I Became The Wife Of The Cursed Grand Duke Chapter 99

Meanwhile, that time.

 

Kalian, Evelyn, and the Knights of Blackwood entered the Dark Curtain.

 

To assess the situation inside and make sure no one was left behind.

 

“If there’s any trouble, don’t act rashly, but notify me first.”

 

“Yes!”

 

They quickly split up into their pre-determined teams.

 

It shouldn’t be a big deal, but they’re dealing with a visiting dignitary representing the Empire.

 

It was only natural that they would be scrutinized for the slightest hint of trouble.

 

“We’ll take our leave then…”

 

Kalian was about to speak when he glanced around the room and lowered his head in disbelief. Her hand, wrapped in a large hand, was ice-cold.

 

‘Where were her hands?’

 

Evelyn’s lips, the rapid rise and fall of her chest, the beads of sweat on her pale skin, revealed her nervousness.

 

She’d been cheerful all the way here.

 

“Evelyn.”

 

Kalian waved a hand in front of Evelyn’s eyes, who didn’t know what she was thinking.

 

“Shall we leave?”

 

Evelyn’s blurry eyes finally came back into focus. Kalian stopped her, feeling a strange sensation.

 

“You’re scared.”

 

Having felt the majesty of the Tabernacle firsthand, it was no wonder she was afraid.

 

Kalian paused for a moment, wondering how best to speak without offending her.

 

“I know you’re not feeling well, but why don’t you wait outside with me? We can explore the vast snowfields.”

 

But Evelyn quickly shook her head and stubbornly resumed walking.

 

“I’m not frightened.”

 

“Well, I’m afraid you’ve taken my meaning to heart.”

 

Evelyn smiled softly, as if she could see through his stony face, and said, “To be honest, I’m scared, but I don’t want to avoid it.”

 

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

 

“I don’t want to be left behind after all this. Keep going, come on.”

 

Evelyn clenched her sweaty fists and remembered what Kalian had said in bed a few nights ago.

 

 

“Actually, the Aether disappeared on the way back to the North.”

“What? How could that happen… No way, was it because of me?”

“Of course not, it had nothing to do with you.”

“Then what about… abilities? Is something wrong with my powers?”

“No, it’s not like that, but I can feel a surge of energy, like I’ve broken the limits of my power.”

Kalian reassured her, but he couldn’t hide the anxiety that was building inside him.

So, Evelyn thought.

‘I’m not sure, but I think it was my contact with the Aether that caused it to disappear.’

So, shouldn’t she at least do her best to find out why he disappeared?

 

 

That responsibility was what drew her here.

 

“I have one question.”

 

At Evelyn’s question, Kalian, who had been walking with her hand in his, suddenly stopped.

 

He stared down into her face, his eyes unreadable.

 

Evelyn looked up, still clutching his hand tightly.

 

“You invited people from the Empire to the wedding… No, what’s the real reason you brought them here?”

 

He sighed shallowly, as if the question had been unexpected, and then spoke.

 

“Simple, to find out what they’re up to.”

 

His eyes narrowed as he pondered the question.

 

“Because everyone’s judgment gets a little clouded when they see something they want in front of them.”

 

“You mean to tell me that something they want is… in the Grand Citadel?”

 

He shrugged lightly and walked a little further inside.

 

Evelyn followed him, remembering Ines’s words that there were forces trying to break the seal of Babel.

 

‘Kalian says he knows about it, though he seems to want to keep it a secret from me.’

 

If it was true that the Grand Duchy contained a holy relic, then it was most likely a ‘relic’, or holy object, left by the previous Grand Duke.

 

A holy relic is one of the things that must be destroyed by those who wish to open the gates of the Otherworld.

 

‘Does this mean that there are followers of Babel among the three who cross the border?’

 

‘Who are they, and what do they want?’

 

She reminded herself to keep her wits about her, and Kalian’s voice broke in overhead.

 

“Wait, Evelyn. There seems to be trouble over there.”

 

Evelyn turned her head to the direction of Kalian’s gaze and saw the Crown Prince, Cedric, sprawled on the floor, his limbs twisting grotesquely.

 

 

* * *

 

 

“Kkkk!”

 

Cedric breathed sharply, opening his eyes. He felt as if he’d fallen into very deep, murky water and had been pulled up.

 

He looked around urgently, his heart pounding so hard it threatened to burst through his ribs. But he was still alone.

 

“Why, why is it still a curtain, and what did I do so wrong?”

 

Then he began to see the events of his life come to life on the fluttering curtain.

 

 

<The venerable imperial house of Ikar, whose honor has been tainted by the scandal of its crown prince’s promiscuity!>

<‘Crown Prince of the Cardassian Empire’s sordid scandal’ eyewitness accounts continue…>

<Crown Prince Cardian’s Rampage of Lust and Madness, Where Will It End?>

 

 

Cedric’s pupils trembled violently as he watched through other people’s eyes the messy, ugly scandal that had shocked the entire country and even other continents.

 

And as if possessed by something, the things he had done without guilt began to fly out like a well-honed blade, cutting and slicing at his flesh.

 

“Aaahhh! That wasn’t me, that wasn’t me! I didn’t know they would do that! I didn’t mean to erase the child!”

 

There was blood everywhere. His mother’s face flashed before Cedric’s eyes as she cried out, flailing her tattered arms in a frenzy of flesh.

 

“Cedric, look at the grand duke. He’s younger than you, and he knows magic and swordsmanship.”

 

“What, you’re going to bring in a child you don’t even know before you meet the Crown Princess? Leave that to me. This mother will take care of you.”

 

“You do realize that the king still hasn’t forgotten the grand duchess, and I’m afraid he’s not going to invite those two hats into the palace and turn us away…”

 

As a child, Cedric lived in constant fear of being abandoned by the emperor.

 

This anxiety about the future naturally led to an inferiority complex and a sense of entitlement toward the Grand Duke.

 

In retrospect, however, he never heard any direct criticism from either the emperor or the grand duke.

 

It was the Empress’s ramblings and the sarcasm of her entourage that broke down Cedric’s firm belief in the emperor.

 

“I’ve said it before, the emperor trusts the Grand Duke more. The mere thought of a crown prince inheriting a country that treats him like a liability is horrifying.”

 

“Who says I don’t? The thought of my descendants having to endure the tyranny of a mentally ill crown prince makes my head spin in my sleep. I’d rather see the Grand Duke inherit the throne.”

 

A fool whose life has been ruined by epilepsy of unknown origin.

 

A filthy bastard who fills his need for affection in the wrong way and shirks his responsibilities.

 

‘That, that’s… me?’

 

Cedric’s face fell into a hollow grimace.

 

He cringed and almost cursed himself with disgust as he remembered the face of the people he’d been avoiding for so long, as if they were some kind of foul disease.

 

Damn it, damn it!

 

Tears streamed down his face. Cedric was overcome with embarrassment and cursed at the air.

 

He didn’t know where he’d gone wrong. He’d never felt like such a helpless piece of trash in his life.

 

All the while, the sins he’d committed were flying at him, slashing at his flesh and tongue.

 

“Kaaaah!”

 

With terror overwhelming his entire body and a corresponding despair, Cedric began to crawl on his knees, barely holding on to his fading sanity.

 

‘Help me, please!’

 

His limbs snapped and his body twisted, but he couldn’t let this end.

 

‘If I can get out alive…’

 

It was then.

 

Shoot!

 

An intangible force stretched out from nowhere, instantly dissipating the powerful anger and negative energy that had enveloped his limbs.

 

“Hmph, hmph.”

 

Cedric gasped and raised his head.

 

The blood that had been splattered everywhere had been washed away, and he saw a familiar face.

 

Sacred silver hair, green eyes like a goddess presiding over life.

 

“E-Evelyn…”

 

The mysterious woman who had given Litchev her miracle, the real saint of the rumors, was before him.

 

 

* * *

 

 

“Hmph, my God…!”

 

Evelyn, who had turned her head to follow Kalian’s gaze, was about to rush toward Cedric in anger.

 

“Wait.”

 

But Kalian’s urging made her stop in her tracks. Evelyn locked eyes with him, who frowned in disapproval.

 

“Why… is there a problem?”

 

“Where do you think you’re going?”

 

“What? There’s a problem, and I need to go help.”

 

She looked at him like she didn’t know what that meant, and he looked like he was about to lose his temper, but then he softened his expression as if to reassure her.

 

“Wait here. You can lock up.”

 

“I’ll come with you.”

 

“No.”

 

She didn’t understand the meaning of his firmness.

 

Even from this distance, the crown prince didn’t look well, and Kalian was concerned for her well-being.

 

As if his sternness didn’t bother her enough, she added.

 

“I’m afraid he’s in danger.”

 

“Yes, it does look that way.”

 

Evelyn nodded in agreement with his words and shifted her gaze toward the crown prince.

 

She didn’t know what she was seeing, but it was eerie, the way his face was white and he was muttering nonsense and flailing his arms frantically.

 

Still, she was afraid to leave him alone, so she followed close behind him as he walked briskly ahead.

 

“Kal, do you see the black smoke… surrounding the crown prince?”

 

Evelyn’s eyes did. Something pulsing wildly, as if with emotion.

 

“That’s the Dark Curtain, the first time I’ve seen it properly.”

 

The creatures stood at attention, their blades erect as if to show their anger, snarling and threatening the crown prince.

 

“Shards of the souls that make up the veil. They are very aggressive, unlike how they treated you.”

 

With that, he whirled and gestured like a man handling an unruly steed.

 

“Get off.”

 

At the low voice, the shuddering souls nudged the crown prince a few more times before settling back into place.

 

Several of the pieces flew toward Evelyn, brushing against her body before disappearing with a whimper.

 

What was that?

 

‘…Cute.’