Natasha briefly hoped that Cayena’s innocence could be proven with Kyle’s confession letter.

Upon closer inspection of the document, she noticed the imperial seal that should have been stamped at the bottom of the letter was missing.

A letter without a seal would not be accepted as evidence due to concerns of impersonating the imperial family. The paper and handwriting alone could not prove the sender was the emperor.

Kyle had boldly confessed the truth because this letter posed no threat to him.

She pondered why the emperor had sent her such a letter. Though Kyle enjoyed crude games, she believed there was a different intention this time.

‘It’s nothing, madam. Come running like a dog whenever I want to see you.’

The letter was a signal for her to come find Kyle on her own. He likely wanted to negotiate Cayena’s punishment there.

Natasha did not want to respond to his summons. She could barely imagine what threats and mockery she would face there, or what price she would have to pay to secure Cayena’s release.

‘I can’t get help from Sieghart.’

So this was the only way to save Cayena. With their story being dismissed now, there was no normal way to prove her innocence.

‘I have to… save Cayena.’

She was the child who was willing to die for her. Her savior who extended a helping hand when everyone else had turned their backs on her.

It was now time for Natasha to repay that kindness.

After deliberating, she tore off a piece of paper from her notebook.

“I will head to the imperial palace as soon as I’m ready, so please prepare a carriage.”

The servants wouldn’t be able to completely ignore imperial business.

She placed the note and a stone in front of her room before leaving.

After confirming the duchess’s identity, the guard began escorting her to the audience chamber. They seemed to be aware of Natasha’s audience despite it being an unscheduled visit.

“His Imperial Majesty is inside, so you may enter.”

The knight stopped in front of the audience chamber and knocked on the door, which then opened from the inside.

Walking on the carpet strewn with rose petals, she finally stopped in front of the steps. Before her, Kyle Letius sat upon the imperial throne.

He lifted the heel of the shoe on his crossed leg. The well-polished brown shoe gleamed under the chandelier.

“I didn’t expect the noble duchess to enter the beast’s lair first?”

The emperor feigned ignorance despite having long prepared for today’s visit. He seemed satisfied that his prey had been caught in the trap he had set.

“…I read your letter well, Your Imperial Majesty.”

“I was worried if it would be delivered properly, but I’m glad it found its owner. By the way, I didn’t expect you to come alone? I thought you’d cling to your husband’s pant leg, saying you didn’t want to come, since you hate the palace more than anyone.”

“…”

“Ah, have you already tried that? Did you cry pitifully saying ‘Please believe in the maid’s innocence—’?”

A few days ago, Natasha had visited the prison wanting to see Cayena, and it seemed Kyle had heard about it.

The man mockingly repeated what Natasha had said that day. He deliberately stretched his voice thin to imitate her voice.

She had to endure. Resisting here would only make things worse for her side. She needed to finish her plan before things got even messier.

“I apologize. I don’t understand what you’re saying at all. I came to turn myself in. It was I who planned to poison the duke, O great emperor.”

Natasha decided to become the culprit herself.

The fact that the emperor was the real culprit was beyond the realm of what a powerless person like her could reveal. But she couldn’t abandon the innocent Cayena either.

If she became the culprit, the sentence would be reduced. The desperate Kyle who wanted to torment her would at least spare her from execution.

Imprisonment, beatings, dishonor, and finger-pointing were a small price to pay if it could save Cayena.

“What?”

“So please release the innocent maid now. The punishment is my due for committing the crime.”

Kyle blinked before bursting into laughter.

“Madam, you’ve used your head somewhat? Surely you’re not confessing now to have yourself thrown into the underground prison—”

He rose from the throne and descended the steps.

“If you’re the culprit, did you think the treatment would be different? Did you think I couldn’t put you on the guillotine like that wench?”

Kyle gradually closed the distance and came right up to Natasha’s face. Then the emperor brought her hair to his lips.

The sensation of her own hair brushing against his lips was so creepy she wanted to gouge it out herself.

“You’re smart, madam. How could I execute you? It’s hard enough to imprison you in a desolate jail.”

The emperor’s sticky voice invaded her ear. Natasha flinched at the whisper that forcefully blew hot breath into her ear. Kyle seemed to relish even such a subtle reaction and increased unnecessary contact.

Long fingers roamed every corner of her body, creating unwanted interactions. Everywhere the man’s touch landed felt like ants crawling over her skin.

“Seeing your sincerity, I’ll have that wench released. But know that you owe me? I’ll collect this debt very slowly over a very long time.”

Debt.

Another shackle was placed on her feet because of today.

Kyle seemed determined to follow Natasha for life. He would attach the label of ‘his woman’ to her and torment her for a lifetime. It was truly horrifying and miserable.

Searching for a way out, Natasha recalled a document she had placed on her dressing table in her room.

At first she hesitated because of her own safety and that of others, but now it didn’t matter anymore.

The duke’s family wouldn’t protect Natasha’s acquaintances anyway, like today.

‘If I divorce, this too will all…’

On the day she received Sieghart’s cold neglect, Natasha took out the document she had hidden deep in her desk drawer.

She thought it was impossible now. The duke’s family didn’t protect the woman and the people around her anyway. If she was going to be exposed to danger either way, she decided she might as well live freely.

She planned to run far away with Cayena after her release. She would leave for the annex, bring Lord Dante along, and then set off to find their own place.

So today would be the last day of mistreatment from Kyle and Sieghart.

“Just in case, it’s better not to think about running away.”

“…”

“I hate getting bored the most, madam.”

He came down from his seat and pulled Natasha’s hair as she knelt.

“…Ugh!”

Her head was tilted back towards the ceiling. The pain of her scalp being torn was excruciating. But what was more terrifying was the emperor’s fingers crawling over her stiff neck.

“If you’re thinking of divorcing the duke, you’d better give up. The divorce papers will be rejected. By the emperor’s opinion, several times.”

“…What do you…”

“It means shut up and obey me.”

The man acted as if he had read Natasha’s mind. He seemed to know that she had prepared divorce papers.

Kyle laughed out loud at the woman’s expression tinged with bewilderment.

His mouth splitting into a large grin and blue eyes curving into half-moons. The wrinkles piling up on his forehead and nostrils expanding and contracting repeatedly.

He was an evil demon who took interest in others’ misfortunes.

“Why… ”

Natasha opened her mouth with a trembling voice.

Why?

She had already tasted misfortune. Wasn’t it enough to have suffered so much over the past time?

To me who finally opened up, why are you again…!

“…Why are you doing this to me? Why, why…!”

Then the man replied sarcastically.

“It’s troublesome if the dog helping my entertainment escapes.”

“…”

“And coincidentally, someone recommended you for that position.”

Saying that her downfall and tragedy were just a spectacle for him.

There was no other reason. In the past it was for the glory of the empire, now it was for fun that he repeatedly plunged Natasha into the abyss of misfortune.

“Thanks to the princess, I had some fun, so I’ll give you a gift too.”

A knocking sound pierced Natasha’s dazed ears.

“You’ll even see your husband’s face that you never see, thanks to me. Be sure to thank me, okay?”

Eventually the door opened, and footsteps filled the silence.

The intensity of the steps, the speed and stride of the walk. They were maddeningly familiar.

“I thought we agreed not to call me for things like this.”

The man’s deep voice confirmed it. She felt his gaze fixed on her from behind. It was a truly chilling and dizzying sensation.

“This time it’s emperor versus duke, interrogator versus victim, so don’t be so sensitive. I’ve found the culprit who tried to assassinate the duke.”

“Is that so, who is it?”

“Your wife?”

“…”

“The madam came and confessed. She said she hated her husband who despises her so much that she poisoned him.”

Natasha found the gaze fixed on her contemptuous. She was mortified beyond belief that the man was looking at her kneeling knees, her disheveled hair, her blank expression as if she had lost her mind.

“You’re talking nonsense. I’ll take the princess with me. Since you say the culprit is someone else, I’ll take the imprisoned maid as well.”

Sieghart took another step forward and grabbed Natasha’s arm. He roughly lifted her up as if picking up luggage strewn on the floor and headed outside.

Once outside, Sieghart walked ahead of her, heading somewhere. Judging by his familiarity with the route, it seemed they were heading to the underground prison.

The man who had been silent throughout the journey suddenly stopped and turned around.

“You came to the imperial family and confessed that you were the culprit.”

His voice was full of exasperation.

“Even though the princess is the culprit, they’re not detaining her and even releasing the maid wench – it’s as good as saying they’ll cover up the matter.”

“…”

“It means the Asthart ducal family now owes a debt to the imperial family because of the princess.”

He had shot cold words before, but this was the first time he had been so angry. Natasha shrank from her accuser.

She knew it. She knew that the man who didn’t love her wouldn’t worry about her because of today’s events.

Her chest ached at his utter indifference, even more callous than she had expected, busy only scolding Natasha.

“If you’re not a fool, never get involved with the imperial family again. Once is enough to be entangled with the imperial family because of the princess.”

He finished speaking through gritted teeth. The blood vessels above his glaring eyes looked like they would burst at any moment.

Getting involved with the imperial family once because of her was enough? It was as if he was claiming that his previous relationship with the imperial family had started because of Natasha.

But it had been over ten years since he began interacting with the imperial family…

She was puzzled, but didn’t dare to ask.

She simply ignored her curiosity, thinking she must have misheard.