I Ended Up Saving the Duke Who Was Meant to Die - Chapter 5.5
Those speaking openly were probably noble ladies. Those who greeted Severus would quickly bow their heads with widened eyes upon seeing my red hair and disappear from view.
Even the attending servants kept glancing at my hair, so there was no need to mention what expressions the royal family members would make when we entered.
“His Majesty is waiting.”
The servant opened the door and announced our arrival. As we entered, another door opened, and Severus and I went in hand in hand.
The Emperor, sitting at the head of the long table, slammed the table with a bang.
It was like thunder rolling. The silver plate on the table fell to the floor with a loud clatter. As the precariously contained wine spilled, a maid rushed forward to wipe the Emperor’s hand. We had only taken one step, but the reaction was immediate.
“How dare you bring something so ominous into the palace just by looking at it. Has the Duke lost his mind?”
Something ominous. The Emperor didn’t even treat me as a person. He spoke as if referring to an object.
I struggled to maintain my expression that threatened to contort.
“Remove that thing at once!”
His voice, filled with anger, echoed in the drawing room. The maids bringing in food bowed their heads and stopped in place. So this is Emperor Keberos. His face was as fierce as his name.
It wasn’t particularly pleasant to see the face of the one who kept pushing Severus toward the cliff. The people of the palace who pointed fingers calling me a witch were no different from the Emperor sitting before us.
“Father, please don’t be angry. He couldn’t refuse since you invited him. However, it would have been better if the Duke had thought more deeply. Duke Blake, bringing something ominous to such an important place was not a wise decision.”
The Princess wiped her lips with a napkin while maintaining a smile.
“Everyone will cause quite a commotion when they see the Duchess. A woman with such red hair… I’m worried whether misfortune might befall the Duke’s house. Perhaps it already has?”
There couldn’t be a bigger commotion than this. I wasn’t hurt because I had expected such reactions. But Severus, who was gripping my hand tightly, seemed different.
“Your Majesty invited both me and my wife here. Since you’re showing such displeasure, perhaps it would be better if we withdrew for today.”
But I thought differently. I gently pulled his hand to express my intention. The Emperor was someone waiting for him to make a mistake. Giving such people bait to bite at would be an unwise action.
“Are we to take it as defiance against Us if you say you’ll leave a place arranged for the Duke?”
See there. He bites at the opportunity without hesitation.
The Emperor grew angry again at his words. His bloodshot eyes were reproaching him. He seemed ready to label it as treason if we took even one step away. I was the uninvited guest, so the problem would be solved if I withdrew. I had shown my face to them, so I had done what was needed.
“I will with…”
I tried to say I would withdraw alone, but Severus interrupted me.
“Your Majesty, I have no intention of sending my wife back alone.”
“If the Duke insists, must I allow it? How dare you oppose My words. Remove that ominous thing at once! Looking at it now, it seems the Duke has been bewitched by a witch.”
Witch… I keep hearing it since coming to the palace.
Actually, it had been quite a while since I’d last heard that word. I had forgotten about it since everyone at the Duke’s mansion treated me normally.
“Father. I thought it was luck that the Duke returned alive from countless battlefields, but it seems there was a witch behind it. Perhaps he suddenly took her as his wife to hide the fact that she’s a witch.”
Crown Prince Gabriel added with a sinister smile. Judging by that vile expression, he must have been waiting for this day. He must have known about my red hair since he sent people to confirm my existence and watch me.
“A witch! We must drag her out and verify it immediately! How dreadful! What if the Duke loses his mind and turns against father? That would be terrible!”
At the Princess’s words, the Emperor’s face turned red. Soon after, anxiety spread. Just as Severus was moving me behind him, the Emperor spoke.
“Yes, that would be better. If she’s judged to be a witch, the Duke won’t be innocent either.”
“A witch? Do you know what you’re saying? My wife is not a witch.”
“Guards! Come in and seize the woman immediately!”
At the Crown Prince’s words, knights entered through the door. My arms were seized by the knights before I could defend against the sudden turn of events. Severus tried to draw his sword, but I shook my head.
The moment he draws his sword, it would truly be considered rebellion. Although I lived without knowing how the world worked, I remembered one thing I learned from Eliza clearly.
Don’t oppose the Imperial family. That’s treason. And him committing treason was what they wanted more than anything. A justification to eliminate him. I didn’t want to give them that.
If the Imperial family mistook me for a witch and interrogated me, that news would also reach the temple. What action would Michaelo take, worried that my ability might be discovered?
While I was thinking about various things, I suddenly felt pain in my head.
“Ugh!”
My head was forcibly lifted by fingers tangled in my hair. If even a single strand of hair is pulled out, I will break this knight’s hand the moment we leave this door.
I bit my lip.
“Father, come to think of it, didn’t the High Priest serve as their witness? Why don’t we call him as well?”
“Yes, that’s a good idea. The High Priest would make a proper judgment.”
“It seems the Imperial family has no faith in the temple.”
Severus said, exhaling roughly. His words had a sharp edge. This incident might create a rift between the Imperial family and the temple.
Things could get interesting even with just a small crack.
“Haha. Faith? Do you think I have anyone I trust? The Duke knows well too. In this world, you can only trust yourself, who knows if Michaelo might betray me.”
Keberos laughed like a madman. His laughter was so filled with madness that it gave me goosebumps. Even as I was being dragged away by the knights, I didn’t take my eyes off Severus.
He was struggling violently, looking ready to push away the knights and draw his sword at any moment.
“Severus, it’s alright. So don’t do anything.”
It really was alright. I stayed still because it was bearable, and I had no intention of causing unnecessary trouble that would put him in a difficult position. I’m not a witch, so no matter what they do, they won’t get the results they want. So it wouldn’t be too late to act after letting them confirm with their own eyes.
Above all, it would be perfect if the temple intervened.
“Irene!”
His red eyes blazed beautifully. At that moment, his eyes seemed to shine like a demon’s. It took quite a while for those blazing eyes to disappear from my sight.
