Duke's Villainous Daughter is Depressed Chapter 18

DVDID | Chapter 18

Warning: Reader discretion advised. This chapter contains scenes of violence.

Before leaving the Imperial Palace, Elle asked the Grand Chamberlain Shuddin, “Where do I file a complaint against corruption? I need to report someone.”

“... You want to report corruption?”

“Yes. This is a major concern.”

Shuddin paused as Elle talked about it like it wasn't a big deal.

If it's a small issue, it might not matter, but if it's a big one, it's safer to get the Emperor's approval than to deal with it arbitrarily.

“May I ask His Majesty first and then give you an answer at a later date?”

“Please do.”

Elle's footsteps were light as she left the Imperial Palace.

* * *

Second Prince Shuert Rennes was a prince who monopolized the Emperor's love until he was cursed by a dark wizard.

From a young age, he has a charming appearance resembling his mother, and the ability to learn things faster than anyone else.

His only flaws were that he was birthed by a concubine and he was a second prince.

The Emperor was so fond of him to the extent that everyone thought that the Second Prince might become the Crown Prince.

The process of becoming an Emperor is through succession, but there was no rule that he had to be the eldest son. One had to be very capable to be able to ascend the throne.

In fact, the current Emperor, Cardell Rennes, was born as the third prince.

Since the Emperor was selected through their abilities and not through the principle of hereditary succession by being the eldest son, the dispute between siblings was fierce, but thanks to this, the powerful reputation of the Empire was maintained for a thousand years.

Those who failed to win the succession battle had to repay it by death.

In fact, all of Cardell's siblings were completely purged. The cause of Shuert's curse also occurred in this process.

There was a case where they overlooked one of the wizards who followed the first prince, and in order to get his revenge, he touched the cursed black magic and broke through tight security, infiltrating the Imperial Palace.

His aim was originally the Emperor. However, seeing Shuert show outstanding achievements in his endeavors, he changed targets.

At the time, the Emperor was overjoyed and specially invited a small number of modest-ranking nobles to a banquet.

It was a great honor just to be able to attend. But on that day, an accident happened.

“Suffer for the rest of your life! Emperor!”

“…… AHHH!”

“NOOO!!”

However, the curse had been activated on Shuert, who was sitting near the Emperor.

“It would be great to see your child suffer. Hahaha!"

“SH, SHUUU!”

Shocked by Shuert, who became a dog in front of them, his mother fainted, and the Emperor killed all the nobles who attended the banquet.

The reason was that they saw things they never should have seen. Everything happened in an instant.

Of course, the truth was completely hidden and claimed that each family was attacked by a dark wizard. Only a large amount of compensation was delivered to each family along with a letter stating that they were killed in a commotion.

Shuert had to become a 'monster', not a 'dog'. Being a member of the Imperial Family, it was considered a shame to have to live like a lowly dog.

Sentenced to be executed on the guillotine, the dark wizard cursed the Imperial Family till the end of his life.

Except for Shuert, the only people who knew the secret of that day were the Emperor and Shuert's mother.

Afterward, Shuert, already grown bigger, moved to the Lily Palace, the furthest away from the Central Palace. It was an old palace that had not been used for a long time—a completely deserted palace.

Her mother repeatedly denied the fact that her son had become a dog, and within a few years, she eventually fell ill and died.

There was only the nanny who took care of him since he was young by his side, but even that nanny was falsely accused and driven out of the palace.

Therefore, Shuert hated himself and the way he looked. As a member of the Imperial Family, he deemed himself as an exalted being, so it was not easy to admit that everything around him had changed, including himself.

So, eventually, he gave up. He had rather have no one by his side. 

He didn't want to reveal himself, so he hid deep in an unmanaged garden and ate only grass.

It's not that he'd rather starve himself to death, but whenever he thought about it, anger filled his heart.

How happy the Emperor must be if the shame of the Imperial Family died. Even the Empress saw himself as a thorn in her eyes.

So Shuert waited patiently. On the day that Raynard will be appointed as the Crown Prince, he decided to reveal himself.

Even if he wasn't informed of the Crown Prince's ceremony, the whole palace will be going to be very noisy on that day, so there's no way to not know. Since all the nobles will be gathering at the Palace, he vowed to die on that day, exposing the ugliness of the Imperial Family to the world and giving him an indelible disgrace.

Shuert, who had been grinding his teeth with such thoughts all his life, had been living in hell. Then, unexpectedly, he had gotten married. He didn't know what the Emperor was thinking, thus, he was displeased.

Besides, what kind of crazy woman had agreed to marry him, who is rumored to be a monster prince?

He was curious, however, the woman didn't look for him and was living as if he were dead. He don't know what her problem was, but he was certain that she didn't want to see him.

That's why I have a wife I don't even know.

Then one day, while he was taking a walk, he ran into her in his usual garden.

"... A dog?"

Perhaps she didn't despise his canine self as she looked at him with gentle eyes. To his surprise, she inelegantly sat down on the unkempt grass all of a sudden, lacking etiquette and all.

    

"Don't worry, I won't touch you."

It was also unfamiliar to Shuert when she was talking to him as if trying not to startle him. She wasn't surprised when she discovered him, wasn't hostile either, but in a manner in which talking to her equal. Even if he's just a mere dog.

* * *

Elle was a good woman. In general, she was lethargic and seldom smiled, but at least she smiled at Shuert or Lari. 

For the first time in a long while, he felt good receiving such kindness and doting words since the time with the nanny.

Her maid was also very kind and gentle and does not bully Shuert even when Elle was not around. Sometimes, Lari would tell him that she's happy that Elle has become brighter now that he's here, and ask him to stay by Elle's side for a very, long time.

It was ridiculous when Elle handed him over to her manservant, but after that, he naturally stayed by her side and developed the desire to be next to her at all times.

It doesn't matter if he has to live like this his whole life as long as Elle doesn't ignore him.

He already knew that Elle wasn't interested in him as her husband anyway, so he just have to stay by her side as Tofu for the rest of his life. He changes on the outside but was human on the inside, so his lifespan should be similar to that of a human. Although he cannot reveal himself at night...

“Raella Landmiken.”

“… Raella.”

"...... Elle."

Elle always went to bed early and woke up late. She tends to sleep deeply, so she rarely wakes up even if there was someone next to her.

He was careful at first, but now he knows she won't wake up easily, so Shuert would sneak into her bedroom every night and watched Elle as she slept.

“…… Thank you."

He was still anxious because he could not understand the intentions of the Emperor who had arranged his marriage to Elle.

“……”

She can do whatever she wants, and he'll just have to protect her. He made that promise every day.

* * *

However, Shuert never imagined that the chamberlain, whom he had left alone, would run amock. No, it was surprising that he even had a wife before that.

This guy even showed meticulousness in kidnapping as he thought that he was Elle's weakness. Soon after he was kidnapped, the chamberlain assaulted and cursed him. 

Shuert will remember his face because someday he will bite it off of his head and kill him.

Shuert just wished he wouldn't become Elle's weakness. 

Please don't look for me, I'll escape somehow.

“Your master had come.”

But she came.

“Do you believe that when I talk about you she went mad? Hah!”

"GRRRR! BARK! BARK!"

He felt like crying. It'd be better if she didn't care about a useless dog like him.

“A lowly dog ​​is precious to a nothing. How absurd.”

"......"

“But I think she will be a good pawn for the time being.”

“I won’t delay disposing of you.”

Coffari smiled viciously and trampled on Shuert.

“You bastard, you don’t even cry much! It's getting annoying!"

Thud! Whack! Whack!

Despite the harsh beating, Shuert endured with his mouth shut. He have to run away at night. Because he didn't know what else the chamberlain would do if he knew he was the Second Prince.

He was a dog, so security was lax.

Coffari, who vigorously kicked a few more, immediately shouted to the attendant to guard him well, then he closed the door and left.

It was dark in the basement, so he couldn't tell if it was night or day.

"Ugh"

Soon after Coffari went out, Shuert transformed back into his human form.

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