When My Contract with the Misanthropic Duke Ended, I Filed For Divorce, But My Husband's Obsession and Doting Became Unbearable - Chapter 11
“I can’t imagine Duke Bandage being that attentive, but if you think you can do it, go ahead. Anyway, it’s not like I’ve run out of things to say, but since Duke Bandage will have plenty of time to talk from now on, I’ll stop here for today.”
I thought their conversation would still go on, but it seems this is where it ends for now. Reed’s gaze shifted from the duke to the former tutor and the servants—the main cause of this audience.
Maybe it was because they had seen how Reed and the duke interacted just now, but their faces had grown even paler than before they came in. Well, since not only Reed but also the duke were glaring at them, I suppose that reaction made sense. Of course, I had no intention of ever being in their position.
“Now it’s your turn. You noisy hyenas who only got lucky with your birth—how dare you lay a hand on my best friend? The duke seems to think of making you pay Sharon a large amount of compensation, then stripping you of your noble rank and turning you into commoners for losing the royal family’s trust. But honestly, I think death would be fine. You’re worthless anyway, aren’t you? If slavery still existed, I’d prefer to make you live as slaves rather than letting you die easily. But sadly, we live in an age of human rights now. Even criminals like you can’t be made slaves anymore. You’re lucky to be born in such a good era—where you get to die quickly instead of suffering in living hell.”
Reed spoke harshly, clearly with no intention of forgiving them. Compared to how he talked to the duke, there was at least a trace of mercy in that earlier exchange. What he was saying now, though, went far beyond that.
It was true that what they did was unforgivable, but death still seemed too heavy a punishment. Sure, the violence was painful, and it made me feel hopeless—but should they really die for it? I wasn’t sure. Even if an apology couldn’t make me forgive them, I still didn’t think execution was right.
“P-Please, may I speak?”
Even though Reed’s words were excessive, the atmosphere made it hard for anyone to complain. So it was surprising that one of the servants still tried to get permission to speak—it was brave, or maybe just desperate. But with their lives on the line, staying silent probably wasn’t an option. Since they were already restrained, speaking was the only form of resistance left to them.
“Oh? Sure, I’ll allow it. Are you going to give your last words before you die?”
“N-No, I just want you to listen! I—I never imagined the victim was His Highness’s close friend! If I had known—!”
“Yeah, and the problem is that you don’t understand that’s not the point. That’s why I think death suits you just fine.”
The servant’s desperate words only seemed to make Reed angrier. If they said any more, it really might end in execution.
“W-Why?! Even if he’s His Highness’s friend, he’s still from a baron’s family! How can someone of such low birth belong in a duke’s house?!”
“But you do know this marriage was ordered by the king, don’t you?”
“T-That’s…”
“Even if it’s the king’s order, you should understand he didn’t decide this alone. Trying to interfere with it means you’re basically rebelling against the royal family. You get that, right?”
The moment Reed mentioned “rebellion against the royal family,” not just the servant who had spoken up, but also the others—the silent ones and the former tutor—turned deathly pale.
I understood what he was saying, but still wondered: the king’s order only covered the marriage itself, right? Would what happened afterward really count as part of that royal command? Still, it wasn’t the time or place to question it, and even if I wanted to, I didn’t have permission to speak anyway.
Besides, neither His Majesty the King nor the Crown Prince—who were the only ones allowed to speak freely—said anything to stop Reed. Seeing that made me think maybe Reed really was in the right. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder why the two of them were letting him do whatever he wanted.
Ah, but come to think of it, maybe His Majesty was just overwhelmed by Reed. Now, he was even standing quietly behind him. The balance of power in the royal family truly was strange. As for the Crown Prince, he kept smiling all the while—his position was the hardest to read of them all.