The Lady’s Dark Secret - Chapter 1

After Estelle … No, after ‘Jewell’ disappeared. Two figures appeared near where she was.

“Your Highness, is this where the ‘darkness’ was felt?

“Yes, I clearly felt it.”

The man who answered was a young man with silver hair and pale green eyes. Very smooth and beautiful appearance. The metal glasses gave him a sense of intelligence. He was a man who seemed to have descended from a heavenly angel. The silver haired man said seriously.

“There must be a great appearance of darkness around here.”

“But….”

A taciturn-looking young man, the silver-haired man’s conversation partner, bowed his head.

“I can’t feel any trace of darkness.”

Even sharpening and searching, there was no trace of darkness. But that doesn’t mean that you can ignore the silver-haired man’s words.

Archduke Eusen. Because that was the identity of this silver-haired man.

Surprisingly, this handsome silver-haired man was the Supreme Court Justice of the Empire and the head of the family of the six Dukes, the enlightened lord Archduke Peridot.

Archduke Peridot is the guardian family that has been protecting the empire for 300 years.

This is what the head of the Peridot family said, so I couldn’t ignore his words.

“That’s weird. The Archduke couldn’t have been wrong.”

The taciturn-looking young man, vassal of the Archduke, Count Median bowed his head and Archduke Eusen touched his glasses. It was his habit when he was worried.

“Or it’s my mistake.”

The Archduke reflected for a moment and then spoke.

“It is a darkness strong enough to avoid my gaze.”

Earl Median shrugged.

“Such darkness cannot exist in the world …”

“It seems like it’s very likely my mistake. I guess I was nervous and sensitive.”

Sensitive.

At those words, Count Median asked heavily.

“Three years ago, do you still blame yourself for ‘that day’?”

Archduke Eusen was silent.

“… What else can I do?”

A suppressed groan flowed from his mouth.

“She died like this.”

The Earl of Median sighed deeply.

“It was not the Archduke’s fault that on that day, Saint Estelle could not be saved from being sacrificed to darkness.”

However, comforting him did not appease Archduke Eusen’s heart. After being silent for a while, he said:

“Do you know how much I miss her?”

“…”

“It’s been 10 years. I’ve been waiting to see her for 10 years. But …”

Archduke Eusen is one of the people who was favored by her as a Saint. 10 years ago. No, it has been 3 years since he died, 13 years ago.

Archduke Eusen was a boy. Those were days when Estelle was also a girl. Archduke Eusen was highly favored by the young Saint Estelle.

“No, I can’t express what I got from her by saying it was grace.”

Eusen remembered her and bit his lip.

He was saved by her.

His life and his soul. Saying that she was his salvation was not something said just to be said. Had it not been for Estelle, he would have died in terrible agony, disfigured. When everyone in the world gave up, only she didn’t give up on him. She took care of him, who was terribly broke, and in the end, she was able to overcome her injuries and hope to recover.

‘It is a promise. You must win and come find me. You understand? If you keep the promise you made to me, I’ll buy you your favorite chocolate as a gift. ‘

The young man relies on that promise to overcome the ordeal of 10 years, and was able to become an ‘Enlightened Archduke’ defending the empire. Only with the desire to see her again. But she was no longer in the world. Eusen had a sad face.

“Your Highness.”

Sadly, Archduke Eusen shook his head.

Now it no longer made sense.

After that day, he lost his feelings. Just one duty and another mission as Supreme Judge entrusted to the Enlightened Archduke.

I was concentrating only on killing the ‘darkness’.

“Anyway, I must pay attention in the future.”

Archduke Eusen said:

“If what I felt was not an illusion, it would have been a great disaster in the world.”

“What would you do if it was true?”

Archduke Eusen responded as if it were natural.

The “Sword of the Judge”, a relic of Archduke Peridot at his waist, flashed.

“I have to deal with it.”

• + +

Estelle, no, she, who became Jewell, drank tea.

It has been the third day since she arrived at the Duchy of Garnet, and she was getting used to it.

Estelle knew enough about what kind of boy Jewell was.

She said she had lost her memory after being shocked by an accident at the villa recently.

‘By the way, has it been 3 years? Is my death known as spontaneous martyrdom, self-sacrificing to avoid darkness? ‘

Jewell recalled the information he had collected

. At that time, she was secretly sacrificed.

So, it seemed that no one but her enemies knew the truth at the time.

But it was when she was still enjoying the tea.

[Crang!]

The maiden’s complexion turned white. The maid who attended her made a mistake. The atmosphere in the room was cold.

Everyone was shaking and dreading what would happen soon, and the person who caused the accident lost his temper, trembled, and prayed.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Forgive me …!”

“… It’s fine. Clean it and serve it again.”

“Please save …! Yes?”

The maid’s eyes widened. Estelle, no, Jewell clicked his tongue.

“Okay, just pour me the tea again.”

‘Jewell, what did you do to the servants, what happened to all of them?’

All the maids trembled.

They thought it would hit them, but it was a very soft response. Jewell frowned.

“What are you doing? Pour some new tea.”

“Yes, yes! Thank you for your mercy! Thank you!”

After the maiden left, as if she had saved her life, Jewell shook her head.

‘Just because I decided to live like Jewell doesn’t mean I have to imitate his bad personality.’

No, he shouldn’t do it even for revenge. He became Jewell because he had a clear goal.

‘I have to put Duke Garnet in my hands.’

He planned to take the Duke of Garnet in his hands and use that power to destroy his enemies. To do this, it was essential to show a straight and flawless appearance.

And here the Duke of Garnet has one of my enemies.

Jewell calmed his eyes.

There was also one of his enemies here in the Duchy of Garnet.

She slowly recited the enemy’s name.

“Duke Garnet’s Assistant, Earl Lawton”.

Earl Lawton!

He was a huge mogul in the political world.

With the head of the family spending most of his time ill and in bed, Duke Garnet was currently the one in charge of managing the duchy, and as chancellor, he was the one who controlled the affairs of the Empire.

For reference, he was also a teacher who taught Estelle to study.

I respected him once, but all I got was betrayal.

‘I have to put Duke Garnet in my hands and completely destroy Count Lawton, my enemy.’

The first target of his revenge, he decided that it would be Garnet’s assistant, Earl Lawton.

Of course, it wasn’t going to be easy.

Duke Garnet’s family scheme is why. The Duke, head of the family and the duchy. The second son and head of his family, Earl Lawton. And the third son, Viscount Erik.

Jewell was the daughter of Viscount Erik, which meant, she was the granddaughter of the patriarch of the Duchy.

‘She is a beloved granddaughter but has no real power. Even if she is the prince’s fiancee, it doesn’t mean anything special because the emperor is weak. ‘

Earl Lawton, on the other hand, was already acting as a shipowner in the Duchy’s Master replacing the Duke who was ill, and was the empire’s chancellor and ruler of national politics. He was just the Duke’s granddaughter, he can’t be compared. Estelle smiled.

‘I do not care. We could take it down one by one. It will be a nice process. ‘

She was not surprised by the greatness of her opponent. Rather, she was delighted. As if there was a feast in front of her.

Thanks to the many enemies. I can cause you many frustrations.

Then the maid returned and served the tea. Estelle tasted the tea again.

‘By the way.’

Estelle cocked her head and said in disgust.

“What’s your name?”

“Yes Yes?!”

“What is your name?”

“Uh, I’m Runa.”

The maid trembled. I guess he was trying to punish me for the accident. Of course I’m not asking for the reason.

“What is your age and birthday?”

“… Oh, 19 years, that’s twenty days in the tenth month.”

The maid looked puzzled, but did not dare to ask.

“Okay, now go.”

The maid left the room with a frightened expression.

Estelle made a strange look for a moment.

“What?”

The reason she did this is because she looked at the servant’s ‘destiny’ with the ‘watchful eye’ used by the devil.

Estelle lightly predicted the future of the maid.

Soothsayers (prophets) are those who eavesdrop on the devil’s future. Of course it could hit the strong point. A tarot card emerged from the air, which showed an evil dark hand approaching the screaming woman.

“Hmm.”

Estelle hit the table.

The meaning of this letter was simple.

It meant that there would soon be a great tragedy upon the maiden. Also, it would be from the hands of someone around.

‘Smells like…’

Yes, it smelled.

The smell of the Duke.

‘I can use this’

The Duke’s monstrosity is an opportunity for her. An opportunity to cut the throat of an enemy.

‘I have to know’

It seemed to be time to move.

Estelle slightly raised the corner of her mouth.