I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 82

“Asilia has nothing to do with the death of her family and the Marquis.”

Before I could answer, Cassion, who seemed even angrier than me, replied sharply. Whether due to anger or because her status had been lowered due to confinement, he spoke informally, but no one pointed it out.

“Let’s say that’s the case.”

The Empress, raising one eyebrow, seemed to mock the content of Cassion’s words rather than caring about his informal speech. Meeting her eyes once again, she really seemed to envy me… it felt strange.

“While the Empress’s circumstances are pitiful, I can’t pass the crown to the First Prince, who isn’t even my blood. Don’t be too disappointed.”

The Emperor spoke with an expression and tone that didn’t seem pitiful at all, crossing his arms. His attitude was so indifferent that even I, an unrelated party, felt hurt.

If someone was raised solely for marriage to such a person, and their partner’s attitude was like that, anyone would feel frustrated.

However, that doesn’t justify the Empress’s actions.

“Still, you’ve performed your duties as Empress well for over 20 years, so if you tell us where the First Prince might have fled, I’m inclined to lighten your punishment. Or perhaps a villa where your family has hidden him.”

“……”

“As you said, you were raised being revered from birth. Isn’t it uncomfortable to stay in a place like this without any attendants? You probably don’t have much affection for the Prince either, so let’s not make this difficult for each other.”

“……”

“Lione, let’s correct your mistakes even now. Tell us anything you know.”

The Emperor and Lorang took turns trying to persuade the silent Empress.

After briefly looking up at the ceiling made entirely of cold stone, the Empress closed her eyes and shook her head.

“Where does Your Majesty think that child has gone?”

“I don’t know, that’s why I’m asking.”

“How would I know what Your Majesty doesn’t?”

The Empress once again looked at the people in the room, then fixed her gaze on me outside the door. Why does she keep looking at me?

“All I do is ‘strengthen the inner court as the Empress.’ What else would I know? I’ve never learned or thought about anything else.”

“But Lione! He’s… your son.”

“You didn’t understand me, Lorang.”

“……”

“I was taught how to raise the next emperor as an empress, but I don’t know how to treat a son as a mother. How would I know where that child, who can’t even become emperor, might go?”

“Lione.”

“Family villas? How would I know about such things? I’ve never been outside the capital mansion where I was born and raised, and the imperial palace in my entire life. Those who educated me came to my room; the only time I went out on my own was when I met you, Lorang. How could I possibly know what’s beyond the capital?”

The Empress, muttering while running her hand along the wall of the narrow tower, stopped when the chain on her ankle reached its limit. About 1m from the small, hard bed. That’s the entire distance allowed to the Empress.

“Isn’t it strange? Such a narrow and stuffy place… but I’m not particularly uncomfortable. My original life wasn’t much different from this.”

“It sounds like you’re giving up on your release to protect the First Prince.”

“You’ve misunderstood my words, Your Majesty. But it doesn’t matter.”

Returning to the bed, the Empress sat down rather rudely in front of the Emperor.

She smiled pleasantly at this impolite behavior that she couldn’t have done during her time as Empress.

“The point is, you’ve come all this way, but I have no information to give you. Where a fake prince raised under pretend parents might run off to… only he would know.”

“Empress. If I leave now, you’ll never have another chance.”

“It might be quite interesting to watch from up here whether that child can re-enter the palace and take his place. Such things weren’t in the imperial etiquette.”

“You might be able to endure now. But after a month, two months, and more than a year, you’ll regret this moment.”

“That’s the kindest thing you’ve said since our marriage. But I’m feeling quite free in this tower that’s barely a span wide…”

“……”

“Striking the chains until my feet break, tearing dry bread with my hands, it’s all by my will. I find it quite interesting.”

“Tsk. I should have paired the Duchess with the Second Prince earlier. What a pity.”

Along with a clicking of the tongue, the Emperor unexpectedly mentioned me, causing Cassion’s expression to turn grim. I quickly tried to calm him by gently stroking the back of his hand, trying not to be too obvious.

“It’ll be busy working without an Empress to strengthen the inner court for a while. Duke, I trust you’ll help a lot along with the Second Prince.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Close the stone door.”

There wasn’t even a simple farewell. The Emperor and Empress turned away without meeting each other’s eyes again, while only Lorang stood with a sad face, watching the slowly closing door.

“Lione…! Say something…!”

“…Goodbye.”

Thud-

Despite Lorang’s pitiful urging, the silent Empress seemed to say something in a very small voice just before the door closed. But it was such a small and short sound that it might have been misheard due to the heavy closing of the door and the following sound of the lock being secured.

“Your Majesty, if we could persuade Lione, I mean the Empress, a little more…!”

“Tsk tsk. You don’t know her very well, either. Even if we cut off her arms and legs, she won’t say a word about the First Prince.”

Even at the hypothetical mention of cutting off arms and legs, Lorang’s face turned pale. In contrast, the Emperor, as indifferent as when he arrived, began to descend quickly, his robes fluttering.

“We’ve just wasted time.”

While he had somewhat matched our pace on the way up, he didn’t do so on the way down.

As I shivered slightly from an inexplicable chill while watching the Emperor’s already vanished traces, Cassion wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

“…Let’s go down, Asil.”

I didn’t want to stay in this cold tower any longer.

***

“His Majesty has arranged for you to discuss the current situation with His Highness the Second Prince.”

When we came down from the tower, the Emperor was nowhere to be found, and a waiting attendant relayed the message.

I felt a bit dumbfounded, thinking it’s not just passing the buck, but isn’t he too unconcerned when a civil war might break out? Cassion gently wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

“We don’t have to go right away, do we? Tell them I’ll be there after I take my wife to the Duke’s residence.”

“What? Why me?”

Despite being a Duke, Cassion unhesitatingly told the Prince to wait, escorted me into the imperial carriage, and then shoved Lorang in.

Why are you suddenly trying to send me away?

“You should rest at the Duke’s residence with Lorang. We’ll only be talking about the search for the First Prince anyway.”

“Ah…”

If that’s the case, there’s nothing for me to say. Until now, I’ve been giving advice based on the original story, but I don’t know anything about war.

The completely twisted original story due to the butterfly effect suddenly hits me anew.

“It might take a while, but don’t leave the Duke’s residence under any circumstances. If possible, it would be good to refrain from garden walks too. I’ll caution the knights… I’m sorry, Asil.”

“What do you have to be sorry for? I’ll stay cooped up in the room and be careful.”

It seems Cassion is worried about an attack on the Duke’s residence, probably because we’re the main culprits who brought down the First Prince and the Empress.

I’d rather not cause harm by trying to help at times like this. It might be more practical to look for hiding spots or escape routes in the Duke’s residence instead.

“Even if the Empress’s family helps, the First Prince’s forces won’t be large. Some nobles might secretly support him behind the scenes… but since the nobles who followed him were all staunch supporters of the class system, it’s unlikely they’ll continue to support the First Prince who’s no longer of imperial blood.”

“That’s right. We just need to prepare for any situation, but we still have the upper hand.”

“So don’t overdo it either. You still haven’t heard my answer, you know.”

“…Right. That’s true.”

I smiled at him, feeling the newly bought dagger hidden inside my dress. Cassion, who had been keeping a stern expression, also smiled and replied to my words.

Just a few hours ago, we were on a date in a ticklish atmosphere, thinking about how to confess.

“It seems like you keep putting it off, but I must be mistaken, right Asil?”

“Well, what do you think?”

I laughed out loud, deliberately teasing him, but my heart felt heavy.

Even I, who know nothing about war, could predict that Cassion, a war hero and the Second Prince’s closest aide, would be at the forefront of the civil war.