I Married a Sick Husband

“Actually, I came to see you because I have something to tell you, Your Majesty.”

 

Meredith assumed it was about Catarina’s affair.

 

“If you are here because of Princess Schwartz, then go back.”

 

She replied, guessing his intention.

 

“I have no intention of showing her mercy.”

 

“Oh, you misunderstood.”

 

The Duke of Schwartz corrected Meredith with a sly smile.

 

“That’s not why I came.”

 

“Really?”

 

Meredith responded incredulously.

 

“The timing of your visit is too exquisite for that.”

 

“Of course, it has something to do with her, but it’s not to ask pardon.”

 

The words that followed were completely different from what Meredith had expected.

 

“Punish her as you wish.”

 

For a moment, Meredith thought she had misheard.

 

“What?”

 

“That’s exactly what I said. I heard that Catarina, that child, has committed an unforgivable sin against Her Majesty the Empress.”

 

“…..”

 

“If anyone dares to commit such a sin against the moon of the Empire and the mistress of the Imperial House, I think it is only right to punish them accordingly.”

 

“… This is quite perplexing.”

 

That one feeling was completely true.

 

“I am even considering the death penalty for this matter.”

 

“…..”

 

“But your position remains the same?”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

At the answer that came out without a moment of hesitation, Meredith doubted whether this situation was a dream.

 

However, she soon put aside her embarrassment and thought rationally.

 

‘In this situation, there is no way that Her Highness the Empress Dowager will save Catarina. And, that would cause the relationship between the Schwartz family and Her Highness to become irreversibly distant.’

 

Then, there was only one answer.

 

‘He is trying to abandon Catarina.’

 

However, based on what she had just heard, she could not tell exactly what the Duke of Schwartz was thinking.

 

Meredith bit her lower lip and decided to listen a little more.

 

“I am rather surprised. I did not expect to hear such words.”

 

“If one commits a crime, one should naturally be punished. Isn’t that the right thing to do?”

 

However, hearing such obvious words from the Duke’s mouth felt very unnatural.

 

Meredith looked at him with unkind eyes and asked, “You didn’t come to me to demand punishment for your own daughter, did you?”

 

“Of course, there is that reason.”

 

As expected. There seemed to be another reason as well.

 

“It’s not just because of that reason.”

 

“Speak.”

 

However, instead of opening his mouth, Duke Schwartz stood up.

 

“…..!”

 

And immediately knelt down in front of Meredith.

 

Meredith looked at Duke Schwartz with a face of great surprise at the unexpected situation.

 

“… What are you doing now, Duke Schwartz?”

 

“Your Majesty, please forgive me for the wrongdoings I have committed in the past.”

 

Duke Schwartz bowed his head even further in front of Meredith as if he were repenting.

 

“I dared to treat and mock Her Majesty the Empress badly, a sin that cannot be forgiven even if I sacrifice my life.”

 

“Duke Schwartz, please get up. What are you doing?”

 

Meredith spoke to him with a stiff expression.

 

However, Duke Schwartz showed no sign of straightening his back.

 

“I am repenting and regretting my past mistakes.”

 

‘All of a sudden now?’

 

Meredith found the situation funny.

 

She thought she knew what he was up to without having to listen any further.

 

‘But please, I hope it’s not like that.’

 

If her guess was right, the man in front of her was a person so disgusting that she regretted the fact that he was her biological father.

 

“I, Martin Schwartz, as the head of the Schwartz family, swear allegiance to Her Majesty the Empress. Please forgive my past mistakes and accept my oath of loyalty with a merciful and loving heart.”

 

“…..”

 

“I will live the rest of my life only for His Majesty the Emperor and Your Majesty the Empress.”

 

‘Ah, this makes it clear.’

 

The reason the Duke of Schwartz came to her.

 

The reason why he suddenly lowered himself and swore loyalty to her.

 

‘… You want to switch sides.’

 

Meredith felt her head pounding at the sight of her father’s true face, which was even uglier than she had thought.

 

‘There’s no other turncoat like him.’

(e/n: turncoat= refers to people who switch sides)(tln: The Original said ‘bat’ but it has been changed to suit the language here. Bat here means someone who changes sides when it suits them, for the Aseop’s Fables Tales, check here)

 

She didn’t know the reason, but the Duke of Schwartz had really betrayed Blair and chosen Theodore and her side.

 

‘No, there’s no reason for it.’

 

By now, his relationship with Blair had almost broken down.

 

He had no choice.

 

‘Maybe he foresaw this situation and put me in this position.’

 

If his relationship with the uncertain Dowager Empress Blair went wrong, he would choose the next best alternative which was the empress.

 

‘… But that’s only if I listened to him obediently.’

 

Unfortunately, Meredith had no intention of forgiving Duke Schwartz no matter what kind of apology he made in front of her.

 

They had come too far from that, and his apology this time was probably not sincere in the first place.

 

‘So, Duke Schwartz, I have no choice but to take advantage of your greed.’

 

Meredith was silent for a long time before opening her mouth.

 

“Why are you suddenly doing this to me?”

 

And she asked innocently.

 

“I wonder why you, who have always treated me so badly, have now come here to ask for my forgiveness.”

 

“Catarina…when I heard about the crimes she committed, I felt like I was hit hard on the back of the head.”

 

The Duke of Schwartz explained the story in detail.

 

“I was very worried about how shocked Your Majesty must have been when she dared to speak ill of You in His Majesty’s safety.”

 

“…..”

 

“I couldn’t even imagine how deeply you must have been hurt in that way. Naturally, I began to reflect on the mistakes I had made.”

 

It was truly a refreshing self-reflection.

 

“Now that things have come to this point, I have decided that this is the only way to wash away my past sins.”

 

“….”

 

“Your Majesty, please allow me to live as Your Majesty’s faithful servant for the rest of my life.”

 

It was truly an incredible desire for power.

 

He could even kneel before a bastard he had treated as nothing more than dust rolling on the floor.

 

Meredith felt goosebumps at his greed.

 

“… But His Majesty the Emperor.”

 

Meredith quickly collected her emotions and opened her mouth.

 

“It seems he doesn’t trust or like Duke Schwartz very much.”

 

“Your Majesty?”

 

“Yes. I guess it’s because the Schwartz family and I have issues…”

 

Meredith deliberately trailed off.

 

“Even today, there was a problem. And Princess Schwartz just returned from the monastery, so it’s even more shocking for me and His Majesty the Emperor.”

 

“Ah… yes. That’s understandable.”

 

The Duke Schwartz nodded fervently as if he understood a hundred times over.

 

“That’s why I have decided to let Catarina be punished as Your Majesty wishes.”

 

“…..”

 

“The Schwartz family will have no say in the disposition of my daughter.”

 

“I see. Good.”

 

Meredith nodded.

 

“But that alone is not enough. There has been a lot going on between me and the Schwartz family for this one thing to resolve all the old feelings.”

 

“…..”

 

“I think we need something more that will demonstrate your loyalty to the imperial family.”

 

“What else should I bring?”

 

“Anything that can completely ensure His Majesty’s trust will suffice.”

 

Meredith looked straight into the eyes of the Duke of Schwartz and concluded.

 

“And you will have to find out what that is yourself.”

 

But what Meredith wanted and what Theodore wanted were already decided.

 

‘Evidence of plotting treason with Blair.’

 

If he could bring just that, he could take care of not only the Schwartz family but also Blair, all at once.

 

“…..”

 

And the Duke of Schwartz, who heard Meredith’s words, thought for a moment and opened his mouth.

 

“I understand what you mean.”

 

“…..”

 

“I will think it over and bring it. Something that can clearly show my loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor.”

 

“I will wait.”

 

“And I will come back to see you again with that, Your Majesty the Empress. It won’t take long.”

 

“……”

 

“Please be at peace until we meet again.”

 

It was the first polite and courteous greeting she had ever received from him in her life.

 

Meredith found the fact very shocking and funny.

 

After a while, Duke Schwartz stepped aside, and Meredith, who was left alone, muttered with a slightly tense, and slightly expectant expression.

 

“The end is really coming.”

 

At that time, Meredith had no idea what would happen after the time she thought was the end.