Chapter 165
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
Despite the strict guards, there was always a slight opening where one might catch a servant or maid. But, aside from Dell, none of the servants were hers—they were all loyal to Mikhail.
‘What are the chances that any of them would deliver a letter to me?’
Emilia’s thoughts were in turmoil, but slowly, they began to settle.
‘On the other hand, what are the chances that he wants me dead?’
Mikhail did not want her to die. That much, she was certain of.
As her thoughts concluded, she saw Dell’s hand, now dangerously close to the gloves.
“…No!”
In a panic, Emilia reached out with her free hand, the one not held by Mikhail, and pushed Dell away.
Dell fell to the floor with a dull thud, lowering her head and tears streaming down her face.
“Ugh… ngh…”
Dell could hardly make a sound, kneeling and crying uncontrollably.
“Kartho.”
At Mikhail’s call, Kartho, who was standing by the door, pulled out a silver spoon wrapped in a handkerchief.
Without a word, he placed it on top of the lace gloves in the box.
The part of the spoon that touched the gloves slowly began to darken.
Emilia felt as if she couldn’t breathe.
“They say Duchess Loren is currently teetering between life and death.”
Her unfocused eyes turned toward him.
According to him, this gift wasn’t from her mother.
He had known from the start that the gloves were poisoned. Yet, he still made Dell touch them.
The thick fingers that had been entwined with hers slowly withdrew.
“How many times will you have to experience that acting out of naivety endangers everyone around you?”
Emilia felt her strength leave her body.
Her body, on the verge of collapsing, was saved only by the strong grip around her waist, preventing her from falling.
“You’re still being manipulated by your family.”
Emilia, still held by him, squeezed her eyes shut.
❖ ❖ ❖
As soon as Mikhail returned, he checked if Emilia had arrived at the estate.
“Madam went straight to her room as soon as she returned with Miss Boestin.”
He nodded and headed for the second floor. Finally, he would be able to see her face, now that the truth had been revealed.
As Mikhail grabbed the railing and stepped onto the stairs, the head maid, Ellyn, hurried over and bowed her head.
“Duke, it seems the madam received a letter a few days ago.”
“A letter?”
Mikhail turned to face Ellyn.
She handed him the letter, sealed with the Loren family crest and rose petals.
Mikhail immediately opened the letter and, as soon as he read its contents, his face twisted in anger.
[“My dear daughter Emilia, please see this.”]
This was not from Duchess Loren. The opening of the letter was written in a style distinctive to the Jalliar royal family. He had received letters from them multiple times and recognized it immediately.
‘It’s Lady Luther’s doing.’
Mikhail quickly realized who was behind this trickery.
“Let’s see how far I can go. A mother who wants to protect her son can be quite ruthless.”
Considering the gentle nature of Duchess Loren, she would never have insisted on sending her daughter to such a dangerous place. Nor would she have used a forced marriage as an excuse to send a gift.
The voice of Lady Luther, filled with irritation, echoed in his mind.
Earlier today, when he was about to leave the council chamber, Lady Luther had requested a meeting.
Mikhail turned to Kartho with a look of disbelief.
“She hasn’t sent a gift, has she?”
“…Your Grace, someone saw a servant bring a gift box up just a few minutes ago.”
“A gift box?”
Upon hearing this, Mikhail rushed up the stairs.
He reached Emilia’s room in an instant and, without knocking, threw open the door. He found Emilia, unaware, opening the box to examine its contents.
Seeing that, his eyes seemed to redden with fury.
He pulled her away from the box, and after seeing the delicate lace gloves, he ground his teeth in frustration.
It seemed that the old fox had grown desperate, to the point of wanting to die.
❖ ❖ ❖
Mikhail looked at Emilia, sitting there with a dazed expression.
Seeing her silent and unmoving only fueled his anger.
“Will you act brazenly or grovel for forgiveness?”
Her head turned at his words. She had been staring into space, but now her eyes met his.
Her once vibrant green eyes were now dull, her face resigned as she silently gazed at him.
“Why…?”
Mikhail muttered in irritation, rising from his seat. He lifted Emilia’s chin and bent down to kiss her.
Emilia accepted the kiss without even closing her eyes. She neither resisted nor responded in any way.
He pressed his tongue deep into her mouth, sweeping it inside and pulling her in forcefully, but all she did was slowly blink.
“Hah.”
This was not what he had intended when he had sent her to the Loren estate.
“Are you suddenly feeling guilty? Is that why you’ll obey me now?”
“…Then will you forgive me?”
Finally, her lips parted. Mikhail bit her ear and spoke.
“Abandon your family.”
If she renounced the name of the Loren family and begged him, claiming she had nothing to do with them, he might consider it.
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