I Ended Up Saving the Duke Who Was Meant to Die - Chapter 3.4
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At the edge of the garden, where intrusion from outside was possible, I pretended to lean over to look at flowers.
Then I hid behind a tree. I closed my eyes quietly and listened to the sound of grass.
About 100m away? Despite claims of strict security, it seemed helpless against the imperial family. I carefully watched who was coming from behind the tree.
With no intention of revealing who they were, they suddenly stopped their footsteps. Only the sound of leaves in the wind could be heard.
‘They ran away.’
It seemed they noticed something, as I could no longer sense their presence. This should be enough for them to report about me to the imperial family.
I dusted off my hands and straightened up.
“I hope they won’t come looking anymore, but it doesn’t seem like they’ll stop.”
If it had been movement from the temple, they would have gone straight to Mikael. But the pattern of movement was different. So it must be the imperial family. After all, Severus was one of the people they wanted to eliminate.
***
“Your Grace. I don’t think you should go.”
“It’s not that I don’t know that.”
“Then why…”
“Because that’s how I can get one step closer to the truth they’re hiding.”
“It’s dangerous. Last time, those people were too much to handle alone.”
Severus chuckled. That was before meeting Irene. After meeting her, he wasn’t worried. Hadn’t she said that as a married couple, they should be together until death?
“Even if I die, I’ll make it back to the mansion to die, so don’t worry.”
“Your Grace!”
“I’m saying that won’t happen.”
Albert sighed with a pale face. Severus knew well what he was worried about. But they’d come too far to stop now.
“Isn’t it fortunate if I’m the only one hated by the empire? Others will be free because of it. It’s not like I’m not helping.”
“Who would appreciate that? They’re people who agree with and support the empire’s nonsensical actions.”
“There are those who don’t.”
Severus put down his pen. Why was he being so bothersome today? He tapped the table and carefully observed Albert.
“Don’t worry and do as usual.”
“More importantly, what will you do about the temple matter? Does the Madam really not know anything…”
“Ah yes, that issue.”
He couldn’t ask. He was afraid to hear from her lips that she knew. Severus leaned back in his chair and sighed.
“What do you think?”
“She’s hard to figure out, so it’s difficult to guess.”
“Have you organized the list of children being smuggled out of the temple?”
“Yes, it’s complete. The number has reached as many as a thousand so far. Their survival status is unconfirmed. Probably…”
“Yes, they’re probably dead. There are even parents who sold their own children?”
“…Yes. It seems the temple bought children by paying under the table.”
Human trafficking in the empire. It was frustrating not knowing what exactly the temple and imperial family were plotting. There was no way to find out what benefits he was gaining by using these children.
“How about talking with the Madam?”
“Irene seemed to respect him. She said she was in debt to him. They appeared quite close.”
“But if that trust is misplaced, shouldn’t we give her a chance to correct it?”
“I can’t tell if the priests handling the aftermath are being deceived and used by him, or if they’re following him knowingly.”
Severus had a headache. She wasn’t the type to stay quiet if she knew. If that meant she was being deceived, he wasn’t sure if he should be the one to break that illusion.
“Let’s discuss this matter after I return.”
“Understood. But you must return.”
Albert said with a gloomy expression.
“This time will be longer. Since they’re sending me with the intention to kill, it would be funny to return unscathed.”
“That may be true, but… wouldn’t it be better if someone went with you?”
“I’m going alone, so don’t tell Irene.”
Albert had no choice but to nod. Surely the imperial family had ordered him to participate alone again. Even if that wasn’t the case, they would have hired mercenaries who would be of little help.
They might even have ordered them to stab His Grace in the back. Albert let out a sigh.
“I really don’t know anymore.”
“They call me a demon, saying I keep living without dying. So it’ll be the same this time too.”
He now had a reason to return. As always, he just needed to come back with his life intact.
***
I couldn’t believe my ears. I had come to the office to talk more with Severus, but hearing two people talking, I couldn’t enter and ended up eavesdropping while standing there. About the temple, and even their thoughts about not trusting me.
I was confused about what I had heard. I had heard such conversations before. Severus had said the temple uses priests for cleanup work.
‘Why would Mikael? He couldn’t do anything bad.’
He was the children’s savior. Even if he was a bit rigid, I had never thought he was a bad person. Then why was this uneasy feeling rising?
I bit my nails. I felt so frustrated that I wanted to go ask Mikael right away. Whether the tasks given to priests involved harming people, or if they were really using priests for dirty cleanup work.
It felt like everything I had believed in while growing up was being denied. What if Severus’s words were true?
I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself.
‘It can’t be. I shouldn’t judge hastily.’
After all these years with Mikael, I shouldn’t believe anything until I hear it directly from him.
Knock knock knock.
Along with the knocking sound, Eliza’s voice was heard.
I composed my expression and clasped my trembling hands. Right, I still don’t know anything for sure.
“Madam, His Grace is departing for war.”
“Oh, that was today. Let’s go. We should see him off. But why is there only one carriage?”
It was strange. For someone going to war, the luggage seemed too little. Shouldn’t the knights at the villa be going too?
“Why isn’t everyone preparing to leave?”
“…Well, His Grace is going alone.”
Alone? Who goes to war alone? I asked back with an incredulous expression.
“You’re saying he’s going to war alone?”
What reason could there be to go to war alone, unless it was a secret mission? Unless he was going to die.
Ah.
“That was the order from the imperial family.”
“So you’re saying it’s the imperial family’s order again.”
I don’t know how long they plan to drive him to his death, but this time felt different. I took Eliza’s hand.
“Eliza, help me.”
“What kind of help do you mean?”
“We can’t let Severus go alone. So I’m going with him.”
“Ma-Madam! What are you planning to do?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure Severus returns safely. Isn’t this part of a duchess’s duties?”
“What kind of duties…”
“The duty of supporting the duke. As a married couple, we should do everything together, right?”
We’re a married couple. So it’s right that I go together wherever he goes.
