DSMBL Chapter 02

Chapter 2

It was a world where divine power was drying up. As a result, the temples became weakened, and the number of those seeking divine power decreased.

Using divine power came with side effects—your life force would drain away along with it. Yet the temples hid this fact and sold divine power for profit, exploiting their priests until they all lost their lives. Because of this, it became common for people born with divine power to hide it. Charlotte was no exception.

I discovered Charlotte possessed divine power only because of a comment she made right before her death.

“I have divine power, yet I can’t even save my own life. Damn it!”

Using divine power meant slicing away pieces of your life, so it was certainly dangerous. But it was still better than being cast out and dying on the streets. Besides, it wasn’t as if it would kill you instantly. To reach that point, you’d have to continuously use divine power without stopping.

My vision started to spin like I was suffering from anemia.

“Food… I’m so hungry.”

Come to think of it, I hadn’t eaten yet. I had wandered around for three whole hours after leaving the room. But It felt like as if I hadn’t eaten for 24 hours and had been working nonstop the whole time.

“Ughhhh……”

I buried my face into the bed.

I was trying to save my terminally ill brother-in-law, but it looks like I’m the one who’s going to die first. Next time, I’ll eat three bowls of rice before coming here. Do they not have anything like sundae gukbap (Korean soup made with blood sausage (sundae) and rice) here?

Still, the pale face of the child seemed to have regained a faint trace of life. Even if it’s just a little, it meant that it was working.

“I’ll come back again.”

I let go of the child’s hand and stood up. But the moment I stepped out of the room, I was hit by a truly terrifying realization.

“……Where’s my room?”

I slid down, still clutching the doorknob.

***

Cassius, with a tired look, pressed his fingers firmly against his furrowed brows and glanced at the head butler. And he asked,

“Where is Charlotte?”

“She has left her room and is wandering around the mansion, Your Grace.”

Cassius let out a weary sigh.

“You just let her roam around?”

“You specifically ordered that no one have to speak to the Duchess, so I believe everyone is just following your instructions.”

“She’s not trying to kill herself again, is she? Didn’t I tell you to keep an eye on her so she wouldn’t cause trouble? Sigh.”

“……No one wishes to stay near the Duchess, Your Grace. Even yesterday, before Your Grace arrived, two maids were injured. Of course, the injuries were not severe, just cuts from glass shards, but still……”

Cassius ran his hand down his face in frustration.

He knew it wasn’t the servants’ fault. The real problem was Charlotte. He had noticed her obsessive behavior worsening after their marriage.

She pushed people to their limits, constantly jumped to conclusions, and even displayed violent tendencies toward herself. Just yesterday, she threw a tantrum, screaming that she was going to die because Cassius hadn’t come to see her. She smashed everything in the room and threatened to cut her wrists with glass shards.

Two maids were injured trying to stop her, and the situation only settled down after Cassius arrived.

“……If it comes to it, we may have no choice but to confine her,”

Cassius muttered under his breath. He honestly had no idea what to do with Charlotte anymore.

“I’ll keep an eye on her and let you know if anything happens.”

He nodded. Charlotte’s situation was making his head spin, and he couldn’t focus on his work properly.

Charlotte and Cassius had entered into a political marriage.

Cassius had been polite to Charlotte, thinking it must have been difficult for someone from the capital to adjust to the remote northern lands. So, at the beginning of their marriage, he had made an effort to treat her well. He had fulfilled his duties as required by their arranged marriage. But Charlotte wanted more. She was greedy, and she wanted to have Cassius’s heart.

However, just like how human hearts don’t change easily, Cassius’s heart doesn’t move that easily. Even though he tried, it was all in vain. Charlotte quickly realized that.

Please… love me, Cassius. Love me.

The image of his wife crying and begging was a thorn stuck in his chest. Still, Cassius had not betrayed the sacred bond of their marriage. The truth was that Charlotte could not accept the reality that Cassius didn’t love her.

If Cassius hadn’t arrived yesterday, who knew what kind of disaster might have unfolded? Charlotte was known for her impulsive and emotional nature.

“…Show Charlotte to Miller. And ask him to prepare more medicine to help her calm her mind.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The butler bowed his head.

It had been six months since Cassius married to Charlotte. The marriage had been arranged to meet the needs of both families. Charlotte’s father needed money to expand his business, and Cassius needed a wife. On top of that, this engagement was arranged by their grandfathers when they were children.

The Duchy of Artesia was in a very unstable situation. There were only two direct heirs, and one of them was very sick, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they passed at any moment.

Artesia, as a symbol of the empire’s strength, could not afford to crumble. The family also had the authority to command troops, so a healthy heir was crucial. This marriage had been arranged by the Emperor himself.

However, Charlotte had been unable to conceive due to her poor health. Although Cassius learned this only after the marriage, but he had kept it hidden for her sake.

Once Charlotte discovered this, she completely broke down.

She was plagued by delusions and fear that one day Cassius would marry another woman. Even though he had never once considered such a thing.

Theo is here. That child will definitely be okay.

Even if, by some chance, and even though it seemed impossible, if something happened to Theo, Cassius had no plans to bring another woman into his life. He never planned to have a bastard child or make it a part of Charlotte’s life. Instead, he intended to adopt one of the relative children of the Artesia family and raise them as his heir.

But all of this will be possible to happen after Charlotte found some stability.

Cassius’s gaze darkened and grew heavy.

***

It only took me about an hour to get back to my room. Well, an hour. It wasn’t because the distance was long, but because I was completely exhausted and the walk itself felt like a struggle.

I think I’ll have to make a sign and hang it by the door. I don’t know where anything is.

Inside the bedroom, my dinner had been prepared. Well, at least they gave me food. I sat down on the chair with a face that looked like I might cry.

Thank goodness they didn’t try to play a trick like starving me to death. Life really is all about food.

I ate with enthusiasm. Everything tasted so good, no matter what it was.

While enjoying my meal, I heard a knock, and the door opened.

“Uuuhh.”

I mumbled in response with food in my mouth.

“Duchess.”

An elderly man bowed his head. He was obviously the butler in charge of the mansion.

I quickly chewed and swallowed the food, my cheeks puffed out from how full my mouth had been.

The butler stared at me with a surprised expression.

“…Please, eat slowly.” “No, it’s fine. I’ve finished. What is it?”

“…It seems the meal was to your liking.”

“It’s really delicious. But what brings you here? Please, speak.”

I was genuinely moved. It had been the first time today I was actually talking to someone after wandering around the mansion. I didn’t realize how pitiful a person could become when they were starving for conversation.

I guess they finally decided to acknowledge me.

“His Grace the Duke has ordered that the Duchess be confined. A guard will stay with you at all times to ensure you don’t do anything dangerous. This will continue until His Grace lifts the order.”

“…Excuse me? Wait a second, butler?”

“Yes, speak.”

“…Does the guard follow me when I go to the bathroom too? That’s a little embarrassing.”

The butler looked at me as if it was the most absurd thing he had ever heard.

But seriously, how can he look at me like that when this is such an important issue…?