So I Was the Persecuted Grand Duchess Destined to Die? Chapter 119

Chapter 119

Felix stood frozen in place, crushed beneath the terrifying pressure of an overwhelming powerhouse.

In the middle of it, Ternox stepped forward and placed a hand on Xavier’s shoulder.

“Calm down first. I’m worried about Renée too—but if she sent the Second Prince to us, doesn’t that mean she has a plan?”

Because the words came from Ternox—someone who truly understood Renée—Xavier’s killing intent eased, if only slightly.

Ternox drove the point in like a nail.

“When we’re done talking, I’ll take you to Renée. I promise.”

“……Hah.”

Xavier turned his head away, irritation plain on his face.

“What? How, exactly?” Felix Rembrandt blurted, shaking his head as memories of the palace basement’s suffocating security resurfaced.

With the Emperor dead, the palace had no master and had fallen into chaos. On top of that, the succession dispute had put everyone on edge.

Well… if that man uses magic too, he must have some way, Felix thought reluctantly.

He explained the path he had taken to reach Renée.

“I only know the route through the Empress’s palace. But if they brought civilians down there, there must be multiple passages.”

He went on to describe what he had seen underground—the layout, the atmosphere, the ritual preparations. The palace basement was far more complex than anyone had expected.

“Right.”

Listening closely, Ternox held up the lock of Renée’s silver hair.

“Renée told you to deliver this?”

“Yeah. She said especially to give it to Xavier’s adjutant…”

“Heh.”

That so-called adjutant—Ternox himself—snorted softly as he grasped the true intent.

Back when they had used spatial movement, Renée had learned that physical contact made the spell easier to stabilize. She must have remembered that.

At the time, contact had helped them land on the same coordinate.

But—

If you trace the ‘scent’ bound to a piece of someone’s body, the coordinates become far easier to solidify.

Whether she fully understood that theory or simply followed instinct, it had been a sharp choice.

Since when did that kid grow up so much?

Ternox’s mouth felt bitter.

When the griffin had appeared, he had shown an ugly side of himself. He wasn’t blameless in failing to protect her.

He would make up for it now.

“When I went to check the ancient seal,” Ternox said heavily, “it had vanished without a trace.”

“Ancient seal… you mean the one from the founding myth? Where the dragon and the two heroes sealed the demon?” Callian Rembrandt asked, eyes widening.

He already knew the being before him wasn’t human—but hearing it spoken so plainly still felt unreal.

“Yes. It seems the High Priest used black magic to release the demon. And he didn’t stop there—he even created new monsters. He’s likely intoxicated by the illusion of being a god.”

Felix swallowed hard.

This was far beyond anything he could have handled alone.

“But the High Priest overlooked one thing,” Ternox continued.

“And that is?” Callian pressed.

“Renée’s existence.”

“What?” Xavier shot back immediately. “Renée has nothing to do with him.”

Ternox met Xavier’s blue-violet gaze steadily.

He was testing him—testing whether Xavier was prepared to accept the truth he and Renée had uncovered.

“Does she truly have nothing to do with him?”

Ternox exhaled and turned to the princes.

“Return to the palace. Especially you, Second Prince. It must remain absolutely secret that you contacted us. Act as if you know nothing. Obey for now.”

His golden eyes shifted to Callian.

“And you, Crown Prince—focus on preventing the Empress from seizing full control of the palace. Do not dig any deeper into Xavier or Renée. Not anymore.”

“What? But we can’t—” Callian began.

Before he could finish—

[Until I return, fulfill your duties. Never forget the pride of your ancestor, Albert Rembrandt.]

The declaration struck Callian and Felix like lightning.

Both stared blankly at Ternox, who looked utterly calm.

And in the back of their minds, the same realization surfaced:

Before him, humans are powerless.

This time, it wasn’t a thought.

It was something they felt in their bones.

“…Hyung. I’ll return soon,” Callian said at last.

In the end, he took Felix and left the Celeste townhouse.

When the carriage disappeared from view, Ternox turned back to Xavier.

“Now we go to Renée, right?”

Alone, Xavier looked hollow—like the last thread holding him together had snapped.

Ternox studied him, unsettled by how unlike himself Xavier was acting.

Xavier opened his mouth, then closed it again.

It’s better for those two to speak directly… rather than hearing it from me.

Between them, tightly entangled—

The thread of fate would not unravel easily.

Everything follows the natural order.

Everything eventually returns to its rightful place.

Just like nature.

Just like mana.

Soon, he’ll learn the truth as well.

Ternox made his decision.

“Hey,” Xavier called.

Ashen-faced, dried blood still clinging faintly to him, he looked dangerously close to collapse.

He didn’t seem to realize it—but in this state, he truly was at risk.

“Yeah. We’re going,” Ternox said. “But first—”

Light flared from his hand as he pressed it against Xavier’s chest.

“Take care of the body you pushed beyond its limits, you foolish descendant.”

Renée’s POV

After Felix left, it didn’t take long for my situation to turn into a life-or-death crisis.

“Hello, my niece… Is this our first proper greeting?”

The High Priest appeared out of nowhere.

He looked down at me with shameless composure.

His perfect smile—so flawless it looked drawn on—sent chills crawling down my spine.

I swallowed and met his gaze.

“You know I am your maternal uncle, yes?” His eyes drooped theatrically. “How disappointing. A niece who won’t even greet her uncle.”

His gaze lowered.

“And how did your hands come untied? Made a friend, perhaps? That child’s name was… hmm. Sally? Peasant names blur together. It’s rather confusing.”

He chuckled lightly.

Something inside my chest turned cold.

Right. For me, this is technically our first meeting. More importantly… it seems he doesn’t know how much I know.

There was no reason to rise to his provocation.

“Pardon?” I widened my eyes innocently and clasped my hands. “High Priest? Where is this? First, please forgive me for not greeting you properly. I woke up here and truly don’t understand what happened…”

As I spoke—flustered, covering my mouth as though overwhelmed—

A crack appeared in his perfect smile.

“Mm. Renée. There’s no need to force yourself.”

“Force myself? High Priest, why am I locked up here? Have I committed some crime?”

Silence.

His expression turned icy in an instant.

That’s terrifying.

The madness I had seen in that dream flashed vividly in my mind.

Fear kept surging up—

But I couldn’t back down.

Stay calm. Be shameless. Even if I’m caught, I gain information. He won’t trust me anyway.

I let my hands tremble deliberately.

“Sally—yes. A peasant girl by that name stopped by briefly. She pitied me and loosened the rope around my wrists.”

“Hmm.”

“And I heard you prepared a shelter nearby to protect everyone. As expected, your mercy is…” I swallowed back the bile rising in my throat and forced a brighter smile. “Of course, if I am here, there must be a reason you intended. But… could you explain, even a little, what has happened to me?”

The High Priest’s teal-green eyes were cold as he stared down at me.

As if weighing my sincerity.

“An explanation,” he murmured.

Then his voice—eerily gentle—echoed through the underground prison.