I Seducing the Black-Hearted Duke Wasn't Me - Chapter 45

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 45
“I beg your pardon?”
The High Priest’s eyes widened.
As though he’d mishearing entirely.
“What did you just—”
“Ah, forgive me. I’ve been so worn down these past few days, I think I’ve become oversensitive without realizing it. My apologies.”
“Ah, ah. I see. Yes, that can certainly happen.”
The High Priest nodded, his smile benevolent yet visibly disconcerted, a flicker of panic lurking at the edges of his composure.
“Then let me restate this clearly. You’re saying you wish for me to remain as a Priest—is that correct?”
“Yes. Yes, that’s right.”
“And in exchange, you’ll approve my betrothal. Furthermore, you’ll lend me your support going forward.”
“Exactly. That’s precisely it.”
The High Priest beamed, nodding repeatedly.
Yet anxiety was written plainly across every gesture.
“Hmm… but somehow I’m not convinced.”
Leon, who had fallen silent as though considering, murmured softly, rubbing his chin with an expression of discomfort.
At his words, the High Priest’s lips tightened into a thin line.
“What part troubles you?”
“Why, didn’t you yourself say just now that the temple belongs to you, and your voice is the voice of the divine itself?”
“That is… what do you—”
“If I were to accept your proposal and remain as a Priest, couldn’t you change your mind later? Delay the approval indefinitely, or introduce terms that weren’t mentioned before?”
Leon’s eyes gleamed.
It was entirely possible that once the High Priest obtained what he wanted, he might renege on his word later.
Of course, he wouldn’t be so brazen as to refuse outright—people would notice. But he’d likely find all manner of excuses to drag things out.
“I understand your concern, Marquis.”
The High Priest spoke matter-of-factly, as though he’d anticipated this, and withdrew something from his robe.
It was none other than a Betrothal Certificate, formally issued by the Imperial Court.
Our names—mine and Leon’s—were written side by side in the blank spaces.
“I know precisely what worries you. If you give me your pledge now, I shall approve it immediately, on this very spot.”
Oh, ho. He’s playing hardball now.
I turned to Leon, wondering what he’d do next, and he gave a nod.
Servando smiled like sunlight breaking through clouds, retrieved the High Priest’s Seal that he’d brought in advance, and pressed it firmly into the softened sealing wax.
As the divine’s representative, he blessed the two of them and their future together.
From this moment forward, Leon and I were in an official betrothal.
“Well then, I’ve given you what you wanted. Now you must make your pledge as well, Your Highness.”
“Fair enough.”
“I’ve also prepared a document, just in case. Nothing grand—merely a small Promissory Note, drafted as a precaution for any unforeseen circumstances.”
The High Priest, as though it were of no consequence, slid a single sheet across to me.
I scanned it quickly, and my brow furrowed.
‘Nothing grand, my eye.’
The document stipulated that Leon would resume his position as Priest.
The problem lay in what came after.
It was written with cunning vagueness—merely stating he would “resume the position,” while all guarantees following the betrothal and anything else were lumped together in fuzzy language.
If Leon signed this, he would be unable to leave the temple without the High Priest’s consent.
‘This is worse than a slave contract.’
I nearly laughed at the absurdity and glanced quickly toward Leon.
I looked at him with eyes that asked, ‘You’re not actually going to do this, are you?’—but instead of regarding the document before him, he was gazing contentedly at the Betrothal Certificate he held in his hands.
“Ahem. Your Highness, if you would now sign—”
“…”
“…Your Highness?”
“Well. Now that you have what you wanted, there’s no need to keep up appearances, is there?”
“I… beg your pardon?”
At Leon’s words, the High Priest’s grey eyes went blank with confusion.
Then his face flushed rapidly.
Just as anger kindled in his gaze and he was about to speak—
“I hear you’ve been accumulating considerable wealth by exploiting me, and through illicit means at that.”
“…”
The High Priest’s mouth, which had been on the verge of pouring out words, snapped shut.
His eyes betrayed him: ‘Damn. How much does he know?’
Word of the High Priest’s misdeeds had spread throughout the entire order long ago.
The document did not explicitly state who exactly the High Priest had been exploiting as a profit-making tool, but anyone who read it could deduce the answer.
“You’ll come to regret what you’re doing to me now, Your Highness. That certificate only concerns a betrothal, does it not? The temple’s approval may lack legal force in matters of royal marriage, but still. If I, as High Priest, were to openly oppose the union of these two, I wonder what the faithful believers would think.”
“That’s no concern of mine. I’ll simply seek approval from someone more qualified.”
“Someone else?”
Leon brushed past the question—there was only one High Priest, after all—with casual indifference.
The High Priest’s brow creased slightly in discomfort, and he shook his head.
“I understand your dissatisfaction, Your Highness. Very well then. What if we do this instead? Let’s arrange a suitable compensation for you as well.”
“Compensation.”
“Yes. You are an indispensable talent to the temple, Your Highness. It’s only proper we treat you accordingly. What do you say? I’ll make sure you’re well looked after, in proportion to your cooperation with me.”
Come now, think about it. Hmm?
The High Priest began coaxing Leon again, his tone and manner turning ingratiating once more.
He even started rubbing his palms together as he spoke of adjusting profit margins on the spot—he looked less like the head of a religious order and more like a corporate executive pitching a business deal.
“So you really were running a money-making scheme.”
“No, that’s not what I—”
“That’s exactly what I needed to hear. Your testimony is now on record.”
“Testimony? What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you just confess? Of your own accord?”
The High Priest’s eyes only blinked vacantly at Leon’s words.
A confession? What was he talking about? That was the expression on his face.
That was when it happened.
Bang!
The doors that had been shut burst open with a thunderous sound, and those who had been waiting outside came rushing in.
Priests in white ceremonial robes, the familiar uniforms of the Holy Knight Order, and knights of the Imperial Elite Knight Order in blue cloaks trimmed with gold insignia….
“Eek, eek!”
The High Priest Servando’s face went deathly pale at the sudden arrival of these uninvited guests.
“Wh-what is this? Why is everyone here?”
Why indeed.
‘Because we summoned them.’
Watching the High Priest’s reaction—his heart seeming ready to leap from his chest—I let out a quiet laugh.
You’ve caught on, perhaps, but in truth, all of this was a show we had orchestrated.
From the moment we pressured the High Priest through the media, and he—unable to resist the nobles’ pestering—sent a letter saying he had urgent matters to discuss, we had been preparing this stage.
‘The target isn’t merely a priest but a High Priest, after all. I suspected a simple accusation wouldn’t be enough to bring him down. Which is why I thought concrete evidence from the scene was essential.’
I never expected him to practically confess everything out of his own mouth so readily.
“Grand Duke, Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?”
“The meaning? Your life falling apart.”
“High Priest Servando.”
While the bewildered High Priest stammered, a small-framed man stepped cleanly through the crowd of intruders.
Gray, coarse hair and a dark complexion.
He was even shorter than the elderly, slightly stooped Servando, giving him an almost childlike appearance. He stopped before the High Priest and fixed him with a contemptuous stare.
It was Dominiel, one of the High Priests of Asterion Temple.
Moreover, he was currently competing with High Priest Servando for the position of High Priest.
“I hereby accuse you of embezzlement of temple funds, human trafficking of priests, acceptance of bribes, desecration of the sacred, instigation of false faith, and tarnishing the honor of the temple.”
“What? How dare you, a mere High Priest, speak to me, the High Priest, in such a manner!”
“Your actions have already been reported not only to the temple but to the royal court as well. We have obtained actual testimonies. It will be difficult for you to escape.”
High Priest Dominiel calmly laid out the situation.
At those staggering words, the High Priest shut his eyes tight, as if the room were spinning.
His body swayed, and he acted as though he were the tragic protagonist of some tale, but no one stepped forward to steady him.
In the end, he simply sank to the ground in that state, trembling as he looked up at the dozens of eyes staring down at him with pity.
Throughout his life, he had been kind and respected. Yet in secret, he had been amassing wealth and honor by accepting bribes—a fallen High Priest’s pathetic final moment.
Just as I thought the matter was winding to a close.
“Excuse me, Grand Duke, Your Highness.”

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