Chapter 101

Chapter 101

Seth trembled at the Emperor’s reply.

Not only that Grand Duchess Blaine, who was said to have been cursed, awaken, but in addition, she even named Min-ha as the culprit as if she had been waiting.

He bit his lower lip as the situation was only going in Grand Duchess Blaine’s favor. It must have been the Grand Duchess who ordered the whole thing. Even though he was sure in his heart, Seth kept his face calm on the outside.

“Still, Your Majesty. The evidence and witnesses presented by High Priest Resitia were biased only in favor of Grand Duchess Blaine’s claims. After all, shouldn’t we listen to all claims in order to uncover the facts? So…”

“…You mean to tell me that Grand Duchess Blaine is concocting a false accusation and even risking her life and the lives of her children?”

“Your Majesty, it’s not like that! Please just—!”

“Can you imagine the patience with which I’m listening to your ridiculous arguments right now?”

“I’m not being unreasonable, Your Majesty. I’m just asking you to give me a fair and impartial judgment.”

“Well then, Duke of Persen, let me ask you. If the people and children of your loved ones have been cursed by someone, and everyone points to one person and claims them to be the culprit, could you let them go free? If it were you… would you listen to the story of a man who insists on letting the culprit free after they placed a curse on the person you care so much about?!

“Your Majesty…”

“I’m showing great patience just by listening to you. So please don’t try to test my sincerity, who cares for you any further.”

Seth gritted his teeth at the Emperor’s cold words, cutting him off.

Rather than persuade him with an emotional appeal, he tried to persuade him by using a fair trial as an excuse, but the fact that the person he loved was cursed seemed to enrage him that the Emperor refused even the slightest confirmation of its authenticity.

‘I can fully understand that sentiment, but…’

As much as he could understand the Emperor’s heart, he couldn’t back down for the one he loved.

…What could he do to buy a little more time?

As Seth agonized desperately, the Emperor stared at him with a complicated gaze before letting out a long sigh.

“Duke Persen, is it because of the witch or your knights who are in league with her that you are pleading with me this much ? If it is the knights, you should have gone to the witch, not to me, for if she confesses to everything, your knights will get off relatively lightly.”

“Your Majesty, I believe in her innocence as well as my knights.”

“…I don’t understand why you’re so obsessed with that witch.”

“….”

“You’re no longer the half-noble you once were. You’re a duke of this great empire that is praised as the Sword of the Emperor, which means you no longer need to rely on the power of your wife’s bloodline to maintain your position.”

“Your Majesty…”

“So, even if that witch imprisoned is the ‘real’ Duchess of Persen, she’s no longer of ‘value’ to you. There’s no reason for me to spare her after what she’d done to me.”

“….”

“Why don’t you divorce the witch now and find a new wife? For example, yes… Lady Maria of Leschin, who’s in love with you, or Vivian of Loengram.”

“….”

“I think that side will be more helpful to you now. After all, you married the Duchess of Persen for a similar purpose, right?”

Seth couldn’t help but smile bitterly at the Emperor’s words.

Certainly, as he said, his former self was like that. Even though he had superior swordsmanship and political power than anyone else, he was resentful of the situation where he was restricted by the wall of his status as a half-noble and couldn’t fully demonstrate his abilities, so he chose an arranged marriage to overcome the situation.

However, the moment I chose it, he realized how foolish it was.

Even when he became a duke, he was unable to shake the label of ‘half-noble,’ and his marriages, chosen for his own sake, were also eventually met with catastrophe.

While he gained a status that no one could ignore, because of that, he lost his beloved subordinates on the battlefield and went through a strife in an aristocratic society that only pursued illusions instead of real substance, and his mind became more devastated.

…It was her, Min-ha, who saw him as a ‘person.’

She taught him about unconditional love and showed him what it meant to extend unwavering goodwill to others. Realizing how lucky he was to have such a kind and warm person by his side, it was impossible for him to marry for such a purpose again.

In the end, Seth shook his head resolutely.

“Just as Your Majesty cares for Grand Duchess Blaine, so do I.”

“….”

“I don’t need anyone else anymore. The only person I love is her.”

“So, do you absolutely want to save that witch?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“At any cost?”

“Of course.”

“Then, would you comply even if I ordered you to return all your titles and property immediately and go to the borderlands?”

Seth smiled weakly at the Emperor’s question. In the end, he was asking if he would lay down everything he had to keep her alive.

‘Everything I have…’

He answered without hesitation.

“If I can save that person’s life, I’ll give everything I can, whether it’s a position or a fortune.”

“Really… Are you sure you want to do that?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“…Crazy. Have you gone mad? Everything you have now was earned with the blood of you and your knights, and you’re willing to give it all away to save a single witch?”

“Before her life, the position and property I have are so insignificant that they’re unworthy of comparison.”

At Seth’s answer, the Emperor let out another sigh.

Still, he stared back at the Emperor, who was staring at him with eyes full of mixed emotions. Even though it was very disrespectful, he couldn’t avoid his gaze because he wanted the Emperor to know how he really felt.

Seeing this, the Emperor pondered with a more complicated face before eventually putting one hand on his temple as if he had a headache.

“…How disrespectful you are, to say so, knowing that I won’t be able to throw you away.”

“My apologies, Your Majesty…”

“I understand how you feel… Fine, I’ll postpone the verdict for two days, and in two days, I’ll give the witch and you the right to make final statements in the courtroom.”

“…Is that true?”

“You’re well aware that this is unprecedented for a witch trial. This is all the mercy I can give you. So remember that if you fail to present proper counter-evidence at the trial in two days’ time, then you may lose everything, too.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll definitely keep that in mind!”

Seth replied with delight to the Emperor’s reply. It felt like a ray of light had entered the darkness, where he couldn’t even see an inch ahead. He repeatedly bowed his head toward the Emperor to show his respect again and again.

At Seth’s reaction, the Emperor turned around with a face that still seemed to be in trouble.

“…Then, don’t bother me anymore and go back. I should go back to bed and get some rest as well.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Captain Oliver, I need you to help Duke Persen. Since he’s been like that for hours, he wouldn’t be able to get up on his own.”

“I’ll take your order.”

With those words, the Emperor led his servants through the palace gates as Seth repeatedly bowed until he was out of sight.

“Come on, let’s get you up.”

“…Thank you.”

As the palace doors closed behind them, Oliver, who had been standing on a pillar beside them with a sullen expression on his face, stepped up to his side and held out his hand. Seeing that, Seth thanked him and took his hand, staggered to his feet.

He struggled to move his legs, which had hardened like stones, one step at a time, away from the palace.

‘Only two days…’

Since time was running out, he was in a hurry. He needed to investigate as soon as possible since he couldn’t afford to squander his last chance.

Still, contrary to his impatience, he hurried his legs, which weren’t moving well, and walked towards the outer gate where his horse was tied.

“I want to rest now, so don’t let anyone in.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please rest comfortably.”

Returning to his bedroom after his conversation with Seth, the Emperor gave a short order to his servants and went straight into the bedroom.

As the door to the bedroom slammed shut, the Emperor’s attendants gathered outside in the hallway breathed a sigh of relief, each saying something in turn.

“Ugh, I thought something was going to happen.”

“That’s true.”

“At least His Majesty is resting, so we can rest for a while.”

“That’s right.”

As the servants chattered in low voices that wouldn’t be heard by the Emperor, there was one servant who wasn’t part of the conversation.

That servant slipped away from the crowd of servants who were discussing what to do until the Emperor emerged from his chambers. The reason why they didn’t notice him was because he blended in with them like a ghost, unnoticed.

“….”

After slipping away from the throng of attendants, he made his way through the corridors of the imperial palace without a sound of footsteps.

Strangely enough, as countless servants, maids, and officials passed through the palace corridors, no one seemed to take much notice of his presence.

He blended into the crowd like a breeze through an open doorway and continued down the hallway and down a flight of stairs. Gradually, he moved further and further away from the Imperial Palace, heading to a place where there were no more people.

His destination was the Emperor’s private annex, where no one was allowed to enter without permission.

Nevertheless, without hesitation, he calmly passed the front gate of the private annex where the gatekeeper was standing. Since no one noticed his presence, they didn’t stop him.

After entering the palace, he immediately stood in front of the bedroom door located in the deepest part of the palace.

Perhaps there was an order from the owner to leave because they wanted to sleep comfortably, so there was no one passing by the bedroom door, and it was quiet. Still, the man turned his head once to glance around before cautiously knocking on the door five times.

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