I Reincarnated As An Evil Duchess - Chapter 125
Translator: Nabi
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Chapter 125
He wanted Rupert, who had wrongly accused his innocent lover of being a witch and made his knights suffer, to pay for his actions. He had even vowed that if that man escaped this time as well, he would personally punish him, even if he had to take up the sword himself.
However, when things actually turned out this way, he couldn’t help but feel a bitter sense of disappointment, along with relief that the troublesome problem that had been plaguing him had been resolved.
Seth looked at Rupert, who was held by his arms and legs like a prisoner being loaded onto a carriage, with a complex expression on his face.
“…Your Excellency the Duke of Persen.”
At that moment, Oliver, who had been standing by the Emperor and Grand Duchess Blaine, approached Seth and opened his mouth.
Seth, with a tired look on his face, as if he had aged several years in just a moment., replied to him.
“What’s the matter?”
“His Majesty wishes to see you.”
“Understood. Sir Gallahed, please take care of her while I go see His Majesty.”
“I understand.”
With those words, Seth released his arm from her shoulder and stood by Oliver’s side.
Min-ha gently waved her hand at him, wishing him a good trip. However, Oliver, who was supposed to accompany Seth to the Emperor, quietly looked at her with a complex expression on his face.
‘…What’s going on?’
When Min-ha tilted her head in confusion, Oliver replied with a reluctant tone.
“His Majesty has ordered me to bring the Duke… and the Duchess as well.”
“Yes? Me?”
“…Yes. It seems like His Majesty has something to say to both of you.”
“Is that so? Alright.”
“Then, I’ll go back to the other knights.”
“Okay.”
“Thank you for telling me in detail, Sir Gallahed.”
Given how he had treated her as a criminal all this time, it seemed that Oliver found it awkward to address Min-ha with the title of ‘Duchess,’ and that was why he delivered the Emperor’s order in that manner.
Shortly after, Gallahed returned to the knights, and Min-ha and Seth followed Oliver to the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, please leave Grand Duchess Blaine to us and go back to the carriage first.”
“…Where is Duke Persen?”
“Your Majesty.”
Seth’s expression hardened while Min-ha frowned as they watched the Emperor looking for Seth, stroking the unconscious Grand Duchess Blaine tenderly on the dirt floor.
In just a few days, a series of events occurring one after another had already left him reeling, and now, he seemed to be in great shock as the person she loved ended up in disaster right before her eyes after choosing someone else.
Seth briefly looked at the Emperor with a puzzled expression before flicking his glance towards Min-ha, who nodded in response and adjusted her attire. Then, she gracefully imitated Seth’s gesture of bowing deeply to show respect, holding the hem of her dress elegantly.
He smiled slightly as if finding her adorable before lowering his posture and bowing towards the Emperor.
“Have you found your conviction, Your Majesty?”
“…This is the voice of Duke Persen… What about the Duchess?”
“I greet Your Majesty.”
“…Yes. Were you there?”
The Emperor replied with a cold, lifeless gaze and continued to fix his gaze on Grand Duchess Blaine, as he didn’t acknowledge Min-ha until then.
As she responded quickly while still gazing at him, the Emperor finally shifted his attention away from the Grand Duchess and slowly turned his head to look at her, still appearing somewhat absent-minded. He observed her with a gaze that seemed to scrutinize her from head to toe, as if he were looking at something he had never seen before, and soon broke into a lifeless chuckle.
“…Among those involved in this incident, only you managed to preserve everything.”
“Your Majesty…”
“…I apologize. I have no right to blame anyone. Moreover, I couldn’t help but feel a little petty to see you smile, talk, and walk, unlike him, even though I know this is all the price of what the two of them have done. Please forgive me generously.”
“No, Your Majesty. How could I harbor any ill feelings toward you?”
“…In truth, I didn’t summon you and Duke Persen to say such things.”
“I’m listening. Please go ahead, Your Majesty.”
Min-ha looked at the Emperor with a sympathetic expression as he continued speaking in a weary tone. In a way, he seemed to be a victim just like her, and she seemed to understand a little bit of the heart of bowing her head on behalf of a loved one.
The Emperor gave a bitter smile to the two of them and then hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“…I have a favor to ask of both of you.”
“Why do you call it a favor rather than an order, Your Majesty?”
“It might be something that you find difficult to understand when you hear it.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Duke Persen and the Duchess. Why don’t you make a deal with me?”
“A deal…”
“I’ll destroy all the records of the Duchess’s involvement in the witch trials and fake the mirror that revealed the Duchess’s true identity, thereby clearing her of all charges and suspicion, in other words, so that she can continue to live as ‘Duchess Minase Persen’.”
“Your Majesty…”
“…Instead, please say that this person has been cursed by a witch.”
As the words flowed from the Emperor’s mouth, which he opened with difficulty, Seth stared at him with a straight face, forgetting for a moment that the Emperor was in front of him.
In other words, the Emperor was asking for all of Min-ha’s secrets to be kept hidden in exchange for concealing Grand Duchess Blaine’s secrets. Although the situation was complicated, their feelings were separate from the desire to see Grand Duchess Blaine pay for what she had done.
When Seth briefly glanced at Min-ha, wondering if she shared such sentiments, her gaze appeared equally complex.
Seeing the two of them hesitating to respond, the Emperor looked at them with a pleading look and spoke.
“At the moment, only the royal guard, including Sir Gallahed, and the paladins, along with you and your order, are aware of this incident. I can use my influence to prevent the rumors from leaking out… but how can I threaten you and your wife, who are the biggest victims of this incident, to keep your mouths shut?”
“….”
“So, I implore you. If the Grand Duchess’s condition is revealed, the children will be stripped of their royal status and condemned to a lifetime of scorn from others… Considering the current situation, shouldn’t we at least ensure that the children are protected, even if their mother couldn’t be?”
“Your Majesty… that’s…”
“I intend to keep Grand Duchess Blaine confined to her estate for the rest of her life. She won’t be allowed to leave until her death… According to the paladins’ words a little while ago, although she suffered less damage compared to that man, they couldn’t guarantee her soul remained unscathed. She probably won’t be able to live the same life as before… I don’t think I can bear to see her in that state, stripped of her position, enduring a lifetime of scorn, and spending it in an underground prison.”
“….”
“And above all… I’m worried that the children might end up living like Rupert.”
“….”
“So, I’m asking you this. Duke Persen and Duchess Persen, I’ll take responsibility for restoring your tarnished honor. I’ll give you all the lands and possessions of the former Viscount Rupert Guinivis. No, I’ll give you everything I can offer. If you wish, I’ll even abdicate the throne in favor of the Crown Prince on the condition that the Empress will serve as regent.”
“Your Majesty! What are you saying, abdicate the throne…?!”
The Emperor clung to both Min-ha and Seth, pleading with them.
At that moment, Oliver, who had been quietly listening nearby, exclaimed in shock at his last words. However, the Emperor seemed determined and only waited for Seth and Min-ha’s response, as if he had no intention of retracting his statement.
Seth had a mixed look on his face. It was because he saw a reflection of himself in the Emperor’s pleading, remembering when he had begged for a postponement of the sentencing just a few days ago.
Min-ha shared the same thoughts. She had no desire to forgive Grand Duchess Blaine, who had tormented her and caused pain to Bediviel and Gareth, but she could empathize with the Emperor’s heartfelt plea, willing to set aside their differences in status for the sake of the person he loved.
‘…What should I do?’
At that moment, Seth answered with a heavy voice.
“…I’ll abide by my wife’s wishes.”
“….!”
“If this person accepts, then I’ll accept as well. And if she can’t accept it, then I also… can’t accept.”
“Seth…”
“I’m sorry. I ended up passing responsibility to you at a crucial moment.”
“Huh? No, it’s not like that. You were trying to take my wishes into consideration.”
The Emperor, who had been listening to Seth’s answer and the ensuing conversation between the two, looked at Min-ha with earnest eyes and asked.
“So, Duchess Persen… what is your decision?”
Min-ha stared with complex eyes at the Emperor, as his eyes contained a plea, and finally spoke with difficulty.
“Are you really going to restore my tarnished honor?”
“Of course, and that won’t be all. I’ll ensure that no one else speaks ill of your secrets anymore.”
“Then, will you also restore the honor of Sir Bediviel and Sir Gareth, who suffered for my husband and me? In particular, Sir Bediviel and Sir Gareth, not only their honor but their bodies have been greatly harmed. They may struggle for the rest of their lives. Will you take responsibility for that as well?”
“I’ll do so. I swear upon this empire to uphold that promise.”
Min-ha bit her lower lip as she saw the Emperor answer without a moment of hesitation.
In the meantime, many thoughts raced through her mind during that time, and in the end, she arrived at a difficult decision. Of course, even as she came to her decision, thoughts crossed her mind about whether this was the right choice and whether she might regret it later.
Still, she pushed aside those doubts.
‘…Even if I regret it later, let’s make the decision that my heart leads me to now.’
At her answer, the Emperor’s perpetually grim expression brightened.
“If you keep the promise you made to me… I’ll listen to your Majesty’s request.”
The Emperor’s expression, which had been dark all along, brightened considerably at her response.
Min-ha glanced at Seth, who had been watching her intently, with a weak smile that had formed on her lips since earlier. Then, instead of answering the unspoken question in his eyes, she reached out her hand to him as if to say that she was truly okay with it, and clasped his hand.
“…Thank you, Duchess Persen. I’ll keep the promise even if it costs me my life.”
“You must do so.”
“I will. I promise.”
When Min-ha repeatedly asked him to keep his promise, the Emperor smiled and responded earnestly.
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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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