Chapter 28 (2/2)

His laugh filled the room. Everyone jumped and watched him nervously. Even Lisbeth had stopped crying and watched him wide-eyed like a rabbit.

Suddenly, the emperor stopped laughing abruptly and yelled, “Scribe!”

The door opened with a loud bang and the scribe walked in holding a pen and a leather-bound book. It was a different scribe than the one I saw before.

The emperor ordered, “Write this down!”

“Yes, your highness!”

“Create a pledge for the Duke of Aeal to un-adopt his oldest daughter Sa Bina des Bonafit!”

Everyone looked at Lucretius as if he went crazy. The scribe didn’t react. He just followed the order efficiently.

After it was written, the emperor checked the document before handing it to me.

“Do you accept?”

What was he planning to do?

I was only happy to be free from them, even if only in name. Perhaps, this was my chance to leave this place.

I signed my name expectantly. Since I was being un-adopted, I didn’t sign as Bonafit. The emperor shook his head when he saw this.

“Once this document becomes valid, that is when you can stop using that last name, so for now, you need to sign as a Bonafit.”

Following his order, I added the last name on the paper. It felt strange knowing that this would be the last time I write this name as my own. I felt sad and freed at the same time.

The scribe handed the form to the Duke. He seemed surprised at how fast things were happening. He also appeared to be suspicious of the emperor.

Why was Lucretius agreeing to his request so quickly and without question? Didn’t the emperor just say he didn’t want to marry Lisbeth? The duke hesitated to sign.

The emperor asked, “What’s the matter? Didn’t you just say this is what you wanted?”

“That… is correct.”

The Duke had no choice but to sign.

The emperor signed as the witness and the notary. He then announced.

“With this document, my wife Sa Bina is no longer related to the Duke of Aeal, Demetri des Bonafit.”

Finally, I was no longer a Bonafit. I also was no longer of the noble family.

Was this it? Could I leave here now? Would Lucretius be that kind to me?

Was he going to let me go?

I couldn’t hide my hopeful expression. The emperor must have seen it.

He looked at me with a smile. It was the same smile he gave me on the night he murdered the former emperor.

I knew something wasn’t right.

The Duke stepped forward and made a request.

“This means I haven’t done my duty in gifting my daughter to the royal family, so I am happy to let my only daughter Lisbeth to…”

The emperor shook his head.

“No, you are mistaken. You have already fulfilled your duty.”

“Pardon?”

“Was Sa Bina un-adopted before or after she was sent to this royal family?”

“… It was after.”

“According to our law, that means Sa Bina was married to me when she was still a member of Bonafit family. Am I not correct?”

The scribe agreed with the emperor. The Duke and the Duchess’s faces looked shocked. I was impressed by the emperor’s cunning.

Suddenly, the scribe announced, “But your highness, there is one problem.”