ILTDAMH|CHAPTER 110

Posted by Marinette, Released on October 26, 2025

Chapter 110

Lucianne’s Trial (1)

“Duchess, Lady Mer. Please. Save your sister. I know she made terrible choices, but you weren’t gravely hurt, were you? So please, just this once, forgive Lucy.”

Ruan’s voice was cold and sharp. “Sister? You came here knowing what that so-called sister did to my wife?”

“Your Grace,” Penelope said hastily, “Lucianne was wrong, yes—but it was only because she was angry. Angry at the Duchess.”

“Angry?” Ruan’s eyes darkened. “So you’re telling me she committed such a monstrous act simply out of anger? And that’s your excuse?”

“Your Grace!”

He cut her off with a steely gaze. “Your daughter placed the former Empress Dowager under hypnosis and ordered her to kill me. My wife was wounded in the process. Perhaps the Dowager dealt the blow, but it was your daughter who brought the dagger into the Imperial Palace. By law, only those granted permission by the Emperor may bear arms inside the palace. For that alone, I could charge her with treason.”

“T-Treason? That’s far too extreme—surely you don’t mean that?”

“I just explained why,” Ruan replied evenly. “Carrying a weapon into the Imperial Palace is an act of rebellion in itself.”

At that, Penelope collapsed to her knees, bowing deeply. “Please, spare my daughter’s life! It wasn’t her—it was me! I planned everything. Arrest me instead. Just… please, let my daughter live.”

Watching her, Ruan could only be thankful that Marican wasn’t present to see this. Such a mother… how pitiful my wife must have been, growing up under her.

“I pity my wife for being born to a parent like you,” he said quietly. “You failed both your daughters.”

“Yes,” Penelope whispered, trembling. “I am a terrible parent. So please, spare my child.”

Ruan stared down at her for a long time before finally saying, “Very well. Your daughter will live.”

Live? Penelope’s eyes widened. She pressed her forehead to the ground. “Thank you! Thank you so much, Your Grace!”

“You might want to wait until after the trial to thank me,” he said flatly. “You may find that you’ll curse my name instead. But remember this—whatever happens next is the result of your own actions.”

“Even so, as long as she lives, I have no complaints.”

“You’ll be summoned as a witness. We’ll see each other then.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Penelope thanked him several more times before hurrying away.

“Welcome back, my lord,” said Ed, bowing.

“Where’s the Duchess?”

“She said she was tired and went to her room.”

“I see. You took care of everything I ordered?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Ruan!”

Marican rushed toward him with a flustered look as he reached for the door.

“My lady, what’s wrong?”

“My room! Why is my room gone? I went inside and it’s turned into a study!”

“That’s because you went into the wrong room,” he said, fighting a smile.

“The wrong room?” she repeated in disbelief.

Ruan took her hand gently and led her to his chamber.

“Wait, why is my dressing table here? And my dresses—when did they all get moved? Ruan, would you care to explain this?”

He pulled her softly into his arms and murmured, “Now that we’re officially husband and wife, shouldn’t we share a room? I can’t sleep a single night without you beside me anymore.”

“So… the reason you can’t sleep—is it because you rest better when I’m next to you?”

“My lady, that’s not what I meant!” he protested, flustered. “But… I do admit, since you’ve returned to the duchy, my sleep has improved. Maybe it’s because we share tea together before bed every night. I hardly need any sleeping aids now.”

“Really?”

“Of course. When I say I can’t sleep without you, it means I don’t want to be apart from you. So please, don’t misunderstand.”

“Hm. Still, spending every moment together might make you tire of me quickly. Even married couples need their own space, you know.”

“Me? Tired of you? Never,” Ruan said with conviction. “But I did think you might need a place of your own—so I turned your room into a study. You’ll begin your history and etiquette lessons there tomorrow. I also bought every book you’ve shown interest in lately.”

“A study…” Marican blinked. Lately, she’d been fascinated by history—and the Empire’s law allowed noblewomen to run businesses. She’d even begun studying economics and management, imagining one day she might open a small shop rather than spend her days idly at the duchy. Still… he removed my room without asking?

“Come,” Ruan said, leading her to the converted room.

She stepped inside—and gasped. “Oh? These are…?”

“The books you wanted,” he said warmly. “Economics, trade, management. I even included a few guides on shop operations.”

“Ruan, how did you know?”

He smiled faintly. “When you ran the sandwich shop in Phenomenon Village, you looked so alive, even when you were exhausted. I decided then—if you ever wanted to open a store again, I’d help you.”

“Ruan… thank you. I wanted to, but I was afraid. I’m already the center of gossip—if I open a shop, the nobles would talk even more.”

“I told you,” he said gently, “no one in this Empire would dare ridicule you. Not even if you couldn’t read a single word. Do whatever you wish.”

“Ruan…”

“Do you like the study?”

Marican gazed at the shelves full of her favorite books and felt her heart flutter. “Yes. I love it. Thank you, Ruan.”

“Then rest now. I must visit the palace.”

“That’s fine. I’ll stay here and read for a while. I’ve fallen behind in my studies anyway.”

“Very well. I’ll be back soon, my lady.”

“Alright. See you, Ruan.”

When he left, Marican pulled out a book and sat down to read. Then she paused.

“Wait a second. Didn’t I just scold him for taking away my room? And now I’m thanking him for it?” She sighed, shaking her head. “He’s done it again. I can’t win with him.”

Smiling helplessly, she began to read.

“How is the former Empress Dowager?” the Emperor, Viseluk, asked.

“She said that after regaining her senses, she regretted not stabbing Your Majesty instead,” the aide replied grimly.

Viseluk’s expression darkened. It had been a political marriage, but still—they had shared twenty years of their lives. He hadn’t been able to bring himself to kill her back then. But perhaps now… it must end.

“And the viscount’s daughter?”

“The Duke has obtained her confession,” Cassel reported. “But now she claims she’s innocent.”

“Innocent? How did he get a confession, then? Surely not torture?”

“No, Your Majesty. He used illusion magic. She was shown visions of being tortured—believed them to be real—and confessed.”

“I see… and now she denies it after the illusion broke. Haman, what do you think?”

The Crown Prince lowered his gaze. “Even if the Dowager was hypnotized, she’s now awake—and still blames both me and Father. For the Empire’s sake, she must… drink the poison, as the law commands.”

Viseluk nodded gravely. “Yes. Execution by poison. As for the viscount’s daughter… she’s a commoner now, is she not?”

“Yes. The Duke suggests sending her to the Atripia mines instead of execution. He claims death would be too merciful.”

“The Atripia mines?” The Emperor frowned. “That’s where only the worst criminals are sent. Has a woman ever been sent there?”

Atripia lay at the Empire’s edge—an eternal winter where even men rarely survived more than a few years. Prisoners wore special shackles that tightened if they tried to escape, often severing their ankles entirely. Many begged for death rather than go there.

And Lucianne—fragile, pale Lucianne—was to be sent there?

“Yes, Your Majesty. I told the Duke it was excessive, but he insisted.”

“So… even death would be a kindness. And the viscountess?”

“As the parent of a traitor, she’ll be exiled from the Empire.”

Viseluk let out a humorless laugh. “Then it seems fortunate, in a way, that the Duchess severed ties with that family long ago. She’s innocent in all this.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Then proceed as planned. The Duke has earned that much.”

“Yes, Father. I’ll inform the court.”

After Haman departed, Viseluk rose slowly. His face was clouded with sorrow.

“Your Majesty…” the attendant murmured softly.

“I’ll go to the Empress,” Viseluk said. “I want to drink her tea again.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The attendant quietly led him toward Fiona’s palace.

“Your Highness.”

Haman looked up as Ruan entered his office.

“Ruan, you’re here.”

“How did it go with His Majesty?”