Chapter 233
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
“Of course we’ve been doing that already. But we can’t just kill everyone in Bartsch, can we?”
“Not everyone wishes for our disappearance!”
“Maybe not. But once they find out what the Loren family and the Jalliar royal family have been hiding, they’ll tremble with betrayal.”
“It seems they’ve forgotten all we’ve done for them.”
“People tend to remember the negatives more strongly. It’s not like this was unknown to them.”
Adrian leaned back in his chair and said,
“They’ll rise up soon. We must prepare.”
“Are you saying a rebellion will happen?”
“They’ll overthrow the royal family. I don’t know which side the nobles will take, but judging by the atmosphere, it won’t be ours.”
“Adrian, I don’t know why you act so calm, but you can’t just sit here and do nothing.”
Lady Luther raised her voice in frustration.
“If it’s going to happen anyway, how we let it go matters, doesn’t it?”
“…Let go?”
“Do you think you can defeat Duke Heinrich? Even with the royal guards and shadows, they don’t intervene when the king is threatened.”
“…How can you say that so easily? The power we’ve painstakingly gained… just let it go so easily?”
Lady Luther clenched her fists tightly.
“Do you want me to give Mother what you wanted, even now?”
Adrian’s words made her slap her son sharply across the cheek. Contempt glinted in her eyes.
“Try that again. I see now you’re not walking the same path as I am.”
She gathered her maids and left the room where Adrian was staying.
“En.”
At Adrian’s call, En appeared.
“Before that day comes, Duke Heinrich will definitely take Emilia away.”
“I will watch closely. What should I do if I find Madam Heinrich?”
“Bring her here. If she resists, kill her.”
“As you command.”
“No.”
Adrian changed his mind.
“If she’s carrying a child, kill only the child. Use all your forces if necessary.”
That would be a living hell for her. And there would be no greater pain for Mikhail either.
“Understood.”
The king’s shadows, including En, all appeared. Adrian looked down at them kneeling and bowed, then glanced up at the ceiling with a bored expression.
❖ ❖ ❖
Mikhail looked at Emilia sleeping.
‘She said she laughed a lot.’
He felt relieved hearing Boestin’s words. At this point, her words made sense. Emilia could never be happy as long as she stayed by his side.
So he had to keep her away, to protect her from danger.
He brushed Emilia’s hair as she slept.
The doctor kept emphasizing her need for rest, adding that she was physically unstable due to stress.
Mikhail wished he could turn back time. Since he couldn’t, he would try his best now to heal her wounds.
‘When all this is over…’
Maybe then he could focus more on her.
This time, it would probably take longer than before. Adrian would surely have prepared for the coming changes.
“The king’s shadows will move again.”
Since Mikhail had opened his heart to Emilia, anyone targeting him would be attacking her.
That must never happen. He wanted to protect Emilia no matter what. Soon, Bartsch would plunge into chaos.
This place was the worst for someone who needed peace. So he had to do everything possible for her.
“Kartho.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“This time, send them to stay by Emilia’s side.”
Previously, he had unleashed dogs to find her, but that was thwarted because he went first.
“Understood. I will prepare it. But won’t Madam be afraid?”
“I have trained them, so find a way to help them get closer.”
“Yes, understood.”
“What about Dahlia and Byne?”
“They’re the same as usual. People’s reactions haven’t changed much.”
“They must have been told.”
“All preparations are complete. Lady Dahlia is anxious.”
“She probably thinks this happened because of her. It will be fine.”
Mikhail tapped the desk thoughtfully.
“Give Emilia a sword, too.”
“…A sword?”
“Yes. There are those to protect her when I’m not around, but there may be times she needs to step up herself.”
The royal family would deploy all resources at their disposal.
‘I feel strangely uneasy.’
He didn’t distrust those accompanying her, but there were few who could stand against the king’s shadows.
While they pretended to give up protecting the crown and buy time, they might attack Emilia.
They believed Emilia was his weakness. They expected she wouldn’t stay in the duke’s estate and would escape.
“I’m changing the plan.”
Having made up his mind, he spoke to Kartho.
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