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Chapter 33
Inside the Valen mansion’s reception room, Kyle sat quietly on the sofa, his mouth open for the physician to examine. The doctor carefully inspected the injured areas.
Fleur watched the two of them from a short distance.
“Hmm…”
As the doctor furrowed his brows and tilted his head, her expression mirrored his seriousness.
“There was a lot of bleeding. Was it badly torn?”
“No. From what I see now, it seems to be just a minor bite. It’s not a deep injury, so if you keep an eye on it for a few days, it should heal quickly.”
Fleur blinked widely at his explanation.
He said that after bleeding enough to soak her palm, he wasn’t seriously injured?
Turning toward Kyle, she saw that he simply sat there silently, with an expression as if he knew nothing.
Could it be that even the injury was fake? No way… Did the Emperor order him to ruin my party?
Finishing her thought, she swept her hair back and patted the doctor on the shoulder.
“Thank you for your effort. You can leave now.”
“Yes. Call me anytime if you need me.”
After the doctor left, leaving just the two of them, Kyle straightened up and moved his hands.
It seemed like he was trying to say “thank you” through sign language. Fleur understood the meaning but didn’t respond, only tightening her gaze and staring at him.
Misinterpreting her silence, he placed a hand near his heart and bowed slightly in greeting.
“You can speak, you know.”
Her voice dropped deliberately, and Kyle flinched slightly as he straightened his posture.
“You saved me from being mistaken as a thief in the city a few days ago. And this morning, you came to me under the name Minos. You weren’t mistaken about the time—you did it on purpose, didn’t you?”
Kyle blinked, clearly hearing something new, then gestured again.
Not exactly clear, but it seemed to mean: I don’t understand what you’re saying.
“I already know everything, so stop acting. I brought you here because I want to talk to you properly.”
Kyle’s moving hands suddenly stopped.
She couldn’t just watch him sneak around disguised as someone else. Especially if he ate the dessert they had made together with the servants and deliberately made himself bleed—she couldn’t forgive that.
Such behavior could be fatal for the food business.
A single careless act could ruin the party, even if he was the Emperor’s shadow. He needed a proper apology.
Fleur stepped closer, her arm extended until it nearly touched his shoulder, eyes fixed intensely on him.
Until then, he had said nothing and simply watched her quietly.
“You… you are the Emperor’s shadow, aren’t you?”
She asked, full of certainty, demanding a confession.
“….”
“….”
A strange tension filled the reception room, and silence followed.
“Long time no see, darling.”
Kyle smiled playfully, revealing the dimple that had never been hidden in their three meetings.
“Do you still get surprised every day, darling?”
His smile was exactly the same as when they pretended to be a married couple in the city, and she immediately scowled.
“I knew it.”
“Hmm, your disguise was perfect, but when did you realize?”
He walked casually to a mirror on the reception room wall, tilting his face and checking it with his hand on his chin and cheek.
“From the start. When you came as Minos, I noticed right away.”
“Really? Then I’ll have to put more effort into my disguise next time.”
No longer trying to hide, he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his face, revealing the pale skin beneath the dark makeup and scars.
“Why do you keep circling around me? Did His Majesty order you to kidnap me?”
“Why would he?”
“Because I’m beautiful, of course.”
She answered without hesitation.
“You saw me somewhere and wanted me, didn’t you? Hah… I even cut my hair to look less attractive, but I guess I’m still cute…”
“….”
“I know the Emperor desires me, but as I’ve said, repaying my debts is my top priority. So stop spying on me.”
He burst into laughter at her blunt words.
“Pff, hahaha! Hahaha!”
His laughter shook the reception room, and she couldn’t help feeling irritated.
“Why are you laughing like that?”
“No, heh heh. You’re just so bold.”
He wiped away tears of laughter clinging to his eyes.
“So if I came to kidnap you, what would you do? Knock me down with those arms thinner than branches?”
“No. Even if I hit you, would it hurt you? I’d confine you in this mansion.”
“Me? You? How?”
She pointed alternately at herself and Fleur, astonished.
“I happen to have talent in that area.”
“You’ve tried it before?”
She hadn’t, but she had been on the receiving end dozens of times. In the game, the main characters’ default skills included kidnapping and confinement.
They could never leave the mansion, but were provided lavish meals and luxury gifts without lifting a finger. Still, they could not escape.
The doorknob could only be opened from outside, windows were boarded, and beds were chained to her feet.
After so much experience in the game, Fleur had become quite skilled herself.
“This is my mansion. It’s full of my servants, and you’re alone. I could lock you in a storage room and let you starve.”
To look more threatening, she lowered her voice and clenched her fists. Yet he only laughed as if amused.
Congratulations.
???’s affection increased.
Current ???’s affection: 5% → 11%
Affection double event is active.
What? Why does my affection rise when I say I’ll confine him? Shouldn’t it go down?
Even after rechecking the status multiple times, it was the same. Flustered, she instinctively stepped back.
“Is that all?”
“Huh?”
“You won’t strip me?”
“W-what?”
“Or touch me around?”
He took two steps closer, spreading his arms slightly, as if inviting it.
Is this guy insane? Not the Emperor’s shadow, just a pervert? Are people in this world all like this?!
Determined not to be intimidated, she raised her head calmly.
“Doing what you want isn’t punishment, so I won’t.”
“Then hitting me?”
“Huh?”
“Or do you like being hit?”
He moved closer, almost grabbing her chin.
“How dare you touch me!”
She slapped his hand away.
Congratulations.
???’s affection increased.
Current ???’s affection: 11% → 17%
Affection double event is active.
Oh no… this guy really is crazy…
The steadily rising affection was now frightening.
“Stop dodging my questions and answer me! Are you really His Majesty’s shadow?!”
She deliberately raised her voice, loud enough to reach outside the reception room. While the mansion staff were at the party, some remained inside preparing desserts, so she hoped for help if needed.
As if reading her thoughts, he raised one eyebrow and stepped back.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I knew it.”
“But I didn’t come to kidnap you.”
“Huh? Really?”
“I came to warn you.”
“What warning?”
“Stop thinking about becoming the first female head of a noble house in the empire.”
His dimple disappeared entirely as his expression hardened. Then he lowered his voice, filled with warning.
“His Majesty won’t let someone who disrupts order like you go unpunished.”
