I Became The Wife Of The Cursed Grand Duke Chapter 159

When he stopped laughing, a breathless silence quickly followed.

 

“Poor Julius.”

 

A voice so low and dark it was almost inaudible came from Kalian’s lips. His eyes snapped open, his face eerily numb.

 

Julius had seen that look only once before—on the day of the grand duke’s wedding. That was the expression the grand duke had worn as he stood in the center of the blood-soaked ballroom, the grand duchess caught in the open gates of the Grand Duchy.

 

Instinctive fear poured like ice water from the crown of Julius’s head. His shoulders slumped, and he gripped the armrests tightly to hide the tremors in his hands.

 

As he watched, Kalian’s lips tilted upward.

 

“Do you think there is such a thing as a sanctuary?”

 

“That’s nothing! What…?”

 

“Babel, I am asking you how on earth you believe he will give you eternal life and glory.”

 

“Don’t be silly!”

 

Julius’s shout was accompanied by a thrumming, eerie metallic sound—the unsheathing of Kalian’s magic sword, Tartarus. With the blade drawn, Kalian stared at him with majestic, piercing eyes.

 

“Yi, yi…!”

 

The charisma was overwhelming. A dark purple aura pulsed around the blade, as if it could devastate the surroundings at any moment. Julius, still trying to stall for time, felt himself shrinking under the pressure. But he was not foolish enough to show it.

 

“How dare you draw your sword in my presence—in the presence of the new Emperor of the Empire—and bring ruin to this land!”

 

“Why not?”

 

“What?”

 

“You’ve assassinated an emperor and led a rebellion in the name of the High Priest. What am I not capable of?”

 

Julius’s face hardened, as if he held the world in the palm of his hand.

 

“You don’t understand. You must realize that I am holding your mother’s life hostage!”

 

Glaring coldly at Kalian, Julius gestured toward the long line of soldiers.

 

“What are you all looking at? Seize this insolent man and rip out his sneaky tongue!”

 

Julius, his temper raging, shouted at the soldiers—but none of them moved. Instead, they began retreating half a step at a time, their breaths heavy. Seeing the fear on their faces, Julius lamented.

 

‘Such weaklings!’

 

But the weaker they were, the easier it was for darkness to take hold.

 

“May the dark power reach this place, quickly!”

 

It was only a matter of time before the darkness Deborah had unleashed would spread north.

 

“Then, with the power of death, I will slaughter the Grand Duke limb from limb and show the world who truly owns the empire!”

 

An eerie coldness flashed through Julius’s eyes as he regained his composure.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Meanwhile, while Julius was lost in his thoughts, Kalian leisurely assessed the situation. As expected, the interior of the Grand Duchy was empty, save for the loyalists and private soldiers Julius had brought.

 

‘They must be trying to lure Evelyn away by holding the city hostage.’

 

The Julius before him was not the Julius he once knew. This man was intent on seizing the empire with the power of death, borrowed from a devil.

 

‘But there must be a reason he doesn’t attack me outright. Anyone who overdoes it will go berserk. Even with a demon’s power, there are limits.’

 

Besides, if the castle was destroyed before Deborah and Evelyn arrived, the ritual would be compromised. And Kalian, too, had to bide his time—at least until Evelyn was in sight and the hostages were safe.

 

“I’m sorry to hear that, Julius.”

 

Kalian struck at Julius’s weakness, hoping to push him to the brink of madness.

 

“The power of death—is that truly your full strength?”

 

His taunt dripped with naked sarcasm.

 

“Power is not something that can be inherited. Of course, you—unchosen by the gods—would not know that.”

 

‘Or maybe not.’

 

“What?!”

 

Julius gritted his teeth. Kalian laughed fervently.

 

“You’ve bitten into a poisoned apple. One so tempting, it makes you sick.”

 

As Kalian continued to provoke him, Julius slammed the armrest of his chair.

 

Boom!

 

He jumped to his feet, as if needing to see for himself.

 

“What of Tal? And the choice of a god? Who decides that? There’s no such thing as a sun god in the first place!”

 

He spread his arms wide, his long cuffs billowing like a veil.

 

“I am the very power of death itself—the Messiah of Babel! The creator of all things!”

 

His speechlessness suggested he had begun to identify himself with Babel.

 

‘How foolish of him to be deceived by Babel’s words and lend him his body.’

 

It was only through Julius that the demon—once nothing more than a sealing stone—could influence the world.

 

‘To give my soul to such a creature…’

 

Muttering to himself, Kalian continued to stare coldly.

 

“Did you truly not foresee being used and discarded by the devil? I’m disappointed you never doubted Babel.”

 

His provocation worked. With an exaggerated gesture, Julius stopped pacing near the throne.

 

“He created all things! And now he seeks only to destroy and recreate what has fallen!”

 

Then, Julius’s body jerked toward Kalian. The doubts he’d suppressed began bubbling up, filling his mind.

 

‘There cannot be two suns under the sky. Why would the Demon King willingly hand power to him?’

 

Images of worshippers prostrating before Babel—not him—flashed through his mind.

 

“O Babel, creator of heaven and earth! Save us!”

 

‘What has Babel done all this time? I’m the one who gathered the believers, just as he commanded. So why do they worship him and not me?’

 

His throat burned. Julius raised his goblet, his expression grave. Kalian raised an eyebrow.

 

“If you have eyes, look at yourself. Can’t you see the power of death gnawing at your flesh?”

 

“Bullshit!”

 

Though he’d vowed not to fall for the demon’s whispers, Julius instinctively caught his reflection in the glass.

 

“No way… How could you—?!”

 

His face, once vibrant—rejuvenated by his time in the harem—now resembled a living skeleton, bones interlocking beneath thinning skin.

 

“……”

 

Julius set the glass down, his expression blank. His eyes glowed eerily.

 

 

* * *

 

 

Elsewhere…

 

Nobles and imperial knights gathered in the great hall, their faces tense. Earlier, they had been murmuring about the emergency meeting’s agenda.

 

“Have you heard? The missing Grand Duchess has appeared in Bellatra.”

 

“I heard it from the Templar. Do you truly believe the grand duchess would do such a thing?”

 

“A holy woman wouldn’t—especially not after descending with the Oracle…”

 

“I suppose not?”

 

The conference room doors swung open. Crown Prince Cedric and the Duke of Parminion entered, their expressions solemn.

 

The Parminion family had long distanced themselves from the nobility due to personal grievances with the imperial family. Yet, as the Empire’s only duke, his influence remained vast.

 

Behind them stood the Empress, reportedly detained at the Imperial Palace, her presence cold and heavy.

 

Crown Prince Cedric surveyed the room, then spoke in a low voice.

 

“My dear nobles, I, Cedric Lucius Adin Ikar, propose a motion today.”

 

His breath slowed. After locking eyes with the Duke of Parminion, he turned left.

 

“Hours ago, the Grand Duchess of Orpheus was captured in Bellatra, attempting treason. In the name of my late vice-regent, I propose her repatriation to the north—and execution.”