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“How did you figure this out?”
Theodor put the files on the desk.
There was nothing more to see.
‘To think they were plotting something like this while I was out of my mind.’
Count Jacob’s statements about the Duke family’s danger of extinction were not an exaggeration.
Those who were once loyal to him were now planning to join forces to devour the Duchy, and the one at the center of it all was Sir Shylo.
“I also got an offer from that side, Your Grace.”
Count Jacob laughed bitterly.
“I refused saying it was a crazy idea and since then, he never asked again, at that time I managed to locate you but…… I couldn’t reach you at all.”
“……”
Theodor glared at the file.
For him, it was a rather good opportunity if the Duchy went to another as he only needed to let it go from his hands.
Aria Bertin seemed to think that unless he was a Duke, he was a pauper without money, but he had considerable personal wealth apart from the family fortune. It was enough to let Elodie live in abundance for the rest of her life, even if the Duchy went to another.
However, when this family falls to traitors, it makes things completely different.
“You did something wearisome, if you had said it straight I would have come to the Duke’s manor right away.”
“I thought you wouldn’t believe it until you saw the evidence.”
“You could have brought this.”
Theodore tapped the file, and Count Jacob’s face turned devastated.
“That……I didn’t think of that.”
“Enough.”
Theodor replied briefly.
Count Jacob’s stupidity had ruined Elodie’s birthday party, but he had no intention of blaming him at this point.
“The Count deserves a lot of credit just for informing me of this fact.”
“……!”
The Count’s face brightened.
“So, are you making a complete comeback?”
Theodor paused for a moment and looked out of the window.
Come to think of it, he thought it was quite a well-maintained house with an owner that had been away for a long time.
No, it was about perfect.
‘They thought it would be theirs soon, so they must have kept it perfect.’
Theodor’s dark red eyes flashed with intense sparks.
“There will be bloody winds soon.”
* * *
Duke Vanice did not come back even after a week, no letter came either.
‘I don’t think anything happened.’
I shook my head.
It’s just that he must be busy dealing with things that have been overdue so far.
It was good that the Duke was gradually returning to what he was before he lost Elodie. Because it meant getting farther and farther away from the ‘Villian Duke’ in the novel.
In that sense, it can be said that Count Jacob’s visit wasn’t bad……
No, it was very bad.
“Miss Bertin, please let me see Princess Vanice just once!”
“Miss Bertin, there are rumors that you and the Duke have an unusual relationship……?”
“Miss Bertin, is it true that you saved the Princess from starving on the street?”
I made a promise as I looked at the reporters who had flocked to the cafe.
If, by any chance, I see Count Jacob’s face again, I would give him a savage slap.
“I have nothing to say, so everyone can go back. Don’t you know that all of this is obstruction of business?”
Of course, there was no way the reporters would back down with just that much.
In the end, I gave up halfway and tried to sell bread and coffee to reporters, but reporters with no conscience wouldn’t drink a cup of coffee.
If the good-hearted Mrs. Devaka and the old lady, one of my regulars, hadn’t taken turns taking care of Elodie, she would have been exposed to these humans.
However, there are limits to entrusting her to others.
Furthermore, reporters began to flock to the two of them, and it has been difficult to apologize by giving them a reward every time.
At this rate, I might really have to close the cafe and run away at night.
“What are you all doing here?”
The reporters turned their heads.
I blinked.
Ian, the captain of the guard, entered the cafe with a stiff face.
Seeing that he wasn’t wearing a uniform, today seemed to be a holiday. But whatever the case, the captain of the guard is the captain of the guard.
It felt like a rope of salvation had descended from the sky.
I explained everything to Ian.
“……But, no matter how many times I ask them to leave, they won’t! Because of that, few customers can come in. These people don’t even order a cup of coffee. Isn’t this business obstruction?”
Voices of protest erupted from everywhere, but I didn’t pay attention.
They have no conscience. Let them talk as much as they want. The important thing was the words of the Guard Captain in front of me.
Ian who had been immersed in thought for a moment spoke thoughtful words.
“……It seems Miss Aria is right.”
Immediately, reporters shouted in unison.
“What?”
“It can’t be!”
“Nonsense. Freedom of speech……”
Ian shook his head.
“No matter what you say, what you are doing here constitutes obstruction of business according to Article 509, Paragraph 2 of the Imperial Law. If you do not leave immediately, you will be forcibly taken away by the Guards.”
I was so jealous seeing people who didn’t budge even after I shouted dozens of times, meekly stepping down in front of the Guard Captain.
I sincerely thanked Ian.
“Thank you. I can live thanks to you. Are you off-duty today? Please tell me what you want to eat. Everything is on the house.”
“……It’s all right. A cup of coffee is enough……”
“It’s not the first time you’ve helped. I know it’s not a matter of course.”
I spoke sincerely.
There is nothing more precious than people who do their job silently.
Isn’t it that I still haven’t received a reward for helping wipe out human trafficking organizations?
Fortunately, Ian ate the coffee and waffles I served with a bright face and stayed for a long time.
It was to the point where I could feel the satisfaction of making it no matter how well he ate it.
‘I’ll pack him a lot of cookies and bread later.’
It was a shelf full of confectionaries that could not be sold because there were no customers thanks to the reporters anyway.
I would be very happy if Ian enjoyed eating those.
“These reporters.”
Ian quietly opened his mouth.
“If you tell me which newspaper they belong to, I will put a warning in the newspaper.”
“I think it would be too much trouble for you…Is it okay?”
“It’s because I want to.”
Having said that, there is no reason to refuse help.
Before I could smile and pass on my sincere thanks, the cafe door burst open and restrained footsteps was heard.
I felt like I knew who it was without even looking up.
Duke Vanice is the only one who can make such a rude yet flamboyant entrance.
“Elodie went to her friend’s house.”
I was delighted and started talking about Elodie first, then looked up and was surprised.
‘……?’
I rubbed my eyes in doubt, but the sight in front of me was the same.
The person who came in was indeed Duke Vanice.
But……
Disheveled hair as if it had not been properly groomed.
Red eyes gleaming with madness.
A vicious bloodthirsty that could kill a person at any moment.
Above all, blood dripping from the cloak.
It seemed that a blood-soaked dagger could be seen from his waistband.
I caught my breath.
I’ve seen the Duke’s madness many times before, but never like today.
The current Duke Vanice was like…
It was as if the Villian Duke had just come out of the novel.
He came step by step towards me.
My heart was pounding.
I felt the danger.
My whole body was sounding a warning, telling me to run away, telling me that that man was someone I shouldn’t associate with.
But I didn’t run away.
Rather, I grabbed Ian’s arm that stretched to protect me and shook my head as he tried to block the Duke.
“It’s all right.”
“It’s dangerous.”
Ian had a disconcerted voice.
Of course he would. Anyone with common sense would think that Duke Vanice came to harm me.
‘……It’s different.’
Unfortunately or fortunately, I had already been nearly killed by the Duke once.
That’s why I knew.
Now, this man wasn’t trying to kill me.
Because a man who wants to kill me won’t look at me with such longing eyes.
Of course, that wasn’t the only reason I stopped Ian. Anyway this goes, Ian is no match for the Duke.
If the Duke puts his mind to it, he could easily tear me and Ian apart right here, in seconds.
It means there is no point in trying to resist.
“My Lord.”
I called Duke Vanice in the softest voice possible.
“What brings you here?”
Silence passed.
I waited impatiently for his reply.
I could feel Ian’s hand reaching for the hilt of his sword, unable to bear the brutal tension.
I couldn’t even blame him. It wasn’t that I was convinced that the Duke couldn’t harm me either.
My judgment may be wrong.
Maybe the Duke has gone completely insane and has come to kill me. The disparate emotions I felt in his gaze a moment ago may be an illusion of my fear-stricken brain.
Finally, a word came out of the Duke’s mouth.
“…Elodie.”
It was a voice that seemed to be barely suppressing sizzling emotions from bursting out.
“Elodie…please….”