The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 120

Chapter 120. The Note He Sent (1)

“If the Crown Princess’s lady-in-waiting comes, send her to me.”

Louid, who was deeply focused on his work, gave the order to Eddie.

Lucy, the senior lady-in-waiting, moved between the main palace and the Crown Prince’s palace, gathering information about imperial events and Louid’s official schedule.

“Yes, understood.”

A short while later, Lucy entered the office.

“Did you call for me, Your Highness?”

“How has she been lately?”

“She visits the greenhouse, takes naps, or drinks tea with noblewomen who come to the palace.”

Emilia takes naps?

One of Louid’s brows twitched upward. He knew Emilia wasn’t fond of napping.

“And her health?”

It seems when she said she was fine, it was to keep me from worrying.

“She has lost her appetite, so she’s eating less, and sometimes she looks drowsy or exhausted.”

“I see. You may go.”

After Lucy left, he called Eddie again.

“Reduce the border inspection schedule as much as possible.”

“Yes.”

“And tell the head chef to prepare nourishing meals for her.”

“Yes, understood.”

I should refrain from night activities for the time being.

Lately, Emilia clearly looked exhausted. He was busy himself, but after becoming Crown Princess, her workload had also increased. He was worried she might return to the frail condition she had in the early days of their marriage. So he decided to refrain from tiring her out for the time being.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has a border inspection scheduled in fifteen days.”

Lucy, who had gone to the main palace, reported Louid’s schedule to Emilia.

“Do I have to go as well?”

Emilia recalled how His Majesty had previously sent her on a provincial inspection with Louid.

“Sir Eddie said that this time only His Highness the Crown Prince will go.”

Originally, Louid had intended to take Emilia with him on this inspection. But this time, out of concern for her health, he decided not to. He also shortened the inspection period from fifteen days to ten.

“I see.”

That’s when I should leave.

Emilia made her plan to leave the palace while Louid was away on the inspection.

***

A few days later, the Marquess of Carrion and Ian met in secret. The two had met several times at the marquess’s residence through Lina’s arrangement, but this time, they met in an underground secret location on the outskirts of the capital.

The marquess confessed in detail to Ian about his dealings in smuggling poison and his attempts to harm Emilia. As he spoke, Ian’s expression gradually hardened.

Some of what the marquess confessed, Ian already knew, while other parts were new to him. In particular, when he heard that Lina had kidnapped Emilia and tried to kill her, his hand reached the dagger hidden inside his clothes. He barely suppressed his anger and glared at the Marquess of Carrion.

“So what happened?”

“We are currently under investigation. It seems our dealings with the Kingdom of Billiot regarding the poison have also been discovered.”

“Tch!”

Ian clicked his tongue and frowned.

So that’s why he suddenly asked to meet.

“What should we do?” asked the marquess cautiously, watching Ian’s reaction. Though he had committed countless crimes, he only confessed to those carried out after Louid married Emilia.

“At this point, there’s no choice but to eliminate both the Emperor and the Crown Prince.”

Suppressing the rage that threatened to explode, Ian answered. He would feel better if he killed the Marquess of Carrion on the spot, but he knew exactly what would benefit him most.

“Both of them?”

The Marquess of Carrion’s eyes widened as big as full moons. He had only intended to ask Ian to let his family escape to the Kingdom of Billiot and guarantee his status and wealth, so he was dumbfounded by the unexpected proposal.

“That’s right. I’ll tell you the method, so place all the blame on Duke Berthe and have him executed. Then pretend to restore order and weaken the border defenses. After that, I’ll lead my army in and strike the empire.”

Ian’s plan was something the marquess had never even imagined.

When did he come up with such a plan? Is that why he came here as a hostage himself?

The marquess’s body trembled. Ian’s meticulousness sent chills down his spine.

“And after that, what do you intend to do?” asked the marquess, his voice shaking.

“I will become the Emperor of the empire. Richert will disappear forever, and I will establish the Billiot Empire. If you do your part well, I will guarantee the safety of you and your family.”

“Ah…! Then my daughter….”

The marquess nodded a beat late and glanced at Ian. His own safety was important, but he couldn’t ignore Lina’s future.

“Your daughter will become my consort. However, there is a condition.”

“What is it?”

“You must not touch Emilia.”

“The Crown Princess?”

The marquess’s light green eyes went round. He had never imagined that Ian liked Emilia. He had only thought of him as cunning and greedy.

“That’s right. Emilia will become my empress,” Ian said firmly with a sinister smile.

“If her grandfather becomes a traitor, the family is usually executed together, or if they are women, turned into slaves.”

The marquess explained with a troubled expression. Emilia was the Emperor’s niece and the Crown Prince’s wife. If she were left alive, there was no telling what trouble she might cause.

“You don’t seem to understand. Do you think I don’t know that? If you do that to Emilia, I won’t cooperate.”

Ian’s expression hardened as he glared sharply at him.

“I understand. I-I will do as you say.”

As soon as the prince showed signs of changing his mind, the marquess answered hastily. Keeping Emilia alive made him uneasy, but if his status and safety were guaranteed and Lina could become Empress, it wasn’t a bad condition.

“Good. Then let’s make the plan.”

“Understood.”

That day, the two spent a long time discussing in secret how to carry out the plan.

That night. After returning to the mansion, the marquess summoned Lina and her birth mother, the black mage Della, to the underground secret chamber and held a meeting. It was a place strictly off limits to servants.

“You’re going to spare Emilia? Absolutely not.”

Lina, who he thought would oppose killing Louid, was only shocked by the sudden plot of rebellion and became furious solely at the idea of letting Emilia live. The marquess, who had believed his daughter liked Louid, stared at her in confusion. But soon he nodded.

Lina had always been greedy since she was young. It wasn’t that she liked Louid and wanted to become his consort, she coveted the position of empress.

“Prince Ian says he wants the Crown Princess, so what are we supposed to do? That’s the condition for his cooperation. If the prince doesn’t help us, we’re as good as dead. This is all because of you. I told you to be careful, but you still made a mess of everything.”

The marquess raised his voice as if frustrated.

“What do you mean it’s my fault? You said you’d take care of everything yourself, so what have you even done?” Lina shouted back without backing down.

“Lower your voice, Your Excellency. Lina, you too, be quiet and listen to your father for now.”

Della, fidgeting beside them, tried to calm the two. Even though it was a secret place where entry was forbidden, someone might overhear from outside.

“I’m against it. That bitch Emilia has to die.”

Even with her birth mother trying to stop her, Lina didn’t back down.

“There’s nothing we can do even if you oppose it. Instead, His Highness the Prince said he’ll make you his consort after he becomes Emperor of the Richert Empire.”

Clicking his tongue in frustration, the marquess said something even more shocking.

“…H-His consort?”

At the marquess’s words, Lina was so dumbfounded she couldn’t even respond. It wouldn’t even satisfy her if Emilia became Imperial Consort, no, even if Emilia were made a maid or a slave and driven out of the imperial palace while she became Imperial Consort. But to be told she would be his consort? She couldn’t believe it even after hearing it.

“What choice do we have? We have to meet the prince’s demands. Let’s talk separately later.”

Della, caught between the father and daughter, barely calmed the agitated Lina by suggesting they discuss it again later. At the same time, she blinked her eyes in a signal meant only for Lina.

“Your Excellency, please calm down. I’ll persuade Lina.”

“Very well.”

The marquess also stepped back at Della’s persuasion.

A few days later, unexpected news arrived from the Kingdom of Billiot.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Billiot has died.”

Adam, the chief chamberlain, came to Louid’s office to report.

The Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Billiot, Ian’s older brother, had been frail since infancy, and news came that he had suddenly died. Louid had long suspected why Ian had not been able to become Crown Prince, and now this would change Ian’s position.

“Is that so? Has His Majesty been informed?”

“Yes, he is aware. His Majesty said for Your Highness to handle it.”

Louid was now handling all state affairs in place of the Emperor.

Why now….

Louid’s expression darkened. The Kingdom of Billiot was a country he had always kept a close watch on, and he had a bad feeling about this. His face hardened as he gave an order to Eddie.

“Summon Count Dalton and Prince Ian of Billiot.”

***

That afternoon. In the audience chamber of the main palace, Asher was having an audience with Louid.

“Count Dalton, represent the Richert Empire and go to the Kingdom of Billiot to offer condolences.”

“Yes, understood.”

Louid handed Asher the letter of appointment for the delegation, signed in place of the Emperor. In truth, he didn’t want to send Asher to the Kingdom of Billiot. However, the Kingdom of Billiot was the second largest country on the continent after the empire, and since Asher was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, there was no choice but to send him as part of the condolence delegation.

“Asher, it could be dangerous. Be careful.”

After the appointment was given, Louid spoke to Asher as a friend. The Kingdom of Billiot, which had been defeated by the empire long ago, still sent tribute every year, but it remained an untrustworthy enemy nation.

“Alright.”

Asher’s expression was tense as well. Louid decided to assign the vice captain of the imperial knights and part of the knight order to accompany Asher. However, sending too many soldiers for a simple condolence visit could cause diplomatic issues, so the troops were ordered to wait near the eastern border.

After Asher left, Ian entered the audience chamber. Contrary to expectations, he didn’t look particularly sad. Rather….