Chapter 23

Unable to contain his anger, Cain was seething, his breaths coming out in huffs. A guard hurriedly approached him. As Cain glared at the guard, he shrank back but still reported,

“Your Highness, we have captured Marquis Amber! Shall we bring him here?”

“What? What did you just say?”

The guard repeated in a louder voice,

“We have captured Marquis Amber! He seems to have been trying to flee to the capital from here! Shall we bring him?“

Cain’s fierce eyes gleamed. He had come all this way to punish the insolent Grand Duchess, and it seemed that the elusive Kazak was also here. Cain gestured impatiently.

“Bring him immediately! Now!”

At his command, the guard quickly brought Kazak over. Kazak, almost dragged, looked like he had been wandering around here for days. His usually neat hair was disheveled, and his expensive buttons were tarnished and dirty.

“Y-Your Highness…”

Kazak looked visibly flustered, not understanding why he was being treated harshly. Cain glared at him and kicked his shin.

“Aagh!”

Kazak screamed in pain and fell to his knees, his knees trembling on the dirt ground.

“Your Highness, if you tell me what I’ve done wrong…”

“Do you really not know your mistake?”

Cain spat in Kazak’s face in anger. Kazak’s face turned red with humiliation, but he couldn’t defy the second prince, no matter his marquis status.

“Does the name Marian ring any bells?“

“M-Marian…”

At the mention of Marian’s name, Kazak bowed his head deeply. Realizing what Cain was hinting at, he carefully chose his words.

“I thought Your Highness might desire Marian. So, I came here to offer her. Laila took her to the capital, but she returned quickly…“

“Why can’t the intelligent Marquis Amber speak properly?“

“Please believe me, Your Highness. I may be incompetent, but I have not lied.”

Cain caressed Kazak’s cheek, feeling it tremble with fear.

“Then why do I hear different rumors?“

Kazak’s shoulders trembled at Cain’s icy voice. Despite having always secretly looked down on Cain, the pressure from their status difference was immense.

“What do you mean…“

“Rumor has it that you’re desperately trying to keep Marian from me.“

“Your Highness! How can you believe such nonsense!”

At Kazak’s outcry, Cain kicked him in the stomach.

“Kuh…”

Kazak doubled over, his face scraping against the dirt, filling him with fury. The foolish Cain couldn’t see this, only venting his anger.

“The rumor in the capital is that you were going to offer Marian to me, but you coveted her yourself! Because of this, I’m now seen as a disgrace who secretly kept a mistress from the emperor and had a woman stolen by his mere subject!”

To be honest, it wasn’t entirely wrong. Cain did secretly keep Ari Eriant as a mistress.

“Hiding a woman more beautiful than Ari from me?“

“Your Highness… Have you seen Marian’s face?”

Kazak asked desperately, supporting himself on the ground with both hands. Cain frowned, not understanding, so Kazak continued.

“Marian is not more beautiful than Lady Eriant. She is just a slightly prettier woman! The rumors are false. Your Highness, please believe me…”

Kazak went on, explaining the truth behind the rumors. But Cain was not one to listen. He only ever paid attention to his sister, Abigail.

“Are you done talking?”

Cain cleaned his ear as he looked down. He saw Kazak’s hand on the dirt. Foolishly, Kazak had his pinky finger cut off by his ex-fiancée. Although the cut was clean and not unsightly, it was enough to spur Cain’s wicked imagination.

“Even if what you say is true, it is also a fact that I have lost my father’s trust, isn’t it?”

Cain chuckled as he drew his sword and placed it against Kazak’s wrist. Fear shone in Kazak’s eyes as he recalled the loss of his pinky finger in a previous duel. The empty space seemed to throb.

“Your Highness, please, just give me one more chance…“

Slash.

As usual, Cain didn’t listen to lengthy explanations. He simply watched satisfactorily as Kazak’s right hand fell to the dirt. Cain kicked the trembling hand into the underbrush, smiling pleasantly.

“Take this bastard to the dungeon.”

The captain of the guard, who stood by Cain, widened his eyes and cautiously spoke up.

“Your Highness, he is still a Marquis.”

In response, the second prince spat in the captain’s face.

“Who gave him the Marquis title anyway? Without me, how could a schemer like him surpass his brothers and become a Marquis?”

Cain clicked his tongue as he gazed at Grand Duke Zan’s distant mansion. He wanted to cut off that wretched woman’s foot as well. His heart still ached from the rejection by that woman.

However, even as a prince, he couldn’t recklessly invade the northern duke’s territory. Even the emperor would be reluctant to deal harshly with a duke.

But there was another way to meet that woman without entering Grand Duke Zan’s territory. He could simply summon her.

* * *

I came out of the bath and changed into lighter clothing. Although it was summer, the northern region remained cool. I draped a thin shawl over my shoulders and went out alone. The servants greeted me with nods and continued their work.

“Where is the second prince?“

“He is confronting Marquis Amber, who is kneeling.“

“Really? It seems he took the bait.”

The rumors I had asked Shuan to spread had finally reached the second prince’s ears.

Initially, the rumors were meant to entice Cain into making Marian his mistress. But upon discovering that Kazak was covering up for Cain, a surge of rage brought an even better idea to mind.

Cain was narrow-minded and could not recognize talent. So, spreading rumors that Kazak had humiliated him would soon make Cain despise him.

However, I didn’t expect it to be this easy. I had prepared several similar rumors, but Cain had all fallen for it. He was more foolish than I had anticipated.

Besides his vengefulness, I did not want to see Cain on the throne. If he ascended, the palace would be filled with extravagant banquets, loyalists would perish, and sycophants would thrive.

A messenger entered alone. He was looking for Julian, but I stopped him.

“You can report to me.“

“But…“

“Report to me. What’s happening outside?”

The messenger hesitated. Although I had filled the household staff with my people, the soldiers were not. They had always served Julian, and to them, I was just their sudden superior’s wife.

“Alright. Come with me. I want to hear it, too. If the Grand Duke permits, there should be no problem, right?“

“Yes!”

The messenger’s face showed relief. The situation I had presented seemed quite tricky.

“Where is His Grace?”

I asked a waiting servant nearby, who immediately led the way.

Julian, as always, was in his study. I entered first, followed by the messenger. Julian put down his pen and looked at the scout.

The messenger glanced at me, waiting for permission from his superior. Whether he could speak in front of me was unclear to him.

I wasn’t too anxious. This matter concerned me, so it was only natural to know.

However, Julian went a step further.

“Speak freely. She is the mistress of this house and should know everything.”

His words resonate in my chest.

I knew it was out of a sense of responsibility. Julian, despite his stern appearance, was an upright man. Even in a political marriage, he wanted to protect his wife.

Still, this was my first time having a warm, protective husband. Knowing that our marriage, which I had always seen as a constraint, was now genuinely shielding me filled me with joy.

I clasped my hands and listened quietly as the messenger finally spoke.

“His Highness the Second Prince has cut off Marquis Amber’s hand. They are taking him into custody and seem to be heading towards the capital.“

“What?”

Although I had hoped for Cain to dispose of Kazak, it was I who wanted to sever his limbs. I felt a pang of irritation at having that role taken from me.

I dismissed the messenger with a frown. Thanks to Julian’s earlier words, the messenger obeyed without question. After dismissing Anna as well, I approached Julian’s desk.

“Do you have something to say?“

“Yes, I have a proposal.”

At my words, Julian pulled a chair over to his side, indicating for me to sit. I hesitated for a moment before sitting down.

Our knees were close, almost touching. The proximity made me feel ticklish, so I straightened up and pulled my knees towards me.

“The second prince won’t forgive me so easily. When he returns to the capital, he will summon me.“

“You don’t have to go.”

If all I wanted was to live safely and comfortably in the mansion, Julian’s protection would suffice. Julian was the emperor’s favored nephew, wielding immense power and land that no one could disregard. As the wife of the infamous duke, hiding away would be easy. But that wasn’t the life I desired.

“Then I wouldn’t be able to attend any banquets or get involved in the battle for the throne, right?”

Moreover, my family would once again be falsely accused and meet a meaningless death.

Who knew what kind of disgraceful and unjust accusations might befall us in the future? Now, I even had a personal grudge against Cain. A more humiliating death than before might be in store for me.

I couldn’t allow that. This time, I would protect my family. Even if it meant burning through my remaining lifespan, I would ensure their happiness.

“I have a request for you.”

Julian looked at me with calm eyes. There had been times when I thought those red eyes looked terrifying. But now, they seemed anything but. Straightforward and honest, those eyes were kind.

“Are you aware that there are rare gemstones in your mine?”

Unlike Julian, I had many things to conceal.