The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 69

Episode 69. Savior of a Life (2)

A few days before Louid and Emilia arrived in the imperial capital, a noble council was held at the imperial palace.

“Marquess, it’s been a while.”

Duke Berthe, wearing his usual arrogant expression, spoke to Marquess Carrion, who had attended the noble council for the first time in a long while.

“Your Grace the Duke, have you been well?”

“I have. And you, Marquess?”

“Thanks to Your Grace’s concern, I’ve been well.”

The two didn’t attend every noble council meeting, so it had been a while since they last saw each other. Especially since Emilia had become the grand duchess, the marquess, filled with resentment, often avoided meetings where Duke Berthe was present.

“I hear the Kingdom of Billiot has suffered a famine and requested an extension for their tribute deadline.”

The marquess lowered his voice as if sharing a secret.

“That’s easily refused, isn’t it?”

Duke Berthe spoke with clear displeasure.

“They’ve faithfully paid tribute all this time. Shouldn’t we let it pass just once?”

“Marquess, you seem quite sympathetic toward Billiot. Have you forgotten they once went to war with us?”

The duke’s voice rose, making the marquess’s attempt at secrecy pointless.

“I haven’t forgotten, I only meant….”

“Silence. First, we must investigate whether there truly was a famine.”

“His Grace is right. I heard Billiot has had good harvests recently. A famine is news to me.”

Count Weiss, having overheard their exchange, supported Duke Berthe.

Marquess Carrion’s face flushed red and pale in turns. In truth, he maintained a close relationship with the Kingdom of Billiot. Being dismissed and having his intentions exposed by Duke Berthe deeply unsettled and angered him.

He stayed silent for the rest of the meeting.

When Duke Berthe left the council chamber, the nobles began talking among themselves.

“His Majesty has summoned the grand duke to the imperial capital.”

Count Weiss brought up the topic.

“Is that true?” Count Willis asked in surprise.

“It is,” Count Bread replied.

Marquess Carrion’s expression hardened. How could information reach him slower than a mere count? To think he learned about the grand duke’s arrival later than others.

“So the grand duke is on his way to the capital right now?”

The nobles continued their discussion.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“His Majesty must intend to proclaim him crown prince this time.”

“It has been quite some time since the crown prince passed away. It’s time to name an heir.”

“Then we must petition His Majesty to hasten the proclamation.”

“Indeed.”

Since it was already certain that the grand duke would become crown prince, it was more advantageous for them to recommend him first rather than wait for the official announcement.

That night, Marquess Carrion returned from the palace with an angry expression.

“What’s wrong, Father? Did something happen at the palace?”

“The Grand Duke is coming to the imperial capital.”

“His Highness the Grand Duke?”

Lina’s expression instantly brightened.

“The Grand Duchess is coming with him.”

“…She is?”

Lina’s face darkened immediately. She had expected the grand duchess to come only for the Founding Festival, yet they were arriving together like a harmonious couple. And despite being kidnapped and even falling down stairs, the grand duchess seemed entirely unharmed.

Lina was furious. She had gone all the way to the distant grand duchy, carried out a scheme without her father knowing, and yet failed. The frustration and humiliation made her feel as if she would lose her mind.

“Lina, this time you must take the position of grand duchess. To do that, you’ll need to show the grand duke your charm often. You are undoubtedly the empire’s most beautiful woman, but even if you succeed in getting rid of the grand duchess, if the grand duke’s affections don’t turn to you, someone else may steal the position again.”

The marquess, recalling the humiliation he suffered at the hands of Duke Berthe, spoke with a face reddened by anger.

“Yes, Father. I will.”

A strange smile curled on Lina’s lips. In her mind, she was already planning how to eliminate the grand duchess. The grand duchy had been far away, making frequent action impossible, but now the woman had come to the capital of her own accord. It was, in truth, perfect.

Lina returned to her room and summoned Jack.

“You called, my lady?”

Jack entered her room.

“His Highness the Grand Duke is coming to the imperial capital. And the Grand Duchess is with him. They’ll have quite the entourage, so I’ll need you to put in some work at the Canyon of Death.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Don’t make a mistake this time!”

“Yes, my lady.”

After Jack left, Lina let out a vile laugh and muttered arrogantly, “Emilia, welcome to the imperial capital. But setting foot here won’t be easy for you.”

But a few days later, she had to hear Jack report that he had failed once again.

***

The day after reaching the imperial capital, the two visited the imperial palace. Before the visit, Emilia had Helen help her dress with great care. The thought of seeing His Majesty the Emperor after such a long time made her extremely nervous.

When she stepped outside, she found Louid—neatly dressed—waiting by the carriage.

“Louid, are you alright?”

Emilia looked him over with a worried expression.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

Giving only a short answer, Louid signaled the coachman. The coachman quickly approached and helped Emilia board. Their carriage continued through the busy streets of the imperial capital and entered the palace grounds.

“Wow, the imperial palace is as magnificent as ever.”

Emilia exclaimed with excitement, like a child seeing an amusement park for the first time. The scenery of the palace outside the window was still grand and dazzling.

No matter how sick she had been, as the niece of the emperor’s maternal uncle from the Berthe ducal house, there was no way this was her first time seeing the palace. Yet her reaction was as pure and innocent as that of a little girl.

‘Unless she lived locked away.’

Louid’s body stiffened for a moment. He stared at Emilia with a hardened expression.

When they reached the front of the main palace, the two stepped down from the carriage. Once again, Louid didn’t help her down.

With the coachman’s help, Emilia got off the carriage and hurried after Louid as he walked toward the audience chamber.

A short while later, the two reached the door of the chamber, and under the guidance of Adam, the Chamberlain, they entered.

“Please wait here for a moment. His Majesty will arrive shortly.”

“Alright.”

The two sat on the sofa to wait for the emperor.

Sweat trickled down Emilia’s pale forehead as she grew more and more anxious. With an indifferent expression, Louid reached out and wiped the drop of sweat from her forehead.

When she tilted her head at him in confusion, he looked away as if nothing had happened, staring out the window.

After a moment, Louid spoke quietly, “Emilia, it’s best if you don’t mention the attack in the canyon to His Majesty. It’ll only worry him.”

“Yes, I understand. But are you really alright?” Emilia asked with a mix of concern and doubt.

Louid showed no sign of pain, as though he had never been injured.

“I’m fine. It’s all healed.”

Louid shrugged casually.

“His Majesty the Emperor approaches!”

At the herald’s announcement, the emperor soon entered through the open doors.

“Come in, come in.”

William welcomed the two with a warm expression. Though he looked slightly thinner, he didn’t otherwise seem unwell.

“We greet the Sun of the Empire, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

“We greet the Sun of the Empire, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

Gathering her dress, Emilia knelt gracefully in greeting. Beside her, Louid bowed his head in respect.

“Welcome. I’ve been waiting for you. Emilia, you’ve grown even more beautiful. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

William studied her and wondered why Duke Berthe had hidden such a lovely granddaughter and why she had been so thin on her wedding day, but he didn’t speak those thoughts aloud.

“Emilia, I see your husband must love you very much. You grow prettier by the day.”

“….”

At the emperor’s words, Louid pressed his lips together with an unreadable expression.

“…Yes. His Highness the Grand Duke treats me well,” Emilia answered politely.

“Calling him ‘His Highness the Grand Duke’ when you’re talking about your own husband? Say it again.”

When they were alone, she called him Louid, but saying his name in front of the emperor felt strangely embarrassing.

“Louid treats me well,” Emilia answered, her face flushed red.

“Good, that’s how it should be. Louid, treat Emilia even better. Hearing her call you ‘His Highness the Grand Duke’ makes it sound like your affection is still lacking.”

Louid answered with a smile, “Yes, understood, Your Majesty.”

“Looking at you like this, you truly resemble Dave.”

The emperor gazed at Emilia’s face with admiration.

Dave was her father, and he and William were cousins on their mothers’ side.

Seeing Emilia, who so closely resembled his cousin, made the emperor sink into memories. Though eighteen years had passed, it all felt as vivid as yesterday.

Louid had been seven years old at the time. The Kingdom of Billiot’s king, who had always paid tribute diligently and acted obsequious, suddenly led an army himself and invaded the empire’s border.

The Kingdom of Billiot, which bordered the Richert Empire, was only slightly smaller in territory and had built up military strength comparable to the empire’s. For a long time, they had secretly been preparing for war.

The empire, struck by a surprise attack, hurriedly sent troops to the border. William, then crown prince, led the imperial army, and Dave, heir to the duke, also joined the battlefield.

The war raged on for six months, so evenly matched that neither side could gain the advantage. After a long struggle, the final decisive battle began.

William charged toward the king of Billiot on horseback. Sparks flew as their swords clashed.

Moments later, William’s sword was struck flying, and he fell from his horse, rolling across the ground. The impact knocked the wind from his lungs, and his legs wouldn’t move.

At that moment, the king of Billiot raised his sword high over the fallen William.