The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 49

Episode 49. Festival (1)

“Ugh, ugh….”

The suspect’s face twisted in agony before he suddenly began to convulse. His body writhed violently, and before anyone could react, blood gushed from his mouth. He died on the spot.

“I’m sorry. I failed to lift the spell. It’s an extremely powerful black magic I’ve never seen before.”

The priest bowed his head with a grim expression.

“Haa….”

Louid felt frustrated beyond words. Even after catching the suspect, they couldn’t extract a single piece of information.

It had been decades since black magic was banned across the continent, so not even the priests knew how to dispel it anymore.

Louid turned to Alex and asked, “The suspect from the fire last time, you said he came from the east, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Find out if there’s anyone in the Eastern Continent capable of breaking black magic.”

“Yes, understood.”

Of the two continents, the Richert Empire was located in the Western Continent. If there was someone in the east who could lift the curse, Louid was willing to pay a fortune to bring them here.

***

“Helen, contact Madame Bella and ask her to come see me.”

“Yes, right away.”

Emilia had something she wanted to discuss with Bella.

Louid had been fairly supportive of the academy idea, but he said it would be difficult to approve the project immediately due to practical considerations.

If she wanted to push it forward, she would have to start by drafting a proper business proposal and building it step by step. He told her to try drawing up a plan herself.

After hearing that, Emilia had spent the entire carriage ride home deep in thought, and she finally thought of Bella.

The next day, at her summons, Bella came to visit the castle.

“Your Highness, I heard you wanted to see me.”

“Thank you for coming. I called you because I was thinking of establishing a fashion academy in Lot.”

“A fashion academy? There’s already one in the capital, but are you planning to build another here in the grand duchy?”

Bella’s face brightened with delight.

“That’s the plan. What do you think?”

“I think it’s a wonderful idea. I’ve always thought it would be great to have an academy where children could learn about fashion.”

“I’m glad we think alike. I’d like you to run the academy, Madame Bella, since you’re the expert in this field.”

Since Emilia would eventually have to leave the grand duchy someday, she needed someone she could trust to handle the establishment and management of the academy, and she believed Bella was the perfect person for the role.

“Yes, if you entrust it to me, I’ll do my best, Your Highness,” Bella replied with a bright, eager smile.

“Then I’ll inform Sir Eddie. Once the project is approved, discuss the details with him and see it through.”

“Yes, understood, Your Highness.”

“And this is a design I drew for commoners’ clothing. I don’t plan to take any profit from it, so could you produce them and sell them at low prices?”

Emilia handed Bella the sketches of the dresses and commoner clothes she had designed. The idea for the commoner outfits had come to her after seeing adorable children during her last visit to the city center.

“I’ll gladly do that, Your Highness.”

Bella accepted her proposal without hesitation.

The two sat down over tea and discussed in detail what would be needed for the academy’s establishment and the overall direction of the business.

After Bella left, Emilia began writing a business proposal to show Louid, her heart full of excitement.

***

Lina couldn’t shake Count Asher’s words from her mind, that the Grand Duchess was in good health.

‘She survived being pushed down the stairs, and she’s fine after both the carriage accident and the fire…. This isn’t the time to sit idle. I’ll have to go to the Grand Duchy myself.’

She had received reports from her spies about every incident involving Emilia and had already suspected that the Marquess of Carrion was behind both the carriage and fire accidents. But now that she knew the Grand Duchess was no longer frail, she couldn’t afford to wait any longer.

Fortunately, the Grand Duke’s banquet was scheduled to take place soon.

“Father, since the Grand Duke’s banquet is coming up, I’ll be heading north.”

That evening at dinner, Lina brought up the Grand Duke’s banquet to the Marquess of Carrion.

“You mean you’re going to the grand duchy yourself?”

The Marquess looked at her in surprise.

“To catch a shark, you have to go to the sea, don’t you?”

“That’s true, but…. You’re not planning anything else, are you?”

The Marquess’s expression grew sharp. He had intended to handle the Grand Duchess’s ‘accidents’ himself and didn’t want Lina to get involved.

“What do you mean by another plan? I only intend to pay my respects to His Highness the Grand Duke. Don’t you think it’s time I started getting closer to him?”

“That may be true, but….”

The Marquess stared at Lina intently, his expression uneasy. He had planned to deal with the Grand Duchess before the Founding Festival and then have Lina meet Louid naturally afterward.

“I think the same as your father. Don’t concern yourself with unnecessary thoughts, Lina.”

The slender, brown-haired woman sitting beside the Marquess spoke. She was his mistress and Lina’s biological mother, one of the few remaining black magicians on the continent.

“I won’t do anything foolish. Don’t worry. I simply wish to meet His Highness the Grand Duke,” Lina answered brightly, masking her dark intent with a charming smile.

“In that case, I’m relieved. Then go and win His Highness’s heart at the Grand Duke’s banquet.”

The Marquess looked at his daughter’s face with a stern expression, reluctantly giving his permission. Though Lina’s insistence on traveling so far to the Grand Duke’s territory made him uneasy, he had no real reason to object.

“Yes, Father.”

Lina lifted her wine glass to her lips, a faint, strange smile curving across her face.

Two days later, she departed for the Grand Duchy in a luxurious carriage bearing the Carrion family crest.

***

“So this is the center of the Grand Duchy.”

Around noon, a silver-haired woman stepped out of the carriage in front of a luxury inn in Lot.

“When are they supposed to arrive?” Lina asked one of her escorting knights.

“I heard they’ll arrive this evening.”

“I see. Then let’s stop by Madame Bella’s first.”

“Yes, understood.”

Madame Bella’s Boutique was renowned across the entire Empire for its exquisite designs. There was a branch in the capital, but since Lina was already in Lot, she preferred to have her dress tailored at the main store.

She had to look as beautiful as possible in the Grand Duke’s eyes.

“Welcome.”

Late in the afternoon, the silver-haired woman stepped into Madame Bella’s Boutique.

“May I have your name, my lady?”

“Lina Carrion.”

At the attendant’s question, Lina replied proudly, her expression haughty. There was no one in the Empire who didn’t know the Carrion family.

“Ah, the daughter of the Marquess of Carrion. Please, have a seat.”

The attendant guided her to a sofa in one corner of the fitting room and served her tea.

A few minutes later, Bella approached her with a delighted expression.

“It’s an honor to have the young lady of the Carrion family visit us in person.”

“I’ve heard much about Madame Bella’s reputation. I heard your dresses sell faster than you can make them, and I wanted to see them myself.”

“You came to see the dresses, then. We have a few that are very popular right now. Let me show you the catalog.”

Listening to Bella’s explanation, Lina flipped through the catalog carefully. The dresses shown were fresh, elegant designs, unlike anything she had ever seen in the Empire.

“Make this one for me.”

She pointed at the dress that caught her eye.

“Excellent choice. Then, shall we take your measurements? This way, please.”

Following Bella behind the curtain, Lina had her measurements taken and ordered five additional dresses besides the one she had chosen earlier.

“I’ll be wearing them to the Grand Duke’s banquet, so take extra care with the craftsmanship.”

“Of course. Please come back for your fitting in ten days.”

“Alright.”

Satisfied, Lina left the boutique with a pleased expression.

That evening, the three assassins Lina had summoned to the Grand Duchy arrived discreetly at the inn.

She disguised them as festival merchants.

“The Grand Duchess will attend the festival at least once or twice.”

Concealing her identity, she told them the assassination request was from a high-ranking noble. Lina showed them a portrait of the Grand Duchess that she had managed to obtain. The portrait of Emilia had been hastily commissioned by Duke Berthe before her marriage, painted for presentation to the Emperor.

“Memorize her schedule and get familiar with her face. She might look a little different in person.”

Lina recalled Count Asher’s words that the Grand Duchess had regained her health. She assumed the woman might look slightly better than the gaunt-faced portrait, though she doubted she could ever truly be beautiful.

“Her name is Emilia. She’s twenty years old.”

“Yes, understood. When will we receive the payment?”

The assassins were excited at the thought of the enormous fee they would earn.

“You’ll be paid the moment the job is done.”

“Yes, understood. We’ll do our best.”

***

“Your Highness, the festival begins today. Would you like to go see it?”

After breakfast the next morning, Helen informed her of the festival.

“A festival? Sounds fun. I want to go.”

Emilia’s expression brightened with excitement.

“Then I’ll get everything ready right away.”

To enjoy the festival freely without drawing attention, Emilia and Helen changed into commoners’ clothes and took a carriage to Lot.