I Became The Wife Of The Cursed Grand Duke Chapter 155

“I swear I never agreed with him. Deborah, I mean… my daughter should never have come into this world.”
“What the hell is that…”

 

Evelyn’s thoughts stuttered. A wave of anxiety crashed over her.

‘Deborah was Ines’s daughter? That she shouldn’t exist?’

 

“So you’re… the first Saint Helene?”

 

Ines nodded.

“I know it sounds impossible, but it’s true. I… sealed my newborn daughter away before she could take her first breath.”

 

Evelyn struggled to control her revulsion. Her questioning gaze locked onto Ines.

“But history says the demon king’s child with the saint died at birth—her magical and divine energies clashing within her.”

 

‘Helene herself did the sealing? How can I believe this?’

 

Ines cleared her throat.

“I had my reasons. Some might call them excuses.”

 

“What reasons could justify that?”

‘What was worth protecting at such a horrific cost?’

 

A heavy silence fell. Ines stared out the window, gathering herself before revealing her buried past.

“You know why Babel descended to the human realm, yes?”

 

The demon king had cared nothing for humans—until the First Empress demanded his aid to unify the continent.

“He helped in exchange for the demon world’s prosperity. Afterward, I vowed to spend my life with him.”

 

Ines paused, breathing like a marathon runner.

“Demons and humans were forbidden, but I believed good and evil were man-made concepts. Apparently… the gods disagreed.”

 

She clasped her trembling hands.

“They sent an oracle: our child would drown the world in darkness.”

 

After wetting her lips with wine, Ines continued calmly:

“Before being a lover or mother, I was a holy woman. Bound to honor prophecies protecting the world.”

 

“How could you…” Evelyn’s fists clenched, her face twisting.

‘No justification could excuse killing one’s own child. What kind of god demands such cruelty?’

 

But judging Ines’s faith felt hypocritical. Instead, Evelyn voiced her burning question:

“If you’re Helene—with unmatched holy power—why burden me with this? Why not finish it yourself?”

 

‘She never asked to be chosen. To sacrifice herself for the world.’

“Why me?” she repeated, voice breaking.

 

Ines exhaled shakily.

“The reason is simple: I’ve lost all my divine power.”

 

“Divine power?”

 

“The holy artifacts only respond to immense divine energy. You’re the only one strong enough to stop Babel now.”

 

Regret filled Ines’s gaze as she withdrew a bloodstained cloth from her robes—a grotesque parcel tied with a frayed red ribbon.

 

“The Duke of Parminion brought this. A letter from Julius… though it reads more like a threat.”

 

“Why go to you? He’s closer to Leon.”

 

“Because Leon would’ve destroyed it.” Ines’s head snapped toward the window. “Quiet.”

 

Outside, rain had begun falling from the clear sky. Tension thickened as Ines slammed the window shut.

“We should leave. There’s time to decide, but not here.”

 

 

* * *

 

 

Bellatra Quarantine Center

 

The plague victims eagerly believed Deborah’s impersonation of the grand duchess—not that they cared about truth when salvation was promised.

 

“Bless us, Your Highness!” they cried.

 

Deborah, reveling in their devotion, knelt dramatically.

“Sun God, spare these sinners! Deliver them from darkness!”

 

The crowd prostrated themselves, chanting:

“The true Messiah has come!”

 

‘Goosebumps rose on Deborah’s skin.’ Their fanaticism intoxicated her.

“The purification begins now! Light shall cleanse this land!”

 

Nearby, imperial knights Max and Dwayne exchanged glances.

 

‘Is she actually believing her own delusions?’

 

Kalian had predicted this. A week prior, he’d ordered them undercover:

‘Julius’s plague is bait for Evelyn. Deborah will try something foolish—likely a fake ritual.’

 

Now, as Deborah commanded them to fetch “beast blood”—an impossible task—Dwayne saw their opening.

 

“Your Highness,” he boomed, ensuring the crowd heard, “why use beasts when your regenerative blood could power the ritual?”

 

The villagers’ eyes lit with hungry hope. Deborah paled.

‘This wasn’t part of the plan!’