Chapter 56

“I remember she was quite the beauty, but not enough to make me all crazy about her, so what in the world is it that makes you so…”

Crack.

The Emperor’s words were interrupted by a sudden sound.

Fernandez’s gaze traveled down slowly, reaching the marble table. The table was cracked from the middle, with Calix’s hands holding it on both sides.

Fernandez gulped as he looked at the table, which was broken as if it was a butter cookie split in half.

‘This is definitely not human power.’

A maniacal power was passed down from generation to generation in the Benvito bloodline. Witnessing this firsthand, Fernandez realized once again that the Grand Duke in front of him was no ordinary human being.

As soon as his eyes met with those hideous glaring red eyes, every nerve in his body tingled; it made him feel as if his body was on fire.

“Please don’t speak of my wife carelessly. It’s unpleasant.”

Calix said, chewing on every single letter.

It was a rude thing to say to the Emperor of a country.

But the emotion Fernandez felt was closer to fear than anger.

Calix’s indifferent face was enough to spread fear throughout the Emperor’s heart. Although he was barely able to maintain his composure, he was actually so horrified that goosebumps broke out all over his body. It felt like being thrown naked in the middle of a snowfield in front of a raging beast.

Before he knew it, the faces of the attendants beside him had gone entirely white. He could clearly see their bodies trembling and quivering.

Hiding his fear, Fernandez tried to put a smile on his face.

“I’m just kidding. What are you getting all serious about?”

It hurt his ego to be trying to appease the young Grand Duke, but he had no choice. However, when he tried to force a smile onto his stiff face, he ended up making a strange expression that was more like crying than laughing.

Even though Fernandez was the first to offer his hand, killing his pride, Calix did not budge.

He gulped hard at the killing sensation that threatened to devour him at any moment, piercing his skin sharply, ripping it apart.

‘This monster..’

A family that was established independently from the Imperial family at the time of the founding of the Harmenian Empire.

Unlike most noble families, the Benvitos occupied a unique position in the Empire.

Officially, they were rooted in the Empire and were high-ranking nobles who were given titles and territories.

However, the vast territory owned by the Benvitos was too large to be called a humble estate. Moreover, their powerful military strength was difficult for the Empire to oppose.

A territory not far from the capital… a land that could rival an ordinary kingdom.

It was just like a blade resting beneath his chin.

Because of its mighty power, the public referred to the Grand Duchy as the Grand Duchy of Benvito, even though there was no official name for it.

“Also…”

After a time in which he could not even breathe, Calix finally opened his mouth.

His murderous gaze turned to the Emperor. Fernandez turned pale with the gaze that made his heart sink just by looking.

“She’s no longer the young lady of Chartus. As of today, she is officially a member of the Benvito family.”

His intense red eyes grew even darker, glowing with a blood-red hue. Fernandez answered hurriedly.

“Yes, yes, of course. Now that you’re married, she’s the Grand Duchess. I guess I wasn’t thinking clearly, Grand Duke.”

However, Calix’s expression did not seem to change even after the Emperor’s reply.

“Grand Duke?”

Calix tilted his head to the side. His sculpted, flawless face was so expressionless that he couldn’t sense any emotion whatsoever, but he had a strangely dangerous air about him.

“Do I need to repeat myself?”

Calix asked in a cold voice. The Emperor’s gaze fell on the documents that the Grand Duke had brought with him.

“Do you want to waste time on something you’re going to do anyway?”

Calix placed his hand on the table, which had been split in half, in order to continue the conversation.

It was practically a threat.

‘Damn it!’

Fernandez found himself unable to refuse Calix’s request.

He didn’t even have a good excuse. Mariel Chartus was clearly of Loctorin descent. Now that the rest of the family’s bloodline was dead, she and her sister were the only two heirs.

Fernandez clenched his fist as hard as he could to hold back his anger. A taste of iron spread from behind his lips. He signaled through his clenched teeth.

“Bring me the sealing wax.”

It was only then that the dangerous atmosphere that had been driving him crazy finally subsided. Him mentioning the sealing wax was admitting his defeat and obeying the Grand Duke’s wishes.

As soon as the attendant had successfully melted the sealing wax, Fernandez pressed his ring onto it. After a few moments, the vivid pattern of the seal revealed itself.

With the approval letter given by the attendant in his hand, Calix walked out without hesitation.

The Emperor, who was watching him, suddenly asked.

“What is going through your mind, Calix Benvito?”

Calix came to a halt.

For a brief moment, Fernandez had the hope that he might get an answer from the Grand Duke.

It was a foolish illusion, of course.

“You don’t need to know.”