If I Disobey the Duke

Test (1)

As Gallahead left, Lily, who remained in the tower, looked up at the ceiling. It was so high that no matter how much she tilted her head, the end could not be seen.

As Talin was looking up at the line of stairs as well, she thought this was not going to work, so she took one step decisively. “It seems too high for you to go,” she said. “I will bring you.”

Lily shook her head without looking back at her.

“I can do it myself, too.”

After exhaling with finality, she climbed the stairs. As she climbed for a long time, her breathing became labored and cold sweat began to seep through her forehead.

As her vision began to shake, she saw an old, worn-out wooden door in the distance. Lily, who reached the door, slumped down. It felt like her heart was about to explode from her own pulse and tear in all directions.

To her shame, she had never walked so long before. It was as if she was a newborn.

“You must be hyperventilating. I’ll treat you again. You reached here alone to the end, so please do not refuse this much, Madam.”

Lily leaned her head against the wall, inhaling deeply, and she barely shook her head.

The strained vision finally returned as Ivan infused her with divine power. He treated Lily and she stood up again.

She opened the door and walked into a long hallway. A corridor wide enough for two people to stand side by side stretched out towards a single door.

Even from a distance, the iron gate was thick and black. There, it seemed the princess was imprisoned.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra Palestri.

She was a woman with a higher status than anyone she had ever met. This was her first time meeting one of Vlad’s blood relatives.

As her father’s lifelong goal was to have Isles be related to the Imperial Family, Lily had a lot of information about them.

Lily recalled a time when her father was investigating the princess. His father was holding a picture before his eyes, stroking the palm of his own hand with his cane and admonishing his aide.

[This is a test. Pretending to be fickle, I’m going to see how far her abilities go. The princess is famous for secretly thinking about others. Be very careful.]

Lily, a little nervous, clenched her fist with a well-placed hand.

The moment the three of them crossed the hallway and reached the door, there was a loud roar as if the iron gate was about to break! Bang!

Lily screamed in anguish and stepped back. Without a moment to grab hold of her pounding heart, an arrogant voice flew in from across the iron gate.

“I will kill you! When I get back, I’ll cut your neck and hang it by my bedside! Do you understand!”

Her voice was full of life.

The sound of crashes and sharp shouts echoing in the narrow hallway was distracting. Her voice flew back from within as Lily’s large eyes wandered through the air.

“You dare imprison me again? I’ve been imprisoned for half a year in a chapel smaller than a stable, and again! Now! This room is just like a shoe closet…! Open it! Can’t you open it?”

It looked like she was throwing all kinds of things inside. While Lily covered her ears from noise, Ivan took the first step.

“You are in good health, Your Highness!”

“…Ivan? You were alive? I thought you would have died right away in the morning, but it is surprising.”

The screams that were close to paroxysmal stopped abruptly. For a moment, only ringing and echoes swirled around them.

As her agitation subsided, her voice gave off a pretty childish tone. But soon after, she clenched her teeth again. “Okay. I will kill you with my own hands. I would have taken you straight to the emperor! Even if you didn’t bring me… Ah. That’s right. But seeing you come…”

Bang!

It sounded like an iron gate being kicked.

“Open it! Vladislav de Winter! If you were a war hero, what would you do even if you had the duke title? After all, you’re a baby borne of a monster! As soon as you return to the Imperial Palace, I’ll set fire to this vast piece of land that you are proud of and turn it into a wasteland….”

“Y-your Highness.” Lily barely grabbed hold of her psyche.

Soon, her voice calmed down a little. “Who are you? Don’t talk cockily and reveal your identity.”

Lily held her breath and walked towards the door, as if she could see her beyond the iron gate. “Lily de Winter, I greet the Star of the Empire.”

“…Oh.” A strange exclamation came across the iron gate. “Yes. That’s right. I heard that the duke is married. Nerva told me. You’re married to that guy and his temper. Even after asking Nerva and Ivan, they didn’t say anything, so I was curious about you and how things have worked out since I met you.”

The voice seemed to have gotten closer and closer to the door.

“What family are you from? Wait, are you with Joanna Talin, the youngest daughter of Count Talin? I am also quite curious about you. But mostly, I wanted to take a look at you at least once. Living here, how funny is that?”

Talin coughed sarcastically. She shuddered as if she had heard a terrible sound.