"Why didn't the Grand Duchess come with you?"
The Emperor pretended to be concerned and showed interest in Karina's current condition.
"My wife couldn't come with me because she was in no condition to move. She is still receiving treatment at the private residence."
Jeremiah told the lie calmly, hiding his hostility and in a flat voice. He had no intention of showing any reaction that could be nitpicked.
"I see. Well, the Grand Duchess must have been shocked as well. She must have suffered greatly after being captured by the monster."
The Emperor clicked his tongue with a regretful expression. He, who was sitting on the throne, turned his eyes and glanced at David standing in front of him. David, who had been safely rescued from the Cursed Forest, was in perfect condition. He tried to belittle Jeremiah's achievements, but the results were not very satisfactory. It was difficult to criticize Jeremiah's attitude, which seemed to be trying to avoid conflict, and it was difficult to say anything more. The Emperor became very upset. Then, he thought about Karina's presence, who was not here.
'A few days ago during New Year's Day, you said in front of everyone that you wanted a divorce.'
He snorted inwardly as he recalled that memory. He had no intention of continuing to keep a chess piece that didn't do what he wanted. However, he needed to use it to its full potential before throwing it away. The sensational rumors he had spread about the Grand Duke couple's union had also been buried by the news of their rescue. This was because Jeremiah had quickly moved to the Cursed Forest as soon as he realized the situation. He didn't know exactly what he thought of Karina, but he was sure he cared. Whether it was because of his sense of responsibility for the person who had become his wife, or his social prestige as a Northern Grand Duke, he couldn't tell.
'He's a needlessly honest guy, so, understandably, he might be concerned about the Grand Duchess for that reason.'
But even if that wasn't the case. Even if he really had personal feelings for that woman as a couple. From the Emperor's perspective, as long as he could use her, it didn't matter what the reason was. What if the Grand Duchess he had rescued didn't recover and died?
If Jeremiah really had feelings for her, it would be a huge blow, so it would be even better. Even if that wasn't the case, it wouldn't be easy to get over it. Even if Jeremiah was the Grand Duke of the Colesberg family that ruled the North, he would be under the concentrated fire of public opinion that he failed to protect his wife and caused her death. In reality, the Emperor had the power to do that. A sinister smile appeared on his lips.
"The Grand Duchess is the only daughter of my loyal subject, the Marquis of Millainer. I am worried that the child is not in good condition."
The Emperor persistently pressured Jeremiah to bring Karina to the palace.
"And if the condition is not that good, wouldn't it be better to bring her to the palace and have her examined by the palace doctor?"
The Emperor intended to show Karina to the palace doctor so that there would be no rumors that she had been neglected in the palace. Rather, he could have spread a rumor that the palace had been taking care of the Grand Duchess, whom Jeremiah had neglected and let die. Since the situation was already set, all he had to do was lift a finger. He had only to call the palace doctor separately and secretly order him to make the Grand Duchess suffer and die slowly. In any case, the Emperor felt good just imagining the situation.
However, Jeremiah could not have missed such malicious intentions. Jeremiah's face hardened as he quickly realized the Emperor's wicked intentions. He did not know exactly what the Emperor was thinking, but he was certain that he had bad intentions.
"I appreciate your concern, Your Majesty. However, please do not worry, I have already called in a skilled doctor, and the Grand Duchess receiving treatment. It is a great honor just to have your heart in mine."
Jeremiah tried to politely refuse the Emperor's demands. However, his refusal was of no avail to the Emperor, who had already hatched a malicious plan.
"Didn't I say I was okay?"
The Emperor intended to suppress Jeremiah with his authority this time as well. How could a man like him dare to go against the Emperor's will?
"Go and bring the Grand Duchess right now."
The Emperor gave a firm order.
"..."
In a short moment, a fire blazed in Jeremiah's eyes. If the Emperor were to harm Karina even a little bit. Just the thought made his heart pound and his head feel hot. He felt like he could raise his sword and cut off the Emperor's head at any moment. Since this was an audience with the Emperor, his weapon, the sword, was naturally confiscated before he entered.
However, the Imperial Knights were the only ones who were allowed to carry weapons. It was not impossible to snatch the sword from the Imperial Knight standing behind the Emperor. Jeremiah instinctively measured the distance between himself and the Emperor, assessing whether he could cut the Emperor down with one blow.
"Your Majesty. Are you trying to disobey my orders now?"
"...!"
Jeremiah came to his senses at the Emperor's angry voice that was so familiar that it was tiresome. Killing the Emperor without any countermeasures would not make Karina safe. Rather, if he became a traitor, he would put his wife in danger. Jeremiah remembered once again that the easiest way to protect the North was to please the Emperor and bow his head. It was the same now. Showing any resistance or opposition here would be no different from giving Karina room to be harmed.
Jeremiah immediately suppressed the hot something inside him and calmed his emotions. Then he quickly thought about how to reject the Emperor's order that seemed to be targeting Karina as prey. If that didn't work, he planned to buy some time and then take Karina and escape to a safe place.
"I'm sorry, but the doctor said she absolutely needed rest..."
Jeremiah spoke indifferently. Then, David, who was standing next to him, opened his mouth and cut him off mid-sentence.
"Your Majesty. The Grand Duchess's condition is critical, so it will probably be difficult for her to enter the palace right away. Unlike me, the Grand Duchess is a fragile lady."
Everyone's eyes were on David.
"It's even stranger that I've been on the brink of death so many times and am still fine."
David glanced around as if he was trying to get the consent of his ministers. Several nobles from the imperial faction who were favorable to the Crown Prince nodded slightly with a face that said, 'That's true.'
"No matter how good Your Majesty's intentions are when you call bet, wouldn't it be a disaster if the Grand Duchess collapses on her way to the palace?"
David continued speaking carefully in a soft voice.
"But I understand Your Majesty's concern for the Grand Duchess. I am sure Your Majesty is uneasy upon hearing the news that the daughter of your beloved loyal subject is not in good condition."
He seemed to understand both sides of the situation and presented a compromise as if it were a clear solution.
"How about sending the Imperial doctor to the Grand Duke's residence to examine the Grand Duchess? If the Imperial doctor is seen going to the Grand Duke's residence, not only the nobles but also the people of the Empire will become aware of His Majesty's kindness."
David smiled with the corners of his mouth raised. On the other hand, Jeremiah furrowed his brows. If things had gone as David had suggested, Karina would not have had to force herself into the palace and meet the Emperor. However, Jeremiah's eyes were full of caution and distrust, not knowing why David was suddenly saying this. David just pretended not to know and smiled bashfully. Of course, he had no intention of mediating between the Emperor and Jeremiah. He only intervened because if the Emperor took an interest in Karina, it would be difficult for him to approach her. He was also annoyed that the Emperor was showing interest in Karina, the person he was interested in.
'I can't leave it like that.'
Out of sight, out of mind. David hoped that the Emperor's interest in Karina would quietly fade away.
"Hmm, now that I hear it, that's not so bad."
The Emperor paused for a moment as if thinking, then said:
"Then let's do that."
“Hoooo.”
Jeremiah's sigh was long and deep. He felt suffocated. The Emperor and the Crown Prince were interested in Karina. They were all annoying and unpleasant. He wanted to see Karina even more desperately. He quickly ran out of the hallway of the office to quickly return to the mansion.
"Your Highness the Grand Duke."
Ron approached Jeremiah as he came out after finishing his audience.
"Thank you for your hard work. I have prepared a carriage for you. Please get in."
After the audience, Crown Prince David returned to his quarters in the palace. The palace doctor decided to examine David first, and then pack his examination tools and go to the Grand Duke's private residence separately. Jeremiah could ride the carriage back to the Grand Duke's residence alone. That's why Ron spoke out loud about important matters while they were alone in the carriage.
"I found it in the Cursed Forest too."
"...!"
Jeremiah's expression hardened as he immediately understood what was being reported.
"Is this the same thing you found in the North?"
"I think so."
Ron pulled a small wooden box, no bigger than the palm of his hand, out from under the carriage seat. Even though he hadn't opened the lid yet, an ominous aura was slowly seeping out from inside.
"Here it is. Check it out."
When he opened the lid of the wooden box, he saw the small, black stones inside. However, they were not just ordinary stones. Each black stone had a strange sparkle, and at the same time, an extremely black, sinister aura was slowly radiating forward.
"It's the same thing."
Jeremiah ran his hand through his hair with a troubled expression.
"We confirmed that the same thing was found on the corpse of the monster that appeared in the capital and took His Highness the Crown Prince and the Grand Duchess."
"Ha...! That's right."
Jeremiah gritted his teeth at the report that the same thing had come out of the monster that had taken Karina.
"Just like in the North, the bigger and more ferocious they were, the bigger the stones they held. And the stones are noticeably bigger now than they were a year ago."
Ron's expression was serious.
"As we expected, it appears to be a contaminated magic stone used in black magic."
The appearance of monsters in the north has increased in the past year or two. And the traces of human activity discovered while subduing the increased monsters. These contaminated magic stones from the monsters' bodies were the traces. These magic stones were commonly found in monsters that suddenly appeared in the village and were particularly vicious and cruel or displayed unusual behavior. And the fact that these monsters appeared not only in the north but also in the capital was not an ordinary occurrence.
"The force associated with this magic stone may be much larger than we had guessed."
"Yeah. I really wonder how far it'll go."
Jeremiah's eyes glowed coldly.
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