IDED | Chapter 138

Episode 138

“Have you heard the news? The one who accused Duke Greenwood this time is Ophelia Greenwood.”

“I heard Lady Greenwood testified at the trial about the Duke’s horrific experiments. That’s incredible—I don’t think I could have done the same.”

“Lady Greenwood turned out to be scarier than I thought. I knew she was cold, but how could she betray her own father?”

“Come on. No matter how much he’s her father, who would defend someone who committed acts worse than a beast? If I were Lady Greenwood, I would have done the same for justice.”

“The Marquis will love hearing you say that. Still, they’re her parents—how could a child accuse their own father?”

The grand banquet meant to open the Founding Festival in splendor was instead filled with whispers of conspiracy and accusations. It was all because of Duke Greenwood’s trial for treason.

During the height of the Founding Festival ceremony, Aaron Greenwood was arrested in front of everyone for crimes of rebellion.

His public arrest enraged the nobles who supported him, but when the evidence was presented, they all fell silent.

The Emperor had thoroughly prepared for this moment, ensuring a swift trial after the Duke’s capture.

The evidence Ophelia Greenwood submitted was extraordinarily detailed, even leading to a full-scale raid on the Duke’s laboratory, where his experiments had taken place.

With overwhelming proof, the trial’s outcome was as clear as day.

Particularly, when it was revealed that Duke Greenwood had orchestrated the Prince’s Rebellion, high society erupted into chaos.

The fact that he had concealed his unique magic, conducted secret experiments on Awakened individuals, and even enslaved members of the imperial family through magic was enough to shake the entire nation.

The nobles who had worked under Duke Greenwood abandoned the festival entirely, rushing back to their estates.

They feared being implicated and suffering the same fate. Meanwhile, the young ladies at the banquet continued whispering among themselves.

“So, what will happen to the Greenwood family? It’s such a waste for them to be wiped out just like this.”

“I heard Ophelia Greenwood made a deal with His Majesty before the trial.”

“A deal? What kind of deal?”

“It seems Ophelia Greenwood will become the new Duke of Greenwood.”

“Goodness! A duchess? That will definitely shake up the noble power structure.”

“Honestly, I’m so upset that the trial has ruined the atmosphere of the Founding Festival banquet. I waited so long for this day and spent so much on dresses and perfumes.”

“Exactly. Everyone’s too busy being cautious and watching their backs—it’s such a waste.”

Finally, one of the young ladies let out a deep sigh, voicing what they all secretly felt.

People were laughing, chatting, and dancing, but beneath the surface, everyone was anxious. No one knew what kind of turmoil the downfall of Duke Greenwood—one of the great nobles—would bring.

At that moment, Serena Vincent entered the banquet hall alongside the Emperor. Though he had been busy with the trial, it seemed he had decided not to let Serena attend the event alone.

Naturally, all eyes turned to Serena.

As expected, the atmosphere at the banquet was unsettled. No one was truly enjoying themselves—only pretending to.

From her spot in the corner, Serena sipped her wine and observed Ophelia.

Despite the stares, Ophelia seemed completely at ease, enjoying the banquet without a care. Serena couldn’t help but be impressed by such shameless composure.

“Lady Greenwood is truly remarkable. She’s confidently attending a gathering where everyone is talking about her.”

“She must have decided it’s better to bare her teeth and take the lead rather than hide. In both high society and politics, if you let yourself be looked down on, you’re finished.”

“In that sense, Lady Greenwood is well-suited to be the head of the family. She seems to understand the weight of that position better than anyone.”

“Exactly. That’s why the succession ceremony needs to happen as soon as possible.”

Azaid muttered with a shadowed expression. Serena noticed his look and lowered her voice.

“Still no progress?”

“No. The Duke refuses to speak.”

Azaid sighed, rubbing his forehead. At present, the Duke was imprisoned in the imperial dungeons.

Normally, given his rank, he would have been tried without detention. However, due to the risk of escape, he had been kept under strict confinement.

With his charges confirmed, his dismissal was inevitable. Aaron Greenwood was no longer Duke Greenwood.

A new duke needed to be appointed, but there was a problem—Aaron refused to reveal the location of the Greenwood family seal.

Azaid spoke with a bitter tone.

“He’s holding out on purpose. If he loses the seal, he truly becomes nothing.”

The seal was a sacred family heirloom that recognized the authority of the family head. Without it, Ophelia Greenwood could not officially inherit the title.

Given Aaron’s obsessive attachment to what was his, he likely had no intention of ever surrendering his position, not even in death.

“Lady Greenwood must be in a tough spot.”

Serena sighed and shook her head. Fortunately, rumors stated the succession ceremony would be held after the trial, so there was still some time left.

However, if Ophelia didn’t complete the ceremony soon after the trial ended, people would start to suspect something was wrong.

“Aaron Greenwood is clinging on pathetically. It’s time for him to give up.”

“Many nobles only grow more stubborn and arrogant with age.”

Azaid extended his hand toward Serena, offering an escape from the heavy conversation.

“Let’s put this talk aside for now. Would you care for a dance?”

Serena smiled at his polite invitation. By now, she had grown used to attending banquets, so such formalities no longer felt awkward.

Placing her hand atop Azaid’s, she responded with confidence.

“Sure. I’ve been practicing a lot.”

Serena had rarely participated in social events before, so she had struggled with dancing.

The first time she danced with Azaid, she had stumbled awkwardly.

Back then, she had found it incredibly difficult to carry on a conversation while dancing. But now—

‘I practiced until I nearly coughed up blood.’

Determined to show how much she had improved, Serena took her stance boldly.

As the orchestra began playing, she and Azaid moved in perfect step, gliding across the dance floor.

When they finished dancing, Leonard urgently approached Azaid and whispered in his ear.

“We have a problem. Aaron Greenwood has escaped.”

Aaron Greenwood had successfully bribed a prison guard and managed to escape. Despite breaking through the heavy security, his face remained calm.

Even though he was accused of treason, he was once the head of a noble family. It meant he had mastered the art of improvisation in situations like this.

Aaron took advantage of Azaid’s presence at the banquet, slipping out of prison at the perfect moment.

Upon arriving at a hidden location that remained undetected by the emperor, Aaron gathered his remaining subordinates and fell into deep thought.

Unfortunately, his most capable aide had been captured alongside him during the national founding festival. Freeing him in time was nearly impossible.

“The emperor must have planned this thoroughly.”

The duke ground his teeth in frustration, his eyes flashing with fury. The moment he was arrested, his research facility had been surrounded. Unless the emperor had already identified its location and set a trap, such a swift move was impossible.

‘I underestimated him.’

The emperor had never been known for his strategic thinking. Just a few months ago, he had been idling away with his unremarkable companions.

Yet somehow, he had developed the foresight to plan this far ahead.

The consequences of Aaron’s carelessness were devastating. He had been completely ensnared, with no clear way out.

“What about it? Do you have it?”

“Yes. We managed to bribe someone among those searching the research facility and smuggled it out.”

His attendant lowered his head as he handed Aaron a vial. It was the final version of the poison sample he had received from the head researcher.

“There’s no way I’m dying like this.”

Aaron toyed with the poison, a twisted smile forming on his lips. Just then, a knight dragged Lydia Vincent into the room.

“Kyaa!”

Lydia was thrown to the floor in front of Aaron, forced to kneel. He lifted her chin, speaking in an authoritative tone.

“I told you clearly, didn’t I? You were supposed to tell me everything you knew.”

“Hic, hic… P-please… Ah!”

Aaron grabbed the back of her head, forcing her to look up, and she let out a scream. Tears streamed down Lydia’s face as she frantically rubbed her hands together.

“I really don’t know anything! I-I was threatened too!”

“So my threats weren’t scary enough for you?”

Aaron lightly activated his magic, making Lydia feel as if her heart was being squeezed. She trembled, lips quivering, as she raised her hands in desperate pleading.

“Please, just spare me! I’ll do anything! Really, anything!”

“Wait.”

At that moment, Aaron roughly grabbed Lydia’s wrist. His gaze shifted to the ruby ring on her finger.

“Hah.”

Realizing the true nature of the ring, Aaron let out a short, mocking laugh. Then, he grinned menacingly.

“Fine. I’ll give you a chance.”

He then gestured toward a knight, motioning for his sword. The knight respectfully presented it, and Aaron handed it to Lydia.

Leaning in so only she could hear, he whispered in a chilling tone.

“Choose. Will you live, even if it means being crippled? Or will you let your heart burst and die here?”

His voice was as sweet as honey, but the words were more brutal than the whispers of a demon. Trembling violently, Lydia placed her hand on the table.