How To End This Marriage-Chapter 179: Family Ties

"Before I could even extend my hand to stop her, she had already fallen, her blood flowing freely from the self-inflicted wound on her neck, made with my own sword," Marcus choked out.

"Even though she chose this path, it would never have happened if I had tried to stop her. It’s all my fault," Marcus lamented, his voice heavy with grief, as Duchess Bernice stumbled out of the room, shaken by the story.

"That’s all you can hear, Princess. Now, return to the mortal realm," the library guardian commanded, pushing the Duchess out of the heavenly realm before she could delve deeper into the forbidden knowledge.

Back in her room, the Duchess found herself alone, the truth she discovered gnawing at her.

"Why me? Am I really the heavenly princess? Heir to the throne? No, I can’t believe it. Yet, what I saw in that book felt so real, I can’t deny it. Her face, her eyes... how could I not be her? And the way the tribal princess died... it’s traumatizing," Duchess mumbled, her emotions swirling in a confusing storm.

Suddenly, the tribal princess entered, her voice startling the Duchess from her thoughts. "Duchess, may I come in?"

"Oh, yes, come in, Princess," Duchess allowed, her mind still reeling.

"Were you off somewhere? I tried to find you earlier but you didn’t answer, so I figured you might be busy with something important. I even told everyone not to disturb you, assuming you were sleeping, and they believed me, based on yesterday’s session," the Princess chuckled.

"Enough of this! Tell me why you’re here," Duchess cut through the pleasantries, her voice tight with urgency.

"Ah, yes, I almost forgot," the Princess responded playfully. "I heard rumors of someone visiting the Emperor’s chamber last night, though no one’s confirming it officially. But I have my sources, you see."

"As I recall, neither you nor I left our rooms last night. Then it must be that suspicious figure we suspect," the Duchess mused, her brow furrowed.

"Precisely," the Princess confirmed. "And another tidbit: the entity visited the Empress as well. Connect the dots, Duchess. It’s becoming quite clear who we’re dealing with."

"What are you implying?" The Duchess pressed, her eyes narrowed.

"Look closely at this map I drew," the Princess instructed, placing a detailed map on the table. "Remember, the Emperor was already in power when we were all born. He drained my empire’s resources, and along with the Empress, murdered the previous Empress, Jessica. They even turned their sights on you, but the Emperor was punished, with the Crown Prince’s support. But not the Empress. Why do you think that is?"

"Because Princess Vixara intervened, pleading her side of the story," Duchess recalled, suspicion dawning in her eyes. "But the Crown Prince refused to believe her."

"So who do you think would seek revenge more than us?" the Princess challenged, her voice sharp.

"Princess Vixara..." Duchess started, her voice trembling with realization.

"Yes! If someone else isn’t pulling the strings, it has to be Vixara, silently weaving her web of magic," the Princess declared. "We both sensed the magical aura, yet couldn’t pinpoint her presence despite seeing her with our own eyes. The conclusion? She’s mastered magic and is using it to manipulate everything."

"What if she inherited the magic?" Duchess Bernice queried, a spark of suspicion in her eyes.

"Inherited? What are you suggesting?" the tribal princess countered, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Think about it! She’s spent her entire life in the dukedom, working as a lady-in-waiting to conceal her identity. Magic wasn’t exactly on her agenda with such a demanding schedule," Duchess reasoned.

"And she’s been here for over a year. It wouldn’t have happened just like that. First, the court sessions, and now these incidents with the Emperor. She’s making moves like us, but subtly. So, while she might not have learned magic just now, maybe she inherited it and is merely keeping it under wraps," Duchess elaborated, her voice gaining conviction.

"Right, so what’s the next step? How do we proceed?" the princess asked, her interest piqued.

"Let’s start by unraveling the mystery of the previous Empress, Jessica. Who was she? What was her place in her empire?" Duchess proposed, her eyes filled with determination.

"Consider it done. I’ll get you that information soon," the tribal princess assured before quickly taking her leave.

Alone once again, Duchess glared at her reflection in the mirror. "Princess Vixara’s already making her move. She’s not targeting me directly, but it’s still a threat. She could easily position herself as another thorn in our side, but instead, she’s weaving a tangled web of deceit. I can’t let her get away with it."

Meanwhile, the tribal princess hurried towards her chamber when she heard Marcus’s voice. "You again? Can’t you stop pestering me?" she sighed in exasperation.

"It’s not pestering, I have something you need to know," Marcus insisted, his voice strangely earnest.

"And how does it concern me? I didn’t ask for your input, did I? Just leave me alone," she spat, her frustration evident.

"This concerns you directly because, quite shockingly, it turns out you’re none other than my heavenly sister," Marcus revealed, his words hanging in the air like a bombshell.

The princess scoffed, her lips twisting into a derisive smile. "What a ridiculous joke! Another attempt to ensnare me in your pathetic schemes? Don’t think I’m falling for it. I know your game. You thrive on the people’s adoration, but their loyalty will crumble. I’ll make sure they discard you like yesterday’s trash."

"And you’d be happy with that?" Marcus questioned, his voice tinged with disappointment.

"Why wouldn’t I? You sit on your throne, manipulating everyone at will. Why shouldn’t I play my own game? You think the mere claim of sisterhood will sway me? Don’t flatter yourself. Your daydream will shatter soon enough," the princess growled, her defiance unwavering.

"But I never meant to harm you, sister," Marcus pleaded, his voice softening.

"Harm?" she scoffed, her voice laced with bitterness. "Coming from you, that word sounds hollow after the mental and physical torment I endured!"

"Have you forgotten how you obeyed that Emperor’s whims, locking me in that wretched dark room for months? I haven’t. And I never will. Not only my suffering, but the Duchess’s ongoing torment weighs heavily on my conscience."

"Don’t forget your attempt to blackmail me into silence, threatening to reveal my intentions to Maximus," she spat, her eyes blazing with anger.

"It was all because I didn’t know it was you," Marcus defended, his voice strained with regret.

"So, if it wasn’t me, it wouldn’t have mattered? If I wasn’t your sister, my pain would be meaningless?" Her voice trembled, betrayal evident in her eyes.

"Listen to me, Sylvia!" Marcus exclaimed, his desperation clear as he materialized before her.

"I won’t listen to your empty words!" she retorted, turning to retreat to her room.

But before she could leave, Marcus materialized in a physical form, causing her to gasp in shock. "H-how did you do that? Are you here to torment me further with your magic?"

"No, sister. I’m here because you’re family. I had to come once I knew the truth." He frowned, his genuine concern evident.

"Stop calling me that!" she cried, her voice breaking. "I don’t want to hear it. It’s suffocating. I’m not a celestial being like you. I’m a human, born in this mortal realm, not from divine magic or the love of gods, but from the love of mortals. So stop insisting I’m your sister. I’m not!"

Tears streamed down her face as she continued, "If I have a brother, he lies within my empire, perhaps in the womb of that concubine who plotted to steal the throne for her son." Her voice hardened with anger.

"There’s nothing more to discuss. Leave this realm and return to your celestial world. I have no desire to be involved in your godly affairs." With a final, defiant gesture, she locked herself in her room.

Left alone, Marcus contemplated the revelation of the child.

"While I was absent, an enemy may have been born," She muttered, her brow furrowed in concern. "Though the child may not be my enemy, its mother’s intentions cannot be trusted. I must return to my empire. Everything I hold dear is at risk of being lost to her scheming."

She resolved to act swiftly, determined to protect her rightful place and ensure the safety of his people.

Determination hardened in her eyes. "I must return to my empire. Everything hinges on uncovering the truth. I cannot allow this shadow to consume my legacy."

She picked up a quill, her hand tracing patterns on the parchment. With a deep breath, she began to write a letter, addressed to the heart of his kingdom.

"Send this swiftly," he instructed a waiting dove, entrusting it with the message that could shift the tides of power.

Sylvia, meanwhile, paced her room, her mind churning. "A girl," she muttered, a strange certainty settling within her. "I have a feeling, deep in my bones, that it’s a girl."

The princess waited, anticipation gnawing at her. "I know she’s out there," she whispered, her resolve unwavering.