Chapter 8 – Part 1

Meanwhile, Duke Miles has finished his conversation with the Emperor and the Marquis of Grit and is on his way to the Imperial Palace, where Arlen is.

The outside of the palace was guarded by knights, as was the front of the chamber he was led to.

“Father.”

Arlen jumped to her feet as her father entered through the open door.

“How could you do such a foolish thing!”

But the Duke of Miles snapped as soon as he entered. Arlen gasped in surprise.

“I’ve just heard all about it from His Majesty.”

“It’s all…….”

“I’ve seen it all with my own eyes! All the letters you’ve sent, all the evidence!”

Arlen was left speechless by his enraged father’s voice.

“You’re not going to leave me here, are you, father? “

“…….”

“I haven’t taken a step out of here. It’s suffocating..”

Arlen gave him that pitiful look of politeness. It had only been one day, but she wasn’t used to everyone’s treatment changing in one day. She wanted to believe it wouldn’t be like this forever.

“Okay.”

The answer came out as a sigh, and relief spread across Arlen’s face.

“I’ve negotiated with the Emperor and the Marchioness of Grit about your residence.”

Arlen looked up, a hint of anticipation in her eyes. Even though it was only for a short time.

“Your marriage to the Emperor will no longer happen, and you will go wherever the Marchioness desires you to be, so know that.”

“Father!”

Arlen called Duke Miles in alarm.

“This was the best option!”

Duke Miles shouted back, unable to resist her.

“It was the best I could do when it was revealed that it was all your doing! Why would you do such a thing? Why would you make the Marquis of Grit……!”

Duke Miles left it at that, and took a deep breath to calm his agitated mind.

Only when he had calmed down a little did he speak.

“Everything that happened was because of you, so you must accept it.”

“…….”

“Your mother and I will think of it as punishment for raising you wrong.”

His tone was stern.

“….You’ll come to get me, won’t you? You won’t give up like this, will you?”

Arlen asked, tugging at the Duke of Miles’s sleeve. She suddenly felt like her father was abandoning her.

“……I will try.”

He knew there was nothing he could do to save her, but he didn’t want to make her feel hopeless. Even if the place she would be living in the future was hell, he wanted to give her a reason to endure.

“I… trust you, Father.”

Duke Miles patted Arlen’s back as she clung to him.

* * *

Shannua announced the end of his engagement with Arlen the next day.

Many questions were raised, and people speculated as to why he decided to break up with Lady Arlen when she had already entered the Imperial Court, but both the Emperor and Duke Miles remained silent.

Arlen was then sent directly to the Lauf Convent under the guise of leaving the palace for their broken engagement.

Ruby had accompanied Leton to the palace before Arlen was sent to the convent.

“It’s been a while.”

Arlen looked much more withered than before.

“……You’re alive?”

Arlen said as soon as she saw Ruby.

“I guess you were hoping for my death, too.”

“More like…… I didn’t think you could survive on your own without Eli.”

For someone who was about to face her punishment, Arlen hadn’t even bothered with basic courtesy.

Ruby wasn’t particularly surprised by Arlen’s rudeness, as it wasn’t the first or second time.

“Eli wouldn’t let that happen.”

Ruby followed Arlen’s lead and threw politeness out the window.

She laughed lazily, as if to agree with Ruby.

“The Duke must not have explained it properly, since you’re so relaxed.”

Ruby found it equally amusing.

“If you go to the convent now, you’ll have to live there for the rest of your life.”

Arlen’s smile gradually faded as Ruby spoke.

“There’s no one to take care of you now that you’ve been expelled from your family.”

Her eyes flickered uneasily at Ruby’s last words.

“……What do you mean, I’ve been expelled from the Duchy of Mile?”

Arlen reacted furiously.

“Where are you getting this nonsense……!”

With that, Arlen rushed forward and raised her hand to strike Ruby. But before she could reach Ruby, Leton, who was beside her, grabbed her wrist.

“Let go of me!”

“I’ve just gotten confirmation from the Duchy. You are no longer Lady Miles, nor are you a noble.”

Leton let go of her wrist with a sharp jerk, her grip stiffening, but the realization that she was no longer a noble was more shocking to her.

“Nonsense. No way! Why would they do that!”

Arlen shouted, suddenly sounding like a madwoman.

Then she suddenly looked at Ruby with a fierce look.

“I’ll confirm it myself. Until then, I won’t believe your words.”

“…… Do whatever you want, but just know that you brought this on yourself—your status and even this.”

Then Ruby stepped up to Arlen and slapped her across the cheek with all her might. As Arlen, taken aback by the sudden slap, raised her head with astonishment, another slap landed on the opposite cheek.

“Even if I do this now, you can’t do anything to me because you’re no longer a noble.”

“E……!”

Angry, Arlen rushed at Ruby, but Ruby easily dodged her and called out to the knights waiting outside. Leton effortlessly restrained Arlen as she attempted to rush again.

“I’m done talking to her, she’s obviously in shock, so I think it’s best to tie her mouth and hands so she doesn’t try anything stupid.”

“Understood.”

The knight, who hadn’t responded to anything Arlen had said for days, answered Ruby’s question with a stiff nod.

“I will not let you forget this! I will make sure to get back at you!”

Arlen shouted in anger, but no one paid attention.

Rope was wrapped around her hands, and a gag was placed over her lips as she screamed like a madwoman.

“Your Majesty, we are ready.”

Brandon received the news and turned to Shannua.

“Would you like to go see her one last time?”

“…Prepare for her transfer.”

It meant he didn’t need to see her anymore. His gaze steadfastly fixed out the window.

His orders were given, and soon afterward, Arlen left the Imperial Palace.

And that day, as Arlen’s carriage was leaving the capital, a pure white carriage was seen entering the capital in the opposite direction.

It was the carriage of the traveling priest, Cedric.

“Father Cedric!”

Danny’s cheerful voice rang out as the carriage stopped in front of the temple, and Cedric dismounted.

“How have you been?”

“Well…….”

Danny stammered, unable to answer Cedric’s question. Cedric asked again, with an attitude that said something had happened.

“What’s wrong?”

“Shortly after the priest left, the Marquis of Grit arrived.”

“And?”

Cedric’s expression showed that he didn’t see any problem with Marquis Grit’s visit.

“The…… Marquis is not doing well. I’ve been treating him every day, but he’s barely breathing.”

“Is it serious?”

“More than that… it’s more like… You should see it for yourself.”

Danny led the way, and Cedric followed, puzzled.

The knights were encamped in a space that most people couldn’t enter.

“Priest.”

There was no Marquis in the room, only his usual companion, Sir Gardner.

“This is Priest Cedric.”

Danny returned his greeting and introduced Cedric.

“Cedric.”

“I’m Gardner, one of the knights of Marquis Grit.”

The men in front of them all seemed to be Marquis Grit’s knights.

“He was struck by an arrow on his way in from the capital, so he said he couldn’t leave his post because he needed security.”

Danny said apologetically as the knights stood as if to claim the temple.

“Okay. I see.”

Cedric replied, not wanting to say anything more about it.

Then he walked over to the sleeping Marquis of Grit.

“You’ve done your best.”

“……Thank you.”

But it was a feeble breath. As Danny said, it was just barely breathing.

But it’s strange how the years of the soul differed from the Marquis’s known life.

It was a difference only Cedric could sense.

“So, is the Marquis able to wake up now?”

Gardner asked cautiously. Judging from the conversation between Cedric and Danny, it seemed like Cedric was the priest who could cure Eli.

“I think there’s a lot we need to find out first.”

Cedric said it without giving a definite answer.

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories