The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 104

Chapter 104. The Reason I Have to Leave (1)

“Have you been well, Grand Duchess?”

“Prince.”

To her surprise, the one who entered through the door was Prince Ian. Emilia’s face visibly stiffened.

“It’s an honor to see you again. You seem to have grown a bit thinner,” Ian said as he examined her face.

“That’s not the case.”

Feeling oddly burdened, Emilia avoided his gaze.

“His Highness said he really wanted to see you. Then please, the two of you talk.”

“Ah, no….”

Before she could stop her, Lina had already left. In the wide hall, only Emilia and Prince Ian remained.

“I was just about to leave as well. I need to return before it gets too late,” Emilia said with an awkward expression.

“I see. The sun hasn’t set yet, so you have time for a cup of tea with me, don’t you?”

Ian sat across from her at the table and deliberately put on a sorrowful expression. It was clearly affected, but she couldn’t refuse him outright. She didn’t know how Ian had found out about the tea party, but his sudden appearance left Emilia’s mind blank.

“Yes….”

“Thank you, Grand Duchess.”

“It’s nothing.”

Soon, fresh tea and refreshments were set on the table.

If I’d known the person who wanted to meet me was Prince Ian, I would’ve left earlier.

Emilia regretted not leaving the marquess’s estate sooner and drank her tea with a blank expression. Silence lingered in the hall for a while.

“By the way, it must be quite difficult for you, being caught between the Grand Duke and Duke Berthe.”

After taking a sip of tea and setting down his cup, Ian stared at her intently as he spoke.

“What do you mean?”

Emilia looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“You didn’t know? I heard that Duke Berthe has been trying to assassinate the Grand Duke for the past ten years. He tried all sorts of methods, but failed because the Grand Duke’s martial skill is exceptional.”

“…Is that true?”

Her expression went blank.

“I only heard it myself, but it seems to be a well-known story among the nobles,” Ian whispered with a serious expression, as if offering advice.

No way….

“After committing something like that, how is he still safe?”

Duke Berthe was certainly capable of such things, but if it was so widely known, she couldn’t understand why he hadn’t been punished.

“He’s His Majesty’s maternal uncle. To His Majesty, Duke Berthe is an irreplaceable loyal subject.”

“….”

Emilia’s face turned pale. The words were too shocking. The hand holding her teacup trembled.

He tried to kill Louid, and yet he told me to bear an heir quickly? He sent me to his side?

“It seems the duke didn’t tell you. Well, even for a duke, it wouldn’t be something he could speak of lightly.”

He made a deliberately regretful expression.

“Yes, this is the first I’ve heard of it. I can’t believe something like that.”

Though she said she didn’t believe it, her voice trembled. Her heart was beating so fast she could hear it in her ears.

“I don’t believe all of it either. It sounds like a baseless rumor, so don’t dwell on it too much. I said something unnecessary,” Ian said as if to comfort her, watching her reaction.

“If you have nothing else to say, I’ll be leaving now. I have a long way to go.”

Emilia stood up from her seat. If she stayed any longer, she felt she might lose control of her emotions and make a mistake in front of Prince Ian.

“Yes, it can’t be helped. I’ll see you again next time, Grand Duchess. Please return safely,” Ian replied with a regretful, sorrowful expression.

“Yes, then.”

A short while later, Emilia got into the carriage and set off toward the Grand Duke’s manor, seeing Lina off.

Dark clouds filled the sky as if it might rain, and with the sun setting, the surroundings had grown dim.

It was clear this morning. Why is the weather like this?

Even the weather felt like her own heart, leaving her in turmoil. A storm of intense emotions was raging inside her.

The distance from the Marquess of Carrion’s estate to the Grand Duke’s manor was quite far, so it would take several hours by carriage.

“Sigh….”

For a long time, Emilia only stared out the window and sighed.

How should I face him?

If Prince Ian’s words were true, then from Louid’s perspective, she was the granddaughter of his enemy.

Why did he marry me?

Fragments of the past flashed through her mind. The cold gaze Louid had directed at her, the time he told her how to escape even though he knew from the beginning she was the woman arranged to marry him, and more.

‘So that’s why he didn’t want to marry me. It makes sense that he would hate me.’

The way he had treated her still left a lingering bitterness, but now she could understand why he disliked her.

‘What should I do now?’

If she hadn’t known, it would be one thing, but now that she knew about Duke Berthe’s actions, she couldn’t properly judge how to act in front of Louid.

‘I can’t believe all of it.’

Still… she couldn’t fully trust what Prince Ian had told her, so until she was certain, she decided not to act like she knew.

‘Is it going to rain?’

How long had it been since they departed? A wind carrying the scent of rain blew in through the carriage window. It seemed it would start raining soon.

‘He should’ve left the palace by now.’

Emilia thought of Louid, who would be on his way back to the manor in a carriage like hers. Lately, Louid often came to mind. It had become a habit ever since he saved her in the river.

‘Or is he riding a horse?’

Sometimes Louid rode his own horse, Blian, to and from the imperial palace. The sight of him riding a black horse with his sleek black hair flowing was like a painting. There were even times she secretly peeked through the curtains just to watch him.

‘I hope he doesn’t get caught in the rain like last time….’

As if mocking her concern, the sky grew covered in dark clouds and strong winds began to blow.

***

A woman with any sense would make the right judgment.

The corners of Ian’s lips curled up as he stood alone in the hall.

At that moment, Lina opened the door and entered.

“You told me to keep her here, but you let her go so quickly.”

As if conscious of the Grand Duchess no longer being present, she sat across from him with exaggerated elegance.

“That’s how it turned out.”

“What is it you wanted to tell me?”

The two had met briefly at a banquet before. She had received a note from one of Ian’s subordinates telling her to keep the Grand Duchess at the estate after all the young ladies had left, as he would come. It also said he had something to discuss with her.

“If you accept my conditions, I’ll make you Empress.”

The moment those words fell, Lina’s previously indifferent eyes sharpened.

“How did you know I had such thoughts?”

“We’re the same kind. A devil recognizes another devil.”

Ian looked straight at her with a wicked smile.

“What are your conditions?”

As Lina was aiming for the position of the next Empress, there was no reason for her to refuse his offer. She readily took the bait.

“Emilia Richert.”

Ian cut her off.

“The Grand Duchess? What do you… ah.”

“What you’re thinking is correct. I want Emilia.”

“She’s the Grand Duchess. Can you defeat the Grand Duke?”

Lina lowered her voice as she glanced around. There was no one else in the hall besides the two of them.

“Of course. I’ve been building my power ever since I came to the Empire as a hostage.”

He didn’t say that his goal was to take over the Empire. The woman in front of him was filled with vanity about becoming Empress, so there was no need to tell her he intended to destroy the Richert Empire.

“The Grand Duke is the strongest man on the continent.”

“I know. But I’m no less than him.”

Ian said with a frown. Every time he heard that the Grand Duke was strong, it irritated him greatly.

“Alright. I’ll cooperate. Just get rid of that Emilia woman.”

“To call my woman ‘that woman.’ Watch your mouth.”

Ian glared at her with a fierce expression.

“…Alright.”

“Good. Then let’s consider the deal made. I’d like to meet the Marquess of Carrion soon as well.”

“My father has been laying low lately.”

Lina shrugged as if troubled. She had been warned by the marquess to stay still, so if he found out she had brought Ian in, he might get angry.

“You’re mistaken. The marquess is just being cautious, not giving up. One must harbor great ambition. Your future Majesty the Empress.”

At the words ‘Your Majesty the Empress,’ Lina’s simple mood lifted at once.

“Alright. I’ll arrange a meeting soon.”

Lina was quickly swayed by his words. She thought there was no father who would refuse if his daughter were to become Empress.

“Good. From now on, don’t touch Emilia,” Ian warned.

“Why?”

Lina’s expression twisted. Even if she had never succeeded, tormenting Emilia was her pleasure.

“She’s mine.”

“…Alright.”

Lina answered slowly with a frown. She didn’t like the condition, but she had no choice but to cooperate since it would be difficult on her own.

Killing her would be best, but if Emilia were sent to the Kingdom of Billiot, she would be out of Louid’s sight, so that might be good as well.

After Ian also left the marquess’s estate, she thought about it. She couldn’t understand how someone like Emilia had caught the prince’s interest.

Men are impossible to understand.

In any case, it was fortunate that Prince Ian was interested in Emilia. She had gained a reliable ally, so she would succeed soon.

‘I lost the position of Grand Duchess, but the position of Empress will be mine.’

Looking out at the rain pouring beyond the window, she smiled in victory.

***

Louid, who left the imperial palace later than usual, went straight up to the third floor. He wanted to check whether Emilia had returned.

“Has she come back?”

“Her Highness has not returned yet.”

At Helen’s answer, his expression darkened.

It’s raining….

From the time he left the palace, the light drizzle had turned into a heavy downpour.

This is dangerous….

He had no intention of restricting Emilia’s outings, but at night it was dangerous, so he couldn’t help but worry. On a clear night, there would at least be starlight or moonlight, but today the rain made everything completely dark outside.

“Kevin, who went with Emilia today?”

He went to his office and called the head butler to ask.

“Sir James and Sir Deo accompanied her. In addition, several covert guards followed as well.”

“Mm….”

Even though he thought that with that level of protection there shouldn’t be any major issue with Emilia’s safety, the worry didn’t leave Louid’s face.

He sat at his desk and tried to go through the remaining state affairs, but he couldn’t focus. Giving up on work, he stood by the window in his office and looked outside, then went down to the first-floor lobby and kept pacing.

“Your Highness, what would you like to do about dinner?”

When he didn’t go up to the dining room even after mealtime had passed, Kevin came and asked.

“I’ll eat together with the Grand Duchess when she returns.”

“Yes, understood. It’s raining quite a lot,” Kevin said with a worried expression as he looked outside the entrance.

“I see.”

Louid stayed in place for a long time, continuing to look outside. His pacing in the lobby gradually grew faster. For some reason, he kept feeling increasingly anxious.

“Emilia?”

After about two hours had passed like that, Louid’s face suddenly brightened.