I Ended Up Saving the Duke Who Was Meant to Die - Chapter 4.7
Carben wore an inexplicably uncomfortable expression. However, the news of the Duke’s return was the bigger problem right now. He had no choice but to leave the drawing room.
Michaelo, who remained in the empty space, stared at the priest who delivered the news.
“Those who carried out the mission…”
“We’ve lost contact with them.”
His teeth ground together. He sighed and looked up at the ceiling. He gave a cold smile at the sculpture depicting the god.
‘Stupid, useless things.’
After raising them, feeding them, and doing everything for them, they couldn’t even handle one given task properly and made him step in.
“Keurk!”
“Didn’t you say you would handle it well? Yet another failure. Are you sure you selected them properly?”
“I-I definitely followed your orders… Aack!”
Thud.
The priest who hit his back against the table cried out in pain. Fear flickered in his eyes. The foot stepping on the priest’s hand pressed down harder.
“Hi-High Priest… Kuhek.”
“You’re noisy.”
He muttered lowly while stepping on the priest’s face. Not a single one could handle their tasks properly. Anger began to smolder.
“Ku-hurk, pl-please. The next task, I’ll definitely do well… urk!”
“I said you’re noisy. You’re disturbing my thoughts.”
“Uu-uwaagh!”
Crack, the sound of a neck breaking was heard. Only then did silence fall. Michaelo removed his foot and leisurely left the room.
He left only brief instructions to the guard at the door to clean the room, then headed to his own chambers. A priest followed behind him.
“There couldn’t have been a problem with the gate, right?”
“No, I understand everything was prepared thoroughly and certainly. It seems there was some unexpected intervention.”
“Intervention?”
Michaelo’s footsteps stopped once again. Why hadn’t he thought of that?
He had believed that this time they would finally kill the Duke and be rid of these troublesome matters. But he survived again.
‘Could Irene have been with him?’
He wasn’t the type to recklessly involve her in such places. On the other hand, if it was Irene, she might have stepped forward to help him on her own.
“It seems Irene was there. Though there’s no way to confirm it.”
“Yes, all the mercenaries there were found dead. There is one strange thing though.”
“Strange thing?”
“They say the Imperial Princess wasn’t in the palace at that time.”
“Ha!”
Finally, everything made sense. Even for Irene, there would have been limits to healing him. Unless there was another helper. He stroked his chin, deep in thought.
‘Perhaps I can get Irene back sooner than expected.’
Michaelo turned to the priest and said.
“Send a letter to the Imperial Princess to arrange a secret meeting.”
“What? With the Imperial Princess? If the Emperor finds out, he won’t stay quiet.”
“That’s why I said to arrange it secretly. Don’t make the mistake of asking such stupid questions again.”
“…Yes, understood. But High Priest, there are several priests in danger from this incident. They need treatment.”
“It’s inconvenient without Irene. Since she agreed to help when needed, send a letter to the Duke’s residence.”
“But I’m worried the Duke might have said something strange to Irene about the temple.”
“He wouldn’t have.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because he wouldn’t want to hurt Irene.”
Irene was the only person who had reached out to him. So he would want to protect her faith in the temple, which she thinks well of.
“This is why people shouldn’t create weaknesses.”
Michaelo headed outside the temple with leisurely steps, wearing a quite satisfied smile.
***
Severus ran diligently while carrying the sleeping Irene. She must have exhausted a lot of power, as she didn’t wake up even while they were running.
Worried she might fall, he secured her body firmly, but it was difficult to maintain speed. As a result, what should have been a two-day journey took five days. Severus went straight to the villa. He had no intention of going to the palace with Irene. He didn’t want to show her existence to the Emperor.
When he arrived at the villa on horseback, the main gate opened urgently. As Severus dismounted while holding the sleeping Irene, the knights who spotted him hurriedly ran to greet him.
“Your Grace!”
“Shh, there’s no need for commotion.”
“Is the madam alright?”
“She’s just sleeping from exhaustion.”
He quickly entered the villa. He called for Eliza, laid Irene on the bed, and said.
“Please take good care of Irene.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure the others keep quiet about this as well.”
Eliza was quick to understand. Albert, who had rushed over after hearing the news, had tears in his eyes.
“This time, I thought you wouldn’t return.”
“Sometimes I think you want me dead.”
“Your Grace! The Imperial Knights came. Since the madam wasn’t here, we told them to check the temple.”
“You handled it well. Albert, as far as anyone knows, I went straight to the Imperial Palace from the gate. Make sure everyone understands I never came to the villa first.”
“I will follow your orders.”
Severus immediately mounted his horse and headed toward the crowded plaza.
He could see people in the distance. He composed himself and boldly appeared in the plaza. As people saw that he had returned alive once again, they began to shout one by one.
“D-Duke Blake…!”
“Waaah! The Duke has returned alive. He’s won on the battlefield again!”
People shouted with excited voices upon seeing him. His expression hardened at their voices, mixed with fear and joy.
“…Devil, the Duke must be a devil!”
“Watch your words. What if the devil takes you away for saying that?”
Some were not happy about his return. It was obvious how the Imperial family would react. Their anger was often directed at the Imperial citizens.
Duke Blake, who had sacrificed for the Empire, a hero, had somehow become a fearsome existence to the people.
People would flinch and shrink back whenever his red eyes fell upon them. Those who had been watching him lowered their eyes and stepped back, afraid of meeting his gaze.
Severus raised his head and stared into empty space. He avoided making eye contact with anyone. He ignored the stares that clung to him as if looking at a monster. He only wanted to return quickly to the villa, where the only people who waited for his return were.
But he didn’t rush. The more people who saw him, the faster the news would reach the Imperial family.
He finally stood before the palace gates.
‘They won’t open this time either.’
As if he had expected it, he spoke in a loud voice.
“Your Majesty. Severus de Blake has returned after fulfilling your orders.”
The gates opened at his voice. He entered the palace alone, without any mercenaries. Even the Imperial knights couldn’t meet his eyes and lowered their heads.
After dismounting, he followed the guide to the drawing room.
“Your Majesty, Duke Severus de Blake has returned.”
The doors opened, revealing the Emperor. Usually, he would be alone, but today the Imperial Princess and Crown Prince were at his sides.
The three of them stared at him with different expressions. Severus lowered his eyes, entered, knelt, and said.
“I’ve come to report immediately after completing the gate cleanup.”
“…Indeed, once again the Duke hasn’t disappointed my expectations. I wish to commend your achievements. What would you like to receive?”
Severus barely suppressed a laugh as he raised his head.
“I would like confirmation from the Imperial family that there will be no issues regarding my marriage.”
“Ah yes, I heard you’ve taken a wife. That much I can certainly grant.”
“Thank you.”
“Father!”
The Imperial Princess stepped forward in opposition. One reason Severus brought up Irene was because of the Imperial Princess. Whatever her intentions were toward him, he didn’t want to be entangled with the Imperial family.
“Princess, lower your voice. This is not the place for your childish whims.”
“….”
The Imperial Princess bit her lip and gripped the armrest tightly. She held it so firmly that her pale hand turned red.
Severus had no interest in the Imperial Princess’s feelings. He just wanted to return quickly and check on Irene’s condition.
“Duke, you may rise now. We will hold celebrations for several days, so come with your wife to share in the joy.”
“…Thank you.”
“We shall personally invite Duke Blake and his wife to the palace.”
This was unexpected. Severus forced a smile. Knowing he couldn’t refuse, he nodded.
Volume 1 End
