The Divorced Duchess

Chapter 22: THE TIES AND FATES

"MY Lady, a guest, wants to have an audience with you," Gabe, the butler, informed Thalia while she was taking her afternoon tea. This was the only moment she had time to rest away from the dramatic events of her life.

Her eyebrows raised with curiosity. "Who might that person be?"

"The barrister of Duke Chauverthier, My Lady."

She suddenly stopped sipping her tea as she heard the legal confidant of her husband. Without finishing the tea, she got up from her seat and decided to meet the barrister in their audience chamber. As the door opened, Thalia neither gave a warm welcome nor a hostile demeanor. Instead, she sat down across from the seat of barrister. She already had the idea of what the intention was of the barrister, yet she didn't want to go overboard.

"My greetings, Your Grace. As you may know, I went ahead in your manor to discuss the divorce contract and alimony at your husband's request. He asked me to deliver the contract you had from the night of your wedding. His Grace wanted to make this divorce end as soon as possible, because giving up your marriage was the only way he could compromise with you".

The audacity of him! After crawling here, begging not to divorce him yet, he changed his mind!

She bitterly laughed and confused the barrister. The nerve of him to say such ridiculous words as if he had been loyal to her during their marriage. One thing she knew was, Noxton liked to beg her for the title ownership, but she was guessing that Senior Quirique had given his request.

"I don't need the alimony; instead, I want it to be given to the people of Chauverthier who served the duchy all their lives."

That's right, she was in the right mind to give the alimony as a service of reverence to the people of Chauverthier. Because she knew that in the past, the fall of the beloved Chauverthier and his people would vanish from the empire.

"Please be assured that all of Her Grace's requests will be presented to the Duke". The barrister said as he politely made his way out of the manor.

Thalia broke down when the guest closed the door, after hearing Noxton's message to her. This is how her delusional love story ends. A divorced duchess. A broken glass noble that even the heavens do not sympathize with.

*****

Even after Thalia's weary state, she still decided to visit Princess Stella for moral support regarding her failing marriage. She knew that the only person who could help her was Princess Stella. The princess's courage made Thalia seek support, because if everything fell into pieces, at least she would have a fallback, even if destiny weren't on her side. Upon arriving at the Princess's estate, Princess Stella welcomed her with a downturned facial expression. She wondered what made the Princess's gorgeous face sullen just like hers.

"Forgive me for welcoming you in this way." Princess Stella sighed.

Thalia smiled with sympathy at Princess Stella.

"I am very heartbroken because my nephew is suffering, and I couldn't do anything. If only the Goddess Enah had heard my plea to lift his curse, he would not suffer."

"Curse?" A line appeared between Thalia's brows.

"Yes. Kallixto is suffering from a curse."

Thalia was thinking about the cursed man Kayne mentioned to her, and Princess Stella's nephew was the same person. All of a sudden, she clutched her head as a sudden flash of memories seared through her mind, the sharp pain twisting her features into a grimace. In the Mage Tower, she was supposed to have a conversation with Kayne, but the Hiax reacted upon seeing Kallixto. Princess Stella gasped in horror upon seeing Thalia's unsteady posture, and her body moved to support the Duchess from falling, then shouted at her maid for help.

"E-Emperor's Ruin Berserk," Thalia muttered under her breath, enough for the Princess to hear it. "I need to see the Emperor."

Princess Stella objected. "Not now, Thalia. You need a rest before going to the Emperor."

Even the Princess disagreed with her. She tried her best to stand, even though her head panged with pain. "I need to see him to confirm something", Thalia firmly said.

With a firm yet gentle gaze, Princess Stella extended her hand and said, "Come with me". They were silently walking with the servants following them. They both stood before the towering palace door, its intricate carvings glinting under the soft glow of the chandeliers. Princess Stella slumped in sadness, her gaze fixed on the marble floor, while Thalia stood tall and expectant, her eyes dead with quiet anticipation. As the servant opened the door, they stepped into the dimly lit room, the air heavy with ominous stillness. Thalia froze in shock, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of a man writhing on the bed, his gorgeous face contorted in agony and beads of sweat glistening on his brow.

"The Emperor indeed has the curse," Thalia said. She was disheartened to learn that the Emperor was releasing a forbidding energy. He bore the mark of a curse, its inky tendrils etched like tribal-like markings spiraling down his arm, pulsating faintly with an unnatural glow. A dark, jagged symbol marred his cheek, its edges shimmering with an eerie aura, as if the curse itself was alive and feeding on his very essence.

Thalia quietly walked toward the vulnerable Emperor, her steps soft and deliberate, before she paused at the side of the bed, her gaze lingered on his agonizing form. Without hesitation, Thalia reached out and gently cupped the Emperor's hand, her fingers brushing against the cursed markings etched into his skin. As her touch lingered, a sudden flash of light erupted, and the Hiax glowed as if it reacted to it. The black-inked tattoos gradually faded, dissolving like smoke in the air. But with the fading curse came a drain on her energy, a twinge, consuming weariness flooding through Thalia, as if the very act of cleansing the darkness had taken a toll on her soul.

Fortunately, Princess Stella took hold of her back and ordered the servants to let the Duchess rest in the opposite chamber. She could not believe what had happened, witnessing Hiraya's reaction to the Emperor's curse. Later, two figures entered the chamber in their regal attire.

"Greetings to the daughter of the Imperial blood." Mikhail respectfully bowed his head. His presence was calm and steady. Behind him, the saintess, Saintess Iris, stepped in, her aura radiant with divine light, her eyes focused on the Emperor. Two days ago, they were secretly summoned to Princess Stella's palace to ease Kallixto's suffering from the curse.

"The Emperor became stable because of a miracle," Princess Stella said, not raising any suspicion.

Indeed, a miracle! Yet, Mikhail was skeptical of the sudden recuperation of the Emperor, since the Saintess Iris had just arrived.

"The Emperor's curse was lifted, but how?" Saintess Iris wondered as her brows snapped together.

"It might be the Goddess Enah who heard my prayers, but still, I need your divine energy for the Emperor's good recovery because a prestigious event will be happening soon in the empire."

Saintess Iris didn't ask any questions as Mikhail signaled her to start the Emperor's rehabilitation. She held the Emperor's hand as a radiant, divine aura began to glow around her, bathing the room in a soft, otherworldly light. Slowly, the light intensified, swirling around the Emperor's body, and the very essence of her healing divine restored his vitality.

Saintess Iris slowly turned, her movements graceful yet purposeful, as she met Princess Stella's gaze with a calm but focused expression.

"The Emperor's vitality is now stable, but we should not be complacent because the curse is still alive in his spirit."

Princess Stella nodded her head, then smiled, "This gratefulness will be remembered in the name of the royal Imperial."