I Married the Terminally Ill Emperor - Chapter 118

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

I Married a Terminally Ill Emperor

 

Chapter 118

 

* * *

 

When Arban opened his eyes, he was startled to find an unfamiliar ceiling and quickly sat up.

 

Looking around, he saw a small, ordinary room that seemed like where commoners would live.

 

Where on earth was this place?

 

He clearly remembered being in the backyard to get some sunlight for the last time.

 

And then…

 

“Arban. Excuse me.”

 

He had been kidnapped.

 

Arban’s face tensed up as he first looked for anything that could serve as a weapon.

 

However, in the room that contained only a bed, nightstand, and wardrobe, nothing that could serve as a weapon was visible.

 

Then he suddenly realized that the area where he had harmed himself didn’t hurt. Looking down, he saw his right side was wrapped in clean bandages.

 

Kidnapping him and then treating his wounds? Was Mother using another scheme? Trying to somehow reassure him so she could use him as she pleased? Did she think he would just let that happen?

 

Just as Arban was about to tear off the bandages with a hardened expression, two men with covered faces entered the room.

 

“You’re awake.”

 

“Who are you?”

 

Arban looked at the men with eyes full of wariness.

 

Then the man who had spoken first removed his hood.

 

At the appearance of an unexpected figure, Arban’s eyes widened.

 

A beautiful person with black hair and black eyes. It was Emperor Gray.

 

“…Your Majesty?”

 

However, Arban looked at the person before him again with a suspicious expression.

 

Emperor Gray, who watched this with apparent interest, noticed Arban’s hand position and slightly furrowed his brow.

 

After cleanly treating the wound and wrapping it with bandages, it seemed he had tried to unwrap the bandages again.

 

When he brought the unconscious man to the secret passage and checked his physical condition, he had been shocked.

 

The man who had been robust enough to apply for the Imperial Guard was so thin he felt light, and his arm injured by the Demon Beast was untreated, causing the skin to necrotize.

 

“Arban, were you thinking of injuring yourself again?”

 

“…”

 

Arban defiantly kept his mouth shut and didn’t answer.

 

“So it’s true that you would doubt me.”

 

Emperor Gray took out a letter from his chest and held it out to Arban.

 

Confirming it was the letter he had given to Leo, Arban’s eyes widened as much as possible, then he immediately rolled off the bed and bowed his head.

 

“I greet Emperor Gray.”

 

“Do you believe me now?”

 

“My judgment is severely impaired right now. I apologize.”

 

Arban bowed his waist and apologized.

 

Emperor Gray watched him with a silent gaze.

 

What on earth had happened to him in just a few weeks? The gaunt Arban was continuously sweating cold sweat, as if even standing was difficult for him.

 

“Arban, sit on the bed for now.”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

“It’s an order.”

 

“…I will follow your order.”

 

Arban sat on the bed with a rigid posture.

 

“What’s the reason you wanted to see me?”

 

Arban’s gaze still turned toward the other man whose face was covered.

 

If he’s someone who guards His Majesty’s side, could it be Captain Ethan?

 

The person who read his gaze removed his hood. As expected, it was Ethan.

 

“I’m sorry about earlier. I had to bring you out quickly.”

 

“It’s fine.”

 

Arban nodded slightly as if he understood, then turned his gaze back to the Emperor.

 

“There’s something I want to tell only Your Majesty.”

 

“Understood. Ethan, wait outside.”

 

Ethan bowed silently and left the room.

 

The Emperor brought a chair and placed it in front of him, then sat down heavily.

 

“Speak.”

 

Arban looked at the Emperor with trembling eyes.

 

It would finally end soon.

 

Once he confessed everything to His Majesty, he wouldn’t need to endure this painful and difficult time any longer.

 

Arban began to slowly tell the story of what had happened, with a frozen expression.

 

“So to briefly summarize your story, the Marchioness has been dreaming of rebellion for a long time. There’s a secret room in the Marchioness’s study that no one can access. The Marchioness tried to make you into a puppet emperor through hypnosis, but you found out about it and bought time by pretending to be insane and harming yourself to meet me. Is that correct?”

 

“Yes. These are the facts I know.”

 

Arban nodded with a tired face.

 

“Can you swear that all of this story is true?”

 

Emperor Gray met Arban’s eyes with a calm gaze.

 

“Yes. I swear it.”

 

‘Truth.’

 

Marchioness Mary Sondo.

 

To think that she, his and Viviana’s aunt, had been preparing rebellion for so long.

 

If it weren’t for Arban, he wouldn’t have suspected her, as her acting toward him had been so perfect.

 

“You’re saying the Marchioness acted as if the rebellion would succeed soon?”

 

“Yes. Mother seemed to have decided on the timing to start the rebellion.”

 

Emperor Gray let out a dry laugh.

 

Arban’s story was half right and half wrong.

 

She probably wasn’t plotting treason. She simply wanted to wait for his death as a terminally ill Emperor, then obtain the throne for the next generation.

 

He had heard that the Previous Previous Emperor, who was the Marchioness’s father and his own grandfather, was particularly fond of her. It was said that he valued the Marchioness’s abilities more highly than the Former Emperor’s.

 

Then wouldn’t he have specially told only her the Imperial Family’s secrets? Things like the Truth Detection Ability or the Emperor’s curse?

 

If so, everything would make sense.

 

She already knew all the facts, and had cleverly evaded the Emperor’s truth-judging ability for a long time using the hypnosis that Arban had mentioned.

 

The blind spot of this ability was that if the person actually believed it to be true, it would register as ‘truth’. She probably deceived herself through hypnosis.

 

Silvia, Viviana’s nanny, suddenly becoming strange might also have been due to her hypnosis.

 

Since Viviana was the most likely candidate to become the next Emperor after his death.

 

If she led Viviana to death through Silvia, then Arban, who was right before his eyes, would naturally inherit the throne next.

 

Emperor Gray leaned back in his chair and quietly gazed at Arban.

 

Having confessed everything, Arban had a detached expression. His haggard appearance no longer showed any attachment to life.

 

“Arban. Live.”

 

Arban looked at the Emperor with a startled face. Though brief, the words carried a weighty resonance.

 

How did he read my heart?

 

After meeting Your Majesty, he had planned to confess everything and then die.

 

It was a family that had originally plotted treason. Treason was a grave crime that resulted in the extermination of three generations. He would either die, or at best be dragged off to forced labor.

 

Above all, he was too exhausted.

 

The time spent opposing his mother, whom he had once relied on and loved more than anyone, and acting insane had been too agonizing.

 

Now that he had denounced his mother with his own mouth, it was no different from severing the natural bond with his own hands.

 

Then couldn’t he also end his own life by himself?

 

“I… want to stop.”

 

“What is your dream?”

 

“I have lost my dream.”

 

Arban hung his head weakly.

 

“You still have your remaining arm. So why are you giving up already?”

 

“I didn’t give up at first either. But Mother made me into a puppet…”

 

Arban swallowed his resentment and trailed off.

 

“This meeting now was created by your choice. You are someone who can stand up on your own. So how long will you keep blaming the Marchioness?”

 

“But the treason—”

 

“The Marchioness hasn’t committed treason yet. Of course, that doesn’t erase all her crimes, but I will hold only her accountable for her sins.”

 

Arban stared at the Emperor with trembling eyes.

 

Treason was subject to collective punishment. But His Majesty the Emperor said he would only punish the person who committed the crime.

 

His heart stirred. He had thought he had lost all dreams and hope because of his mother, but would it be okay to dream of becoming a knight again?

 

“While we finish dealing with the Marchioness’s affairs, stay in this secret passage. I’ll assign someone to take care of you.”

 

“…Then, what will happen to Mother?”

 

Arban immediately regretted his words after speaking them.

 

His contradictory heart hurt—having denounced his mother yet still unable to let go of his concern for her.

 

“Rest.”

 

“…Thank you.”

 

Arban sincerely bowed his head in gratitude for the Emperor’s consideration in deliberately avoiding an answer.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————