35: The Demise of a Villainess

As soon as Kael heard the news that Aella had been attacked in front of the hospital, he rushed there on his horse.

Though she had lost the child, Aella was alive. She had undergone surgery to close the wound from the stab to her abdomen and was now recovering in a hospital room.

Following the guidance of hospital staff who recognized him, Kael made his way to where Aella was resting.

“You’ve arrived.”

Kael nodded briefly at Ian and stopped in front of the door. Inside, it was quiet.

Knock, knock.

Hearing movement inside, the door opened, and Kina stepped out with a haggard face. Her eyes were swollen from crying so much.

“The Madam just fell asleep a moment ago.”

“I see. Step aside.”

Kina silently nodded and moved aside. Kael entered the room and slowly walked toward the bed.

Perhaps because she had been eating more for the baby recently, Aella had gained some weight. However, her face was still gaunt, her cheekbones protruding as if she were a skeleton. Kael unconsciously frowned at the sight.

“Ha…”

“?”

“I’m sorry, my baby… Sob. I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you…”

“…”

“Hic… Sob, sob… Hic!”

As Aella clutched her chest and wept, Kael’s eyes hardened. He stood there, staring at her as she shed tears like chicken droppings, repeatedly apologizing to the child she had lost. His fists clenched tightly.

“Just wait a little longer… My baby… Mommy will… come to you soon…”

“!”

“So you won’t be lonely… Mommy will… go with you…”

“Not on my watch.”

“…Kael.”

“Not on my watch!”

Startled, Aella opened her eyes wide, and Kael’s gaze bore into her.

“Are you planning to die and follow the child who’s already gone?”

“…”

“Do you think I’ll let that happen?”

“…”

“You will never die, Aella Blueanz.”

“…”

“You will live by my side for the rest of your life, unable to die even if you want to. That is the punishment I am giving you.”

Aella didn’t respond. She simply stared at him with shocked eyes before lowering her eyelids.

Bang!

“Kina!”

“Get out immediately!”

“…”

Kina rushed over and pushed Kael away.

“I said get out! The Duchess needs absolute rest right now!”

“Kina, stop. How dare you be so rude to the Duke.”

“Your Grace…”

“Duke, please forgive Kina. She’s just on edge because she’s worried about me.”

Kael glared sharply at the top of Aella’s bowed head before leaving the room.

“The Duke, Dr. Matthew would like to see you in his office.”

Kael nodded silently and began walking. As he did, he frowned at the sound of sorrowful wailing coming from inside Aella’s room but continued toward the office.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

When Kael entered, the doctor first expressed his condolences before informing him that Aella’s *terus was exceptionally weak and she would no longer be able to have children.

“…Is that so?”

“Yes…”

“I see.”

“The Duchess’s physical condition is relatively stable. However, emotionally, she is not well.”

“Is there anything else to say?”

“No, that’s all.”

“Very well. Take good care of her while she’s hospitalized.”

“Of course.”

After leaving the office, Kael called Ian over.

“Ian.”

“Yes, Duke.”

“Stay with Aella Blueanz every day to ensure she doesn’t do anything foolish.”

“Kina is always by her side, so—”

“I don’t trust that woman. Never take your eyes off either of them. And if anything happens, report it to me immediately.”

“…Understood.”

“Ian.”

“Yes.”

When Ian raised his head, he met Kael’s sharp gaze, sharper than a blade, and swallowed nervously.

“Remember, if you betray me, your parents will die by my hand before you do.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Duke.”

Kael turned away and encountered the deputy commander of his guards approaching him quickly.

“What brings you here?”

“His Majesty the Emperor has summoned you. He wishes for you to personally oversee the execution of the woman who attacked the Duchess.”

“Understood. Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

As Kael turned his head slightly, Ian bowed and quickly returned to Aella’s room upon hearing his cold command, “Go back.”

“Hic! Your Grace! My poor Madam! Sob! Hic!”

“Kina, stop crying. I’m more worried about you harming your health at this rate.”

“Waaah~”

“Oh dear, I told you to stop.”

Hearing their conversation through the tightly closed door, Ian hesitated to enter and stood outside.

“Ian, could you come in for a moment?”

At Aella’s call, Ian entered the room and bowed.

“Could you take Kina out for some fresh air? She won’t listen to me at all.”

“No, Your Grace! What if something happens while I’m gone?”

“Oh, you silly girl. This is a hospital. And… I’d like to rest alone. Please, just for an hour.”

“Alright, Your Grace, but promise me one thing.”

“Alright.”

After linking pinkies, Kina repeatedly emphasized that Aella must not entertain any negative thoughts.

“I won’t. The Duke has already ordered me not to.”

“…”

“Now, off you go.”

After gently pushing Kina out, Aella lay back down on the bed, exhausted.

“My baby… My precious baby…”

Aella placed her hand on her stomach and closed her eyes. Her mind replayed the devastating words she had heard earlier.

“Are you saying… my lady will never be able to have children again?”

“Regrettably, yes…”

“Oh no! How could this happen?!”

Even before she could recover from the shock of losing her first child, Aella now faced the cruel reality that she would never have another. All she could do was shed silent tears.

—

She had always imagined it—killing Aella Blueanz.

That damned woman, born into nobility, who stood by Kael Hormons without any effort.

Relying completely on the dark sorceress, she had meticulously planned to kill Aella Blueanz with her own hands this time. Covering herself in a robe, she stepped out onto the street.

The streets were crawling with knights hunting her and the dark sorceress, but she waited for the carriage carrying Aella Blueanz. The moment it came into view, she ran toward it like a madwoman.

Knocking her down, she aimed for Aella’s stomach. She couldn’t forgive the daughter of a murderer for carrying the child of the man she loved.

She stabbed deeply, intending to rid the world of both the filthy seed and the woman.

“Seize her!”

As knights rushed at her from all sides, she called out for Letia to save her. But Letia never appeared. She had believed Letia would rescue her as before, but even now, as she lay beaten and tortured in the underground prison, Letia showed no sign of coming.

“You… You deceived me again! You wretched witch! Aaaah!”

Screaming in despair, Rensi froze when she heard footsteps approaching.

Step, step.

“A-ah! Duke!”

“…”

“You’ve come to save me! Oh, Duke!”

Creak, clank!

As Kael entered the cell, Rensi crawled toward him on her knees, but he grabbed her hair roughly and dragged her out.

“Ack! It hurts, Duke! Sob! Duke!”

Dragged from the underground prison to the execution grounds, Rensi was thrown face-first onto the dirt in front of countless nobles.

“A mere maid dared to harm the Duchess… Tsk!”

“Because of her, the Duchess will never be able to have children again.”

“How pitiful.”

“Silence.”

At the Emperor’s single word, the noisy execution grounds fell silent.

“Duke Kael Hormons.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I leave the method of the criminal’s execution entirely to you.”

“I am honored, Your Majesty.”

After bowing, Kael drew his sword and brought it close to the trembling criminal’s face.

“D-Duke! I-it was all the dark sorceress’s orders! I—”

“Make your excuses in the afterlife.”

“N-no…!”

Without hesitation, the sharp blade sliced through her slender neck.

Thud.

Her head and lifeless body fell to the ground, causing a stir among the onlookers.

“Your Majesty, I wish to dispose of this woman’s body in the sea.”

“Do as you wish.”

“Thank you.”

Kael ordered his men to throw Rensi’s severed head and body into the deep sea.

Bubble, bubble.

As her remains sank, they were devoured by swarms of fish drawn to the scent of blood.

Watching it all through a mirror, Letia shook her head.

“Oh dear~ You should’ve been less greedy. Poor thing.”

Holding a glass of wine, she took a sip and smiled.

“Hm~ Expensive wine is always the best.”

Placing the glass on the table, she looked around the luxurious room.

“This is nice. Much better than a log cabin.”

Laughing loudly, Letia glanced back at the mirror.

“Ramios!”

“Yes, Mother.”

“I feel uneasy! Let’s leave this empire immediately! That devilish person might target you next!”

Letia smirked.

“No matter where you go, it will be the same. You’ll never escape my grasp. For those who betrayed me, only death awaits.”

With a sinister smile, Letia caressed Ramios’s trembling face.

“Ramios, when you see your parents and siblings die painfully before your eyes, perhaps you’ll understand the betrayal I felt. Hahaha!”

She was reveling in the thought of her revenge when—

Knock, knock.

Annoyed by the interruption, Letia covered the mirror and stood up.

“Come in.”

Facing the greedy Count who entered, Letia greeted him with a smile.

“What brings you here?”

“Haha, as you’ve heard, my daughter…”

“Ah, yes. Such a pity.”

“Well~ I didn’t expect much. She inherited her mother’s frail body.”

“…”

Letia silently observed the man, who showed not a trace of fatherly love.

“This time, I want to get rid of that Kael Hormons! Haha.”

“Your daughter would be saddened.”

“Oh, I’ll just marry her off to another rich man. That’ll be the end of it.”

“How pitiful your daughter must feel.”

“Ahem.”

As the Count’s dirty gaze lingered on her, Letia’s expression hardened.

‘This filthy pig. Hm, they say he’s quite wealthy. Then, like that foolish Rensi…’

A smile spread across Letia’s lips as she placed a hand on the Count’s shoulder.

“If you grant me what I desire in exchange for fulfilling your wish, I’ll eliminate Kael Hormons for you.”

“Anything you want! Just name it!”

Smiling at the foolish prey caught in her web, Letia whispered into his ear.

“Give me the entire fortune of the Count’s family.”