I Refuse This Life, Your Highness! - Chapter 31

I realized I was dreaming.

But merely realizing it didn’t change anything. I was in a dark cave, rain pouring outside. It was late at night, and the occasional sound of bats flapping their wings echoed from the depths of the cave. Rainwater had seeped into where I sat, and my soaked clothes clung uncomfortably to my skin, making me shiver.

It wasn’t cold enough to freeze, so it must have been autumn. I remembered why I was in the cave. Risaeon had offered me the chance to deliver the Harvest Festival speech, and for some reason, I’d accepted. Though I usually avoided speaking in front of others, my reasons for agreeing were now blurry.

“To immediately accept such a question out of politeness is foolish and vulgar.” That was what my parents had said as they ordered me to the cave as punishment. A servant escorted me to the cave and left without so much as a glance back.

It was cold. I sat there in a daze until the sound of footsteps squelching through wet mud broke the silence.

I turned to see a man in a black rain cloak standing there. Who could it be? No one should have come here at night. A primal fear surged within me. A flash of lightning illuminated his face.

It was Erma.

Shocked and panicked, I stumbled back, trying to flee. The disturbance must have angered the bats, for a swarm of them flew at me, forcing me to stop. I couldn’t retreat any further, and with no other options, I began to cry, tears streaming down my face.

I was powerless.

“Her Grace can only manage so much, after all,” Erma sneered, stepping into the cave with slow, deliberate steps. His boots, coated in mud, left dirty marks as he advanced. In his hand was a pale yellow whip, dripping with a dark liquid.

“…!”

I gasped awake, my breath catching in my throat. Warmth surrounded me. There were no bats, no rain, no mud. Only the comforting embrace of my blankets.

It took me a moment to realize I was in my room at the Grand Duchy. Just a dream. A particularly unpleasant one. Exhaling deeply, I pulled the blanket higher, letting its warmth melt away the lingering chill from the dream.

“Your Grace.”

“I’m awake.”

Bohen’s voice came from beyond the curtains. After replying, I lingered a moment before slipping into my robe and stepping outside. Sitting in my usual chair, I noticed something odd about Bohen’s demeanor.

“…What’s wrong?”

“Your Grace, I believe you need to prepare and come outside immediately.”

“Why?”

Bohen hesitated, his expression conflicted, before finally speaking.

“Sir Risaeon is being accused of stealing your jewels.”

“What… what nonsense is this?!”

My voice rose involuntarily, and Bohen bowed his head, though the matter was no fault of his. Realizing my reaction, I composed myself and gestured for him to proceed.

“Prepare my clothes.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Last night, Rvian and Risaeon had stayed late for drinks with the Grand Duke. Now this? Quickly dressing and tidying my hair, I hurried to the main hall, where the tension was palpable.

The Grand Duke stood with his arms crossed, facing Erma. Nearby, Risaeon was restrained by guards, with Rvian standing beside him, his expression grim.

A wave of dizziness washed over me. Risaeon, who valued his honor and skill above all else, wouldn’t tolerate such an accusation. Yet he stood there, grinding his teeth, his eyes fixed on Erma.

“Release my brother,” I ordered.

“Your Grace—”

“At once!”

The guards glanced nervously at the Grand Duke.

“Do as she says,” he commanded coolly. “Nothing has been proven yet.”

Reluctantly, the guards released Risaeon, who shrugged off their grip with a click of his tongue.

“Erma.”

The Grand Duke’s icy voice cut through the tension. Erma, holding a velvet-lined box, stepped forward. The lid was open, revealing a pair of large sapphire earrings—mine.

“You claim this was found in Sir Risaeon’s chambers?”

For a moment, I almost lunged forward. It was clear this was another one of Erma’s schemes.

“Yes, Your Grace. I inspected the room myself during a routine cleaning check and discovered them.”

“And why would this be of concern to her?” the Grand Duke asked, his tone sharp. My expression hardened as well. If this were true, I would be required to remain impartial, but Erma’s attempt to drag me into the matter was outrageous. Fortunately, the Grand Duke cut him off before he could continue.

“Erma, I’ll ask you one last time. Can you stand by your claim?”

“Without a doubt, Your Grace.”

Unbelievable. What gave him such confidence? Risaeon, stealing my jewels? It was more plausible to imagine Shasa escaping the stables and carrying the jewels in her mouth. Even if he had stolen them, why would he leave them in his own room?

But if the jewels truly were found there, how could we prove Risaeon’s innocence? Erma would not have been careless in planting evidence.

“What do I do…”

Lost in thought, I barely registered the Grand Duke speaking again.

“Erma.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

His voice was icy enough to freeze the air.

“Sir Risaeon spent last night drinking with Viscount Rvian and me until the early hours. He only returned to his chambers late.”

“Your Grace, forgive me, but after the gathering, Sir Risaeon entered the Duchess’s chambers—”

“That’s absurd!”

My outburst silenced the room.

Risaeon couldn’t hold back any longer and shouted, his voice booming. The Grand Duke raised a hand slightly, as if to calm him, and spoke.

“After the drinking ended, I went straight to the Grand Duchess’s chambers.”

“T-that’s…”

“And in that time, when exactly would Sir Risaeon have had the opportunity to enter her rooms?”

“Well… there was a moment when Your Grace stepped away from the gathering—”

“There wasn’t.”

The hall fell silent.

It was Erma who spoke first, his tone exaggerated as he gasped dramatically. “Unbelievable. Then someone must have deliberately planted the jewels in Sir Risaeon’s room to frame him!”

His feigned outrage was sickening.

“This matter will be thoroughly investigated,” the Grand Duke declared.

“Yes, Your Grace. Leave it to—”

“You have no authority.”

The Grand Duke cut Erma off sharply. Erma paled instantly, his expression almost comically pathetic. I had to suppress a laugh.

“Y-Your Grace…”

“Erma,” the Grand Duke continued coldly. “I trusted you. But instead of quietly reporting this to me, you orchestrated a public spectacle, gathering all these people to make your accusation. Did you think I couldn’t handle this matter fairly?”

“N-not at all, Your Grace! I would never—”

“For your gross misconduct in disrespecting our guests and acting rashly, you will be sentenced to thirty lashes. Reflect deeply so this does not happen again.”

“Y-Your Grace! Your Grace, please!”

Erma’s protests were useless as the guards dragged him away, as powerless as Risaeon had been earlier. A weight seemed to lift off my chest, though I had to fight the urge to throw something at Erma as he was escorted out.

I hurried to Risaeon’s side.

“Are you all right, brother?”

“I’m fine. You must have been worried,” Risaeon said, forcing a smile.

“I’m so sorry…”

“What are you apologizing for?”

I had intended to exchange only brief words of comfort before going to the Grand Duke, but Risaeon grabbed my hand.

“Yuraine, how are you doing in the Grand Duchy?”

“Yes, seeing what’s happening… I can’t help but wonder…”

Their concerned faces made my chest tighten. The stares of the people still gathered in the hall, including the Grand Duke, bore down on me.

Gently, I pried Risaeon’s hand away. “I’ll come to your room later.”

I turned to face the Grand Duke.

“Your Grace, thank you for rectifying this situation.”

“It was my duty. Are you all right? You look pale.”

“I was just startled. Regarding the jewels, I’ll ensure stricter oversight and better training for the staff.”

“Wasn’t there a report recently about one of your servants disappearing?”

“That was my negligence.”

“Vi.”

“Yes?”

“We’ll replace some of your staff. Aside from your two personal attendants, we’ll assign new servants to you.”

I nodded quietly.

“Yes.”

Typically, intervening in another’s household staff would be considered overstepping. However, in this situation, I couldn’t argue. I had chosen my attendants based on small acts of kindness, but kindness didn’t equate to loyalty. It might be wiser to accept people selected by the Grand Duke.

The matter resolved, Rvian and Risaeon decided to leave a day earlier than planned. I regretted the lost time with them, but Erma’s actions left no room for a more leisurely farewell. Thirty lashes—it was satisfying to see him face consequences.

The Grand Duke prepared gifts for my brothers, and their carriage was soon loaded in the courtyard. I stood by to see them off. After spending days together, parting felt bittersweet.

Both brothers hugged me briefly before bowing to the Grand Duke and boarding the carriage.

“You’re sure you’re unharmed?”

“Yes, and His Grace is fine too,” Rvian replied before the door closed.

The carriage sped through the grand garden and out of sight, leaving me standing there. Only after receiving confirmation that it had exited the gates did I turn away.

For some reason, the Grand Duke had stayed beside me the entire time. As I turned to leave, weighed down by melancholy, he called out to me.

“Vi, can we talk for a moment?”

“Yes?”

“It won’t take long.”

He led me to the inner room of the eastern library. Was something important on his mind?

“Actually, during last night’s gathering, Sir Risaeon did leave briefly.”

“…”

I froze in place.

“What…?”

“He stepped out to get some air in the garden. At least, that’s what he said. But I didn’t verify it. Given his skills, it wouldn’t have been difficult for him to move unnoticed.”

“…You’re saying he could have entered my rooms and taken the jewels?”

The words stuck in my throat. My quarters consisted of five separate rooms, one of which was dedicated to storing my jewelry. It wouldn’t be impossible for someone with Risaeon’s abilities—or the Grand Duke’s—to enter and leave undetected if the Grand Duke wasn’t present in my chambers.

“But… Risaeon wouldn’t… He has no reason…”

“Exactly. He has no reason or need. That’s why I defended him.”

“…”

My hands trembled uncontrollably. Risaeon would never do such a thing. But how could I dispel the doubt cast by the situation? My mouth felt glued shut, unable to form the words.

Would he believe me? What should I do?

A wave of helplessness washed over me, tightening around my throat.

The Grand Duke reached out, his hand gently cupping my cheek.

“Vi.”

“…”

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

Nothing to worry about.

Those words pulled me from my memories of the past and grounded me firmly in the present.

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