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~Chapter 17~
“My wife isn’t feeling well. I need to show her to the doctor.”
“Eh? B-but—”
“If something happens to my wife, are you prepared to take responsibility?”
The cold, almost terrifying warning left the attendant stunned, and he immediately went to prepare the carriage.
But… even if I’m in bad condition, is it okay for me to leave like this?
[Hey, Duke. If you disappear like that, the Emperor might become suspicious.]
Aaron seemed to be thinking the same thing, speaking quietly in Valentin’s language.
[Probably.]
Louis, however, remained nonchalant.
[But so what.]
[…Huh?]
[Do you think I haven’t done this kind of thing before?]
His expression was dry.
[I can’t kill you yet. I have no replacement.]
Louis said this calmly, almost drawing a line.
[So just take care of yourself.]
[N-no way—]
Ignoring Aaron shouting behind him, Louis turned and carried me out.
I wanted to ask if it was really okay, but because of the truth serum, I couldn’t speak.
“Do you have medicine to help you sleep?”
“Yes. My maid, As, has it.”
“If she takes it and sleeps immediately, it should help.”
Louis called over a nearby servant, described As’s appearance, and had her brought to the palace entrance.
Seeing that made me feel a little relieved.
Once I got to the carriage, took the sleeping medicine, and rested, this dreadful effect of the serum would finally end.
But life didn’t go that smoothly.
“What would you feel if the viscount died?”
The question came as we passed through the palace garden.
“Would you be sad, or indifferent?”
I didn’t know his intentions, so I had to be cautious, but I had no choice in answering.
“I don’t think I’d be sad. I might even feel relieved.”
Viscount Belasi had never been a good father, especially to me.
“I heard your father cared a lot for you as a child.”
“My father only spared the whip on things I couldn’t see. That’s apparently what people mean by ‘care.’”
Louis stopped walking at my sharp remark. Only when I looked up and met his eyes did I realize what I had said.
“Your father hit you?”
“Yes….”
Because of the truth serum, lying was impossible. The fact that I was abused wasn’t a problem for Louis to know, but talking about the past made me uneasy.
I didn’t want him to find out I wasn’t his first love. Just thinking about it was horrible.
“Why did he hit you?”
This question didn’t produce an immediate answer.
Why had I been hit?
As I thought slowly, I remembered the main reason I was hit most often.
“Because I wasn’t as good as my sister.”
I said calmly, adding:
“I could barely remember something I read once, but my sister would not only remember, she would perfectly understand and create new theories.”
Most of the time, that was why I was hit, locked in the basement, or made to stay at the mansion.
Louis said nothing. But he didn’t look at me with pity either.
I liked that.
I had revealed something I’d never tell anyone without the serum. If someone pitied me because of it, it would have been terrible.
“Do you think family means you should forgive anything?”
“No. Family or not, some things are not okay.”
After speaking, I paused. Maybe it wasn’t the right thing to say to Louis, who always wore black to mourn his family at formal events.
But the truth serum left me no choice.
“That’s the answer I expected. It suits you well.”
Louis smiled slightly—it felt genuine, not just a habit.
“Shall I take care of it?”
I only realized his words a beat later. He spoke quietly, so I wasn’t sure if he meant me. I stayed silent.
“Leonia!”
Urgent footsteps announced Diego’s arrival.
“Duke Arban, are you crazy?”
He came running so frantically that his clothes were messy and hair disheveled.
“How dare you leave without the Emperor’s permission? Do you want to be beheaded?”
I wasn’t the only one worried.
“Would the Emperor have demanded my head?”
“…N-no, but!”
Diego hesitated at Louis’s words, afraid he might act.
“He seems afraid of losing again.”
Diego flinched but quickly regained composure.
“Think whatever you want. I’m here for Leonia.”
For me?
Diego hesitated, then spoke.
“Leonia… do you still love me?”
…What?
Even under the truth serum, I couldn’t respond easily.
“I used to love you.”
I answered slowly.
“At one time.”
Diego’s eyes wavered. I noticed a quiet expectation in them, which felt strange.
“…At one time?”
He tried to grab me, but Louis blocked him.
“Stay in your place, Diego Regan.”
“….”
“Leonia is no longer your fiancée.”
Diego’s brow furrowed at Louis’s words.
I shook my head at Louis, signaling it was enough, and he set me down.
Diego seemed to expect me to say more, but I ignored him and held onto Louis.
We hurried toward the carriage and the waiting staff.
“Then… now? How do you feel now?”
Before I could board, Diego grabbed my arm. I pulled away reflexively, and he didn’t hold on further.
“Do you still love me?”
The leech-like man… I was getting sick of him.
“I don’t know.”
“What?”
“I’ve never thought about it.”
I replied coldly.
“It’s not worth it.”
The effects of the truth serum were fading, and I could finally answer freely.
Diego, finally angry, confessed the truth.
“I… I gave you that medicine, risking even my good cards! I wanted you to be honest!”
“You mean your aide to the prince?”
Diego didn’t answer Louis’s question—it hit too close to home.
“You kept pretending not to love me… that’s why I did it!”
So this crazy man gave me medicine just to see if I still loved him.
“Then… since you’ve confirmed it, you can leave now.”
Diego showed no sign of leaving.
…I really didn’t want this to happen.
“Remember the bracelet you gave me as a betrothal gift?”
“Bracelet?”
“It was a symbol of eternal love, and I happened to be wearing it.”
Diego’s eyes showed faint hope as I removed the bracelet and handed it to him.
“Take it.”
“What? Why—”
“I don’t need it.”
Diego reluctantly took it, his face hardening.
“There’s no point keeping a bracelet from an ex-fiancée I no longer love.”
“……”
“Better someone uses it than throw it away.”
Of course, Diego would never actually wear it.
“Then I’ll really leave now.”
I boarded the carriage. Diego froze like a statue and couldn’t grab me.
I’m sure he stayed there until the carriage disappeared from sight.
‘It’s finally none of my concern.’
Taking the sleeping medicine would have been perfect, but it would take time to work.
“What was that bracelet just now?”
Even in the carriage, he asked.
“Why were you carrying a gift from an ex-fiancée?”
Naturally, Louis wasn’t pleased.
“I thought we agreed not to involve a third party.”
“That’s….”
Louis pushed me for an explanation before I could respond.
“Are you committed to keeping that promise?”
I wanted to argue that it wasn’t my fault, but the bracelet was my responsibility.
“Actually, that bracelet wasn’t a betrothal gift I received.”
“Then?”
“I bought it myself. It means nothing.”
Louis touched his chin thoughtfully.
“I don’t understand.”
“So… Diego—”
“Marquis Regan.”
“…Regan doesn’t even remember what gift he gave me as a betrothal gift.”
It was true. Diego never chose gifts himself; he always had his subordinates do it.
“I just wasted time on a person like that.”
I felt a little sorry for my past self.
Why did I like such a man… or did I just need someone to save me from Viscount Belasi? I didn’t know.
“I’m returning the bracelet for good. That’s what it means.”
“Yes. I have no lingering feelings for you. That’s the meaning.”
I felt my eyes getting heavy.
I wondered if I could just sleep now, but one thing came to mind.
“What about the marriage vow? We were supposed to do it after the wedding, just preparing the documents.”
It was easier to process through Louis, so I had given him the papers in advance. I didn’t expect him to use it this way.
‘Did he know something in advance?’
Maybe Aaron saw something, or maybe Louis just got the info through a source.
“I just wanted to avoid Diego being annoying, so I acted in advance.”
“…I see.”
I still had questions, but judging from his expression, he wouldn’t answer them.
“I’m glad. Seems mostly resolved.”
Louis muttered quietly behind me, but I finally lost consciousness.
