I Became the Master of the Empress - Chapter 290



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The place where the noise was coming from had Berowne, who had grabbed Floria’s hair with his foot, stepping on her stomach with one leg.

And Octavia was crying and screaming, saying not to do that.

I couldn’t even imagine a scene like this, where a husband beats his wife without any consideration.

“What are you doing?! You’re a dog!”

“What are you doing? I’m scolding my wife, what’s it to you?”

“There’s a limit to everything! What are you doing in front of our family? You’re the ones who are originally savage, and you can’t even behave yourselves outside?”

But Berowne shrugged his shoulders carelessly.

“We’re also savage, and you’re originally slaves, aren’t you?”

“Shut up with that nonsense!”

Good grief… I heard for the first time that Floria was being beaten like this.

What kind of child is that?

That guy is crazy!?

“Then take her away right now? Of course, if you don’t take her away, it’s an outrageous thing for a wife…”

“Ah!”

I was staring at my little niece being trampled on, my breath caught in my throat as Floria was scratching Berowne’s shoes with her fingernails.

It can’t be… This is hell… How can I leave this little one behind?

But if Floria stays here…

My little sister is definitely going to die.

And my niece?

“Oh no!”

“Daddy! Daddy! Stop it… Ahh!”

Berowne was merciless even to my little niece.

Even if I can save one person, I have to.

It’s selfish, but I have no choice.

My niece is important too… but to me, my little sister is more important.

-Ugh.

As I watched white foam rise from Pulbia’s mouth, I shouted urgently.

“I understand! We accept that proposal! So please, don’t torment my brother! You b*stard!”

I swung my fist with all my might, but Valoran had already dodged.

“Heh heh, thanks for the nice gift. Now, just let me know when the two of you will be returning.”

***

“Ugh… I can’t live like this… I can’t live like this.”

Leon held the sobbing Pulbia in his arms.

“Pulbia, let’s go back to our hometown, even now.”

Leon wanted to save his nephew too, but it wasn’t possible to take him away immediately.

Since the child belonged to the Ryan family, he couldn’t be taken to the kingdom unless Valoran allowed it.

Forcibly taking him would be a tremendous crime.

The stigma of having kidnapped someone from an allied family would be immense.

“Did it get resolved?”

Leon nodded slightly at Pulbia’s pitiful voice.

“Yeah…, but…”

It was too difficult for Leon to say that the children couldn’t come with them.

Pulbia’s letters always spoke of the children.

Rohan, Octavia, Roden…

He had seen Pulbia’s affectionate letters so often that he could almost imagine how those children were doing with his eyes closed.

Leon found it hard to move his lips.

“I’m glad. I’m glad, sniff!… I’m glad.”

Seeing Pulbia wipe away her tears, Leon lowered his head.

“The children… have to stay here.”

Pulbia’s shoulders trembled at the guilt-ridden tone of Leon’s voice.

“What? W-What do you mean? The children have to stay?”

Leon couldn’t bear to meet her trembling black eyes.

He turned his head and spoke weakly.

“The children are from the Ryan family, right? I can’t take them with me…”

Leon knew too well what it meant to take a ruler’s child to another country.

And why the Grand Duke is reluctant to let go.

But Leon must make a decision.

If Pulvia is here… her life is far too miserable.

He is troubled by thoughts of his nephews, but his sister is more precious to him.

Pulvia shakes her head vigorously.

She shakes her head fiercely, as if to say it’s absolutely not an option.

“I don’t want to! Then… I won’t go! No, I can’t go! Where would I go leaving the kids behind? What would happen to them if they stay here with that man?”

“You have to survive, right? You have to live… and then I’ll figure out something for the kids, so… let’s go back for now.”

He means it.

Leon doesn’t want to leave his nephews behind either.

Though he’s just met them today, how could he abandon the children who resemble his sister?

“Ugh…”

Pulvia’s legs give way, and she collapses.

Next to her, Octavia, hugging their mother, asks pitifully.

“Mom? What about me? What’s going to happen to me?”

“Via…”

“Are you leaving me behind, Mom? Are you leaving me and Roden? Ugh… don’t go, take me with you… ugh… you said you’d take me too, right? Waaah!”

Leon can’t bear to see his niece clinging tightly to her mother at the thought of her leaving.

He curses Valoran in his heart.

***

Fortunately, Roden’s first birthday ended without any major incidents.

Leon and the knights from the United Kingdom he brought kept a vigilant watch over Roden.

Though the number of congratulatory messages was fewer compared to Rohan’s birthday, and there were fewer people overall.

Pulvia genuinely feels grateful that Roden is alive.

‘What should I do? What can I do?’

Octavia and Roden.

‘Can I really leave this place with the two children behind?’

Her father and brother promised they would definitely bring the children later.

‘Can I trust those words?’

After all, the family had seized the opportunity to bring her back as promised.

—

So, Pulvia also wants to believe just once more.

Because this place is nothing short of hell.

Just a little… just a little more belief, wouldn’t that be okay?

‘If only I could bring the children later…’

Looking at Octavia and Roden, who were sleeping beside her, Pulvia’s thoughts grew complicated.

– Knock, knock.

At the sound of a knock late at night, Pulvia felt a sense of bewilderment.

No one would come at this hour.

“Who is it?”

– It’s me.

At Valoran’s voice, Pulvia was taken aback.

“Come in.”

With his red hair and stubborn-looking eyes and nose.

He spoke to Pulvia nonchalantly.

“The children are sleeping. I’ll be out for a moment.”

‘Could it be that he wants to do it again?’

At Valoran’s request, Pulvia lowered her head and left the room.

Thus, in the Duke’s chamber, Pulvia fully accepted his unpleasant desires.

Her skin bore red handprints and bruises in various places.

Whether Valoran had choked her, there were dark bruises from palm prints on her neck, and her hips and thighs were bright red.

Who could have imagined that such marks would remain on the body of a noble duchess?

As the painful encounter ended, she gasped for breath with hollow eyes.

“Haah… Haah…”

Seeing Pulvia cry from the pain, Valoran spoke.

“When will you leave?”

“Please… let the children go with me.”

At Pulvia’s voice, now completely frayed, Valoran shrugged his shoulders.

“Those children are my offspring. Even if they are failures born of a failed mother.”

At the word “failure,” she felt her heart sink with a jolt.

“What do you mean by that?”

—

As Pulbia shot back a question, he shrugged as if it were no big deal.

“Surely you don’t think the children of a woman who couldn’t endure married life are anything but failures, do you? Pulbia Prindas?”

‘Failures… failures.’

The word “failures” was what Valoran had said when Rohan died.

That scene had left a trauma in Pulbia, and she realized what he was thinking.

‘Could it be… could it be?’

“Surely you’re not planning to harm the children, are you? No, right?”

Pulbia clutched Valoran’s shoulder, pleading.

Right now, her pride didn’t matter.

The pain she felt at this moment was insignificant.

‘I have to save my children, I must protect my kids at all costs.’

“Please save them! They’re your children, aren’t they? Why… why are you doing this? Huh? I’ll do anything, anything at all. Just please, don’t hurt the children…”

-Wham!

Valoran shoved Pulbia away harshly.

“A woman about to leave has a lot to say. Shouldn’t you just get lost back to your country?”

Cold and cynical, Valoran. As he tried to leave the room, Pulbia desperately blocked his path.

“Don’t touch the children! Don’t touch them!”

“Who’s causing a ruckus here?!”

Valoran slapped Pulbia across the face.

Her small frame couldn’t stop the robust Valoran.

-Slap!

“Ah!”

The noble Grand Duchess fell naked to the floor.

To her petite body, Valoran’s strength felt even more overwhelming, making it hard to move.

But is this what it means to be a mother? Crawling on the floor, Pulbia reached out toward Valoran.

-Pat, pat.

She grasped the hem of Valoran’s pants as he took a step.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! I was wrong. The children… they can’t be harmed, please? I’ll do whatever you ask, I won’t leave the Grand Duchy. Please… the children can’t be harmed. Please.”

Valoran looked down at Pulbia, who was crying and begging pitifully.

“Hmm? You were wrong. From now on, I’ll only take care of the children in the Grand Palace. Whatever you do, I’ll say you’re right. Ah… I’ll make sure to teach the children just how wonderful you are. So… so… please show some mercy.”

He bent down.

“Alright, since you’re begging for my mercy. I’ll grant it, but there will be no next time.”

“Thank you. Thank you… ugh… thank you, I really appreciate it. Thank you so much.”

In her heart, she felt relieved not for begging her enemy, but for being able to protect the children.

‘Thank goodness, I’m able to protect the children…’