# 96
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Grace was walking on one side of the imperial palace.
The beautiful marble building was bathed in a pink hue by the crimson sunlight. Dozens of massive columns supporting the ceiling stood majestically like knights in formation, and sculptures by the finest stonemasons of the time, positioned between the columns, beautifully adorned the corridors.
Indeed, the Imperial Palace was a place worthy of being the heart of Decan.
How far had I walked following the guards? Unlike the other places filled with bright marble, a dim corridor appeared, looking as if the black stones of Richmond had been placed there. At the end of the dark path stood a massive door that was easily five times the height of an average person.
It was a black tiger hole.
As Grace walked, she raised her head and looked at the man standing beside her. His sleek profile, as if sculpted with a rough chisel, was shadowed by the torch just beginning to burn.
As if sensing the gaze, Ares lowered his eyes toward Grace.
His eyes looked strong again today. But Grace, without realizing it, tightened her grip on his forearm.
Ares closed and opened his eyes, smiling faintly. Then, the next moment, he released his arm and grabbed Grace's left hand. A large black glove completely covered the cream-colored glove.
She felt the touch of a hand slowly rubbing the ring on her ring finger through the glove. Grace bit down hard on the tender flesh inside her mouth and tightly clasped his hand.
Here I am. I'm right next to you.
Just as they wanted to return those words, they arrived in front of a door engraved with a tiger.
The silver-armored guards standing at the door bowed respectfully toward the Godmother and the Duke and Duchess of Richmond standing behind her. Then, as they pulled hard on the massive door, it began to open outward without a sound.
Eliza, who had been staring straight ahead the whole time, turned around for the first time.
The two people who appeared like a lie during the harshest season of her life were like winter buds. Like winter buds that sprout at the tips of dry branches, harboring the new shoots of the following year, they were a hope heralding that one day this season would end and the next would come.
Eliza asked them in a low voice.
Are you ready?
Then Grace gave a faint, barely visible smile, and Ares raised his eyebrows.
Preparation? That was finished a long time ago.
Then, let's go.
As Eliza turned toward the Tiger Hall, the smile vanished from Grace's face. At the same time, a Royal Guard shouted toward the interior of the hall.
The Duke of Richmond, Master of the Tevex Mountains and the Orutu River, the Rock of the Deccan, and Guardian of the Northwest, has arrived!
The old lady advanced toward the interior of the hall without a moment's hesitation. Following her, Grace and Ares also took a step side by side.
The air, feeling somewhat cooler than outside, brushed against my cheeks, and a silence bordering on stillness approached as if taking shape. Against the backdrop of the sound of thousands of candles burning their wicks, the sound of shoe heels treading on the smooth black marble bounced back off the walls of the hall.
However, all of those things are merely fragments flowing into the unconscious.
Having finally arrived at the Imperial Palace after passing through Richmond, the three people looked up at the usurpers who were glaring at them as if to kill them.
Grace and Ares looked at the black tiger depicted on the banner and thought at the same time.
I will put everything back in its place.
And Eliza made a vow as she looked at the one who had taken everything from her.
Even if there is hell at the end of this road,
I will surely kill you and offer you before my grandson's coffin.
* * *
When something happens that feels too unrealistic, don't you feel hazy, as if you are dreaming?
The moment Grace appeared from beyond the magnificent gate, the Duke and Duchess of Taylor and Rosette were engulfed in a dazed feeling.
The old lady crossing the hall ahead of Grace was the very embodiment of royalty, even with blurry vision. The Queen of Richmond, whom I had only heard about, looked as if not a single drop of blood would come out even if pricked with a needle, and the man of imposing stature walking hand in hand with Grace… gave the impression of being the personification of the word "ruler."
Grace, walking softly among them, caught the eye strangely like a single flower blooming alone in the bitter cold.
Grace… Is it really Grace?
However, the moment they met those pale green eyes, the three of them snapped out of their daze as if doused with cold water. The indifference in those eyes reminded them of the humiliation of that day.
That humiliation I had to endure before countless nobles!
Duke and Duchess Taylor and Rosette clenched their fists tightly.
You drove us into such a pit, and now you're returning as the Duchess?!
Grace calmly met the gazes of the Duke and Duchess of Taylor and Rosette, who were staring at her as if to kill her. They were not the only ones glaring at her. Standing on the opposite side, the Count and Countess of Saxony, and Jack Saxony were also glaring at her with fierce eyes.
If she could kill with a glance, she would have long since been reduced to dust.
Then, Ares grabbed her hand a little tighter.
Grace cast aside the docile mask she had worn in front of them for over a decade. She would never again wear such a mask.
She calmly turned her gaze toward the front.
On a magnificent platform, a boy sat with an arrogant attitude on a huge throne covered with black tiger skin. With his arms stretched out and resting on the armrests, he scrutinized the Grand Madam, the Duke, and Grace alternately with a blatant gaze.
And right beside him, next to the tiger skull brazier, stood a woman with red hair and a seductive figure.
Click, click.
Eliza, having gracefully crossed the hall, stopped at an appropriate spot. She offered a light greeting to the red-haired usurper with a bitter smile.
It's been a long time since I last saw you.
At that brief greeting, the Hedbig family's eyes narrowed. But that was only for a moment; the moment the two people standing behind Eliza stepped forward, a chilling sensation surged through them.
A young man, having inherited everything characteristic of the Deccan royal family, appeared holding the hand of the woman who had, with her own hands, buried the family's honor in the mud. As if mocking everyone present, the Duke of Richmond released their clasped hands, took a step forward, and offered a light bow.
Walter Richmond greets the guardian agent of the two seas, twelve mountain ranges, and five streams.
It felt as if something like an awl was piercing my chest, and soon the golden-haired woman behind him also bent and straightened her knees and spoke.
Grace Richmond greets the guardian agent of the two seas, the twelve mountain ranges, and the five streams of the rivers.
The moment the name Grace Richmond came out of her mouth, the Count of Saxony cleared his throat loudly.
“Cough cough cough!!!”
The Countess of Saxony also turned her head sharply and muttered as if to make sure we heard her.
“There are all sorts of strange things in the world!”
As the lamentations of the Count and Countess of Saxony burst forth, Duke Taylor, who had been merely grumbling on the other side, vented his anger as if he could no longer bear it.
“How could this happen!!!”
Thinking about everything I had suffered because of Grace made my blood boil. Money, money, money!! And just how much money it cost!! Yet the girl who drove me into this abyss shows up with her head held high, saying, "What? Grace Richmond?"
Duke Taylor raised his index finger at Grace and his veins bulged.
“You— Grace!!!”
As Grace turned to look at him, whatever little reason she had left was ground into dust and scattered. This was because there was not a single shred of apology on that shameless face.
“To think you didn’t even greet your father when you saw him—is that how I taught you?!!”
“…….”
“I’ve fed, sheltered, and clothed you all this time, only for you to be such an ungrateful, treacherous brat!!! Do you know what kind of mess Taylor ended up in because of you?!! That girl, who doesn’t value the family honor even a speck of dirt under her fingernails, surely Richmond…!”
Duke Taylor's furious outburst faded away like a dying ember.
It was because a huge tiger had blocked Grace from his sight. The moment Grace disappeared from his view, what appeared were the eyes of the Duke of Richmond and the Queen, which seemed ready to tear him apart.
“…….”
Try more.
“…….”
Go ahead, keep babbling.
As Duke Taylor turned pale and barely moved his lips, the Duke and the Godmother turned their gaze toward the Count of Saxony's family as if by prior agreement.
Ahem!!
A sharp silence hung over the Black Tiger Hall.
However, a small laugh was tossed like a stone onto the surface of that acute silence.
Giggles.
The source of the laughter was none other than the throne. Grace stared at Crown Prince Jake with cold eyes. The boy laughed innocently, as if he had witnessed something truly amusing.
Jake, who had been laughing for a while, leaned toward the man who looked as if he had jumped out of the portrait of the First Emperor.
Duke of Richmond, I have something I would like to ask you.
Please ask.
“When His Imperial Majesty is introduced, he is called the master of two seas, twelve mountain ranges, and five rivers. Yet, are you not also introduced as the master of the Tebex Mountains and the Orutu River? Then, to whom on earth do the Tebex Mountains and the Orutu River belong?”
What answer will the Duke of Richmond give to the question that took the Duke of Taylor's knees?
Jake's brown eyes gleamed extraordinarily. He felt as though he wouldn't be satisfied unless he took that man's left knee. The black hair and black eyes, characteristic of the Decan royal family, were extremely irritating to him.
Whose is it?
Ares's eyes sank deep into the ominous question. He opened his mouth low toward the boy who had claimed the throne.
“The Tevex Mountains and the Orutu River belong to Richmond. However, Richmond swears allegiance to the Emperor of the Deccan, and the Emperor merely promises Richmond protection.”
Then Jake's eyebrows shot up.
“The word ‘master’ clearly appears in the Emperor’s letter of introduction! What is a master? Doesn’t it carry the meaning of possession?! Duke Taylor!!”
Duke Taylor, who had turned pale at Jake's sudden call, quickly stepped forward.
“Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Tell me! Whose are the Lil and Terril Rivers?!”