This Marriage Must End In Tragedy Chapter 11
Chapter 11: An Undeniable Act of Treason
Whenever the hatred gnawing at her insides became unbearable, she would burn the name of her enemy like this.She knew it was futile—a bizarre little ritual that brought no real consequence, a mere act of self-consolation.
But she couldn’t help it. Ironically, this absurd behavior was the only thing that gave her even a sliver of relief.
But now she had found another path—thanks to that naive young master, Damion de Orphe.
When she mentioned the idea of courting, the man had smiled like a child. At the sight of his innocent and blissful grin, Ansi was momentarily swept up in a strange emotion. It was something akin to guilt.
In that fleeting moment, her father’s bloodstained dog tag flashed through her mind. So did the coffin that held only her brother’s uniform; his body never recovered. And the gravestones that were marred with layers of angry graffiti.
Who was pitying whom? And who should feel guilty for whom?
Once the guilt passed, what came rushing in to fill the void was bitter revulsion.
Their destinies were entwined—her father, who had died unjustly, had bound them together for revenge.
Ansi opened the window to let in some fresh air, then returned to her desk and picked up pen and paper.
Without a hint of hesitation, she began to write a letter.
The recipient: Elise de Baelis.
A friend from her days as Ansi de Rubelsa.
“May I see your identification, please?”
At the front of the Royal Central Library in the capital city of Feliz, a gatekeeper addressed her curtly.
Ansi reached into her bag and handed him her ID. The gatekeeper looked down at the name, then back up at her face with a suspicious expression.
“Where were you born?”
“Oslia, in the North.”
He returned the ID and opened the door.
She couldn't fault his reaction.
The ID she’d handed over wasn’t in the name of Rain Arell, but of Ansi de Rubelsa.
It had been a long time since she used it. She had vanished from the world for over a year, leaving the Rubelsa name untraceable—no wonder it aroused suspicion.
But now that she had chosen to return as Ansi de Rubelsa, she’d have to grow accustomed to such reactions.
The past week had passed swiftly.
She had received a telegram from the Baelis family, inviting her to a party, and had informed Damion about it.
She also handed in her resignation to the Ziden household. At first, the head maid had insisted she stay for another three months, but the very next day, she changed her tune and told her she could leave immediately. Perhaps they had quickly found a replacement.
And so, just a few days ago, she and her mother had arrived in the capital. Today, she had come alone to the library.
Stepping into the lobby, Ansi gazed up at the lofty ceiling. The ornately painted murals drew a quiet breath of admiration from her.
It had been a long time since she was last here.
Only nobles were allowed entry—a fact she had learned just last year. She had attempted to visit with Rain Arell’s ID but had been denied.
One only realizes the worth of something after it's been lost.
Swallowing the familiar bitterness of that thought, Ansi walked forward.
As soon as she entered the third reading room, the familiar scent of paper washed over her. It was a fragrance that evoked feelings of nostalgia, at once warm and piercing.
She strode through the reading room, heading to a door that led deeper inside. Past the corridor lay the periodicals room—a space filled with back issues of newspapers and magazines.
Inside were decades' worth of newspapers from several publications. This was the very reason Ansi had come to this library. As the largest in the Empire, it offered access to papers of every ideological color and editorial voice.
Ansi pulled out newspapers dating back five years and laid them open.
In their pages, she began combing for the name “Orphe.”
Which policies had they supported? What events had they attended? Whom had they sponsored, and in which province had they spent their summers?
Hatred was a strange emotion.For the past year, her head had been consumed with a single thought: killing Cardian. There had been no room for any other plan.
But now, everything had changed. Her goal was to bring down the entire Orphe house—and she had found a bridge that could take her right into the enemy’s den.
So, she had to know them better. What kind of people were they? Even if only on the surface, she had to learn every detail.
Other than the time spent fetching more newspapers, she sat motionless, glued to her seat, feverishly devouring every line. Her eyes blazed like those of a madwoman, scanning the paper with frightening focus.
Five years… four… then three… Slowly, she worked her way toward the present. The name that appeared the most was, unsurprisingly, the Duke of Orphe, but from time to time, Cardian Orphe appeared as well.
“New Emperor Appoints Orphe Heir as His Adviser”
An article from two years ago reported that the newly crowned young emperor had named Cardian as his strategic counselor.
And since then, Cardian had continued to enjoy the emperor’s trust.
From then on, Ansi began reading every article related to the current emperor, even when Cardian or the Orphe family weren’t explicitly mentioned. Everything was relevant now. Everything was tied to what she was about to do.
“Welfare Budget Slashed Drastically – A Choice for the Empire.”
“Bank of Belgader Founded – For the Nobility.”
The emperor sided more with the nobles than with commoners. He favored the haves over the have-nots.
“New Year's Cruise Gala – Gentry Class Also Invited to the Spotlight.”
“Emperor Hosts Hunting Event with Orphe Duke and Close Associates.”
“Even in Drought, The Greatest Empire Festival Ever – Luxury Amid Crisis.”
The emperor also loved pleasure and spectacle. Some said he had a taste for culture. Others accused him of decadence.
Ansi read all these perspectives without commentary, her eyes absorbing them like blotting paper.
Eventually, she reached articles from a year ago.
One particular headline caught her eye.Though it was publicly unrelated to Cardian, to Ansi, it had everything to do with him, more than any other article.
“Count Rubelsa Sacrifices Young Men for Greed”
A sensational headline.
Beneath it, Cardian Orphe’s name was briefly mentioned, stating he was the one who had delivered news of the ceasefire to Count Rubelsa.
Ansi’s hand clenched. Blue veins stood out sharply against her translucent skin. The corner of the newspaper crumpled beneath her fingers.
Quickly, she folded the paper shut and reached for another.
She already knew the events of that time. She had pored over countless newspapers, clinging to the hope that public opinion might shift and that someone—anyone—might speak in Rubelsa’s defense.
There were, of course, some articles that questioned the count’s decisions. But no follow-ups ever came. At most, they devolved into conspiracy theories and fizzled out. The entire Empire had already branded Count Rubelsa as the man who defied the ceasefire and forced the battle onward.
Suppressing the rising sense of despair, Ansi swiftly moved on to scan more articles.
“Statue of the Emperor in Goel Square — Ruthlessly Destroyed”
“Revolutionary Army Attempts Assassination of the Emperor”
With time, the backlash from the poor and the disenfranchised grew more intense.
The revolutionary forces swelled in number, and public protests became increasingly frequent.
But the order of the Empire stood firm. Naturally, it was nowhere near enough to overturn the status quo.
"Egg Thrown at Emperor’s Carriage — Offender to Be Executed in Three Days"
The Emperor reacted swiftly and harshly to any threat against his authority or prestige.
“No matter who it is—if they’re linked to the Revolutionary Army, immediate execution awaits.”
“Five Rebels, Including Marquis Callon, Executed in Public at Melan Square”
Even high-ranking nobles with established reputations had seen their families eradicated after joining the revolution. After reading such reports, Ansi took a deep breath and slowly let it out.
As she reaffirmed that bitter truth, a twisted gleam flickered across Ansi’s face.
All who dared to hurl themselves against the massive wall were shattered. Their fates were pitiable and tragic.
But for her, that was also the most direct path forward.
“All you have to do is choose: to break up with me… or marry me.”
Marriage to Damion de Orphe.
Ansi had decided to become part of Orphe through that union.
Only by acquiring the name of Orphe could she truly bring them down.
First, I’ll begin by using the name of Orphe to fund the Revolutionary Army.
If she married, she would likely gain access to Orphe’s seal. Even if it wasn’t given to her immediately, if she bided her time and earned their trust, the moment would come.
She would hide her claws and slip inside Orphe’s domain. She would act for Orphe, flatter them, and make both insiders and outsiders believe that she was truly one of them.
And just before it was revealed that Orphe had been financially backing the Revolutionary Army—
Just when everyone viewed Ansi not as a Rubelsa, but as a true daughter of Orphe—
She would commit the clearest act of betrayal imaginable.
“An attempt to assassinate the Emperor.”
It wouldn’t even be difficult. She didn’t need to succeed in killing the Emperor—only to make the attempt.
If a woman of Orphe—a family member, no less—tried to assassinate the Emperor, and if she had been secretly funding the Revolutionary Army all along—
Then the outcome was obvious.
The Emperor, having survived, would execute House Orphe for high treason.
That was Ansi’s plan to bring House Orphe down.
Having spent a long time poring over newspapers, Ansi finally closed the paper and lifted her head. Outside the window, night had already fallen.
Soon after, she stepped outside and fastened her jacket. The capital’s wind was much colder than that of the South.
Trish Ziden’s face had been glowing with delight all day long.
Until now, she had never been invited to a ball hosted by a house of such prestige.
And now, she had been invited to a ball held by none other than House Baelis — right here in the capital!
She had even managed to wedge herself into conversations with the other young ladies filling the ballroom. All that remained now was to meet Sir Damion.
“Miss Trish, do you have your heart set on any gentleman?”
“I… I do. It’s Sir Damion. I’m certain I’ll get to dance with him tonight.”