The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 129
âFour hundred years ago, when my ancestor received his title and settled on that land, the Emperor of that time bestowed a birch sapling upon him.â
At Killianâs low, grave voice, Marquis Crewe flinched.
âThat sapling was tended with loyalty and grew into a forest, so do not speak of disloyalty.â
Having picked a fight and gained nothing, Marquis Crewe closed his mouth, his face flushed red.
No one at the table was unaware that these two were bitter rivals.
When the verbal sparring between the two paused, the Emperor beckoned to a servant.
On the silver tray the attendant carried was an object out of place for such a gatheringâa monthly magazine published by a newspaper company.
The Emperor, wearing a satisfied smile, handed the magazine to Killian.
âTake this.â
âWhat is this, Your Majesty?â
âYour granddaughter has performed a good deed unbeknownst to you.â
âPardon?â
Killian took the magazine with an expression of disbelief.
On the front page was an article praising the good deeds of âNina Bayernâ.
âDid Nina really do such a thingâŚ?â
The Barrington Press was a publication Carlisle knew well.
Based in the capital, it didnât have much influence, but it was known for delivering the facts accurately.
âIn any case, you have reason to be proud. I donât know if youâve heard, but thanks to your granddaughter, the Empress was able to save face with an old friend. She was overjoyed.â
âIf my lacking granddaughter could be of any help to Your Majesties, there could be no greater joy.â
At Carlisleâs modest response, the Emperor laughed heartily, clearly pleased.
The mood in the dining hall became all the more harmonious.
After the officialsâ luncheon ended, The Emperor departed to tend to state affairs, and the other officials began to rise and leave one by one.
âHas that child really changed?â
Even Neville had said his younger sister seemed to have reflected a lot, but he hadnât believed itâŚ
As an adult, he should have guided the child onto the right path, but because she was fated to be born and die early, heâd made the mistake of vowing to give her anything she wanted.
He never scolded her, only coddled and gently advised her, and in the end, sheâd even stolen the signet ring bestowed by His Majesty and used it to pressure a trial.
If that fact were revealed, heâd certainly lose his position for negligently managing an imperial gift, and Nina might spend decades in prison.
Losing his position was one thing, but he could never bear to see his beloved granddaughter in prison, so he kept everything under wraps and allowed her marriage.
He had spent two years in bitter regret.
How could he stand by as his granddaughter trapped herself in unhappiness?
She had even told him sheâd cut off all ties with her blood relatives rather than divorce.
Still, he couldnât let her go in his heart and prayed every day. Had the gods finally answered him?
Now, with Their Majesties themselves praising his granddaughter, it was impossible not to believe, even if he found it hard.
Lost in complicated thoughts and memories of the past, he couldnât bring himself to rise from his seat.
âThey say a person changes after facing death, and it seems your granddaughter has proven it true, Marquis Killian.â
âMarquis Crewe.â
Carlisle warned in a low, chilling voice, and Marquis Crewe twisted his lips into a sneer.
âWell, since sheâs been kicked out of her husbandâs bedroom, you could say her life as a woman is as good as over.â
Clatter.
Carlisle stood up.
Even near seventy, he was a giant with a solid build, and as he rose, Crewe grimaced and took a step back.
Unlike Carlisle, who was over 180 centimeters tall, Marquis Crewe was a head shorter.
With a voice laced with menace, Carlisle bit out his words.
âIf you speak of my granddaughter once more, Iâll crush your skull myself. Remember that.â
With bloodshot eyes, he turned away from the Marquis, who glared back at him.
If, as His Majesty said, Nina had truly changed, then the time had come to set things right.
Divorce.
For the first time in a long while, the blue eyes of Marquis Killian shone with clear resolve.
