Living a Scheming Marriage with a Mad Villain - Chapter 72

In the deep dawn under a haloed moon, Emperor Ashelit was heading somewhere. Behind him, Captain of the Guards, Ian, hurried to catch up.

“Your Majesty. According to the Shadows, something strange happened in the Forest of Silence at dawn.”

Despite his subordinate’s worried tone, there wasn’t the slightest hint of disturbance in the Emperor’s calm posture. Ian, anxious, continued reporting even without permission.

“They said the black fog suddenly cleared all at once. A few minutes later, the forest returned to its original state. It might not be something we should take lightly, so I’m reporting it, Your Majesty.”

Den asked in a relaxed voice that matched his calm demeanor.

“My old friend. Is he still resting well beneath the ground?”

His voice sounded almost affectionate, as if asking about a still-living friend. Ian, sensing the strangeness, tried hard not to show it and answered.

“Well… yes. We confirmed that the device made by the inventor is still buried under the forest.”

The device beneath the forest was so sensitive that even a tiny change in magical energy could trigger it, randomly shifting its location. Even the original inventor could no longer find the heart of Rikassen.

But who in the world could possibly predict all the variables and locate it?

Unless it were a god watching from above, no human could ever find it.

Still, Ian’s words were not easy to ignore.

Whatever happened at dawn was clearly the work of someone obsessed with the Forest of Silence.

Back then, everyone who knew about Rikassen’s death except Ian was killed. Ian had pledged eternal loyalty by offering his soul when the Emperor ascended the throne, binding himself with a curse. He was incapable of speaking the truth.

All the Shadows who had served him were killed without exception. Even Cain, the one who knew the most and was the Emperor’s favorite, had been personally slain by Den.

So no one under the sky should have known the truth behind the Grand Duke’s death.

“And yet someone still dares to show interest. This time, they’ve openly tampered with the forest…”

The suspicion naturally turned to one person:

His dear friend’s son, Reus Rochester—the son of Rikassen Rochester.

Even if Reus didn’t know how or why his father died, it was possible the Rochester family still had hidden power. So Den’s suspicion was reasonable.

That’s why Den had been keeping an eye on Reus ever since his old friend’s death.

But Reus Rochester had never acted suspiciously. In fact, he had devotedly accepted everything Den gave him.

Unlike his father, he was skilled in swordsmanship and followed every command without complaint. He had been more useful than any other loyal subject.

He had always been obedient.

But if he was the one constantly stirring up the forest…

“Does it really matter?”

Even if he had waited in hiding for years for the sake of some great cause, it wasn’t much of a threat to Den.

To Den, Reus Rochester was nothing more than a well-bred, strong pet.

Unless he regained the true power of his family, there wasn’t much a mere dog could do. Den hadn’t paid much attention to him in a long time.

But today, the thought suddenly crossed his mind.

Was Reus Rochester, the replacement for his dear friend and his loyal pet, truly just his blade—or had he become a real dog, running through the Forest of Silence?

Den didn’t know the truth, but he hoped it was Reus who had been obsessed with the forest all this time.

If that was true, then the cherished pet had spent his whole life breaking apart before his master’s eyes, questioning his father’s death.

A miserable life, even in a place with no hope.

The idea that Reus had never lived a sane moment, always suffering inside, made Den want to laugh. It truly was a fitting story for a dog who had lost his parents.

Feeling slightly amused, Den asked gently,

“How has Reus been lately?”

“I heard the Grand Duke has reduced his workload and spends most of his time with the Grand Duchess.”

Ah, right. He had almost forgotten his precious dog now had a lovely bride.

“Ivelle. Loelle Ivelle…”

How could such a sweet girl find her perfect match so perfectly?

Den was sure he was the one who blessed the union of Reus Rochester and Loelle Ivelle more than anyone else in the world.

After all, Reus didn’t know his wife was the daughter of the woman who killed his mother.

And Loelle didn’t know her husband’s father killed her own mother.

How could one not bless such foolish ignorance, pouring their whole heart into someone without knowing their tragic ties?

If only he had arranged their meeting himself from the beginning…

He wondered what kind of face Reus would make if, after falling deeply in love and being at his happiest, he was told:

“Your wife is the daughter of your mother’s killer.”

Even if he had forced them together, that would’ve been entertaining in its own way.

“What a shame. Why didn’t I think of that earlier?”

“And the Grand Duchess? Ivelle’s daughter?”

“I heard she was very sick with a bad cold not long ago.”

Den’s eyebrows slanted sympathetically at Ian’s answer.

“Oh no. It’s not good to be that sick even after leaving home. With no more abusive mother or neglectful father, she should be able to rest comfortably at the Grand Duke’s estate… Such a tragic fate, isn’t it?”

Though Den spoke harshly, Ian didn’t flinch. He knew enough about Loelle Ivelle to remain calm. He even silently agreed with the Emperor’s words.

Loelle didn’t know that even the Grand Duke’s estate, where she had escaped the darkness, still bore the shadow of her father.

“Yes, I heard the Grand Duke has been buying all kinds of rare medicines.”

There was more to say, but Ian couldn’t bring himself to continue.

Lately, the spies at the estate only reported Reus’s excessive concern for Loelle.

That he cradled her because it pained him to see her even walk, that he wouldn’t leave the bedroom even after the sun had risen…

Ian, who had always doubted Reus, was starting to feel confused.

He seemed too deeply in love with the Grand Duchess to care about anything else.

At that moment, the Emperor spoke brightly.

“It’s a relief to hear that Reus is doing well with his wife. He hadn’t smiled since his father died.”

“Isn’t that something to be thankful for?”

Ian thought Den was referring to Loelle Ivelle.

But that was a complete misunderstanding.

“Now that he’s created his own weakness, it’ll be even easier to tug on his leash. How admirable.”

Den was simply glad to have the chance to personally destroy the smile Reus had regained.

“If I want to know if he’s the one meddling in the forest, I just need to hold a sword to his wife’s throat.”

That should be enough to make him show his true colors.

Even if not, whenever Reus acted suspicious, all Den had to do was grab the Grand Duchess.

The Emperor, curious to see how the usually expressionless Reus would break when his weakness was touched, could barely contain his excitement.

The wave of anticipation and thrill washed away all his boredom at once.

It had been a long time since he felt this elated. Naturally, he thought of his old friend.

The sight of his limbs bound, eyes filled with betrayal, staring up at him—

That proud figure, once standing as his equal, now broken and crawling on the ground, was something Den would never forget.

Even while barely able to move, he had cried out desperately, begging not to harm his son.

Even before everything happened, Den had asked:

“If you had to choose between your wife and son, who would it be?”

He had planned to spare one.

He never told Rikassen that—but after he died, Den quietly promised to at least spare the son.

“Good thing Rikassen didn’t hear that.”

Now, he would break that promise. He had left Reus alone all this time to honor their deal—but surely Rikassen would understand.

“Spending some time with the Grand Duchess soon sounds nice.”

Den smiled brightly, amused by the joyful plan forming in his mind.

A few days later, a royal invitation arrived at the Grand Duke’s estate—signed personally by the Emperor.

It was addressed to the Grand Duke and his wife, starting with a warm greeting.

But the recipient was only one person:

The Grand Duchess, Loelle Rochester.

Only she had been invited. However, the letter never reached Loelle.

It first passed through Loteo’s hands, then Dwyn, and finally reached Reus.

Reus read the letter carefully, his face devoid of all expression. Dwyn, tense from seeing his master like this, quietly swallowed.

He feared Reus might storm into the capital with his knights after such a provocation.

But his fear turned into shock.

Reus burned the letter with magic—without leaving a trace.

Dwyn, stunned by what had just happened, gaped wordlessly before crying out,

“Y-Your Grace!”

Reus ignored him completely and walked to his desk.

“Y-Your Grace… That was a personal invitation signed by His Majesty…”

Unable to finish his sentence, Dwyn wondered what word could describe something even crazier than madness.

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