The Role of Grand Duchess - Chapter 11

Goddamn it.

It’s so good it makes me want to curse. I want to cram my whole body, not just this piece of flesh, into this woman’s inside, which is like heaven. If I can’t do that, I’d rather chew her up and swallow her, putting her in my belly.

A filthy possessiveness that seems to paralyze reason boils fiercely. In step with it, an insatiable lust gathers in my penis, demanding stronger stimulation.

I grab her slender legs, which are shaking pitifully in the air, and bring them together, hooking them over my shoulders. My raging penis storms into the narrowed gap between her thighs. The smacking sound of flesh against flesh is as loud as driving a stake into a wooden pillar.

“Hnn, ah, uh, uhnn, ungh. Uuh.”

She doesn’t even have the strength to moan anymore; the sounds escaping her pretty lips are just pitiful. Her big, tearful eyes are red and festering, as if they’ll burst if touched.

But why?

Why doesn’t my base desire subside at that sight, but rather surges even higher?

I don’t know.

As long as this woman is in front of me, I can’t even think of anything else.

The victory ball opened for me, long gone from my mind.

Caelus willingly surrendered himself to the wave of explosive emotions that didn’t seem to belong to him. The bursting sensation invigorated his whole body, and it felt like something blocking his mind was shattering.

At the same time, a mark that Caelus himself didn’t know about glowed on the back of his neck. Something like black ink wriggled and crawled up his skin, creating a strange pattern.

The curse that had been hidden deep within Caelus’s mind for over 20 years was weakening and revealing itself.

“Who is it!”

Caelus’s figure moved like lightning at the sudden sticky and gloomy energy that forced its way into his senses. The decorative sword that had been tied to his uniform waist and thrown to the floor was in his hand. It was a fake sword without a blade, but in Caelus’s hands, it became a deadly weapon that could kill anyone.

He scooped up Eileen, who had frozen in surprise at the sudden situation, and hid her in his arms. Then, he scanned the lounge with sharp eyes.

There!

The dull sword, imbued with blue energy, slashed fiercely through the empty air. At the same time, blood splattered.

“…Escaped.”

Caelus’s gaze turned to the half-open window. If it were the old him, he would have definitely chased after the injured enemy to finish them off, but he couldn’t leave Eileen behind.

“Y-Your Grace, Grand Duke.”

Caelus finally looked down at Eileen, who was trembling in his arms. Sparks flew from his eyes as he saw her naked body, stained with the marks he had made.

“How dare you…!”

To see this woman’s naked form!

A rage greater than having his life threatened boiled within him. He quickly grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around Eileen’s body. Then, he picked up only his pants and put them on.

“Ethan! Lutian!”

He shouted in a loud voice, and two knights who had been at the far end of the hallway burst through the door at the speed of light.

“Your Grace!”

“Intruder. Escaped through the window, so track him down. He’s wounded, so look for bloodstains. And summon Count Roang.”

“Yes, sir!”

Knight Ethan quickly jumped out the window. Lutian immediately turned and ran towards the lower floor where Count Roang would be.

And Caelus, his face still full of anger, scooped up Eileen in his arms.

It’s too dangerous here. He couldn’t leave the woman in a place like this.

Caelus, who had wrapped Eileen up in the blanket like a caterpillar and held her like a princess, had a terrifying glint in his eyes.

“Your Grace, Grand Duke!”

Count Roang and the knights, who had rushed over breathlessly, lined up in front of Caelus.

“I sensed dark magic from the intruder. Knights, help Ethan find him and bring him here.”

“Yessir!”

The knights, shouting vigorously, quickly followed after Knight Ethan.

Count Roang’s expression was more serious than ever.

“It seems dangerous here. Especially for the Grand Duchess.”

“I agree.”

“Let’s go to the Grand Ducal Residence.”

“The Grand Ducal Residence? I have a house in the Imperial Capital?”

“It’s only natural that you wouldn’t know since you’ve never been interested, but wouldn’t it be stranger if you didn’t have one?”

Caelus silently nodded. He trusted that Count Roang would have taken care of it.

“I’ll prepare for departure right away. So, before that, please put on your clothes, Your Grace, and dress the Grand Duchess as well. We can’t pass through Glory Hall in this state.”

“…I will.”

The knights and Count Roang, who had rushed in, retreated like a tide, each busily finding their own tasks to do.

Eileen was about to lose her mind at the sudden situation, but she tried her best to stay focused. She already felt like her existence was a burden to them, but she tried not to cause any more trouble.

Glory Hall was also in a state of panic. It was understandable, given the appearance of a dark wizard.

A forbidden magic throughout the continent, an atrocious power that could only be obtained by offering human blood as a sacrifice and making a contract with a demon. Such a heinous thing had been discovered in the Imperial Palace of the Descartes Empire.

“Surely, they were aiming for the Grand Duchess?”

“Probably. The Princess is crazy.”

“She’s been crazy for a while now. But I didn’t know she would resort to dark magic…”

“By the way, the Empress is nowhere to be seen either.”

“The Princess came and left with her earlier.”

“After causing such a huge accident, is she trying to hide in Her Majesty the Empress’s dress? Hmph.”

“What’s going to happen now?”

The nobles whispered among themselves. They had already concluded that the one who attacked the Grand Duke and Duchess was Princess Rowena, blinded by jealousy.

They wanted to leave to avoid getting caught in the crossfire, but unlike the Empress, who had already disappeared, the Emperor was still present, so they couldn’t bring themselves to leave the ballroom. Their mouths did not rest as they framed Princess Rowena as the culprit.

Amidst the chaos and noise, the knights who had rushed up to the second floor a little while ago came down, followed by Grand Duke Caelus, who was practically holding the pale-faced Grand Duchess Eileen in his arms. Everyone’s eyes were filled with shock at the sight of the Grand Duchess, who looked even more distressed compared to the robust Caelus.

The Princess really attacked that frail Grand Duchess!

Some of the more sensitive noble ladies and young ladies even teared up.

Caelus strode forward and stood before the Emperor. Emperor Bailian’s expression was very complicated.

“There was an attack, I hear?”

“My knights will find him.”

“The Imperial Guard will also help, so we will definitely find him and hold him accountable.”

“Thank you. But I will take my wife and leave the palace.”

“…So be it.”

The Emperor let Caelus go without complaint. He didn’t believe, as the nobles were saying, that this was a situation orchestrated by the Princess. No matter how foolish she was, she wouldn’t do something so pathetic.

However, it wouldn’t be good to make unnecessary noise here or hold them back.

Grand Duke Caelus, exuding a sharp aura, and the Grand Duchess, who looked pale and about to collapse, and his knights immediately left Glory Hall. The nobles’ gazes followed them, and the Emperor, with a troubled expression, closed his eyes tightly.

Since the main characters had all disappeared, the victory ball could no longer continue.

In the end, Emperor Bailian made the most reasonable choice.

“I am deeply saddened that an unfortunate incident occurred at the victory ball, and I extend my sincere condolences to those of you who are disappointed. Furthermore, I will close today’s victory ball. And it would be best not to hold the victory ball that was scheduled to continue for the next two days.”

The Emperor’s official declaration of the closure of the ball was made.

After speaking, Emperor Bailian pressed his temples as if he had a headache and rose from his seat. As soon as the Emperor, surrounded by his escort knights, left Glory Hall, the nobles also moved. They wanted to leave the palace as soon as possible.

On the day of victory, which should have been filled with shouts of glory and triumph, all that remained in Glory Hall was the chaotic aftermath of the party and silence.

***

Meanwhile, Empress Pamela, who had not yet heard about what had happened in Glory Hall, was also holding her throbbing head. The cause of the headache was obvious: Princess Rowena.

“Why did you stop my knights and maids!”

“Of course, to prevent you from causing an accident on a day like today. Do you even need to ask?”

“Mother!”

“Please try to think a little. Is it even possible to do something that would make His Majesty the Emperor dislike you at a time like this? What if he declares that he will marry you off to someone other than Caelus? What will you do then?”

Princess Rowena pursed her lips at the extremely realistic and cold-hearted remark. The absolute power that she had wielded all her life was only possible because she was the Emperor’s daughter. But to be abandoned by her father?

That couldn’t happen.

“Fine. I’ll stay still. But you have to kill that girl right away. You promised me, didn’t you?”

“Haa… Yes. I’m glad you remember. I already promised.”

“Yes. So please keep it soon.”

Who did she take after to be so foolish and impatient?

“That won’t do. There are too many eyes watching right now. So, after the victory ball is over…”

“Agh! There’s no time for that! My brother is with that girl in the lounge right now, in the lounge…!”

Empress Pamela shook her head at the sight of her daughter, who was so resentful that tears were dripping from her red eyes and she couldn’t even finish her sentence. It was obvious what she was so upset about.

“My dear, men are animals. They can satisfy their lust even without love. If there’s a woman who will spread her legs without complaint, they won’t take her? That means the man is impotent. Do you understand?”

“…Really?”

“Yes. So please stop being so distracting and go back to the victory ballroom or to your chambers. Just go.”

“…”

Empress Pamela barely suppressed her rising anger as she looked at Princess Rowena, who was staring at her instead of answering that she understood. She couldn’t not know what her daughter wanted.

“I’ll give you that fake Grand Duchess as a gift as soon as the victory ball is over. Is that enough?”

“Yes, Mother. You’re the only one for me. Thank you.”

Empress Pamela’s face was filled with contempt as she watched her daughter smile like a bright rose, bow, and turn to leave.

“Haa, if she weren’t my daughter…”

Empress Pamela, who had been sighing, paused.

“Everyone, leave. I want to be alone.”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”

The head maid, the maids, and even the escort knights guarding the door all left, and the door to the chamber closed. Then, a figure suddenly appeared in the air, wearing a black robe, and staggered.

The Empress’s eyes widened as she discovered the drops of blood falling on the floor.

“Are you hurt? What happened?”

“It’s not deep. I’m fine.”

“Don’t tell me…”

“Yes, it’s Grand Duke Caelus.”

“Why did you go there?”

“…The hidden curse was revealed. So I was just going to check on it secretly, but, huu… The Grand Duke was stronger than I thought. I’m sorry.”

Empress Pamela’s face turned pale at the dark wizard’s words.

“The curse? It’s finally broken?”

“Not quite, but it’s become more unstable. And the seal that was placed on it has been revealed… If someone discovers it and becomes suspicious…”

“It will reach the ears of the white wizards of the Magic Tower.”

If the strongest white wizards stepped in, the curse would most likely be broken.

Empress Pamela’s mind raced. The court wizard right now was a puppet she had planted, so he didn’t have the ability to undo the dark magic curse.

The Magic Tower was three days away from here. Even if they heard the news and immediately cast a warp spell, it wouldn’t be right now. Then…

“So, where is the Grand Duke now?”

“Subordinates skilled in stealth are following him from afar.”

“You told them to be careful not to get caught, right?”

“Of course.”

“There’s really no time left. We have to carry out the plan tonight.”

“Right away, you mean?”

“Yes. Add the demon’s puppet to the berserker’s curse. And make him a weapon that wields his sword only for my son Evans, and bring him before me.”

“But isn’t that too different from the original plan?”

The plan was to marry Caelus to Rowena, make him a relative of Evans, then place a puppet curse on him and make him the leader of the escort knights, using him as Evans’s sword and meat shield when he became Emperor.

But everything had gone wrong because of the suddenly appearing Grand Duchess.

“What can I do? It’s my fault for believing his curse had erased all his emotions and letting my guard down.”

“No, it’s my fault. I was inadequate…”

“Enough. We can shape the narrative as we wish. Let’s say remnants of the northern barbarians attacked the Grand Duke and his wife.”

“Ah…!”

Indeed, Empress Pamela’s scheming was remarkable. To devise a whole plan in such a short time.

“Let’s say they all died, consumed by a fire the barbarians set for revenge. And bring me a puppet. Ah, preferably one with a marred face.”

“As you command.”

“And that girl… Hmm, what to do with her.”

“Aren’t you going to kill her?”

“Aren’t you curious? What was it about that girl that taught love to Caelus, who had his emotions erased?”