I Became The Wife Of The Cursed Grand Duke

Their gazes met.

 “I need to know if my mother is alive. Her name is Marcella. She was taken to the temple three years ago, and I haven’t heard from her since.” 

Evelyn swallowed dryly as she looked at the pressing man, his eyes feral and pressing, as if at any moment he would grab her by the throat and twist it.

 “You will need me to fulfill my duties to your highness, so please…” “…….” “If you will only confirm that my mother is alive and well, I will serve you with all my heart.” “Serve?” “I told you, I have healing powers. I think you know best what your condition is right now.” 

Now that she’s proven her usefulness, it’s up to him to decide whether or not to accept it.

 

Kalian broke the silence, seeming to weigh his options.

 “You’ve heard the saying about being wary of anyone who offers you a deal that’s too good to be true?” 

He might think he had the upper hand, but Evelyn had a different idea.

 

Her mother’s life, the lifting of the curse, and eventually her freedom from death and his status.

 

Maybe she had more to gain.

 “You’re willing to give me what I want. Isn’t that too low a price to pay?” 

Who likes to lose? It was better for her to believe he did. Evelyn bit down on the thin flesh of her mouth.

 “So… you don’t like me?” “Well, we’ll see.” 

The corners of his mouth curled upward, as if he was finally finding this interesting, with obvious interest.

 “Then…” 

She puffed out her chest as if to summon courage, and then tried to open her mouth again curiously.

 Bang, bang─! 

A furious banging on a door that was closed as tightly as an iron fortress, as if no one could enter.

 “Your Highness, may I come in for a moment, the ceremony is ready!” 

A thunderous voice sounded that made her heart sink.

 

Kalian pushed himself to his feet with an annoyed slowness, pulling on the robe he’d thrown haphazardly over his chair.

 

Then she lay down on the bed and quickly pulled the covers over her head.

 

As he tucked himself in, he spoke in a voice that was so gruff it was hard to read the emotion in it.

 “Go back. I’ll decide in two days whether to accept your offer or punish you.” 

Evelyn nodded, and Kalian looked her straight in the eye, threatening her sternly.

 “If you’re thinking of running away, you’d better stop. It’s not my job to find a man, even if you’re soaring through the sky.” “Just one more favor, please.” “…….” “I need you to spread the word that someone has infiltrated His Highness’s bedchamber, and that it’s me.” 

Evelyn saw a hint of obsession and unusual exclusivity in the gaze that pressed against her.

 

It wasn’t a feeling born of sexuality, but rather curiosity about the woman who locked eyes with him so fearlessly and spouted off rehashed words.

 

He was not a merciful man to let a woman who claimed to have healing powers and to know the location of the next gate go gently.

 

The markings on her wrists were proof of that.

 

Locator magic.

 

It was why he hadn’t bothered to ask her name.

 

With the shadows visible only to him already clutching at her ankles, it would be easy enough to learn about Evelyn without asking for her name.

 

Evelyn was willing to take his persistence to the next level.

 

Meanwhile, it was the Count of Lawrence, accompanied by his chaplain, who came to see the Grand Duke.

 

Evelyn, spying an opportunity under the covers, slipped out of the bedroom through the slightly ajar window while they talked in the doorway.

 

She was suddenly grateful that Kalian was big enough to fit through that huge door.

 

‘Well, I’ve done what I had to do…’

 

Sitting down on the terrace, she stared up at the night sky, trying to calm her shaky legs and pounding heart. The rain had long since stopped, and the clouds were moving slowly.

 “If word gets out that the Grand Duke is looking for me, Louise won’t stand still.” 

It is troublesome to meddle in the affairs of another family for no good reason. Even if it is the Grand Duke.

 

But if she can get Kalian into the dungeons, as she plans, that’s a different story.

 

‘So please, find me. Help me get out of here.’

 

She threw her head back and sighed. A ray of light, carried on a damp breeze, grazed her cheek as if to wake her up.

 

* * *

 

The next morning, slender raindrops drenched the vast expanse of land.

 

“Your Majesty, what a surprise, I never thought you would wake up in such a strong state…!”

 

Benjamin, Kalian’s aide, exclaimed, frantically inspecting Kalian’s right arm.

 

He had worried so much about his master that his skin had dried to his bones overnight, and his face was gaunt.

 

But Kalian didn’t even glance at his loyal aide, his eyes fixed on the object on the table.

 

A hooded robe emblazoned with a lizard crest, a piece of cloth stained with blood, and vials scattered across the table.

 

A feral glint flashed in Kalian’s eyes as he crossed his arms and stared straight ahead, as if he were relentlessly searching for a trace of someone.

 “Your Grace?” 

Benjamin, who had been shuffling his feet all night because of orders to stay away, drew the bangs of his eyebrows together as he took in his lord’s state, which ranged from intact to murderous.

 “Are you sure… you’re alright?” “As you can see.” “What are you calling the Count’s apprentice councilors for, anyway, at the crack of dawn?” “I need to check something.” 

Benjamin’s ashen eyes flashed with wonder and disbelief.

 “Did you make a mistake during the night?” “What mistake?” “Like, say, swearing at a councilman?” “…….” “Did you insult him, or say something unspeakable… or press him down with force?” “…….” “No way, are you done?” 

Benjamin double-checked, pulling out the chair across from him and sitting down, even though his sensitive, obsessive-compulsive nature told him it couldn’t be.

 “If that’s not it, then… Please explain to me what the hell is going on. I’m dying to know.” “The order.” “I’ve stationed knights in Ferum, and I’ve begun a secret investigation into the woman you spoke of. Now, please, tell me…” 

A week at the shortest, a month at the longest.

 

His mana grew more extreme by the day, to the point where he had to bind himself with chains and restraints.

 “No healing or divine power is working.” 

Benjamin recalled the day, two months earlier, when he had entered the barracks despite the protests of those around him, concerned for his feverish condition.

 “Krrrr…” 

That day, Benjamin had been attacked by an irate Kalian, leaving him with a scar over his left eye deep enough to require him to wear an eye patch for the rest of his life.

 

He shudders to think of those eyes, red as the spines of his back.

 

Nevertheless, Benjamin, who prioritized his master’s safety over his own, was deeply relieved that such a disaster had not occurred overnight.

 

‘Even so, to wake up so quickly, and without a single scar, is astonishing.’

 

The next few days felt like a dream, as he walked the line between life and death.

 “Did you… want to see me?” 

There was a gentle knock on the door. Their gazes turned to the door at the same time.

 “Come in.” 

A red-curly-haired girl with a shy face walked up to the table and bowed her head shyly.

 “I’m here with the medicine you requested…” “Name.” “Reah Bernard.” 

Her brilliant golden eyes, as if they had been harshly quenched, scanned every inch of the bubbly young councilwoman’s appearance.

 

He stared so intently, she wondered if he’d burn a hole in her face.

 “Leave it.” 

Kalian’s eyebrows arched subtly, and Reah breathed an inward sigh of relief.

 “Thank you.” 

Her hands shaking, she placed the vial on the table and looked up.

 “Hic!” 

Her eyes locked with Kalian’s, who was resting his elbows on the table, his jaw clenched.

 

The frosty gaze, the tightly folded brow, the slightly twisted smile that seemed to pierce through the truth.

 

Her breath caught in her throat.

 

Fearing she was about to give away her secret, Reah looked away quickly and turned to leave.

 “Wait.” 

But she couldn’t.

 

The sound of her shoes, which even the thick carpeting couldn’t muffle, wrapped around her ankle.

 

Kalian, now a foot away from her, flung open his robe and pressed it against Reah’s body.

 

She squinted and forced the corners of her mouth to smile, but in truth, she had known who the owner of this robe was from the moment she entered the room.

 

‘Oh my god… no way, no way!’

 

‘Damn lifesaver!’

 “I’ve found the owner.” 

The voice sounded like a death sentence. Throwing his robe over his chair, Kalian rolled his stiff shoulders and glared down at me.

 

A huge shadow fell over Reah’s head as she broke into a cold sweat.

 “But you are not the woman I seek, so I warn you.” 

Kalian said, his eyes cold.

 “Speak only the truth if you wish to live.” 

* * *

 

Exactly one day had passed since his meeting with Kalian.

 

Evelyn, looking nervously in his direction, was dragged out of nowhere, her eyes and mouth covered, and knelt on the damp stone floor.

 

The dangerous odor and familiar subterranean air stirred her lungs.

 

Her heart pounded in an odd rhythm as she realized what was finally coming.

 “The Grand Duke is looking for a woman with silver hair, green eyes, and a mysterious air. He has a bounty to deliver to her, very secretly…” 

Someone removed the cloth over her eyes and the gag. Louise popped out of the inky darkness and stared at her.

 “If that’s the case, there’s only one person in this manor, isn’t there, Evelyn?” 

She approached, solemnly dressed in an ash-colored gown plunged up to her neck, her eyes fierce, a vial in her hand dripping with a blood-red liquid.

 “I will not ask you long. Last night, you infiltrated the Grand Duke’s residence… Are you sure it was you?” 

When Evelyn didn’t answer, Louise threw her hands up in the air.