CH 90

Chapter 90

“Why did you think that?”

Because it was an obvious thought.

When she thought about it, there was no benefit to the Grand Duchy. What did the Grand Duchy gain? They were already richer than any other family to desire prosperity, and there was nothing lacking in Grand Duchy Raphael.

If there was only one, their life span was too short. That was all.

“I thought about it before. The reason why you should maintain the Grand Duchy’s reputation, even by using such an unusual method.”

While she didn’t listen in detail, it was the same when she heard of the birth process that Damon had told her about. It was really strange to bear an heir in that way. The Grand Duchess was not the only one who was not treated as a human being.

The Grand Duke was also the same. The Grand Duke seemed to be regarded as something of a family stallion.

That was why there were such rules—getting married within five years of succession.

Usually, the generational change of the Grand Dukes took place very quickly. That said, there were many times when it was not the right age for marriage. Nevertheless, the Grand Duchy set up a rule that it should be within five years.

“Are there any benefits to the Grand Duchy?”

However, to say so, they lived too short a life.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that they were working for someone. Of course, Elysia knew that her hypothesis was nonsense. To think that someone else was using the Grand Duchy, it was close to delusion… but why did it seem like it was somehow right?

“You said that it is difficult for a person born with the Grand Duchy’s bloodline to reach the age of thirty.”

If so, it meant that there were no elders in the family. Besides, it was difficult for a child of the Grand Duchy to be born and grow up. There was no way anyone would have survived till old age. Then, there was no adult who could urge them to follow the rules…

Why should they follow it? It was not like anyone was pressuring them.

“So, does that mean that Your Grace has no blood relatives right now?”

“That’s right.”

Yes, even in her view, the Grand Duchy was a small kingdom. And there, Damon reigned like a king. Even if he did not marry, it seemed that there would be no pressure. There was no one with big enough courage to force him to follow the family rules.

If they didn’t consider their life a waste, who would?

“Then… you don’t have to marry me, do you?”

Damon never wanted to get married, not only marriage but also to have an heir. He really didn’t want to get married, he even poisoned his wife in the original story. Of course, he might kill her, too, in front of her eyes.

“Your Grace didn’t want to get married.”

“Why do you think so?”

Why…

Hasn’t he been enduring it because he didn’t want to get married?

Damon rose to the position at the age of twenty. People around him said that it was a very late succession for a grand duke. It was because the former Grand Duke enjoyed an unexpected longevity. He was only in his mid-30s, to say the least.

“You were forced to marry me after holding on until the end.”

Five years.

After his succession, he married her when she was just twenty-five years old, as was the rule that he must marry within five years. After enduring, when there was no place to back down, he got married. That alone showed how much Damon hated getting married.

The question was, who was the force that forced him into marriage?

Elysia couldn’t contain her curiosity. Even though she hadn’t lived in the Grand Duchy for less than a month yet, nobody could go against Damon. Not only that, there was no revolt towards him.

A place where everything went according to his will…

“Do you think so?”

“Yes. Am I wrong?”

Who was it? Someone who could manipulate Damon to his liking. The person was stronger than him and had a higher position, and he was the one who needed the Grand Duchy more than anyone else…

After thinking much about it, only one person came to mind.

The Emperor.

The only power that met all these conditions was the Imperial Family.

“Is it the imperial family the one that benefits from it?”

* * *

“….”

When Elysia asked if it was the Imperial Family, Damon did not give any answer except that his eyebrows raised a little.

“Since the wife is a clever one, I figured you would notice after a while.”

“Then…”

“That’s right. There are many people who benefit from the Grand Duchy’s existence, but the one that benefits the most is probably the Imperial Family.”

She was right about guessing the imperial family. With that affirmation, Elysia’s shoulders began to tremble. She was very surprised as her guess was correct.

“Still, the reason I got married is not because of the Imperial Family.”

…It wasn’t?

Elysia couldn’t understand what Damon was talking about. Her head was not working properly because of the surprise.

“Because the pressure from the Imperial Family… doesn’t matter to me. Though it may not be like that with the Grand Dukes of the previous era.”

As expected, there was pressure from the Imperial Family regarding the Grand Duchy’s marriage. However, she did not know what right they had to urge the Grand Duchy’s marriage. Was there any reason why the Grand Duchy had to move according to the Imperial Family?

From the outside, there was nothing that was weak about the Grand Duchy against the imperial family. Damon’s attitude didn’t show that either.

“I got married because I wanted the wife.”

“…Yes? You want me?”

“Yes, I need the wife.”

Elysia didn’t know how to respond to her. Should she be fooled by this lie? She wondered since it would be a lie if Damon needed her.

“Ah…”

“You don’t believe it.”

Who could believe it? She was so shocked she couldn’t properly manage my expression. In the first place, he wouldn’t want or need anyone. Damon was the only person he needed since he was perfect just by himself.

“Wife always doesn’t believe me. Why?”

To not believe him… Elysia believed in his nature more than anyone else. She just didn’t believe his outward appearance.

“No. I believe you.”

“Should I be fooled by the wife’s words that you believed me?”

“Your Grace…”

Sitting right next to her, Damon reached out to her lips. Elysia swallowed her breath as the corners of his mouth curled up, perhaps finding her lying mouth was bad.

It would have been better if his hand was only around her mouth.

“You always say hateful things with this pretty mouth…”

She felt breathless and her feet shivering, and soon after, his hand moved away from her. Only then did Elysia let out her breath. Every time he touched her, she panicked, causing her body to break down.

“I will believe you.”

“Tha, thank you.”

He believes her without actually believing her at all. Still, even though she knew everything, she became the one who could only say thank you.

“Why are you so nervous every time you see me?”

“Yes?”

“You can’t even breathe properly.”

She thought that he would realize that, of course, though she didn’t expect him to ask her directly. Elysia thought he wouldn’t care if she could breathe or not.

“I’m a little… sensitive…”

It wasn’t a lie. Because of her PTSD, she overreacted to everything. The moment she thought her life was in danger, even if it was just a little, her whole body stiffened and she couldn’t judge properly. It had been her long illness.

“Sensitive?”

“A little bit…”

She couldn’t explain to anyone why this came to be. She couldn’t just say because she was killed in her previous life. The moment she spoke up, everyone would treat her like a madman, so it was better to let people think that she was weak.

Besides, everyone in the County had already known that she was surprisingly timid.

“I’m a little… scared.”

The Countess also showed no blood in her presence.

When she was little, Angelina once beat her until she bled. It was by ordering another maid, of course, since the Countess hated getting her hands dirty unless she was angry to the top of her head.

Then, Elysia passed out in a seizure after seeing the blood. She had no immunity to blood at the time. She couldn’t even remember what had happened as all she knew was that she cried and suffered like a madman. It would not have looked humane.

“…It’s because I’m not brave. I’ll try my best.”

Since then, the Countess had stopped physically harassing her because her life could really be in danger if she collapsed once again.

“It’s a lot better now.”

“What are you afraid of?”

“Ah… just… It’s not scary, but I’m just afraid.”

There were many things she was afraid of. Putting them together, it would be under the category of ‘anything that posed a threat to her life’. She feared Damon’s very existence. Even if he was friendly, he was a great danger to her.

It was unavoidable. Damon was the apex predator of every chain, and she was the prey at the bottom.

“So, you don’t have to worry too much.”

The question was, who could threaten Damon, who was at the apex? She seemed to want to let out a sigh at the thought that there might be other great mountains beside him.

“Is it because I’m still unfamiliar with… If I adapt, I will be fine.”

“….”

It would actually be difficult to adapt to for the rest of her life since there was no one who could get used to Damon. In addition, she had no intention of continuing her marriage with him until she got used to it.

“Then, Your Grace… I wonder if you are free from the Imperial Family’s pressure.”

This was the most important. Was Damon free from the Imperial Family? Judging by his usual behavior, he didn’t seem to mind at all, but she was not sure of it.

“What if the Grand Duchy is free from the Imperial Family’s pressure?”

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