I Reincarnated As An Evil Duchess - Chapter 117
Translator: Nabi
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Chapter 117
How many minutes had passed like that? The Emperor still had an incredulous expression on his face as he finally opened his mouth to Seth.
“…I can’t believe it. I simply can’t believe the contents of this letter.”
“Your Majesty.”
“Even if everything in these letters is true, it doesn’t change the fact that Grand Duchess Blaine, Charles, and Minuel were cursed by the witch from another world. Duke Persen, no matter how much you try to shake Blaine Duchess with this letter, you can’t clear her against the charges imposed by the witch of this world.”
“Of course, that’s true. However, what if the curse was also a plot orchestrated by Viscount Rupert Guinivis and Grand Duchess Blaine, Your Majesty?”
“….!”
Thud―!
In response to Seth’s words, the Emperor fiercely struck the armrest with his clenched fist.
The impact was so strong that his flesh was torn, and blood dripped down from the sturdy armrest. Moreover, the thunderous sound that echoed in the now silent chamber revealed just how enraged he had become at Seth’s statement.
Glaring at the man in front of him with eyes blazing with rage, the Emperor shouted.
“…Have you lost your mind, Duke Persen? How dare you insult my royal mistress without any evidence? Should I cut off that arrogant tongue of yours right here and now for your insolence?”
“Your Majesty. Were you aware that not long ago, the Grand Duchess sent her servants into the slums to gather information about forbidden magic?
“…What?”
“According to the information gathered by my knights, it seems that there was quite an open secret in the slums. While it was unknown what kind of forbidden magic Grand Duchess Blaine investigated, she even offered substantial rewards to find anyone who is knowledgeable in the field of prohibited magic. However, at some point, her servants stopped visiting the slums… and a few days later, we received testimonies claiming that the Grand Duchess visited the Guinivis estate with a group of suspicious individuals.”
“….”
“In other words, the suspicious people who were with her are the ones who placed a curse on her, and it’s clear that both Grand Duchess Blaine and Viscount Rupert Guinivis were behind all these events, including the abduction of my wife. Your Majesty.”
As Seth continued speaking, the Emperor once again appeared at a loss for words. Even though he desperately wanted to reject every word that came from his loyal subordinate, doubts began to creep into his mind.
Before the events of the curse incident, Grand Duchess Blaine often claimed to be in poor health and refused to enter the palace despite his orders. Although he sent the royal physician to see her, the physician often returned without even having met her.
‘All this time, I believed that everything happened because of the curse. If it turned out that it was all a lie and Duke Persen’s words were true…
Soon, the Emperor asked Seth with a voice that trembled as if he couldn’t bear to utter them.
“…Can you prove that everything you have said so far is true, Duke Persen? If, if all of this turns out to be false—”
“I understand that you may not want to believe it, but everything is true. I wasn’t even sure myself until a few hours ago, but the letter I showed Your Majesty a moment ago and the testimony of Young Lady Vivian Loengram have convinced me.”
“Young Lady Vivian Loengram’s words can’t claim that this entire incident is an elaborate scheme by Duchess Blaine and Viscount…”
Watching the Emperor, who continued to deny accepting the revealed truth, Seth let out another bitter smile.
He sympathized with him, understanding the Emperor’s feelings. Acknowledging that someone he had trusted and loved so much had betrayed him must have felt like the entire world he had known so far was crumbling.
Nonetheless, there was no more time left. If they delayed any further, they might not be able to save Min-ha. So, because of that, Seth firmly spoke to the Emperor.
“If you can’t believe my words, then I will show you the evidence right now.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“According to Young Lady Vivian’s testimony, something very ‘important’ is going to happen today at Rupert Guinivis’s mansion.”
“Important? What is it?”
“I don’t know the details either since she remained silent, but what’s certain is that, for that ‘event,’ Grand Duchess Blaine headed to the Guinivis’s mansion.”
“….!”
“…If Young Lady Vivian’s testimony is accurate, then at this moment, the Grand Duchess won’t be at the imperial palace or her own mansion.”
With a meaningful smirk, he directed his attention back to the Emperor while subtly glancing towards the direction of the audience chamber’s door. If Gawin had successfully delivered the message to Oliver’s Guard Captain as he had commanded, there would likely be some news by now.
Seth pressed his lips together, listening intently for any signs of movement outside the audience room.
Amidst this, the Emperor, who had been listening to his words with an anxious expression, suddenly snorted in exultation.
“Ha, I was wondering what were you going to say! Grand Duchess Blaine is currently inside the palace with the children! I ordered the knights to protect them just a while ago!”
“I knew Your Majesty would say that.”
“…What?”
“So…”
Just as Seth was about to deny the Emperor’s words once again, Oliver, the Captain of the royal knights, who was guarding the door outside the audience room, shouted loudly.
“Is His Majesty inside? If so, please open the door right away! There’s a serious situation!”
At the sound, the Emperor turned his head and gestured to the guard who was guarding the entrance of the audience room.
The guard silently bowed and then firmly opened the closed door.
In rushed Oliver, in disarrayed attire, urgently entering the room. He quickly knelt before the Emperor’s throne, gasping for breath, and exclaimed hurriedly.
“Your Majesty, there’s trouble! Grand Duchess Blaine has disappeared!”
“….!”
“She isn’t in the palace nor in her residence! We questioned the servants who attend to the Grand Duchess, but none of them knows her whereabouts! Perhaps, could it be that something unfortunate has happened to her at the hands of the witch?”
The urgency of Oliver’s words made the Emperor fall into contemplation while Seth kept his gaze lowered. Even though he didn’t want to cause great distress to the lord he served, this was the only way to deal with the Emperor, whose eyes would turn blind to everything when it came to Grand Duchess Blaine.
Seth spoke in a heavy voice to the emperor, who had become completely contemplative.
“It means Grand Duchess Blaine is currently at the residence of Viscount Guinivis.”
“Wait! What are you saying, Duke Persen?! Why on earth would the Grand Duchess be at Viscount Guinivis’s estate at this hour…”
“Your Majesty, please grant me the authority to search Viscount Guinivis’s estate. As your sword, I will personally uncover the truth behind everything.”
Faced with the earnest plea, the Emperor fell into a solemn silence. With a sigh that seemed to come from the depths of his soul and a grimace as if in agony, he gestured and reluctantly spoke, his gaze complicated as he looked at Seth.
“…No, I’ll personally verify this with my own eyes.”
“Your Majesty…”
“Captain Oliver, immediately gather the royal guards at once. I’m going to Viscount Guinivis’s estate.”
“…Yes? Yes. I’ll obey your command, Your Majesty.”
Watching the Emperor’s exasperated expression and Seth’s resolute countenance with a look of incomprehension, Oliver tore his gaze away and hurriedly rushed out of the audience chamber.
In the meanwhile, the Emperor, who was watching the scene helplessly, slowly descended from his throne as he fixed his gaze on Seth kneeling before him with a complicated expression.
“Rise now, Duke Persen.”
“I apologize, Your Majesty.”
“I still don’t fully believe your words… so I’ll make my judgment after personally verifying everything with my own eyes.”
With a grave expression, he eventually averted his gaze from his subordinate, who was bowing his head, and walked out of the audience chamber. Seth, gazing after him with a complicated look, promptly rose to his feet and hastened to follow the Emperor from behind.
‘…I’m running out of time.’
Despite trying to shorten the time as much as possible, his anxiety surged when it was more delayed than expected.
‘Please, let her greet me unharmed when I arrive.’
Seth fervently wished in his heart.
17. Everything Must Return To Its Original Place.
It felt as if her entire body was wrapped in a soft, warm blanket. Min-ha slowly gradually her eyes, feeling the sensation of her tired and exhausted body being embraced warmly. In truth, she had little inclination to wake up, but her eyelids instinctively lifted.
Blinking her eyes, she took in the scenery that appeared in her field of vision.
‘Where am I…?’
As if lying in a movie theater right before the screening of a movie., everything that came into her field of vision was pitch-black.
Could it be another strange dream she had entered?
With a perplexed expression, Min-ha managed to muster the strength to sit up. Although her body felt so sluggish that it was difficult to move even a single finger, she felt that she couldn’t just stay still in this unknown place like this.
She began to walk forward aimlessly. However, despite walking for what seemed like a considerable distance, not even a glimmer of light could be seen. Not only that, but her legs were sore and the soles of her feet felt scorching hot.
Feeling utterly exhausted and unable to take another step, she finally sank down to the ground. All of a sudden, the surroundings began to ripple strangely before a familiar scenery unfolded before her eyes.
‘…Huh?’
It was the world where she had been living until just a few months ago.
Tall gray buildings stood all around, cars ran on the roads, and people with smartphones walked by. Min-ha was startled by the sight of her previous life and quickly stood up.
‘Could it be… have I returned now?’
Though Minase said she couldn’t go back to that world?!
As she urgently grabbed a strand of her hair and checked its color, only to find that it was golden, Min-ha checked her outfit with a dazed expression next. Upon seeing herself dressed in a dress, she burst into hollow laughter.
‘…What on earth is this? Did they just switch our souls and completely change my body now, too?’
Could that witch called Morgan be a fraud?
Min-ha glanced around dumbfoundedly. As the surroundings became increasingly familiar, she couldn’t help but burst into hollow laughter again at the sight of familiar signs and the scenery of the neighborhood. If this wasn’t some sort of illusion, then she was standing in her own neighborhood, right outside her studio apartment.
She groaned and clutched her head in frustration.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
Not only that they said she couldn’t go back, but to also change her body entirely like this…
In this state, no matter how much she insisted she was Kim Min-ha, people wouldn’t believe her. In addition, it would be a stroke of luck if she didn’t end up at immigration as an unknown foreigner obsessed with cosplay.
It was at that moment when Min-ha, tearing her hair out in frustration over the unhelpfulness of MInase Persen and Rupert Guinivis in her life…
“—Yes, Mom. Dinner? I’m about to eat. Yeah, yeah.”
“.…!”
…A familiar voice resounded in her ears. At the same time, she could see ‘Kim Min-ha’ walking in front of her, holding a smartphone while talking on the phone.
__
Translator’s Note: Hello, it’s Nabi! I’m the translator of this novel ପ( ๑•ᴗ•๑ )ଓ♡ If you like the novel and would like to support me, please feel free to click the button below to go to my kofi~! Thank you so much for always supporting the novels I work on, even if you don’t buy me a coffee, I really do appreciate it a lot. ❤︎
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