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~Chapter 30~
The End of the Revenge
“Serna!!!!!!”
Kellen’s scream echoed through the courtroom. Before anyone could stop him, he charged at me, unable to accept the verdict.
“Who the hell do you think you are?! How dare you ruin me?!”
His bloodshot eyes were beyond terrifying—they were downright chilling. By the time I turned around and noticed him rushing toward me, trying to leave the courtroom…
Ah. Too late.
That was what I thought.
“Long time no see.”
Until someone stepped in between me and Kellen.
“Missed you.”
As if he had decided to be completely straightforward now, the man who spoke so shamelessly was Duke Valoran.
It was shocking enough that he suddenly appeared in the courtroom, but he casually grabbed Kellen by the neck with one hand and smiled at me.
“And how have you been, my lady?”
“…Uh.”
I couldn’t answer. I just stared blankly at his face.
What is wrong with this man?
“L-let go… ngh…!”
Kellen struggled desperately, unable to breathe properly, trying to escape the duke’s grip—but it was useless. The duke didn’t even seem to be exerting any strength.
“Unfortunately, this is no longer necessary.”
The duke pulled out a blood-stained sheet of paper and held it in front of Kellen.
It fluttered down and landed at my feet.
The contents made my eyes widen.
The messy handwriting—it was Kellen’s.
But the content…
He was returning the trade ship to me? Admitting his wrongdoing?
No matter how I looked at it, there was no way Kellen had written this willingly.
“Looks like the duke forced him to write it.”
With Orbi’s explanation, everything made sense.
Kellen’s disappearance. Being dumped in a monster-infested place.
So it was all the work of that wolf duke.
“That noble… is that Hayden Valoran?”
“Yeah. Don’t speak casually to him. You’ll get in trouble.”
“They say he’s very capable.”
“That’s not the issue here…”
I really don’t want to imagine those two clashing.
While I was exchanging pointless remarks with Orbi, the duke loosened his grip and dropped Kellen.
Kellen collapsed, face flushed red, clutching his throat. The imperial knights finally arrived, grabbed him, and dragged him away.
Stripped of his position and sentenced to the underground prison, Kellen now pleaded with me.
“Serna… please. You loved me, didn’t you? I’ll treat you well again. Let’s nullify this trial. I’ll return the trade ship. I’ll do whatever you want…”
The knights paused, glancing at me.
Even the duke seemed amused by Kellen’s behavior.
“You said I was going to die soon. Why are you begging now?”
“Serna… I was wrong. Let’s just think of this as a misunderstanding between lovers. Let’s start over—”
Slap!
Ah. That felt good.
“That’s for playing with my heart.”
Slap!
“That’s for insulting my father.”
Slap!
“And that’s for looking down on the Troid family.”
At last, Kellen bit his lip hard and lowered his head.
That trembling voice—was it anger? Regret?
Definitely not regret. People don’t change that easily.
“So, Serna, now—”
“I’m done.”
“….”
“Take him away.”
I smiled brightly.
The knights bowed and dragged Kellen off.
“Se-Serna!! Serna!!”
His voice faded into the distance.
Serna… I got revenge for you. Wherever you are, I hope you can finally feel relieved.
“Lady Troid.”
“Hm?”
It was Duke Valoran who pulled me out of my thoughts.
“Our conversation from before… I believe it remains unfinished.”
“Ah… that…”
“May I accompany you for a while?”
“Uh… sure…”
“I don’t think that will be possible.”
Orbi stepped in.
“Lady Serna already has plans with me.”
“Me? Since when?”
He leaned in and whispered,
‘You’re really dense.’
“…She doesn’t seem to know about it.”
“She does, right Lady Serna?”
“…You’re speaking informally?”
Now the duke’s expression hardened.
The atmosphere instantly turned cold.
“…Archmage of Queln.”
“…?”
“Do you not know who I am?”
In an instant, the duke’s blue eyes turned red.
A terrifying pressure filled the air.
I felt nothing—but behind me, Jin collapsed to his knees, groaning.
Orbi struggled as well.
“He’s shielding only you,” Orbi whispered. “Honestly… this is hard to endure.”
Enough.
“Both of you, stop.”
The tension snapped instantly.
“If this is because of me… then I’ll be fair. I’ll give both of you a chance.”
“…?”
“Today, I’ll give the duke his chance.”
“An honor.”
“Orbi, you should go. You said you had things to do in Queln.”
“…You’re kicking me out already?”
“Go.”
After some banter, Orbi finally disappeared in a flash of light.
“Next time is my turn.”
The duke just laughed.
Later That Night
“The night air is cold.”
“Are you cold?”
“No. It feels nice.”
This awkward atmosphere…
Finally, I spoke.
“About what you said before…”
“What do you mean?”
Stop pretending.
“Why are you doing this to me?”
“I believe I said—I like you.”
“But you said you don’t want marriage. Then why me?”
After a pause, he answered:
“The Valoran family carries the blood of wolves.”
“And the head of the family imprints on only one partner.”
“…Imprints?”
“Once imprinted, they stay by that person’s side for life.”
“….”
“I have imprinted on you.”
“…What?”
Excuse me???
“Do you love me?”
Silence.
“Is that why you helped me? Why you dealt with Kellen? Sent gifts? Came with me to the banquet?”
He looked at me.
And stepped closer.
“So… am I truly special to you?”
A breeze passed.
His face came so close I stopped breathing.
“If you would…”
“…allow me to stay by your side.”
And then—
His lips touched mine.
