Reincarnated As My Husband's Mistress-Chapter 108 - ] In hell, to hell

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The emperor's birthday had been a spectacular affair, but its aftermath cast a pall over the entire capital. The atmosphere was tense, like walking on thin ice.

Noevian Trovika, a former criminal who had been granted clemency by the emperor, had attempted to assassinate the crown prince. Rumors had spread like wildfire that Noevian had kept the bodies of the women he had abducted, hidden beneath the crown prince's palace, as a twisted form of revenge for the prince's failure to protect him.

The rumors about Noevian grew increasingly grotesque and sensational. It was said that he had an obsession with the beautiful Adrien Pireta, known for her delicate health, and had been waiting for her death to preserve her body. The aristocratic society was scandalized by these rumors.

If it weren't for the strict order to keep quiet while the royal family conducted its investigation, the rumor would have spread beyond the capital and throughout the entire empire.

The star of the birthday celebration was now facing a crisis. Emperor Julius was shattered upon receiving the remains of Baroness Kuroseda from Roardnes.

'All other bodies will be returned to their families after being compared to portraits of the victims of previous missing person cases,' a servant reported.

The emperor was lost in thought and did not respond. Roardnes, seemingly equally stunned, allowed Vincent to continue reading the rest of the report.

When the report mentioned Adrien, Roardnes quickly interjected, "According to the testimony of the guard who was protecting the crown prince's chambers, Countess Acacia entered the chamber, claiming to have an urgent message from the duke. Shortly after, the duke himself arrived to see the crown prince. So, the countess was merely present at the scene and is also a victim."

'I've heard that story several times,' the emperor replied, his face turning ashen. 'You said she had a prior arrangement with you, and that's why you brought her there. You must have already suspected something.'

'Yes,' Roardnes replied.

'Are you sure it was Noevian who stabbed Bardenaldo?'

'...Yes,' Roardnes answered reluctantly.

The emperor's wrinkled lips twisted in agony. 'And who killed Baroness Kuroseda...?'

Roardnes, who had been staring fixedly at the glass coffin containing Baroness Kuroseda's body, remained silent.

The emperor, his eyes blazing, turned to Roardnes. 'Was it Noevian, as the rumors suggest? Or was it... Bardenaldo?'

Silence was the answer.

The emperor stumbled slightly. Roardnes watched him calmly.

Emperor Julius had stormed into the crown prince's chambers upon hearing the news, only to retreat upon seeing the portrait of Empress Retinia hanging at the entrance. If it turned out that Crown Prince Bardenaldo had kidnapped and murdered Baroness Kuroseda...

The emperor collapsed onto the glass coffin, gasping for breath. After a moment, he straightened up.

'Roan,' he said.

'Yes,' Roardnes replied.

'Let's assume it was Noevian Trovika.'

The emperor's meaning was clear. He intended to use Noevian Trovika as a scapegoat to cover up Bardenaldo Ronta's misdeeds.

"Your brother's madness has already been punished enough by your uncle's blade."

"...."

"I've just returned from seeing him. You've been watching over Bardenaldo, so you know. He's on the brink of death now."

"...."

"Such a wicked man. Oh, heavens..."

The emperor, upon seeing the corpse of Baroness Kuroseda, struck his chest in frustration and collapsed onto the floor.

"Regardless of how mad he was, he is still your brother and my son. If Heaven were to take him, could I possibly send him off on such a dishonorable path?"

What a heart-wrenching plea of fatherly love. If Noevian Trovika, who had dedicated his life to the emperor, were to hear this, he would surely curse and lament.

"Think of your dead mother. If Bardenaldo cannot follow in Retinia's footsteps, how will my poor Retinia be remembered by posterity?"

He meant that if both Roardnes and Bardenaldo were seen as a dark stain on Retinia's legacy, then her death would be tarnished.

Roardnes watched the emperor, who was praying with his arms around the coffin of Baroness Kuroseda. It seemed as if the emperor, immersed in sorrow, was gradually fading away from him.

He realized that he had unwittingly revealed his true feelings. The sight of his father praying was unfamiliar, as if he were a stranger.

The magnificent, comfortable palace; the adoring eyes of those around him; the life he had lived filled with illusions.

When the fantasy he had built up shattered, Roardnes felt himself falling endlessly. He managed to suppress the overwhelming sorrow that welled up within him.

After watching his father weep for a long time, Roardnes left the audience chamber without saying a word. A long, dark shadow trailed behind his silent footsteps as he disappeared down the corridor.

****

Crown Prince Bardenaldo's condition was critical.

The wound I had inflicted on his back, though deep, was not fatal. Since I had used my own, recently recovered body to stab him, my strength had been insufficient, and the wound, while serious, was not in a vital area. With proper care, he could recover.

However, the wound inflicted by Noevian on his chest was severe. There was significant bleeding, and because it was near a vital area, Bardenaldo had fainted several times while the dagger was being removed.

All the best physicians in the imperial palace had been summoned, but most shook their heads. They were doing everything they could by administering rare and precious medicines, but they could only pray for a miracle.

While Roardnes went to report the situation, I stood by the crown prince's bedside.

Since it was impossible to leave him in the chaotic state of the crown prince's chambers, Bardenaldo had been moved to a nearby palace after receiving emergency treatment.

Bardenaldo lay with his eyes closed, his face peaceful, as if the events of the previous night had been nothing more than a nightmare.

I heard the sound of the door opening softly.

"Your Majesty..."

"Shh."

It was Empress Grace, escorted by Epero. She was momentarily startled to see me, a blonde, before quietly approaching Bardenaldo's bedside.

Epero remained at the doorway, looking somewhat bewildered.

"I've heard about the situation. Where is the crown princess? Why are you here guarding him?"

"I informed His Majesty immediately, but..."

When I trailed off, hesitant, Grace's expression also clouded over.

She pursed her lips and fell into thought for a moment before patting my shoulder encouragingly.

That was when it happened.

"Ugh, gasp!"

The crown prince, who had just regained consciousness, let out a startled cry upon seeing me.

Empress Grace turned to him quickly.

"Your Highness, are you alright?"

"That woman, why is she...!"

"Isn't she Countess Acacia, Your Highness's advisor?"

"No. No, that woman is Ad, Adrien..."

Bardenaldo thrashed about in his bed, unable to move properly.

Pain seized him, and he pressed his bandaged chest and cried out in agony.

"Adrien, Adrien Pireta..."

"..."

Empress Grace took a step back and shook her head at me.

It was quite unpleasant to see someone who had nearly died calling out the name of the dead in terror.

"I came here after hearing that it was okay to visit you... It seems His Highness isn't feeling very well. Please understand, Countess. You dyed your hair blonde, so I suppose he's confused you with the deceased Grand Duchess."

"I understand."

Bardenaldo, who seemed a bit out of it, began to tremble violently as soon as I met his eyes.

I smiled at him gently.

"As your Highness's advisor, I will stay by your side until Her Majesty is ready to leave."

"Would you?"

Since she found it quite unpleasant to stay with the crown prince in such a state, Grace, who had always been afraid of him, welcomed my offer.

Epero, who had been standing a distance away watching us, escorted Empress Grace back. He hesitated for a moment, as if he had something to say, but then left the room.

Only after the bedroom door had completely closed did I pull a chair over to the bedside and sit down.

Bardenaldo squirmed, trying to get away from me, though he had nowhere to go.

"You, you're a ghost... a ghost... I'm sure of it. Go away."

"I will be giving my testimony soon."

His red hair, which had been tossing about, suddenly stilled.

"I discovered Noevian Trovika's secret and realized that Baroness Kuroseda and his secret were connected. So, I came to your Highness's chambers in the middle of the night to report it."

Bardenaldo's eyes, which had been fixed on my lips, as if he found it strange that I could speak, changed from fear to confusion.

"The basement of the crown prince's palace is a place that Your Highness didn't even know existed. Noevian Trovika, the duke, knew about it and used the secret passage to bring the bodies he had hidden in my mansion to curse Your Highness."

"I came to the crown prince's chambers urgently because His Majesty was so distraught over Baroness Kuroseda. And fearing that I would reveal the secret, Noevian Trovika, who knew the truth, pursued me. In the end, both the crown prince, who learned the truth, and I were in danger of being killed."

My lips, which had been trembling, suddenly stilled.

The crown prince no longer trembled but stared at me calmly.

"If the Second Prince Roardnes hadn't come, I would have died. It was all Noevian Trovika's doing, and Crown Prince Bardenaldo was merely a victim."

"..."

"...How about this for a testimony?"

A subtle disturbance flickered across the crown prince's usually placid face.

"...What do you want?"

His eyes, which seemed ready to sell his soul if it meant avoiding blame, scanned my face intently.

I barely managed to keep a smile from twisting my lips, overcoming the surge of contempt.

"The truth."

Despite stating my desire, he seemed unable to understand.

"A truth that Adrien Pireta, if she knew, would be too shocked to deny."

For a monster, I would provide a monstrous request. Could there be a clearer demand for someone who cared nothing for the suffering of others?

"Everything in the basement belongs to the Saint of Ronta, Crown Prince Bardenaldo."

"!"

"If you don't want me to say those words, then speak clearly."

And there could be no greater threat.

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The monster's expression, like a candle flickering before it goes out, wavered and distorted at the prospect of exposure.

Beneath his disheveled clothing, the skin from his neck to his ears was flushed crimson, a sign of anger rather than a willingness to confess.

"Poor Adrien Pireta."

His lips curled into a sinister smile, like a demon granted permission to maim and kill.

"Little did she know she was destined to become the crown prince's mistress."

I clenched my fists, trying to suppress the urge to slap him.

"You... did you think you could do such a thing..."

His eyes, which had been fixed on my speaking lips, now glinted with a sinister light, as if they were from a creature of the underworld.

"...without your father's consent?"

His words, spoken from the brink of death, were like a venomous snake spitting its venom.

"Did you think I would just keep quiet if I knew? I would go straight to your father, Duke Pireta, and strangle him."

Though Bardenaldo was on the verge of death and I had been brought back to life, it was I who felt my breath catch in my throat.

"Would you like to hear it, Aunt?"

The unexpected address caused a part of my sanity to snap. Why was I the one having trouble breathing?

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