I Refuse This Life, Your Highness! - Chapter 72

The paper touched the smoldering red logs and began to smolder, curling into ash. Soon, only burnt scraps remained in the fireplace, crumbling to the bottom as they finished burning.

Perhaps Liseon had sent it. The duke hadn’t expected Liseon to help me, so it was plausible. It could have been a plea for assistance if his position in the family had become strained because of his aid to me. Or maybe it was just to confirm I’d arrived safely.

But I didn’t want to read it. Not even if it was from Liseon. And especially not if it wasn’t.

I had once desperately craved my parents’ love. At the ball, their kind and affectionate demeanor had set my heart at ease. I had been happy. But now, that happiness felt shameful. My family had tried to push me toward the worst possible future—all for the sake of the family.

For the sake of the family sounded noble, but it was nothing more than greed. The desire for the entire family to bask in the benefits of being associated with the duke. I had thought Rivien was at least a fair and just person. But even he had tried to exploit me to seize the duke’s title…

As I stared at the now-vanished letter, the duke approached and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

“You could have read it.”

“…No,” I said, shaking my head. “I didn’t want to.”

“Eurain.”

The duke looked at me with concern before leaning in to kiss my cheek. I gave him a faint smile and rose onto my toes to plant a kiss just above his jawline.

“Let’s head to my study. They’re waiting for us.”

“They’re waiting? Since when?”

“Not long.”

That was likely a lie. They had probably been waiting for hours, well before I woke. Flustered, I quickly prepared to leave. As I searched for a coat, the duke brought over a fur cloak himself.

“Oh, I thought I’d lost it!”

It was the blue wolf fur cloak I had entrusted to an attendant at the ball. I had been certain it was gone forever, but someone must have taken good care of it. I draped the cloak over my shoulders and stepped out through the door Bohen held open. As I walked down the corridor, I felt something odd near my shoulder.

I turned around quickly to see the duke covertly stroking the fur.

“….”

When I stared at him with wide eyes, he cleared his throat, looking slightly sheepish. The sight was endearing, though it felt strange to associate the word cute with a man so tall and broad-shouldered, particularly among knights.

“Is the maid’s name Miria?”

“Oh, yes. That’s right.”

“Leon successfully rescued her and brought her to Iser. He also retrieved your bracelet.”

“…Please don’t call it my bracelet…”

“Would you prefer I call it the emperor’s bracelet?”

I shrugged. I hated both descriptions equally. Still, I was relieved Miria had been safely rescued. I made a note to visit her once things were settled.

“I considered leaving the bracelet behind, but it seemed prudent to investigate it. The count compared it with another bracelet he’d received earlier, and the results should be ready by now.”

I nodded and quickened my pace. It took about five minutes to walk from my room to the duke’s study. When we arrived, those who had been waiting stood to greet us—Sir Leon, Count Chiara, Prince Lyol, and Leia.

“Are you well, Your Grace?” the count asked first, his face filled with concern.

“I’m fine. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”

“It’s no trouble. We only gathered recently.”

The count retrieved a box from beside him and opened it. Inside were two bracelets. The large gemstones that had once been their focal points—an emerald and a ruby—were shattered beyond recognition.

“These items now hold no value as magical artifacts,” the count said.

“Are you certain?” the duke asked.

“Yes,” the count replied. “We confirmed it multiple times. Besides these, has Your Highness received any other items from the emperor? Or… anything suspicious from your family?”

I thought for a moment, then shook my head.

“No, I haven’t.”

Among the items I had brought as part of my dowry, there was little that belonged to me personally—gold, flowers, incense, myrrh, glass, silk. They were traditional offerings and insignificant compared to the duke’s wealth.

“Oh, I did send a copy of my portrait to the emperor.”

“We investigated that as well. It appeared harmless.”

The thought of the emperor possessing a copy of my portrait made me scowl. The count, noticing my unease, closed the box and began his explanation.

“The two bracelets were indeed linked. They function as a pair. Individually, they have no effect, but once someone wears one, then dons the other, their resistance to mind-affecting magic is drastically weakened.”

“So that’s how I fell under the emperor’s spell?”

“Yes. Through numerous trials, the emperor likely discovered that Your Highness was naturally resistant to mental magic. He resorted to using the bracelets as an alternative.”

I vaguely recalled the moment the emperor’s magic took hold. When I met his gaze while wearing the bracelet, it had felt like something in my mind had shattered. Everything after that was a blur, though I remembered waking up at the summer villa. My memories from that time were hazy, likely because I had been in a near-constant daze.

Thinking about what had happened with the emperor at the summer villa filled me with rage and disgust, sending chills down my spine. The duke didn’t seem to know the details, and I saw no need to tell him. In fact, I didn’t want to tell anyone—not even him. Remembering it myself was painful enough, and the memory was shared only by me and the family who had been present.

“I’m sorry.”

Startled by the sudden apology, I looked up to see the count bowing deeply.

“It’s my fault for failing to identify the magic in time. That’s why this happened.”

The count’s voice was heavy with guilt. Yet, I couldn’t help but feel I shared the blame, too—for not considering the possibility of the bracelets being identical.

“Raise your head, Count. Now isn’t the time to assign blame.”

“…Yes, Your Grace.”

“Instead, ensure those bracelets are destroyed completely. Not even the smallest shard should remain.”

“I will see to it.”

“May I interject for a moment?”

Lyol’s voice smoothly entered the conversation. When everyone turned to him, his gaze landed on me.

“Your Highness, it might be wise to learn how to defend yourself.”

“To defend myself?”

“Yes. Some self-defense and basic swordsmanship.”

“Oh, that’s an excellent idea,” Sir Leon added.

I didn’t disagree. My recent experience of being captured, even briefly, had been a harsh reminder of how powerless and vulnerable I was. While brainwashing might not have been something I could prevent, I needed the ability to at least protect myself in other situations—for my safety and to avoid being a burden on others.

“Very well. Leon, what’s the emperor’s current status?”

“Quiet, as though nothing happened. The same goes for the Airden family.”

“They’re pretending it never happened. And the maid?”

“Your Highness was right. If we had been even slightly later, she would have been killed by the Viscount Rivien. She’s safe for now, staying in an inn in the village below the duchy.”

The mention of my brother killing someone sent a chill through me, even though I had suspected it. I was relieved Miria was unharmed.

“What about Liseon?”

“The Airden family seems unaware that Sir Liseon was involved. They’re discreetly investigating who helped Your Highness and the maid escape.”

“…That’s a relief.”

I felt a bit foolish for being so concerned, but I couldn’t help it.

After discussing a few more matters, the duke dismissed everyone. When he offered to walk me back to my room, I nodded.

“Your Highness.”

Leia, who had been silent until now, called out to me.

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

“Ah… thank you.”

“There was a time when I wished you’d disappear.”

“…”

Leia spoke those unsettling words with unnerving ease.

“But now that something has actually happened, I find myself not wishing that at all.”

Her face was still somber, but there was a faint hint of relief, or perhaps a flicker of warmth. She left without waiting for a response, walking past the duke and me before vanishing down the hallway.

“She worried about you in her own way,” the duke murmured as we watched her go. I decided to let it slide. After all, there had been a time in my first life when I had wanted to kill Leia, though I’d never voiced it aloud.

As Leia hurried away, Lyol suddenly appeared in front of her. She visibly bristled, quickening her pace. Lyol, in turn, shrugged and looked back at me, winking playfully.

I understood what that wink meant the next day when I arrived at the training grounds. Standing there as my instructor was none other than Lyol Manas. I stared at him, incredulous.

“I thought you said you had no talent for martial arts?”

“Self-defense isn’t martial arts. And for your information, I’ve been training in self-defense for 25 years.”

“Twenty-five years…? How old are you?”

“I’m 25.”

“…”

I blinked in disbelief. Based on his antics, I had assumed he was closer in age to the duke, but he was much younger. Wait, if he was 25 years old, then he couldn’t have been training for 25 years! Realizing my skepticism, Lyol chuckled and bowed politely. Begrudgingly, I returned the gesture and began warming up.

Afterward, Lyol asked me to extend one arm toward him.

“Let’s start with something simple. For instance…”

Lyol’s large hand closed around my wrist. Though I understood this was a lesson, I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.

“What would you do if someone grabbed your wrist like this?”

I instinctively tried to pull my hand free, twisting and yanking, but his grip didn’t budge. His hand felt like a steel shackle, and no amount of effort seemed to work. Lyol watched my attempts with mild amusement, as though humoring a puppy.

“When this happens, pay attention to the direction of the grip,” he explained. “If I’m holding your wrist with my fingers pointing downward, pull your hand in a downward motion while striking down with your other hand. Try it.”

Following his instructions, I struck downward with one hand while pulling my wrist free. With a sharp snap, my hand slipped out of his grip. A red mark remained, but I was free.

“Wow.”

“You’ll need more practice. I wasn’t using my full strength. Without the proper technique, this won’t work on someone stronger.”

“And how should I…”

I was about to ask how to practice further when a shadow fell over me. Startled, I looked up to find the duke standing between me and Lyol.

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