Even If I Have to Sell My Soul to the Devil!

Chapter 5 part 1

People would berate and envy Laurentia of the romance surrounding her. The top of the Empire’s power pyramid fought over a woman. A vile scandal of having an affair with the Devil turned into a bemusing, sweet romance of an entrancing woman.

And what if, in the midst of it, a rumor about Meyer didn’t drive out Laurentia, but instead she left because of true love, emerged? That meant, they would touch the rumors about Laurentia’s death.

‘Perhaps it’ll go haywire.’

She could picture the situation that would unfold without witnessing it.

In fact, if Meyer were rumored to have been abandoned, he wouldn’t be able to hold his anger and blew a gasket. He would destroy the stuff in the room, targeting his anger to his subordinates and beat them.

Until now, it was up to Laurentia to endure his violence. She knew that Laurentia was exposed to that kind of environment, but Grace was helpless. Unable to help anything. Laurentia said because she had Cielle to protect. She wouldn’t survive if not seeing Cielle.

For Laurentia, Cielle meant that much. That was why Grace had to bring Cielle back.

Marrying Berhemoth would be the first step of her plan.

“Please be my–Grace’s husband.”

A woman who had something to protect was strong.

An awkward silence befell them. Johan Raphael made no reply and his silence made her suffocate.

Grace’s hand trembled.

She felt like a prisoner on death row waiting for the death penalty on the guillotine. He pursed his lips and inquired.

“Husband… I’m not interpreting the meaning wrongly, am I?”

His facade shattered by her unpredicted declaration. Soon after, an uncanny smile made its way to his face. An impeccable smile filled with a snide.

“You came here abruptly to make such a ridiculous offer, you must have thought I would accept the offer.”

“Yes, I’m sure you would.”

“Hahaha, what’s in it for me?”

He laughed, amused. He put down the pocket watch on the table. He leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands.

“I’m grateful this family treasure is back, but we don’t need old things like this. Berhemoth is not a family bound by some pocket watch. Moreover, you received the watch as a keepsake from your great-aunt even though the original owner of the watch was Berhemoth. Do you think you can claim it as yours?”

“The watch is just my small token to gain your trust. This is not the end of my offer.”

Her answer came smoothly. She never deem she could appease him with a pocket watch.

As Johan Raphael put it, the pocket watch was merely just an ‘old thing’. A totally broken and still pocket watch. If the owner didn’t value it, it would be long forgotten.

Even then, he couldn’t overlook the secret.

Grace had Berhemoth’s secret in her hands, the truth about the serious relationship between her great-aunt and Johan Gabriel.

“Did you know? That my great-aunt was actually in love with Archduke Johan Gabriel Berhemoth.”

“…Are you telling me that your great-aunt was the mistress of my grandfather? So my grandfather gave your great-aunt our family treasure?”

“No one knows. However, the duke showed a much greater truth.”

Grace cleared her throat. Shortly, a story worth of attention flowed out her mouth.

“When the full moon approaches every month, Johan Gabriel doesn’t visit me. Is it all a lie when he said he didn’t love the Grand Duchess anymore?”

“…?”

“He offered me the secret to appeal for the truth. On a full moon night he avoided me every time, we met where we shared love as always. And I couldn’t believe my eyes. His appearance has changed! He ran away from me, as if he didn’t want to be seen.”

It was some phrases from a diary she read dozens of times. Phrases she learned by heart to the point the words popped naturally in her head, even with eyes closed.

As Grace’s voice continued, his relaxed expression vanished. His face frighteningly looked unperturbed, making her feel numb.

However, she didn’t let it hinder her from reciting the diary.

This was the first hurdle she had to overcome. She tried to focus despite the chilly-bone cold air that could prod her whole body.

“He said, ‘This is a curse on my family.’”

At the mention of curse, his eyes widened. Grace was convinced that her gamble had paid off.