I Became The Wife Of The Cursed Grand Duke Chapter 70

[Cackles].

 

“What’s so funny?”

 

[Cackle!]

 

The sound of his dark laughter rang in her ears like tinnitus for a long time.

 

His bloodshot red eyes glared at her like a beast of burden.

 

[You mean the side of the guardian whose only intention is to use you and eat you, if that’s where you belong?]

 

Evelyn’s eyes narrowed.

 

She didn’t want to be swayed by his words, but Aether’s sneering, arbitrary judgment of her situation was a thorn in her side.

 

‘But I won’t put up with it anymore.’

 

It’s human nature to retaliate to a provocation with an even greater provocation.

 

Evelyn stared expressionlessly into his glowing red eyes.

 

“For a god, I suppose you’re not much better than a mortal, trying to sway me with your childish epilepsy.”

 

But he was no match for her.

 

Rising from his long lying position, he propped himself up on his elbows on either side of his wide-spread legs and raised one corner of his mouth.

 

[Oh, no, you’re not going to tell me that a few rounds with him have changed your position, are you?]

 

Aether clicked his tongue, seeming to take pity on her, but she could feel the lust within him.

 

The tarry lust in his eyes, the sneer as he stroked the bump on the left side of her thigh, made it clear.

 

But Evelyn didn’t take it well, didn’t even show any sign of fighting back.

 

She realized that she didn’t need to be swayed by him.

 

“This isn’t real, because I lost my mind the moment I entered the Dark Curtain.”

 

She swallowed hard, trying to calm her nerves, while her opponent spoke up.

 

[I’m sorry, but it won’t change anything. He doesn’t remember you, so you’d better stop believing he’ll ever love you].

 

“I never hoped for that.”

 

[Don’t be ridiculous, you’re no different from any other woman].

 

‘I’m sorry to disappoint you, but technically, our relationship didn’t fall into the category of a normal couple.’

 

Therapy and cleansing.

 

The kind of relationship where you share your needs, but you don’t share your feelings.

 

She can’t bring herself to say it out loud, but when she thinks back on their relationship, she can’t help but chuckle.

 

“If that’s what you believe, I can’t help it. Think whatever you want.”

 

[Do you love this man?]

 

“Yes.”

 

[Why?]

 

As she listened, she became increasingly annoyed.

 

She questioned why she should confide in someone who wasn’t even a party.

 

But then Evelyn realized that this was probably some sort of ritual to gain access to the North.

 

The demons are playful by nature and thrive on embarrassing their opponents.

 

It’s an unpleasant question, but it means she has to answer it, whether she likes it or not.

 

Evelyn sighed heavily.

 

“I don’t know why you ask, but I can’t explain it, it’s just the way it is.”

 

Her love for Kalian was like blind faith.

 

Like a newborn duckling recognizing the first creature it sees as its mother, nothing else mattered because he was the one who took all her beginnings.

 

She’d be lying if she said it wasn’t hollow that she’d given him her body and her heart and nothing had changed, but she couldn’t afford to care about that now.

 

Steeling herself, she pretended to respond to Aether’s question, drawing energy into her hands as a distraction.

 

Slowly and weakly, so that he wouldn’t even feel it.

 

‘After all, gods are dark, so they must be weak to light.’

 

She may not be able to extinguish what lies within Kalian, but she can at least buy herself time to escape.

 

Or, more accurately, time to wake up from the world of unconsciousness.

 

Evelyn bit down on the soft flesh in her mouth.

 

If it fails, so be it.

 

For now, she’ll lean on the side of possibility, if only to escape that smirking creature.

 

‘Even if it is a rather cowardly way to do it.’

 

Meanwhile, Aether’s voice hardened slightly as he interpreted her determined expression differently.

 

[Foolish of you, to choose such a lowly man to give your precious innocence to].

 

Then, completely letting his guard down, he pushed himself up onto his knees.

 

*Grrrr*

 

His massive body came at once, casting a shadow over her head.

 

[On that note, may I make a suggestion?]

 

A lazy smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, and he craned his neck to look down at Evelyn, who was looking up at him.

 

[Why don’t you come live with me here, I can keep you well satisfied, unlike that noble human.]

 

He crouched down to meet her gaze. The playfulness that had been hovering just a moment ago was completely gone.

 

[Which means I can give you whatever you want, whether it’s pleasure or eternal life].

 

Evelyn gasped at the snake-like touch that curled around her rear end.

 

Her exposed skin stiffened, not in anticipation of what was to come, but because she was overwhelmed by the blood-red eyes.

 

The atmosphere was so precarious.

 

No matter how little she knew of this man, she could only imagine what would happen if he continued.

 

She lowered her eyes, and he leaned closer, tilting his face.

 

But Evelyn didn’t avert her gaze.

 

“Creator of heaven and earth. Breathe light into me and drive out the darkness that dwells within me.”

 

With a great sense of self-doubt and treachery, she clasped her ringed hands around Aether’s neck as he leaned in to kiss her.

 

A guttural gasp escaped the Terminus’ mouth, mesmerized by the scent of Dardidan’s body.

 

Evelyn took this as a cue to blast a beam of light at Aether.

 

Pow!

 

The maximum amount of magic power was released like an explosion, and a flash of light fiercely enveloped the two intertwined bodies.

 

“Ugh!”

 

Evelyn hugged the giant body with all her might, enduring the pain of her skin melting away.

 

[Ouch! You’ve tricked me!]

 

It was hot.

 

The creature’s tough aether skin melted in her delicate palm.

 

[Aaaah!]

 

A shiver ran down her spine. Then an indescribable, ghastly pain shot through her body.

 

“…Lynn, Evelyn, wake up!”

 

‘Did it work?’

 

This face in front of her, and this voice, so low and resonant…

 

But she couldn’t continue her thoughts. Evelyn closed her eyes again, relaxing into the familiar warmth.

 

 

* * *

 

 

It was a day that would have drowned out all other sounds in a whirling gale, but the snowstorm was blowing, and the Grand Duchy of Orpheus was in an uproar at the entrance.

 

“The curtain is open!”

 

The sentry watching the border from the highest watchtower shouted at the top of his lungs.

 

“His Highness, the grand duke is returning!”

 

Boo-woo-!

 

At the same time, the sound of a horn trumpet echoed long along the city walls, announcing the return of the lord.

 

Benedict, the Grand Duke’s butler, was on the verge of freaking out when he heard the news.

 

“What do you mean, Kun has only just arrived!”

 

Kun was the heraldic falcon of grand duke Orpheus, used to announce news of the Templars.

 

For two generations, he had been the Grand Duke’s heraldic hawk, but he had never seen anything like today.

 

“A heraldic letter announcing my return and the lord’s arrival at the same time!”

 

He knew that in the dark curtain, Kun often got lost in the chaos.

 

“At such a critical time!”

 

When the hirelings heard that the Grand Duke was bringing a backup Grand Duchess, they prepared to greet her as best they could.

 

But their preparations were far from perfect.

 

“The bedding hasn’t been delivered yet, the new fireplace hasn’t been lit, and once it is, it will need to be ventilated for at least two days, and…”

 

But there’s no point in worrying about it now.

 

Benedict, his worries over, tied the scrawled letter to Kun’s ankle as he landed on the armor.

 

He stared at the fleeing Kun for a moment, then limped on his throbbing lego the top floor of the tower.

 

All the while, his thoughts shifted to the prospective Grand Duchess.

 

‘I wonder what she’s like. I hope she’s strong inside.’

 

But the thought didn’t last long.

 

Whoever the Grand Duke’s ‘bride’ was, it didn’t matter to the butler.

 

There was only one thing that mattered to him.

 

That his master, who had never trodden the shadow of a woman in his life, had found himself a companion.

 

“I’ll do what I have to do.”

 

As he clenched his fists in determination, he heard a shout from the stairs leading up to the castle tower.

 

“Deacon, what has happened?”

 

It was Helen Riktor, the handmaiden.

 

She came running, unaware that her glasses had fallen off, breathing heavily and looking devastated.

 

No wonder she was surprised.

 

It had only been a short time ago that the grand duke had sent word to prepare for the wedding with the bare minimum necessary to greet the grand duchess.

 

“I’m not surprised. I have already forgotten how dejected you were when you heard that there would be no ceremony.”

 

Mrs. Riktor has done a great job of raising the grand duke, who has never had anyone else’s care.

 

Her love for him is unparalleled, and she’ll do well in a pinch.

 

Benedict exhaled heavily, as if to energize himself, and clapped his hands together.

 

“Helen, you will prepare to receive the grand duchess. I will notify everyone and prepare for the reception.”

 

“And you?”

 

“I sent Kun, he’ll be back, but for now, let’s put out the fire at our feet!”

 

They quickly regained their composure like veterans, their backs to them as they hurried down the stairs with determination in their eyes.

 

“I’m looking forward to seeing what she’s like, but I’m also worried. I hope she’s got a straight, hard wick.”

 

“Man, you’re a worry.”

 

Beneath the city walls, the sun was beginning to shine, and the three massive drawbridges slowly began to descend.