Even the Devil Regrets it - Chapter 101

The Empire was in an uproar because the Grand Duke had remained in seclusion for six months.

That year, the knights had gone on the monster subjugation mission without Braeden. Naturally, the results were far weaker than in previous years. The materials and byproducts they collected were disappointing. And because the Northern Grand Duke’s role in managing the rifts carried major political significance, rumors began to spread quietly that he might be withdrawing from his duties.

When Braeden completely stopped appearing in public, the rumors became bolder. People whispered that the North was planning to rebel and declare independence from the Empire.

They needed to act quickly. Before anything else, they had to visit the Imperial Palace and put an end to the nonsense.

As soon as Braeden and Juliana had recovered their strength, they traveled to the palace through a portal.

Emperor David was already furious. He had issued several summons over the past months, but all of them had been ignored.

“You claimed you were sick, but you seem perfectly well to me,” he said sharply.

Apparently, Lochlan’s last report had used illness as an excuse. It was hard to believe that the Black Reaper of the North was taken down by something as ordinary as being unwell.

“If we had anything better to say, we would have used it,” Braeden replied. He recalled Lochlan’s reluctant face when making the excuse and pressed his lips together to stop himself from smiling.

“There were many complicated things happening that were not easy to explain.”

David, who had always been cautious and anxious by nature, could not bring himself to trust Braeden’s words. There had been many sleepless nights where he worried the Grand Duke might actually betray the Empire.

Juliana, who had been quietly listening beside them, spoke in a calm and steady voice.

“There was a personal matter between us as husband and wife.”

David blinked in surprise. He had not expected that.

“A personal matter?”

As he narrowed his eyes, Juliana continued.

“I left home for a while.”

“What did you say?”

David stared at her, stunned. He had always believed that the Grand Duke and Duchess were deeply in love. That belief had been carefully formed through reports and investigations from the time of their marriage.

Braeden sighed softly. He had not expected her to speak so bluntly.

No matter how shocked the men looked, Juliana’s expression stayed the same. She even offered a gentle smile as she began to explain.

“I am sorry for causing concern. But sometimes, love must take precedence over politics, duty, or even daily life. I believe Your Majesty can understand that.”

David found himself wondering just how intense their love had to be for her to say something like that.

He was deeply curious about the story behind their relationship, but pride stopped him from asking. He let out a quiet breath instead.

There was a time when he would not have understood Juliana’s words at all. As someone who held absolute power, he had never found women difficult to understand.

But things changed when he met Pamela. No matter what he did, she never did what he expected. Because of her, he had started to rethink the way men and women related to one another. That was why, now, he could understand at least part of what Juliana had said.

He glanced over at Braeden. So even someone like him, who seemed flawless, had completely lost control because the Grand Duchess left home?

Braeden noticed the look and gave a faint, bitter smile.

“If Your Majesty will allow it, we will handle the remaining matters in order. We ask for your understanding.”

“Fine. Do as you need to,” David replied. He paused for a moment before asking, “Then, is everything resolved between the two of you now?”

The anger in his eyes had faded. In its place was curiosity.

They had told the truth to avoid fueling suspicion or anger, but David’s interest was more intense than they expected. It became clear that unless they satisfied that curiosity, he would not let them leave.

After several long hours of questions and conversation, Braeden and Juliana finally stepped out of the audience chamber.

As soon as they exited, the sound of hurried footsteps and the clinking of jewelry rushed toward them, echoing through the hallway.

“Marchioness Clemence?”

Juliana’s eyes widened the moment she recognized Cheryl. Braeden instinctively frowned.

“You came back safely!”

Cheryl rushed over and pulled Juliana into a tight hug.

Braeden wanted to peel her off immediately, but with so many people around, he held back. His jaw tightened as he forced his expression to stay neutral.

Juliana, who already knew the truth about Cheryl, smiled awkwardly and replied,
“I must have caused you some worry.”

“I was worried, yes, but none of it was your fault. It was that awful…”

Cheryl shot a sharp glance at Braeden, but just barely stopped herself from saying more.

“It’s such a relief to see His Grace looking well too.”

Watching Cheryl switch tones so quickly, Braeden let out a short breath, clearly unamused.

“What brings you to the palace?” Juliana asked, her tone cautious.

Cheryl gave a smile full of hidden intentions.
“I was too anxious to sit still. When I heard the two of you were here, I just had to come. I couldn’t wait.”

She hadn’t come to the palace for any official reason. She was here specifically to see Braeden and Juliana.

While Juliana tried to hide her confusion, Cheryl lowered her voice and leaned in, eyes gleaming.
“Is it true? Are you really a Floreo?”

Her eyes sparkled with greedy curiosity. It was the same look a Mammon gives when spotting something rare and priceless.

Braeden noticed it immediately. He placed a protective hand on Juliana’s shoulder and pulled her behind him.

“Leave, Mammon.”

“Is that really something you should say to someone who came out of concern?” Cheryl answered through clenched teeth, though she kept her smile.

Tension sparked between the two of them, sharp and clear. Juliana stood between them, unsure of what to do, and gave a hesitant, awkward smile.

For a short time, it seemed like the Barnett family was finally turning things around.

If they had used the money Juliana had given them wisely, invested in secure ventures, or managed their finances properly, they might have truly rebuilt the household.

But once again, the Barnetts were facing bankruptcy. They had fallen back into old habits, spending without planning or care.

They proudly bought back their former mansion and returned to a life of luxury. Instead of worrying about their stability, they convinced themselves that their family was rising again.

Their confidence came from one source. The Earl of Barnett had recently invested in a new business and trusted it completely.

“This is backed by Viscount Alekstar. There’s no way it will fail.”

He believed in it fully, because everything Alekstar had invested in so far had brought huge returns. The Earl felt confident and proud of his decision.

Had he known that Alekstar was working under Braeden, he would have never trusted the venture. But unfortunately, he had no idea.

So, when the investment failed disastrously, the impact was far worse than before.

“Idiots.”

Aileen was furious as the household began crumbling again. Her anger burned all the way to the top of her head. As far as she was concerned, there was not a single competent person in this house.

She knew she could turn a profit if they would just let her handle the money. But in this household, her position meant less than that of a second wife or a mistress.

“I won’t let this go on. Not for Ithan’s sake.”

Aileen had made up her mind. For the sake of her son, Ithan, she could no longer tolerate the incompetence of the head of the household.

With cold determination, she secretly purchased a poison known to circulate in the black market. It had a sweet scent and caused cardiac arrest once ingested. Because it was almost impossible to detect with standard poison tests, it had become a favorite among wealthy nobles who wanted to eliminate someone quietly.

The poison was rare and extremely expensive, but Aileen never considered anything impossible. She tapped into the connections she had built during her poor and desperate years in the city’s back alleys and obtained it.

She then hid the small bottle in a secret spot beneath the bed. Her plan was to wait for the right moment and mix it into one of the desserts the Earl of Barnett often enjoyed.

Some time passed.

Ithan, the son born between Tristan and Aileen, was naturally curious and mischievous.

One afternoon, during his nap time, his nanny began nodding off, assuming the child had already fallen asleep. The young nanny had only been hired recently. Because of their tight finances, they had no choice but to hire someone with little experience.

Just as Ithan was about to fall asleep, he saw the ball of yarn from the nanny’s lap roll across the floor and disappear under the bed. The moment broke his drowsiness, and his eyes lit up with curiosity.

Without hesitation, Ithan crawled under the bed in search of the yarn.

Even after they had moved into the new mansion, Aileen still shared a room with her son, out of habit from their years in a much smaller home. It was purely by chance that, while reaching for the ball of yarn, Ithan noticed something strange in the woodwork beneath the bed.

His curiosity got the better of him. He reached through the gap where the boards didn’t quite meet.

A small glass bottle hidden inside slipped free and fell into his hand.

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