I Thought It Was the Monster Duke's Fake Sedative - Chapter 130

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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 130
It wasn’t long before they began embellishing the injuries Luciana had suffered, seasoning the account with sensationalism.
They didn’t even hesitate to fabricate events that had never occurred and spread them as truth.
“Did you hear? The Temple’s experiments—they’re supposedly feeding monster blood to people to build immunity to Corruption.”
“Ugh, how revolting.”
“My cousin, who was the distant relative of a janitor at the Temple, says that wasn’t enough—they might have made her do unspeakable things with the monsters themselves….”
“Goodness, is that why she married the Duke?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Well, they say the Duke transformed into a monster rather than a dragon. So perhaps the Duchess has a taste for such creatures….”
“Oh, how vile!”
The preposterous rumor spread in an instant.
“To think that someone of such high station as the Duchess of Teseron endured such an ordeal. How pitiful.”
Some expressed genuine sympathy, though many more were simply eager to pass along the gossip under the guise of concern.
“And yet she’s had the nerve to go around laughing and gossiping as if nothing happened?”
“Surely it’s a lie. How could anyone remain so unaffected? How could she laugh after something like that?”
Such were the accusations from certain quarters.
But Luciana had anticipated all of this.
She harbored no illusions that exposing her own weakness to the world would shield her from attack.
Edward, however, seemed newly incensed by it all.
“If you take the stand at the trial, they’ll likely heap on even more vile insinuations.”
His jaw clenched.
Being vilified himself was of little consequence to him.
There had always been people who despised him anyway.
She could guess how Sepina had learned her secret.
Rosendal had once sent word that Prince Erenta II, whom he’d confined to Teseron, had vanished.
He’d dismissed the small matter as insignificant at the time, but judging by the testimony statement the prince had apparently hidden in Sepina’s possession, the boy had somehow reached her.
The fact that his escape had led to Luciana’s injury and her summons to trial was regrettable enough.
But what truly grated was that now these rabble were running their mouths.
‘Damn them all.’
Edward’s expression hardened with the desire to annihilate three generations of his enemies’ families, and he swallowed his rage.
His anger was directed at them, not at Luciana standing before him.
If only the Temple’s trial against him could have been settled first.
Then he would have crushed them beforehand, methodically and without mercy.
But for now, this was all he could manage.
“…If I speak skillfully, they’re willing to spare you from appearing at the trial in person.”
……
“You won’t have to stand in the witness box. They’ll take your testimony here at the Townhouse, and send a proxy to court in your stead.”
Edward looked at her as though asking what she thought.
Luciana met his gaze steadily.
Then she broke into a smile.
‘He must hate it.’
Words that favored the Emperor and the Imperial House wouldn’t suit Edward’s nature anyway.
Yet this man who would do such distasteful things without hesitation for her sake had become newly precious to her.
Smack.
She pressed her lips lightly against his irritated mouth, and Edward responded by parting his lips slightly, as if asking her to kiss him properly.
Peck.
Luciana was more than willing to oblige.
Then, holding Edward’s gaze as it softened slightly, she smiled with quiet confidence.
“I’m tempted, I’ll admit.”
……
“But not because I’m afraid of what others say. The trial doesn’t frighten me either. It’s just that crowds are a bit annoying, that’s all.”
“Luciana.”
“Do you think I’d lose an argument with those people?”
“…No. You wouldn’t.”
Edward answered quietly and cupped her face in his hands, and she leaned into his touch with ease before continuing.
“There were far too many truly frightening things in this world for me to waste fear on them.”
Though that wasn’t the case anymore.
When she’d been at the Evacuation Shelter, facing the people who resented her and abused her and the children, or the Temple wardens who kept her chained and starved her—then she’d been genuinely afraid.
By comparison, the whispers of strangers behind her back seemed almost endearing.
‘Though it won’t be easy, of course.’
Edward might be right—someone could talk about what happened to her as if it were mere entertainment.
They would gawk at her like she were a spectacle, chatter about her as though she were delicious gossip.
‘Of course that’s not a good thing.’
But far more people would recognize the courage it took for her to expose the Temple’s crimes.
And even more would rage against the Temple’s wickedness.
That alone was worth it.
“Besides, the people talking about me now can’t influence my life one way or another, can they?”
‘…And.’
From now on, Edward wouldn’t have to face the stones alone, as if he were the sole one expected to answer for everything.
“Husband and wife share the same fate—we stand together, don’t we?”
…….
“Going all the way to trial and meeting so many people will be tedious and exhausting, I’m sure. But still….”
“You’ll say it doesn’t matter.”
Edward finished what Luciana was about to say, a wry smile crossing his lips.
“I knew you’d be like that.”
Luciana gazed at Edward with fresh surprise.
She’d expected him to persuade her to reconsider, or at least try to dissuade her.
Instead, Edward looked proud of her, his touch on her cheek careful and tender.
“For someone so small, you’re far braver than I am.”
“How can I be, compared to a duke who faces monsters….”
“You are brave.”
…….
“Brave, and small, and beautiful, and lovely.”
“—Hmm, come now! Keep going!”
Praise never lost its thrill, no matter how many times she heard it.
Luciana burrowed into Edward’s embrace.
Though he’d spoken playfully, she could sense that every word was sincere.
Edward, delighted by the small warmth settling against him, drew her closer with an unhurried sigh.
Her full chest met his firm ribs, and against his lean frame the contact drew out a languid breath.
As their embrace deepened, Luciana stiffened for only a moment before melting into him, flushed and radiant, her hand rising to trace his back—and he found himself laughing.
Every time he held her like this, he felt somehow as though he were the one being comforted.
‘Truly.’
Luciana had always been consistent in what she said.
That such experiments could leave no mark upon him.
That no matter how it hurt, no matter what they did to him, it would not touch his life.
Yet each time he heard her say it, something deep inside him flinched and denied.
No, Edward.
That is your weakness.
So you will never truly escape from it.
Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak.
A whisper, borrowed from the voices of children and mice.
It was the voice of his younger self.
But even that voice of denial….
“I’m more afraid, if I’m honest, that the trial won’t go as well as we hope.”
“That won’t happen.”
“Still. If things don’t go well and we find ourselves in trouble…”
“We find ourselves?”
“Then we’ll simply run away together.”
Before her bright smile, before the light in her eyes, everything else dissolved and vanished.
She had offered herself as his sole weakness, brazen and unashamed—and instead became the strongest thing he possessed.
“They don’t deserve gratitude. After all you’ve sacrificed, and now they say they don’t love you anymore? How ungrateful, how cowardly and base….”
He listened to her fierce defense of him, her words tumbling forth like song, and closed his eyes.
In that moment, Edward understood.
Everything was fine now.
Everything.
“Run away together—is that a proposal?”
He asked softly, smiling, and Luciana’s eyes went wide.
“—But we’re already married!”
“If you wished, we could have a wedding ceremony twice, three times more.”
“What would be the point? That’s just wasteful.”
“I have more than enough money—so much it’s practically overflowing. Don’t worry about it.”
Edward smiled as he said this, holding Luciana close, and let his thoughts drift.
She had said she was willing to run away with him….
But he would not run anymore.
For her sake, he would choose to stand and face what came.
For this small mouse who had become his entire world.
Edward pressed his forehead against hers and answered with a smile.
“Since money’s come up, I’ll make sure to retain the best advocate. You needn’t worry about that.”
“Of course I knew you would.”
“The way to the courtroom will be through a private exit, hidden from public view—”
“…About that.”
Luciana blinked, utterly unbothered.
“I just thought of something.”
And she whispered, smiling like a scheming little mouse with mischief afoot.
“Could I borrow some of the Teseron designers?”

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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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