🔊 TTS Settings
~Chapter 13~
“Then should I report it under my name?”
I blinked like it was the most natural thing.
But Baron Comte looked like it was anything but natural.
“But, my lady, it was you who uncovered Patrick’s corruption…”
“If you just keep your mouth shut, no one will know. The only ones who can go in here are you and Patrick, right? And Patrick is a criminal now, isn’t he?”
If I reported it under my name, everyone would know what would happen.
People would start talking—Why did the lady suddenly become so clever? Maybe she’s not the person we knew. Maybe she’s possessed by a demon! Should we call the inquisitor?
‘Of course, that won’t happen.’
Because I knew how to win over the Baron.
“Do you want a promotion?”
“Uh, what?”
“Want a bonus?”
“Eh?”
“Want a big house? Maybe some fine whiskey too?”
Baron Comte started to smile.
He realized this big report would help him get promoted.
He had been feeling stuck, unable to move up.
I pressed on.
“Then go report it.”
“Yes!”
“Hurry up and report it.”
“Yes!!”
If that didn’t work, I was ready to shoot him with a poison dart, but things went smoothly.
Baron Comte looked happy as he hurried off, and Thomson looked at him like he was crazy.
“One more thing. As public security, I allow a full search. Don’t leave a single document in Patrick’s office, take them all.”
“Yes!”
“And question the surviving miners in detail—”
Now, I had the power and authority to do the things I’d only imagined before.
As I was giving orders, I heard an angry shout from behind.
“Damn woman, if I die, I won’t die alone!!”
“Damn woman, if I die, I won’t die alone!!”
“…!”
Patrick pulled out a knife and ran at me.
It was too late to dodge.
I closed my eyes out of reflex. A big shadow fell over my head.
“Oh dear.”
Instead of pain, I heard a familiar voice.
When I opened my eyes, the Duke was holding Patrick’s wrist.
He looked at me and greeted calmly.
“Good evening, madam.”
“Oh, yes.”
“But what is all this trouble on such a nice evening?”
On the outside I tried to look calm, but inside I was very shocked.
I wanted to ask why he was here, and how much he had heard, but my experience told me that was a bad idea.
So I just looked down.
“I—I went to inspect the outer wall and got lost. Then, unfortunately, I got into a fight.”
A long silence.
I could feel his eyes staring at my bowed head.
‘Why is he looking at me like that?’
Maybe he didn’t believe my excuse? I couldn’t blame him. But I wasn’t about to say, “I came to take revenge for my past life.”
I hesitated. The Duke’s eyebrow rose.
“Well, if you say so, I’ll believe it.”
Then, he suddenly let go of Patrick’s wrist—right above my head.
“W-wait…!”
In an instant, the Duke took the knife from Patrick and kicked him in the chest.
Patrick flew across the room and crashed into the wall.
The Duke tilted his head.
“Why are you acting like that?”
“It’s… nothing. Ahem.”
Embarrassed, I quickly put my hand behind my back.
When our eyes met,
I could feel a strong emotion inside him.
‘Why is he so angry…?’
Then I heard the knights running up outside.
The Duke threw Patrick out the open door.
“Take him away.”
“Yes!”
The knights hurriedly obeyed.
I tried to sneak out.
But I found I couldn’t move.
I looked up.
“Um, Your Grace?”
The Duke’s hand was wrapped tightly around my waist.
He must have caught me when I nearly fell earlier.
Feeling embarrassed, I quickly tapped his arm until I got free.
I looked at the knife in his hand.
“Thank you for saving me. You saved my life.”
“Thank you for saving me. You saved my life.”
“In the future, you should have a proper guard. There’s no guarantee I’ll arrive in time again. If you need, I can assign you a knight.”
“I’ll just accept the thought, thank you.”
As if I didn’t know a ‘guard’ would actually be a spy.
“I was so shocked today, I’ll stay inside the castle for a while.”
“I’m sorry, my lady…”
“It’s not your fault. But you should reflect on how you almost believed Patrick earlier.”
I was comforting Thomson, but the Duke kept staring.
“Do you have something to say to me?”
“No, you just look very different from the sun god Leto’s statue I remember.”
I got annoyed.
“How much are you going to insult my taste? I have eyes! And Thomson even has a grown-up son!”
“The world of taste is very wide and deep…”
“With Your Grace’s stubbornness, you could probably skip rope.”
I was finally about to leave, but I noticed blood on his hand.
He rubbed his hand like nothing happened, but it only made the bleeding worse.
‘Sigh. I’m too nice.’
I grabbed his arm.
“Let me see.”
He probably didn’t think someone like me could pull him over, but he came quietly.
I held him even tighter.
His wound must have been deeper than it looked, because his voice was softer.
“It hurts, though…”
“Just hold still.”
I pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it to his bleeding hand.
The Duke didn’t show it, but his hand trembled a little.
If a man like him reacted this way, the cut must really be deep, so I quickly told the Baron,
“Send someone to Lombard Castle to bring the doctor!”
“It’ll heal with a little spit.”
“Well, do you want monster spit, or do you want a doctor to treat you?”
He stayed quiet and let me finish.
I wrapped his hand with my handkerchief.
“All done.”
“….”
“Even a monkey falls from a tree sometimes. Who would expect the Duke who wipes out monsters to be hurt by a small knife? Be careful until you heal.”
With that, I bowed lightly and left.
Gareth La Varken.
Gareth La Varken was the eldest son of the Varken family, loyal servants of Lombard.
He had served Edwin for a long time and was now the Duke’s chief aide because of his great skill and loyalty.
‘My lord is greater than anyone. But that’s why he is the loneliest.’
He never questioned his master’s decisions. He just wanted to be his most useful sword.
He thought he’d done well until today, but now he couldn’t hold back.
Gareth followed after his master.
“My lord, is your wound really alright?”
“This is enough.”
After hesitating, Gareth finally said,
“I want to ask something.”
“Go ahead.”
“Why did you get hurt on purpose?”
“You saw. I got wounded taking the knife away from the criminal.”
“But you could have easily dodged it.”
Silence.
“You’re not someone who can get hurt by a weapon like that.”
Edwin stopped. Then smiled.
“Oh, you noticed?”
“It’s fine. As long as Elysia doesn’t find out.”
“It’s fine. As long as Elysia doesn’t find out.”
“Keep your mouth shut.”
It sounded like a joke, but Gareth felt a chill.
He nodded quietly.
Edwin laughed and walked away like nothing happened.
But Gareth looked serious as he watched his master’s back.
His lord, who used to care about no one, now acted different, at least with the Duchess.
‘What is he thinking…?’
He thought about it but didn’t know the answer. He shook his head.
A knight doesn’t need to question.
He only needs to obey.
And so the ending was already decided from the start.
