Alex’s expression slowly hardened at my words.

I thought Alex would be happy to hear what I had struggled to say, but contrary to my expectations, he had no reaction.

Feeling intimidated without realizing it, I watched his reaction.

“Alex?”

When I cautiously called out to him, he seemed to come to his senses belatedly and moved his lips.

“Again…”

“Yes?”

“Can you say it again?”

“…What?”

I had a feeling I knew what he wanted to hear, but I still asked him just in case.

“What do you think of me?”

Alex asked, looking at me intently. His gaze felt particularly burdensome today.

I blinked in confusion, avoiding his gaze, then opened my mouth again.

“Ah, I said I like you, Alex.”

“Who does?”

“…I do.”

I answered him in a small voice.

He looked down at me with an expression of disbelief. Then, at some point, a faint smile spread across his face.

However, feeling that the atmosphere was becoming somewhat subtle, I quickly rolled my eyes.

“Anyway, I told Miss about it too, and she said she’d talk to you separately later.”

“Talk about–”

“Probably about those issues you just brought up, Alex.”

“I suppose so. Then it wouldn’t be bad to talk after we return today.”

“So quickly?”

“Why postpone something we can do now?”

Alex asked me as if it were obvious.

“That’s true, but isn’t it too early?”

Miss Veronica had said she would return to Count Maynard’s house once things were settled here.

Even so, everyone would know that this matter wouldn’t end so simply, given that the subject of punishment was Duke Franz.

So Miss Veronica must have said she would talk to Alex separately later.

“There’s no harm in discussing it in advance. If any other issues arise, we can deal with them beforehand.”

I had to agree with his words.

It was around the time our conversation was getting longer.

I felt the carriage gradually slowing down.

Lifting my head slightly to check outside, I saw a gray building through the window.

“Is that it?”

I asked him, pointing out the window. Alex checked beyond the window and nodded in affirmation.

“Yes. Looks like we’ve arrived. Let’s get out.”

When the carriage came to a stop, Alex got out first. Then he extended his hand towards me so I could get out comfortably.

I got out of the carriage while holding his hand, and the carriage following us came to a stop. Then Duke Anstis and Miss Veronica got out of the carriage.

Judging by the affectionate expressions of the two, it seemed the atmosphere in the carriage had been good.

“We’ve been waiting. I’m Wilson Roiem, in charge of guiding you.”

As we all got out of the carriage, a security staff member who had been waiting in front of the door greeted us.

“We’re in your care.”

Alex greeted the staff member named Wilson on behalf of the others.

“I’ll guide you.”

Wilson began to lead us into the building.

Although I thought I was fine, my heart started beating anxiously at the thought of facing Duke Franz.

Somehow sensing my feelings, Alex firmly grasped my hand.

When I looked up at him, he gave me an affectionate gaze.

“I’ll be by your side, so don’t worry. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you, Claire.”

Alex’s kind words… Those words, though occasional, had a huge impact on me.

It was the same now.

That single sentence Alex uttered to reassure me made my anxiety melt away like snow.

Of course, a small nervousness remained within me, but it didn’t feel as frightening as before.

I nodded to him with a faint smile.

“Yes, I’ll trust you.”

I also held his hand tightly.

The place we were guided to by Wilson was, contrary to expectations, not like an underground prison.

After climbing stairs and moving to the upper part of the building, we arrived in front of a splendid door.

Of course, there were guards standing in front of the door with weapons, but it didn’t feel like a prison at all.

Knock knock.

Wilson knocked on the door and took a step back. Then the door opened from inside.

The one who opened the door was Duke Franz’s servant whom we had seen at Duke Franz’s mansion.

I was puzzled, not knowing what was going on, but for now, I followed Alex inside.

Then a splendid interior revealed itself.

It wasn’t as luxurious as the Berzel duchy or the Maynard county, but it didn’t look like a place that should be in a security office.

“You’ve come.”

And then a familiar voice was heard from inside.

It was Duke Franz’s voice.

He was sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed, savoring tea, and when he spotted us, he put down his cup on the saucer with an elegant motion.

The tableware made a clinking sound as they collided.

I looked at Duke Franz with round eyes, puzzled by the scene before me.

“Come and sit.”

Duke Franz suggested we sit with a relaxed voice.

However, it seemed I was the only one surprised.

Only then did I realize that the detainee was none other than Duke Franz.

Among the noble aristocrats, Duke Franz was second only to the Emperor.

Although Alex and Duke Anstis held the same title, they couldn’t ignore the years Duke Franz had lived.

So at this point, when his guilt wasn’t yet certain, they couldn’t treat him carelessly.

For now, he was detained because there were suspicions, but he wasn’t treated as a prisoner.

This was natural, of course.

From the beginning, my kidnapping, as a maid, wasn’t even included in Duke Franz’s charges.

The official victims were only Alex, Duke Anstis, Miss Veronica, and the people of the Robelin county.

Considering that commoners like me and the members of the Robelin county weren’t even subjects, it was natural to treat him, a noble, this way.

Thinking about it belatedly, I was naive not to have realized this.

I felt a surge of emotion at the fact that he was receiving such excessive treatment despite secretly committing evil deeds all this time.

“Claire.”

At that moment, Alex whispered to me in a small voice.

When I looked up, he was looking at me with concern.

The moment I saw his face, I felt a sense of realization.

In fact, the person who had suffered the most damage from Duke Franz was Alex.

If anyone should feel wronged, it would be Alex more than me.

“Are you okay?”

I belatedly nodded towards him.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

The very reason we came here was because of Duke Franz’s crimes.

Alex, Miss Veronica, and Duke Anstis were testifying about Duke Franz’s crimes together, so it would have some impact.

Moreover, with Sir Kruger’s confession, it would be difficult for Duke Franz to avoid punishment, no matter who he was.

The severity of that punishment would be the focus.

Just as I was calming my mind and about to sit on the sofa following Alex.

“How dare you!”

Duke Franz shouted in a low voice.

I instinctively shrank back. When I looked up at Duke Franz, he was glaring at me with an angry face.

“How dare a mere maid try to sit down!”

Duke Franz shouted as if rebuking.

“Duke Charon Franz!”

Realizing what Duke Franz meant by shouting, Alex called out to Duke Franz in a lowered voice.

Duke Franz then turned his eyes to Alex.

“Turning your back on the noble Emilia and associating with a lowly wench, you, Duke Berzel, have become just as base. Trying to sit in the same place as a mere maid.”

Alex frowned at the words filled with mockery.

“Wasn’t it you who has been the most vulgar all this time? It seems only you don’t know why Lady Emilia wanted to run away from you.”

“What?!”

As Alex retorted, Duke Franz jumped up from his seat.

The guards then stepped in as if to mediate between the two.

He seemed unable to suppress his anger, glaring at Alex and grinding his teeth.

“Duke Berzel, you’ll regret those words.”

“I wonder if that will really happen?”

Alex retorted towards him.

Listening to this, I felt complicated.

I wondered if I shouldn’t have come.

I regretted it, feeling like I had only confirmed Duke Franz’s treatment and heard things I shouldn’t have heard.

On the other hand, I felt like my agitated mind was calming down as if I had realized the reality.

“Should I leave now?”

Thinking it might be more helpful if I wasn’t here, I asked Miss Veronica, who was looking at me with concern.

I thought it would be better for me to leave now for a smooth conversation with Duke Franz.

“Then I’ll go out with you.”

“No! Miss should stay here. I’ll go out alone.”

After waving off Miss Veronica, who said she would go out together, I smiled brightly.

The original purpose was to check on Duke Franz anyway, so I didn’t mind not staying here.

Leaving behind Miss Veronica, who looked regretful, I turned to Alex.

He was about to move his lips with a face full of things to say.

“I’ll wait outside for now.”

However, before he could speak, I spoke first and immediately turned around to leave the room.