I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 69
“So what I want to say is.”
CRASH-
“Careful.”
It’s been two days since I gave him the script after organizing Lorang’s scattered thoughts, but it seems he hasn’t memorized a single line yet.
An arrow pierced through the window, aimed at Lorang who was fidgeting with the paper, reading it over and over. The Second Prince casually blocked it.
“Eeeek! At-attack! We’re under attack!”
“Indeed. Now, what’s your next line?”
“What do you mean ‘indeed’?! That arrow was aimed at me!”
Lorang, belatedly realizing what happened, clutched his head. He finally noticed the attacks that had been occurring two or three times every day.
Given his personality, knowing wouldn’t help much, so the knights did their best to keep him unaware until the court date, but humans make mistakes.
“Haven’t they already been caught? What more do you want?”
Though one arrow may have slipped through, all the assassins who shot them were captured, so the scene outside the window wasn’t particularly chaotic.
Still, Cassion made a throat-slitting gesture toward the window, presumably threatening punishment for the knights, then turned to look at Lorang with those same fierce eyes.
His expression was so intense that anyone would believe he was the assassin.
“More importantly, now that you understand the severity of this situation, couldn’t you at least memorize one line?”
“But… it’s only been two days since you gave me the script.”
“It’s already been two days. The trial is in just 2 weeks.”
“Can’t I memorize it during those 2 weeks… Ah, no, never mind.”
Cassion had merely glanced over while checking the enemy’s arrow that the Second Prince had caught, but he looked like he might stab Lorang with that arrow.
“Asil, just stay on that side today. There might be glass shards in front.”
“…But according to the blocking…”
“You’re already perfect.”
Knowing that his anger was actually because of me, I kept quiet and didn’t intervene. Besides, there was nothing I could do about the attacks.
But when Cassion showed such obvious preferential treatment, Lorang’s jaw dropped and the Second Prince’s smile deepened.
…Honestly, it feels kind of nice.
“…Then I’ll just practice my lines from here today.”
Since I was the one who wrote the script, I couldn’t leave. Due to the tight schedule, I spent every day coaxing, persuading, and pressing Lorang to dig up his past, and at night, I organized that information.
The Prince naturally knew the most about imperial matters, and with my slight knowledge from my previous life, I best understood what legal points to pursue, which is why Cassion was left out of the scriptwriting.
He seemed to have fallen into thinking that he wasn’t being helpful because he was just a former mercenary. Even though he’s blocking attacks every day!
“Oh no, the arrowhead! Be careful. What if it’s poisoned like before?”
“It’s fine.”
Cassion held it up to his eyes for another inspection, and when the deadly metal weapon came close to his handsome face, I anxiously called out reflexively.
“They’re attacking openly yet trying to play innocent. At least the weapons aren’t imperial ones. They’re mercenary-grade.”
“That’s unfortunate. If they were imperial weapons, we could have used them as evidence. And please put that dangerous thing down now that you’ve checked it.”
Only after speaking did I realize I was overreacting. He’s a war hero, after all – as if he’d get hurt by an arrow he’s already holding.
“The trial atmosphere is really something.”
The Second Prince seems exasperated seeing us flirting while Lorang can’t even memorize his script. I feel a bit sorry.
I know I should focus on the trial too, but… what can I do when my eyes keep drifting to Cassion?
“Wait. Hold on. What do you mean ‘like before’? Are you saying there have been poisoned arrows before?”
“Ah.”
“This isn’t the first time!”
“Ah… well. Ahem.”
And in my blindness from making eye contact with Cassion, I made a slip of the tongue. I bit my lip and rolled my eyes around fearfully, wondering if someone would scold me, but only Lorang, who had just realized the reality of the situation, cried out.
“How can anyone live like this! How am I supposed to focus on the script in this environment!”
“What?”
For some reason, Cassion, still fiddling with the arrow he hadn’t put down, widened his eyes. Even with more white showing, he’s somehow still sexy.
“I can’t do this! I can’t go through with the trial!”
“What?”
And this time, my eyes widened in surprise. The Second Prince, sensing that today’s mock trial had gone awry, slumped into a chair, covering his face with his hands.
“Can’t do it? What nonsense is that? What can’t you do? Why can’t you do it!”
“I just want to go back to where I used to live and hide!”
“The bruise on my cheek hasn’t even faded yet, and you dare say such things with that loose mouth of yours? Did you not have even that much resolve?”
“What resolve should I have! I was just dr-dragged here by the Duke and Duchess!”
“Ha! Anyone would think we tied you up and dragged you here. We clearly got your consent, and you came of your own free will. Hmm?”
Cassion was about to step in, but I was faster. It felt good that he got angry on my behalf, but that doesn’t mean I’m pleased to see Lorang throwing away the script I stayed up all night writing.
Honestly, if Lorang had been even half a decent man, I wouldn’t be stuck in this miserable situation of having a crush on Cassion while dealing with him
“I didn’t know it would be this bad! This is too much!”
“That’s why you should confront them confidently in court! The one who’s too much is your ex-lover!”
“I was just a plaything! How can I confront them when I’m so scared…”
-CRACK.
“…Hic.”
A familiar arrow flew past Lorang’s ear as he whined, embedding itself in the wall.
Wow. I didn’t know arrows could have such power when thrown by hand at close range.
“Am I not scary enough?”
As Cassion growled, Lorang shrank instantly. What a coward! Acting tough with me but cowering before Cassion! He thinks I won’t hit him, doesn’t he?
“There’s something you don’t know.”
And amidst the chaos, the Second Prince, who had barely maintained his composure, approached with a clean, smiling face. He extended his hand to Lorang, who was sitting on the floor, helping him up in a warmly manner.
“Even if you refuse the trial and flee, you’re already guilty of insulting the royal family.”
“What?! M-me? Why?”
“Didn’t you mock me?”
“I…!”
Lorang turned around as if to shout again that he was just dragged here by the Duke and Duchess, but he only managed to move his lips when he saw our eyes forming a threatening triangle.
“I was deceived by you and pleaded with His Majesty the Emperor to hold a royal trial as quickly as possible. If you leave now, wouldn’t that be mocking me?”
Well done, well done! Yes, this trial team would be perfect if it weren’t for Lorang!
The catch is that Lorang’s role is the most important, though.
“I’ve been wronged, Your Highness…!”
“As wronged as I’ve been mocked? It’s not enough to lose your head for toying with a member of the royal family who might become the next Emperor.”
Cassion, joining in the Prince’s momentum, stepped towards Lorang and pretended to put his hand on his sword hilt in a threatening manner.
“You’d better not think that only the Empress is threatening your life.”
“…!”
Alright. Now that we’ve used the stick enough, it’s time for the carrot. It’s my turn.
“Don’t be too harsh on him. Lorang, it all depends on you.”
I pulled Lorang away from the two men as if rescuing him and patted his back. His handsome face, no longer effective, now looked at me pitifully for support.
“Weren’t you originally a courageous person? You came with us to restore your honor, receive compensation for past wrongs, and secure a bright future as an artist.”
“M-my lady…”
“What if you run away now? We might let it go, but do you think the Empress will just say, ‘Oh, he went back,’ and leave you alone? Hmm~ No. Now that she’s aware you’re a threat, she’ll chase you to the ends of the earth.”
“Sob…”
“It’s scary, isn’t it? Who wouldn’t be scared? I understand completely, but we’re pushing you like this for your own good. In the real courtroom, how many people will be pointing fingers at you with sharp eyes? At that time, I, we, will be your shield.”
Finally, Lorang burst into tears and threw himself into my arms. I didn’t give permission for an embrace, how rude. I immediately pushed him away, and simultaneously, Cassion pulled him from behind and sat him down in the mock courtroom chair.
“If you understand, stop crying and recite the next line.”
“…Hic. T-today, if I rest and memorize the script…”
“I said, do the next line.”
How long are you going to keep saying tomorrow, tomorrow? At this rate, the trial day will come. Now, comforting him is the best we can do; we can’t give him time to rest. I smiled brightly at Lorang, who was looking at me as if grasping for the last straw and left my seat.
“I’ll go and ask them to prepare some tea and desserts for us.”
I should give Cassion some macarons for his hard work.
