I’ll Be the Heroine’s Competent Divorce Partner - Chapter 150

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 150

 

At the same time, he flinched and shrank his shoulders, then immediately dropped the ring from his hand.

 

Like me, he had felt an abnormal reaction.

 

“Joshua!”

 

I raised my voice in alarm.

 

Joshua quickly shook his head to tell me not to worry.

 

Then he bit his lower lip with a confused expression.

 

“I’m fine. But more than that, what was that oppressive feeling I just felt…?”

 

“That painting.”

 

I pointed to the still life painting leaning against the wall.

 

“I think it’s connected to that painting.”

 

Joshua turned around to follow my gaze.

 

His eyes narrowed suspiciously as he spotted the painting.

 

“The painting?”

 

“Yes. I don’t think there’s any particular problem with the ring itself. Both Isabel and I have been carrying it around without any issues until now.”

 

“But if that’s the case, then this ring is just an ordinary object.”

 

“It’s not ordinary.”

 

I shook my head and answered firmly.

 

“That ring… it contains magical power.”

 

Not a magical tool, but an object that had come to contain magical power for some reason.

 

And a painting of unknown origin.

 

The combination of those two things kept bothering me.

 

“This might sound ridiculous, but could the painting and the magical power be reacting to each other? And if that reaction is causing the physical abnormalities…”

 

I was startled by my own casual question.

 

At that moment, Joshua’s face had turned deathly pale.

 

As if he had recalled something truly terrible…

 

“Joshua?!”

 

I called out to him urgently.

 

At the same time, Joshua shot up from his seat.

 

“I need to go to Father right now.”

 

“What?”

 

Joshua continued frantically.

 

“I’m sorry. Elodie, please see a doctor and rest…”

 

His eyes looking at me were shaking violently.

 

He had completely lost his composure.

 

Unable to watch any longer, I grabbed his hand firmly.

 

“Joshua.”

 

Joshua’s shoulders stiffened.

 

I looked into his eyes and spoke clearly.

 

“Calm down.”

 

“…”

 

“We can take it step by step, one thing at a time. And you don’t have to do it all alone.”

 

At those words, his tense violet eyes gradually settled.

 

I squeezed our joined hands.

 

“So let’s go together.”

 

At the same time, a long sigh escaped from between Joshua’s lips.

 

He had been sharp as a blade’s edge, but for the first time, his voice softened.

 

“…Thank you.”

 

“Don’t mention it.”

 

I smiled brightly and stood up from my seat.

 

“Well then, shall we go?”

 

* * *

 

Throughout the carriage ride, Joshua couldn’t hide his anxious expression.

 

‘No way, that can’t be.’

 

Joshua bit his lip until it bled.

 

His mind was completely jumbled.

 

A ring imbued with magical power.

 

A pomegranate still life painting found in Duke Laventess’ study.

 

He could tell just from the painting style.

 

It was Marquis Bartsen’s painting.

 

Moreover, before leaving the townhouse, a servant had testified directly.

 

‘Marquis Bartsen gave it as a gift.’

 

Joshua shuddered with déjà vu.

 

Father, who had been in a coma for a long time.

 

A painting that Uncle had personally drawn, praying for Father’s health.

 

The Empire’s only magical tool and symbol of the Emperor – the ‘seal ring.’

 

That seal ring was something the Emperor always kept on his person.

 

Father had never once removed it from his body either.

 

‘How does it feel to be chosen as the Empire’s ruler from the very beginning, Your Majesty?’

 

Marquis Bartsen’s cold voice echoed in his ears.

 

‘Damn it.’

 

Joshua bit his lip until it bled.

 

It couldn’t be.

 

The reason Father had been unable to open his eyes for so long couldn’t possibly be just a single painting…

 

Just then, the carriage stopped.

 

Joshua immediately leaped out of the carriage.

 

He ran across the Imperial Palace and entered the Emperor’s bedroom.

 

The room was so quiet you could hear a needle drop.

 

In the distance, he could see Father sleeping.

 

His chest stung as if he had swallowed a handful of glass shards.

 

‘Father.’

 

His childhood, which now felt so distant.

 

There were times when he feared whether Father was breathing properly.

 

Each time, Joshua would climb onto the bed and place his small hand under his sleeping father’s nose.

 

It was to check if Father was breathing properly.

 

The memory of feeling that faint breath and stroking his chest countless times.

 

“Huu.”

 

Joshua took a deep breath.

 

He strode over to the two paintings hanging side by side on the wall.

 

After staring at them for a moment, Joshua reached out his hand.

 

He removed all the paintings and carried them outside.

 

Finally, he bent down to remove the seal ring from the Emperor’s hand.

 

“…Joshua?”

 

A voice that seemed about to fade called out to Joshua.

 

Startled, he lifted his head.

 

Within those wrinkled eyes.

 

Purple eyes that looked exactly like Joshua’s were gazing at him, filled with bewilderment.

 

“Is it… really… *cough*, Joshua?”

 

Vocal cords that had been silent for too long became hoarse after just a few words.

 

The Emperor cleared his throat several times.

 

“How on earth, *ahem*, did this happen…?”

 

It was understandable.

 

From the Emperor’s perspective, he had simply fallen into a deep sleep and awakened, only to find his young son had suddenly grown up.

 

But Joshua had no capacity to consider his father’s confusion either.

 

Overwhelming emotion crashed over him like a tidal wave, shaking him from head to toe.

 

“Father!”

 

Joshua threw his arms around the Emperor.

 

“*sob*, Father, I… *sniff*.”

 

Thick tears streamed down his cheeks.

 

Though bewildered, the Emperor patted Joshua’s back.

 

“There, Joshua? Don’t cry. Hmm?”

 

Meanwhile, Elodie stood at a distance, watching the father-son reunion with a mixture of shock and emotion.

 

‘My goodness, to think he would actually wake up!’

 

Joshua’s back, as he lay draped over the Emperor’s body, shook violently.

 

The longing that had been suppressed for so long melted richly into his falling tears.

 

But her pitying gaze toward Joshua was brief.

 

‘That means.’

 

Elodie’s expression turned coldly serious.

 

‘Really… Marquis Bartsen did harm His Majesty the Emperor.’

 

The painting that the Marquis had supposedly painted himself, praying for the Emperor’s health.

 

There had even been two paintings hanging in the bedroom.

 

…The malicious intent to harm the Emperor in any way possible was clearly revealed.

 

A moment later.

 

Joshua struggled to suppress his tears and lifted his head.

 

There was no time to sob like this.

 

Embracing each other in joy and sharing their feelings could wait until later.

 

So right now…

 

“I’ll explain the current situation shortly. But first, there’s something that must be done.”

 

Joshua, wiping away his tears, pulled the bell cord beside the Emperor’s bed.

 

The waiting palace servants came running.

 

And then.

 

“Y-Your Majesty the Emperor!”

 

“His Majesty has awakened!”

 

The startled palace servants’ eyes widened in shock.

 

At the same time, Joshua rose to his feet.

 

Though tears he hadn’t yet wiped away still stained his handsome face, his commanding voice was unwavering and cold.

 

“Arrest Marquis Bartsen immediately.”

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