< — The Beginning and the End — > (6)
A few days later, Hugo went to the safe house and into the underground secret chamber where Philip was confined. Before Hugo went into the room, his knights had already tied Philip to the chair like previously.
Hugo stared at Philip and slowly sat down on the opposite chair. Philip looked like he had aged drastically in the span of a month. He had only been fed enough to satisfy his hunger and hadn’t seen the sun in a long time. Hugo’s gaze was only filled with ferociousness as he looked at the haggard old man.
“Seeing as I haven’t seen you in a long time, you must have gone to the North.”
Hugo’s eyebrow twitched.
“And I’m sure you couldn’t find anything.”
The Duke’s only response was to silently stare at him, but Philip was convinced that he had seized a chance at victory.
Philip had absolutely no intention of doing anything to harm the precious little miss that would be born soon, but the Duke would not believe Philip. Although he would not believe Philip, the Duke was in a disadvantageous position. He would not refuse a proposal that concerned the Duchess’ safety.
“You want something.” (Hugo)
“I will make medicine that will guarantee the safety of the Duchess and the little miss.” (Philip)
“I have no intention of letting you see even a strand of my wife’s hair.”
“Do as you wish. You can also give her the drug I make yourself.”
Philip smiled with ease, looking at the Duke’s eyes which were filled with distrust. He hadn’t forgotten the proverb that a cornered mouse would bite the cat.
The Duke’s cruel and ferocious nature could burst open at any time. If he was driven to a dead end, it was possible for him to kill Philip without thinking of the aftermath because he couldn’t endure the humiliation of being controlled by Philip.
It was necessary for Philip to set up conditions that could sufficiently accommodate the Duke.
“I will not approach the Madam, nor will I approach your daughter. I will follow your intention to raise the little miss and young master Damian as siblings.”
“Whether you will follow or not, is not something for you to decide. I can only hear that you are so deluded, you cannot even grasp your own position.”
The Duke spoke bitingly but his voice had audibly softened. The corner of Philip’s lips curved in a thin smile. He began to make a deal with the Duke.
“It is not exactly necessary for young master Damian’s bride to be born from the Madam.”
“Are you saying another woman should bear my child?”
Philip was silent as if admitting to it.
‘The old man has a clever head on his shoulders.’
Hugo thought to himself that if the old man had advanced in the business world, he might have made a name for himself as a business tycoon.
His opponent was tense about what enormous demand he might make for the safety of both his pregnant wife and baby, but he caught his opponent off guard by proposing something seemingly minor in comparison to that, relieving the burden on his opponent’s mind. It was an excellent way to make a deal.
However, Philip made the most fundamental mistake of not knowing his opponent well. A proposal to sleep with another woman, under the pretext of doing it for his wife and his soon-to-be-born child, was not a proposal accommodating, or acceptable, for Hugo.
Hugo had absolutely no intention of breaking his promise to be a faithful husband and above all, he still loathed his blood. His soon-to-be born child was only special because it was from his wife.
The mere thought of a woman other than his wife, bearing his blood, was nauseating. When he thought of a situation where he had to hold a strange woman to propagate his species, the biggest problem was that it was physically impossible.
‘I don’t think it will stand.’
Hugo folded his arms and fell into thought as he lowered his gaze to his lower abdomen. He wondered how Philip would look if he told him that he couldn’t meet his demands due to physical issues.
It was a frivolous thought that didn’t match the seriousness of the situation. Nothing had been solved, but he strangely felt at ease. It was a good feeling as if everything would turn out well.
Since the time Hugo captured Philip, he ordered a search into Philip’s residence in Roam, and Philip’s residence at the northern border, and was still searching for Philip’s hideout.
As expected, nothing was found in Philip’s residence and the effort to find Philip’s hideout was indefinite, like trying to find a needle in a desert.
However, a few days ago, Hugo got a few clues that narrowed down the scope, and was able to give concrete instructions. By now, the order must have already been delivered. He did not expect to find the hideout easily. He could find it within a few months or it could take even longer than that.
He couldn’t wait indefinitely until he found Philip’s hideout. If he didn’t go to meet Philip for a long time, he didn’t know what schemes might form in the old man’s head. Hugo judged that now was the best time to catch the old bastard off guard.
The current Hugo was no longer in a unilaterally disadvantageous position. He had obtained the sole but powerful information that was Philip’s prescription.
Having this information, Hugo had more time to take a back seat and look at the situation from afar. He realized that his biggest mistake was getting enticed by Philip’s deliberate words.
Philip’s remark about his wife being in danger when she gave birth, had a loophole.
It was impossible for Philip not to know that with Hugo’s personality, if the child had killed its mother on its way out, he would have sent the child after its mother. If it failed, the precious miss of Taran bloodline dies.
With the old man’s craziness about the Taran bloodline, he didn’t seem like someone to gamble.
‘This old bastard lies every time he opens his mouth.’
Hugo decided to make a decisive move. Philip watched the Duke’s eyes cool down and judged that the Duke was willing to make a deal with him calmly.
“I cannot understand your proposal.” (Hugo)
Hugo tried to find out a little more about Philip’s plans.
“What might you mean?” (Philip)
“Is it so easy to get a child? What if there are no issues until the child is born? If my wife gives birth safely, you’re dead.” (Hugo)
Philip didn’t even blink despite the murderous intent that filled that last sentence.
“The Madam will have to keep taking my medicine until a bride for young master Damian is born. Why? Because until then, the medicine I give, will be less effective.”
Philip had no intention of harming the Duchess’ life for the still unborn little miss, but he planned to alternate between a drug that deprived the Duchess’ energy and one that restored it.
If she was confined to bed and recovered her energy after taking Philip’s medicine, the Duke would have no choice but to listen to Philip to get the drug.
“Let’s assume the child is born as you intended. What about after that? Do you think I will let you and the child live?” (Hugo)
“For that issue, you simply have to make a promise to assure my safety.”
“Promise?”
Hugo broke out in a sneer.
“Do you believe I will keep that promise?”
Was this bastard that naïve? Hugo felt amused like he was watching a scene from a comedy skit.
“I want to believe but unfortunately, this is a world where trust can be found lacking. Does Young Master think that the heads of the Taran family were obediently convinced, that something as crucial as continuing the Taran family line, was in our family’s hands?”
For many generations, every single head of the Taran family wished to know how to continue their bloodline after they came out of the secret room.
The ancestors of Philip’s family held onto their secrets very tightly so they did not bring danger upon themselves. They released most of the facts that the Taran heads were curious about, according to their demands.
In exchange for the head of the Taran family satisfying the curiosity, he had to promise not to tell anyone nor leave any record. Of course, it was not just a verbal promise. There was a way to make promises compulsory.
*.*.*
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 67 - December 21, 2024
- Forget My Husband, I’ll Go Make Money – Side Story 21 - December 14, 2024
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 66 - December 14, 2024
Thank You for update!!!
Yeet right before my exam >_<
CAN PHILIP STFU? Now what's he going to say next? Sleep with other women and have babies with them? Let him raise Lucia's baby?
Hugh please kill him soon UwU
If 120 is the epilogue, then there must be a a lot of extras. It says on NU that there are 146 chapters.
Sorry, I meant the chapter before the epilogues.
You can check the table of content. I think I’ve updated the entire thing.
Yes. There are a lot of extras
Oh wow! You weren’t kidding. I just checked the table of contents and the side stories make up a whole other book.
This is the best news I’ve heard all day! 🙂
Thanks for the chapter! waah this is coming to the end! I checked the epilogues’ titles… the ‘in another future Hugo/Damian’… i got the feeling they will make me cry o(╥﹏╥)o
Wow super early!!!!
OML Philip has a bunch of prepared women?! How tf-
Anyways, he’s crazy so I won’t be surprised if he has a nursery of them.
Thank you, Ruby 💚💚
I dont think he’s THAT prepared lol but I could guess what lead you to that conclusion …..hahaha
It would have been great if Philip would just fess up and realize what a lunatic he has become.
Thank you Miss Ruby for your hard work!💜💜
Now im a bit confused…. Did the taran family depended on philip’s family to have descendants since …. Forever? O_o
It wouldnt stand…. Pfffftt… Killed me xD
Thank you so much for you hard work and time that you spend to translate this novel for us, Miss Ruby❤. When I first started reading it last week I couldn’t stop myself and read it nonstop until now. I really appreciate the amount of time and effort that you’ve put into translating this amazing novel. I really felt it while reading the story and it made it into an unforgettable readingexperience. Thanks to you I was able to read such a breathtaking novel❤❤❤
Much of love and respect from Austria🇦🇹😍
Btw it’s currently 5 a.m. and my eyes are really sore from starring at the screen for 8h nonestop lmao. No regrets tho.
Hahaha
THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE, RUBY-SAMA!!❤❤❤
just kill him. kill him. Lucia try n remember where he was n what yall talked abt in ur previous life
I think you are right on point with that. It’s all in Lucia’s dreams.
Lmao i wouldn’t stand up i cried
I really appreciate your work! I met Lucia from his manhwa, but the story catch my attention so I started the novel. However, in spanish there are only 94 chapters. You are my salvation! Thanks 😁☺️ (sorry if I wrote wrong, 제 영어를 잘 못 해요! 😅)
Miss Ruby, the next chapter comment section is not available.
Thanks for the chapter.
I’m so happy to heard there’s extra side stories! I was getting a little sad thinking it’s almost over.🥺
Miss Ruby, I can’t thank you enough for all your hard work translating Lucia!
Yep, I don’t think any other woman will do for him hahaha xD
Thank you for your hard work!! <3
”The mere thought of a woman other than his wife, bearing his blood, was nauseating. When he thought of a situation where he had to hold a strange woman to propagate his species, the biggest problem was that it was physically impossible.
‘I don’t think it will stand.’ ” I FUCKING WHEZEEEE IN THE LAST SENTENCE AIEYIAUWY
[‘I don’t think it will stand.’
Hugo folded his arms and fell into thought as he lowered his gaze to his lower abdomen. He wondered how Philip would look if he told him that he couldn’t meet his demands due to physical issues.]
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
What is this?
I thought it was a serious situation & Hugh supposed to be extremelly angry while facing this hateful Phillip. But who knows he still had a mood for this joke? Really, Hugh? 😅
“It is not exactly necessary for young master Damian’s bride to be born from the Madam.”
“Are you saying another woman should bear my child?”
😱Jeez, Philip, you should already be grateful to have survived the last time you mention an eventual affair between the two, why are you seeking your own death ?!