I Became The Wife Of The Cursed Grand Duke Chapter 86

Lucy, who she had forgotten in her frantic pursuit of the merchant, grabbed her arm.

 

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, my lady, where on earth do you think you’re going?”

 

Evelyn did not answer, but pointed straight ahead with a gesture.

 

<Mauriel>

 

The worn wooden sign swayed in the wind, making an odd sound as if it might fall off at any moment.

 

Lucy looked up at it, a strange tension and anxiety in her eyes.

 

“This is… What are you doing here?”

 

“It’s rude to ask why I’m in a liquor store, Lucy. I’m a grown woman.”

 

Lucy, stunned by the casualness of her response, repeatedly grabbed her arm as she tried to leave.

 

“Forgive my rudeness, my lady. But no alcohol!”

 

It was no wonder she reacted this way.

 

It was nearly time for her to return to the castle, even with an escort, as she had promised her butler.

 

But as if that weren’t enough, Lucy tried to persuade her by revealing her own complex feelings.

 

“Of course,” she said, “I don’t blame you, my lady, and I know how much you must have missed this freedom.”

 

How beautiful the world must seem to her eyes, now just twenty years old.

 

Lucy was inwardly proud of the way she smiled at the sudden gush of water from the fountain.

 

“But what can’t be, can’t be. This is no place for you to come.”

 

If not for the harsh laws, public order in Johansen was very good. But that’s just the story of ordinary people.

 

“If you’d like a drink, let’s go back to the castle and get you something suitable.”

 

“What? I don’t know how to drink.”

 

“Then why, eh, eh, ma’am, ma’am!”

 

As Evelyn wonders how she can convince the curious lady to return to the castle, a frantic Evelyn slams the door open.

 

Thud!

 

The hinges rattled as if they were about to fall off, and the noise that had been building up inside burst forth.

 

“Linus, I want the strongest liquor you can find in this shop!”

 

“Let’s drink, let’s drink and die!”

 

The bar was bustling with people trying to wash away the hardships of the day with alcohol.

 

Contrary to her expectations, the atmosphere was quite cheerful, but a shabby pub like this for an unwell lady!

 

“That’s as unacceptable as getting dirt in my eyes,” Lucy said in dismay. “Let’s get out of here, ma’am, lest somebody should catch you in the act”

 

“Don’t worry, I don’t think anyone will recognise us when we’re all wrapped up like this.”

 

“It’s not recognition that’s the problem, Look at that! An old woman walks in and everyone stares!” Evelyn said.

 

“What brings a noble lady to such a shabby place as this?”

 

“Hmph!”

 

Lucy, startled by the voice behind her, turned to see who it was.

 

“Oh my! How did Sir Viktor get here…!”

 

 

* * *

 

 

“I’m Viktor Martin, third son of the Martin family.”

 

Viktor escorted the delighted Lucy back to the castle, and then led Evelyn to a seat in the innermost chamber.

 

“Firstly, I’m sorry I wasn’t able to be there for the welcome ceremony. It was a matter of such urgency that it was difficult for me to return halfway through.”

 

Viktor, the son of Count Martin, was not a northerner by nature.

 

But he married the daughter of a northern senator with the sole intention of becoming a knight of the Grand Duke, and through his integrity, uprightness, and the strength of a Swordmaster, he rose to the position of leader of the Knights of Blackwood.

 

When Kalian was away from the castle, whether due to dungeon raids or gate problems, it was Viktor’s job to defend the North in his absence.

 

“I see, it’s good to see you, Sir Viktor.”

 

Evelyn, who had seen his loyalty firsthand in her past life, nodded in understanding, then asked a question.

 

“By the way, may I ask where the grand duke has been, and why did you return alone?”

 

Viktor’s expression darkened imperceptibly at her question.

 

He remembered the grand duke’s instructions to keep quiet about the clues he had found about the town of Lingus.

 

“His Highness has gone to the Empire for a short time on business, and he will be back soon, so you need not worry.”

 

“Is your lordship here to discourage me, then? Or is it to help?”

 

After her meeting with the Godmother, Evelyn sent a telegram to Kalian.

 

It said that Mathias’s diagnosis was not good, and that she should be allowed to visit the Archmage.

 

Of course, it was purely coincidental that she was now in Mauriel, run by the Archmage.

 

And Evelyn knew only too well that fate had led her there.

 

She knew that the archmage, disillusioned with his work in the tower, ran a secret magic guild in a pub, but she didn’t know the exact location.

 

And as if on cue, someone in the guise of a merchant led her there.

 

The question was, did Kalian allow it?

 

“There is no reason for me to disagree with you, Your Highness, I am only following your instructions.”

 

Despite the stiffness in his voice, Viktor was actually overwhelmed by the woman before him.

 

It wasn’t a rational attraction, of course.

 

The scent of the dense cedar forest.

 

It was a crisp, clean, healing scent that instantly erased the headache that had been plaguing him.

 

“Sir Viktor?”

 

“……”

 

“Are you not going to tell me what His Highness’s instructions are?”

 

Clenching his fists at the realisation of his futility, Viktor placed the object from his arms on the table.

 

“Tonight, the grand duke has requested that you attend to the Archmage.”

 

The yellow kraft paper stack smelled of tobacco. Tucking it back into his bosom, Viktor pushed himself up.

 

“Wait here for a moment. You’re not to follow anyone, and you’re not to talk to anyone. Never.”

 

The look in his eyes was determined.

 

Like a parent leaving a child alone, he kept his eyes on Evelyn for a long moment before disappearing through the side door.

 

The conversation had gone on longer than she’d expected. He must be trying to convince her of something, and judging by the length of time it was taking, she suspected that Ines was not a very easy person to please.

 

After some time had passed, the side door opened.

 

She couldn’t have been more pleased. As soon as Viktor’s face came into view, Evelyn’s lips twitched upward.

 

“How’d it go? Did he say he’d meet me?”

 

Viktor flashed her a fluid smile and motioned for her to follow him in.

 

 

* * *

 

 

A few moments later, they arrived at Mauriel’s small office in the basement.

 

Ines, the owner of the tower, and the Guildmaster of the Magic Guild.

 

She sat in a purple velvet chair, rolling tobacco into a long pipe and exhaling a puff of pure white smoke.

 

“Must you be the late High Duchess, and why have you come so late? Shouldn’t you be the one to do the honours?”

 

Ines strode toward Evelyn, her eidolons, one green and the other purple, glowing in a yo-yo fashion.

 

“My eyes, remember?”

 

Evelyn’s breath caught in her throat at the sight of a woman who stood a full foot taller than the knight, Viktor. Her eerie aura, reminiscent of a black fairy, added to her intimidation.

 

So did the silver hair that contrasted with her dark skin.

 

Overwhelmed by her power, Evelyn swallowed dryly and barely managed to speak.

 

“Yes, I remember. Did you help me on purpose?”

 

“Well, I suppose you could call it helping.”

 

Ines stared at her in disbelief, then quickly changed the subject.

 

“It’s dirty, it’s pure, I’ve never felt anything like it…”

 

Ines muttered something unintelligible, and then reached out to Evelyn’s command.

 

“Hmph!”

 

The ceiling spun round and round.

 

In the silence, her voice sounded muffled, as if she’d dipped her head underwater.

 

Then the space warped, and she felt as if something had been ripped out of her heart.

 

An aura like a violet crystal ball swirled in front of her. A face faintly floated into the centre of it.

 

“Who is it?”

 

But she couldn’t think straight. Her mind was blank. Her stomach twisted. Could she make a mistake here?

 

“Ugh!”

 

An unbearable wave of nausea hit Evelyn and she squirmed in her seat.

 

At the same time, she gagged, and hot liquid spurted from her mouth. It ran down her chin, drenched her cloak, and pooled on the floor.

 

The unearthly feeling of floating dissipated, and her body sank.

 

The ritual completed, Ines tossed the pipe she was holding onto the table and wiped her hands on a prepared cloth.

 

“Huh, tell the damned grand duke he can’t have tobacco.”

 

Evelyn regained her senses and realised that Viktor was supporting her from behind.

 

“Are you all right?”

 

She wanted to say yes, but she wasn’t okay at all. It was a miracle she hadn’t fainted from the amount of black blood coming out of her mouth.

 

Meanwhile, Ines, who was sitting at the desk in the chancellor’s office, eyed Evelyn with interest.

 

“Excuse me, knight,” she said.

 

“Is there still work to be done?”

 

“I have some business to discuss with the noble lady, but it’s a woman’s business, and I’d appreciate it if you’d leave us alone.”

 

“Please be careful. This is a message and a warning from the grand duke.”

 

“Huh! You speak as if you were entrusted with a great jewel. All right, get out.”

 

Viktor eyed her with an ugly glare and disappeared out the door.

 

Evelyn still felt a surge of anxiety and fear.

 

The curse’s existence made her realise how foolish and weak she was.

 

‘They’re not worthy of being chewed up and eaten…’

 

She felt a surge of murderous intent. Her fists clenched and her teeth gritted.