Chapter 6.5 -A Story She Doesn’t Know
Chapter 6.5 – A Story She Doesn’t Know
“It’s about time we sent a warning to the imperial family.”
In a room filled with silence and darkness, Rubellian’s cold voice flowed somewhat calmly.
Wilson, standing before him after a long time, nodded. After the marriage, things had been quiet for a while, so he had thought Duke Florence had forgotten his resentment toward the imperial family.
But Duke Florence’s resentment toward the imperial family ran as deep as that of the Bill and Wilson brothers, who had lost their parents unjustly to the imperial family when they were young.
Wilson briefly reproached himself for the foolishness of underestimating Rubellian’s resentment. Of course, he didn’t know that his thoughts had actually been somewhat accurate at one point.
“Tell those in the imperial palace that I’ll be preparing a proper hunt soon. The target is the crown prince, and the hunter is…”
Rubellian, who had been trailing off slightly, smiled coldly and continued.
“That assassin who dared to point his gun at me.”
Wilson hesitated at Rubellian’s command.
“The assassin… do you mean the assassin who will soon be handed over to the imperial trial?”
“Yes.”
“Are you planning to extract him? Your Grace, that’s too dangerous. The security of the imperial underground prison is tight, and even if we succeed, there’s no way he would cooperate with us.”
“That’s why we need some strategy.”
“Your Grace. Rather than that, it would be better to hire another assassin to assassinate the crown prince—”
“Wilson.”
Cutting off Wilson’s urgent voice, Rubellian slowly gazed at him. The eyes that had contained no emotion just moments before now swirled with a frosty coldness.
“So, you’re saying no?”
At Rubellian’s question, Wilson swallowed hard.
Unlike the crown prince, Rubellian never acted with obvious dignity. He always showed the appearance of a courteous and polite nobleman.
Nevertheless, most nobles couldn’t treat Rubellian carelessly. It wasn’t the majesty shaped by a king’s upbringing, but the coldness etched into his very bones from birth.
When those coldly frozen red eyes turned toward him, Wilson unconsciously nodded.
“I’ll give word to those in the imperial palace. Let’s set the time to extract the assassin for two days from now.”
“Good.”
“Should I also give word to Bill?”
“It would be better to do so in advance. And… ah.”
Rubellian, who had been continuing to speak, fell silent for a moment as if remembering something. At this, Wilson tilted his head slightly.
“Your Grace?”
“Wilson, don’t tell Eve about this.”
“Is this something my lady shouldn’t know?”
Rubellian answered Wilson’s question with silence.
Though he had asked, Wilson too could understand this. The fact they were planning to kidnap an assassin to attack the crown prince wasn’t something a noble lady needed to know.
“Understood. Then when I go to the ducal residence to see Your Grace, I’ll only mention officially known matters.”
“And it’s better to be careful with your words in front of her maids too. Anna and Marie are people Mrs. Jena personally trained. I don’t know about other things, but no one can match them when it comes to extracting information. And Lilith is… you know, don’t you.”
“Then rather than that, I’ll subtly leak other information in front of my lady’s maids. That way, their attention will probably be focused elsewhere rather than on the possibility that Your Grace kidnapped the assassin.”
Rubellian nodded at Wilson’s words. In any case, none of this should reach Eve’s ears. At least not until the plan was perfectly completed.
Rubellian let out a light sigh.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Eve. What he didn’t trust was the crown prince.
When the assassin goes missing, the crown prince would probably first cast suspicious glances at the House of Florence, and if there were no clues, there was a high possibility he would turn that arrow toward the innocent Eve.
Eve wasn’t the type of person who could deceive someone in the first place. In that case, it was better to keep Eve in the dark.
And above all, he didn’t want her to know about such things. Even if it was something she would eventually learn about.
‘I’m sorry.’
Overwhelmed by guilt, Rubellian whispered softly to himself, yet the unshakable guilt slowly ate away at his core.
* * *
As it turned out, the plan was successful.
Having been called by the emperor frequently since childhood and hearing those disgusting words about being his son while coming and going to the imperial palace, he knew not only every structure of the imperial palace but even the emperor’s secret passages.
The emperor would probably never know until he died. That his disgusting love would eventually stab him.
“Your Grace, I’ve brought him.”
Rubellian, who had been leaning back in a chair in a room filled with complete darkness, slowly opened his eyes.
With a creaking sound, the door opened and soon a man was thrown down in front of him.
“Cough—”
Perhaps threats had been applied during the capture process, as the assassin spat up fresh blood. Thick blood slowly stained the floor.
Watching the blood droplets scatter with his coughing, Rubellian looked at his shoes stained with blood and raised an eyebrow.
“Filthy.”
“Haah… cough.”
Rubellian, who had spoken slowly, took out a handkerchief. However, realizing it was a handkerchief Eve had given him as a gift, he put it back in his pocket. He didn’t want to use her gift for something like this.
“It would be better to finish this quickly.”
“Why… cough, why…”
“You don’t need to know why I brought you here. What’s important is where you need to go from now on.”
“What the hell are you trying to do?”
Looking at the assassin who was struggling to speak with his mouth full of blood, Rubellian smiled coldly.
“Well, what do you want to do?”
“Are you… wheeze… are you joking right now?”
“It seems like you were planning to meet your family after this job was over, but that won’t be possible.”
“…What?”
Rubellian continued slowly.
“Now that your family is gone, you’ll have to face life on your own.”
“What, what are you talking about?”
“Well, what do you think I’m talking about?”
“Tell me quickly! Cough…!”
“Did you really think the House of Colica would keep their promise?”
The assassin stared at him blankly. Looking at the assassin’s trembling face, Rubellian clicked his tongue.
After the emperor and the House of Colica joined hands, the emperor would dispose of his political enemies through the House of Colica’s hands. The House of Colica, well-versed in all kinds of backdoor deals, could practically be seen as the emperor’s dog, and in that sense, this assassin was surely someone raised by the House of Colica.
“Why do you think the House of Colica bothers to find subordinates from back alleys? And do you think they really put what you want in your hands?”
“Don’t you dare try to drive a wedge between us! Duke Colica is my benefactor…!”
“He might be your benefactor.”
“……”
“Just yours, not your wife, your son, or your family.”
Rubellian knew well how noble houses used and discarded people.
The previous Duke Florence had a gentle and kind nature and truly helped many people like Bill and Wilson, but most nobles chose to discard their raised ‘shame’ as soon as they used them.
“Did you really think you could leave the imperial palace alive?”
“Damn it, how dare you slander His Grace the Duke…!”
“Did you think you and your family would live well after this job was over? You don’t look like it, but you’re quite naive.”
The assassin, who had spat blood several times, clenched his fists and trembled.
“That can’t be… true. I definitely saw them living well…”
“You saw them. And they died.”
“……”
“There was a fire in a small village in the Ail region last week. You don’t really think that was just a simple forest fire, do you?”
When fear appeared in the assassin’s eyes, Rubellian curved his lips upward.
The House of Colica’s lack of conscience was a great blessing to him. If their mercy had been overflowing, he would probably have had to move the assassin’s family elsewhere and then deceive the assassin.
Good and evil were blurred lines. Humans seemed virtuous not out of true goodness, but because their enemies were unbearably cruel.
Rubellian looked at the assassin who was breathing roughly with hatred-filled eyes.
How much time passed like that? The assassin slowly raised his head from the floor soaked with blood and spoke.
“I need to confirm it with my own eyes.”
That would be even better. Murmuring so, Rubellian smiled.
* * *
Rubellian’s words were true.
Upon understanding that the protection of his loved ones, paid for by the blood on his hands, was pointless, the assassin who had threatened Rubellian and taunted Eve sank into despair.
However, Rubellian didn’t particularly sympathize with him. The assassin had changed his family’s life through the deaths of others. The blood on his hands was ultimately his family’s blood.
“I’ll teach you a way to get revenge on Colica.”
“You’re using me now…”
“Yes, I am using you.”
“……”
“But don’t you think this kind of use is worth experiencing at least once?”
“Urgh.”
“Choose. Will you spit out all your anger and leave this world, or will you just disappear as a handful of ashes unjustly? I have no intention of keeping you alive. If you won’t accept my proposal, I’ll kill you here. But if you accept my proposal—”
“……”
“I’ll give you a chance to die together with your enemy.”
The crown prince should have seen the light that flashed in the assassin’s eyes then.
The fiercely gleaming eyes like a wild beast were familiar. Those who dream of revenge always recognize each other’s eyes. It was somewhat bitter, so Rubellian ended up letting out a hollow laugh.
After filling the assassin he had extracted with hatred, he returned to the imperial palace.
Worried that the imperial family might assign people to him, he deliberately entered through the guest palace garden, and saw a figure standing in the distance with a pale face.
“Eve?”
Eve, who had withdrawn her arm from Lilith’s hand, showed no signs of vitality whatsoever.
With an anxious heart, he quickly approached her when suddenly tears began to well up in Eve’s eyes. When tears welled up in her eyes, shining like elegant jade, his heart turned cold.
“What’s wrong?”
What on earth is this about? Why are you crying? Why are you shedding tears? Is something wrong? All sorts of thoughts were condensed into one question.
His heart ached that he couldn’t even comfort her because he didn’t know what was wrong. Rubellian tried to calm his restless heart.
But an unexpected answer came from Eve’s mouth.
“Because Rachel is so pitiful.”
A lie.
This is a lie.
At Eve’s trembling voice, Rubellian was certain.
She was hiding her emotions more skillfully than he had ever seen, but that made him feel even more anxious.
Soon Eve casually grumbled in her usual tone as if it was nothing.
He wanted to ask. What happened, can’t you tell me? Nevertheless, he couldn’t interrogate her.
If she was hiding something, there would be a reason for this too.
‘And I, who am hiding something from her, don’t have the right to ask either.’
Rubellian smiled bitterly.
Eventually, he pushed aside the worries and doubts that filled his mind and ‘let himself be deceived’ by Eve, but his gaze remained fixed on Rachel’s door, which Eve had just exited.
‘Since she came out of the saint’s room, she definitely heard something from the saint.’
Struggling to hide his anxiety, he embraced Eve.
* * *
Originally, Rubellian had planned the ‘hunting’ day for after the Holy Spirit Festival.
The physical threats inflicted during the kidnapping required a long recovery period for the assassin, and with the imperial family desperately searching for the assassin, conspicuous actions had to be restrained.
But Eve had been framed by the crown prince.
Though he had maintained a calm expression at Eve’s words, his heart couldn’t be calm. Rubellian struggled to suppress his anger.
From the beginning, he preferred to quietly hold his breath and then repay with action.
Perhaps that’s why the imperial family was even more wary of him. Recalling this, Rubellian let out a dry laugh.
“Duke Florence, is there some good news?”
Perhaps his sudden laughter was annoying or unsettling, the crown prince looked at Rubellian and asked.
Rubellian slowly raised his head.
“I heard the saint suffered great harm yesterday.”
“Ah— I was just on my way back from visiting the temple this morning. Duchess Florence was there too.”
“Is that so?”
“The duchess seems to have quite deep ties with the temple. Every time I go to the temple, I encounter her.”
The crown prince’s words contained a blade. However, Rubellian replied as if he hadn’t noticed.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince isn’t the only one showing great interest in the saint.”
“…When did I ever show great interest in the saint, Duke? That’s an unfunny joke.”
“Compared to showing favor to the saint in front of the House of Colica, Your Highness’s jokes seem even less funny.”
At Rubellian’s somewhat aggressive response, unlike usual, the crown prince’s face contorted sharply. Having been subtly provoked by Eve at the temple this morning, he was already in a bad mood.
Just as the crown prince was about to scold Rubellian for his rude words, the conference room door opened and nobles from the House of Lords came out in small groups.
“Your Highness.”
“Your Grace the Duke.”
Eventually, the crown prince had to swallow the words he wanted to say. In any case, there was no reason to show a bad relationship with the House of Florence.
But then—
“Your Highness will have to pay the price for laying hands on my wife.”
“What?”
The low voice that whispered as he passed by brought a terrible anxiety that stabbed the crown prince.
Just as the crown prince was turning his head toward Rubellian—
Bang—!
A loud gunshot rang through the air.
At that sound, Rubellian smiled invisibly.
The price was just beginning.
* * *
“Icarus, Icarus!”
The crown prince’s palace instantly became chaos.
The empress, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, called out the crown prince’s name like mad, and the doctor standing beside her with a tense face opened his mouth with a trembling voice.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but the bullet seems to have grazed a vital point, so I dare not make a hasty judgment—”
“What are you saying!”
“I, I’ve extracted the bullet, but it’s difficult for me to judge what will happen from now on.”
At the doctor’s words, Rubellian leisurely watched the emperor’s face turn ashen, then turned his head. Soon a knight who had run over quickly from the distance knelt before the emperor.
“Your Majesty! We’ve caught the assassin, but—”
“How did this happen!”
“The assassin committed suicide. I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
“He committed suicide?”
At the knight’s words, the emperor’s face sharpened.
Among the nobles fallen into confusion, Rubellian, who alone maintained a calm expression, laughed inwardly. Of course he would have committed suicide—what could he do in a world where everyone he had to protect was dead?
“Sob, Icarus. Please, please come to your senses.”
Rubellian looked at the empress with a face devoid of emotion. Seeing someone who had been so venomous rush over like this at the news that her son might die—motherly love was indeed remarkable.
The crying empress, the furious emperor, and the nobles fallen into panic.
Among all these people, only he remained composed. Both coldly and viciously, he harbored no sympathy at all for what was happening.
No, was there anyone in this place worthy of his sympathy in the first place?
If there was, it would probably be the crown prince lying on that bed. He too had been caught up in the emperor’s sins.
“Your, Your Majesty. I think it would be important to create a quiet environment for His Highness the Crown Prince’s wellbeing.”
“Everyone return now, and don’t remove the assassin’s body—search thoroughly for any clues!”
“Understood.”
As the nobles were dispersing at the emperor’s command, the emperor called him.
“Duke Florence.”
Rubellian, who had been quietly present, leisurely turned his head. The emperor was glaring at him furiously.
Looking at the emperor who wanted to say something but only had his lips trembling, Rubellian calmly asked.
“What is it, Your Majesty?”
“You…”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You, did you do this to my son—”
—Did you make him like this?
Though the end wasn’t completed, it was a statement whose meaning was clear. However, the end of that statement couldn’t come from the emperor’s lips, and the emperor turned his head sharply.
‘My son…’
Chewing on this, Rubellian laughed dryly. As expected, the imperial offspring were the type to chew and swallow when sweet, and spit out as soon as bitter touches their lips. Nevertheless, that face was so terribly amusing that he ended up smiling.
Including himself, everything was filthy. Perhaps the filthiest among them might be him. Thinking so, a clear face suddenly came to mind and he smiled.
I think that’s perhaps why I liked you.
At least you are utterly transparent.
Though revenge had begun, even this one step brought terrible skepticism.
Eventually, Rubellian quickly headed toward the ducal residence.
“Your Grace, I’m sorry. I absolutely didn’t mean to.”
“…What are you talking about?”
“Your Grace, I wish you good luck.”
“Your Grace. I pray you return safely.”
“…?”
“Your Grace, cheer up! You have us.”
“It’ll just be sleeping in separate rooms for one night.”
“Hey, my lady’s face just now was definitely not a problem that could be solved by separate rooms.”
Rubellian narrowed his brow looking at Bill, Lilith, Mrs. Jena lined up by the main gate, and the employees behind them with worried expressions watching him.
“What’s going on?”
“Why did you tell such a lie?”
“What lie?”
Mrs. Jena sighed deeply and shook her head.
“Just go up first.”
Feeling somehow anxious, Rubellian quickly went up to the room. He was about to ask Anna and Marie, who were standing in front of the door, what was going on, but Anna opened the door faster.
And as he took one step into the room—
“You said you wouldn’t come in today.”
Eve, who had been sitting on the bed in the dimly lit room, said.
“The work ended sooner than expected so I came—”
“That’s good. I was wondering if I’d have to wait until tomorrow morning.”
“…Eve?”
Eve’s voice, colder than usual, wasn’t like her. At this, Rubellian’s expression hardened slightly, and Eve tilted her head and spoke.
“Duke Rubellian Florence, let’s have a talk.”
