The Impact Of The Villainess’ Fake Marriage On The Ending

Chapter 45

Unlike the captain of the knights, who was bewildered by the sudden appearance and order, the emperor was just calm.
Seeing Adeline in trouble seemed to be somewhat exciting for him.

“It’s been a long time, Tien, ahh, that’s not right. I should call you Grand Duchess Inver now.”

The emperor smiled and greeted Adeline.

“I heard that a woman who is in love becomes more beautiful, so is it because there isn’t any kind of relationship between you and the Grand Duke? I think you just look the way you did before. Aah but, of course, you’re still beautiful.”

Adeline’s face hardened at the unpleasant words.
The emperor’s presence did not allow enough ease of mind for her to hide her feelings. She really wanted to learn black magic or whatever and wipe out everyone in this space.

“How’s Kael doing? I haven’t heard from him in a while. I’ve only been getting formal reports. We don’t have that kind of stiff relationship. It’s disappointing.”
“…”
“Do you like the North? It’s a place where outsiders can’t last even a week, but you seem to be doing well.”

Adeline just looked at the emperor with her mouth closed tight.

“Aah, no. Maybe you are holding out in the North because you’re releasing the fatigue and annoyance you build up in the nobles of the capital. What a thrill it must be to achieve the revenge of your dreams.”
“I did not kill them. I swear.”

Adeline said, gritting her teeth.

“I am innocent. Whether it’s a curse or black magic, I can prove that I don’t resent them enough to kill them.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. So please, release me from this place. You gave me a summons to the Imperial Palace, so how did I end up here!”
“I just felt like it. I can change my mind, right? I am the Emperor. Can’t I do that much?”

Adeline’s hands, gripping her dress, trembled.
Considering what happened with Leo too, it was difficult for her to endure her anger towards the emperor. She was reaching the limit.

“I also want to believe in the Grand Duchess’ innocence, and I want to proceed cautiously due to my long friendship with Kael. This is a really big deal.”
“…”
“And the Red Knights have never made a mistake like this before. Since Hugo pinpointed it, the Grand Duchess must be the culprit. It fits perfectly.”

Both the emperor and the captain had already made up their minds.
No one wanted to find out why Adeline was not the culprit.

“What is your goal?”
“Goal?”
“Is it to pressure His Grace, or are you simply trying to trample on the woman who offended you?”

The emperor silently dwelled on Adeline’s words, then grinned and made eye contact with her.

“Isn’t the latter too unsightly? But honestly, it’s a shame. If you had just accepted my proposal and become the empress, you wouldn’t have seen this kind of thing. Why did you make that choice?”

The emperor grasped Adeline’s chin with a look on his face as if he was genuinely sad.
As Adeline turned her head to avoid him, the emperor stopped her resistance with a rather rough movement.

“You’d better confess quickly. That way, it will help Kael and harm your brothers less, isn’t that right?”
“…”
“Because of the Grand Duchess, the Tien family will collapse once again.”

Adeline gritted her teeth at the emperor’s fishy smile.

For Adeline, who wanted to greet death, this situation was an opportunity in a way.
Since she was accused of killing ten people, she would certainly become a prisoner on death row and her reputation would be ruined, so Vanessa could more easily find her real place and erase Adeline’s shadow.
It was unfair and indignant, but being framed like she was right now didn’t mean much to Adeline. It wasn’t her life.

‘But it can’t be like this.’

However, if it ended like this, all of this misfortune would go to the Tien family.
Enoch, Leo, and Simeon would struggle, and Theresa and her soon-to-be-born nephew would also suffer.
She had to stop that.
When the moment for Adeline to accept death came, her family should never be harmed.

“I am innocent. I didn’t kill anyone.”
“There’s no helping it. I have no choice but to interrogate you as you wish. That handmaid is lucky. She has a good master.”
“Your Grace! No! You can’t!”

Melissa screamed with all her might, but Adeline had no intention of backing down.
She didn’t want to see anyone suffer because of her.

“Do as you want. I am innocent, so you won’t get anything.”

Adeline’s eyes burned intensely.

“I’m sure you will have to deal with one of them, Your Majesty. Neither the Nort nor the East will ever forget this.”

The emperor contorted his face and ordered that Adeline be interrogated immediately.
It was the beginning of hell.

“Ugh…”
“Your Grace!”

Kael staggered out of the basement and slowly walked towards the light.
As he always did when it took a long time, Zion hurried to greet his lord.

“Are you alright?”
“I am now. It remains only very weakly.”

Kael’s body was covered in blood and sweat.
The white shirt he was wearing before he lost consciousness had already lost its color and had been torn to pieces. There were traces of him struggling to overcome the pain all over his body.

“What’s with the look on your face? It’s not the first time you see me in this state.”
“I have something to tell you, Your Grace. The situation isn’t good.”

Only then did he manage to come to his senses.
His vision was still blurry, but Zion’s voice was so unusual that he could feel a serious atmosphere beyond his hazy figure.

“What’s the matter? Did anything happen while I was locked up, Zion?”
“Her Grace has been abducted.”
“… What did you say?”

Hearing Zion’s words, the fog in Kael’s mind disappeared.
The feelings that had completely subsided while he was struggling with the terrible pain were revived at once.

“Three days ago, His Majesty issued a summons. He was summoning Her Grace to the capital.”

Zion quickly explained what had happened.
The reason why Adeline had no choice but to follow them, that Adeline didn’t go to the imperial palace as promised but had been kidnapped elsewhere, and he even reported how he was taking action to find her.

“It’s my fault. No matter what, I should have taken the time to protect Her Grace, but I couldn’t.”

Zion couldn’t raise his head.
However, Zion’s apology didn’t enter Kael’s ears at all.
It was not a matter of questioning who was at fault.

“So now… You’re saying the Emperor took Adeline?”
“Yes, Your Grace. He seems to be deeply involved in this.”

At that moment, Kael clenched his fists tightly. His hands turned white and trembled because of all the strength he exerted.

Immediately after battling the devastating darkness, he had to move away from extreme emotions.
Anger was especially dangerous now. He didn’t know when the dark energy that was barely pushed back would appear again and eat Kael.
Kael knew this better than anyone, but he had no intention of suppressing his rising emotions.
The will to do that did not exist.
The fact that Adeline had been taken away without him being able to do anything, and that she must be suffering now, completely paralyzed Kael’s reason.

“The operation to read the portal’s destination will be finished in two hours. I have arranged for the knights to be sent as soon as we find out.”

Zion tracked down the portal as soon as he learned that Adeline had not arrived at the imperial palace.

Unlike other portals, magic could be used in the portal in the north to track the users’ destinations.
It was a prohibited feature for all portals, but the north was using it. It was a kind of privilege that only the Ruler of the North knew about and could enjoy.

“I will lead them myself.”
“Your Grace. It’s still dangerous. The scar might be awakened if magic touches your body now. I will send Vero…”
“I said I was going.”

A cold voice that seemed to freeze his whole body just by hearing it reached Zion.
Zion didn’t explain any more how dangerous it could be for Kael.
He just bowed his head in silence to follow Kael’s will.

When Kael was engulfed in a rage colder than a glacier, no one could stop him.
No one in the empire, or any non-human race, could face Kael in his current state.

“How many knights have you arranged?”
“Fifteen, Your Grace.”
“Increase it to thirty.”

As soon as he told him to increase the numbers, Zion realized at once how extreme Kael’s anger was.

Kael wasn’t just going to save Adeline.
Whoever had touched Adeline, he wanted to take their breaths away.
Even if it was the emperor, he would hold his sword without any hesitation.

——