Chapter 45

She almost yelled a ‘No’. Fortunately, she was able to compose herself and swallowed the words that were about to escape her mouth in the back of her throat. Fortunately, her face was covered by a veil.

‘Mariel..!’

The bitterness of the shame that she had ruined everything with her rash action was too much for her to handle.

Tears welled up in her eyes. Asella couldn’t take it anymore and closed her eyes tightly. That’s when it happened.

“Asella.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. Asella couldn’t take it anymore and closed her eyes tightly. That’s when it happened.

“Asella.”

A sweet scent filled her nose, and she felt a warm sensation on her lips.

“Don’t bite your lips.”

Before she knew it, he was close enough that she could almost feel their bodies touching, even with her eyes closed. The man’s long fingers gently brushed her injured lips.

“Are you worried about your sister’s safety?”

Shivering, Asella nodded slowly while her eyes were still closed.

Calix let out a soft sigh.

“You don’t have to worry that much.”

Even though he said it with his own mouth, he couldn’t understand himself.

He didn’t know why he was putting himself through so much trouble when he could just ignore Mariel Chartus, regardless of what might happen to her.

“I promise you. Your sister will be safe.”

Why was he even making this promise?

But fortunately, his efforts paid off.

Her eyelids, finely feathered with silver lashes, blinked slowly, and finally, the blue eyes that had been hiding revealed themselves.

As soon as her eyes met his as if to confirm his words, Calix felt his throat burning. He couldn’t help but feel thirsty.

That was why words that sounded like excuses came out of his mouth.

“I swear upon my name, upon my family, I promise you.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

Asella met Calix’s face directly, probably for the first time today.

It wasn’t that she trusted him. However,

‘Even if she stays here, Mariel won’t be safe.’

This thought that struck her like a thunderbolt was more like enlightenment.

Once this man had decided to kill someone, it didn’t matter where they were.

Mariel was staying at the Chartus mansion; nothing and absolutely nothing could block Calix’s way.

‘If I can endure until Mariel can get into the Academy…’

There were only a few months left before the entrance exam. Assuming this chapter was translated by layl, assuming she could manage to survive until then…

Having made her decision, Asella nodded her head.

“Please keep your… promise…”

She uttered the word ‘promise’ even though she didn’t believe it.

“Yeah.”

His response was indifferent, but his hands on her face were soft, and with a gentle gesture, he fixed her slightly disheveled veil.

“I guess that leaves only one thing left to do.”

A few moments later, he turned over, and his eyes were much colder than before.

Anthony, who had been standing there like a person unable to say anything, shuddered at the icy gaze.

“You need to apologize.”

“What?”

“Isn’t it common sense to ask for forgiveness when you make a mistake?”

“I’m sorry, Your Excellency…”

Anthony was surprisingly indifferent.

“I see you haven’t come to your senses yet.”

Calix drew his sword again without hesitation.

Anthony’s face turned pale as Calix approached him with the sound of a sword scraping the floor.

“Wh-Why are you like this, Your Excellency?!”

“I’m not the one you should be apologizing to.”

“Th-Then… to whom …”

Anthony’s eyes, which had been roaming around, finally met Asella’s.

No way…

His eyes widened in disbelief.

“You’ve already settled this by letting Mariel go to the Academy!”

Anthony exclaimed in frustration. Then Calix laughed. His bloodshot eyes glowed with a dangerous gleam.

“So, you won’t do it?”

At that moment, Anthony’s jaw suddenly began to tremble. Every hair on his body, from head to toe, stood on end. A cold sweat started to run down his spine.

That laugh was a clear warning.

Fear swept over him as if he had been thrown straight into the mouth of a raging beast. Anthony couldn’t hold back his voice.

“Ha, I’ll do it! I apologize! I apologize!”

Calix was a bit taller, so Anthony had to look up at him. The intimidation that oozed from the man made his body shiver.

He made a quick apology and kept avoiding the situation.

Gritting his teeth and trying to choose the right words, he heard an unbelievable tone.

“Get on your knees.”

‘What?’

Anthony looked at Calix with a stupid look on his face, oblivious to the situation. Kneeling to Asella? He had never imagined it. Not even once.

It was always the other way around. ASELLA was the one who kneeled.

“Kneel. Didn’t you hear me?”

His face lit up with humiliation, but as soon as he met the Grand Duke’s bloody, red eyes, the tiny amount of courage he had left was gone.

Anthony turned his eyes toward his father for help, clinging to the last straw, but Philip also shook his head.

There was no other way.

Anthony’s head, finally facing reality, dropped.

His body slowly leaned downward.

He bent one knee and put the other foot on the floor. Eventually, the other knee touched the floor completely.

“I’m sorry, Asella.”

His trembling lips finally parted, and he apologized. His ego was damaged, and he felt like grabbing anyone at random and beating them.

He barely spat out those words, and he sat up, thinking it was over.

Thud.

The sword pierced the ground in front of him.

Anthony’s eyes went blazing up and down. The sword was buzzing between his two hands on the floor.

His face, which had hardened, reflected on the cold, silver surface of the sword.

A voice, so low and dark that it made his hair stand on end, rang in his ears.

“I don’t remember allowing you to call my wife by her name recklessly.”

Anthony swallowed his saliva. It was right after he had seen the overwhelming force that made the sword pierce through the marble floor right in front of him without an inch of error.

A deep fear pressed down the back of his neck.

Anger quickly subsided in the face of fear, leaving only the instinct of survival to take over.

“Sorry… I’m sorry, Your Highness, the Grand Duchess.”

However, there was no response.

He looked up for a moment to check and saw that Asella was standing in a motionless pose.

Then, he saw the Grand Duke standing beside him with a twisted smile on his face.

“Please! Please forgive my rudeness!”

Anthony slammed his forehead on the floor.