It was a Political Marriage, But I’m Being Loved - Chapter 99

“They’ll keep their mouths shut. If the Marquis of Leroy finds out, the Church knows he won’t stay silent so for now, they’ll avoid revealing anything.”

“…Is a Fragment of the Demon King really that dangerous?”

“If it succeeds, we’ll be facing another war like the one from centuries ago. If it fails, it can still tear open a rift between this world and the demon realm.”

No one could predict how many demons and monstrous creatures would pour through that gap. The capital itself could turn into hell overnight.

“Horrifying. Can the Church actually handle this?”

“It may take time, but if they’ve already contacted the High Pontiff, it should be manageable.”

All the High Priest could do was either separate the host from the artifact or seal both together. True destruction of the fragment was a task only the High Pontiff could perform.

Most likely, the High Priest had already reached out to the High Pontiff upon returning to the Grand Temple. Given how dangerous it was to transport a fragment, it was highly likely the High Pontiff would come in person.

“The Grand Temple is in the capital… so if demons attack again, this city could be in serious danger. And right before such an important wedding…”

Despite the Empress’s earlier objections, envoys from foreign nations had already been invited. With just two days left until the wedding, the Emperor’s concern deepened.

“Your Majesty, what’s done is done,” the Empress said gently, placing a hand on his arm.

Rather than dwelling on regret, it was better to focus on resolving the situation and preparing for what might come.

Charlize stepped forward and spoke up.

“There’s something related to that I wish to discuss with Your Majesties…”

It felt like her entire body was being pierced by needles of light.

Susanna opened her eyes, only to be confused by the darkness surrounding her. Something had been placed over her head.

“Who… Where am I? Ah!”

She tried to sit up, but the shackles on her wrists were fixed to the floor, and she collapsed almost instantly. She hadn’t even realized she was wearing such heavy restraints until that moment.

My body… Something feels wrong.

She reached up, trying to remove whatever was covering her head, but was interrupted by a calm voice.

“I wouldn’t take that off if I were you.”

She froze, turning toward the direction of the voice. Though the figure hadn’t moved, she felt as if something massive was looming in the corner of the room.

“Who are you?! What is this place?!”

“You’re in the Grand Temple. The High Priest is preparing what’s necessary to help you, so please, don’t worry and wait patiently.”

The Grand Temple?

Susanna was a noblewoman of the Leroy family, but she’d never been personally connected to the High Priest. The Church typically only interacted with royalty or the children of dukes—not with the children of marquises like her.

At most, she had received blessings from the High Priest twice when she was a child.

For the High Priest to get involved… Has something really gone wrong? Was this really a demonic artifact?

She reached toward her left arm, searching for the bracelet—but the moment her fingers touched it, a sharp pain surged through her body. She recoiled immediately, staring at the back of her hand where a glowing holy seal had appeared.

They had cast holy magic on various parts of her body to slow the spread of the corruption.

Susanna, now frightened, looked around desperately.

“Please help me! I thought he was just a regular sorcerer—I didn’t know he was a demon! I-I don’t even want the bracelet anymore. You can take it!”

“…”

The knight watching her said nothing, just stared.

Only Hans had spoken aloud, but six Holy Knights had been stationed here to guard her since last night’s incident at the palace. She wasn’t alone.

The High Priest’s purification had halted the corruption for now, but the Fragment of the Demon King still fed on her fear and despair. It could activate again at any moment.

Even if the risk of full demonic descent was low, the fact that the gate to the demon realm could open made this an extreme emergency. That’s why they had stationed their best to monitor her constantly.

“I—I want to take it off, but I can’t do it myself! Please…”

The fragment couldn’t be removed unless the host’s soul was consumed—or unless the host’s body was destroyed. In other words, unless her arm was severed, the artifact wouldn’t come off.

But the Holy Knights didn’t tell her that.

They’d been ordered not to. The High Priest had instructed them to reassure her, but only share what was absolutely necessary. The full truth was too much for her to bear. Until the purification began, it was better that she didn’t know.

“The Church is doing everything in its power to save you,” Hans said gently. “If you wait, the purification will begin soon. For now, please calm yourself and pray to the Goddess for protection.”

“Pray? What kind of prayer am I supposed to offer in a situation like this?!”

But the Holy Knight said nothing more. Susanna, feeling increasingly anxious, glanced around the room. She tried again to remove the artifact from her left arm, but the holy magic carved into the back of her right hand flared with a burning pain.

She winced, trembling from both fear and pain.

What she didn’t realize was that she hadn’t eaten or drunk anything since the previous day—yet she didn’t feel hungry or thirsty. Her body was already reacting to the artifact.

“Someone… please help me!!!”

Iaoros had been circling the Grand Temple, unable to find a way inside.

It wasn’t that the sacred grounds physically barred him, but entering meant facing serious damage—and he wasn’t willing to pay that price.

So, this is how it ends?

Because the Tower Master had acted quickly and contacted the Church, they had already taken Susanna inside and prepared for battle. He also heard that the High Pontiff himself had left the Church’s main sanctuary and was on his way.

Though the High Pontiff hadn’t revealed his destination, Iaoros had no doubt—it was the Empire’s capital.

Are we going to lose a precious seed meant to awaken Him—just like this?!

With Achilles Illien’s wedding only two days away, Iaoros seethed at his own mistake. He never should have chosen the foolish Susanna Leroy to carry such an important fragment.

No. It’s not over yet. There are still two days. I won’t give up now.

The Emperor and Princess hadn’t made Susanna’s crimes public. Likely because they didn’t want anything to disrupt the upcoming wedding.

The Church was silent too.

No doubt they wanted to handle Susanna without interference from the House of Leroy.

Then I’ll tell the Leroys myself. The Marquis loves his daughter—he might push back against the Church.

If the Church’s purification could be delayed or stopped, Iaoros might have a chance to extract Susanna. She had to bloom—in the dungeon where Valter Bianchi was being held.

Having made up his mind, Iaoros flew toward House Leroy.

The Marquis’s estate was already in chaos over Susanna’s recent actions. The family was denying all accusations and had mobilized every private guard and knight to find her.

“We can’t let the city guard take the young lady! No matter what happens, we must find Lady Susanna first!”

Perched on a thick branch in his crow form, Iaoros watched the situation unfold. Most of the knights and soldiers looked exhausted, likely from searching all night.

The Marquis of Leroy looked pale as he oversaw the search. He wasn’t just worried about Susanna—he feared her actions would ruin the marriage prospects of his other children, and drag down the family’s reputation.

He must deny everything, no matter what.

If the Marquis knew what else Susanna had done—breaking into the Princess’s palace and attempting to kill the royal heir—he might’ve abandoned her.

No matter how much he loved her, he wouldn’t risk the fall of his entire house.

But for now, as long as the only confirmed crime was harming the daughter of Count Weaver, there was still room to negotiate.

I’m already working things out with the Count. If we can just recover Susanna and clean up the situation…

There was also the matter of compensation to Duke Gianni, but the Marquis was confident he could handle that quietly.

Iaoros tapped his beak slowly, watching the Marquis with interest. He was already deciding how to present himself—what words to say, what form to take.

Just then, a young messenger from the temple arrived, running up to the main gate of the estate.

After finishing her discussion with the imperial couple, Charlize left the Emperor’s chambers with Achilles by her side.

The Emperor had not immediately agreed to her plan.

If nothing ended up happening, it could bring great embarrassment to the Empire—especially with so many foreign dignitaries arriving soon.

To convince him, Charlize would need undeniable proof that a demonic attack or incident was imminent.

But right now, all we have is potential danger.

The Fragment of the Demon King was undoubtedly a threat—but Susanna, its host, had already been captured and detained inside the Grand Temple. That alone wasn’t enough to sway the Emperor.

If I push too hard, he might just order her to be executed or moved outside the capital.

Charlize didn’t want to protect Susanna. She felt sorry for her—but even before the fragment took hold, Susanna had been cruel, spreading rumors and tormenting Charlize’s friends.

Moving her outside the capital would risk someone intercepting her. And if she were killed too hastily, the fragment could react violently, blooming before it was properly suppressed.

That left only one option…

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