So I Was the Persecuted Grand Duchess Destined to Die? Chapter 124

Chapter 124

“Ah.”

My hand disappeared completely inside Xavier’s much larger one.

When our fingers laced together tightly and our eyes met—

“Ahem.”

Xavier turned his head away, suddenly looking embarrassed.

Somehow, my own face began burning too.

“Oh, give me a break. What are you two doing?”

Ternox burst out laughing, completely unrestrained, and somehow the mood became even more awkward.

But neither Xavier nor I had any intention of letting go.

With a shrug, Nox seemed to recall something. He sliced the air open and reached into subspace.

“Here. In case something happens, keep this on you.”

“This is…?”

He handed me a crystal pendant.

“The situation reflected in that pendant will transmit here in real time.”

In his other hand, he lifted a crystal orb.

So the pendant is like a lens… and the orb is the screen.

Does living for centuries just turn you into a collector of bizarre magical gadgets?

Still—right now, it was priceless.

“With this, we can share updates anytime. Xavier, you can relax a little.”

“If you had something like this, why didn’t you bring it out sooner?” Xavier asked flatly.

Ternox shrugged shamelessly.

“I’m terrible at organizing. I had to dig through subspace forever to find it. And that’s your reaction? I’m the reason you two reunited so sweetly. Ungrateful. Want me to take it back?”

“Hey! You can’t take back something you already gave!” I protested instantly. “Once it’s given, it’s done!”

“Xavier, hide it. Quickly.”

With a perfectly serious expression, Xavier immediately slipped the crystal orb into his coat and folded his arms like the matter was settled.

Ternox stared.

“…You’re fast.”

It was so ridiculous I burst out laughing for the first time in days.

Even so, Xavier still looked unhappy.

He hated leaving me here.

And watching him keep one hand tightly wrapped around mine—

I couldn’t stop smiling.

How could I have doubted it?

All the hours I’d spent wondering if he felt the same suddenly seemed foolish.

He’s practically shouting “I love you” without saying a word.

So much had changed from our previous life.

But one thing hadn’t.

Our feelings.

“When this is all over…”

I reached up and placed my hand against Xavier’s cheek.

“There’s something I really want to tell you.”

Wow.

Did I just raise the biggest death flag imaginable?

But somehow, saying it made the future feel real.

Like we would survive this.

Xavier stared at me for a long moment—then his expression crumpled, and he pulled me into him again.

As if swearing an oath, he pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.

“Alright. Three days from now, I’ll come for you myself. Until then…”

His gaze trembled.

“…endure a little longer.”

“I will.”

After our final goodbye, Ternox restored the iron bars and rebuilt the broken barriers, returning everything to its original state.

Then they turned to leave.

Xavier looked back again and again.

Each time, I smiled and waved.

When his figure finally vanished into the darkness, I leaned back against the cold stone wall.

Like waking from a dream.

The silence that returned was so heavy it made my skin crawl.

“…Ha.”

Still tense, I clasped my hands together.

We have to succeed. I have to do my part—no matter what.

This was the only way to reclaim Xavier’s stolen heart.

So I had to gamble everything too.

Then—

Footsteps echoed from the entrance again.

What? Did they forget something?

I turned.

“What—”

My words stopped.

“…!”

Because it wasn’t Xavier.

And it wasn’t Ternox.

Meanwhile

In the vast bedchamber of the Empress’s palace, a thin drizzle streaked down the window.

The sky—smothered by fog—looked as heavy as grief itself.

Tap. Tap.

Long fingers drumming against a sofa armrest suddenly stilled.

The door opened.

“Raphael.”

When he turned, Empress Isabella Rembrandt stood there.

Dressed entirely in black mourning clothes, she looked exhausted.

“Hello, my love…”

Raphael Blanche rose and drew her gently into his arms.

“You didn’t sleep well?”

Isabella allowed the embrace, but her tone remained sharp.

“Why did you send Renée Celeste to Felix?”

She stepped back and met his gaze.

Raphael shrugged.

“Felix seemed interested. Our son falling in love—isn’t that adorable?”

“Love, my foot.”

Isabella exhaled heavily.

“The Grand Noble Assembly is near. The forged will will be exposed quickly. We’ve delayed the funeral and stalled the Crown Prince’s ascension—but unless we overturn everything at the assembly, this becomes suicide. Are you certain?”

Raphael cupped her shoulders gently.

“Isabella. Don’t worry.”

His voice was warm. Reassuring.

“Everything will unfold exactly as you wish.”

“Raphael…”

“I swear it.”

His smile deepened.

“I will make it so.”

Their eyes softened.

Their lips met.

Urgent.

Desperate.

Perhaps this madness was born from something as absurd as love.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

A polite, precise knock.

“Enter,” Isabella said coolly.

The door opened.

Felix Rembrandt stepped inside.

“Felix?”

Isabella instinctively tried to pull away, but Raphael only smirked and tightened his arm around her waist.

Felix lowered his gaze, pretending not to notice.

“Ahem… What brings you here?” Isabella asked, smoothing her clothes once Raphael finally released her.

“I came to report—not to Mother, but to the High Priest.”

“To report?”

Isabella glanced sharply at Raphael.

“Blood is thicker than water,” Raphael said lightly. “Our hearts understand each other.”

Felix spoke in a calm, emotionless tone.

“As ordered, I released the angels throughout the land to stir unrest. Prisoners from each region are being transported to the capital.”

“Good,” Raphael said smoothly. “And how many?”

“Two thousand.”

“Excellent.”

Raphael gripped Felix’s shoulder.

It wasn’t the warmth of a father.

It was the possessive weight of a master evaluating a trained hound.

“Felix. Our era is coming. Not the pitiful laws of men—but the day divine authority overturns this land.”

Madness flickered in Raphael’s eyes.

Felix did not react.

Because he didn’t desire a throne.

Nor divine power.

In a voice sharp and controlled, he said:

“You haven’t forgotten your promise.”

“A promise?” Isabella asked.

Felix did not look at her.

“The one where Renée will be given to me.”

For the first time—

Something cold and obsessive surfaced in his voice.