Chapter 37

As my black hair swept down, the gaze that had been lying on my forehead met my purple eyes .

It was only coming into contact with those eyes, did I realize how cruel this beast could be .

He was for real .

I forced my suppressed body to stand up and did not avoid his gaze all the while .

No, I could not avoid it .

I later realized and instinctively gathered my hands that were still on the table when I looked up and met his eyes .

“You can leave for now . ”

He had decided to keep me alive ‘for the time being . ’

“Let’s leave the remaining conversation for next time . The Viscount must be waiting for you outside . He will be escorting you back . ”

“…I am grateful for your grace, Your Majesty . ”

Let’s go . I should leave since he asked .

My mind turned blank when he shot me that murderous gaze towards me .

What was in it for me to know what he was thinking? It was important that he kept me alive .

With my acute survival instincts, I used up my remaining strength left in me to get up and leave this dangerous place .

I stumbled as my legs turned jelly under the extreme stress but still forced myself to stand up and kept to the etiquettes .

“I will take my leave then . I hope you will have a good time . Ahh…”

“Duchess!”

The white sky had shrouded my eyes in a flash .

I should grab onto something . I tried to reach my hand out but did not even have that much energy to do so .

As my body collapsed and my vision blurred, I last saw the Third Prince Peyton jump up and ran towards me .

“Ugh!”

“I sent her away nicely . ”

But the voice I heard from above me was by another man .

The Emperor’s piercing eyes, which watched me closely from earlier, could now be felt above my head .

“It seems like she didn’t want to leave . ”

“…”

No, it might have changed a little .

That lowered gaze and listless voice seemed unfamiliar, yet still somehow familiar . As my blurred vision came back into focus, the first thing I saw was a glowing forehead .

I realized a while later that the hand supporting my waist was not cold but rather hot .

Plus, my hands once again were at his chest .

“If you must end this…”

“N, n, no! No! I’m not! I’m not going to!”

I focused all my strength on both hands . Not sure if it was my body that jumped away or the Emperor pushed me away, my body was already at the bottom of the Pavillion when I opened my eyes .

“Haa, haa!”

I must force myself to crawl out of this place even if I fainted .

I went on my knees and used all my strength to hasten my movement . I might not know what he was thinking, but this was clear to me .

I would die if I were caught .

***

“Your Majesty, are you alright?!”

“…”

Peyton and Tenon stood up from their seats and approached Rashid with their worried faces .

Rashid had not once looked up after Catherine had pushed him away . Though it did not seem that she had pushed him with too much force since he did not budge at all, he was their top concern .

“Your Majesty, why don’t you…”

“Don’t touch me . ”

Rashid coldly shook Peyton off, who was about to help him up .

It did not look like he was injured, judging by the speed he was waving his hands despite still looking down .

Feeling relieved, Tenon then looked in the direction of the Duchess’ disappearing silhouette as she left the place .

“It may be quite vague, but after some observation, she isn’t a witch . Her black hair seems to be natural, and she does not seem to have other signs to show that she is one . ”

“That’s right . Your Majesty, I haven’t met a woman like her, who is evil or uses forbidden magic, and yet could also make others fall for them at once…”

“No . ”

Rashid finally looked up as he firmly denied his brothers’ words .

His nape seemed abnormally flushed, as if he was under some sort of curse, which also gripped his heart grimly .

“I’m sure she’s a witch . ”

***

Soon, the hems of my black dress were full of dirt . It did not come to me that I had survived even after leaving that palace before . I finally managed to breathe when the villa by the lake came into sight .

“Haa!”

Just how far did I run to be smelling blood in my throat every time I inhaled?

Aigoo*, I’m dying .

T/N: Aigoo here is an exclamation used when one is tired, exhausted, or sometimes when sighing .

I would love to lie down right away, but there was a reason that was stopping me from doing so .

“Baby, our Haniel!”

[Mommy? Mommyy!]

As soon as I opened the door to the villa, I embraced Haniel, who ran towards me and closed my eyes .

It was great to see you again, my princess .

Tears filled my eyes as soon as I hugged her, unable to suppress my emotions .

“You must’ve waited quite a long time! Baby, look at mommy!”

[S, sob . ]

[Seriously, others might think that this mother and daughter died a wrongful death and met again in their next life . ]