I Became The Wife Of The Cursed Grand Duke Chapter 163

Smiling with relief that Evelyn was unharmed, Kalian quickly led Cedric and the nobles outside. Then he calmly watched Julius and the seal stone.

 

It was true that the gate to the Otherworld had opened, as Julius had said. However, Babel was still imprisoned in the seal stone.

 

‘It seems he needs a medium to come to life.’

 

As he assessed the situation, a gust of wind—so strong that he could barely keep his eyes open—swept through the area. Sharp, spear-like auras were carried by the wind, attacking the surroundings.

 

“Kaaaah!”

 

Julius’ eyes were unfocused as he watched. ‘He seems to be on the verge of losing control of his power in a fit of rage,’ Kalian guessed.

 

Unaware of this, Julius yanked his hair and clawed at his scalp.

 

“I will make you feel terrible pain, pain you will not be able to bear without begging me to kill you!”

 

Julius’s hair gradually turned white as he was consumed by the spirit. His taut skin had long since melted away like that of a dying man. ‘Just a little longer, just a little more rampage, and…’

 

“Sire, I have found the place where they are keeping the hostages!”

 

Someone shouted as the shadow-summoned Kalian pressed down on his opponent’s mind. It was Benjamin.

 

Turning to him, Kalian saw that the knights behind him were unharmed and nodded.

 

“Any injuries?”

 

“None at the moment, but there will be soon if we stay here!”

 

But there was no turning back now. Kalian looked at the seal stone, which was beginning to crack, and called out.

 

“Evelyn is on the second-floor balcony! Take her and get as far away as you can!”

 

“What? What about the grand duke’s messenger, can I—”

 

Benjamin, who had answered that far, realized Kalian’s intentions. ‘He’s waiting for Babel to wake up.’

 

“Hurry up!”

 

When Benjamin didn’t answer, Kalian shadowed him, urging him to leave.

 

“She must have realized what she is by now. There’s no telling what she’ll do when she wakes up, so leave without looking back—now!”

 

Screams erupted in all directions.

 

Panicked, Benjamin called out to Kalian.

 

“What the hell are you going to do?!”

 

“I’m the only one who can fight Babel. Get everyone else out of here. They’ll get themselves killed.”

 

“But all conditions must be met to seal Babel, and right now there’s no way—”

 

“That’s just a condition of the seal. I have no intention of sealing him.”

 

It was a strange nuance. ‘It was like he was trying to tear Babel apart.’

 

“No way…”

 

Benjamin trailed off. When he looked up, Kalian had already rushed toward Julius. Only the scabbard he’d thrown lay in a heap where he’d stood.

 

 

* * *

 

 

Evelyn, who was about to go downstairs, watched with narrowed eyes as Kalian rushed toward Julius. His strides were as light as a bird’s, and the golden aura of his magic sword was brilliant enough to pierce the darkness of the ballroom.

 

‘Part of me wants to neutralize the power of death with the power of light.’ But she restrained herself, knowing that Kalian’s vengeance would be as great as her anger.

 

“Let’s wait and see. He’s a strong man.”

 

Evelyn felt the ring and earrings she wore glow—no, vibrate—with a force that shook her to the core. It was light, sensing death, writhing with the instinct to destroy it.

 

The vibration of the orb had begun with Bellatra.

 

A day earlier, she had traveled to Bellatra, using the orb’s power to save villagers from evil. Of course, it was only a stopgap measure.

 

‘If I don’t stop Babel here, hell will come.’

 

 

* * *

 

 

“Julius.”

 

Kalian, who had effortlessly sliced through the winds stirred by the Death Eater, stood before the staggering man.

 

“Why is your name so long, you wretched bastard?”

 

“Well, I suppose it’s because I was chosen by the gods.”

 

Julius’s face hardened. ‘How has he survived all these years?’

 

“You defy death—what the hell are you?!”

 

As he thought that, Julius’s gaze caught a woman crawling among the corpses, trying to stay alive. He smirked as death spiraled out of his control.

 

“Yes, your weakness has always been that sneaky little wench—the one who keeps me on my toes from start to finish, the witch in a saint’s garb!”

 

Blood gushed from Julius’s mouth as Kalian struck him, lifting him into the air.

 

“Foolish Julius. Normal people don’t call it weakness—they call it love.”

 

Julius felt heat rise in his gut. ‘Something’s wrong.’

 

“Kuck—!”

 

He struggled, but only blood and choked groans escaped.

 

Kalian smiled.

 

“And love is what makes us stronger than anything else. It’s a pity you don’t know that.”

 

He glanced toward the balcony, where Evelyn still stood, watching.

 

‘In this life, I will protect you.’

 

He had lost her once before, blinded by trust. He wouldn’t make that mistake again.

 

[Ready.]

 

His right arm resonated—Aether’s voice, the only one he could hear.

 

‘No, Evelyn is still here.’

 

‘I’d like to be in the same room with her a little longer.’

 

He planned to unleash condensed dark power the moment Babel emerged, dragging them both to the Netherworld.

 

‘Killing myself to save her is the only way.’

 

[I will give you one last chance to think. You know the grief of the Remnant.]

 

It tormented him. ‘Seeing her weakens me.’

 

But he answered:

 

“No. Going back in time wouldn’t change my choice. She would live without regret.”

 

Kalian didn’t hesitate. ‘No—he was happy to.’ Even if it was selfish, he couldn’t bear being alone again.

 

“Die, Julius.”

 

Perhaps only in death would Babel reveal itself.

 

Kalian smiled at his would-be companion in hell—then crushed Julius with the dark power surging through him.

 

 

* * *

 

 

Eyes rolling back, Julius clutched at Kalian’s forearm around his neck.

 

“Kaaaagh!”

 

His insides turned red. The seal stone vibrated violently, amplifying the power of death.

 

Kwagwang! Kwung, kwung—!

 

The banquet hall shook like an earthquake. Black and dark-red auras clashed, but Kalian had the advantage from the start.

 

“I’m furious—but I’ll never submit to you!”

 

Half-dead, Julius reached out—and a scream tore through the air.

 

The crowd froze, searching for the source.

 

A woman’s chest had been pierced by a shadowy spear, her body burning from the wound.

 

Julius laughed maniacally.

 

“Hahaha! The woman you tried so hard to protect is dead! Now—”

 

Something was wrong.

 

The hand around his throat fell away.

 

“Why isn’t anything happening?!”

 

He looked up. The crimson moon was fading.

 

“What is that?!”

 

He turned stiffly—and a figure walked into the stillness.

 

A woman in a snow-white robe, not black.

 

Then came a prayer—soft as a feather, bright as a bird’s song.

 

Julius muttered in disbelief.

 

“No… after decades of work… it can’t end like this…”

 

As Evelyn closed the dead woman’s eyes, a dark voice echoed.

 

“So it has come to this, my daughter. All I tried to do for you has been undone.”

 

A demon’s voice.

 

“Well done, Julius. Your sacrifice will not be in vain.”

 

Julius jolted.

 

“A sacrifice?!”

 

The crowd stood frozen, mesmerized.

 

Julius, eyes wild, snatched the quivering seal stone.

 

“Now I see! You planned to use me, then take the credit!”

 

The moon burned red again. Rain poured from the clear sky.

 

Julius raised the seal stone—then plunged it into his own heart.