Chapter 58: So What If She Saw The Monster?
The news reached the Capital like wildfire. People whispered in the streets, gossiped in taverns, and even the palace walls could not keep the rumors out. Everyone was talking about it—about the grand duke, about the village head, about the murder. Voices rose in shock, fear, and judgment.
In the royal palace, the tension was already boiling.
"Your Majesty," Olga said as she stormed into the Emperor’s private chamber. Her face was flushed with frustration. "You have to do something about this."
Vladimir, seated behind a large wooden desk, looked up slowly from the documents he had been reading. His face was calm, but there was something dark in his eyes. "What is it now, Olga?"
She threw her arms up. "It’s becoming a habit of the grand duke! He keeps acting out—hurting people, doing as he pleases!"
Vladimir set his pen down. "Ivan must have had a reason."
"A reason?" Olga cut in sharply. Her voice trembled, a mix of disbelief and anger. "A reason to kill a commoner so brutally? You’re justifying that devil’s act. Just like you did years ago!"
That word—devil—made Vladimir’s jaw tighten. He slammed his hand on the desk. "Silence!"
Olga flinched.
"Watch your mouth, Olga," Vladimir said, his voice low but dangerous. "In case you’ve forgotten, Ivan is not just anybody. He is the grand duke. The Czar’s son. My son. The heir to the throne. Don’t you dare call him that name."
Olga scoffed, crossing her arms. Her voice was bitter now. "Too bad none of the kingdom thinks so. To them, your precious son is nothing but a monster. A monster born out of wedlock."