Duke 126

CHAPTER 126

***

Translator: Rae

“The private troops led by Lieutenant Blanc had failed to pass through the western gate. Around two hundred, including Lieutenant Blanc himself, appear to have been killed or captured inside the castle, and the remaining eighteen hundred outside.”

At the string of defeat reports crashing down on him, the Duke of Russet went momentarily numb. It felt as though someone had struck the back of his head with an iron hammer.

But that was not the end. The knight of the House of Russet Order hurried in with frantic steps.

“The knight orders have departed for the temple, but they are currently engaged in combat—the Imperial Guard, the Deimos knights, and the knight orders of noble houses aligned with the Emperor are blocking the road. With the Camellia knights and eight other houses defecting, the situation does not look favorable.”

Was this what it felt like to be struck by lightning? Duke Lasset’s vision went dark in an instant, cold sweat running down his back as the blood drained from his fingertips.

Realizing that not a single one of the three plans he had prepared with absolute confidence had succeeded, his body shook slightly.

The Duke of Russet hurriedly reached out and grasped a chair to steady himself.

He squeezed his eyes shut at the sensation of solid ground collapsing beneath his feet, but only for a moment because the rage toward those who had brought about this situation surged uncontrollably.

‘Helios—scum not worth sparing even if torn apart. To dare betray us and side with the Investigation Bureau. Once this is over, I won’t let it end quietly. To the House of Camellia and those eight others as well, I’ll show them what it truly means for a family to fall.’

Grinding his teeth inwardly, the Duke of Russet came back to himself at the Imperial Consort’s voice.

"Father, what is going to happen to us now?”

Seeing his daughter’s face pale, her usual arrogance and pride fell, he clenched his teeth.

After everything he had done to seize the Empire, it could not end like this.

The Duke of Russet turned his bloodshot eyes toward Iker.

Though his mind was still reeling from the shock, one thing was certain.

The one blocking his path was that young duke. There was no one else harboring enough power to do so other than him.

‘Since when had he seen through my plans?’

If Helios’s alliance and the Marquis of Camellia—and the eight houses—bowing their heads before him had all been lies, then the current situation made sense.

‘Was everything a trap from the very beginning?’

‘I was deceived. All done by that cunning man. Then this betrothal ceremony was meant to blind me as well. Which means the Marquess of Camellia was working with him as well.’

Believing he had chained them with multiple shackles and that he could never be betrayed them has proved to be a fatal misjudgment, and the Duke of Russet let out a bitter laugh.

Suddenly, Dustin’s words came to mind.

They were the words Dustin had spoken when he barged into the Imperial Consort’s palace to complain that day.

[“Something feels off. It’s like there’s something between Ellie and Duke Deimos. I did confirm there wasn’t—but still.”]

At the time, Duke Lasset had dismissed it as the ‘impulsive jealousy of a young man.’

However this time, after looking back, even harboring suspicion then might have changed everything.

‘What use is regret now? What’s done is done. And I still have my final weapon. There’s still a chance to overturn everything. Besides, they’re growing complacent.’

The Duke of Russet’s gaze shifted from the Duke of Deimos to the Emperor.

Like the relaxed Duke Deimos, the Emperor too gazed at the dais with a calm expression.

As though a target already caught in a trap was no longer worth worrying about.

They were likely waiting for news of victory from the knight orders. They would savor the moment when the Duke of Russet would taste utter despair.

And then, they would finish him all at once.

‘Fools.’

The Duke of Russet murmured to himself.

If he were in their position, he would have ordered an arrest the moment treason was discovered—because nothing is over until it is truly over.

He briefly considered using the Veramus’ personnel he had planted inside the sanctuary to target the Emperor’s life, but if the Duke of Deimos had messed up every one of his plans, the chances were high that he had prepared for that as well.

‘So this is all that remains.’

Carefully gripping the small magical device hidden in his pocket, the Duke of Russet bowed toward the Imperial Consort, who appeared pale.

"Do not worry, Your Highness. We still stand a chance against them.”

After reassuring his daughter, he turned his gaze to Elysia.

If this betrothment had been a scheme meant to deceive him, then an opportunity would surely come. The opportunity to reach Dustin’s side.

The Duke of Russet’s eyes gleamed with a chilling light as he fixed his gaze on that final chance.

***

‘Do I have to do this? This is insane.’

Feeling overwhelmed, Alicia lowered her gaze.

If it were just the betrothal ring, she would have extended her hand without hesitation—since it would go over white gloves and never touch her skin directly.

However, the betrothal vows carried a different meaning.

She would have to vow, in her own words before the high priest, to faithfully uphold the betrothment.

Naturally, it weighed heavily on her.

Dustin’s gaze turned sharp as Elysia remained silent and bit her lower lip anxiously.

Dustin immediately shot a glare at the high priest.

At the harsh look urging him to hurry, the high priest cleared his throat and asked Elysia again.

“Elysia Camellia, do you swear to take Dustin Luke Cerman as your fiancé and faithfully fulfill your duties as his betrothed until the wedding day?”

Realizing she could no longer avoid it, Elysia found herself looking toward Iker without thinking.

If it were him, he would know what she should do in this situation.

Yet astonishingly, the moment she turned her gaze toward him, his intense golden eyes met hers/ it was as though he had been watching all along.

Elysia stared blankly as his tightly set lips curved gently, then flinched.

His attractive lips moved soundlessly, just as they had when he conveyed words to her at the Third Prince’s birthday banquet.

Without realizing it, Alicia focused on the movement of his lips. 

And when she understood the sentence his lips had formed, her eyes widened.

[“Do as you wish. I’ll take responsibility for what comes after.”]

Wondering if she had truly seen it correctly, Elysia blinked, fearing she might have imagined it in her desperation to escape the situation.

But the moment she saw the warmth gleaming in his curved golden eyes, Elysia understood.

That the battle against the Duke of Russet had been won—and that freedom was right before her.

Like a flower that had hidden with its petals closed against cruel cold, blooming upon meeting warm sunlight, vitality filled her face and her eyes began to sparkle with hope.

Turning her head, Alicia smiled at the high priest and Dustin who were waiting for her answer. A radiant, beautiful smile blossoms in full bloom.

While the two stood dazed as if enchanted by her smile, she opened her mouth with confidence. The words she had long wanted to say.

"No, I refuse.”

At Elysia’s reply, the sanctuary erupted into murmurs, gasps echoing from all around.

"Elly!”

Dustin called out sharply in warning, but she ignored him.

There was no longer any need to watch his mood nor reason to listen to him.

Alicia looked at the high priest. Contrary to her expectations, his expression did not change at all. Instead, as if he had been waiting, he immediately asked her again.

“Does that answer mean you refuse to accept this engagement?”

Though puzzled by the expression that suggested he had known all along, Elysia nodded.

"That' is correct.”

"Elly!”

Dustin strode forward in fury, but Alicia did not retreat. Instead, she smiled brightly and added what she wished to say.

“At the very least, I’d like my betrothment, or marriage, to be with a normal person.”

Dustin’s stunned expression quickly twisted into rage.

"Are you saying I'm not normal?”

Turning to him as he demanded angrily, Elysia met his gaze head-on and replied.

“One cannot declare themselves normal if they stop at nothing to satisfy their own desires. Isn’t that right, Your Highness?”

Having struck him with her words, she twisted her lips. It was obviously a sneer directed at him.

Setting aside the despicable acts he committed to claim her, raising a blade against the father who gave him life for the sake of the throne was, quite simply, unforgivable.

And her words seemed to pierce Dustin to the core.

His face flushed red and pale as he clenched his teeth, looking ready to explode at any moment.

Regardless, Elysia grasped the hem of her skirt, placed a hand over her chest, and bowed.

“For those reasons, I cannot become Your Highness’s fiancé. I ask for your understanding.”

After finishing her courtesy, she turned away, feeling an immense sense of relief. Then, Iker’s figure filled her vision.

His gentle smile toward her felt like praise, and without thinking, Elysia stepped toward him.

However, her foot never touched the ground.