Dietrich did not move.
Ileon’s subordinates rushed at Dietrich, and until they completely bound him with ropes, he stood still in place, calmly gazing at Ileon.
“Dietrich Calypso. You are no longer the Duke of Abelon, nor the Commander of the Imperial Knights. We hereby strip you entirely of Calypso Castle.”
To Ileon’s words, Dietrich gave no reply.
Meeting Dietrich’s silence, Ileon stared back with fierce eyes.
“You murdered the ministers and insulted the sovereign. Such crimes deserve punishment by military authority.”
“Your Majesty.”
Dietrich’s following voice was so low it created the illusion of echoing from a deep abyss.
“Where exactly is the evidence proving I murdered the ministers?”
That was right.
The ministers’ corpses bore no stab wounds from a blade, nor any signs of poison.
Dietrich was claiming that Ileon’s punishment was unjust.
There was suspicion, but no physical proof.
In this situation, where nothing could be proven, stripping Dietrich of his position as Commander of the Imperial Knights would cause the majority of the imperial knights to rise up in revolt.
“If you provide a convincing reason, I will accept the punishment without complaint.”
Ileon’s insides twisted tightly at the calmness of that voice.
He knew Dietrich was guilty, yet there was nothing he could do.
“Do I really have to imprison your lover before you kneel to me?”
Ileon stepped closer to Dietrich.
Even with both hands bound by rope, Dietrich’s eyes remained arrogantly defiant.
“Since I am the Emperor, how dare you look at me with such arrogance, as if sitting atop my head?”
Ordinarily, when cornered, one would feel fear.
Yet Dietrich, even now as everything was being taken from him once more, remained unnervingly composed.
Ileon was displeased—by Dietrich’s expression, and by the situation surrounding him.
He was the one handing down punishment, yet somehow, he couldn’t understand why he felt himself cautiously watching Dietrich’s reactions.
Since when had it become like this?
Had his decision to ignore Dietrich, thinking the man would never dare rise against him, been the root of this disaster?
While seizing military power, Dietrich had slowly consumed the palace as if it were his own.
The Emperor’s mad dog had walked into the palace from the start with the intent to destroy Abelon.
Dietrich, who had survived within the enemy’s imperial court and risen to a position threatening Ileon’s very life, now resembled an executioner ready to sever his head at any moment.
Even bound by rope, the sheer calmness he maintained was nothing short of astonishing.
As Ileon looked at Dietrich, he recalled Celie alone.
Beauty overflowing, worthy of her title as the first love of all people.
Celia Brillion, with her dazzling silver hair and green eyes, had such a lovely smile.
The princess of the Shan Kingdom, who despite losing everything by Ileon’s own hand and being subjected to men’s desires, had not succumbed to despair.
“I will decline Your Majesty’s invitation to dance.”
Like sand slipping through fingers the tighter one grasped, she had never truly been within his reach.
Celia’s striking first encounter with Ileon flashed through his mind.
“Is the Duke also thinking only of what he’d like to do with me?”
The woman who had spoken slowly blinking her green eyes, dressed in a white mermaid gown.
“I desire nothing at all.”
Even though her heart was rotten and decayed, she had claimed to desire nothing.
Her bright red lie had intrigued Ileon.
Originally, according to plan, it should have been Celia’s face that was ruined.
Not Jeremy’s, who posed no threat to him, but with the drug provided by Erpia.
The change in plan was entirely because—
“Sorrow won’t improve the situation, will it?”
She had said this while smiling brightly.
Though stars and moon had shone brilliantly that night, it was as if only that woman emitted light.
What if, at that moment, he had ruined Celia’s face?
If he had given her the drug as originally planned?
Would Dietrich’s indifferent eyes have remained so serene? Would he have dared defy the Emperor so brazenly?
“It’s all because of that woman.”
Ileon let out a voice like a sigh.
“Should I tear apart your lover’s limbs and throw her to the monsters so you finally come to your senses?”
“…Then did Your Majesty throw your own younger sister to the monsters?”
At Dietrich’s words, Ileon’s pupils darkened. He didn’t know how Dietrich had learned of Arthur’s deed.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Coincidentally, a clump of pink hair emerged from the stomach of the high-rank monster I killed during the hunting tournament.”
“…”
“Flesh may be digested and vanish, but hair does not get digested. Even if it’s a monster.”
“Do you think there are only one or two people with pink hair in the empire? My younger sister Reina is perfectly alive.”
“Then bring her before me.”
At Dietrich’s words, Ileon raised one eyebrow.
“Then I shall walk into prison of my own accord.”
“Dietrich. I could throw you into prison this instant, or behead you right here. Why should I listen to you?”
“If you don’t.”
Dietrich paused, then wore a meaningful smile.
Lifting one corner of his lips, his smile was chillingly beautiful.
The subordinates nearby involuntarily gasped at the sight.
“An extremely troublesome situation will arise, Your Majesty.”
“What are you all doing? Drag him to the underground prison!”
At Ileon’s order, the subordinates snapped back to attention and moved to drag Dietrich away.
Even then, the proud lift of Dietrich’s head and his composed expression disturbed Ileon deeply.
“…Find out exactly who set the Ministers’ Hall on fire.”
Ileon, suppressing his fury, issued the order to his aide.
[This is the timeline separator]Before the Ministers’ Hall caught fire, Celia went with Sir Anderson to a shabby tavern located outside the palace.
The old, run-down tavern had only the dark-circled tavern keeper and a single customer.
Celia spotted a man huddled in a corner of the tavern.
Empty liquor glasses were scattered messily across the man’s table and the floor.
Yet the man showed no signs of drunkenness whatsoever.
His massive build was so large it seemed less human and more like a giant.
“Your Grace.”
At Celia’s voice, the man stopped drinking and looked up at her, dressed in a black robe.
Beneath his brown hair, sharp gray eyes glinted.
The man was none other than Balt.
“How did you know I was here?”
Balt placed a hand on the sword at his waist.
“I just had a feeling you’d be here.”
At Celia’s reply, Balt let out a dry chuckle.
“Hmm. Really? Should I pretend I don’t know anything and let this pass?”
Balt removed his hand from the sword and downed the liquor in one gulp.
He licked the liquor from the corner of his mouth and smirked.
“So, what do you want from me?”
Celia gestured with her eyes for Sir Anderson to step away. Anderson’s brow furrowed.
The man before them was Balt.
One of only two Swordmasters in the empire.
If Anderson stepped away and something happened—
The mere thought was horrifying, so Anderson spoke each word with heavy emphasis.
“The Duke of Calypso specifically ordered me to serve and protect the lady under any circumstances.”
“…It’s alright.”
Celia nodded reassuringly at Anderson, as if telling him not to worry.
“Nothing will happen.”
Faced with her determined gaze, Anderson fell silent.
“Sir Anderson, please step aside with the tavern keeper.”
“…”
“This is very important. It will only take a moment. Can you do that?”
His hesitation silenced by her words, Anderson closed his eyes and reluctantly answered.
“Very well. But if anything happens, call me immediately. I will wait by the door.”
Anderson had no choice but to follow Celia’s request.
Thud.
With the door closed, only Balt and Celia remained in the tavern.
Balt opened his lips, watching Celia sit unhesitatingly in the chair opposite him.
“You didn’t come here just to drink with me.”
Balt tapped his fingers against the table where the liquor cup lay.
Tap. Tap.
“Do you have something specific to say to me?”
Celia opened her mouth, looking straight into Balt’s eyes.
“I’ll be brief.”
“…”
“You already know who I truly am, don’t you?”
Balt stopped tapping the table and stared at Celia.
“That you’re the Brillion angel? Or… the princess of the Shan Kingdom, destroyed ten years ago?”
“So you did know.”
“…I wouldn’t have known if Arthur hadn’t mentioned it.”
Balt narrowed his brows.
“Ten years ago, you also bear responsibility for the destruction of my kingdom.”
At Celia’s bold statement, Balt twisted his lips in amusement.
“So. What is it you want from me?”
Celia smiled faintly.
“Help me eliminate Ileon.”
“…”
“In return, I’ll spare your life.”
Balt laughed heartily, as if finding it amusing.
“I’m a Duke of Abelon, just like that bastard. Why should I do this for you?”
“If you refuse, you won’t walk out of this place alive.”
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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