I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 97

Ironically, it was the First Prince’s private soldiers who helped the Empress escape. The few truly loyal people who remained even after knowing the First Prince wasn’t of royal blood. He had sent these people to the Empress.

But what was sad was that, judging by the corpse beneath the tower of the person who helped the Empress escape, it seemed she had taken their help and then killed them.

Given the obvious signs of strangulation, it appeared she had torn a piece of her dress and strangled them from behind when they weren’t paying attention.

The Empress, who despite having birthed the First Prince through adultery, had taught him only the path of a future crown prince, just as she had been educated. And the First Prince, who despite knowing the Empress’s secret that could be considered betrayal, had split his most trusted forces to help his mother escape while he was on the run.

…Perhaps, just perhaps, if he had used those forces to capture me instead, would the ending have been different?

Even then, it’s just a hypothesis about the ending that wouldn’t have changed. Still, my heart felt heavy.

“…Asilia. Why don’t you go back even now?”

“……”

No matter what, their end was destruction. Also, the few people who followed and helped them, and the Empress’s relatives who aided the First Prince’s rebellion, were all captured and brought to the execution ground.

Though the Emperor and Second Prince recommended that we watch the execution from above with them, given our significant contribution to this incident, we declined.

But not wanting to completely turn away either, I wore a hooded cloak to hide my face and blended in with the shouting crowd.

Though wearing the hood pulled down to my nose looked suspicious to anyone, everyone was too heated about the execution of the traitors, including the Empress, to pay attention.

This strange fervor felt chilling, making me shiver, and Cassion immediately embraced me.

“You don’t have to force yourself. If you’re worried they might escape again, I’ll stay and watch…”

“I don’t think they can escape anymore, with no one left to help them. But… I just, I don’t know. I felt I needed to come.”

The execution began. The Empress would be last – first her household members and maids were beheaded one by one, followed by cheers. This scene felt so surreal.

“……”

For a moment, I thought my eyes met with the Empress’s as she was pushed forward, her turn approaching as people were executed one by one.

What was the difference between her and me?

We both just moved to survive. Was it a matter of timing or choice?

“To be honest, I felt some sympathy for the Empress.”

“Asilia…”

When it was the Empress’s turn, the vengeful cheers of the empire’s citizens grew louder. Unlike the others, she was gagged.

This was the Emperor’s cruel measure, controlling until the end the woman who had wanted to choose at least her final moment.

Kill her, kill her-

“……”

I ended up closing my eyes. Though I had intended not to look away, I had no choice but to.

The sound of the guillotine blade falling echoed especially loud, but I kept my eyes closed and buried myself in Cassion’s embrace.

“Let’s go now, Asilia.”

Cassion gently lifted me up.

“My, what a tender-hearted lass.”

As I kept my eyes closed in his embrace, I heard someone clicking their tongue. Since this was an execution site, they probably thought I had fainted from shock. When I opened my eyes slightly, I felt strange seeing people making way for Cassion carrying me.

It was odd that these same kind people had shouted so loudly for the Empress’s execution.

And strangest of all was me.

After all, I was the biggest contributor to driving her to death. Yet I seemed to be the one feeling the most sympathy for her in this place.

Of course, I don’t regret it. She and I both wanted to live and tried to move by our own will, but we stood at opposite ends.

Still, I kept thinking of what-ifs. If the escaped Empress hadn’t killed her helper and had run to her son instead. If they had met and abandoned their names and positions to flee to somewhere far away. How a moment’s choice can make life so different.

“It just occurred to me…”

I looked up at Cassion, who was now walking through an alley, having left the crowd behind.

“I’m glad I met you that day.”

“That’s my line.”

Though I hadn’t specifically mentioned that ‘that day’ was my wedding night with the Marquis, Cassion seemed to understand perfectly.

“I’m fine now, you can put me down.”

“At least until the carriage…”

“No, I’d like to walk a bit. There’s no one around here.”

I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and got down. Fortunately, my legs didn’t shake embarrassingly. Cassion bent down to his waist to thoroughly examine my complexion.

“Shall we hold hands while walking?”

“…Hmm.”

“You’re such a snake sometimes, yet still innocent in strange ways.”

“Asilia…”

Though calling my name in a troubled voice, Cassion’s warm hand firmly wrapped around my cold one. Interlocking fingers with that hand, we slowly walked away from the still-noisy square.

The usually bustling capital streets were empty.

“…In a way, maybe we had the same beginning too.”

In the distance, I could see the jewelry shop where Cassion and I had bickered. And closer by was the dessert shop we’d visited together.

“A political marriage is basically a contract marriage, isn’t it?”

“Asilia. But we…!”

“We’re different.”

Though the beginning might have been the same, the process was different, and the affection we shared was different. I recalled the Emperor and Empress, who seemed to lack not just affection but even hatred for each other until the end.

Naturally, I didn’t want to end up like that.

“We cared for each other, sympathized with each other, and respected each other.”

“……”

Maybe I could propose a contract marriage to him so boldly because I didn’t know anything. After all, contracts between people don’t usually end successfully.

Life is unpredictable like that.

“We fell in love with each other.”

And I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him, whatever ending might come.

Even if consequences come for destroying the original story and taking its place, I won’t regret my choice.

Suddenly, I wondered what expression the Empress wore at the end. Was there regret in her expression?

“…Cassion. Shall we get our rings fitted now?”

Stopping our increasingly slow walk, I looked at him and smiled. Was my smile too bitter for a proposal? Especially on an execution day. Is this too much?

“Well, I’m not saying we should get them fitted today…”

“Let’s do it today, Asil.”

Cutting off my mumbling, Cassion suddenly dropped to one knee on the street.

“Cassion?!”

“I don’t want to say let’s start over. Every moment I’ve spent with you is precious.”

Though the street is empty now, people will start returning soon since the execution is over. While looking around in panic, Cassion, still on one knee, carefully took my hand in both of his.

Then a light yet heavy kiss landed on my ring finger.

“Be my wife for life. I want to be with you without any conditions or time limits.”

“Cassion.”

“Maybe… because I came up from the bottom. It might seem vulgar, but consider the symbolism, Asil. I want a big ring that can show off what’s between you and me.”

“That’s not vulgar at all. I actually love big rings too.”

“Big enough to crack the skulls of anyone who approaches unnecessarily?”

“Of course. A big, solid jeweled ring that can crack skulls in one hit.”

I chuckled and helped Cassion up with my other hand. As I dusted off his knee, he tried to stop me but seemed secretly pleased with my attention, half-heartedly protesting, which made me laugh.

“Since we’re getting symbolic wedding rings, let’s go all out! Do you have any preferred colors or designs?”

“…Pink?”

“No, that’s a bit…”

I could tell why he chose pink just by looking at my hair swaying in the wind. With that build and that face, wearing a huge pink ring would look too funny.

…Though I was slightly tempted since it would definitely prove ‘this man is mine! He belongs to Asilia!’ as a symbol, I shook my head to dismiss the thought.

“Hmm… since it’s too vague, shall we go into the shop first?”

As we started walking again slowly, the jewelry shop got closer. Judging by the lit interior, the business-minded owner seemed to have kept the shop open instead of going to the Empress’s execution.

“The shop? Hmm.”

“Why? It looks open.”

“That’s not it…”

But Cassion seemed unsatisfied about something and hesitated. Since he rarely showed this side, I felt more curious than frustrated and stretched my neck to look at him, and he naturally leaned down to give me a quick kiss.

“The displayed ones are a bit… I want something one of a kind.”

“Ah, that’s obvious. We’ll have it custom-made. But we still need to look at the ready-made ones for design reference.”

“Ah. If that’s the case.”

Cassion’s expression immediately brightened. See? We match well since he loves shopping too.

I shook off the unpleasant feelings from the execution, imagining the unique, enormous, and brilliant wedding rings he wanted on our hands.

“Then let’s go in!”