I Unintentionally Cured the Grand Duke’s Insomnia - Chapter 89

45. — How To Ask For Forgiveness (1)

It was a bustling morning in the County of Blaise today.

Warren let out a shallow sigh, remembering Lina’s face when she woke him up early in the morning.

〈 First, go to the imperial palace and discuss it with His Majesty. The Emperor will surely find this strange as well. 〉

He wiped his face as he recalled his wife as she held onto him with an anxious look on her face.,

〈 Honestly, it’s too strange that all the people who went missing came back with their hair turned gray… 〉

Yes, definitely.

Certainly, that was a very strange occurrence with the fact that people who had gone missing from various places were found in one place and that their hair had turned completely white.

〈 They may not believe it because there are no such rumors in the capital yet, but we never know. In fact, rumors have a way of spreading, and we might just not be aware of it. 〉

As Lina hesitantly added her words, a story he had heard from the head of the merchant community during a deal with the Repli Empire a few months earlier was suddenly brought to his mind.

〈 Oh, have you heard that rumor? 〉

〈 What’s the rumor? 〉

〈 There’s a rumor going around that a pile of corpses was found near the Repli border not too long ago. 〉

〈 A pile of corpses? Ah, you mean the corpses of those who died in the war with the Repli Empire a few years ago? 〉

〈 No, it’s not that. At first, I thought it might be the corpses of our imperial troops who died at the battle of Vandro Gorge, but it seems that wasn’t the case. It’s hard to explain… but they said the bodies were in a strange condition. 〉

〈 Strange as…? 〉

〈 They said all of them were in the same condition as before they went missing, but their hair had turned completely white. 〉

〈 …. 〉

〈 They said that all the hair on those corpses had turned grey, almost white. 〉

When he first heard this story, Warren thought it was nothing more than a local rumor that had spread. Moreover, it was not long after Adelia, who had been bedridden throughout that period, miraculously recovered from her illness and got up. All he could think about was how he could return home as soon as possible and spend time with Adelia.

He had even forgotten that he had heard such a story, considering it something he could easily forget, until the moment a body identical to the ones mentioned by the leader of the merchant community was discovered in the territory.

Warren clenched his fist as he recalled the girl’s corpse he had seen in the territory.

〈 Please, save my daughter. Please, Count! 〉

As she said so, the woman sobbed as she cradled her deceased daughter, who had vivid pink hair, in her arms.

He gazed at the woman’s pink hair and asked with trembling lips. Adelia’s face was superimposed on the girl’s face, whose eyes were closed as if she was falling asleep in the woman’s arms. Similarly, Lina’s hands were shaking as if she was thinking the same thing. When he thought of the look of fear on his wife’s face, he raised his eyes sharply.

Why hadn’t he thought of this on the day Adelia first collapsed? What had happened to his daughter might not be a simple illness.

With unanswered questions in his mind, Warren stood in front of the Emperor’s audience chamber. In the meanwhile, as if waiting for him, the man standing by the door bowed.

“Please come in. His Majesty is waiting for you.”

Warren nodded slightly in response to the man’s words, bowed his head, and then walked inside. Nervousness crept over him, and his throat felt dry.

“Warren Blaise, I greet the sun of the Empire.”

The floor, made of pristine white marble, shone as if even the dust would slide off. He stared at the floor, which seemed like it could reflect his own face, as he awaited Joan’s response.

“It’s been a while, Count Blaise.”

It was a voice as warm as a spring breeze but with an imposing pressure.

Warren slowly raised his head and locked eyes with the Emperor.

Beyond the large glass window, the fresh green leaves swayed with a gentle rustling sound in the wind, and before them stood the Emperor. His golden eyes, reminiscent of the sun, and his honey-colored hair glistened in the incoming sunlight.

“Have you been well, Count Blaise?”

“Yes. Your consideration has made my stay comfortable, Your Majesty.”

“Thanks to…”

Warren flinched at Joan’s muttered words and averted his gaze.

The young Emperor, with his fair skin and soft features, might appear delicate and gentle at first glance, though the reality was different. Although he usually treated people with a warm tone and a polite demeanor, he showed no mercy to nobles who made even the slightest unusual remarks. Because of this, young nobles who knew nothing often ended up embarrassing themselves in front of him after showing arrogance.

His elegant speech instilled more fear than his sarcastic and angry tone.

It was to the point that the Emperor should be called a puppeteer who gives masks to people of all ages and genders indiscriminately.
[ T/N: This sentence is somewhat a figurative expression or metaphorical statement that is comparing people to ‘깎기 인형’ (carved dolls or puppets) and suggesting that the Emperor treats them as if they are all the same, like puppets with masks, regardless of age or gender. ]

As Warren was lost in thought while looking at the young Emperor of the Empire, Joan’s voice was heard above his head.

“Is Young Lady Adelia also doing well?”

“…Yes?”

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