So I Was the Persecuted Grand Duchess Destined to Die? Chapter 99

Chapter 99

“...May God’s blessing descend upon the two who have become one through a noble covenant...”

Even as Raphael Blanche recited the solemn prayer, the sanctuary remained eerily still.

Like the calm before a storm.

A creeping scent of blood slowly filled the sacred hall.

I feel like I’m going to vomit…

The source of that thick, metallic stench was, of course, the High Priest himself.

Is his mana heart rotten? How is he even alive like that?

Rare though it was, some were born with a vessel within their heart capable of containing mana—a mana heart.

Depending on one’s innate talent, the use of that mana varied.

It was a concept similar to a dragon heart.

The larger and stronger the vessel, the greater the total mana one could wield—or the greater the power of their magic.

In Xavier’s case, he had been born with an exceptionally large mana heart—but it had been defective.

That was why his madness had manifested.

In truth, the fact that he had reached the level of Swordmaster in such a state was nothing short of miraculous.

But back to the present—

For someone revered as the High Priest, one would expect a mana heart as powerful as Xavier’s.

Yet Raphael’s mana heart was neither large nor healthy.

It appeared charred black—barely functioning at all.

And yet the killing intent is this overwhelming…

Despite wearing the mask of benevolence, he pressed down on them with dark mana, suffocating in intensity.

Thankfully, the veil carried a basic protective enchantment.

Otherwise, Betty would have fainted long ago.

Even so, she seemed to be barely enduring the oppressive darkness.

“Now, drink the red wine from your chalice. It is God’s blood—and proof of your love.”

Betty glanced nervously at Ternox.

Ternox gave a small nod and discreetly emptied his cup with magic.

Only then did Betty relax enough to pretend to sip beneath her veil.

“Very well. Please rise.”

Raphael’s gentle instructions continued.

Betty stood as told.

Ternox, mildly irritated but silent, rose as well.

“Wait.”

At that moment—

Raphael’s closed eyes snapped open.

“I distinctly instructed you to drink the wine.”

A smile still lingered on his face.

But everyone in the room knew it was a fragile façade.

“We did,” Ternox replied coolly.

“I—I did as well.”

Betty quickly held out her empty chalice.

Raphael lowered his gaze, examining it carefully.

Without blinking, he confirmed the cup was empty.

Then, in an unchanged tone—

“And yet... you’re still standing.”

“...”

“What a curious trick.”

Suddenly—

Raphael ripped Betty’s veil off!

The color drained instantly from the freckled girl’s face.

“Ordinary humans would be bleeding from every orifice after what I poured into that wine. The fact that you’re still upright—must be because you’re a Swordmaster. But smuggling your woman out through a rat hole? Not very dignified...”

“...”

“Whose assistance did you receive? Another black mage? Unlikely.”

The smile vanished from Raphael’s face entirely.

Betty looked seconds away from fainting.

It was remarkable she had lasted this long at all.

Realizing it was time to intervene, Ternox stepped in front of her.

“Who knows. I don’t recall being obligated to answer you.”

His tone was lazy. Unbothered.

Raphael let out a dry laugh.

“Then I suppose I’ll start with the one more willing to talk. You, then.”

“Ah—!”

Just as Raphael seized Betty’s wrist—

Flash—

She vanished.

Without a trace.

“...!”

Raphael’s complexion turned pale.

For convenience, he wore the guise of a priest.

But in truth, he was the Empire’s only black mage.

Even for him, high-tier spatial magic was difficult.

And transporting another person?

Could he be…?

Raphael swallowed hard.

At that moment—

“Well, you’re quite the amusing one yourself.”

Step. Step.

Still wearing Xavier’s face, Ternox approached him with a faint smile.

“I paid a visit to the Imperial Palace recently. Saw something fascinating.”

A chill ran down Raphael’s spine.

A presence that dominated simply by existing.

It had been a long time since he had felt something so repulsive.

Then Ternox continued—

“The Second Prince... his eyes aren’t gold, you know. They’re a lovely shade of green.”

“...!”

“Strikingly similar to someone else’s.”

Raphael’s teal-green eyes widened.

“What is this place...?”

Descending the hidden staircase with a dazed Xavier, we emerged into a study steeped in something grotesque.

It resembled the laboratory of a mad scientist.

The desk was cluttered with bubbling vials.

Brown stains crusted the floor and surfaces.

Please don’t let that be what I think it is…

If my guess was right, it was horrifying.

“Renée. Don’t touch anything.”

“Of course.”

I didn’t want to.

My gaze drifted to the shelves lining the wall—

Stuffed animal carcasses.

Grotesque taxidermy—mismatched limbs sewn together.

Just looking at them made my spine go cold.

“Is this the High Priest’s study?”

“Probably. And this isn’t the end.”

“What?”

“I don’t understand how I know this...”

Despite running a hand through his hair in frustration, Xavier moved forward with certainty.

He stopped before the most hideous specimen.

I followed, tilting my head.

“What is this? A dragon?”

If so, it was a terrible imitation.

Poorly stitched. Unconvincing.

If Ternox saw this, he’d rage about dragonic insult.

“Damn it...”

Xavier’s face turned pale.

“This is likely a draft for the monster that attacked the Imperial Palace.”

“What? The monster?”

“So that’s it.”

The familiarity I had felt—

This was why.

“That means they truly created it! If we take this as evidence—”

“Step back.”

Xavier cut me off and pushed me behind him.

Then—

Rrrrk.

He shoved the grotesque display aside.

The “wall” slid open.

Behind it—

A plain wooden door.

Streaked with sticky residue.

“I saw this too... earlier.”

Muttering, he turned the handle.

And what lay beyond—

“Dear God...”

Umbilical cords.

Endless cords.

And fetuses.

Not human.

But unmistakably alive.

They pulsed with heat and life, hanging from the ceiling like grotesque fruit.

“This is monstrous...”

I covered my mouth.

This was not something that belonged beneath a holy temple.

Confused and horrified—

Xavier walked deeper into the chamber.

At the far end—

Something different.

Something glowing faintly.

I followed.

“This one... it’s different. It looks like... a human heart.”

It was larger than the others.

Distinct.

Yet like the rest, it hung suspended, beating steadily.

All the cords seemed connected to it.

I felt a strange compulsion to examine it closer—

Rumble—

“Ahh!”

The ground beneath us shook violently.