I Stole The Duke - Chapter 63

“I need the Duke.”

To send the Emperor to the guillotine, Eliana absolutely needed the military strength of House Ascher. As the Crown Princess, she could attempt a discreet poisoning—but that wasn’t the kind of revenge she wanted. Poisoning was too simple, too merciful. She wanted his death to be displayed for all to see, just as the entire Espensen family’s fate had been.

“Should I start over?”

Her hand, which had been pinching the back of it so hard that it was nearly bleeding, slowly came to a stop.

“Ah… now that I think about it, why haven’t I considered this before? I’ve never died at eighteen, have I?”

Up until now, she had been focused solely on surviving, desperately struggling to stay alive. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, the outcome was always the same—execution at the age of twenty-eight.

“If I die now and somehow return to when I was eight—ten years ago… wouldn’t I be able to start over?”

The overwhelming sense of dread that had gripped her heart finally eased.

“Yes. That’s it. If I return to when I was eight… I might be able to stop my eldest brother from killing the Emperor’s illegitimate child.”

A hope large enough to suppress her anxiety began to take root.

“And if I persuade Father to let me marry the Duke instead of becoming the Crown Princess…”

Countless possibilities that she had never even considered in her past life now seemed within reach.

“Before anything else, maybe I should conduct one final experiment.”

She had to consider the possibility of returning not just to her eight-year-old self, but to May 13 of this very year as well.

“If I kill the current Duchess and then regress… will I return to May 13, with that ‘impurity’ still alive? Or will I go back, as I did before, to a past where the Duke’s fiancée had already died?”

Since she was going to die anyway, it was worth confirming whether the sudden appearance of the Duchess in this life was truly just a coincidence.

It was nearing dinnertime.

Flap.

A carrier pigeon flew in through the wide-open window and perched on the stand.

“……”

With a stiff expression, Michalis approached and quickly retrieved the small note from its container.

[Third District Poorhouse Investigation Report]

Investigation results: suspected plague cases identified.

Severe (tissue necrosis): 2 individuals.
Mild (suspected): 23 individuals.
Deaths: 0.

※ Figures reflect only those within the poorhouse. No official report has been submitted to the capital yet.

“…Ha.”

Michalis could hardly believe what he was seeing.

“I had hoped it was nothing more than a suspicion…”

He crumpled the note in his hand after reading it. A plague had broken out in the Empire.

“How could this be happening?”

Someone had used the earliest stage of the epidemic to attack Eliana. But could such a method really have been devised by an eighteen-year-old girl?

“Or… was it not an attack, but merely a coincidence?”

The plague had only just begun. How could she have known? And how could she have timed it so precisely—visiting the poorhouse the day before the tea party and bringing back something that could cause illness? Unless she had access to an exceptional intelligence network—or knowledge of the future—this plan was impossible to conceive.

“Why?”

There was still one critical piece of the puzzle missing. There was no reason for Freya Espensen and Eliana to be enemies.

“Just how much does Eliana actually know?”

Michalis found himself increasingly confused. If this was an intentional attack, it meant Eliana was now risking her life in a battle with that woman.

“I can’t let this go on any longer.”

Suppressing the rising turmoil within him, Michalis stepped out of his office. The time for pretending ignorance had ended.

“Eliana? What brings you here at this hour?”

Eliana had been strolling through the garden with her personal maid, Amy, when Michalis appeared.

“I need to speak with the lady. Leave us.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“……”

Eliana stopped in her tracks, gazing at Michalis with curiosity. His face, bathed in the crimson hue of the setting sun, looked unusually cold.

“What’s wrong?”

It was Freya who had been cursed with anxiety, yet Eliana couldn’t shake the sense that she herself was becoming infected by the unease.

“Eliana.”

Only when Amy had fully disappeared from view did Michalis finally speak.

“What is your relationship with Lady Freya Espensen?”

“…We’re friends.”

Eliana hesitated for a moment before answering slowly.

“Hah!”

Michalis let out a hollow laugh. He had hoped for the truth, but instead, Eliana gave him a lie.

“How long do you intend to deceive me?”

His anger, now too great to contain, spilled out in waves.

“Michalis…”

Eliana stood frozen, as if paralyzed by the cold, blue gleam in his eyes. It was the first time she had ever seen such a terrifying expression on his face.

“Tell me. What is it you’re hiding from me?”

“……”

Where was she supposed to begin? Eliana found herself unable to open her mouth.

“If you don’t explain yourself, I’ll ride to the Espensen estate right now and wring that woman’s neck.”

“No! Please, don’t!”

Panic drained the color from Eliana’s face as she shouted.

She had realized something the moment she saw the tenfold amplification magic circle at the Espensen estate. Freya’s regression magic wasn’t simply about returning to May 13 of the year 321.

“Please, I beg you—don’t do that!”

If the one-year regression spell had been amplified tenfold, then Freya would likely return to a specific “conditioned date” ten years before her death.

No—if Freya dies now, Michalis would be seventeen… and I’d be nine.

What’s more, the original Eliana would still be alive at that age. If that were the case, who knew what would happen to her soul? At best, she might end up with a split personality. At worst, she might have to sync with a completely different body.

“Then tell me—what is your relationship with that woman, and why are you fighting her?”

“…I’m sorry. I can’t tell you.”

Michalis wasn’t a fool. Rather than trying to mix in a clumsy lie, she decided it was better to say nothing at all.

“Michalis… Can’t you just trust me? Without asking anything more?”

Now that doubt had taken root, suspicion would only continue to grow.

Improvising won’t work this time.

She didn’t want to lie and manipulate Michalis—not him.

“Are you telling me to become a complete fool?”

His wife was not only hiding things from him, but now she wanted him to keep quiet and accept it. Michalis felt more than anger—he felt devastation.

“That’s not what I mean. I just… I just want you to know that I’m doing this for your sake. Please believe that, at least.”

“You ask for unconditional trust… That’s a bold request.”

Michalis stepped forward in one large stride and lifted Eliana’s chin. Their eyes met, unavoidably, and in that locked gaze, emotions clashed silently.

“Michalis, please…”

Eliana felt utterly hopeless, having no choice but to appeal to his emotions.

“What am I to do with you? There’s simply too much I must protect to allow myself to become a fool for love.”

Among the many things he had to protect, Eliana was the most precious. But now that he knew who her true enemy was, he could no longer allow her to risk her life in such a dangerous game.

“Cancel all upcoming external engagements. As of today, until I give permission, you are not to take a single step outside this mansion.”

“No! You can’t do that!”

The invitation to the pajama party would arrive any moment now. She was so close to breaking Freya’s regression spell. To be confined now would be a disaster.

“Please, Michalis. That’s not protection—that’s violence.”

“You’ve deceived me all this time. You can endure this much ‘violence’ in return.”

Michalis let go of her chin.

“……”

Eliana’s lips froze, and she couldn’t bring herself to speak another word.

“And tonight, you’ll dine alone.”

With that cold final remark, Michalis brushed past her and walked away.

He must meet the Emperor.

He needed to request an urgent audience at the palace. The matter of the plague had to be reported immediately.

Within this month, I’ll wipe out the House of Espensen.

There were other matters to discuss with the Emperor as well—matters beyond the plague.

“……”

Even long after Michalis had left, Eliana stood frozen in place, unable to think. Her mind was blank, as white and empty as snow.

“My lady, His Grace has ordered that I escort you safely back to your chambers.”

Sir Cedric approached with quiet footsteps, bowing respectfully as he spoke in a gentle tone.

“Very well, Sir Cedric.”

“From this day forward, guards will be stationed outside your quarters at all times.”

The Duke had given orders to forbid the Duchess from leaving the estate and to keep her under constant supervision. Cedric, too, was puzzled by the incomprehensible command of his lord.

“You may take walks within the mansion grounds, but only under escort. If you experience any discomfort or require anything, please don’t hesitate to tell me.”

A knight should never question his lord’s decision. His duty was simply to obey.

“I understand.”

Taking a deep breath, Eliana placed her hand on Cedric’s arm.

“My lady… I—Sir Cedric Brunnois—have one small request, if I may?”

Before taking even a single step, Cedric began, as if he had made up his mind.

“A request? What is it?”

“Please, speak comfortably to me—and to all members of the knights’ order.”

“……”

To be honest, Eliana always felt slightly awkward around the knights. Having lived as Kim Eunchae, she was used to speaking formally to her elders. It had become second nature.

“While His Grace is away, you are the highest-ranking authority within House Ascher. As long as it does not contradict the Duke’s wishes, you may give any command you see fit. So, please… we ask that you feel comfortable with us.”

“…Are you trying to comfort me right now?”

Coming at this particular moment, his words carried greater weight. One of the highest institutions under the Duchy, the Blue Knights, had acknowledged her as the Duchess.

Are they worried I’ll falter after losing the Duke’s trust?

“I only spoke the truth, my lady.”

It was a clumsy, but sincere, attempt to comfort her.

“Thank you, Sir Cedric. It still feels a little unfamiliar… but I’ll do my best from now on.”

Thanks to Cedric’s thoughtful words, Eliana was able to gather herself again.

Yes. This isn’t the time to fall apart. I have to stay focused.

The pajama party, the easiest infiltration method, was now out of reach. She had to come up with another plan.

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