I Married a Sick Husband

“What I have just given you is the details of the assassination of His Majesty planned by Duke Schwartz on the night of His Majesty’s wedding.”

 

Everyone was shocked by those words.

 

“Your Highness, is that true?”

 

“You plotted to assassinate His Majesty?”

 

“Your Majesty, have you ever received an assassination threat?”

 

And in that chaotic atmosphere, Duke Schwartz looked at Blair with a very shocked face.

 

‘When did I…’

 

Since both of them were suspicious, neither Duke Schwartz nor Blair left any evidence when they plotted.

 

They even exchanged opinions face-to-face without sending letters.

 

Of course, he never thought that Empress Dowager Blair would have evidence of the Emperor’s assassination.

 

‘That’s why I was relieved…’

 

He never thought such an unexpected situation would occur!

 

Duke Schwartz’s pupils wavered like a candle in the wind. 

 

‘How did you get that?’

 

Since he had one, the one over there must have been kept by the organization that he commissioned the assassination with.

 

Duke Schwartz was at a loss, not even knowing that Blair had bought it for an unspeakable amount of money.

 

Taking advantage of this, Blair strongly asserted her innocence.

 

“I went to Duke Schwartz first? No, Duke Schwartz came to me first. He said that since His Majesty was sick, the next throne would definitely belong to Prince Fabian, and asked me to plot a rebellion with him.”

 

Blair glared at Duke Schwartz fiercely.

 

“While Your Majesty was temporarily weak, I was annoyed by the Duke’s impure thoughts, so I gathered evidence and waited for the right time. But you’re going to frame me like this! Your Majesty, I have never once sincerely accepted Duke Schwartz’s proposal.” 

 

“Then, did the assassination incident in the bridal chamber last time also take place on the initiative of Duke Schwartz alone?”

 

“I didn’t know about it, and I later heard that Duke Schwartz acted on his own. However, since Your Majesty didn’t reveal the fact, I also kept quiet.”

 

Blair narrowed his brows and spoke as if telling Duke Schwartz to listen.

 

“To condemn Duke Schwartz at such a critical moment.”

 

“That’s a lie!”

 

Duke Schwartz belatedly interjected with a contemplative face.

 

‘Why is that woman lying so shamelessly now?’

 

Of course, he was the one who went to Blair first.

 

However, Blair was definitely the one who planned the assassination first.

 

“Your Majesty, I only carried out the assassination request on Her Highness’s orders. Please believe me!”

 

“Your Majesty, how can you believe someone who is only telling this important fact now? Duke Schwartz is like a bat who changes his mind depending on the situation. You shouldn’t be swayed by the words of such a person.”

 

“Both of you, be quiet.”

 

Theodore then spoke in a low voice.

 

“My head hurts.”

 

“….”

 

At those words, the room became as quiet as a mouse in an instant.

 

“It’s not clear whose words are true, but in any case, if this request is true, isn’t it true that the Duke of Schwartz requested my assassination?”

 

“Your Majesty, I…!”

 

“Then it’s hard to believe that you passively cooperated while watching the Empress Dowager’s actions.”

 

Theodore opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.

 

“The Duke of Schwartz is sentenced to death for treason.”

 

“Your Majesty!”

 

“Take him to the dungeon immediately.”

 

“Your Majesty, it’s unfair. Your Majesty!”

 

The Duke of Schwartz was dragged out by the guards while being held by his sides.

 

The people watching were still perplexed, unable to believe this situation.

 

“…..”

 

And now, only Blair was left. 

 

“Your Highness, do you have anything else to say about this situation?”

 

“Your Majesty, no matter what the truth is, I cannot dare to deny the fact that I joined hands 

with a traitor.”

 

After finishing his words, Blair knelt before Theodore.

 

In the solemn atmosphere, Blair continued to speak.

 

“Please kill me, Your Majesty. Even if you sentence me to death for treason, I will gladly accept it.”

 

“…..”

 

“However, Prince Fabian really knows nothing. Everything was my arbitrary action, so please forgive Your Majesty’s brother.”

 

If things went like this, it would be really difficult to sentence her to death for treason.

 

‘Isn’t today the right time?’

 

Theodore hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.

 

“Your Majesty claims innocence, so I will believe you just this once.”

 

“…..”

 

“But keep in mind. This must never happen again.”

 

It meant that there would be no such thing as a second forgiveness. 

 

“I’m telling you not to make hasty judgments and do things that would arouse suspicion. Do you understand?”

 

“Of course, Your Majesty. I am so ashamed of my foolish past judgments.”

 

Blair bowed her head and begged for forgiveness.

 

“I will accept my foolish sins in any way I can.”

 

“Go to the Imperial Monastery.”

 

Theodore came up with the best plan at that moment.

 

“As a way of reflecting. It won’t be bad to stay.”

 

“…..”

 

“Do you not like it?”

 

“No, Your Majesty.”

 

Blair answered hurriedly.

 

“I will stay at the Imperial Monastery and reflect on my foolishness, Your Majesty. I appreciate your kindness.”

 

“…..”

 

Theodore stared blankly at Blair and opened his mouth.

 

“Let’s end today’s meeting here.”

 

Just resolving what just happened was enough for today’s meeting. 

 

***

 

Catarina Schwartz was sent to the Rimorsy Monastery, and Martin Schwartz took her place in the cell.

 

‘After the Duchess Schwartz, the Princess Schwartz came, and now the Duke of Schwartz.’

 

It seems that the whole family is trouble.

 

The guard muttered to himself.

 

‘But unlike his wife and daughter, he is quite well-behaved?’

 

… That was purely the guard’s mistake.

 

“I was wronged! I was wronged! Bring Her Majesty the Empress immediately! Quickly!”

 

He simply remained silent for a moment because he could not believe that his noble and honourable self was locked up in a place like a prison.

 

After realizing that all this was real and that he was a death row inmate awaiting execution, he also began to call for Meredith like crazy.

 

“Bring my daughter, quickly!”

 

The Duke of Schwartz was desperately calling for Meredith while using inappropriate honorifics.

 

“… Oh!” 

 

In front of the Duke of Schwartz, Meredith, whom he had longed to see so much, appeared.

 

“Your Majesty the Empress!”

 

“…..”

 

“Your Majesty the Empress, I was wronged. I was truly… I was truly wronged!”

 

The Duke of Schwartz repeated those words as if he had forgotten to say anything else he had in mind.

 

“…..”

 

However, Meredith looked down at the Duke of Schwartz with an expressionless face and said,

 

“Still, I think we should say goodbye in this world, Duke Schwartz.”

 

“Well, what do you mean by goodbye?”

 

“Goodbye. You should accept the sin of trying to murder me as well as His Majesty on the first night of our marriage.”

 

“Your Majesty, you have misunderstood. That was really the Empress Dowager’s trick…!”

 

“Are you also going to make excuses for treating my mother so badly?”

 

The Duke of Schwartz’s mouth automatically closed at Meredith’s question.

 

“You also knew that my mother died at the hands of the Duchess, right?”

 

“How, how did you… … .” 

 

“As expected. You also contributed to my mother’s death. The entire Schwartz family!”

 

Meredith bit her lips and announced to the Duke of Schwartz.

 

“If you are executed, the Schwartz family will be completely destroyed. The honour of the family that you so desperately wanted to continue will be shunned from history books with only the stigma of being a traitor remaining.”

 

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty! I was wrong. Please forgive me! I will do anything. So please…!”

 

“It’s too late.”

 

Meredith smiled coldly and hammered the nail in.

 

“If you were going to do something like that, you should have done it a long time ago. It’s too late now.”

 

Leaving those words behind, Meredith turned around with a face that showed no remorse.

 

“Meredith, Meredith! How could you abandon your father like this! Save your father, Meredith!” 

 

The Duke of Schwartz screamed at Meredith, who was walking away with her back turned to him, but Meredith simply escaped the dark and damp prison.

 

***

 

In the end, the Duke of Schwartz was executed a few days later.

 

“Call Meredith! I am the father of Her Majesty the Empress! You can’t kill me like this!”

 

He never gave up on Meredith saving him until he died.

 

Meredith, who heard the story later because she didn’t go to the execution grounds, quickly erased the fact from her mind without much emotion.

 

The Schwartz family was completely ruined, and now no one would be able to use the surname ‘Schwartz’.

 

‘I must leave now, too.’

 

Meredith, who would soon be free, too.

 

“Diane, prepare to leave the palace.”

 

Diane asked with a surprised expression at Meredith’s instructions.

 

“Your Majesty, what sort of…”

 

“How can the daughter of a traitor continue to stay by His Majesty’s side?” 

 

Meredith said calmly.

 

“I should leave this place too.”

 

“But… Your Majesty has done nothing wrong.”

 

“Still, this is the right thing to do.”

 

Without necessarily revealing the contract with Theodore, Meredith urged Diane.

 

“We shouldn’t be too late, so pack my bags as quickly as possible.”

 

***

 

After that, Meredith went to find Theodore.

 

“… Huh?”

 

And on her way to the central palace, Meredith was surprised to encounter an unexpected 

person.