I Became The Wife Of The Cursed Grand Duke Chapter 47

The Emperor sipped his tea without saying a word.

 

Kalian was concerned that she still hadn’t awakened, but he kept his composure and replied lightly.

 

“As it turned out, there was no damage to the private residence, so you need not worry.”

 

“The Grand Duke is in a lot of trouble.”

 

The emperor’s words were followed by the cost of producing the crystallized stone and his offer to provide supplies equal to three years’ worth of the fief’s budget.

 

Kalian bowed his head in gratitude. There was no need for him to blabber about it.

 

Moreover, the Emperor was a man of few words, judging only by results, not intent or process.

 

It is no wonder, then, that the Grand Duke, who, like a hound dog, is focused on the task at hand, became the emperor’s favorite chess piece.

 

Just like now, when he’s not afraid to hand over the names of those involved in corruption and the testimonies to back them up.

 

“It’s a shame that the nobles who should have been an example to the rest of us have turned to such debauchery.”

 

The Emperor glanced angrily at the leashes in his hand, then at the Grand Duke with satisfaction.

 

“Well, tell me what you want.”

 

“You’ve already given me plenty.”

 

The Emperor rubbed the nape of his neck and chuckled briefly at the Grand Duke’s inscrutable demeanor.

 

“I’m offended when you say that. It’s not fair to the dreamer to accept such a thing for nothing.”

 

“Then I’ll take it.”

 

As if that were enough lip service, Kalian rang the table bell twice.

 

Just then, Benjamin, who had been waiting outside, entered, carrying a heavy sack of hay.

 

Thud!

 

Kalian opened the sack on the floor and presented its contents to the emperor.

 

Two demonic corpses, each bearing strange markings and magic circles, were tangled in the sack.

 

“What is this?”

 

The stench of death hung in the air, a foul odor that would have made even the toothless Emperor’s brow curl at the smell of blood.

 

It wasn’t until Benjamin had disappeared completely out the door, leaving the sealed sack of woven cloth behind him, that Kalian spoke again.

 

“This is the creature that appeared three days ago, near the Cabana Forest and the encampment.”

 

“You don’t mean to tell me that a demon appeared somewhere other than the gate or the dungeon?”

 

Kalian’s face hardened into an unfortunate but true expression.

 

“There are unknown markings on the corpse. Judging by the fact that it left no trace of magic, it is not a normal creature, so I would like your majesty to investigate it covertly.”

 

He deliberately avoided mentioning the temple.

 

It would only be a matter of time before the Emperor found out where the markings came from, if he chose to investigate anyway.

 

“Hmph, I see. I will surely find the source and punish them severely.”

 

The Emperor sank back into his overstuffed chair and stared at the Grand Duke, who bore a striking resemblance to his youth.

 

Despite all that was going on around him, he couldn’t help but trust the Grand Duke.

 

Rumors of his collusion with Babel aside, he was the only one who could solve the problem of demonic matters.

 

Of course, the imperial court also had its own shadowy guard, the Imperial Guard and the First through Third Knights.

 

It’s not as if the Emperor hadn’t sent them out on dungeon raids before, but practice and theory are two very different things.

 

Unlike the Blackwood Knights, who had been trained to slowly acclimatize to their horses, the Imperial Knights were inexperienced, which made the Emperor uneasy.

 

The Grand Duke’s army was stronger than the Emperor’s army.

 

A force that inspired both inferiority and favor, admiration and jealousy.

 

What could be done to relieve this anxiety?

 

It was one of two ways.

 

Either he could make the Grand Duke completely his own, or he could eliminate the conditions under which the dungeon would appear.

 

“We’ll have to wait and see.”

 

Some nobles believed that once the line of Orpheus was broken, Babel would cease to exist, but the Emperor had other ideas.

 

Having been sealed by the First Empress, Babel would be more eager than anyone else to see the end of the Grand Duchy.

 

What if the destruction of the House of Orpheus completely broke the demonic seal?

 

Then the only thing left would be the destruction of the world.

 

‘For the sake of the Empire, the House of Orpheus must live on.’

 

The Emperor’s familiarity with his darkening thoughts forced a gentle smile across his face.

 

“I have one more person for you to follow.”

 

“Have him.”

 

With a crown prince like Cedric as his only heir, he would need a loyal servant to rely on.

 

And the emperor knew what he needed most right now.

 

“It is rumored that a light from heaven has blessed the Grand Duke, and I would like her to share it with a saint.”

 

The saint, now incarnate, had been traveling on pilgrimage, practicing extreme penance, even crossing the threshold of death.

 

“What better time to announce her health, and what better opportunity for you, who must one day awaken to her power.”

 

Then a pause.

 

Kalian’s hands stopped involuntarily as he poured tea into the Emperor’s empty cup.

 

A union with a saint.

 

What he had taken for granted only a short time ago now seemed so offensive.

 

For some time, he was deeply conflicted.

 

Should he tell the world that the ‘Miracle of Litchev’ was actually the result of the prospective Grand Duchess scraping her magic to the limit and awakening her healing powers?

 

Or should he keep it a secret until the end?

 

His deliberations were short-lived.

 

She knew that once a saint had appeared, any woman who could match her abilities would be considered a witch.

 

Besides, Evelyn is already under the watchful eye of the temple.

 

What if they knew she had demonstrated unearthly powers?

 

It would only give the temple an excuse to take her away legally.

 

He didn’t want to take Evelyn away from him.

 

Even if a saint appeared, it wouldn’t change the fact that Evelyn was the healer who could calm the rampage and give him rest.

 

After dozens of hypotheticals and second-guessing.

 

He was left with only one option.

 

“I will obey your will.”

 

“You will return to Parminion with the Saint. Cedric will accompany you as an escort, and I beg you to leave him behind.”

 

Little did he realize that it would cause great misunderstanding.

 

 

* * *

 

 

As Kalian stepped out of his office, he came face to face with a face he’d been hoping to avoid.

 

“What a world, that even an asshole like you would welcome the rain.”

 

Crown Prince Cedric, who had been waiting for him, strolled over and began to sarcastically comment.

 

“And what a beauty she is, too, isn’t she?”

 

“Your Majesty is still the same.”

 

“Ha! Well, did you really think a knighthood was going to diminish my standing? A few donations, a tour of the estates, and I’m sure it’ll all go away.”

 

This was in response to an article the Grand Duke had deliberately published not long ago.

 

Despite his bravado, Cedric’s stomach was churning.

 

He’d been on probation at his court ever since the servant incident, and now that the Grand Duke had done it again, he was furious to the core.

 

But Cedric’s feelings were none of Kalian’s business, and he remained his usual demeanor.

 

“Yes, then continue to live that way. It’s none of my business.”

 

He strode down the hallway, his gaze downcast as if he were looking at a nuisance, and there was no respect in it.

 

“This bastard!”

 

Cedric was disgusted by the Grand Duke’s dismissive tone, but he had been ordered to escort the saint, so he followed.

 

“It is strange,” said Cedric, “my eyesight is better than a hawks, as far as beauty is concerned; how is it that my eyes should not have caught sight of a great beauty?”

 

“Yes, I’m sure you have.”

 

“Is she a commoner?”

 

“Not a privateer, at least.”

 

“Hey, this…!”

 

Cedric’s fists balled into fists as he tried to get on Kalian’s nerves with his usual laid-back retort.

 

His arrogant, sarcastic face, his ignorantly oversized backside, were always bad luck.

 

The thought of having to spend a few days with him made his blood rush backwards.

 

“Damn it! That’s why I’m asking why such a beautiful woman would choose a bastard like you over me, the most handsome man in the empire!”

 

“Well, aesthetics are different for everyone, aren’t they?”

 

“Ha!”

 

Cedric’s inferiority complex exploded at Kalian’s words, and he began to curse thickly.

 

Kalian stares at him impassively, then turns toward the carriage house. He walked up to them and said nonchalantly.

 

“You are very diligent. I heard that three women have already gotten rid of His Highness’ child this year. Should you be so disrespectful of the imperial family’s precious life?”

 

Cedric, who had been rambling on without dignity, was cut off by the Grand Duke’s cold voice.

 

“Yes, how could you…”

 

That Cedric was a terrible husband proved by his age, well past the age of marriage.

 

He had imperial blood in his veins, and he was tall, fair-haired, and fair-complexioned.

 

Kalian was tempted to point out that many of the most honored families were terrified of receiving a marriage proposal from the imperial family, but it would be a waste of words.

 

“Please behave yourself so that it does not reach Her Majesty’s ears.”

 

This was a secret that only the empress and her closest advisors knew.

 

Even then, no one could be sure what would happen if it reached the emperor’s ears.

 

So Cedric, trembling with humiliation, dared not touch the Grand Duke.

 

“Where did the words come from?”

 

His imposing appearance, his military accomplishments in defense of the North and the Empire.

 

There was a certain ease in his gestures, as if he were used to the life-and-death battlefield.

 

Cedric had never been defeated by Kalian before, and every nerve cell in his body instinctively cringed at the mere thought of standing before him.

 

But there are no permanent losers. As soon as this empire is within his grasp, he will crush that half-formed face.

 

“You bastard, we’ll see how long you can afford to be so lax.”