, his gaze filled with abomination as he looked down at her.

 

“How dare you discuss love—you, a traitor who not only deceived the late Emperor but participated in his murder.”

 

“Tr—treason? I told you, I didn’t know anything about it!”

 

“There is no one in the world who would believe the word of a woman who had an affair with the Emperor’s half-brother.”

 

“Well, it’s not that…!”

 

Claudia burst into tears, grabbing at the hem of Kalian’s skirt before he viciously kicked her away. Stumbling backward, she scrambled back to her feet and clung to him again.

 

Kalian glared at her, his eyes cold.

 

“History tells us that when a woman deceived the Emperor and his consort, he cut off her hands and feet, disemboweled her, and threw her to the beasts.”

 

“Seriously… you’re not going to do that, are you?”

 

Claudia jerked her head up in disbelief.

 

‘She felt a shadow reach out from his grasp, as if it might strangle her at any moment.’

 

‘Yes, she deserved it!’

 

“You must remember—no matter how vile you are, we are of one blood. My downfall is your downfall, and your family’s shame!”

 

Fear shone in her hazel eyes, but instead of pity, Kalian looked at her dismissively.

 

“I’m afraid you have no right to discuss family honor.”

 

“…What?”

 

“I have entrusted Cedric with all matters pertaining to you. It was the late Emperor’s will.”

 

“What the—!”

 

Claudia burst into tears before Kalian could say anything else.

 

‘Theodore’s deepest feelings had finally been realized.’

 

He hadn’t said it aloud, but Claudia had a vague sense that he knew the truth.

 

‘Cedric and Julius looked too much alike for anyone who saw them side by side to question it.’

 

“—hngh… I’m sorry, I’m so, so sorry… I’m so sorry for deceiving you and betraying you…”

 

That realization made Claudia’s mind even clearer.

 

After a long moment of remorseful tears, she clenched her fists and took a shaky breath.

 

“I have something to tell you, Kalian.”

 

Silence.

 

“I think Julius is about to do something dreadful… and it’s not too late to punish me, even after I’ve stopped him.”

 

“Something dreadful.”

 

Claudia’s gaze swept across his face.

 

“It is true that I have been tracking Julius’ movements.”

 

His grip on the hilt of his sword was menacing, as if he would cut off a limb at the slightest hint of falsehood.

 

“However, I cannot fathom your motives for accusing the man you love so dearly of participating in the Emperor’s murder.”

 

Claudia did not back down at Kalian‘s sneer.

 

“What do I have to gain by lying to you?”

 

She carried herself as if she were still the Empress.

 

Kalian crossed his arms lazily, smirking.

 

“There is no reason for me to believe you. Even the Emperor would be afraid of a deceitful woman.”

 

Claudia sighed heavily in frustration, as if to say that if he was going to play games, she might as well turn back.

 

“Yes, foolishly, I loved Julius with all my heart… but…”

 

‘She didn’t want to admit that her love was foolish.’

 

But now was not the time for pride when survival was at stake.

 

“Julius never loved me in the first place. He just… needed a woman who would blindly support him as he ascended to the position of Emperor.”

 

There was not the slightest hint of falsehood in her angry voice.

 

Indeed, Julius had used Claudia’s power to consolidate his position.

 

Kalian dropped his gaze from hers and sighed lazily.

 

“Fine. Speak. What nefarious scheme is Julius up to?”

 

With a shaky breath, Claudia told him what had happened.

 

“First of all, the plague in Bellatra…”

 

If it was about the plague, the research was already done. Still, Kalian listened calmly, not interrupting her.

 

As he had feared, the plague in Bellatra was not something that could be cured by medicine.

 

‘Black magic.’

 

Julius had spread the plague to humans with cruelty. He even planned to raise an army of the undead.

 

After plunging an entire continent into destruction, he intended to rebuild his ravaged empire and rule.

 

‘It won’t be as easy as I thought.’

 

As he muttered to himself, Claudia finally revealed something he hadn’t realized.

 

“I wanted to see with my own eyes if he had really betrayed me… and then I saw Julius heading off somewhere!”

 

Kalian’s jaw tightened. Seeing she had his attention, Claudia added cooperatively:

 

“I’m not sure where, but I’m pretty sure he was headed north on Northeast Harlem Street!”

 

Northeast Harlem Street—home to criminals and mercenaries—bordered the now-deserted Dark Curtain.

 

‘Maybe he’s trying to get to Johansen.’

 

If that was true, his intentions were obvious.

 

‘My wife is in danger.’

 

Kalian squeezed his eyes shut. Then he turned to Claudia and called for Benjamin.

 

“Prepare to leave for the north—now.”

 

 

* * *

 

 

Meanwhile, at the checkpoint connecting the North to the Empire…

 

“Kaaaah!”

 

“Sah, help us, please… please…!”

 

A gust of blood blew through what had been a peaceful place moments before.

 

The legs of soldiers still standing rolled across the floor; others were cut in two as they tried to flee.

 

More surprising was the fact that no one had physically attacked them.

 

A long, slender shadow struck with a power resembling the grand duke’s—but with a murderous edge.

 

A soldier on all fours crouched and cried out:

 

“No, it’s the wizard! Back up! Call the Grand Duchy for backup, now—!”

 

It was then.

 

Crack!

 

A terminal scream snapped the neck of the soldier who had been shouting.

 

The body of the man who had climbed to the lookout to summon help crashed to the ground—his eyes gouged out where they had once been.

 

Those who saw it were too horrified to speak.

 

Silence fell in an instant.

 

Thud. Thud. Thud.

 

Someone was walking through the blizzard.

 

The brave survivors stared at the checkpoint, their eyes filled with fear.

 

“The High Priest…?”

 

“High Priest? I haven’t heard that title in a long time.”

 

A light voice, tinged with laughter, echoed through the air.

 

“You’re a pain in the ass, so I’ll get rid of the rest of you at once.”

 

A dark shadow stretched out, cutting off the remaining breaths in an instant.

 

“Quiet now.”

 

Smiling with satisfaction, Julius finally stepped onto Johansen, his eyes scanning the carnage with maddening intensity.

 

The snow, once pure white, was now stained red with soldiers’ blood.

 

He picked up a bloodied uniform epaulette and a shredded finger, handing them to his henchman.

 

Along with them was a letter, scrawled in the soldiers’ blood and inked in his fine handwriting.

 

“Still, it is a gift of honor to the Grand Duchess. Wrap it nicely.”

 

“Does Duke Parminion really know where the grand duchess is?”

 

Julius’s face twisted with sarcasm.

 

“Even if he doesn’t, the gift will end up in her hands. No matter how much I love her, she is not as precious as my child.”

 

 

* * *

 

 

Evelyn opened her eyes.

 

She must have gone to bed early, but now she found herself standing alone in a beautiful forest.

 

‘Where am I?’

 

Moonlight shone through the leaves, and a pleasant breeze soothed her restlessness.

 

Evelyn looked around before walking deeper into the clearing.

 

‘I don’t know why, but this place feels familiar. Like I’ve been here before.’

 

Then it happened.

 

Whooooooo!

 

A pure white light appeared, swirling at her feet before enveloping her entire body.

 

‘What is this?’

 

The wonder was short-lived. Evelyn danced with the light, losing track of time as she immersed herself in its dreamy beauty.

 

The ball of light was playful and full of life, like a fairy.

 

‘Huh? Follow me?’

 

Gradually, she walked deeper into the forest—until she came upon a hut straight out of a fairy tale.

 

‘A hunter’s shelter?’

 

As if drawn by something, Evelyn entered the cabin… and locked eyes with a man as mysterious as the landscape around him.

 

“…Kylus?”