I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 52.1

The innkeeper shook his head knowingly, as if understanding the situation, even as he saw Lorang being dragged along in tears.

“Well, at least he’s not a complete fool. Just don’t beat him too loudly.”

“Of course. We won’t cause any disturbance. Don’t come up tonight, we won’t need anything.”

“I’m sure you know what you’re doing. Sigh, when will he ever learn, at his age…”

We had brought our own dinner, so we declined the meal usually sent to our room.

Lorang gazed at the innkeeper with tearful eyes, silently begging for help, but the man merely sighed and looked away, seemingly weary of the whole affair.

There’s no way we’d let Lorang escape, but even if we did lose him for a moment, we could just say he stole our travel money, and the whole village would be out looking for him. That’s reassuring.

“Hmm~ Where should we put him?”

I locked the door, thinking how fortunate it was that this room was quite spacious compared to our previous lodgings. Then, looking around, I folded a spare blanket into a cushion-like shape and patted it.

“Sit him here.”

Cassion, with a disapproving expression, looked around some more, then took some rope from our luggage, tied Lorang’s hands and feet, and shoved him onto the blanket. Oh my, this won’t do.

“Don’t do that. He’s an important witness.”

“Just not beating him to make him talk is already treating him well.”

“Oh, come on. Besides, handsome men should be handled more gently.”

“Ha! Come to think of it, the First Prince does resemble that slick face quite a bit.”

To be honest, it’s beyond mere resemblance. If you styled them similarly and put them side by side, anyone would see they were father and son.

The prince, being well-fed and well-raised, and taking after the Empress’s sturdy image, has a more manly and heavy feel, but compared to the current Emperor, the difference is stark.

“Did… did the Empress send you to bring me?”

“Hmm~. That’s not it. Rather, they’re monitoring you to prevent you from coming to the capital.”

“Monitoring me?!”

“Of course. Did you think you escaped the Empress’s grasp just by coming to this village and changing your name? They’re still receiving reports on your every move.”

Of course, we’re not certain about this.

But we chose to intimidate him rather than beg for his help, so scaring him was the priority for now.

“That, that can’t be… I did everything they told me, why are they still…”

“How naive. You can never escape from under the Empress’s thumb until you die.”

We exchanged glances as we saw Lorang’s despairing face.

In fact, just leaving him alive and under surveillance is already a huge risk for the Empress, so we think there must be some remaining feelings, whether love or memories, on the Empress’s part.

However, it was clear that those feelings wouldn’t be enough to overlook a threat to the First Prince’s bloodline, so if we provoked and set fire to the situation, they might try to eliminate him to destroy the evidence. But there was no need to enlighten Lorang, who hadn’t thought that far.

“But it’s different if you accept our help.”

“Help… me?”

“Yes, help. Haven’t we been saying it all along? We’ll sponsor you.”

“But you’ve tied me up like this… and threatened me…”

Still complaining even while sniffling? I looked at Lorang again as he twisted his face in feigned innocence, and I began to put away the whip and offer the carrot.

“How long will you live in hiding, always on edge? Unable to fully use your abilities? Wouldn’t you rather reveal the truth honorably and realize justice?”

“How dare I do such a thing! I’d be caught and beheaded immediately!”

“Didn’t we say we’d help prevent that? As you said yourself, you didn’t know she was the Empress, and you’re showing the courage to confess the truth to the current Emperor and realize justice, even at the risk of execution.”

“I don’t have that kind of courage.”

Is this guy for real? Is he bragging?

“Courage is something everyone has. It’s nothing special. You just need a little spark…”

“Not me! What spark? I’m like soaked firewood. No, there’s not even any firewood! Not even ashes left…”

“Ah, I wasn’t finished speaking!”

When I shouted at the whining Lorang, he shrank back. Why did you interrupt? I don’t want to harm you, who will become our helper.

“You keep thinking only about the Empress, but have you considered who the true ruler of this empire is? You’re deceiving the one and only Emperor who unified this empire.”

“You need to know what the greatest sin is.”

“We’re trying to help you take the right path, to make the end of that path less treacherous, but it’s troublesome if you show this attitude. Do you think we’re some kind of charity?”

As I wielded the whip again, moisture welled up in Lorang’s eyes. This is getting tiresome now. The Empress must have had quite a time with this man. I wonder if he was even more infuriating in his youth?

“What… What do you want me to do? What do you want from me?”

That’s right, he’s coming around!

“You need to reveal the truth. We’ll put you on the stand in the imperial court.”

“C-court…!”

“Court. Did you think we’d just blurt out such an important matter on the street? You’re a witness, and the accused is the Empress. It’s a trial that will cause an uproar, so we need to be prepared.”

“I can’t do it! I can’t!”

“You seem to think you have a choice in this matter…”

At my glance, Cassion slowly drew his knife. Lorang gasped and struggled, but it didn’t seem easy with his hands and feet tied.

“It’s either realizing justice or punishment. No one would say anything if we were to take your head right here and now.”

“The, the villagers…”

“We’re nobles, and it’s easy to overlook punishing someone who insulted a noble and stole valuables, isn’t it? Besides, it doesn’t seem like anyone in this village particularly cares for you.”

As I spoke nonchalantly while examining my perfectly manicured nails, Lorang hung his head. But when Cassion pressed the knife close, he straightened his back again and looked at me imploringly.

Bang bang-

“What now? I told them not to come up today…”

Just as I was thinking it was time to offer the carrot after all that whipping, the inn room door shook violently. This kind of interruption isn’t good. Feeling slightly annoyed, I was about to open the door when Cassion, who had approached silently, grabbed my hand and shook his head quietly.

Bang! Bang bang!

“…Who is it?”

‘It’s me, the art shop owner! Come on, open the door! Lorang! I know you’re in there!’

“Huh.”

I let out a breath in disbelief. The art shop owner? Isn’t that the person who was telling Lorang to sell his body and kicking him out this morning? We haven’t been interrogating him for long, but the rumors have already spread?

“I, I’m here! I’m inside!”

No matter how you look at it, this isn’t just the art shop owner. Since Lorang is a painter, it’s clearly the Empress’s spy disguised as someone coming to buy art supplies. Moreover, listening carefully, it’s clear there’s more than one person.

But Lorang, who doesn’t know anything, seems to think it’s just an acquaintance from the village coming to save him from being threatened, and he shouted at the top of his lungs towards the door.

Thinking that if we delay any longer, the inn would just become noisy, I signaled to Cassion, and after dragging the rope-bound Lorang and stuffing him behind the bed, I sat down next to him.

Only after confirming that Lorang and I were safely in the back did Cassion place his hand on his sword hilt and open the door. As expected, he wasn’t alone; there was a companion who looked quite burly at first glance.

“See! Didn’t I say the villagers wouldn’t stand by? Vincent! Vincent, I’m here!”

What should we do with this tactless person? Cassion and I simultaneously sighed as we watched the two men enter the room without permission. Still, there were fewer people than expected, so it seems the Empress didn’t station knights in the village but only left informants to relay messages.