The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 122

Chapter 122. Confusion (1)

[Come to the place where we first met at the prince’s palace tomorrow at 8 in the evening.]

A servant from the main palace came to the Crown Prince’s palace. That day, the only lady-in-waiting on duty was Lina. While the others were on leave, she came to the palace every day, saying she would attend alone.

“Young lady, I’ve come because I have something to deliver to Her Highness the Crown Princess.”

“Is that so? You can give it to me.”

Without any suspicion, the servant handed the note to her.

“It was sent by His Highness the Crown Prince, so please make sure to deliver it.”

“Yes, understood.”

Before delivering it to Emilia, she secretly read the note. Then she had Jack urgently send word to Prince Ian and to the Marquess of Carrion’s residence.

After receiving the order to leave the country from Louid, Ian did not depart immediately for the Kingdom of Billiot and instead hid in a secret location. All of this was part of his plan.

After the founding festival, unless there were special circumstances, the imperial palace servants were given long leave. The knights and palace guards were the same. Perhaps about half of the servants would take leave in rotation.

Having lived as a hostage in the empire for over a year, Ian was well aware of the imperial palace’s annual schedule. So he chose the period right after the founding festival as the day to carry out his plan. At that moment, the Marquess of Carrion happened to come to him asking for help.

Once the founding festival ended, unless something extraordinary happened, the servants of the Imperial Palace were granted long leave. The same applied to the knights and the Imperial Guards. Presumably, about half of the servants would take turns receiving leave.

The death of the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Billiot was not a coincidence either. He had been slowly poisoning his older brother over a long period of time. The timing had not been planned, but the Crown Prince, whose body had weakened from the poison, ended up dying.

‘Good!’

At the news of his brother’s death, he inwardly rejoiced. All of this timing felt like a sign of good fortune meant for him.

Ian was the second prince of the Kingdom of Billiot. Therefore, the one who would inherit the throne next was him. He should have returned to the royal palace as soon as possible to attend the funeral and assume the position of Crown Prince, but he decided to take Emilia with him on this opportunity.

‘This is the only chance. I won’t be able to return to the imperial palace again.’

Once he was freed from being a hostage and became Crown Prince, there would be no reason for him to return to the empire. So this time, he had to kidnap Emilia and take her with him no matter what. And if he also succeeded in eliminating the Emperor and the Crown Prince as planned, he intended to immediately lead the forces he had prepared and strike the empire.

‘Emilia, you’ll finally become mine.’

The corners of his lips curled up in a sinister smile.

***

The next morning.

Louid was in an extremely good mood. He had received the tiara he had ordered some time ago just yesterday. Although they were already married, he had never formally proposed, so he planned to confess to her today. He had also prepared a special wine for Emilia.

But late that afternoon, the chief chamberlain Adam came to the Crown Prince’s office.

“Your Highness, His Majesty is calling for you.”

At times, during his afternoon tea, William would summon him to hear reports on state affairs and offer advice on how to proceed.

“I understand.”

Louid immediately rose from his seat and went to the separate palace where the Emperor was staying. Since entrusting him with regency, the Emperor, who used to stay in the main palace, had noticeably improved in health. Today as well, William’s face looked very bright.

“Did you call for me, Your Majesty?”

“Yes. It’s been a while. Sit.”

After greeting the Emperor respectfully, Louid sat on the sofa across from him.

“You seem to be in a good mood.”

“Yes. Having you and Emilia by my side makes me happy. Is handling state affairs difficult?”

“I’m not as capable as you, but I’m doing my best.”

At Louid’s modest reply, William smiled with a pleased expression. Lately, he felt that everything was going exactly as he had planned, which put him in a very good mood.

The empire was at peace, and Louid, whom he had entrusted with regency, was handling imperial affairs perfectly as expected. Emilia was also fulfilling her duties well as Crown Princess, so he felt there was no longer any need to worry about entrusting the empire to them.

“I will soon depart for the Rize villa.”

The Rize villa was the Emperor’s residence and retreat in the southern part of the empire, a place where one spent their later years.

“Brother!”

Louid immediately understood why William intended to go to the villa. His brother was planning to abdicate the throne to him.

“Before I leave for the villa, I will abdicate the throne to you. Let us have dinner together with Emilia tomorrow.”

As expected, the word abdication came from William’s lips. Rather than feeling joy at becoming Emperor, Louid felt regret that his brother, who was still capable, intended to step down.

“I can do nothing without you, Brother.”

“You can do more than enough. Aren’t you already doing well? If you continue as you are now, you will become an even greater ruler than I ever was. There is no need to expand the territory any further, so instead of risking dangerous battlefields, stay by Emilia’s side.”

The Emperor had long regretted not being able to remain by the side of his frail empress in his younger years. That might be why he cherished Emilia even more.

Since the Crown Prince died in a riding accident, William had often spoken of abdicating the throne to him, so Louid understood his brother’s wish to rest.

“Yes, I understand.”

He drank tea with the Emperor, listened to various pieces of advice, then left the audience chamber.

I should tell Emilia about Brother’s decision.

Louid decided that when he met Emilia today, he would inform her of the Emperor’s abdication and hear her thoughts.

He remained completely absorbed in his work until the sky above the golden palace rooftops turned from red to gray. There was much to finish before he left for the inspection.

While reviewing documents without even eating dinner, he suddenly looked toward the window. It was already dark outside.

‘Has it gotten this late already?’

Looking at the wall clock, it was nearly eight.

He quickly rose from his seat and picked up the jewelry box containing the tiara. As he imagined Emilia wearing it, a faint smile formed on his lips as he approached the door.

Knock, knock.

Before he could even reach the door, urgent knocking rang out, and the captain of the palace guards rushed inside.

“Your Highness, intruders have broken through the main gate.”

“How many?”

Louid’s brow furrowed.

“It’s too dark to determine precisely, but it appears to be several hundred.”

“Where is the knight commander?”

“He is holding them off.”

“Inform His Majesty and have him evacuate.”

“Yes!”

Setting the tiara down, Louid mounted a horse and headed toward the main gate of the imperial palace.

At the gate, a battle was already underway between the guards and the intruders. Leaping down from his horse, Louid climbed up onto the fortress wall.

His sharp gaze scanned the darkness. Men in black masks were clashing with the knights. However, their swordsmanship was far too refined to be mere thugs or private soldiers of nobles.

Elite troops.

The intruders were highly trained elite soldiers from a nation.

“Deploy the elite knights.”

Having assessed the situation, he gave the order. Although the enemy was well-trained, the imperial knights alone would be enough to stop them.

“Yes!”

“Intruders have also broken in through the rear gate.”

A moment later, a guard who had been stationed at the rear gate ran up and reported.

“…?”

Who would dare mobilize several hundred elite soldiers against the imperial palace of the empire?

Ian’s face flashed through his mind.

But he already returned to his homeland….

“Deploy knights to the rear gate as well.”

After watching the battle between the intruders and the imperial knights for a while, Louid gave instructions to Alex, who had just climbed up onto the fortress wall.

“They have no intention of entering the palace. They’ll retreat soon, so pursue them and capture at least one alive.”

“Yes, understood.”

Who is behind this, and why?

His Majesty is in danger!

Louid’s red eyes trembled as if struck by an earthquake. There was no doubt the Emperor was their target. Descending from the fortress wall, he mounted his horse and rushed toward the separate palace.

“Where is His Majesty?”

Upon arriving at the separate palace, he asked Adam, who was waiting with an anxious expression.

After the founding festival, some soldiers had been given leave, and additional troops had been sent with the condolence delegation to the Kingdom of Billiot, so the number of soldiers guarding the palace was lower than usual.

“His Majesty has taken refuge in the underground secret chamber of the separate palace,” Adam reported, covering his mouth with one hand.

“Well done. Tell him not to leave the palace grounds. This will be resolved soon.”

“Yes, understood.”

With intruders at both the front and rear gates, escaping through a secret passage could be even more dangerous.

After confirming the Emperor’s safety, Louid turned toward the Crown Prince’s palace. He needed to check on Emilia.

However, when he arrived at the Crown Prince’s palace, Emilia was nowhere to be seen. The maids who usually attended her were also gone.

“Your Highness.”

A maid who had come to tidy the bedroom bowed her head.

“Where is the Crown Princess?”

“She said she was going for a walk and told us not to follow her.”

“And the ladies-in-waiting?”

“They have all gone on leave, and only Lady Lina came to the palace, but it seems she has already left.”

“I see.”

He hurried down the central staircase and asked the guard stationed at the entrance of the Crown Prince’s palace about Emilia’s whereabouts.

“Her Highness headed toward the prince’s palace about an hour ago.”

She went earlier than the appointed time.

It seemed Emilia had already gone to the prince’s palace to meet him.

If it’s not the Emperor, and not me, then the target is….

Emilia!

Louid’s expression was overtaken by unease.

The prince’s palace normally had fewer guards and servants, and today in particular, the servants had been dismissed early so that only he and Emilia could be alone. He immediately headed toward the prince’s palace.