Chapter 86
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From ancient times, the castles of estates boasted sturdy walls and grandeur over aesthetic beauty, not just because of territorial wars but to prepare for monsters that appeared at the start of each new year.
However, the imperial palace of Betelgeuse, located in a safe capital, boasted the most elegant ivory-colored palace and a well-maintained hunting forest.
Since the emperor abhorred ‘dangerous events’, this forest was used for its original purpose only once a year.
As the event drew near, the palace was bustling.
“My my, I didn’t want you to insult your enemy outright, that’s why I suggested that you send your bastard.”
Yet the emperor let out a slight chuckle while reading the same preparation report each year, glancing at the visibly uncomfortable Duke Antares across from him.
“Didn’t you train her too zealously, Duke Antares?”
“That’s not it, Your Majesty. Her mother really… more than I’ve heard, she was more proper than I thought…”
“Tsk. Unless it falls out of the sky. Perhaps that young Duke Arcturus is just too lucky.”
After marrying off the bastard to the duke, the emperor secretly hoped to hear of the duke’s disgrace.
Since the mother of Izar, who had lost her children, was originally from a low-ranked noble family, ruining her was no fun, leaving the Arcturus family itself as the only target of his resentment.
As long as his eldest son and his wife are dead and his second son does not return, this resentful ridicule will continue.
Unfortunately, however, there was no rumor that the duke had lost face because of the bastard.
“Even the anomalies of the monsters keep bringing good fortune to Duke Arcturus.”
It was unbearably irritating. He wanted to properly suppress that arrogant young man, but he couldn’t embarrass him in front of the nobles who had received that punk’s help…
But the Emperor sent a sly glance at Duke Antares while laughing.
“How about inviting that daughter and son-in-law to your banquet? It would be an anticipated occasion for everyone.”
“It would be an honor, Your Majesty. My wife has already included both of them in the invitations.”
“Ah… Good. It will be an enjoyable time for your wife as well.”
“As you say, Your Majesty.”
Duke Antares forced a smile, keen on appeasing the Emperor. If the Emperor wished, he was ready to play the jester—that was how the House of Antares had survived. However, Duke Antares was inwardly beating his chest.
‘Ha. How did I get entangled with that woman?’
She was a mad woman whose tongue had been cut out because she went crazy.
A girl, pretty enough when she first came up from the countryside, had been just a fun fling. Caught by his wife, he ended up trapped for life in such a regrettable situation.
Thus, he willingly participated in killing the mad woman and disgracing Duke Arcturus…
‘But that wench isn’t my daughter.’
Duke Antares had always thought that illegitimate wench was not his daughter. That began when his wife cut out the tongue of the pregnant woman.
He had his promiscuous moments, but he could still remember that time. No matter how he thought about it, the mad woman had fussed several times before fooling around with him.
<I am carrying the seed of a noble person, I cannot be with you, Duke. Please stop.>
He thought she had made such a fuss because she found him less attractive than the previous men she had been with.
So, he gave her a thorough beating.
But upon reflection, her resistance and words had been eerily unnerving.
‘But what can I do if my wife already acted rashly?’
How could he do anything but comply when she cut the woman’s tongue in the barn, splattered blood everywhere, and proclaimed, ‘Murder is for Adamant to punish; I will mercifully conclude this with banishment’?
Frankly, when his wife held the bloody dagger and smiled clearly, Duke Antares peed himself a little right there. No matter how much he insisted that the seed was not his, she wouldn’t listen to such drivel.
The only consolation was that after dumping her far away in the Arcturus estate, his wife no longer showed such frightening demeanor.
Following the Emperor’s command, he had promptly offered up the bastard… But as days passed, he began to feel increasingly uneasy.
‘What if the bastard’s real father is still alive?’
How complicated could things get then?
If the mad woman decided to accuse him and his wife after her tongue was cut, how troublesome would that be?
‘Ha… I don’t know. It was a problem that she spread her legs for just about anyone.’
Anyway, it was clear she was someone’s bastard. If no one claimed to be the father of that woman, then that was that.
At least he had generously prepared her dowry, so he had nothing to feel guilty about on his conscience.
No one would benefit from digging into a past already mired in filth.
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