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chapter 2
Yuriella didn’t want to hear anything more from the Crown Prince. She pressed her hands over her ears with all her strength.
No. No, that’s not true. Everyone here is alive…
“The Duke of Baraota, who whispered that he loved you, was actually just using you.”
“…What are you talking about? I don’t know anything about that.”
“Riel, do you think ignoring it makes it disappear?”
Even though she knew it was useless, Yuriella tightly shut her eyes.
“Alright, I’ll leave you be for today. You look like you’re in too much pain. My beloved Riel… we’ll meet again someday.”
“An entire family has committed treason! His Majesty the Emperor has ordered that not a single person be left alive!”
Without warning, the Imperial Knights stormed the otherwise peaceful Baraota estate, killing everyone in sight, young and old alike, all under the absurd claim of treason.
“What is this—!”
“Milady, you must run…!”
“Madel…”
Even as consciousness began to fade, Madel pushed Yuriella’s legs with all her strength, urging her to flee.
Yuriella knew in her mind that she had to escape, but her legs seemed frozen, and she couldn’t move.
“Milady! I’ll buy you time. Please run!”
Cheison, the Captain of the Baraota Knights, appeared and blocked the swords with his own.
“Hurry, Milady!”
“And the Duke? Why… why are you here, Sir Cheison?”
Yuriella’s fear surged at the sight of Cheison approaching her instead of staying by the Duke’s side, as he always did.
No, it can’t be. It’s impossible… Reigh couldn’t be dead…
“…I’m sorry.”
That single apology completely shattered Yuriella.
“It’s a lie… tell me it’s a lie.”
Cheison swiftly dispatched the knights in front of them and helped the trembling Yuriella to her feet.
“I’ll take you somewhere safe.”
“No, don’t do that.”
“Milady, you have to get out of here.”
“Reigh… no. Take me to the Duke of Baraota.”
Cheison froze, unable to act.
“Sir Cheison.”
“…The Duke commanded me to prioritize your safety. I’m sorry I cannot fulfill your request.”
“It’s not a request. It’s an order. As the Duchess of Baraota, I command you—take me to the Duke at once.”
Cheison appeared to hesitate briefly.
“Hurry!”
“Understood. Please forgive my rudeness.”
He lifted Yuriella in one arm and began running swiftly.
“This is the place.”
Cheison stopped in front of the study. He gently set Yuriella down and stepped deeper inside.
“Duke.”
The Duke of Baraota leaned against the bookshelves, breathing heavily.
“Cheison… could it be—”
“Duke.”
“Riel… Riel is—”
“Reigh! I’m here! I’m safe, but Reigh… we need to get him to a doctor. The blood, the blood is—”
The Duke hastily wrapped his cloak around his abdomen, perhaps trying to hide his wound.
“I’m fine. Don’t stay here—get out of the estate. Cheison will help you.”
“No. We’re leaving together, and don’t speak anymore. If you worsen, what then? We’re leaving together.”
Reigh’s voice was unyielding.
“I can’t. I can’t leave you alone like this. I won’t.”
Tears welled up in Yuriella’s eyes, blurring her vision. She bit her inner lip hard, trying not to cry, but it was useless.
“No, Riel must go. There’s no reason you can’t leave me behind. Our relationship is bound by a contract.”
Yuriella lowered her head slightly at the word “contract.”
The contract had begun as a means for the Duke of Baraota to avoid the imperial marriage arrangements and for Yuriella to be freed from prison while locating her sisters. It had culminated in their marriage.
“So leave the estate immediately.”
“Even so, my name is still Yuriella Baraota. We are bound by contract, yes, but we are still husband and wife. We are married.”
“I cannot allow you to be dragged into this. Go to the Imperial Court and tell them you are married by contract. If they don’t believe you, take the contract from my office desk. That will save you. In times like this, it’s convenient that the Crown Prince loves you, Riel.”
The Duke of Baraota gave a faint smile.
“Now’s the time to smile? Come on, let’s go. Let’s leave this country and live quietly, away from the eyes of the Empress and the Crown Prince.”
“Don’t. I can’t…”
“…I love you. I’ve come to love you, so please, don’t do this to me. If Reigh dies, how am I supposed to live? From the moment you pulled me out of the mud, I was meant to be with you.”
“…I wish I had heard that confession just a little earlier.”
Reigh’s voice grew weaker, and Yuriella’s heart raced.
“Cheison, take the Duchess and leave. And… both of you survive. That is my final order.”
“Understood, Duke.”
“No! I cannot leave you here!”
Cheison tried to leave with Yuriella, but she resisted strongly.
“Riel, I love you. From the very first day I saw you…”
All Yuriella could do was look at the lifeless Reigh.
Footsteps approached. Cheison quickly shielded Yuriella behind him.
“Who’s there?”
“You should put your sword away, shouldn’t you?”
The newcomer was none other than the Crown Prince. He gazed coldly at the Duke of Baraota, seemingly lifeless.
“You still haven’t lowered your sword. Planning to take revenge for the Duke of Baraota, perhaps?”
Cheison didn’t flinch.
“Sir Cheison, lower your sword.”
“But Milady…”
“It’s fine. Do it now.”
Yuriella, still holding the Duke, spoke firmly. Cheison lowered his sword reluctantly.
“Riel, I came as soon as I heard. Are you okay?”
The Crown Prince checked urgently for injuries on Yuriella’s body.
“Your Highness, was all this really necessary? Treason? Did you really have to kill everyone?”
All the pent-up anger burst forth.
“My sisters, my younger siblings, my husband! And the servants! Was this necessary? The Duke never actually committed treason!”
“Young lady, what are you saying? The Duke did commit treason! I came here because I worried about you. I wanted to save at least you!”
Yuriella did not believe the Crown Prince.
“Really! Look at this.”
He handed her a letter.
“Read it.”
As Yuriella read, she was struck with shock.
Impossible… this can’t be…
The letter documented correspondence with the forces plotting rebellion, in the Duke’s own handwriting.
“Now do you believe me? The Duke did commit treason. I came here to save only you and your family.”
“That must be forged! He would never do such a thing!”
“Wake up, Riel. You’ve been deceived by the Duke all along. The reason he married you was to commit treason. Marrying you diverted the attention of the Imperial Court. He didn’t care if you or your family lived or died.”
Yuriella kept repeating in her mind that the Crown Prince must be trying to manipulate her.
No… that’s impossible. If it were true, why would he have confessed that he loved me?
Squeak.
A man entered the study.
“…Am I late?”
“Who are you? How did you get in here?”
The Crown Prince drew his sword at the sudden appearance of the robed man. Cheison did the same.
“The door was open. And me? You could call me your brother.”
The man removed his robe, revealing vibrant green hair flowing in the wind.
“Doesn’t this face look familiar?”
The Crown Prince recognized him instantly.
“No… it can’t be…”
The son of the woman in the Emperor’s portrait, the one with green hair and eyes.
“Yes. The son of the woman the Emperor can’t forget.”
“Why are you here?”
“I came for the Duke of Baraota, but I didn’t expect things to be this messy. Sigh.”
The man, claiming to be the Emperor’s son, sighed and brushed back his hair.
“Riel, look. This man is the illegitimate child of our noble father. Why is he here? This proves the Duke was committing treason!”
Yuriella sank to the floor, bewildered.
“Milady!”
“Riel!”
Cheison hurriedly supported her.
“What is all this? Sir Cheison, please tell me this isn’t true. Just say it isn’t, even if it’s not the truth, I’ll believe you—please say it’s not true.”
Her desperation was palpable.
“…Milady, the Duke has always prioritized your safety. Didn’t you see that? His heart, telling us to survive?”
Cheison’s words weren’t what Yuriella wanted to hear.
The Crown Prince spoke sarcastically:
“You couldn’t lie, could you? Even in this situation, maintaining the spirit of a knight is remarkable. Riel, think carefully. They are still protecting the Duke. They’re framing him with plausible words so he doesn’t appear evil to you. Riel, come with me.”
He reached out his hand to Yuriella.
