The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 4

Episode 4. The Escape Route Is That Way

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

Just as Emilia was wondering how to persuade the Grand Duke, the knock snapped her back to reality. The door opened quietly, and a woman who appeared to be in her late twenties entered, holding a tray with a small teapot, teacups, and some refreshments.

“Pleased to meet you, my lady. I’m Rosie, a maid at the Duke’s estate.” The woman bowed politely as she greeted her.

“Nice to meet you, Rosie.”

A maid—someone other than Simon. Surprised to see a servant she hadn’t met before, Emilia concealed her feelings and responded calmly.

“I’ve brought some tea. There are clothes for you to change into in the dressing room.”

Rosie set the tray on a small table and gestured toward the dressing room.

“Thank you. But I’d like to wash first…”

“Would you? The bath is just over there.”

Rosie smiled brightly and pointed to the door next to the dressing room.

“All right. Thank you.”

“Shall I assist you?”

“…With what?” Emilia tilted her head, unsure of what Rosie meant.

“With your bath…”

“No, that’s fine! I can do it myself.”

Startled, Emilia quickly waved her hands before Rosie could finish speaking. The thought of showing her bare body to someone else was simply unacceptable.

“Very well, then I’ll take my leave. If you need anything, just pull the bell cord.”

Rosie smiled again, seemingly amused by her reaction.

“All right. Thank you.”

After Rosie left, Emilia went straight to the dressing room. There weren’t many outfits in the wardrobe, but there was a balanced selection—dresses, formal wear, casual clothes, and nightwear.

“They’re pretty. Looks like they’re made of fine fabric,” Emilia murmured without thinking.

The clothes hanging in the wardrobe were of such high quality that they couldn’t even be compared to the coarse clothes she was currently wearing. Even the maid uniform Rosie wore earlier looked better than hers. As she touched the garments, Emilia picked out a nightgown with a light and airy feel.

Heading to the bathroom, she soaked in warm water for the first time in her life and enjoyed a leisurely bath. There were two bathtubs—one filled with comfortably warm water and the other with hot water.

‘This isn’t a dream, right?’

Even in the middle of winter, she was bathing in warm water and using luxurious bath products—it didn’t feel real. She pinched her thigh and felt a sharp sting.

Even lying in bed in her nightgown, she wasn’t sure if this was all a dream, or if she would be sent back to the tower tomorrow. Thinking about how she might divorce the Grand Duke, she eventually drifted off to sleep near dawn.

***

A few days later, early in the morning, Emilia rode in a carriage with Duke Berthe toward the Imperial Palace. Since dawn, Rosie had carefully braided her hair and pinned in a jeweled clip. She wore a light blue dress. With makeup she had never applied before, her reflection in the mirror looked unfamiliar.

Until they arrived at the palace, the duke sat upright in silence on the carriage bench. Emilia also remained quiet. Facing the duke was uncomfortable and unbearable, but she thought it best not to provoke him.

The carriage raced down a road that cut through wide fields and soon entered the grand building of the Imperial Palace.

“Wow.”

Looking out the window, Emilia forgot she was in front of Duke Berthe and let out a string of admiring gasps. The golden-roofed grand buildings and the fountain-sprouting great garden were stunningly beautiful.

“What kind of vulgar behavior is that?”

Duke Berthe, who had been glaring at her, broke the silence to scold her.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace.”

“You must be careful with your words and behavior before His Majesty. Do not speak much, and sit quietly.”

“Yes, understood.”

For the past few days before coming to the palace, Emilia had been reading books Simon had brought her—books on palace etiquette. But the duke remained on edge, worried she might make a mistake or mention being locked in the tower.

“I’ll tell you in advance. From the day you marry the Grand Duke, focus on getting pregnant.”

“…What?”

Emilia was startled and asked again. Pregnancy? It was something she had never even thought about.

“His Highness the Grand Duke is first in line to inherit the throne, and His Majesty’s health is poor. It’s a house where heirs are scarce, so you must bear an heir first. I will take care of the rest, so don’t worry.”

Even though only the two of them were in the carriage, Duke Berthe lowered his voice. She didn’t understand what he meant by taking care of the rest once she gave birth, but she had a feeling he wouldn’t answer even if she asked.

“Yes, I understand.”

“You catch on quickly.”

When she replied with a resigned expression, the corners of Duke Berthe’s lips twisted into a sneer. His plan had been to act as regent once the frail emperor passed away and the young crown prince ascended the throne. But the crown prince’s death had thrown everything off course. The alternative he came up with was becoming a maternal relative. If Emilia bore an heir, he could maintain power. The Grand Duke—if he got in the way—could simply be removed.

“Get out.”

“Yes.”

Before they knew it, the carriage had arrived at the front courtyard of the main palace.

***

“Welcome, Duke. His Majesty is expecting you.”

“You’ve worked hard, Adam.”

When they arrived in front of the audience chamber, the elderly chamberlain Adam greeted the two of them warmly. Guided by Adam, they entered the room, where a blond-haired, blue-eyed emperor—much like Emilia—was seated at the head of the room. However, the emperor’s complexion was pale, like that of a sick man.

“Emilia Berthe. I greet His Majesty the Emperor, the sun of the Empire.”

Just as she had seen in picture books, Emilia lightly held the hem of her dress and bent her knees in a curtsey.

“Come closer, Emilia. You look just like Dennis. Beautiful.”

Contrary to her fears, the emperor greeted her with a pleased expression.

“You flatter me, Your Majesty,” she replied politely, just as she had learned from books, and Duke Berthe looked at her in surprise.

The emperor pointed to the sofa. “Have a seat.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The duke and Emilia sat at diagonals to the emperor’s right and left, respectively.

“I heard you were very ill?” asked the emperor kindly after sipping his tea.

“Yes, that is correct, Your Majesty.”

“I heard the duke hid the existence of his granddaughter because of it. Still, I wish he had told me. To only now learn that Dennis had a daughter—I nearly felt hurt,” said the emperor, turning to the duke.

“My apologies, Your Majesty. The child’s health was so fragile we weren’t sure she would survive. That is why I couldn’t tell you.”

“I see. I’m glad she’s well now.”

After exchanging a few words with the emperor, Emilia quietly listened as the emperor and the duke conversed over tea and refreshments.

“Emilia, I have something private to discuss with His Majesty. Wait for me in the drawing room.”

After a while, the duke told her to step outside. It seemed he wanted to send her away before she made any mistakes, having already done enough introductions. Next to the audience chamber was a drawing room for waiting guests.

“Yes, understood.”

“It’ll be boring to wait. Since you’re here, take the opportunity to look around the palace.”

As she stood up, the emperor kindly suggested it.

“Yes, understood, Your Majesty.”

“Adam, show Emilia around the palace.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Lady, please follow me.”

After bowing politely to the emperor, Emilia followed the chamberlain out of the audience chamber.

“I’ll assign an attendant. Would you like to tour the palace by carriage?”

Adam offered kindly. The Richert Empire’s imperial palace was so vast that a carriage was essential to see it all.

“No, that’s all right. May I look around the main palace on my own?”

“Of course. I’ll come get you in an hour.”

The chamberlain easily accepted her request.

“Yes, thank you.”

Ever since hearing about the need to bear an heir during the carriage ride, Emilia had been filled with fear. She had vaguely thought she could divorce the Grand Duke after marriage, but now there was talk of having a child. The tea she drank in the audience room sat heavy in her stomach. Seeing the emperor in person only increased the weight of uncertainty and pressure surrounding the title of Grand Duchess.

‘Should I run away before the wedding?’

While the emperor and the duke conversed, the thought of escape kept circling her mind. Now that the opportunity had come, she wanted to use her solo walk through the palace to scout out escape routes without the duke’s knowledge.

She began by pretending to tour the main palace. Besides guards standing motionless in place, no one was in sight. Emilia slowly walked along the hallway, admiring the portraits of royal family members. Then, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Her eyes were drawn to a portrait of a boy. With jet-black hair and eyes redder than the sun, the child stood proudly, holding a sword taller than himself, wearing a stern expression unbefitting his age. Somehow, he looked adorable.

“I don’t know who you are, but please help me. Help me escape the duke’s grasp,” Emilia murmured quietly to the boy’s portrait. He was likely one of the former royals.

She exited through the rear gate of the main palace. Although there were guards stationed there as well, they didn’t stop her—perhaps having been informed in advance.

Where should I go now?

The palace was so vast she had no sense of direction.

Passing several massive buildings, she kept walking until she reached the farthest edge of the palace grounds.

‘This must be the end.’

No escape route was readily visible. Just as she was about to give up and return to the main palace, she stepped into a nearby building on impulse. Strangely, there were no guards there.

‘What is this place?’

The building was smaller and cozier than the main palace. In the hallway were small shields and swords, the kind children might use, on display.

‘Huh? It’s that boy again.’

The same portrait of the boy she had seen in the main palace hung here, too. Up close, the boy’s face resembled the former emperors in the portraits back in the main palace. In contrast, the current emperor, perhaps because he resembled Duke Berthe, looked little like his predecessors.

After staring at the boy’s portrait for a while, Emilia passed through the hallway and went around to the back of the building. The hour the chamberlain had mentioned had already passed.

‘Even if I can’t run away now, I should at least find a crawl space.’

Since this was the most remote part of the palace, she figured there might be a gap just big enough for her to slip through.

The wall’s so high.

But the area behind the building was surrounded by a wall taller than she was. Disappointed, Emilia ran her hands along the wall, searching for a gap or opening.

“The escape route is that way.”

Just then, as she was focused on finding a way out, a deep, low male voice called out from behind her.