ILTDAMH |CHAPTER 36

Chapter 36

 You’ll regret this!

“Au… Aunt!”

Ruan’s eyes widened in shock as Olivia suddenly burst through the door. 

Casel quickly glanced around, then hurriedly shut Ruan’s door and locked it.

Olivia started toward Ruan, but her eyes fell on the unfamiliar vial in his hand.

“What’s in that bottle?”

“T-that… It’s medicine for the Duke, madam.”

Even as Cassel tried to explain, Olivia’s expression hardened with disbelief. 

She reached out for the vial, but Ruan quickly hid it behind his back.

“If it’s really medicine, why are you hiding it?”

“It’s… an antidote, to counteract the poison, Aunt.”

Olivia let out a small sigh and sank into a chair, fixing her gaze on Ruan.

“Ruan… ever since you were little, your eyebrow always twitched upward whenever you lied. So tell me—what are you hiding? Has the poison advanced more quickly? Or is the pain so unbearable you’ve begun coughing up blood?”

Her words stopped short, her eyes widening with sudden realisation.

“Don’t tell me… the drug you’re holding isn’t an antidote, but poison meant to end your own life?”

“Well, madam, that’s…”

Cassel stammered, searching for an excuse.

But before he could continue, Ruan rose from his seat, head bowed, as though he could no longer conceal the truth.

“Aunt… I’m truly sorry. The truth is, I’m no longer terminally ill.”

“What? What do you mean, no longer?”

“The truth is… it wasn’t poison at all. I was cursed. And when I collapsed this time… the curse was broken.”

“What? So not an antidote—wait… You mean the curse has been lifted? You won’t die?”

“Yes, Aunt.”

“Heavens above… your parents who passed before you must have been watching over you. Oh, merciful God, thank you! No, what am I doing sitting here? I must tell Mer at once! She’ll be overjoyed when she hears this!”

Olivia leapt to her feet in excitement. 

At that moment, Ruan shot a meaningful glance at Casel, who quickly moved toward Olivia.

Cassel stepped forward, blocking Olivia’s path.

“My apologies, madam.”

“Sir Cassel, why are you standing in my way? Move aside at once.”

At her sharp demand, Ruan spoke up in a strained voice.

“Aunt… forgive me. But for now, this must remain a secret. Even you cannot be told.”

“What are you saying?”

Olivia stared at him, baffled, but Ruan’s expression was grim as he answered.

“I truly am sorry, madam. But no one outside this room must know.”

Even if Mercian knew the truth, perhaps he could continue acting as though Ruan were truly dying. 

But perhaps not. 

If the Crown Prince so much as suspected Mercian was feigning grief, their entire plan could collapse. 

For that reason, Ruan could not bring himself to tell him.

“You mean to use Mer in this scheme of yours? Absolutely not! Do you have any idea how hard that child has been fighting to hold himself together, just to keep from breaking down? The moment he heard you’d coughed up blood, he fainted! He only just regained consciousness and wanted to come here—I had to stop him, and in the end, I begged Clea to slip a sleeping draught into his food. And now—you dare drag that kind-hearted boy into this?”

“Aunt, if not now, there will never be another chance to bring down the Crown Prince. He has committed too many atrocities, and he must face justice. Yes, the evidence of his crimes could eventually condemn him, but that process would take time. We cannot wait. At the upcoming wedding of His Highness the Second Prince, the Crown Prince must be made to murder him. If we fail… the Empire’s future will be doomed.”

“You’ll regret this! No matter how noble your intentions, deceiving Mer like this is unforgivable. He will not forgive you so easily!”

Olivia’s voice was resolute, her eyes fierce with warning.

“Don’t worry, Aunt,” Ruan replied calmly, unfazed by her severity. “I intend to repay him tenfold for every ounce of suffering he endures now.”

At his words—so dismissive of her warning—Olivia’s face hardened, her expression turning cold as steel.

“Listen well. If Mer ever learns the truth and refuses to forgive you, as I told you before—I’ll introduce him to a man far better than you, several times over.”

“Aunt, what outrageous nonsense is this?!” 

Ruan exploded, his voice ringing with fury. 

“His husband is very much alive, and yet you dare speak of remarriage? That is absolutely impossible!”

At his outburst, Olivia gave him a look of sheer incredulity, her eyes sweeping him up and down with disdain.

“Alive? You call yourself alive? You’re nothing but a husband writhing with poison, coughing up blood, slipping in and out of a coma. More accurately, you may still breathe, but you’re worth less than a corpse.”

“Aunt!” Ruan shouted at her, but Olivia only shook her head, weary of his protests.

“Stop calling me that. Everyone in this room already knows I’m your aunt. And let me remind you—when you were given that death sentence, I was prepared to let you go. Of course, I am glad you’ve survived, don’t mistake me. But that doesn’t mean I’ll stand by and watch you deceive Mer.”

At the thought of Mercian—his face hollowed in only a few days, worn thin with grief—anger flared hot in Olivia’s chest once more.

Nephew or not, she would never allow that poor child to suffer like this.

“Ruan, hear me one last time. Mer is not merely your wife. That child has become like my own daughter. You know well how she has treated me these past six months. And she even severed ties with her own mother and sister—her own blood—rather than betray you by handing over evidence of your so-called treason. I swore, if you truly died, I would take her in as my daughter.”

“Aunt, I’ve told you—I will not die. Mer is my wife, and I will care for her myself. You need not trouble yourself.”

“But just now, you were the one who spoke of death.”

“Aunt, it is only for a few days. Once the Crown Prince is toppled from his throne, I will immediately reveal the truth to my wife.”

Even as Ruan tried to explain, Olivia shook her head, her face set as though his words had never even reached her.

“I don’t care whether you live or die again. But—do not wound Mer. If you cause that child pain, if you drive her to despair, then nephew or not, I will not forgive you.”

“When all of this is over, I’ll do whatever it takes to earn Mer’s forgiveness.”

At Ruan’s repeated vow, Olivia exhaled, her fury softening just enough as she sank into a chair.

“Very well. Then you had better secure her forgiveness. If not—I’ll see to her remarriage myself.”

“Please… I understand. But never—never utter even a single word about remarriage in front of Mer,” Ruan said, his face set, eyes unwavering.

“Hmph.” Olivia’s lips curled in irritation as she scowled back at him. “We’ll see. That depends on your actions.”

***

That night.

After everyone had left, and just before swallowing the potion, Ruan rose from his seat and slipped into Mercian’s chamber through the adjoining bath.

There she lay, her eyes swollen from weeping, now finally lulled into slumber by the sleeping draught. He brushed a hand gently over her hair, then leaned down to whisper into her ear.

“My wife… I’m so sorry. Whatever happens to me, don’t be frightened. I swear, I’ll come back to you alive. Just wait for me—only a few days. When this is over, I’ll confess everything to you properly. How deeply I love you. More than you could ever imagine. Sleep well, my dearest. The days ahead will be cruel to you… But please, endure them. I love you, my wife.”

As he spoke, Mercian stirred faintly, her brow furrowing in her sleep at the sound of his voice. 

Ruan pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, then her lips, before slipping back to his chamber.

There, he lifted the vial Cassel had left behind—and drank.

That night, Ruan Canoluph died.

His sudden death plunged the Empire into mourning.

Harman’s wedding, once scheduled, was postponed until the end of the mourning period, and the funeral of the Empire’s hero was conducted under the solemn direction of the Imperial family.

As Ruan had foreseen, his funeral stretched over five days. 

On the final day, his body was laid to rest in the family crypt.

When word of his death first spread, the one who rushed to confirm it before anyone else was Diamond. 

Standing over the body, he forced himself to school his expression, suppressing the flicker of joy that threatened to betray him.

Diamond wept false tears, putting on a mask of grief for Ruan’s death.

Yet through every moment of feigned mourning, his eyes remained fixed on Ruan’s body—making certain it was no ruse—and on Mercian, standing hollow-eyed, dazed, her soul seemingly torn away.

In that sight, he confirmed it beyond doubt: Ruan was truly dead.

When the five-day funeral came to an end, Biseluk declared two weeks of national mourning to honour Ruan’s memory.

During that time, Diamond was confined to the Crown Prince’s palace in name, but nothing could suppress the jester’s laugh that rose in his throat day and night.

“Hahaha! So that pompous fool, after all his arrogance—dead at last!” 

Diamond exulted, drinking deep, savouring the joy of Ruan’s demise without restraint.

“Your Highness,” Hook implored, voice taut with worry, “this is a time of mourning for the Duke. Please, I beg you, put the wine aside. If His Majesty the Emperor learns of this, it will spell disaster.”

But Diamond only sneered, pouring another brimming cup in plain view of his retainer.

“Hook, go to Grandfather. Borrow me some knights.”

“Knights, Your Highness? For what purpose?” 

Hook asked, unease written across his face.

Diamond raised his goblet high, draining it in one long swallow before replying, his eyes glittering.

“Think, Hook. The Duke who tormented me for so long is gone. Imagine how wretched my dear younger brother must feel, how empty he must be. They adored each other, after all. Shouldn’t I, as his elder brother, prepare him a gift?”

“A gift, Your Highness? What kind of gift?”

“Why, naturally—” Diamond’s smile widened into something cruel “—once the mourning ends, on the day of his happiest moment—his wedding day—I’ll see him sent straight to join the Duke in the grave.”

“Your Highness!” Hook dropped to his knees, his voice shaking. “You must not! Absolutely not!”

“Must not? Ha!” Diamond barked a laugh. “And why not?”

“No matter your feelings toward the Second Prince, to kill him at his wedding… If His Majesty discovers this, he will never forgive you!”

“Hook,” Diamond drawled, his grin sharp with disdain, “you’re a loyal man, but your courage is pitifully small. Do not fret. Without that cursed Duke, Harmon is nothing—weak and powerless. And besides—” he leaned back, triumphant “—I already have all the evidence I need of his treason neatly secured. That Duke was the only obstacle that ever troubled me. But now he’s dead… and there’s no one left to stand in my way.”

***

“Evidence of treason? But, Your Highness, you found nothing—did you not?”

“I seized one of Harmon’s attendants,” Diamond replied with a wicked gleam. 

“The man has been persuaded. On Harmon’s wedding day, he’ll stand before everyone and confess that Harmon plotted treason. When that happens, Father will never trust that wretch again. And once Harmon is seized and punished, who would dare investigate further? Nothing can touch me.”

“But… but, Your Highness,” Hook stammered, “can you truly trust such a man?”

“Worry not,” Diamond said, his smile turning sharp.

“I hold his weakness in my hand. He won’t dare betray me. Enough prattling—go, fetch me a few knights.”

Hook lingered for a moment, staring at Diamond’s eyes burning with madness, then bowed his head at last and slipped silently from the chamber.

***

A week later, the royal wedding of the Omankrut Empire was held not in the grand banquet hall, but in the vast, blooming gardens. 

Beneath the open sky, nobles filled the wide grounds as music swelled. 

To the melody, Prince Harmon and Princess Patricia walked side by side into the garden.

“The two of them seem to suit each other better than I expected,” murmured the Empress.

“Hmph. I failed to see what was so urgent,” 

She continued coolly. “Why rush to wed a vassal princess to the Second Prince, when Diamond has yet to marry himself?”

“The Crown Prince is still far too immature to form a household of his own,” Biseluk replied, voice heavy with meaning.

“……”

The Empress fell silent. But her gaze—sharp as a blade, cold as death—never strayed from Harman. 

Watching her venomous stare, Biseluk let out a quiet sigh.

At last, the bride and groom reached the dais and stood before the High Priest.

He stretched out his hands in benediction, his voice solemn.

When the blessing was spoken, the High Priest turned to the gathered nobles, raising his voice for all to hear.

“Their union is sealed! May their days be free of hardship, their lives crowned with eternal happiness. Bestow your blessings upon them!”

The garden grew hushed, the weight of sanctity settling over the moment.

The High Priest’s smile broadened as he prepared to proclaim the marriage complete—

But suddenly, chaos erupted at the garden gates.

Swords gleamed. And into the sacred scene strode Diamond, blade in hand, his voice ringing with scorn.

“This marriage—I’ll see it undone. No, not merely undone… it shall never be. After all, I never intended to let you live, brother.”

“What madness is this?!” Biseluk’s voice thundered.

Diamond bowed his head slightly, though his tone dripped with mock humility.

“Forgive me, Father, for causing such an uproar. But I have uncovered the truth—Harmon is plotting treason. He conspired with the late Duke. Do you recall the Duke collapsing in my presence not long ago? It was because I confronted him with proof of their plot.”

Treason?

Gasps rippled through the garden. 

Nobles whispered in shock, their voices a chorus of disbelief and dread.