CH 32

The people of the north would be fortunate to have Duke of Cardian, but most nobles in the capital thought he was a disgrace to the imperial family. There are even rumors saying that the imperial society would only be clean if the Duke of Cardian’s family was severed.

‘I caught the first person who spoke those words and killed them, but I haven’t killed the person who spread those words yet.’

The first prince, Michael, was the one. As Duke of Cardian, the other princes despised him as well. But, strangely, they rarely tried to harm him directly.

Despite being the Emperor’s eldest child, Michael did not have the mysterious power that came with the Imperial Family, so there was a high possibility that he would be pushed out of the throne. Fortunately, his other younger siblings’ power was insignificant in comparison to the Emperor’s, and they were able to keep their positions.

Emperor Orkan awakened his power only in his late 30s. The Emperor seemed to expect the first prince, to be stronger than the second and third princes and princesses, to awaken his abilities like himself when he reached a late age.

That was why the Crown Prince’s proclamation was delayed. It was a good thing for Leonis. What’s important to him was to lift the curse.

‘When the Duke of Cardian’s curse is lifted, the Emperor will go insane. In the worst-case scenario, they may try to attack the Duke of Cardian by inducing him to commit treason.’

If that happened, he would have no choice but to make a decision from the Duke of Cardian’s point of view. Leonis walked out of the Imperial Palace’s hall with a cold expression on his face. Since his appearance was closer to the Emperor than the other princes, the servant of the Duke of Cardian lost his gaze for a moment, then came to his senses and hurried his steps.

✦ ✦ ✦

The carriage of the Duke of Cardian left the Imperial Palace. The Duke’s messenger arrived at the carriage before it entered the city.

He was one of those whom Leonis had attached to Celia. He was supposed to report whenever Celia deviated from her expected path, not because he suspected her, but because he was concerned for her safety. In a situation like this, the messenger, who thought that the Duke should know, was close by to deliver the news about Celia to the Duke.

The messenger boarded the carriage as it slowed down. Leonis received a report from him after the carriage had left again.

“…. Are you saying Celia didn’t want to come out of her room?”

“She seems to be brokenhearted that the Marchioness did not want to even meet her. She ordered all of her maids to leave as soon as she returned from the Marquis’ mansion, stating that she wants to be left alone.”

Of course, he misunderstood Celia’s thoughts because he didn’t know what she was thinking, but it was a big deal for the employees who didn’t want to go back to before Celia married. This would be a cornerstone for Leonis as well.

“Duke’s mansion! Hurry up!”

The carriage started running without stopping at Leonis’ command. Clip-clop! At the sound of the terrifying horseshoe, the citizens of the capital panicked and moved out of the way.

Until then, Duke Cardian was concerned about Celia, who had refused to leave the room. They were well aware of how much Leonis softened after his marriage to Celia. They also knew how powerful Celia was when it came to telling the Duke something or changing his mind.

It was even more so because Leonis had granted all of Celia’s requests.

‘Madam….’

‘You should have lunch…’

Celia was the one who didn’t realize lunchtime had passed because she was deep in thought. The sound of someone’s voice from outside then jolted her awake.

“Madam, the Duke is back.”

“What?”

Celia became agitated and returned her gaze to the things on the sofa table. Most nobles were aware of Leonis’ curse, but few were aware of its origin. Furthermore, the book Celia brought was left by a sorcerer, and many of the readings had to do with the curse’s transfer.

I couldn’t show these to Leonis without knowing anything for sure.

Celia hastily swept the book into her magic bag. Leonis, who was worried about Celia from the outside, rushed through the entrance hall and up to the second floor.

Leonis walked down the hallway and came to a halt in front of the Duchess’s bedroom door. He wanted to rush in and open the locked door, but he couldn’t. 

When Leonis saw the maid at the door, she raised her voice.

“Madam, the Duke has come.”

“Open it.”

When a rather high voice came out as if perplexed, Leonis became curious. It was because her voice did not sound like that of a person who was disappointed.

Leonis entered the room after the maid opened the door. Celia’s hair was a mess, but she grinned as she looked at him.

“Welcome, Duke. I must have fallen asleep….”

“Is that so?”

She explained that she had fallen asleep and would not be able to meet the Duke. Leonis was all right with that. All he cared about was whether Celia’s heart had been broken by what had occurred today.

“I heard you didn’t eat lunch.”

“Ah…Has the time already come? What about Leon?”

“I haven’t eaten either.”

In fact, he did eat before meeting the Emperor, but it was just a snack. He ate it ahead of time in case the Emperor wanted to eat lunch with him.

“Then let’s have lunch together.”

Celia said as she approached and took Leonis’ hand. Celia looked at Leonis and smiled.

“Why?”

“It suits you well. And the robe…You look great in a suit.”

When he heard that, Leonis’ ears heated up.

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

While responding, Celia caressed Leonis’ chest. Leonis bowed his head slightly and kissed Celia as she looked up at him. He covered Celia’s lips again when she laughed at the kiss.

“I was worried that you wouldn’t come out of the room.”

“Is that why you rushed here?”

As she asked, a smile shone on his joyous face. Leonis was ecstatic by this. It made him happy that she was concerned about him.

“Yes.”

That was most likely the case. The only thing he could say in response to Celia’s words was yes. 

When Celia heard his response, she smiled like a child and wrapped her arms around Leonis’ neck. Leonis embraced Celia and showered her with kisses.

At the sight, those outside the Duchess’s room quietly shut the door. It seemed that nothing was happening to the Duke and his wife, so the day for those who served them ended happily.

✦ ✦ ✦

Celia, who was lying in his arms, rested her head on Leonis’ chest as she pondered about a clue to breaking the curse. 

Several people were dragged by the previous Emperor in order for him to gain godly power.

He seduced a church saintess in order to catch the divine beast, and he threatened the sorcerer to transfer the curse to someone else with the divine beast’s power…. He rented a separate house from the Montague family at the sorcerer’s request.

That was probably why the sorcerer had the Marquis keep the curse’s clues. Because the Montegues family was not entirely innocent of that curse. 

It meant that the Montague family provided a safe haven for the sorcerer to transfer the curse. Furthermore, the Montagues’ secret was that they were a descendant of a Goddess, allowing the sorcerer to borrow their power.

‘Saintess! What happened to the saintess?’

The saintess’ whereabouts were not mentioned in the sorcerer’s notebook. She believed it wouldn’t be a happy ending, as the divine beast that came down after receiving the call of the saintess was killed.

The saintess simply loved the previous Emperor, but her actions resulted in the death of the divine beast.

‘Will I be able to find the clue if I go to the temple?’

However, the beginning of the curse was the story of Celia’s and Leonis’ grandfather. If the sorcerer was still alive, it would be miraculous, but the saintess was unlikely to be alive.

‘However, if I had been afraid of the gods’ wrath, I would have done something like a sorcerer.’

She decided to find out which temple the saintess was in. If there was a saintess, there would be records somewhere unless they deliberately remove information about her.

“Celia…What are you pondering so deeply about?”

Celia, who was thinking about the saintess, became aware of Leonis’ gaze belatedly. His face had become more serious. Leonis had been staring at her for a long time, and she had been unaware of it.

Celia was embarrassed at the moment.

Leonis could see through Lily’s lies in the original story. It wasn’t because he could tell human lies apart, but because he was a Sword Master and could hear Lily’s heartbeat.

Celia knew it and she never lied to Leonis. Until now.

“… Is it something you can’t say?”

Most readers would have realized that harboring suspicions about the male protagonist in the rated 19 novel was dangerous.

But Celia’s hesitancy was concise.

“I was thinking of a saintess who summoned a divine beast.”

He flinched at the word because it was only Leonis who knew of the Cardian family’s curse.

“A divine beast?”

“Yes. I heard there was a saintess in my grandfather’s generation who could summon a divine beast…. I couldn’t recall which saintess it was from which denomination….”

Leonis didn’t seem to notice that the words were lies. But it was not a lie when she thought about the saintess.

Leonis, on the other hand, would know which denomination the saintess belonged to and which saintess she was. Because a saintess who could summon a divine beast was rare.

“Saintess Agness of the God of Heaven.”

As expected, Leonis knew the denomination and the name of the saintess. Celia looked at Leonis with a smile.

He looked suspiciously at her attitude.

“Why are you suddenly curious about that?”