How To End This Marriage-Chapter 76: Conspiracy’s Web

I had entered the deep chamber of the palace, uncertain about what lay ahead. I had ventured forth, guided by the words of a knight named Lucius, who seemed to share my concerns about the palace’s mysteries. However, I couldn’t help but wonder if I would truly uncover the secrets hidden within. Nonetheless, I continued to walk deeper into the chamber, my curiosity driving me forward.

The atmosphere grew more oppressive with each step, the air heavy with the weight of the unknown. The torches that lined the stone walls cast flickering shadows, creating an eerie dance of light and darkness that played tricks on my senses.

Suddenly, a female knight grasped my shoulder, causing me to halt my steps. Her gauntleted hand was cold against my skin, and I turned to face her, uncertain of her intentions.

"What is it? Is there something you wish to discuss?" I asked, slowing my pace.

The female guard expressed her reservations, urging me to reconsider going deeper into the chamber. She questioned the trustworthiness of Lucius, sensing a malevolent aura around him. Her doubts only deepened my suspicions.

"No need to worry or panic. If any issues arise in this place, I can protect both of us. However, if you’re still apprehensive, you are free to return. I won’t insist on your staying solely for my sake," I reassured her with a smile, trying to alleviate her concerns.

Despite her lingering doubts, she chose to accompany me, and together, we followed Lucius deeper into the chamber. Lucius led the way, holding a lit lantern to illuminate our path, and I couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of unease.

I whispered in a hushed tone, "How much farther must we go?"

"Not much longer. It is near. We will reach in the blink of an eye," he said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. My suspicions grew. How could someone smile in the face of danger? This situation could mean life or death, yet he appeared so composed. Was he truly an ally, or had I fallen into a trap as the ominous voice had warned?

"Duchess, we have arrived!" the knight declared, leading me into the chamber. As I looked around, I noticed gold everywhere, even the walls appeared to be made of gold. The opulence left me in awe, and I muttered softly to myself. Then, I questioned Lucius, "So, where are these dark events you mentioned? You spoke of conspiracies within the palace."

Lucius’s response shattered my illusions, confirming my suspicions about him.

"How could you just walk down with someone because they said something ominous is happening there? How are you going to rule the state of Ablia with such a trusting nature when you shouldn’t trust anyone in this world, especially the people living inside the palace?" The knight’s words made me grind my teeth in anger, realizing the gravity of my mistake.

"You!!!!!! You tricked me!!!!" I exclaimed, gripping my palm tightly in frustration.

"No, Duchess, you tricked yourself!!! How could I even trick you when you didn’t want to be deceived? It’s impossible to describe," the knight responded, laughing with a malevolent tone that sent shivers down my spine.

"Duchess, I’ve told you not to trust anyone before. How could you come here just because this person said so? What’s next? What’s going to happen to us? What’s going to happen to me? I’m scared," the female knight began to cower in fear, further fueling my anger at my own naivety.

"This is why you shouldn’t go against His Majesty’s wishes. Don’t you know the rule about not meeting with outsiders!!!!" the knight shouted at the other knight.

"I-" she started stammering, tears rolling down her cheeks. This made me wonder how this person could be a knight when she was trembling so much just at the sight of another knight’s bad behavior. Hadn’t she undergone knight training? If so, she should have already faced tough challenges under other knights, so this behavior should be normal for her. Or perhaps she should have left her position as a knight if she couldn’t tolerate such conduct. But she remained, and I couldn’t fathom why.

"Ha ha ha, I didn’t know this trick would work, but it really went smoothly!!!" the knight exclaimed, laughing along with the others, which only served to deepen my confusion.

"What are you saying? Have you finally lost your mind?" I asked, but no one replied. They continued to laugh, which only irritated me further.

"Enough of this!" the knight finally gestured towards someone I couldn’t see, and soon a net fell from above, ensnaring me. "Now, Duchess, your time has ended. After this, no one is going to find you," he declared as several people entered the chamber, revealing it to be the palace vault. It seemed like a secret chamber designed to trap me, ensuring I couldn’t seek help from anyone.

"What are you looking at? Move forward! Attack her! Didn’t you receive the task to deal with her?" the knight ordered the others who advanced toward me, brandishing sharp knives. It made me wonder if this was the Emperor’s doing. Were these assassins sent by the Emperor to kill me? No, I couldn’t stay here. I had to escape and return to the duchy to inform Alex about the treacherous events unfolding in the palace. I couldn’t blindly trust the Emperor when he might be the mastermind behind all this chaos. I had to escape.

As I contemplated my next move, one of them lunged forward with a knife, but I instinctively dodged, momentarily escaping harm. However, in the next moment, three or four of those knights closed in on me. I managed to slip into a small gap between them and found myself on the other side. That’s when they burst into laughter, leaving me utterly perplexed.

"This was my plan, Duchess!" he finally revealed.

"These knives are artificial, or you can say they are meant for practice. We were never assigned to kill you but to trap you inside the palace so that no one can find you. You will rot here for the rest of your life, screaming for release, but no one will come to your aid," they taunted, mocking me as I struggled like a trapped cat, futilely attempting to escape the snare they had set for me.

"Take her to the prison!" the knight ordered.

"But what if someone finds her there? Then we’ll be doomed," another knight voiced concern.

"No one will find her because the prison is being relocated to the other side of the palace, and we are the ones assigned for the transfer. No one will go there to see her, let alone help her escape," the knight declared as he led me through a dark tunnel connecting to the prison. I could hear a deep, eerie voice emanating from within, which sent shivers down my spine, but I had no other choice.

"Stay here until you die!" he said as he threw me into a deep cell within the prison.

"Yeah, let’s see if I’m going to die here or if you’ll meet your end at the hands of the Duke," I muttered involuntarily, my knowledge of his character fueling my determination. However, deep down, I knew that he wouldn’t come to rescue me, let alone discover my absence.

"Duke? You expect the Duke to come and find you? What a childish thought, Duchess. Haven’t you received the Emperor’s message that he’s soon going to join the war once again? He’ll be busy for years, and he won’t even realize you’re missing or dead. So stay here and rot to the core," he scoffed, locking me inside the cell as I screamed loudly for my release.

"Duke, find me!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, but not a single voice responded, and I soon found myself breathless.

***

"It’s time for dinner. Did anyone summon the Duchess?" the knights discussed.

"No, I haven’t seen her come out of her room since she went inside," another knight replied.

"No, no, no, we should check on her. What if something like last night happens again? We can’t take that risk," the knight declared, beginning to knock on my door.

"Duchess, dinner is ready for you. May I come inside?" he inquired, but there was no response.

"Duchess, are you in there?" he asked again.

"What’s going on? Does the Duchess want to have her meal?" another knight questioned.

"No! She’s not responding, no matter what I say. I have to open the door without her permission, or I don’t know what might happen," the knight panicked, pushing the door forcefully until it swung open, leaving him in a state of even greater alarm.

"The Duchess is missing!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the empty room.

The realization of my disappearance sent shockwaves through the palace, and the search for the North Duchess began, setting into motion a chain of events.