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CHAPTER 99………………………………….
From now on, the one who will suffer is someone else
“Leah.”
Was she dreaming?
Or was she hearing things because she missed him so much?
That voice…
The voice she had longed for so desperately echoed softly through the greenhouse. Leah slowly turned her stiff neck toward the direction of the wind.
And there—she saw the silhouette of the man she had yearned for endlessly.
“…Your Grace?”
The only sound breaking the silence of the greenhouse was the man’s approaching footsteps.
“Leah.”
When that familiar voice wrapped around her ears once again, Leah’s body swayed.
Just as she began to lose her balance, Akkia—who had somehow come close—caught her in his arms.
The warmth of his skin, the heat of his breath brushing against her ear… Every sense in her body screamed that this wasn’t a dream. It was real.
“…Your Grace?”
“Leah.”
Her trembling voice barely managed the words. Akkia replied in a low, husky tone. Leah’s hands shook as they reached up to touch his face.
“…It’s really you, isn’t it? This isn’t a dream?”
“Yes. It’s not a dream…”
Tears filled her eyes instantly and streamed down her cheeks. Akkia pulled her tightly into his arms.
“…I’m sorry. For appearing only now.”
His arms tightened around her as if he would never let her go again. She had missed everything about this man—so much that it hurt.
“I missed you… so, so much.”
“I did too. I wanted to run to you without thinking of anything else… to hold you like this.”
Even though she had already cried so much, tears kept falling without end.
For a long while, she stayed in his arms.
The joy of realizing the Duke was alive lasted only briefly before anger took over—anger that Akkia had deceived her all this time.
“You were alive all along… so why didn’t you tell me anything? Do you know how much, how much I—”
—how much I wanted to die from the pain.
Akkia lowered his eyes, as if he could already guess what she was going to say.
“…I had no choice. The Empress Dowager’s people were always by your side.”
“The Empress Dowager’s people? You mean… there was a spy near me?”
“Yes. Very close to you.”
Her tears stopped abruptly at his shocking words. A spy had been beside her this whole time?
As countless faces flashed through Leah’s mind, one face came to her—and her lips stiffened.
“No way…”
The face that came to mind belonged to the woman who had stayed by her side from the moment Leah entered the House of Belarus until she became the Duchess of Heidern.
“…Was it Emma?”
At her question, Akkia silently nodded.
“She’s also the one who set fire to the mansion.”
Leah’s body trembled again at his words. Emma—the one who had comforted her when the Duke ‘died.’
She could still feel Emma’s hand forcing a spoon into hers when she couldn’t eat anything. The betrayal hit her like a physical blow, and her whole body shook.
“Then you should have warned me!”
“I knew the Empress Dowager was plotting something, but I didn’t think she would act so quickly. If it hadn’t been for Lord Alencia, I might not be here now.”
“Lord Alencia?”
At the unexpected name, Leah’s eyes widened.
That day, Edward had accidentally bumped into Emma and, when picking up what she dropped, found a powder that looked like a sedative.
When she panicked, he had found it strange and immediately reported it to Akkia…
And I didn’t even know…
Guilt flooded her. She remembered how coldly she had treated Edward. If not for him, Akkia might not be standing here now.
She never wanted to experience such horror again. Akkia pulled Leah back into his arms as she clenched her fists.
“Don’t worry, Leah. No one will ever make you suffer again.”
Because I’ll never let you go again.
From now on, the one who would suffer was someone else.
Akkia’s gaze, staring into the air as he held Leah, turned cold as ice.
❀ ❀ ❀
The carriage came to a slow stop. Soon, the door opened, revealing the familiar Belarus townhouse.
Leah had returned to the capital with Edward. He got out first and offered her his hand.
As she stepped down with his escort, she immediately saw Dmitri approaching. Without a word, he came to her.
“Welcome back, Leah.”
Without saying anything else, Dmitri embraced her gently, patting her back as if to comfort her for all she had endured.
Grandfather… I’m sorry.
That small gesture was enough to make her throat tighten with tears.
Even though Akkia was alive, she couldn’t tell Dmitri yet—not until the Empress Dowager was completely deceived.
After holding her for a long time, Dmitri stepped back and turned to Edward.
“Edward. They say you saved Leah.”
The Duke of Belarus clasped Edward’s hand firmly.
“Thank you. Truly… thank you.”
His face was uncharacteristically somber for a man who once ruled the empire with an iron will. The news of the “accident” must have brought back memories of Ariel’s death.
Leah’s heart ached as she imagined how much her grandfather must have worried until she returned safely.
“I won’t forget that you protected my granddaughter.”
“Please, don’t mention it. I only did what I ought to.”
Edward bowed respectfully. As Leah watched the two men, she suddenly felt a chilling gaze from behind.
It was unmistakably Emma’s eyes.
At first, Leah hadn’t wanted to believe that Emma had betrayed her.
Emma had been her personal maid ever since she entered the Belarus family—a confidante.
But realizing all of Emma’s kindness had been a lie made her tremble for days.
How could you do this to me…?
Every time Leah saw Emma—the woman who had tried to kill Akkia—rage boiled within her. Even now, she could barely keep herself from confronting her.
But she had to be patient.
To trap the Empress Dowager, I must deceive Emma first.
Emma was the bait that would lure the Empress Dowager to ruin.
Someday, Leah would send both the snake-like Dowager and her spy to the abyss.
For now, she forced a sorrowful expression.
“Grandfather, I’ll go up and rest now.”
“Of course, my dear.”
Once she received his permission, Leah turned away. Dmitri watched her slumped shoulders as she climbed the stairs, his chest tightening painfully.
He had never intended for his granddaughter’s life to end up like this when he approved their marriage.
Her unhappiness was a blade that tore at his heart.
.
.
.
Lying in bed with her eyes closed, Leah’s face was pale as paper.
Seeing her lifeless expression, Emma secretly rejoiced.
A widow right after registering her marriage with the Duke of Heidern—what a pitiful sight. Emma’s lips curled into a small smile.
She’s the daughter of a noble house. She’ll be fine, won’t she?
Emma, a commoner, had once envied Leah’s privilege. One dead husband wouldn’t change that.
While Leah’s eyes were closed, Emma freely scanned the room. Finding nothing suspicious, she spoke softly.
“Please rest well, my lady.”
She pulled the blanket gently up to Leah’s neck and left the room.
As soon as the door closed, Leah opened her eyes.
She searched the room carefully. Fortunately, there were no signs that Emma intended to harm her—at least not yet.
Relieved, Leah sat on the edge of the bed. Pretending to have no appetite had left her hungry.
I wonder if His Grace is doing well…
Akkia had said he would come for her soon, but hadn’t given a date.
Not having him near made her worry. Was his health stable? Were there any aftereffects from his injuries? Did he miss her as much as she missed him?
Her thoughts drifted until—
—Leah, it’s your grandfather. May I come in for a moment?
A gentle knock and Dmitri’s voice came from the door.
The Duke approached when he saw her sitting on the bed.
“What brings you here?”
“Well… a letter arrived for you from the Imperial Palace.”
“A letter? From His Majesty?”
At the mention of the palace, Leah immediately thought of Ileigh—the emperor who had coveted Akkia’s place. Her brows furrowed.
Dmitri handed her a letter sealed with an ornate crest.
“No, it’s from the Empress Dowager. An invitation to a tea party. Her servant brought it in person.”
As Leah read the invitation, her fingers trembled slightly. The reason for the Dowager’s invitation was obvious.
She wants to see my misery for herself.
The letter was addressed to “The Duchess of Heidern.”
Seeing this, Dmitri spoke gently, concern in his voice.
“Leah, if you don’t wish to go, then don’t. I’ll send word of refusal—”
“No. I’ll go.”
Leah had already decided to accept. She had wanted to face the Empress Dowager at least once.
Because she’s the enemy I’ll have to deal with.
And she would not forgive the one who had hurt her husband.
Her eyes gleamed with fierce determination.
