I Ended Up Saving the Duke Who Was Meant to Die - Chapter 5.7
He frowned at his stiff arms. If Michaelo didn’t come, he needed to think of a way to rescue her. Irene shouldn’t escape from the prison on her own. If that happened, she would truly be branded a witch and become everyone’s enemy.
Severus surveyed the audience chamber. He checked the escape routes and counted the number of knights inside and the weapons they carried.
‘Two by the door, five on either side of the platform, two who held me.’
So he would have to deal with nine guards.
Severus quickly ran through different scenarios in his head. Perhaps due to his experience from countless battlefield deployments, several methods emerged.
‘Even though it’s a gamble, it’s better than doing nothing.’
He couldn’t let her become unfortunate again after barely getting her out of the temple. He checked the location of his confiscated sword and took a deep breath.
Thump thump.
Along with the sound of footsteps, a loud voice was heard from outside.
“High Priest Michaelo is at the door to have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor!”
A smile spread across the Emperor’s face.
The door opened and Michaelo appeared. He bowed respectfully and stood before the platform.
“I came immediately upon receiving Your Majesty’s summons. I heard you were looking for me regarding ‘Irene von Blake’ being accused of being a witch.”
“Yes, I hear you vouched for that red-haired woman’s identity.”
“That’s correct. Though she has red hair, I sense nothing from that child. It should be considered a kind of mutation.”
“How can I trust the High Priest’s words? How can I be certain you haven’t joined hands with the Duke with impure intentions?”
Michaelo answered without changing his expression.
“If Your Majesty is so worried, I will take that child back to the temple. If I watch over her, it should put your mind at ease. We could even nullify the marriage.”
Ah, so this was it. Severus realized Michaelo’s intentions for coming here instead of rescuing Irene. If the Emperor permitted and he claimed nullification, Irene would no longer be a member of House Blake.
“…Marriage nullification? Your Majesty signed a contract stating you would not interfere with my marriage. If a document bearing Your Majesty’s signature holds no power, do you think those who learn of this will trust Your Majesty’s words?”
The Emperor’s expression twisted at Severus’s words. As he said, if this reached the nobles’ ears, they would be reluctant to make contracts with the Emperor. He could change his words whenever he pleased, after all.
“How strange. I wonder why you’re so intent on keeping that woman by your side. It makes me suspicious that there might be something I don’t know about. Even the High Priest is saying he’ll take someone accused of being a witch to the temple.”
At the Emperor’s words, Michaelo’s face subtly hardened. Severus spoke while maintaining a calm facade.
“The temple has always taken in and cared for children with nowhere to go, so the High Priest naturally thought to say such things. Isn’t that right?”
If he insisted on taking her to the temple here, the Emperor would grow suspicious. He would think she possessed something. This was what Severus had aimed for.
Michaelo had only one possible response.
“Yes, the Duke is correct. If someone with red hair goes outside, they’ll be stoned or burned to death. I only meant to take her in because it would be troublesome if people learned the temple had cared for her.”
As he spoke as if it couldn’t be helped for the temple’s honor, the Emperor’s face brightened compared to before. Severus didn’t miss the chance to drive the point home.
“Wouldn’t it be perfect for Your Majesty if everyone in society distanced themselves from Blake mansion upon hearing about a Duke living with a witch?”
“Are you saying you’ll bear everything and stay with her?”
“I’m saying I’ll take the woman I love. Since we’re married, it’s natural to take responsibility.”
The Emperor’s lips twitched. Though the Princess shouted that it was absurd, the Emperor ordered them to take that ominous-looking woman out of the palace immediately.
***
I finally got up from the stone bed. I approached the bars and grabbed them with both hands, about to apply force. Though I didn’t have much strength since I wasn’t healing, it was worth trying.
“Irene!”
At that moment, I heard someone calling my name. When I looked up toward where the guards had disappeared, someone appeared. Listening carefully to the rapidly approaching footsteps, it sounded like Severus. He was urging the guards to open the door quickly.
When the door that had confined me finally opened, he embraced me tightly. I could tell how fast he had run without asking. His heartbeat was so loud I could feel it through our touching bodies. His heart was beating so fast that I worried he might die, and instead I asked about his well-being.
“Are you alright? Your heart is beating too fast.”
I immediately grabbed his cheeks and kissed him. Others’ gazes didn’t matter. I was only focused on healing him if his body was injured. I worried whether he had endured hardship to prove I wasn’t a witch.
The sound of lips smacking echoed as I sucked on his lips. Though the surprised Severus grabbed my shoulders, I didn’t stop and pushed my tongue in deeply. I swept across his teeth and entwined with his hot, wet tongue while letting a small amount of power flow.
“W-what on earth are they doing?”
A flustered guard muttered to himself. I more deliberately sucked on Severus’s lower lip and pressed his jaw to make his mouth open wider, as if to show them. Even while breathing heavily, I didn’t stop. The sticky and embarrassing sounds of saliva mixing continued to reach my ears.
His mouth was warm and sweet, making me want to taste it longer, for more time. I wrapped my hands around his neck and kissed him properly.
“Haa, Irene, wait…”
He finally managed to pull me away and speak. His heated breath and moist voice nearly made me lose my reason.
“Ha…”
Wanting to continue longer, I forgot about infusing power for a moment and just enjoyed the kiss. Along with excited breaths, my body gradually heated up. I pressed my body against his and, as if not caring about other people, stuck out my tongue to suck and urge him on.
At that moment, I felt hands gently stroking my back. Only then did I pull away and look up at him.
“Irene. I’m really, fine.”
“Really, nothing happened? They didn’t do anything strange? Your heart is beating faster than when you’re with me. Severus, usually it beats so slowly it’s like you’re dead…”
“That’s because I ran to get here quickly. Irene.”
He answered hastily, seeming flustered. Still, I felt relieved, perhaps because I had infused a little power. It would be nice to kiss a bit more…
I raised my heels slightly. However, he firmly held my waist to stop me and whispered in my ear.
“If we continue here, I won’t be able to hold back. You don’t want me to take you in front of others, do you? Though showing Michaelo me embracing you wouldn’t be bad either.”
He lightly bit my earlobe and spoke in an even softer voice.
“I want to be the only one to see you begging me to take you. I don’t want to show him that lovely sight.”
Only then did I obediently nod and lower my raised heels.
When I tried to hold his hand tightly to heal him, he shook his head. Still in his embrace, I met eyes with Michaelo who was watching me.
“Oh, High Priest was here too. I didn’t know. It would have been nice if you had made your presence known.”
“I should have. It seems you didn’t know I came here alongside the Duke in the first place.”
As he said, I had only seen Severus.
“Yes, I didn’t know. But I won’t apologize since it wasn’t shameful behavior.”
“…Indeed. It’s not strange for a married couple.”
I nodded. Severus loosened his grip that had been holding me. Then he started examining my body.
“Are you alright? Those bastards didn’t touch you anywhere, did they? If they did, I’ll behead them.”
“I did pull out a guard’s hair, but nothing else happened.”
“Thank goodness. Really… I feel like I shouldn’t have brought you here. It seems the Princess knew this would happen.”
I knew that too. Because the Princess hates me.
