The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 137

Chapter 137. Irreversible (1)

‘Emilia is dead?’

Louid stood frozen, his face pale. His ears rang, and his heart pounded violently.

‘It’s just the death of a single prisoner. Why am I like this?’

Emilia was a criminal who had committed treason. Strictly speaking, she should have been executed long ago. Even in his own opinion, exile was a lenient punishment.

Even now, the Marquess of Carrion and several ministers who followed him continued to insist that Emilia be executed.

‘Then why do I feel so sad?’

The moment he heard the report of Emilia’s death, his chest hurt as if stabbed by a sword. As if he had lost someone he loved.

“Explain in detail what happened.”

Louid spoke while suppressing the surge rising in his chest.

“A messenger sent by the warden of Peric Prison just arrived. They say it seems Her Highness jumped into the sea.”

It seems? That means it isn’t certain.

“Evidence? Did anyone see my wife jump?”

Unconsciously, Louid was referring to Emilia as his ‘wife.’

“They say a doll Her Highness possessed was found floating on the seawater. The messenger brought it.”

Alex opened a small square box. Inside lay a doll with blonde hair and blue eyes. Louid’s gaze trembled rapidly when he saw it.

The doll lying inside the small coffin-like box was indeed the one Emilia cherished. He had heard it was bought for her by her father when she was young.

“Ha….”

Louid let out a deep breath and grabbed the doll with one hand. His hand trembled violently.

“Take the box away.”

Anger filled his voice. He didn’t want to look at it because it felt as if Emilia were lying inside a coffin.

“Yes.”

“What about the body?”

“They say it has not been found yet.”

“Why didn’t the warden come himself?”

It was outrageous that such a grave report was delivered with a letter and a doll.

“They say he is currently focused on the search.”

“I see. Cancel today’s departure. Send additional personnel to Peric Prison, and report immediately if there is any new development.”

“Yes, understood.”

How could a prisoner locked in a prison jump out?

Peric Prison was an infamous place where not a single person had ever succeeded in escaping.

‘In such a place, how could someone jump out?’

Even after Alex left, Louid continued to clutch the doll tightly. Veins bulged on the hand gripping it, as if he couldn’t let Emilia go.

“Ha….”

His breathing grew tight, and his head felt like it was being crushed. Though he didn’t realize it, his will to recall that day and the black magic were clashing inside his mind. He canceled all his schedules and did not leave his bedroom.

“Welcome, Your Grace.”

“Is His Majesty inside?”

That morning, Asher came to the Crown Prince’s palace. He had gone to Louid’s office but was told the Emperor had not yet arrived and came here instead.

“Um….”

Adam hesitated and watched his reaction.

“What is it?”

Adam was the longest-serving official in the imperial palace and a cheerful man who even joked with the Emperor, but today his mood was unusually gloomy.

“It hasn’t been officially announced yet, but Her Highness the former Crown Princess has passed away.”

Adam turned his head to check the surroundings and spoke in a low voice. Come to think of it, there were no guards in front of Louid’s bedroom, and only Adam was waiting there.

“…What did you say?”

At the shocking news, Asher staggered. He couldn’t believe that Her Highness had died.

“Are you alright?”

Adam hurriedly reached out his hand to him.

“I’m fine. Could you tell me again what happened?”

Asher’s voice, always calm, trembled.

“Regrettably, it seems Her Highness threw herself from the tower of Peric Prison. They are searching for the body.”

Asher recalled the structure of Peric Prison he had seen not long ago. Beneath the tower where Emilia was confined lay a deep, endless sea. There would be no surviving that.

“How is His Majesty right now?”

“I don’t know. He isn’t allowing anyone to enter.”

“Ha….”

Tears welled in Asher’s eyes. Crumpling the proposal in his hand, he had no choice but to return to his office in the main palace. Throwing the crumpled document onto the desk, he collapsed into his chair with a vacant expression.

‘If I had suggested moving Her Highness sooner, this wouldn’t have happened. If I had paid more attention….’

Even though he had sent Damian to Peric Island as soon as he returned from the Kingdom of Billiot, he still blamed himself.

“Your Highness. This is my fault.”

Lowering his head, he broke down in sobs. He should have sent a letter to Emilia sooner. If he had, she would have endured and waited even if things were hard. Everything felt like his fault, and he couldn’t bear it. Thick tears fell to the floor one after another.

“Is something wrong?”

Damian, who had come to the palace despite being told by Asher to take a few days off, asked Leon about the heavy atmosphere in the office.

“A messenger came from Peric Island and reported that Her Highness has passed away.”

“What? Is that true?”

He acted surprised, but inwardly, Damian felt relieved.

It went according to plan. Emilia was declared dead, and he was the only one who knew the truth behind it.

When was it discovered?

Since the messenger would travel much faster by horse and take shortcuts, it seemed it was discovered about two days after he escaped.

‘Emilia, we succeeded. Now you can live in peace. Thank you, Goddess.’

Damian offered a prayer of gratitude in his heart. He planned to soon quit his position as an aide and go down to the vineyard where Emilia was. Emilia had now gained complete freedom.

***

Around the time the winter sun reached its peak in the sky. After a long week of carriage travel, Emilia arrived in front of the arched gate of a pretty, modest mansion in a rural village.

‘Demil Farm?’

On the small mailbox beside the gate, it read ‘Demil Farm.’

The mansion visible inside the gate was a two-story building with a quaint appearance, as if it had come out of a fairy tale. On both sides and behind it were vineyards, and in front was a small garden.

I’ve finally arrived.

It had been a grueling journey, riding a carriage from dawn until late at night and taking brief naps at small inns.

During the trip, no one realized she was a woman. The escape from Peric Prison had been accomplished entirely by the efforts of just the two of them, Damian and herself.

“Thank you, Damian,” she murmured softly.

What happened to Damian?

He would probably contact her soon.

The arched white gate slowly opened, as if someone had deliberately left it ajar. After closing the gate, she walked slowly along the straight path leading to the mansion.

Her heart pounded like someone who had just finished a long marathon and was standing right before the destination. With each step she took, the tension that had stiffened her face gradually faded, and her expression slowly brightened.

Knock, knock.

She climbed the low steps in front of the mansion and knocked on the front door. But there was no sound from inside. Looking at the windows, they were all covered with curtains. Her eyes wavered in confusion.

“Who is it?”

After a moment, an elderly man with a hunched back appeared from the side of the mansion.

“Hello. My name is Chloe.”

“Chloe? Ah, the owner’s sister.”

The old man immediately recognized her alias, as if he had been told in advance by Damian.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I’m Evan. You arrived later than expected. I thought you’d come in autumn. It’s been over two months since the owner last came here. Probably.”

“Yes, Evan. There were some circumstances. Lucian will be here soon as well.”

“Anyway, welcome. I’ll show you to your room.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Perhaps his eyesight was poor, as Evan had trouble inserting the key into the doorknob.

“I’ll do it.”

“Will you?”

At her words, Evan handed over the key as if he had been waiting for it. When she inserted the key, the door opened easily.

“Does anyone else live here?”

“No one but me. I had a wife, but she went to heaven long ago.”

“I see.”

“It’s nice to have someone here. The village is far away, so it’s hard to see people. I live in the annex next door, so if you need anything, let me know.”

Evan smiled as if pleased. He said he also chopped firewood and worked on the farm.

“Yes. But what should I do?”

“It’s winter now, so there’s nothing to do. It’ll get busy in spring. Just rest comfortably and enjoy the scenery.”

“Yes, understood.”

After guiding her inside, Evan told her to look around at her leisure and went back outside. Inside the mansion were bedrooms, a living room, and a bathroom, and in a small dressing room hung several sets of everyday clothes. The bedrooms on both the first and second floors were fully furnished with beds, sofas, and all necessary furniture.

Emilia approached the window on the second floor, drew back the curtains, and looked outside. The winter sunlight gently illuminated the small garden.

So this is my home.

It was the free world she had dreamed of for so long. Just escaping the tower already felt like a success.

‘Then why do I feel so empty?’

A corner of her heart felt heavy, as if she had lost something. It was a vague emotion, both sorrowful and regretful.

Is it because I’m pregnant?

The reason she could no longer wait for Louid in the prison was also because of the baby in her womb. It would be difficult to endure such a harsh environment while pregnant, and more than anything, she couldn’t guarantee what kind of future the child would have.

A child born to a traitor. If it were a son, they wouldn’t spare him, and even if it were a daughter, she might become a slave or spend her entire life in prison like herself. She couldn’t let that happen.

It must be because I’m worried about Damian.

She concluded that the reason she felt uneasy was because she was worried about Damian.

“Damian, thank you. You have to be safe.”

Murmuring with a desperate heart, she went downstairs at Evan’s call.