The Duchess and the Devil - Chapter 54.2

“I… I think I have to go,” the Duchess blurted out during such oppressive tension.

She didn’t want to meet those brown, insidious eyes. The Emperor only crossed his arms over his chest and leaned a little lower, which only made the Duchess tremble more. There was an urgent need to escape. Moreover, she should have done this from the beginning – as soon as she met Killard. And it was just her mistake.

The girl looked around, realizing that there were no people on the second floor at all. Judith grabbed the book tighter and prepared to fight back with it if something suddenly happened. Regardless of whether he is an Emperor or an ordinary citizen, the rules of conduct are the same for everyone.

Despite the concentration of tension, the atmosphere suddenly softened and the Emperor retreated. Judith was even surprised by the unexpected innocent smile. She thought that he would not let her go anywhere.

“Then I’ll go, Your Majesty,” Judith bowed politely to him and decided to leave, thinking only about the book in her hands.

“I invite you to a banquet in honor of my birthday in a few days,” usually invitations were formalized through the mail.

As with other banquets and ceremonies, a huge amount of time is devoted to invitations. After all, this is a kind of reflection of the organizer’s personality. Letters arrive from the Imperial Palace in ivory envelopes wrapped in gold leaf. But now, even before the official invitation, the Emperor had already expressed a desire to see Judith at the banquet.

And perhaps she is the first person invited in the whole country. The invitation cannot be rejected unless you are suffering from a fatal disease. Judith took hold of the hem of her dress again, bowing.

– Thank you, Your Majesty.

“Then I’ll see you at the banquet,” he laughed, but not at all angrily, as usual.

Looking at him in shock, Judith left the library. She walked so fast it was as if she was being chased. The knights were still waiting for her at the door.

– Madam, did something happen? Your face is too pale.

The man immediately grabbed the hilt of the sword and was ready to immediately pull it out only if Judith named the offender. But the Duchess shook her head, quickly took the lead and calmed the defender.

Soon she sat down in the carriage, breathing heavily. Only at that moment did Judith remember the book in her hands. The Duchess carefully turned it over in her hands and tried to read at least the beginning. But due to the excitement and shaking of the carriage, concentrating on the text turned out to be something unthinkable. She opened and closed the book countless times, looking out the window every now and then.

The landscape quickly flew before my eyes, but was not remembered. Now the girl was thinking only about the Emperor and their meeting today. And it was just disgusting.

Why was he looking at me like that? He never showed any interest in me before, so what has changed?

And what’s the story with Derrick? Why didn’t Judith know anything about their secret relationship? After all, it turns out that everything was not as smooth as it seemed to others from the outside. And at that moment the Duchess remembered Killard’s words about Ophelia.

So that he never reveals his weaknesses to others.

But Derrick often came to the Emperor just to chat. Judith’s eyes trembled, too many thoughts were swarming in her head that defied any logical explanation.

—What did you always talk about with His Majesty?

Obviously, Derrick told him about his mistress, Sylvia, because then the Emperor would not have mentioned her today during a conversation. Moreover, according to the demon, Killard emanated a terrible aroma. For what reason?

Judith could not find an answer to any of the questions.

And at that moment there was a knock on the carriage window.