How To End This Marriage-Chapter 77: The Emperor’s Malevolent Scheme

"Duchess is missing."

"Duchess is missing."

Panic swept through the palace as Bernice remained unaccounted for despite extensive searches. The night passed, but there was still no sign of her. The knight who had been with her murmured, "Where could she have gone? This isn’t like what happened last night."

In the dimly lit corridors of the palace, torches cast flickering shadows on the walls, creating an atmosphere of unease. The palace, once a symbol of opulence and grandeur, now felt foreboding, its secrets lurking in every corner.

"Yes, it’s different this time, but she claimed she saw a monster pursuing her, and we dismissed her. What if the monster she mentioned actually took her?" another knight pondered, his voice filled with concern.

"A monster? Are you out of your mind? A monster within the palace? I could understand if she were in the forest, but she was inside the heavily guarded palace. If a monster had entered, we would have noticed. Can it really be true?" the knight explained, his skepticism evident.

"Then what could have happened?"

"We don’t even know why she came here in the first place, so how can we know where she went? How did she vanish into thin air?" the knight retorted, frustration creeping into his tone.

"I think it’s time we inform the duke," the knight said, determined in his voice. But before they could act, Lucius, who had accompanied Bernice, appeared seemingly out of nowhere, interjecting himself into the conversation.

"I don’t believe it’s necessary to involve the duke in such a minor matter," he calmly suggested, wearing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"Minor? Do you consider it minor when the duchess has been missing for hours? She is our leader. Watch your words!" the knight growled, his patience wearing thin.

"Hey, calm down. I’m not here to start a fight. I’m here with a suggestion," Lucius clarified, attempting to defuse the tension.

"A suggestion? What kind of suggestion?" the knight inquired, still wary of Lucius’s motives.

"I don’t think the duchess is missing at all. I asked the guards, and they mentioned that a carriage left through the main entrance of the palace. They didn’t see her face, but I assume she merely wanted to explore the palace. Many people do that," Lucius explained, his voice measured.

"To explore the palace?" the knight questioned, his confusion evident.

"Yes, she’s residing at the knight’s quarters, so I don’t see any harm in her spending her time in an unfamiliar place that piqued her curiosity," Lucius elaborated, his words calculated.

"To see the palace?" the knight asked once more, seeking clarification.

"Yes, exactly. Let’s not jump to conclusions," Lucius concluded, leaving the two knights perplexed and uncertain about their course of action.

"Could she really be sightseeing?" one of the knights wondered aloud, his doubt lingering.

"I’m not sure anymore. First, there was the monster incident, and now this. Is she intentionally doing this, or is there something more to it? It doesn’t seem normal to me," the other knight said, clearly frustrated, as they weighed the possibilities.

"Let’s wait another 24 hours. If she hasn’t returned by then, we’ll inform the duke," the knight decided, his voice carrying a sense of urgency as they left to resume their search.

***

In a dimly lit chamber within the palace, Lucius stood before the emperor, his posture formal and respectful. The emperor’s countenance displayed a mix of anxiety and excitement, his eyes betraying his inner turmoil.

"I greet you, Emperor," Lucius saluted upon meeting the emperor, his voice steady and controlled.

"Rise and report your mission!" the emperor ordered, his tone carrying an air of authority.

"We have successfully completed our assignment," Lucius declared, bowing before the emperor as he spoke.

"Did you capture her? Is it true? Did it really happen?" the emperor asked, his voice trembling with anticipation.

"Yes, Your Majesty. It was surprisingly easy to apprehend her. She practically fell into our hands, and now she’s locked up in the deepest cell of the prison," Lucius confirmed, his words laced with a sense of accomplishment.

"But I can’t understand why she came with me when I mentioned something eerie happening, when nothing of the sort occurred. Is she superstitious?" the knight questioned, his brow furrowing with confusion.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. I didn’t intend to question you," Lucius replied in a more subdued tone, bowing his head respectfully.

"Just do as you’re instructed. Don’t interfere in matters that don’t concern you, unless you wish to face the same fate as the North Duchess. Do you understand?" the emperor warned, his tone growing stern, sending a shiver down Lucius’s spine.

"You may leave," the emperor ordered, prompting Lucius to depart the chamber, his mind filled with a mix of fear and uncertainty. Once the doors had closed behind him, the emperor’s laughter filled the room, a sinister and maniacal sound that echoed off the stone walls.

"So, you’ve finally done something right," the Supreme God spoke, his voice carrying an otherworldly weight.

"My lord, I beg your forgiveness. I didn’t sense your presence in the chamber," the emperor stammered, dropping to his knees in fear and submission.

"I asked something of you, Zadicus," the Supreme God’s voice growled with impatience, his divine presence radiating power.

"Forgive me, my lord. Yes, the duchess is now imprisoned, and no one knows her location. I won’t allow anyone to find her. I will also send the duke back to the battlefield, so you need not worry," the emperor said, trembling before the deity.

"There is no gain for me in killing someone. I do this for your well-being, so that you can live peacefully with your family and maintain your empire," the Supreme God stated, his words carrying an air of authority and concern.

"What are you suggesting, my lord? I don’t understand the meaning," the emperor asked, his voice filled with confusion.

"They are a threat to the throne. Do you want them to take your throne, the throne you acquired through so much effort? If you do, then carry on," the Supreme God attempted to manipulate the emperor, his voice tinged with cunning.

"Is Alexavier Agnes plotting to claim the royal throne, which isn’t rightfully his?" the emperor inquired, his interest piqued.

"Haha, Zadicus! Have you forgotten something?" the Supreme God countered, his voice laced with amusement.

"Who said this throne rightfully belongs to you, that you inherited it?" the Supreme God asked, his tone growing manic as he toyed with the emperor’s emotions.

"Do you believe you could have ascended to the throne if the previous duchess were alive?" he continued, his words probing the emperor’s insecurities.

"Do you think you possess the power to rally people behind you? You couldn’t, because you lack the qualities required. You’re utterly useless, Zadicus. I made you what you are today; otherwise, you would have remained just one of the third princes in the empire for your entire life," the Supreme God said, his voice dripping with condescension, leaving the emperor in a state of profound self-doubt.

"I appreciate your generosity, my lord," the emperor replied, bowing his head further, his sense of inferiority overwhelming him.

The Supreme God’s presence seemed to dissipate, and the room fell silent, leaving the emperor alone with his anger and insecurity. Learning that he was unfit for the throne fueled his rage, coursing through his entire being like a wildfire.

"Bernice Balliol Agnes! All of this is happening because of you!" he shouted her name, his voice echoing through the empty chamber, a venomous expression of his hatred and frustration.

Within the hidden depths of the palace, Bernice remained locked within her prison cell, her determination unbroken despite the dire circumstances.

"What have you accomplished in all these years? Do you even comprehend the magnitude of your actions? You’ve caused destruction. You’ve taken homes from people, stolen their childhoods, and even extinguished the lives of your own children. What good have you done? You only know how to break things and take lives," Bernice shouted loudly, her voice echoing through the dark corridor.

"I see you have a loud voice. But haven’t you been taught not to raise your voice before the emperor? Or do I need to teach you that here?" the emperor threatened, his anger simmering beneath the surface.

"Ha! I’ll be careful with my voice, all for your sake? Do I look like a fool who would speak softly in front of you? No, I’m not like those sycophants who obey your every word. I know the truth now, and even if it costs me my life, I’ll inform the duke," she declared, her defiance unwavering. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"What will you say? That I tried to kill you? That I locked you up here? How will you convey your message from inside this prison? You can’t. I didn’t lock you here for you to escape easily, and no one will come to save you. You’ll rot in this cell, just like a fish out of water. How does that sound? Wonderful, isn’t it?" the emperor taunted, his laughter once again filling the air, a cruel echo of his malevolent triumph.

"You will regret this!" Bernice exclaimed, gritting her teeth while gripping the cold, unforgiving bars of her cell, her resolve unshaken despite the darkness that surrounded her.

The fate of Bernice Balliol Agnes, the North Duchess, hung in the balance as the palace’s secrets continued to unravel, and the machinations of those in power grew ever more sinister.