If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 264

‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.

The Grand Duke threw his head back and let out a loud, mirthless laugh. As if he found this strange, one-sided exchange genuinely amusing. Esther’s lips turned pale with suppressed anger.

“That’s right. I suppose you’re curious why I’ve kept you alive instead of simply killing you. Well, since you’re as good as dead anyway, I’ll show you a little mercy and satisfy your curiosity.”

He brushed the dust from his collar as if recounting nothing more than idle gossip.

“That Vernat fellow—your arrogant brother. You have no idea how much he’s gotten on my nerves all these years. Just because he happened to catch the Emperor’s eye, he strutted around like he owned the sky. I was disgusted every time I saw it. I’ve been waiting for the day I could teach him a lesson. Isn’t it the duty of royalty, of a master, to chastise and correct foolish servants? But instead of learning his place, he grew more insolent every day under the Emperor’s favor. He’s long past the point where a simple scolding would do.”

“…”

“So what should I do with him? If words don’t work, I’ll force him to his knees. That’s why you’re here, as leverage.”

“So you’re planning to use me—to threaten my brother?”

Esther gritted her teeth as she spoke. Was this mad Grand Duke really saying he’d get rid of her last living family, and use her to do it?

“Threaten? You think a mere threat is punishment enough for such insolence?”

“Then what—?”

“For bringing shame to royalty, the penalty must be paid in blood.”

Blood. Death. She’d expected as much, but even so his words made Esther squeeze her eyes shut for a moment.

“You’ll make a perfect bait. Who would have thought that Vernat, who risked everything on rebuilding after the war, was really a prince from a fallen kingdom? If I inform the Emperor of that little secret, he’ll be a dead man.”

“No. You’re wrong about that.”

The Grand Duke burst out laughing again, clearly amused by the way the gypsy dared to talk back, even as he held her life in his hands.

“I have to admit, you’ve got nerve—talking so boldly to the man holding your fate.”

“My brother will never fall to someone like you. If anything, you’re the one who’s been spoiled by the luck of being born royal. If your so-called conquest hadn’t succeeded, you wouldn’t even be royalty, you’d just be a powerless prince from some borderland, dead by your brother’s sword. You can’t do a thing to him—not even touch a hair on his head.”

The Grand Duke’s smug expression finally soured for the first time. Useless royal… It was an insult he’d heard all his life, and the one that stung the most.

Esther’s words had struck a nerve. His mask of composure slipped away.

“I’ve spent a long time pondering how I should kill you after everything is done. Just now, I made up my mind.”

He had no idea that Esther felt no fear at the thought of her own death. Threatening her life was useless. If anything, it only rekindled her will to live, for one reason: to ensure her brother’s safety.

“It seems you can’t handle the truth, Grand Duke. The last prince of Amasril is someone you’ll never measure up to.”

Crack. Before she could even finish, the Grand Duke slapped her hard across the face.

This kind of pain meant nothing to her. Not threats, not pain, not even the threat of death could shake her.

“It’s human nature to get angry when someone hits a sore spot.”

“What did you say?”

“Just like you’re doing now. You know your own incompetence better than anyone. It must burn, having your deepest secret uncovered by someone you look down on. And to think, a ‘noble’ royal like you resorts to violence at the first sign of trouble…”

With a scornful smile, Esther watched as the Grand Duke realized none of his threats were getting through to her.

“Insolent girl. You really are just like your brother—rushing in without a care for your place. But it won’t last much longer. Soon, I’ll sweep aside all you worthless insects and claim the throne. Don’t bother begging for mercy then. The pain I’ll inflict will make you wish for death.”

Esther fell silent for a moment, deep in thought.

‘Claim the throne…?’

Listening to the Grand Duke as he hid his inferiority complex with a foolish act of anger, Esther finally understood his true motives. The reason for all of this—the reason he wanted to use her against her brother.