CH 36.2

“No, towards myself, I wouldn’t have been able to admit it.”

“……”

And at that moment, a forced laugh broke out from my lips. Just how much longer would you keep spouting words that you can’t take responsibility for?

I shook my head slowly and I calmly continued speaking.

“I, to be honest. I actually thought that I might be different from my father and my brothers.”

“……”

“But maybe I’m wrong.”

Finally, I turned around and faced him. I stared straight into his quivering blue eyes, and I spoke each syllable carefully, one at a time—without hesitation.

“My father taught me well, and I grew up alongside my brothers. I know that I am no different than those demons.”

Theodore’s lips opened and closed. Yet again, seeing him be flustered and taken aback made my heart flutter. At the same time, I felt a sense of joy.

Perhaps I’ve been harboring a wish to hurt you, just as much as you’ve hurt me.

“No, you’re not—”

“I’m just saying the same words you said to me before, Duke.”

After hearing this, Theodore halted right then. And now my lips moved all by themselves, without my own control. I couldn’t stop the words any longer.

“‘You’re no different from them. Perhaps it’s because you grew up in that devil’s den.’ That’s what you said to me before…”

Shock slowly spread throughout Theodore’s expression. He blinked rapidly, falling into a daze. I stared indifferently at him, even as his countenance so obviously expressed remorse.

To be honest, I’m surprised.

Even though he had no memory of this happening, he seemed to be feeling guilty about it.

…And in my frustration, I turned my head.

I belatedly thought that what I did was childish. However, the water had already been spilt, and there’s no way to scoop it back up.

Sighing heavily, I closed my eyes. After a brief pause, I spoke again just to finish this.

“…So, think again.”

“……”

“Is it truly ‘me’ who you think fondly of…”

“……”

“Or is it an ‘idealized’ version of me?”

I’m not the kind-hearted, naïve woman you might think I am, I added with a bitter smile.

Theodore’s lips opened and closed like there was something he wanted to say. But eventually, he remained silent without saying anything more.

The pouring drizzle of rain did not stop, even after a long time.

* * *

Late at night, when everyone’s already asleep—

The lights were still on in Duke Valentino’s office.

Theodore was sitting behind his desk and mechanically going through the documents, then he suddenly felt a familiar presence. He raised his head.

Carmen, the vice commander of the knight order, opened the door silently and saluted politely. Theodore greeted back with a nod.

Small talk was not exchanged between the two. Carmen’s report followed immediately.

“As Your Grace has ordered, we’ve been extensively investigating House Everett in as much detail as we could.”

From the coat pocket, Carmen took out an envelope and handed it to Theodore.

He pulled out a fairly thick pile of papers from inside, then he began to read the contents slowly. And gradually, his calm demeanor turned into a sneer.

Carmen spoke up.

“…It seems true that the two young lords of House Everett are in the middle of a cold war between them.”

“It seems like it.”

If harmony couldn’t be achieved internally, then every little thing would start falling apart.

Theodore tapped his desk with a wider smirk on his lips.

If a bit of oil were to be poured there, the small flame would grow bigger.

But the question was this: who would the flames burn first?

Hessen Everett was much easier to rile up because of his inferiority complex. Owen Everett, on the other hand, was more complicated to deal with.

As far as Theodore knew, Owen Everett was a control freak who was obsessed with his own belongings.

It was better to be more prudent about choosing what kind of bait should be thrown at that kind of man. If Owen were to be provoked clumsily, then repercussions would surely come back this way.

“…It’s almost the same as poking a beehive…”

As he murmured to himself, Theodore finished going through the remaining documents.

Carmen’s report was, as always, brief but meticulous. And also very objective, even when the reports were about people that she’s known for a long time.

“…Aunt…”

And after Theodore finished reading the first report, he set down those papers. The next one was about Missus Seymour, and there were twenty parts to the report.

“She’s been going out more often ever since I married Lily. What has she been busy doing all this time?”

“…I will be sure to look into it more.”

“Yes. Find out in detail the places my aunt visited, the people she met and what exactly she did.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Carmen accepted Theodore’s orders as she usually did, but this time, she hesitated for a moment, seemingly because there’s something she wanted to bring up.

After hesitating, words slowly spilled through her lips.

“Well, um… Milord… May I ask why you’ve ordered us to investigate Missus Seymour’s past activities?”

Theodore was organizing the reports and putting them into a safe, but as he was asked, he paused.

Soon, he looked back at Carmen, an unreadable smile on his lips.