Contract Marriage with the Devil Duke - Chapter 70

After sending off all the remaining nobles from the grand duchy, there were several articles about the appearance of evil spirits and Olentia. They said it was an enormous divine power comparable to a saint, which made me blush with embarrassment.

“No, how can they testify like this.”

Still, it was truly fortunate that all the noble guests who came to the grand duchy were safe. Could it be because they were all influential people in the Bonus Empire? The articles that seemed to end in a few days continued to have follow-up reports, and even journalists who directly visited the grand duchy appeared.

Of course, journalists never set foot inside the grand duchy. This was because the head butler chased them all away.

It seemed that the person who would be most surprised by this news was Sokol. Since Dimidius had not separately invited him to the grand duchy’s party, he would surely be more uncertain as he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes.

The elders gathered once again at the grand duchy due to the continued appearance of evil spirits in the Belial territory. When the scandal articles came out, they looked at me with contemptuous eyes, but now they were either curious or grateful for saving the people of the grand duchy. It changed in an instant.

Olentia approached Dimidius, who was coming out after finishing the meeting, and asked.

“What have you decided to do?”

Dimidius sighed for a moment and then grabbed Olentia’s shoulder.

“We need to ask His Holiness the Pope to send priests with divine power, but I’m not sure if it will work out.”

Considering what the church had done to the Armenica family, it didn’t seem likely that the Pope would grant Dimidius’s request.

Olentia shook her head.

“I don’t think it’s good to expect much. They’re a selfish group.”

Olentia was a devout believer in her own way and respected the saint, but she didn’t feel particularly good about the church of the Bonus Empire. Could it be because all the priests didn’t help despite knowing Dimidius’s circumstances?

Dimidius also agreed with Olentia’s words.

“That’s right. I think so too. But the elders no longer tell me to divorce.”

It seemed they had told him to divorce when it was noisy because of the scandal articles. Even hearing his words, Olentia wasn’t very happy. It was because of what Regalis had said on the terrace.

‘If I’m by his side, His Grace the Duke will be in danger.’

Regalis seemed to be the type of person who would do what he said. It didn’t seem like he had just blurted out a threat. Because his eyes were so sincere. Even the atmosphere he emitted was not ordinary. He might do something as bold as the empress.

‘Someday I have to leave His Grace the Duke’s side.’

His words asking her to stay by his side for a long time were still vivid in her heart, but thinking that she had to leave made her feel strange. Even though she had thought it was only for five months.

Olentia awkwardly smiled at Dimidius and then went outside to see off the elders.

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There was one maid who was watching Olentia’s figure and leaving. She was the maid who had given Podion cookies laced with laxatives on Regalis’s orders in the past. She had been writing down Olentia’s every move and sending it to Regalis for quite a large compensation, but she had not yet been caught by Dimidius or his aides.

She had survived unscathed in the process of Dimidius weeding out spies, and she planned to continue doing so.

Because the money Regalis gave was quite large, she was even thinking of leaving the grand duchy altogether once everything was over.

To do that, she had to safely complete her final mission.

“I’m sorry, madam.”

She muttered quietly as she swept the courtyard of the grand duchy.

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Saint Daphne, who was reading the newspaper, headed to the bakery cafe where she had met Olentia before. She was supposed to meet Regalis there.

Daphne’s complexion was very dark. She had been thinking that something like this would come someday, but she was surprised that it came faster than expected. She didn’t know that Olentia’s divine power had become strong enough to eliminate several evil spirits.

Upon arriving at the bakery cafe, Daphne was guided by an employee into a room. The reason Regalis frequented this place was probably because the sweet smell vibrated even if you didn’t eat anything sweet.

A moment later, the door opened and Crown Prince Regalis appeared.

To Daphne’s eyes, Regalis was the brightest and most handsome person. Other people criticized the crown prince for having complicated relationships with women, but Daphne didn’t care about such things at all. Because she knew that Regalis wasn’t sincere to those women anyway.

Since she couldn’t marry anyway because she was a saint, she didn’t even desire the position next to the crown prince. She only wanted him to safely inherit the throne and become an emperor to build a powerful empire. A person who was pleasant just to look at, that was Regalis.

Would Regalis know such feelings?

He sat down and said to Daphne with an indifferent face.

“I didn’t expect you to ask to see me again. Because there was no reason for us to meet after I received help from you, Lady Daphne.”

Daphne thought it was truly a cold-hearted thing to say. It was the same as asking why she was calling him again when there was no more use value.

Daphne pushed a sigh inward and looked at Regalis with her clear green eyes.

“Get rid of Olentia Belial. Your Highness.”

There was no other way now. Since Regalis had tried several times but failed to divorce her, the only option was to kill her. Daphne didn’t want to make such a cruel decision either. She had no bad feelings towards Olentia. But she had to do anything for Regalis.

Seeing Daphne’s unwavering face, Regalis grinned.

“Didn’t you see the article? The rumor that the duke’s wife and I are in that kind of relationship.”

What was the reason for suddenly bringing up such a story?

Daphne thought that article was just something that happened while Regalis was taking various actions to divorce Olentia. But Regalis was acting as if it were true.

Why?

Daphne clenched her fist under the table and said.

“Isn’t it just a vain rumor that occurred while you were approaching the duke’s wife to divorce her from the duke?”

Regalis tilted his head.

“I’m sorry you thought so. Because I’m sincere.”

“What on earth are you saying? Are you saying you actually like the duke’s wife?”

Regalis leaned back in his chair, shaking his leg, and laughed refreshingly.

“That’s right. The duke’s wife is very cute when I look at her.”

Daphne barely managed to hold back from collapsing in shock. It was too ridiculous to show signs of being shocked when she had never expressed her feelings to Regalis. She didn’t want to appear that way.

She had only told Regalis about a serious prophetic dream she had. How did Regalis come to like Olentia?

Daphne inevitably felt her heart burning black with jealousy.

“So you don’t intend to kill her.”

At Daphne’s words, Regalis nodded brightly.

“Of course, it might be better to kill her off rather than let the duke have her, but there’s still a chance left.”

“What kind of chance is left?”

“I mean there’s a way to bring the duke’s wife to my side.”

The gleam in Regalis’s blue eyes didn’t seem like he was planning something ordinary. Daphne once again expressed her opinion.

“Just as it’s difficult to harm His Grace the Duke Belial because of the demonic power he possesses. Someday the duke’s wife may also become so strong that it will be difficult to eliminate her. So now is the only chance.”

Even the empress had sent an assassin to kill the duke but failed. I heard it wasn’t the first time either.

Considering Olentia’s current abilities, it might be difficult even now. So time was of the essence, but Regalis seemed blinded by love.

Then Regalis shook his head.

“No. I saw that power myself. It was powerful. I fell for her even more.”

“So? What are you going to do?”

“I asked the grand magician to create a divine power restraint. So I can either bring the duke’s wife or kill her.”

At the mention of a divine power restraint, Saint Daphne momentarily flinched. It meant that Regalis could also threaten priests with divine power.

Regalis spoke as if everything depended on his hands.

Seeing Daphne’s eyes turn triangular, Regalis waved his hand.

“I have no intention of using it on Lady Daphne or other priests. It’s exclusively for the duke’s wife. I’ve made it very pretty.”

This seems to be a very twisted love.

Daphne thought her own love for Regalis was of a similar nature, but Regalis seemed even worse.

What will become of Olentia Belial in the future?

Daphne had no intention of telling Olentia even if she knew all these facts. Even though she was angry that Regalis loved someone else, it was more important for him to walk safely on a smooth path.

Regalis was taking her prophetic dream seriously. So she thought that might be why he made a divine power restraint to separate Dimidius and Olentia.

It seemed like a bloodbath might occur in the crown prince’s palace soon.

Daphne said to Regalis with a serious face.

“Do you know that the opponent is Dimidius Belial? You could be in danger too, Your Highness.”

Then Regalis shrugged and acted nonchalant.

“If I have the duke’s wife in my hands, he won’t be able to act easily. And the things that happen inside the imperial palace are very secretive, unlike the video stone that was revealed at the hunting competition.”

Thinking that he was quite determined, Daphne got up from her seat. And she said lastly to Regalis.

“Why are you telling me all this? I could interfere knowing this.”

Regalis rested his chin on one hand and winked at Daphne.

“I know you’re on my side until the end. Lady Daphne.”