Chapter 115

115: The Way to Live by Dying (2)

Shayla was found in a shabby chapel on the outskirts of the capital.

The cause of death was poisoning. Her body was laid out neatly beneath an icon, with a small bundle and an unidentified vial beside her.

The person who found Shayla was a novice priest who visited the chapel weekly for maintenance. When he reported her to the guards, she was already dead.

The news spread throughout the empire in less than half a day.

“The Lady of the Lephisto Duchy is dead? What do you mean by that!”

Elkius, who received the urgent report just before going to bed, felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His aide, who had delivered the news, replied with a grim expression.

“The soldier who reported it said it seemed like she took poison herself.”

“Are you saying that’s true? There’s no way. Verify once more if that woman is truly Shayla Lephisto!”

“The body has already been handed over to the Lephisto family. A handwritten note was also found, so it seems undeniable.”

“D*mn it!”

Elkius cursed, slamming his desk.

That foolish woman!

He had been informed of Shayla Lephisto’s disappearance four days ago.

It had seemed suspicious when she kept postponing her entrance to the imperial palace, using various excuses, despite the wedding dress being completed. He had investigated and found out the truth.

‘Women often experience pre-wedding blues,’ said Countess Owens when she heard of Shayla’s disappearance.

Elkius had agreed.

She was a noble lady raised like a greenhouse flower, so he thought she wouldn’t have gone far even if she ran away. He hadn’t taken it seriously, never imagining she would take her own life.

“What’s happening at the Lephisto manor?”

“They haven’t made an official announcement yet, but it seems they are preparing for a funeral, as they have sent someone to the central temple.”

“…”

Elkius bit his lower lip.

The plan to use Shayla to secure legitimacy was ruined, and the response from Duke Lephisto, who had lost his daughter, was unpredictable.

Moreover, the cancellation of the royal marriage due to Shayla’s death meant a massive loss of money and manpower, which was a significant blow.

“What should we do, Your Majesty?”

“Send someone to the Lephisto manor immediately and find out exactly what happened.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

How dare they mess with me like this?

Bang! Unable to contain his anger, Elkius slammed his desk again.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

The Lephisto manor was engulfed in sorrow. No one was left unaffected by the news that the precious duchess’s daughter had suddenly passed away.

“Shayla! Open your eyes, dear!”

Duchess Lephisto wailed, clutching her daughter’s cold body.

“It’s all my fault. It’s all my fault. Please, just answer me. Please?”

“…”

She squeezed her daughter’s unresponsive hand. The once soft and warm skin was now chillingly cold.

The duchess, her face drenched in tears, screamed.

“Why is she so cold? What are you all doing? Bring blankets and a brazier, quickly!”

“Madam…”

The maid who served Shayla broke into sobs. Duke Lephisto, who had been sitting in shock, staring at Shayla in disbelief, hung his head.

“Dear, she seems to be unwell. Call a doctor.”

“Stop it, Mother.”

Lucid, who had been silently standing by, tried to restrain his mother. The duchess clung to her son’s clothes.

“Lucid, what should we do? What can we do for our poor girl?”

Lucid sighed and hugged his mother.

When he heard from Julian about the plan to fake Shayla’s death, he had been worried about his parents’ reaction, but their grief was far greater than he had anticipated.

‘But it’s better than her actually dying.’

He thought, believing that once everything settled, they could bring Shayla back. He silently comforted the duchess.

The duchess, sobbing in her son’s arms, suddenly yelled.

“It’s all your fault!”

“…”

“You kept pushing her into this marriage she hated so much! You killed her! It’s your fault she’s like this!”

Her voice, filled with years of suppressed anguish, was directed at her husband.

She had always followed his wishes. When he broke off Shayla’s engagement to Callion and accepted the emperor’s proposal, it had been her job to convince Shayla.

“Say something if you have a mouth! Are you even a parent? Does it feel good now that you’ve killed your own child?”

“Mother—”

Lucid tried to calm the hysterical duchess. Despite his wife’s accusations, the duke remained silent.

“Your Grace, someone from the temple is here.”

The butler, who had been watching the scene, cautiously reported.

Lucid stepped forward to greet the priests from the temple, in place of his father, who remained silent.

A funeral carriage waited in front of the entrance.

“Have you brought the coffin?”

“Yes. The priests came to collect her themselves.”

“…I’ll take her out.”

When Lucid lifted Shayla, lying on the bed, the Duchess exerted all her strength to hold onto her son.

“No, don’t, you can’t. Shayla cannot be sent away!”

“Let her go, Mother.”

“Why do you want to send that poor thing away? Don’t do this.”

“Take her to Mother’s room.”

At Lucid’s signal, the servants supported the Duchess and helped her up. Lucid, carrying Shayla and casting a glance at his motionless father, left the mansion.

The priests, who had come upon receiving the message, bowed their heads with solemn expressions.

“We understand your grief, Lord Lucid. We will take care of Shayla peacefully.”

“…Please take good care of Shayla.”

Lucid deeply nodded his head.

The priests moved Shayla into the carriage. The carriage, draped in black curtains, circled the garden once before departing from the mansion.

Lucid sighed as he watched the departing carriage. Inside the mansion, the sound of relentless sobbing continued.

He turned away with a bitter taste in his mouth.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Shayla’s funeral took place two days later at the central temple.

Lucid, standing in for his absent parents, handled all the funeral arrangements.

As Shayla had been a devout follower and benefactor of the temple, the priests meticulously prepared every aspect of the funeral from start to finish.

The high priest presided over the funeral rites, and at the entrance of the temple, an altar was set up for Shayla so that passersby could also pay their respects to the deceased.

Due to her sudden death at a young age, the funeral was not grand in scale, but the funeral hall, which should have been solemn, was crowded with people who had gathered to witness the tragedy.

The wails of Duchess Lephisto showed no signs of stopping, and noble ladies who had been close to Shayla sobbed bitterly.

Even before the funeral was ready, Duchess Howard rushed to the temple and, overwhelmed with grief, collapsed, needing the support of the priests to be taken to a resting room.

Conscious nobles raised their voices to condemn the Emperor who caused this tragedy, while some blamed Duchess Lephisto for her greed.

Reactions varied, but everyone mourned Shayla’s death.

Adelaide, attending the funeral with Callion, looked down at Shayla lying in the coffin.

She lay peacefully among the flowers, her eyes closed. Though her heart had stopped beating for three days, she appeared unchanged, as if still alive.

“Now that the spell has succeeded, the next step is…”

Without attracting Elkius’s notice, all she had to do was safely take her away.

Adelaide glanced at Lucid, silently nodded to him, and quietly left.

Returning to her place, Adelaide was startled by the appearance of the Emperor, surrounded by soldiers. Pushing through the crowd, he approached Shayla directly.

“Ha…”

Elkius, standing before her coffin, sighed deeply, almost in disbelief. Then he turned to face Lucid.

“The ducal house has abandoned her and gone off to do as they please, and now they’ve brought about this tragedy.”

“After the funeral, Shayla’s will shall be made public. Then we will know whose responsibility this is.”

“What did you say?”

Elkius growled harshly. Lucid replied calmly and clearly, without wavering.

“I am the one who sent Shayla away. As her former fiancé, I ask that you quietly pay your respects.”

Elkius glared at Lucid with eyes that could kill, then turned and walked away.

Soon after, the sound of bells announcing the funeral echoed, and the high priest appeared.

He sprinkled holy water on Shayla’s coffin and began to pray. His sacred and devout prayer brought tears to the eyes of those present.

After the priest’s prayer concluded, Lucid recited a eulogy. Throughout Lucid’s eulogy, the Duchess’s cries did not cease.

The final step of the funeral was the offering.

“Your Majesty, please offer the tribute.”

Elkius stepped forward first. He placed a white chrysanthemum on Shayla’s coffin and then left the temple without saying a word.

After the tribute, the priests surrounded the coffin to temporarily place it and began to move it outside. It was then that the attendants of Duchess Lephisto hurriedly followed.

“Father!”

The silent Duke Lephisto suddenly grabbed his chest and collapsed right there.

“Your Grace!”

“Get a doctor quickly!”

Servants hurriedly carried Duke Lephisto away. The sudden incident caused an uproar among the people who had been watching.

Seeing the chaotic scene at the funeral, Callion hesitantly touched his face.

“Let’s also leave now.”